Just...Friends.

The Hottie and Cutie

Chapter 7: The Hottie and Cutie

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"Okay na siguro dito. Can you sit?" sabi ni Nic kay Lia habang papaupo siya sa buhanginan. "Here take my coat, medyo malamig na"

"Thank you..." sabi ni Lia habang umuupo sa tabi ni Nic. Sinuot niya yung jacket.

"Nako, wala yan. Parang jacket lang"

"No. I mean para kanina, no one has ever done anything like that for me but you. You stood up for me, thank you so much" sabi ni Lia as she lean on Nicole's shoulder.

"Ano ka ba? I just don’t want to see you treated like that..."

"Treated like what?"

"Like crap. Lia if I were him, I won’t do that to you. I'll treat you right and respect you and give you everything you want..."

"Nic... it’s okay. I’m okay. But what you did is still mean, you punched him"

"Nope. I just hit him, that's a different thing and you know what? He deserve every bit nung ginawa ko..."

Lia smiled and nod a bit as she muttered a thank you, "Thank you."

"So? Let's talk?"

"Okay."

Tiningnan ni Nic si Lia. 

Hanggang ngayon malakas pa rin ang epekto ni Lia sakin. Bakit nagagawa niyang patibukin ang puso ko ng gantong kabilis.

"Nic? Hello?"

"Ahm... Oo. So... Lia"

"Yes, Nic?"

"I lied to you, kung natatandaan mo sinabi ko sayo na I think I like Bang..."

"Yes and hindi ko yan nalilimuta, Nic," Lia said as she pouts on Nic’s direction.

"Okay. Im sorry I lied. Lia... I like you...  Ugh… Scratch that! I love you. Lia ikaw yun, hindi ko lang maamin sayo dahil natatakot ako na baka masira friendship natin," Sabi ni Nic.

"Kailan pa?" 

Ito na yung hinihintay mo Lia, umaamin na siya... sa harap mo.

"Since the first time I saw you. Since I saw this girl wearing her uniform 4 years ago, nung nabangga niya ko sa hallway at natapunan niya ko ng dala niyang juice. That girl na super clumsy, that girl named Julia Montenegro." sabi ni Nic,"Matagal na to, but I just realize recently that I cant run from it anymore, I cant escape my feelings towards you. Natabunan na ko Lia, gustuhin ko man na itago to, para di mawala kung anung meron na tayo...pero mahirap."

"Nic I don’t know, I’m sorry if I make you feel like that," Lia said apologetically towards her best friend.

"It’s not your fault, it’s not someone's fault. Lia, I’m here now, exploding my feelings like a grenade. Even if you won’t reciprocate my feelings it’s perfectly fine, I'll understand... just don’t hate me"

"Nic...  stop, can you let me talk now?" sabi ni Lia and Nic just nod."Well there's this girl, I was looking at her maybe 4 years ago?" Sabi ni Lia at nagsmile siya kay Nic. "I was looking at her sa reflection sa may salamin, she looks so fit. Kausap niya yung mga friends niya as they walk sa hallway, sobrang boyish niya maglakad. Hindi ko napansin na sobrang tagal ko na pa lang nakatitig sakanya, nakita ko sa mirror na ang lapit na nila at baka nakita niya ako... it made me nervous. So I turned around and accidentally spilled my lemonade on her clothes, di siya nagalit sakin. She even said its okay, kahit pinagtawanan siya nung mga kasama niya, she smiles as she walks away... sobrang bait niya, she's so gentle..." habang sinasabi ni den to may tumulo ng luha sa mata ni Nic "and if im not mistaken, she became my best friend, she's Nicole San Miguel."

"Lia..." sabi ni Nic as she wipes her tears.

"And from that moment I always look at you, and after that, I'll never know we will be teammates..." Sabi ni Lia at nagssmile siya kay Nic."Oh? Bakit ka umiiyak?"

"Happy Tears..."

"But until now, she doesn't give me any answer, I’m always so confused around her. That moment she kissed me? I’m battling it inside... Di ko alam why I felt that way after that, parang may..." sabi ni Lia, without looking at Nic, she's so shy to tell Nic the truth.

"Sparks? hahaha" sabi ni Nic as she laugh.

"Fireworks..." Sabi ni Lia.

Biglang hinawakan ni Nic yung pisngi ni Lia at ngumiti.

Hinalikan ni Nic ai Lia... it lasts longer than the first kiss they had.

I swear, kissing Lia for the second time is the greatest... Oo nga, fireworks.

This feels good, just the lips I want to kiss for the last two weeks.

"Wow" sabi ni Lia after nun.

"I know... fireworks right?" sabi ni Nic as she settles on Lia's side. "So Lia? Uhmm..."

"Bakit?"

"Ahh... Hmmm... Tayo na ba?" sabi ni Nicole kay Liaden.

"Agad? Ano ka sineswerte? Kahit ikaw ang knight in the shinning armor ko walang bago sa rules... gusto mo ko maging girlfriend?"

"Bakit ayaw mo ba?"

"I’m not saying na ayaw ko, bwisit ka naman Nic eh..." sabi ni Lia "What I’m saying is, I just wanted to be really sure that I love you that way... well obviously, I want to kiss you every damn time. But I just want to make sure about us okay?" sabi ni Lia at tumango si Nic.

"So you're gay?"

"I mean, I stalk you, I’m always looking at you, I like you, I kissed you not once but twice, and I want more... what do you think?"

"Well, you had boyfriends before..."

"Bisexual maybe? Seriously Nic you don’t need to label everything okay? Enjoy the things that are infront of you"

"Infront of me? Like, you?" pabiro ng sabi ni Nic.

"Yes Nicole, like me, not Bang or anyone!"

"Haahaha you're cute when you're jealous..." sabi ni Nic.

"You're hot when you're angry" Sabi ni Lia at walang nagawa si Nicole kundi magblush at matahimik.

Does she think I’m hot? that moment I’m beating the hell out of Kent? Ha ha ha what a life!

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"Guys! Paalis na yung bus, nasaan na ba yung dalawa! Pinapasakit nitong dalawang to yung ulo ko!" sabi ni Ella.

"Dont worry, baka nalate lang. Oh? have my drink... chill lang" sabi ni Jovee at binigay niya yung coffee niya kay Ella.

"Thanks pogi, yang ex mo ah? sasabunutan ko talaga yan."

"Hahaha sige lang" sabi ni Jovee ng makinig nila si Mich na sumigaw.

"Hey! Ayan na sila!"

Nakatingin lahat sakanila. Si Nic wearing her old volleyball uniform with Jovee's cap on at si Lia naman naka tank top na white at nakashades. What shocks them most ay hindi yung suot nila (malamang) they saw Nic is carrying Lia's other bag.

Three days lang sila pero grabe makabag tong si Lia pang isang buwan ang dinala. Having two big maleta.

"Hmm... No wonder walang asungot sa room ko kagabi" sabi ni Ella.

"Sila na kaya?" sabi ni Jovee.

Humarap si Ella sa mga teammates niya "Way to go guys! Mission accomplished"

"Sorry guys were late, tara na!" sabi ni Nic, nakatingin lang silang lahat sakanya. "What!?"

"Kayo na ba?" biglang tinanong ni Jovee at inapakan siya ni Ella Aray! napasigaw na lang si Jovee sa sarili niya para di halata.

"Well... uhm di daw yun ganon kadali, ano ako? sineswerte? yan sabi ni Lia sakin so..." sabi ni Nic at pinakita niya yung bag ni Julia na dala niya "Here goes the bag"

"Teka. Teka. Alam niyong lahat?" sabi ni Lia.

"Beshie Yes! We all know that our friend Nic here is deeply and madly inlove with you. Everyone knows... well except you obviously" sabi ni Ella "Dapat pa kasing masaktan yang gago mong ex ng marealize mo. Ang sakit mo sa bangs!"

"Ellapots wala kang bangs" sabi ni Nic

"Wag na wag mo ngang sabihin yang word na yan!" sabi ni Lia.

"Kaya nga! Kahit wala akong bangs sumasakit, ganun kayo kasakit sa ulo na dalawa!" sabi niya kay Nic. Tapos tumingin siya kay Lia "Bang bang bang bang! Hahaha Nagseselos!"

"Hindi no!" sabi ni Lia at ngumiti si Nic.

"San Miguel! I saw you smiling!" hinampas ni Lia si Nic.

"I’m---I’m sorry, can't help it... hehehe" sabi ni Nic

"Wow," sabi ni Jia.

"Hahaha so freaking whipped" sabi ni Amy.

"Okay na ba lahat? Let's go!" sabi ni Coach Tupaz.

Sumakay na sila sa Bus pabalik sa Manila...

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So hindi nila pinagtabi si Nicole at Lia sa bus dahil nga baka may kung ano anong mangyari. Better be safe.

Magkatabi si Nic at Jovee at sa unahan nila si Ella at Julia.

"So besh! Kwento ka naman!" sabi ni Ella kay Lia. Narinig nung dalawa sa likod nila yung pinag uusapan nila. May times na medyo mapapasigaw si Ella at Lia ng sabay dahil sa kilig.

"So Julia huh?" sabi ni Jovee.

"Believe me Jov, I still cant believe it. Di pa man kami, but i know Lia will eventually be mine" sabi ni Nic "Ang sarap sa pakiramdam"

"I feel you Nic... but I know Kent wont stop without a revenge, na ibibigay niya sayo si Julia ng ganun ganun na lang... lalo na Julia broke up with him to be gay and be with you"

"Like you?"

"Nic don’t be guilty okay? Hindi ako galit. Yes you left me for Lia but Kent and I are two very different kinds of guys, you know what I mean"

"Yes , I get it. That he's a fuckin' asshole" sabi ni Nic at medyo napalakas at narinig ni Lia.

"Watch your words, Nic!"

"Sorry Lia..." sabi ni Nic at tumatawa si Jovee sa tabi niya "A-hole ka din minsan Jov, at yung minsan na yun ay ngayon"

"What? I just think you'll be cute couple. That's just so cute" sabi ni Jovee. At umirap lang si Nic sa ex niya na thank God talaga, hindi lumaking kaugali ni Kent. ehem ehem umubo si Jovee at nagsalita "So what do you think of Ella?"

"For me? No. Si Lia lang talaga." sabi ni Nic.

"No... for me. I mean I maybe kinda like her."

"Wait for you? Omg! hahahah you like her!"

"Shut up! Nic marinig ka naman niya!"

"Okay okay... sorry. So Ellapots? My Ellapots?"

"Oo nga! It’s not always you who'll get the girl... and besides we kinda bonded over nung inallergy siya"

"Wow that's great! Go for her!" sabi ni Nic.

"Well... there's a problem."

"Ano?"

"Pogizoned ako, Nic. She's still knows me as Nic's boyfriend or Nic's ex boyfriend".

"First of all, pogizoned? Qhat a terrible word to describe but it’s okay. Well, make her know you as Mr. Jovee Avila."

"How?"

"What can you say a double date?" sabi ni Nic at tinaas niya kilay niya. "Its perfect and hindi kami pagdududahan ng tao ni Lia because we're with you two..."

"Pero ayoko pa muna sana deretsuhin si Ella. I just want her to know me as Jovee first bago ako... alam mo na, pumorma. Ayoko namang maawkwardan siya dahil ilang weeks pa lang tayo nagbebreak"

"Okay okay... so the double date is still on the go but we'll tell them na gimik lang as barkada. Sounds good?"

"Yes... sure sure. Turuan mo ko ng mga the moves mo ah?"

"Loko loko ka talaga!" sabi ni Nic. Tapos humarap siya kay Jovee and they both shared a sly smile.

"Let's do this!"

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