The Casanova's Match

Chapter 7: Tension

"Tapos, sa sobrang takot niya doon sa lalaki, sinipa niya at nagtatakbo siya palayo!" Irish's mother laughed as she told the story to Ice.

"Ah, So that's how Irish acts when she's scared, Ma?"

"Ay oo nak, talagang hindi mo 'yan mapipigilan! Sisipain ka talaga sa paa kapag gusto na niyang makalayo."

Ice laughed as he secretly looked towards Irish. She on the other hand, is smiling brightly. Faking every inch of it to not let him see her frustrations. Gusto na niyang sabunutan ang sarili. Halos gabi na, malapit na ang hapunan at nandito pa rin si Ice, masayang nakikipagkwentuhan sa Mama niya.

Kahit na gusto niya, hindi niya mapagtabuyan ang binata dahil ang sarili niyang Nanay ay hindi siya papayagan na makaalis.

"Shih Tzu, bakit tulala ka d'yan?"

"Hmm? Wala, uhm," she turned to smile at her mother. "Ma, gabi na. Kailangan na umuwi ni Ice, baka hinahanap na siya sa kanila."

"Ay! Hindi ko napansin ang oras, sandali at magluluto ako." Napangiti si Irish sa narinig niya. Tumayo na siya para samahan si Ice at ipagtulakan siya palabas ng pintuan pero napahinto siya sa sinabi ng mama niya.

"Nak, gusto mo ba ng sinigang?"

"Yes po Ma," Ice answered.

"'Wag ka nga mang-angkin ng Nanay," panggigigil niya kay Ice. Napangiti naman si Ice sa itsura niya. Iritable ang dalaga at halos suntukin na niya si Ice sa pagkainis.

"Irish bakit mo inaaway si Ice?" biglang sumulpot ang Mama ni Irish mula sa kusina habang hawak ang sandok at iwinawagayway pa.

"Ma, kailan pa kayo naging mag-ina?"

"Aba, ngayon mo palang pinakilala sa akin ang boyfriend mo. Syempre dapat maging welcoming-"

"Ma hindi ko nga siya bofriend-"

"Soon Ma, I promise."

Mabilisin na tinakpan ni Irish ang bibig ni Ice. Napangiti nalang ang binata at pasimpleng iniwanan ng halik ang palad niya nasa bibig nito.

"Gusto ko itong si Ice," kinikilig na wika nang Ginang.

If Irish's stare could kill, Ice would definitely lifeless right now. She wiped off her palm that he lightly kissed on his shoulder as soon as her mom left them to focus on cooking.

"Kadiri ka, mayak."

"What did I do? You're Mom is having fun teasing us, I see noting wrong."

"Sira! Ngayon palang tayo nagkakilala, tapos iniisip ni Mama, jowa na kita."

Ice leaned closer to Irish and rested his hand on her shoulder, even pulling her closer. Irish watched his hand move to her side with her eyebrows furrowed in disgust.

"Ice, 'wag mo akong landiin."

"I'm not trying to, I just can't stop myself fro-"

"Alam mo nak, madaming pictures 'yang girlfriend mo noong bata pa siya. Halika at ipapakita ko!" Sa kabila nang pagkabigla ni Irish dahil sa biglang pagsulpot ng kanyang Ina, hindi naman natinag si Ice na kalmadong nakayakap sa balikat niya.

Hindi rin niya inaasahan na walang pagtutol ang Mama niya sa nakita. Parang kinikilig pa nga ito!

"Ma, 'wag mo na siyang-"

"Shh! Bantayan mo 'yong pinapakulo ko! " tumuro pa ang Ginang sa kusina. "Ice tara ipapakita ko ang kuwarto ni Irish-"

"Ma!"

"Yes Ma, coming!" Kinindatan pa ni Ice si Irish pagtayo.

"Anong nangyayari? Bakit hindi ko maintindihan 'to?" Isip ni Irish sa sarili niya. Nanlulumo siyang nagtungo sa kusina para bantayan ang mga niluluto.

Ice was led upstairs straight to a pretty and comfy room. It's surrounded by sparkly fairy lights and a bunch of amazing galaxy pieces of art.

"Nak tignan mo," he felt a warm hand pull him in. His lips curved up a little as he grabbed the photo book off of her hand. It's cover is a picture of Irish when she was a baby.

She's wearing a cute rabbit overall and is peacefully sleeping in her little crib. Magmula noong bata palang, makikita mo na talaga na napakaganda nang dalaga.

"She's so cute," he softly whispered.

"Ang cute ano? Hindi mo aakalain na lalaking napakakulit!"

He flipped the page to see more of her baby pictures. Nagtawanan pa ang dalawa noong umabot sila sa larawan ni Irish na naka-pose sa isang malaking upuan at parang prinsesa.

"You like her?" hindi nagdalawang isip na tumango si Ice. Not noticing how the woman's smile grew.

"She's a nice girl Ice, hindi siya katulad nang iba na pumapasok sa relasyon para lang masabi na hindi sila nag-iisa," she said. "Seryoso siya sa usapan na gan'yan. I remember before, someone really tried to court her, pero hindi umubra."

"Who is he?"

He frowned as he heard the lady laugh.

"Bakit ka mukhang nagseselos? Agad?" tinapik ng Ginang ang balikat niya. "Ice, alam ko na kakakilala niyo palang, pero may feeling lang ako na mabuti kang bata. At sa tingin ko, hindi ka magpapakita sa akin kung nagloloko ka lang."

Panandaliang natahimik ang dalawa.

"She's used to being alone. At sa totoo lang, I am worried. Biglaan ang naging paglipat niya ng school-"

"I'll be with her, you don't have to worry."

She felt sincerity in his voice, and it somehow reassured her, "Thank you, I'll take your word."

"Ma! Kumukulo na- Hoy! Bakit hawak mo yan?" Gigil na inagaw ni Irish ang photobook sa kamay ni Ice. Tinanguan lang siya ng Mama ni Irish bago sila iwanan, parang senyales na huwag niyang ipaalam kay Irish ang naging usapan nila.

"Shutek naman, anong tinignan mo ha?"

"I like your poses, you are very cute."

"Shuta Ice, malakas ako manapak promise-"

"Gusto kong ilagay sa school paper 'yong isa," he snatched the album to point at a picture of little Irish wearing a cute bra and tutu while dancing on top of a table. "This one, it's so cute!"

"Yuck! Mukha akong batang p****k d'yan, kadiri!"

"What a f*cking cute little dancer," he tucked her hair behind her ear. "I have a big table in my room, wanna dance on it?"

"G*ago manahimik ka nga." she pushed him. Mabilis siyang tumalikod para pumunta sa may kama niya. She tried so hard to hide her warm flushed cheeks.

"Are you shy?"

"Anong shy naman? Tinatago ko lang itong album. Baka kasi kung ano pa ang mahanap mo, medyo adik ka pa naman, baka kung ano ang maisipan mo na gawin." She pulled the drawer of her nightstand.

"Hey no, I'm not done looking!"

Irish wasn't expecting him to forcefully pull her hand. In the end, the two lost their balance. Ice landed on the bed and Irish fell on top of him, the impact made her bounce a bit. Making her lips accidentally touch his neck.

"Oh f*ck," he whispered in a deep hoarse voice.

"Ang gulo mo kasi, sandali nga-Ice," he just smirked at her reaction. "Ice, bitawan mo ako hindi ako makatayo."

"Excuse me, I am not stopping you." Napakunot noo si Irish habang tinitignan ang kamay ni Ice na malinaw na nakakapit kay Irish.

"Oh, sorry!" he giggled.

He loosened his grip letting her stand up. She tried her hardest to act cool, trying to forget about the thing that just happened. But for some reason, her mind can only think of how good he smells and its making her blush more.

"Irish?"

"AH!Ah ha?" he chuckled.

"Are you feeling hot or something?"

"No. Why would I? Like, for what reason?"

"Your face is red," he whispered. Napabalikwas ang dalaga nang makita niya ang matangkad na binatang nakayuko sa likuran niya.

"Ayos ka lang? Mainit kaya-" she held her breath, unable to utter another word when Ice moved closer to her bare neck. His breath softly brushing her skin,

"Hmm, have you ever heard of, s****l tension before?"