A Forbidden Affair (Filipino)

CHAPTER 1.3

"Ash," untag ko sa kaniya.

"Hmmm?"

"Ibili mo nga ako ng libro. Wala na akong mababasa, eh. Tinatamad akong mag-online shop at tinatamad din akong lumabas," iba ko rin sa usapan.

"Kiss muna."

Hay naku! Puro kalokohan.

"Huwag na nga."

He chuckled, and his arm wrapped around me, transforming into a comforting hug. This man exudes remarkable charisma and self-assurance. If he were someone else, his soul might have soared by now. He's the only one who has this effect on me.

"Sige na, bukas bibilhan kita. Tapos mo na ba 'yong ibinigay ko sa 'yong mga libro noong galing akong Paris?"

"Oo, lima lang naman 'yon, eh," saad ko sabay tingala sa kaniya. Nanlaki naman ang kaniyang mga mata.

"Grabi sa lang, ah? May dalawang libro akong bago, ikaw muna magbasa then after mo ay ako naman."

"Talaga? Genre?"

"Mystery-Thriller. Iyon lang naman ang paborito mo."

Palagi niya talagang kino-consider kung magugustuhan ko ba ang binibili niyang libro dahil alam niyang hihiramin o hihingiin ko lang din naman.

"Cool. Ibigay mo na mamaya sa 'kin."

"Oo na po. Kakasabi lang, eh."

"Excited lang ako."

If there's one thing we both loved to do, especially when we were bored, it was reading. Back in our childhood, our mothers often recounted stories about how we did it frequently. I took turns being the storyteller, and he did too.

To be honest, I can't recall much about those times. What I do remember vividly is my 18th birthday. He gifted me ten romance novels, purely to poke fun at me because, of all the genres, that was the one I disliked the most. I found it boring and couldn't stand the fairy tale concepts.

However, his mischievous gift actually brought me closer to romantic stories. Now, I'm open to reading all genres with no particular preferences, though I have to admit that action still excites me the most.

"Palagi ka namang excited kapag libro ang usapan. Kawawa magiging asawa mo. Laging magseselos at magagalit sa 'yo."

"That's why I need to find a man who can tolerate my book addiction. At least, books lang ang magiging karibal niya at hindi tao."

"I can bear with your book addiction—"

"Mukha mo," putol ko sa sasabihin niya, patutsada na naman 'yon. Alam ko na ang liko ng bituka ng lalaking ito eh. Natawa lang ang haduf.

“Ang mukha ko ay guwapo."

"Ashmer," may diin kong asik.

"Yes?"

"Puwedeng kumalas ka na sa 'kin bago ko pa maputol ang kamay mo?"

"Ayaw."

"Isa," asik ko pa pero parang wala siyang narinig. "Dalawa," pagpapatuloy ko. Wala pa rin. Nakatingala lang siya sa kalangitan. "Tat..."

"Ayan na nga, bibitiw na, damot!"

"Gags ka ba? Sumasakit talaga panga ko sa 'yo! Akin na 'yang libro ko."

Tumayo na ako at akmang kukunin ang libro na nasa tabi niya pero mabilis na nakuha niya iyon at itinaas.

"Ash naman! Kainis ka talaga."

"Agawin mo muna."

"Ano ako bata?" Humagalpak naman siya ng tawa. "Bahala ka nga, hatid mo 'yan sa Flat ko! Masama pakiramdam..."

"Heto na nga," aniya sabay abot sakin ng libro. Inilapat niya pa palad niya sa noo at leeg ko na para bang sinusuri kong may lagnat ako.

"Ginagawa mo?"

"Sabi mo masama pakiramdam mo? Inom ka kaagad ng gamot, kumain ka na ba?"

Natawa naman ako. "Crazy. Hindi lahat ng masama ang pakiramdam ay dahil sa lagnat. Ibang sama ng pakiramdam ito," biro ko pa. Napansin ko ang biglaang pagseryoso ng kaniyang mukha.

"It's not easy to pretend that everything is okay between us, is it?" tanong niya pa.

Marahan akong tumango para sang-ayonan ang kaniyang tanong.

"Yeah, but you understand why we chose this situation, right?" pangugumpirma ko naman.

"Why can't I choose you? You know I'm doing everything I can to stay with Percy because of you, don't you?"

There was only silence. Complete silence.

"Let's not talk about this, Ashmer, if you want to keep talking to me."

"Marciella, hindi talaga kita maintindihan—”

"Wala rin akong maintindihan sa nangyayari, but look." I closed my eyes, overwhelmed by a whirlwind of emotions. "Hindi tayo puwede, okay?"

"I'm starting to accept that, but please, tuparin mo ang pangako mo. Mananatili ka sa tabi ko kahit na ikasal pa ako sa kaniya."

I felt as if I'd been pinned from where I stood. I swallowed hard, unable to calm the racing of my heart.

I promised to remain his close friend, but not in the way he imagines. Now, I'm afraid of getting entangled in such a forbidden affair.

No, I can't allow that. Nothing like that can happen.

"What are you talking about? Diyan ka na nga! Ang promise mong libro, ha?" asik ko sabay naglakad na paalis.

Haduf na buhay ito! Nagmumukha akong kontrabida sa isang nobela. Zsss!

I'm trying to distance myself from temptation, but it's the temptation itself that keeps getting closer to me.

Ewan, ang sakit sa panga.