A Year Again (TagLish)

CHAPTER 5: Ice Cream

CHAPTER 5: Ice Cream

GAVIN's POV

I left her house after saying goodbye to eachother. I stopped outside as i close the door, thinking if i should go back and ask her out, just like how friends go out. I think for awhile before turning the doorknob and pushing the door open.

I saw her looking at her arms, is she tired? She looks tired, i was about to go out quietly leaving her alone so she can rest, but our eyes met.

I stopped and looked at her, "Uhhh.... Gusto mo ba lumabas? Tayo lang dalawa, kagaya noon, diba?" i courageously asked her.

She stopped and think for a second, "Is my friend asking me out? Well im excited, so what's the plan?" She said and laughed.

"I don't know what you're thinking, but it seems like it. Im asking you out....." I was cut off saying my last words which are "in a friendly way" because tita, her mom, came.

I was shocked and can't complete my sentence, i saw tita's face light up and she smiled.

"Oh really? Pag-iisipan kopa Gavin" she said, and that is where the misunderstanding happened.

"Tha-that's not what i meant, im just asking you out in...." Then i looked at tita because i heard her cough. I took a deep breath and knew that i failed once again.

"I understand, in a friendly way?" Isabel asked and walk towards me. "I know Gav, kaya ang sagot ko ay oo. Hintayin mo lang ako, parang bruha ako ngayon eh" she said and we both laugh.

This is why i love her, she's so simple and she makes me smile. I missed her so much and I've been planning this since last year. She didn't come, she wasn't here, now her presence is making me smile again.

"Saan ba kayo pupunta?" Tita asked and sat near Isabel. "Wala pa akong plano tita, sa labas lang naman po. Ice cream?" I explained, and i saw the smile on Isabel's face.

"Ice cream!? Eh tara na! Sandali lang, im just gonna change" she said and rushed to her room. Tita looked at me and laugh, "Parang bumalik lang sa pagkabata, salamat Gavin, pinapasaya mo sya palagi" she said.

"It's my job as her friend naman po tita. I love her, as a friend ofcourse, i will do anything for her." I said, "Kaibigan lang ba talaga ang tingin mo sa anak ko? Gawin mo lang ang gusto ng puso mo, ganun lang ang masasabi ko." She said and left.

I sat at the sofa and waited for Isabel to come out. It's been minutes now, should i knock and tell her to hurry up?

Well, im just gonna do it. I went to her room and knock, she then opened the door. She looks gorgeous, just a plain white t-shirt and jeans.

"Pumasok ka nga, i need your help" she said and pulled me inside her room. "Ano?" I asked because i was shocked.

She went to her cabinet finding something leaving me hanging. "Ano nga?" I asked. She looked at me with 5 necklaces in her hand, "Pick one na bagay sakin". I looked at everything and couldn't find and answer, "I don't know, lahat naman bagay sayo." I said

"I knew you would say that, pero hindi naman pwede na limang necklaces and susuotin ko, so help me." She said, "Wala ka bang gusto dyan?" I asked and she looked at the necklaces, "Ewan ko nga ba" she answered.

I then had an idea in mind, "Just don't wear anything then, maganda ka naman kahit wala." I said in a serious way, still thinking of my plan for today.

"Talaga ba?" She said, is she even serious? Can't she see how beautiful she is everyday? "Hindi siguro, ang panget mo nalang." I took back what i said.

She grew closer to me and held my face, "Xyvier." She called me by the name no one really calls me, she's one of the people close enough to call me that. "What are you up to?" She asked and we grow closer to each other, and I can't control my breath.

"Ano ba ang ibig mong sabihin?" I asked while looking into her brown eyes. "Wala pala?" She said and look away, removing her hand from my face and stepping back. I want to pull her closer now but i can't, she's my friend after all.

"Ano?" I asked innocently, "Ano ba ang nasa isip mo?" I added. "Don't you like me?" She asked and grab my collar, as i look away from her eyes. "What are you talking about?" I asked looking angry, "So you don't?" She asked.

"Answer me first." I said looking straight into her eyes like i was hypnotized. She looked down breaking our gaze and took a deep breath, "Im sorry, I didn't think through, i was caught off guard." She answered, or is it an excuse?

I wanted to hug her right now, to show her how much i miss her, but i stopped myself before doing something stupid.

She is still close to me and not stepping away, should i just go? But I can't move, it feels like i froze on the spot. She looked into my eyes, "Xyvier, i wanted to ask you again since you didn't answer. I hope you will answer since i answered your question." She said, but she didn't fully answer my question, as she was thinking something else.

What happened to her? Why is she acting like this? "Kinakabahan na ako sayo ngayon, but i will answer truthfully." I said and gulped.

"Wala ba talaga? Xyvier, do you love me?" She asked, and now i know she is serious, asking with my name on it is giving me a sign she is serious. It's giving me chills, im getting goosebumps, if I don't handle this situation properly, baka walang ice cream na magaganap.

I will answer with the best i can para sa ice cream, para lang sa ice cream. I looked at my watch, "We're getting late so you should better hurry." I said and stepped away removing her hands from my collar, but she grabbed it again and pulled me closer, the nose to nose close.

"Then what about my question?" She asked, "I will answer it at the end of the day, if you go with me now." I answered.

"You must have everything planned, Xyvier." She said, growing closer to me. "Stop it." I said, cause I did not want to hurt her by grabbing her. She looked down and removed her hands, "Ill be there in a minute, maghintay ka nalang muna sa labas." She said and i left.

As i close the door, i took a deep breath still realising what she did back there, and how i saved our friendship.

Why? Does she like me? I know she hasn't fully moved on from Alexander, he is her great love. I was always second for her when he came into the picture, i was always there when they fight, i was always there for her.

Isabel, you're making me crazy, and this feelings should stop. I just wanted to continue our friendship with nothing else, at the end of the day, you will just forget everything, move on, and think of him. I was always that supportive friend, but that's it, right?

I always hope i was wrong, i was always hoping that you like me too, or you love me the same as i love you. But those are all fantasies like kids believe in fairies.

I saw her stepping out from her room, nothing changed from her outfit but there was no smile. She looked at me with no emotions at all, so i smiled at her but she look away, "Tara na?" She asked and looked at me again.

"Kung okay kana, then we can go." I answered, "Im okay with everything." She said. "You're not smiling at all, or showing any emotions at all. Is there a problem?" i asked.

ISABEL's POV

Why am i like this? Am i this desperate? I was never like this, ever. He is my friend, but why do i seem sad? Him looking at me just make my heart race everytime, he looks handsome today too.

Why can't i control myself? This is driving me crazy, you're driving me crazy Xyvier.

"Wala namang problema, cmon, don't mind me" i answered and gave him a big smile. He looked worried, "Tara na nga" i said and pulled him outside the door of the house.

"Hindi kaba magpapaalam kay tita?" He asked, while looking at the door, breaking our hands holding each other. "Sinabihan ko naman sya kanina eh, it's fine, ikaw naman kasama ko, and nandun naman sya when you ask me out." I answered.

"Friendly date lang to....." He was about to say something, when my phone rang. It's Kevin, i grab my phone from my bag, and he probably saw who was calling.

"Sino yan? Boyfriend mo?" Ito talaga linyahan ng mga nagseselos eh, that's why im gonna tease him today, "Ah oo." I acted naturally. "Mabuti yan, you're finally moving on, im proud of you, pwede ko bang makausap yan? Dapat matino yan." He said, it thought he's gonna get angry, but why does he look happy?

"Nah, just kidding, kaibigan ko lang sa Australia." I said and answered the phone.

"Kevs, what is it?" I asked

"Isabel, are you back home already? You know i miss you, i mean everyone miss you." He said from the other line, i forgot to turn off the speaker, im sure Xyvier heard it. So i turned the speaker of for him to grow curious of what we're taking about, this is just how evil of a person i am, works everytime.

"Im back safely, Kevin. I miss all of you too, i didn't have the time to tell you or even video call because i was busy. Im actually going out with my friend today." I explained to him, i totally forgot about them lol

"Who is she?" He asked, but it's a boy

"It's a he, Kev. So as i was saying, aalis na kami, and we can't be late no more. Im hanging up now, i will call in the group chat later, bye!" I shouted

"Sure, i will be waiting, bye!" He said and hang up. I looked at Xyvier as he is looking at his phone, i decided to sneak and see what he is up to, he is chatting with someone.

It's a girl, named Andrea, may heart pa, ganun lang naman nakita ko. Is he playing with me right now? Asking me out tapos may girlfriend??.

"May nakita kaba sa cellphone ko?" He asked, he knew i took a peek. "Sino si Andrea?" I asked, failed to hold myself back. "Wala, just a friend. Tara na nga" he said while smiling, ang labo mo naman Xyvier.

"Jeep lang tayo?" He asked, it's been years since ive rode one. "Wala ka bang sasakyan? Akala ko bumili ka." I asked, "I have, im not gonna go over to my house to get the car though, i even left my bike in your house." He answered.

"Sige, tara na." I said at sumakay kami sa Jeep.

Parang wala na nga akong upuan dito kasi puno na, ang sikip sikip naman, napakainit pa. He is sitting beside me and i know that he's feeling uncomfortable too.

He put his lips close to my ears, ready to whisper something. "Do you want to sit on my lap? Parang wala ka nang upuan dyan, I can't sit comfortably here too knowing that you can't even sit properly." He whispered as it tickles my ears.

Sit on his lap? Is he okay? I remember my father now, i was always doing that kapag puno na. "Dali na." He whispered and im feeling his hot breath on my neck and ears.

"Wait, I can't move here, you know?" I said, not whispering at all, making everyone hear that it's hard for me.

He grab my waist and lift me up to his lap, I didn't even do anything, he did everything for me. I can see people in the jeepney looking at us, I don't even know what they're thinking.

"Mag-asawa naba kayo? Magaganda siguro mga anak nyo, o magiging anak nyo. Wag kayong mag away palagi, at ikaw iho, alagaan mong maiigi ang asawa mo." Sabi ng matanda saamin, at lahat ng attention nasa amin na.

"Ang ganda nyo naman po." Sabi ng bata saamin. I was just planning to play along, "Ahh magkaibigan lang po kami la, pero aalagaan ko po siya gaya ng sabi nyo." He said, ganda na sana nun eh. So i just smiled at her, i can't even see his face because my back is facing him.

"Ah ganun ba? Iha, parang gusto mo naman sya eh, sagutin mo nalang, meron pang hinaharap para sainyong dalawa. Ito lang ang masasabi ko, sundin ninyo ang puso nyo." Sabi ng matandang babae at umalis na sa jeep ng huminto ito.

After minutes, "Were close, humanda kana at aalis na tayo." He said with his deep voice from behind me.

"Para po manong." He said and pushed me using his lap. I lost balance but good thing he held my hand, what the heck was that?

"Anong ginagawa mo? I whispered, "Alis na." He said, is he in a bad mood?

We finally got out of that crowded jeepney, "Ano bang problema mo?" I asked, and he looked confused, he was just pulling me then i stopped walking. "What is it?" He asked, but i just looked at him, making him realize what he did. "Oh that? It was a mistake, i was hoping you would understand, sorry na Isabel." He said and pulled me sa nagtitinda ng ice cream.

"Manong!" He shouted, and the vendor smiled, "Gavin, sino yang kasama mo?" The vendor asked, "Si Isabel po, kababata ko po." He answered politely. "Ahh, ang magandang dalaga na palagi mong sinasabi saakin. Nakilala din kita, bibili ba kayo? Hindi ito libre." Sabi ng lalaki, so i smiled.

"Magandang umaga po manong, niyaya po nya ako, kakain daw po kami ng ice cream. Talaga po ba? Maganda ba talaga ako?" I joke and we both laugh except Xyvier.

"Ang panget mo kaya, tara na, bili na tayo." Xyvier said and pulled me papunta kay manong.

"Dalawang chocolate po." He said, he really knows what i like, and we have a lot in common too.

Manong looked at me, "Ito ba gusto mo?" he asked me, "Oo po manong." I answered.

He started making our ice cream and we just waited, i want to talk to him but he is in his phone. He looked at me still not putting his phone away, "Ano?" He asked, suplado talaga to. "Akala ko ba date to, why are you in your phone?" i said and he laugh, "Date? Im just taking you out eating ice cream, besides, this is important." He answered.

"I don't understand you, is it more important than me?" I asked, "I need to answer this or else masisira plano ko." he said mumbling half of the end.

I look away, then look at the ice cream being ready to serve. I got the ice cream from the vendor, and he got his too. Xyvier paid for the ice cream and we said goodbye to the vendor.