10 - SUNRISE
1037 Words
XANDER'S POV
"I thought we're going home." she told me as we reached the rooftop of our Company's building.
I just shrugged and look at her.
"Ngayon mo pa talaga naisipang itanong 'yan?"
Galing kami sa birthday party ni Trisxh. Meron pa ngang after party with our barkada pero we decided to escape dahil for sure inuman session lang naman 'yun and I can't afford to make Rish drunk.
"I thought may dadaanan ka lang dito." she answered as she sit and stared at the sky.
It's already 2 AM, medyo malamig na rin kaya naman hinubad ko ang suot kong coat at maingat na ipinatong sa balikat ni Rish.
"I just want to be with you." I winked although hindi naman siya nakatingin sa'kin. Tss.
Umupo na lang ako sa tabi niya.
"How’s school?"
"Fine, as long as hindi ka magpapakita sa'kin before or during exams.Don't show your face starting tomorrow." she glared at me as I raised my hands as a sign of defeat.
"You're not Miss Perfect anymore huh?" I teased nang muling maalala ang pagiging "distracted"" niya because of me.
"Hindi naman talaga ako perpekto. Nobody's perfect right?"
I nodded.
"Why you decided to court me anyway?" she asked me out of the blue.
Ilang minuto pang nagloading ang utak ko bago ako nakapagreact.
"W-wait. W-why you're asking me that?"
I heard her chuckled bago siya bumaling sa'kin.
"Did I catch you off-guard?"
I snorted at iniwasan ang mga titig niya.
"Stop teasing me Rish."
"I'm not teasing you Krisz."
I smiled upon hearing her calling me by my first name..
"I’am courting you because I love you." I answered. "Since the day that I saw you again after 10 years, hindi na natahimik 'yung heartbeats ko. I know I'm being a jerk that time but defense mechanism ko lang 'yun. Ayoko lang mahalata mo o ng barkada 'yung feelings ko for you." I smiled as I remember the past. "I was threatened by Jake's presence. He likes you too, although he's my friend I'm willing to fight for you."
She remained silent, kaya tiningnan ko siya.
I gasped when I found out that's she's staring at me too.
"Thank you for fighting for me." she mumbled as she shifted her gaze. "I appreciate everything."
"Sinasagot mo na ako niyan?" I teased her as I bumped her shoulder.
Tinulak niya naman ako palayo, dahilan para mahulog ako mula sa bench na inuupuan namin.
"Serves you right.." she smirked.
I glared at her at muling umupo sa tabi niya.
"Amasona ka pa rin.." I muttered. "My amasona." I whispered to her ear.
I felt her stiffened.
"L-lumayo ka nga.." turan nito at muli na naman akong tinutulak palayo.
I chuckled at kinuha ang mga kamay niyang tumutulak sa'kin, I interwined it with my own hands.
"H-hey, what did you think you're doing? L-let go of my hands.."
Sinusubukan niyang kumawala pero lalo ko lang hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa mga kamay niya.
"Can’t you see it? Our hands perfectly fits. We're really meant for each other Rish." I told her as I looked at our hands in my lap.
I heard her sighed.
"What’s the sense of it kung pinipilit mo lang akong makipag-holding hands sa'yo? It's against my will Krisz, just let go of my hands." she coldy asked.
I was dumbfounded, I felt hurt and rejected, absentmindedly I let go of her hands.
"I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean it." I told her as I stand up and walked near the railings.
Wrong move Xander!
I heaved a sigh as I watched the city lights below.
Pinipilit ko nga lang ba ang sarili ko kay Rish? But what about her actions? Her words? Is it a sign that maybe, just maybe, she likes me too? Or I'm just reading a wrong signal?
"H-hey.." tawag niya ng tumabi siya sa'kin. "I'm sorry, nabigla lang din ako."
I nodded.
"H-hindi ako sweet o showy. Hindi ako tulad ni Trisxh o ni Fiona. And I'll tell you exactly what's on my mind. Hindi ko kayang magsinungaling o magpaligoy-ligoy. My words can hurt you and it will hurt you more in the future."
I closed my eyes as I felt something in my heart.
"I'm not perfect and I'll never be. I'll understand if you ---"
"No.." I exclaimed as I face her. "I'm not giving up Rish. It's okay if you hurt me. It's really okay. Lahat naman ng nagmamahal, masasaktan. That's how love works. I'm prepared. I'm willing to feel that pain as long as it's for you."
I held her face and hugged her.
"I love you Rish, I really do. I hope someday, magawa mong magtiwala sa naramdaman ko for you. I'm really serious about this Rish, I'm seriously in love with you."
She didn't respond but she hugged me back. And it's a good sign, isn't it?
"W-why did you bring me here anyway?" she asked me after a decade of silence.
After that cheezy moment, tahimik kaming bumalik at naupo sa pwesto namin kanina. It's really awkward, no one's talking at pareho lang kaming nagpapakiramdaman. Ngayon lang din kasi nagsink-in sa'kin ang mga sinabi ko a while ago at ngayon lang din ako inatake ng hiya.
I smiled as I noticed the clear light in front of us. I stand up at inilahad ang kanang kamay ko sa kanya.
"C-can I hold your hand?" I stuttered. "H-hey I'm asking permission here.."
I heard her chuckled as I felt her hand against mine. Inalalayan ko siyang tumayo but I never let go of her hand.
"What now?" she asked as we're facing each other.
I smiled as I urged her to look in front of us.
"W-what the---wow!"
I stared at her habang nakangiti niyang pinagmamasdan ang sunrise.
"Beautiful.." she muttered.
I nodded.
"Indeed. It is the most beautiful sunrise that I've seen." I told her as I hold her hand tightly.
Napalingon naman siya sa'kin and I don't know if it's my imagination or what but I saw her blushed.
I stared at her intently.
"With the girl I love beside me and with her hand willingly intertwined with mine.. what a perfect sunrise."
- Writer
