07
2016 Words
Living in the Dela Torre's residence for a few days now makes me realize that indeed, it was only Dan and Dionne who made their house a home.
I mean, the house was so silent that it scared me! I feel like I'm living in an abandoned house, adding that their house helps them don't roam around the house when they're done with their tasks; they just stay in the kitchen or their rooms.
I can't help but feel sad and homesick.
In our house, kahit kami lang ni Papa at ilang kasambahay, I never feel alone. Our house helps are always around and so jolly.
I miss them.
I pushed the wheels of my wheelchair, after a few days of using this, finally, I can use this properly. I pushed it until I reached the sliding door to the pool area. The floor was a bit elevated from the inside so I'm afraid I might fall down when I'm forced to go outside.
But I squealed when someone pushed my wheelchair outside.
Glaring, I turned to look who did that only to see the snobbish expression of Dashiel.
"Thought you wanted to go here so I helped," he said.
"You startled me." All I could say.
I was shocked, okay. It's a weekday and he's here! He should be in his dorm and not here.
He arched his brow seeing I kept on staring at him. "What?" He asked.
I shook my head. "I was... I was just wondering why you're here. It's weekdays..." I said.
"Why? Am I not allowed to go home on weekdays?" He asked instead.
I shook my head again. "No. Hmm... I didn't know that you're here. I thought I was alone with your househelps." I answered. "Don't you have a class today?" I asked.
He put his hands inside his cargo shorts' pocket. "I had. I just went home after my classes finished," he answered.
"I see," I just commented, didn't know what to say or if I am even allowed to say more.
It's been years since the last time we had a conversation like this and the last time I checked, he doesn't like talking to me so why the sudden change?
"Have you had your snacks?" He asked.
I shook my head. "Hindi naman ako gutom," I answered.
"It's almost four in the afternoon," he said as if I didn't know. He held the handle of my wheelchair and pushed it to the sides, where there was a table and chairs. "Wait here. I'll get you something to eat." He then said.
I tried to stop him but he didn't listen and left. He went back minutes after, he was now holding a tray containing a fitcher of orange juice and two plates of sliced cake.
He put it on the table then looked at me. "Do you want me to carry you and move to the chair?" He asked.
With widened eyes, I shook my head. "No. I'm fine here," I said.
I'm confused. I don't know why he was suddenly acting like this. He said he hates me and it weird me out seeing him act like this. I'm scared that this could lead me in a wrong way.
"Why are you doing this?" Before I could stop myself, I already asked.
He arched his brow again. "Doing what?" He asked also.
"This. Why are you suddenly acting nice to me? Because as I remember it, you said you hate me," I answered.
"When did I say I hate you?" He asked again instead of answering me.
"Don't deny it! You told me years ago that you hate a spoiled and bully kid like me!"
"Are you spoiled or a bully? You're stubborn and love to involve yourself in some trouble but I never heard that you bullied someone. In fact, it was you who got bullied most of the time." He said.
"How do you know about that?" I asked.
"Dan told me," he answered.
Fuck that Dandrev! Napakadaldal talaga!
"Then, why are you doing this?" I asked again.
"Why not?" He asked again instead.
I sighed.
He really won't tell me, isn't he?
"You're misleading me," I admitted.
What's the purpose of hiding my feelings when he knew it from the very beginning.
"Am I?" He asked again, smirking at me.
I rolled my eyes. "If you're trying to play with me, then stop." I said.
He crossed his arms to his chest. "I'm not playing with you, I'm not even trying," he said.
"Bakit mo nga ginagawa 'to?!" Sigaw ko na. Pikon na sa paligoy-ligoy n'ya.
But this jerk, instead, laughed at me. He was laughing heartily that it annoyed me even more.
"You're a jerk!" I spat and pushed the wheels of my wheelchair.
"You're still that hot-tempered kid," he said, holding onto my wheelchair, stopping me to leave.
"I'm not a kid anymore, Dashiel. Stop insulting me," I said.
He laughed again.
"You always take my words as something bad and you claim that you're not a kid anymore," he said.
Mas lalo akong nainis.
"Move away, Dashiel. Masasapak na kita," I said. Ngumisi siya lalo.
"You're a violent kid." Ani n'ya.
Sinapak ko na. "I said, stop teasing me. You better go back to your room and face your books!" I said.
He held my hand, stopping me to throw another punch. "You're not a kid, huh?"
"Oo! Kaya bitawan mo na ako at nang makaalis na." I said.
"You're not a kid..." Ulit n'ya.
I tried to punch him again but he held my hand tightly.
"Oo nga! Ano ba? Bumaba ka ba rito para asarin lang ak-." He cut me off.
"Then, date me." He said.
My eyes are wide open as I stare at him. He was serious. He said that seriously but I can't get myself to believe him.
I shook my head and laughed a bit.
"Anong bang trip mo? Nakakain ka ba ng expired or panis?" I said, natatawa na naiiyak. Natatawa for I don't reason and naiiyak dahil sa inis.
I'm mad that he tried to toy my feelings. Palibhasang alam niyang gusto ko siya kaya ang lakas ng loob na pag tripan ako.
"I'm serious, Alexandria. Date me, please." He said.
I put down my hands on my lap, tired of his teasing.
Tears fell down my eyes, I can't help it. "Will you please stop playing with my feelings? Hindi ko naman i-di-deny na hanggang ngayon ay gusto pa rin kita, pero huwag naman sana ganito. Huwag mo naman ipamukha sa akin na hindi mo ako magugustuhan," sabi ko.
Alam ko naman. Paulit-ulit niya sinabi noon na hindi niya ako magugustuhan kahit anong gawin ko. Kaya bakit? Bakit niya ba ginagawa 'to?
Okay naman kami sa mga nakaraang taon. Okay naman akong hindi niya ako pinapansin, ayos lang. At least, doon, alam kong wala talaga akong pag-asa. Pero para gawin niyo ito? Aasa lang ako na pwede kahit alam kong masasaktan din ako sa huli.
"Did I hurt your feelings so much for you to not believe me?" He asked, wiping my tears.
"Dash..." I called him, my voice was weak.
"I won't force you to believe me but I want you to know that I'm serious," he said. "I like you, Dri." He added. He was smiling as he said that and wiping more tears from my cheeks.
"How can you say that like me when you told me years back that you hate me," I said.
"Things change, Dri. I saw you grow up and as I, I realized that I was wrong for hating you. You're stubborn, yes. But you're not what I thought you were." He said.
"How can I be sure you're telling the truth?" I asked.
He smiled and pushed himself towards me, his lips touched my forehead. Natulala na naman ako.
"Try me, Dri. Try me and I'll show you how serious I am," he said.
And I don't how, I just remember staring straight in his eyes as he said that and unconsciously, I nodded. Agreeing to his proposal.
"Are we...are we dating now?" I asked.
Dashiel laughed. "I should be the one asking that," he said and held my hand again, he intertwined his to mine. "Are you my girlfriend now?" He asked.
And I am almost out of breath. My insides ache as if some wild animals are having a war in it.
"Are you my girlfriend now, Alexandria?" He asked again and without thinking, I nodded.
He smiled and pulled my wheelchair closer to him. "Thank you, baby. You make me happy," he said.
I smiled at him and nodded.
Ako rin. I'm so happy to know that he likes me. All along, I thought my feelings would never be reciprocated. That he will remain a dream that I will never reach. That he will hate me forever just because of the way he looks at me, the things he thought I was. I was wrong, because finally, he will reciprocate my feelings for him.
He wiped more tears that kept on falling from my eyes. "Why are you still crying?" He asked, his brows were creased.
I shook my head. "I'm just happy," I answered.
He smiled and cupped my face. "Stop crying okay? Just smile if you're happy," he said then kissed my eyes.
We stayed at their pool side as we ate the food he brought. Our hands intertwined as we talked about the past.
"When did you start liking me?" I asked.
He shrugged. "Secret." He said.
I nudged him. "Come on, tell me!" I insisted.
"Stop asking, baby, please? You're embarrassing me," he said.
My mouth hung. Wow. Ang lakas mag aya na i-date ko siya tapos ngayon mahihiya.
"I'm just asking you when did you start liking me. What's embarrassing there?" I said.
He looked at me, his face a bit reddened.
Oh... He's really embarrassed.
I smirked and squinted my eyes. "Do you really like me?" I teased.
His brows furrowed more. "I like you more than you could imagine so please, baby, stop asking and eat." Ani n'ya.
I'm not convinced and insisted on knowing when he started liking me. And they really won't tell me until I get pissed.
"When you turned twelve, after I saw you helped the old man selling balloons outside the church," he said.
"When I was twelve? You were nineteen at that time." I said.
He glared at me. "I know what you were thinking," he said. "I know I'm too old for you," he said.
I smiled and held his hand. "I don't mind the age gap. You forgot, I have been crushing on you since I was seven," I said.
He stared at me intently for a while before he looked away and shook his head.
I pouted, bewildered by what he was thinking.
"A!" We both turned to look inside when we heard Dionne calling for me. "Alexa!" She calls again and her voice is getting clearer.
My initial reaction was to push the wheelchair away from Dashiel, giving us enough space.
Dashiel looked at me confusedly. "What are you doing?" He asked.
"I'm sorry," I said and shook my head.
He was about to say something but I immediately shut him off. Dionne came and it confusedly looked at us.
"What are you two doing?" She asked.
I sighed.
I shook my eyes. "We're just talking," I answered.
I glanced at Dashiel and I saw how creased his brows are. I felt guilty.
I'm sorry, baby, but I can't tell anyone about us yet.
"Really? I thought you don't like each other?" D said. She came near us and kissed us both on the cheeks. "And you're home, Kuya? It's a weekday." She added.
Dashiel stood and put his hands inside his pocket. "Just came to run important errands," he said.
"Oh? What is it?" D asked more.
Dashiel shrugged and instead of answering his sister's question, he said he'll head back to his room, leaving us at the poolside.
- Writer
