Were already on our way home to my apartment. Basically ako lang pala ang pauwi kasi ihahatid lang naman ako ni Imo. Nagpupumilit nga na doon matutulog pero hindi ako pumayag. I know na tanggap ako nina mama at papa pero napagtanto ko na mali pa din na parehas kaming matutulog sa iisang kama.

"I'll sleep on the floor then!" pagpupumilit nito.

Umiling ako. "Its still a big no Imo. Huwag ka ngang matigas ang ulo. Para kang bata."

I rolled my eyes when he looked at me with his puppy eyes. I will not fall on his tricks! Never again!

"Mon amour please?" paawa nito sa akin.

I stay rooted on my place and shook my head.

"Hindi pa din Imo. Atsaka nakakahiya kaya kina mama at papa. Baka kung anong isipin nila na ginagawa natin,"

Imo smirked. "As if were not doing it already,"

Pinanlakihan ko ito ng mata at sinapak. Napaigtad ito ay tumawa.

"What? Totoo naman e. We've already done that!" depensa nito. "Also, okay lang yon kina mama. Alam mo ba halos palayasin na nila ako sa bahay at sumama sa iyo. Ayon nga sa kanya humayo daw tayo at magpakarami."

Hindi ko maiwasang mamula sa narinig.

Si Mama Mera talaga ay napakapilyo.

"Its still a no!"

Imo groaned and started to whisper things that I cannot understand.

Bahala siya d'yan. Syempre dapat magpaka dalagang filipina ulit ako. Natibag man niya ako noong una pero hindi na ito mauulit! Ako'y isang Maria! Hindi dapat ako marupok! Hindi ko bibiguin ang aking kapwa filipina.

Sandaling nanahamik ang buong kotse at tanging ang radyo lang ang naririnig dito. A french music is now playing. I think I've heard it before in the Philippines.

(Now playing: La Vie En Rose by Edith Piaf)

Des yeux qui font baisser les miens

Un rire qui se perd sur sa bouche

Voilà le portrait sans retouche

De l'homme auquel j'appartiens

I tried to hum the music when I turned to Imo when he started to sing along.

Quand il me prend dans ses bras

Qu'il me parle tout bas

Je vois la vie en rose

Il me dit des mots d'amour

Des mots de tous les jours

Et ça m'fait quelque chose

I was in awe when I heard his musculine voice. Hindi ko inakala na marunong kumanta si Imo. I think marami pa akong hindi nalalaman kay Imo. I hope we have enough time to get to know each other before I'll go back to the Philippines.

Des nuits d'amour à plus finir

Un grand bonheur, qui prend sa place

Des ennuis des chagrins s'effacent

Heureux, heureux, à en mourir

I was in deep thought when he suddenly reached for my hand. Susuwayin ko ma sana s'ya pero napansin ko na nakared light pala ang traffic lights.

"What are you thinking Mon amour?" Masuyo itong nakatingin sa akin.

The light from the other cars gives us enough life to look at each other's eyes. We were so drowned unto each other and I didn't noticed that we were about to kiss.

A loud honk woke us from reality. Napansin naman na green na ang light at tanging ang kotse na lang namin ang nakatigil. Natatawang pinaandar ni Imo ang sasakyan habang hinahampas ko ang kanyang braso.

"Ang landi mo talagang lalaki ka!"

Hindi pa ako nasatisfy sa paghampas sa kanya, kaya pino ko s'yang kinurot.

Natatawang umiiwas si Imo sa aking daliri habang pinipigilan ako.

"Hey stop it! Napingot na nga ako ni mama kanina tapos kukurutin mo pa ako." paawa nito.

I chuckled and pinch his cheeks. "Its your fault! Hindi mo naman kase sinabi sa akin nanligaw ka pala. Tuloy I have to say no to mama when she asked me how you court."

Napakamot ito sa batok. "Yeah, you're right."

Speaking of courtship, I think this is the perfect time to ask him this question.

"Alam mo ba hindi lang si Mama Mera ang nagtataka kung bakit wala ka pang naging gilfriend, maski ako din." sambit ko. "Baka naman bakla ka talaga, pero noong nabighani ka sa kagandahan ko doon mo lang napagtanto na straight ka pala,"

"What the heck! Pati ba naman ikaw Mon amour iniisip na bakla ako?" gulat nitong palatak sa akin.

"Well, its okay to confess Mon amour. Ang mahalaga ay lalaki ka na ngayon." I shrugged my shoulders to tease him more.

Imo released a sigh of defeat. "I am not gay okay?" He emphasized the word gay. "Its just that,"

Halata mo na nahihiya itong sumagot pero inudyok ko pa din siya na magpatuloy.

"I made a promise to the Eiffel Tower" he awkwardly said.

Napamaang ako sa kanya. I am bewirled in his revelation. Paanong nagpromise s'ya sa isang tower? Jino-joke time ata ako ni Imo e.

I look at him with doubt. "You're telling me that you made a promise to a tower?"

He nodded. "Yes, I know its weird."

I look at him with a you're-fooling-me expression.

He laughed at my reaction. "I'm not fooling you Mon amour. I swear!"

He tried to make a cross in his heart but failed because his hands are busy on the steering wheel.

"Ano naman yung pinangako mo aber?" I raise my brow.

Hindi n'ya sinagot ang aking tanong at seryosong nagmaneho. Ilang sandali pa ay nakarating na kami sa aking apartment. Pinatay ni Imo ang makina ng kotse pero walang nagbabalak na bumaba sa kotse.

"I promised to court the girl that I will bring in the Eiffel Tower, and that girl is--"

"Me," patuloy ko sa sasabihin n'ya.

Imo sweetly smiled at me. "Yes, you. All my life you're the only girl that caught my attention. Even though marami na akong nakilala na french women, still it never crossed my mind that I will be inlove with a filipina."

I was speechless.

"Pinangako ko din na iyon lang babeng mamahalin ko. Corny man pakinggan pero I am the kind of guy that will only love one woman. Sinumpa ko na iyon Mon amour. Bata pa lang ako, pumupunta na ako sa Eiffel Tower at marami na akong nakitang mga coulple na kung hindi man nagdadate, marriage proposal naman ang ginagawa. I said to myself that I will also do that in the future to the woman I love,"

I am staring at him the whole time. I can see love and adoration in his eyes. Hindi ko na napigilan ang aking sarili na gawadan s'ya ng mariing halik sa labi.

Imo gladly wrapped his arms around my waist while kissing me softly. He is nibbling my lower lip while I move my neck to give him a better access. We are passionately kissing inside his car, not minding to get caught. The light from the street lamp is giving us enough light to see each other.

Ako ang unang humiwalay sa kanya.

"Je t'aime Mon amour" sambit ko sa kanya. "I'm so lucky to have you. Kung alam ko lang na nageexist pala ang Antoine Timothee Amerza, hindi na sana ako nagboyfriend dati pa. I should have waited for you Mon amour,"

Magkapatong pa din ang aming mga noo habang ako naman ay ninanamnam ang moment.

Imo kissed my eyes. "Its okay Mon amour, ang mahalaga ay kung anong mayroon tayo ngayon. You and me as a couple,"

I opened my eyes. "Yeah, ikaw at ako. Hanggang sa huli." ngumiti ako sa kanya.

Humiwalay na si Imo sa akin. "Sigurado ka bang hindi na magbabago ang isip mo? May extra damit ako d'yan."

Tinaas baba nito ang mga kilay.

I playfully pinched his cheeks. "Its still a no Mon amour"

He groaned. "Aww akala ko makakalusot na," he pouted.

Kinuha ko na ang aking bag mula sa baba at binigyan s'ya ng mabilis na halik sa labi.

"I better go, baka bawiin ko ang sinabi ko," I laughed.

"Wait, sasamahan kita pataas,"

Pinigilan ko s'ya sa pagkakaupo. "Hindi na kailangan. Keri ko na to! Atsaka masyado ng gabi. Suguradong hinihintay ka na nina mama at papa."

Akmang bubuksan ko na ang pinto ng sasakyan ng biglang n'ya akong tinawag.

"Mon amour,"

Lumingon ako sa kanya. "Hmmm?"

"Sweet dreams, dream of me." He sweetly said.

My heart melted. "Imo naman e! Huwag mo na ako pakiligin, baka magbago isip ko." Pabiro ko itong inirapan.

I heard him laugh. "Is it working?"

I rolled my eyes and continue to open the passenger's door.

Lumabas na ako ng sasakyan. I was about to close the door, when I suddenly remember something.

"Imo, please drive safely and please don't miss me too much," I gave him a flying kiss and wave my goodbye.

"J t'aime Mon amour"

Pinanood ko ang papalayo n'yang kotse bago ako tumaas sa aking apartment.

The smile on my face won't disappear due to the happiness and joy in my heart. This day is really special. I met Imo's parents and they happily welcomed me with open arms. Then I found out about Imo's promise in the Eiffel Tower.

Its just a magical feeling.

I opened my apartment door and went directly to the bathroom to change my clothes. Matapos kong magpalit ay dumeretso na ako sa aking kama.

I overlook the view of the Eiffel Tower by my window pane.

"Thank you for bringing Imo into my life," sambit ko sa hangin.

I went to sleep with a smile on my face.

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unedited