The Case of Falling For You

Chapter 37

André and I went to a fancy restaurant. We dressed up quite well. I was wearing a red dress that hugged me like it had an emotional attachment to my curves. I was starting to believe André when he said all our makeout sessions count as cardio kasi for some reason, pumayat talaga ako. Tapos mas lumaki ang boobs ko dahil ginawa niya itong fidget toy.

My boyfriend was wearing a suit and it made me want to combust on the spot, but I kept my cool. Alam niya namang gwapo siya. Though once a month, I give him his ego multivitamins and tell him he’s pogi. Gano’n ako kabait.

We ate Wagyu steak and drank wine. We talked about nonsense and laughed so much that I almost forgot we were both traumatized by finals just a week ago. Thank God for inventing André Ladezma.

"Let's go," he said after paying.

I arched my brow at him. "We’re at a hotel."

I c****d my head and stared at him. I didn’t say anything. I just gave him the kind of long, suspicious look na pang-character arc sa teleserye.

"Maricon..." he said, his tone laced with warning.

I sipped my wine, lifted my leg, and subtly tapped his leg under the table. "I love you," I said.

"And I love you too, but if you're teasing me, you're just being mean again, Maricon Santiago," he said, clenching his jaw nang mapunta na ang paa ko sa hita niya.

I laughed. Ever since that first kiss, we’d schedule makeout sessions the way other couples schedule dentist appointments. Every 50-minute study grind, may 10-minute lab session. May timer kami. Kasi nga, future abogado kami.

And André, being the charming menace that he is, already reached second base. One time, ginulat niya ako kasi bigla na lang wala na akong shirt! Hindi ko alam kung anong kabal ng demonyo ang gumalaw, pero parang may magic iyong kamay niya! Tapos, the audacity—he suggested we record ourselves para makita ko raw paano niya ginagawa. GAGO TALAGA.

"I'm ready," I said after finishing my red wine.

"You're drunk. Have you learned nothing from Obli? Contracts agreed to in a state of drunkenness are voidable."

I gritted my teeth. Damn. I love him most when he drops provisions like it’s pillow talk. Tapos naka-suit pa siya. Tapos naka-brush up ang buhok. ITO NA. HANGGANAN NG PAGTITIMPI KO.

"I'm not drunk. I only had two glasses."

"I won’t sleep with you if you’re drunk."

"Please?"

"What the f**k is happening? Are we in an alternate timeline? I’m the one who’s supposed to be doing the begging," sabi niya habang litung-lito ang itsura. Kasi nga naman, this guy decided to be a chivalrous tuta. Lagi tuloy ako ‘yung nag-iinitiate. Parang ako ‘yung nanliligaw! Nakakahiya kaya minsan! Pero minsan, hindi na rin ako makatiis, okay?!

I stood up and started to walk away. Bukas na lang ako magmamakaawa. Mukhang ayaw talaga ni André.

I was trying to find my phone para i-text si Papa na pasado ako sa lahat. We got closer because of Ellie, my little sister. Madalas na akong magvideo call dahil gusto ko siyang makita—lalo na’t kapag nasa mall kami ni André, lagi kaming napagkakamalang young parents!

"Define quasi-contract."

"What?" tanong ko habang hinahalukay pa rin ang laman ng bag ko.

"If you can define it verbatim, I’m finally taking that virginity."

My eyes widened. "SERIOUSLY?"

He nodded. "Yeah... You can’t remember s**t when you’re drunk. So come on, baby. Prove to me you’re not drunk and let’s do what you’ve been trying to trick me into for six months."

My heart went into courtroom mode—lahat ng recit anxiety ko nag-rush in. Kinabahan ako the way I would kapag tinawag ako ni Prof Santiago na may hawak na red marker.

"Verbatim talaga?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

"Pwede bang paraphrased?"

He shook his head. "No deal."

I started ransacking my brain like it was an evidence locker. Five full minutes kaming nakatayo sa gilid ng restaurant entrance habang halos manginig na ako kakaisip. Alam ko 'to! Minemorize ko 'to with tears and caffeine!

"Give up?"

"HELL NO."

He laughed. "We can just makeout—"

"Ugh. Stop pretending na hindi ikaw ang atat."

He laughed again. "But you are. Just admit it—you’re curious..." he teased, wiggling his eyebrows.

"I’m not—" I began, but then it hit me. Like a lightning bolt from Atty. Ladezma’s bar review class.

"Certain lawful, voluntary, and unilateral acts give rise to the juridical relation of quasi-contract to the end that no one shall be unjustly enriched or benefited at the expense of another."

André’s lips parted. I arched a brow like a smug little Hermione Granger.

"That’s verbatim, Mr. André Ladezma."

I saw his chest rise and fall. He was silent for a good three seconds. Then, without another word, he grabbed my hand and walked—no, MARCHED—towards the reception.

He whipped out his card like a man with purpose. "One suite, please."

God bless quasi-contracts.