Chapter 21
1339 Words
His mouth dramatically fell upon hearing my question.
He wanted to say something but he then decided to shut his lips. Nagsalubong ang kilay niya habang tinitingnan ako.
"What... flirt?" He doesn't even seem to know the meaning of the word 'flirt'.
He cleared his throat and shifted on his seat to face me. "I am not flirting with you, Le' Pauline." Sabi niya at diniinan pa ang salitang 'flirting'.
If he is not, then what shall I call his actions?
"I like you and what I'm doing is not flirting."
Staring at his dark, hooded eyes sent me chills so I avoided his gaze and looked down on my hands, pressing my fingers hard.
I don't know what to do but I know that I must not be silent. I must at least say something!
Hindi ako nauubusan ng mga salita kapag may nagsasabing gusto nila ako. But this guy saying that he likes me makes me want to scan a fcking dictionary. I will skim words out of millions and extract a perfect sentence that will surely sew his lips tight!
"H-how can you like me?"
When I looked up, our eyes found each other.
He flashed a disturbing face, maybe he finds my question ridiculous. Of course, I have to ask! What does he like about me? Or does he really like me? If so, how did it happen? When did it start? I cannot quite follow.
"Why? Is it a sin to like you?"
I sighed and slowly shakes my head.
No, it's not. You're a blessing actually. It's me having feelings for someone like you is a sin.
"I don't do liking and stuff," I said in a soft voice, careful not to leave a hint of inferiority.
"Then what do you do?"
"I only flirt," I said in a stern voice like his confession didn't even faze me! I want him to see that even if how soft my reaction is right now, my mind is still with me and that I can stand firmly on my decision.
"The word 'flirt' is inappropriate, kakasabi ko lang na gusto kita ah?"
I choked.
I immediately choked even not having a drink. How could he be so blunt?!
"I said I only flirt at ano naman ngayon kung... gusto mo nga ako?"
His brows furrowed at my question. I crossed my arms across my chest and raised my brow, finding his reaction funny.
"Why? Do you think I'll be on my bended knees just because the great King Regis said that he likes me?" Patuya kong tanong.
Who am I kidding? I'll not only kneel or bow down, but I might actually faint!
He licked his lower lip. "It's not like I'll let you do that. It's the other way around." He looked away, avoiding my eyes. "Heck, I'll even worship you," he whispered not enough for me to hear.
I cleared my throat and diverted my gaze to the calm sea.
"I didn't know you're a playboy," saad ko. I saw him turn to me from my peripheral vision. I chuckled and faced him. "May balak kang mang two-time?" Tanong ko habang pinaningkitan siya ng mga mata.
Surprise reaction was etched in his face but it only lasted for a couple of seconds because he immediately regained his cool.
"What do you mean... two-time?" Naguguluhang tanong niya.
What? Don't tell me he doesn't even know the meaning of 'two-time'? This guy is unbelievable! Is he deprived from trends or something?
I massaged my forehead, holding my last string of patience. This guy is driving me to the edge! Well, he's always like that.
"Two-time! Ang pagsabayin ang dalawa dahil hindi makuntento sa isa. Jeez, Regis! Hindi mo alam iyon? Should I explain it in English?" Iritadong sabi ko.
His brows shut up. "Okay, I get it. But I am not two-timing, nor I am planning to do so! What are you saying?"
"Oh really? You have a girlfriend, dumbass!"
"Sana all meron," he replied annoyingly.
"Don't play dumb. Ayaw ko maging kabit."
"You said that you don't do boyfriends kaya paano ka magiging kabit?" Regis said which made my mouth dropped open.
Paano ba gumagana ang utak ng lalaking ito?!
I rolled my eyes at ibinalik ang tingin sa dagat, wishing that the sea can lend me its calmness. I need it right now.
"So may girlfriend ka nga."
He shrugged and smiled amusingly. "Hindi ko sinabi."
I turned to him once again and was about to raise my voice when he said something.
"To clear your mind, no. I don't have a girlfriend."
"Yeah? I'm sure Lily-anne is having suicidal thoughts as of this moment," I said in a taunting voice.
"Why would she have that kind of thought?"
My god! Calculus at equations lang ba ang naiintindihan ng lalaking ito!?
"Because you denied her in front of someone!" I cried, almost losing my patience.
He chuckled. "I told you that Lil is just a friend and a colleague."
"With benefits?"
He looked at me ridiculously. "What? Of course not!"
"And you're calling each other by nicknames!"
He stifled a smile, probably amused by my tone of voice.
"Lil is her nickname and Rej is mine," he said like it's a matter of fact. "Everybody calls me by my name or by Rej."
I sneered at him, totally not buying it.
"You don't know that. You're busy hunting guys."
I looked at him accusingly. "That's how I enjoy my teenage life-"
"Starting today, fun is over Le' Pauline."
Humalukipkip ako. "Who are you to tell me to stop-"
"I'm fun to be with, too. Just have fun with me."
He then stared at me intently which made me uncomfortable.
"H-how... how can you-"
How could he say that without feeling awkward at all? He's making me uncomfortable!
"Have fun with Lily-anne."
Jeez, just imagining them together having fun is annoying me. Scenarios and images of them smiling and laughing is infuriating me! Parang gusto kong bawiin ang sinabi ko.
"I'd rather spend boring days with you."
My heart throbbed.
Isn't he quite romantic? Damn!
There was a long silence between us. I don't want to say anything nor I think he wants to say something too. I'm fine, I can endure this deafening silence.
Uh-oh, this is awkward.
"Lily-anne is not my girlfriend-"
"Okay! I get it! I heard you!"
He chuckled deeply at my sudden outburst.
"I know that you do boyfriends, Le' Pauline so why is it different for me?" He asked seriously after a long while.
"Boyfriend pero flirt pa rin iyon!" I defended.
"I thought they have different meanings?"
I shook my head. This guy is making my head ache. This conversation is running in circles!
It's almost improbable for us to stay in one place, let alone sit beside each other and have a conversation. Of course, even if you turn the world upside down, there is no way we'll have a serious conversation. A mixture of serious and annoying talk is our normal conversation.
Come to think of it, we never really did this. All we did is fight and annoy each other. I cannot stand this guy so maybe he is too. I just can't believe that he likes me.
Is he serious?
Maybe he is still out of his mind? Did he hit his head or was there a sort of game that dared him to confess to me?
Most likely, not the latter. I know him. He won't do those kinds of dares. If he does, I'm amazed by his guts. How can he joke to me?
I'll stick with the first reason. This guy hit his head into something hard.
"Le' Pauline," he called.
I now somehow managed not to get too surprised every time Regis calls me by my name but I still wonder.
I turned to him. "What?"
Probably he won't say something awkward naman na ano? I mean the awkward atmosphere between us is starting to fade away and my last string of patience is now assembling into a full one.
Staring at this guy's eyes makes me feel that if I will stare longer, I'll fall into an abyss any time soon. Maybe, I'll never even get chances to go back up.
"I'll take it," Regis mumbled, almost his voice is mixing with the sound of the wind and the sea combined.
Naguluhan ako sa sinabi niya kaya pinagkunutan ko siya ng noo.
He sighed. "Le' Pauline, flirt with me."
And at that moment, the unruly and playful Montemayor vanished.
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- Writer
