The Case of Falling For You

Chapter 31

Naglalakad pa lang kami, I was still lowkey seething. I mean, bakit ba ako nagseselos? I knew what I signed up for when I agreed to date Andrè Ladezma. Babae magnet, certified chick-charmer. Parang wifi signal: mahina pag malayo, pero pag malapit, automatic connect.

“Where do you want to eat dinner?” he asked.

“Ramen?” I said, as my love language is sodium.

He grinned. “Perfect. I know a place.”

Ugh. Sana all. Sana laging ganito. Sana hindi ako masiraan ng ulo sa lalaking ‘to.

He nodded and then got out his phone. He told me the nearest Ramen pati kung ilang stars ang meron doon.

After I decided, he started driving towards there. Habang nasa daan kami, naka-tingin lang ako sa kanya. Napansin niya na yata kasi paminsan-minsan, tumitingin na rin siya sa akin.

"What?" he asked, kinda laughing.

"Nothing. I'm sorry for snapping on you earlier."

"It's fine."

"No. I should be okay with girls flirting—as long as you don't flirt back."

"What? Of course not."

"If you flirt with someone else, I'll dump your stupid ass."

"I know."

"I'm serious. Cheating is not just physical, you know? If you emotionally cheat on me, you're dead to me. I don't believe in giving second chances to cheaters."

He laughed. "Okay PO, boss. Why are you suddenly all threat-y?"

Sumandal na muli ako. "I don't know. You're just... too good. Makes me think that sooner or later, you'd hurt me. Kasi 'di ba ganoon naman talaga? No one's perfect?"

"But I'm far from perfect," he said. "Soon, you'll see things you won't like about me... and I hope even by then, you'll still see the good things and stay."

Tumagilid ako at tumingin sa kanya. André looked so sinful... I knew that girls would throw themselves at him left and right... The only thing standing between him and cheating would be self-control.

"I can endure probably anything besides you cheating."

"Then we'd probably last because I'm sure I won't cheat."

"Okay, good."

He looked at me and smiled. "Good," he said.

Pagdating namin sa Mendokoro Ramenba, nag-usap lang kami tungkol sa random na bagay habang kumakain. André told me about what he did back in US. Apparently, he studied in UCLA because he wanted to live in Los Angeles dahil daw sa Seattle, para siyang tuyong tuyo kasi ang lagi raw umuulan doon. He also told me about his friends and kung ano ang ginagawa nila tuwing free time. I couldn't help but smile as I saw how André looked so happy while telling me about his friends back home.

Kinda made me feel guilty dahil hindi siya natuloy sa bakasyon niya. Habang nagda-drive siya, I decided to ask Jax to ask him kung na-rebook ba iyong ticket ni André. If not, I'd just get him a new one... Bakit ba ako nanghihinayang e kumpara naman sa ticket ni André, walang-wala iyon sa mga Hermès ng gagang si Kassy.

Pagbalik namin sa condo, dumiretso muna kami sa unit ko dahil gusto ko ng magslippers. Kahit one inch lang naman iyong heels ko, ewan ko pero sumasakit pa rin iyong paa ko.

After that, dumiretso kami sa unit ni André.

"Serious? Isasabit mo nga?" I asked habang naghahanap siya ng pako sa unit niya.

He nodded. "Yeah," he replied habang naka-luhod siya sa harap ng sink at hinahanap doon iyong toolbox.

I sat on his couch as I watched him move around his unit. Naka-bukas na iyong kalahati ng butones ng long sleeves niya. He kept on running his fingers through his hair din. Damn him.

"Found it!" sabi niya habang pinapakita sa akin iyong pako at martilyo. Sumunod ako sa kanya sa 100b ng kwarto niya. "Dito?" he asked, putting the painting on top of his bed frame.

"Seryoso ba?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

"Di bagay sa aesthetic ng kwarto mo," I replied. His room's all black, white, or gray. Ang colorful nung Starry Night para sa kwarto niya.

"It's fine," he said. "Or here?" he asked, pointing sa taas ng study table niya.

André placed the painting on different parts of his room until we settled on it being on top of his console table.

"Looks good, right?" he asked.

"Looks weird."

Ibinaba niya iyong martilyo tapos tumayo sa likod ko. He wrapped his arms around me and placed his chin on my right shoulder.

"Maricon," he said.

"Hmm?"

"I wanna call you baby, but I'm afraid that you'd punch me."

"What the f**k? You think I'm that violent?"

"Yeah... you keep on calling me gago, hayop, malandi and hitting me." I slightly turned my head and glared at him. "See? You're threatening me again."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine. You can call me that, but not in front of our classmates," sabi ko. Palibhasa sobrang boring ng classroom namin kaya kami na lang pinagchichismisan ng mga tao.

"Can I tell Jax?"

"Sure... but don't call me baby in front of him."

"Why? It's just Jax."

"Baka mainggit."

He rolled his eyes. "What if I find him a girl? Payag ka?"

I shrugged. "Sure."

"Good, because I think someone's really interested in him."

"Who? Kaye?"

He laughed. "No. And Jax doesn't like her. But whom I'm talking about is much better..." he said na parang may masamang balak siya kay Jax. Baliw talaga 'to. Kung anu-ano ginagawa niya kay Jax, sa totoo lang. 'Di na rin ako magtataka kung dadating iyong araw na susuntukin na lang siya ni Jax sa sobrang pagka-annoying niya.

André held me tighter. "Baby..." he whispered in my ears.

"Nothing," he said. "Let's just sleep here. I promise nothing will happen."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. No! Dito nga pala naganap lahat ng banging! Oh, my god!

Agad kong kinalas ang braso niya sa akin. I distanced myself.

"Uhm... pagod na ako. Good night. See you bukas!" I said as I quickly ran back to my unit. Kinain ko lahat ng sinabi ko! I told myself that I'd never be on the other side of the wall and guess what? I am literally on the other side of the wall!