You may Now Kiss the Lust

Chapter 6

Rinoa's POV

"Ikaw ba iyong secret admirer na iyon? You were the one who gave me the letter to comfort me, were you?" 

The longer he stared at me, the harder I could feel my heart beating fast. Ilang segundo siyang natulala, hanggang sa bigla na lang siyang tumawa.

"Ano?!" He was laughing so hard. "Nagbibiro ka ba? Why would I give you letters, if I could just comfort you in person?" He shook his head, still laughing.

Tumango-tango ako. "Sabagay." I punched his chest. "Si Trixie iyong nagsabi niyon; she told me to ask you if you are my secret admirer."

"And you really asked me ha?" He pinched my nose. "Bakit? Gusto mo bang bigyan kita ng letters? I'm willing to do that." Nakakaloko ang ngiti niya.

I rolled my eyes. "Thanks, but no thanks."

"Ayaw mo? Admirer mo rin naman ako, hindi nga lang secret." He shrugged.

"Ulol mo." Inirapan ko siya. I sat on my vanity mirror and did my skincare routine.

"Sige susulatan kita--"

"Wag na!" I looked at his reflection on my mirror. "I'm okay with the letters of that secret admirer. Don't bother."

"Edi wag." He crossed his arms.

I laughed and shook my head. "Di ka pa ba uuwi? Baka hinahanap ka na sa inyo oy."

"Ayokong umuwi, baka pag-alis ko, maghahagulgol ka nanaman diyan." He sat on my bed, while I was still sitting in front of my vanity mirror.

"Who told you I'm crying when I'm alone?"

He smirked. "I know you, Rinoa."

"Porque matagal mo na 'kong kaibigan, feeling mo kabisado mo na lahat sa 'kin." I shook my head, while patting my face.

"Bakit mali ba 'ko? You're crying every night, kaya ka nga puyat at lagi tayong late."

I sighed. "Kung isusumbat mo sa 'kin iyong pagka-late mo, I told you gazillion times, wag mo na 'kong daanan."

"Hindi ko naman sinusumbat. Concern lang ako sa yo, at sinabi ko na rin sa yo gazillion times, dadaanan kita sa ayaw at sa gusto mo."

Suminghap ako at nagpahid na ng night cream. I sat beside him on my bed.

"Edi bahala kang ma-late," sambit ko.

"Come on, Rinoa! Isipin mo rin iyang sarili mo, lagi ka rin namang late. Hindi iyon maganda sa 'kin at pati na rin sa 'yo. Graduating tayo, baka nakakalimutan mo."

I rolled my eyes. "Hindi ko po nakakalimutan, daddy." I emphasized the word daddy. He kept on acting like a dad sometimes.

"Daddy, daddy ka riyan." He laughed. "Kapag ako naging daddy ng mga anak mo..."

"Ano?!" My brows furrowed.

He chuckled. "Wala!"

"Ano nga iyon? Narinig ko eh!"

He pinched my nose. "Narinig mo pala, ba't tinatanong mo pa ulit? Ikaw ha, gusto mo 'no?"

"No! Definitely not! Gusto ko lang ipaulit kasi baka nagkamali ako ng dinig."

He smirked. "O'edi hindi ka nga nagkamali ng dinig."

My lips parted. I punched his chest, bago pa 'ko mawala sa ulirat.

"Gising! Nababaliw ka na ata." Pilit kong tinawa ang awkwardness na naramdaman ko.

"Gising naman ako ah?"

I punched his shoulder. "Pilosopo!"

"Ako pilosopo o ikaw?" He laughed.

My eyes widened. "Tingin mo?"

"Ikaw."

Pinagsusuntok ko ang dibdib niya. "You're annoying talaga!"

He was laughing so hard, while he kept on stopping my fist.

"Tama na, Rinoa." He was still laughing.

"You're annoying!"

"You're beautiful!"

I froze from what he said. Nakangisi pa rin siya, habang nakatitig lang ako sa mga mata niyang parang tinutunaw ako.

Kumurap-kurap ako hanggang sa mabalik ko ang huwisyo ko. I punched his chest again.

"Annoying!"

"Beautiful!"

I punched him harder. "Stop complimenting me!"

"Why would I?"

"It's uncomfortable." I sighed.

"Why?"

"I don't know! It's just... just stop, okay?"

He smiled wider. "Okay, ganda."

Sinuntok ko ulit ang braso niya. "I said stop!"

I was about to punch him again, but he caught my fist and held it.

He smiled, pero naaasar ako sa ngiti niya. "Rinoa, you deserve to be complimented. Don't make people stop seeing the good in you."

I rolled my eyes. Binawi ko sa malaki niyang kamay iyong maliit kong kamao.

"Okay love and life expert."

He laughed. "You're welcome."

Thank God, it was Saturday. Nagkulong lang ulit ako sa kwarto, but I went out to eat food. Sa tuwing naiisip ko si Johan, binabasa ko na lang iyong sulat ng secret admirer ko para sa 'kin. I was wondering how could I possibly meet him.

"Good afternoon!"

"Ay palaka!" Tinago ko sa likod ko iyong sweet letter ng admirer ko. "What the hell, Gerald! Hindi ka ba marunong kumatok?"

He suddenly showed up on my room and walked around like he owned it. He sat beside me on my bed, pinatong niya rin ang paa niya sa kama ko at saka sumandal sa headboard ng kama.

"Hindi ka ba marunong mag-lock ng pinto?" He smirked.

I slapped his legs. "Malinis ba iyang paa mo?!"

He laughed. "Syempre naman; you can kiss it if you want to."

I punched his shoulder. "You gross!"

He laughed. He stared at my eyes, before looking down. Sinusubukan niyang tignan iyong likuran ko.

"What?!" My brows furrowed.

"Ano iyong tinago mo kanina ha?" Maloko siyang nakangiti.

"Anong tinago? I don't what you're talking about."

He pinched my nose. "Not a good liar."

Hinampas ko iyong kamay niyang kumapit sa ilong ko. "Ano nanaman bang ginagawa mo rito? Saturday na Saturday nanggugulo ka nanaman!"

"Di ka na nasanay. Ano nga iyang nasa likod mo. Patingin."

Mas sinandal ko pa iyong likod ko sa headboard ng kama.

"Wala nga!"

"Damot naman neto. Let me guess..." He smirked playfully. "Binabasa mo nanaman iyong letter ng secret admirer mo 'no?"

"No," I denied.

"Come on! Admit it."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine! So what naman sa 'yo?"

He shook his head. "Sino ba kasi iyan?"

"Malay ko nga diba? Secret nga daw eh."

He shrugged. "I'm curious; hindi ka ba nacu-curious?"

"Malamang curious!" I sighed. "Eh anong gagawin ko? Wala namang clue na sinabi rito."

"Nag-respond ka ba sa letter na iyan?"

My brows furrowed. "Why would I? Tsaka kung mag-respond man ako, pa'no ko ibibigay? Eh hindi ko nga siya kilala."

"Teka, sino nga pa lang nag-abot sa 'yo ng letter?"

"Si ate Pasita."

"Edi kilala ni ate Pasita?" he asked.

"No; may nag-iwan lang daw somewhere down the road." I rolled my eyes. "Ba't ba parang mas curious ka pa sa 'kin ha?"

He laughed. "Syempre concern lang ako. Gusto kong malaman kung sinoman iyang admirer kuno mo na iyan, baka mamaya gago rin iyan eh."

I punched his chest. "Malay mo hindi."

He smiled. "So naniniwala ka na hindi lahat ng lalake pare-pareho?"

"Of course." I rolled my eyes. "Duh!"

"Buti naman." He nodded, still smiling.

Umirap na lang ako. I found him weird sometimes.

"Alam ko na!" Gerald shouted.

"Ano nanaman iyon?" Kinunotan ko siya ng noo.

He bit his lower lip. He was looking like he was hesitating to say something.

Ngumiti siya at umiling. "Nevermind."

Sinuntok ko iyong braso niya. "Ano nga iyon?!"

"Wala," aniya.

"Bwiset ka talaga." I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes.

He smirked. "Thank you."

"Aah! Disgusting!"

"Aaah-ang ganda mo!"

I glared at him.

He was smirking like crazy.

I sighed. "Thanks." I rolled my eyes, before looking at nowhere.

"Iyan, you're welcome."

Tumayo ako at naghanap ng damit sa cabinet ko. "Aalis nga pala ako," I said to him.

"Sa'n ka pupunta?"

"Kay Trixie, sabay kaming gagawa ng plates." Nilapag ko sa kama iyong Levis denim short ko at white graphic tee.

"Gagawa ng plates, sus! Mag-tsi-tsismisan lang kayo ro'n eh."

"Syempre kasama na iyon."

He nodded. "Naku gagawa ng plates o iiyak sa harapan niya?"

I glared at him. "Bakit ba palagi mong iniisip na umiiyak ako?"

Tumayo siya at lumapit sa'kin, tinitigan ako sa mga mata.

"Your eyes, Rinoa; it says everything." He smiled.

My brows furrowed, ilang sandali napairap na lang ako.

"Kung ano-ano nanamang pinagsasasabi mo." Inabala ko ang sarili ko sa pag-aayos ng mga dadalhin kong gamit.

"Totoo naman diba?"

"No!"

He shook his head, but he smiled, raising his hand in surrender.

"Hatid na kita," aniya.

"No thanks."

"I insist."

Umayos ako ng tayo at tinignan siya nang hindi makapaniwala.

I sighed in surrender. "Fine!"

Tama nga si Gerald, mas marami pa ang chikahan namin ni Trixie kaysa sa pag-aayos ng school requirements.

We were on her room, sitting on the floor habang nasa harapan namin iyong mga plates na tinatapos namin.

"So hindi nga talaga si Gerald 'yong secret admirer mo. He confirmed it, really ha?" Trixie asked.

I rolled my eyes. "Oo nga. Paulit-ulit ka kamo! Bakit ba hindi mo matanggap na hindi si Gerald iyon?"

"Because he is suspicious."

My brows furrowed. "Anong suspicious ka riyan? Malisyosa ka lang talaga." I sighed. "Basta hindi si Gerald iyon, okay? It's so obvious. Siya nga rin curious kung sino iyong nagpadala ng sulat sa 'kin eh."

She shrugged. "Or maybe... he was just pretending to be curious."

I glared at her. "Stop talking nonsense, can you?"

She laughed. "What? I'm not! Sinasabi ko lang iyong mga possibilities."

"Yep, and the possibility that it was Gerald is zero percent, okay?"

She looked up na parang nag-iisip. "Whatever!"

Napailing-iling na lang ako at nagpatuloy sa ginagawa kong plates. Kaunti na lang matatapos ko na rin, sa wakas.

"So what's your plan?" Trixie couldn't shut her mouth.

"Anong what's my plan?" My brows furrowed.

She shrugged. "Anong plano mo para malaman kung sino iyong admirer mo?"

"I don't know. Wala 'kong maisip eh. Tingin mo ba?"

"What if... gawin mo iyong suggestion ni Gerald? Respond to your admirer."

My lips parted. "Pagkatapos? Pa'no ko iaabot sa kanya? Eh unknown nga siya."

"Edi iwan mo sa kung saan niya iniwan iyong sulat para sa 'yo."

I looked away, remembering what ate Pasita said. Oo nga 'no, sa mail box namin iniwan nung lalake iyong sulat para sa 'kin, pero...

I shrugged. "I will think about that."

She rolled her eyes. "Isip-isip pa, gawin mo na sis!"

"Yeah, so kung ginawa ko man, malalaman niya bang may iniwan akong sulat doon para sa kanya?" I raised my right brow. "Would he open our mail box to see if I respond?"

Nagkibit balikat siya. "We'll see."

Nagbuntong hininga ako at umiling-iling, pinagpatuloy na lang ulit iyong plates ko. That secret admirer of mine was occupying my mind, though thanks to him, kahit papaano nalilihis iyong isip ko palayo kay Johan.

Maaga akong nagising nang magsapit ulit ang monday. Medyo nahiya na kasi ako kay Gerald. He was always late because of me, yet he kept on insisting na sabayan ako.

Pagkalabas ko ng banyo ko, I wasn't shock when I saw Gerald sitting comfortably on my small couch. I was used to him.

"Good morning." He was smiling, looking so fresh sa medyo basa niya pang buhok.

I rolled my eyes. "What's good?"

Kahit maaga akong nagising, tamad na tamad pa ring kumilos ang mabigat kong katawan.

"You. Ang aga mong nagising ngayon, in fairness. Anong nakain mo kagabi?"

Kinuha ko iyong uniform ko, doon na 'ko magbibihis sa banyo. I was still wearing a robe.

"Wala." My voice sounded so bored.

"You didn't eat?" Bigla siyang tumayo.

"I did."

"Ba't sabi mo wala kang kinain?"

I rolled my eyes. "It was a sarcasm."

He laughed at umupo ulit. "Oh okay. Edi ano ngang kinain mo?"

"Kaldereta."

"What?! Sabi na dapat pumunta ako rito kagabi eh."

I laughed and shook my head. "Bakit? Ano bang ulam sa inyo?"

"Nilaga."

My lips parted. "Masarap din naman iyon ah!"

"Oo nga, pero mas gusto ko iyong kaldereta."

Umiling-iling na lang ulit ako at bumalik sa banyo to wear my uniform.

When I went out, nakaupo pa rin si Gerald sa sofa ko, scrolling on his phone. Dumiretso ako sa vanity mirror to put some makeup on my face.

Nabasag ang katahimikan nang may kumatok.

"Ma'am Rinoa?" Ate Pasita called.

"Come in po!"

Bumukas ang pinto. My brows furrowed when I saw ate Pasita, holding a small envelope; kamukha nung envelope galing sa secret admirer ko.

"May nag-iwan po ulit para sa inyo," sambit niya.

Tumakbo ako palapit sa kanya at kinuha iyon. "Thank you, ate Pasita."

She smiled before walking away. Sinarado ko ang pinto. Pagkatalikod ko, I flinched, dahil nasa harapan ko na bigla si Gerald.

"Ano iyan ha?" he asked.

I pushed him. "None of your business."

Umupo ako sa kama at tinignan iyong envelope. Tumabi sa akin si Gerald at nakisilip.

I couldn't help but to smile when I saw the hand written letter on the envelope.

To: Rinoa Samantha Aguilar

"Aba, galing nanaman sa secret admirer kuno mo?" Gerald teased.

I glared at him. "Tingin mo?"

He laughed. "Patingin! Basahin mo na!"

Umusog ako palayo sa kanya. "Ayoko nga! Makiki-tsismis ka lang."

"Damot naman! Dali na."

"No!" I ran towards my bathroom. Kinandado ko ang pinto, to make sure na hindi ako magugulo ni Gerald.

Umupo ako sa bowl, smiling like crazy as I looked at the envelope. Kinuha ko iyong laman nito at mas lalong lumawak ang ngiti ko nang makumpirmang sulat nga ito ng secret admirer ko.

Hola Rinoa!

It's been a while since the first time I gave you a letter of love. Just passing by again to let you remember that a secret admirer of you exist, in case you forgot ;)

To be quite honest with you, I am actually waiting for your response, as it would mean a lot to me if my crush would respond.

I am not asking for a sweet reply. I just want to know how you are doing lately, so a simple day of your life would do.

In case you're curious, my life is exciting as it may sound. I have been busy admiring you from a far, hoping to see you up close, sooner or later :))

Smile my pretty Rinoa, as it would make not only my day, but everyone's day :)

From: Secret ;)

I was smiling like crazy while reading the whole letter. Whoever was behind this sweet messages, I find him charming, and now I was eyeing to meet him.

"Hey Rinoa!" Gerald knocked on my bathroom's door really loud.

Napasimangot ako. "Ano ba?!"

"Akala ko namatay ka na sa kilig diyan!"

"f**k off!"

"Ayoko! Di ka pa ba tapos?"

I rolled my eyes. Tinago ko sa bulsa ko iyong sulat, before opening the door.

"Ano nanaman ba iyon?"

He smiled teasingly. "Ba't namumula pisnge mo?"

My brows furrowed. "Imbento!"

"Seryoso nga! Aba aba, sino ba talaga iyang admirer mo na iyan? Baka si Johan lang iyan ha."

I laughed sarcastically. "Impossible."

Inayos ko na iyong mga gamit ko sa bag. Nakasunod naman sa 'kin si Gerald.

He shrugged. "Expect the unexpected."

I looked at him. I was about to say something, pero bigla akong natulala sa nakangisi niyang mukha. Malapit ng matuyo ang buhok niya, but he was still looking so fresh, his long lashes was captivating, and his smile was... annoying!

"Tara na." Sinakbit ko na iyong bag ko sa balikat ko. I cleared my throat, biglang natuyo iyong lalamunan ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit.

"Yown hindi kami late!" Kinuha niya iyong bag niya at saka umakbay sa 'kin palabas sa kwarto ko.

Lunch time, as usual kasama ko nanaman ang madaldal na si Trixie.

"Nakatanggap ka ulit ng letter?"

I nodded. "Paulit-ulit ka nanaman."

She giggled. "Pagkatapos sinabi niyang naghihintay siya ng response mo?"

I rolled my eyes. "Oo nga!"

"O.m.g girl! Sabi sa 'yo eh! Mag respond ka na, 'tapos doon mo iwan sa mail box ninyo."

I sighed. "Eh pa'no kung makita iyon ni ate Pasita?"

She rolled her eyes. "Edi tell her na wag galawin iyon."

I shrugged at nagpatuloy na lang sa pag-kain. Simula first subject hanggang lunch, iniisip ko kung susulatan ko ba iyong secret admirer ko na iyon. Well it was harmless naman, so I guess I would try.

I flinched nang may naglapag ng ice cream cup sa tapat ko. Tumingala ako, it was Gerald with his smiling face.

"Dessert. Eat that."

Hindi na ako nakakibo, dahil tumalikod agad siya palabas ng canteen.

Nilaro ko ang mga daliri ko, stopping myself from smiling, dahil paniguradong magbibigay nanaman ng malisya si Trixie 'pag napangiti ako.

"Thank you." Kinuha ni Trixie iyong maliit na cup ng ice cream.

My brows furrowed. Hinablot ko agad iyon mula sa kanya.

"Akin 'to ah!" Tinignan ko iyong ice cream, it was ube flavor; my favorite.

She laughed. "Hindi mo naman siya type diba? Akin na lang."

"Ha anong connect?" Inirapan ko siya at umiling-iling ako.

"Ang duya, ako wala!" reklamo niya.

I laughed. "Edi magreklamo ka sa kanya."

She rolled her eyes. "Sana ako na lang best friend niya. I won't take him for granted."

Napahinto ako sa pagtikim ng ice cream. I looked at her with my brows furrowed.

"Excuse me, are you saying na I'm taking him for granted?" I raised my right brow.

She smirked. "What do you think?"

My lips parted. "I'm not!" Napairap ako at napabuntong hininga.

I shook my head and continued eating my ice cream.

"Yeah. Sige sabihin na nating you're not. But what if... what if siya nga talaga iyong secret--"

"Oh come on Trixie, shut up. Can't you just accept na hindi talaga siya iyon?"

She shrugged. "The possibilities are endless."