The next time we saw each other after the I love yous, there was awkwardness and a whole lot of coy smiles. No one talked but I didn't mind, I would be happy to spend the rest of my life just staring at you.
"Okay, this is ridiculous. Wala ka bang balak kausapin ako? Puro ka na lang ngiti, eh. Kung hindi ka komportable, maghiwalay na lang—"
"Ayoko!" I immediately objected before I expelled a heavy breath. "H'wag naman, please..."
"Then talk. Hindi ako mahiyaing babae at hindi rin ako papasok sa isang relasyon kung saan hindi ako komportable."
"Sorry..." I mumbled.
"Look, if this relationship is making you feel uncomfortable—"
"I'm comfortable around you and I am extremely comfortable with the fact that I am in a relationship with you. Pero, pasensya ka na, I am still in awe..."
I heaved a sigh. "The truth is nahihiya ako sa'yo kasi pakiramdam ko isang malaking aksaya sa parte mo na sa akin ka lang napunta..."
"Ano?"
"Hindi naman kasi ako guwapo, nakapa-ordinaryo lang ng hitsura ko. 'Yan tuloy sumimangot ka na. Kaya ayokong magsalita kanina, eh, kasi baka may masabi akong hindi tama..."
"Teka nga, hindi ako naging girlfriend mo para diktahan ka kung anong sasabihin mo."
The word girlfriend made me blush so hard I thought my face was on fire.
"'Tsaka sinong nagsabing hindi ka guwapo?"
My palms started to sweat so I rubbed them against my jeans.
"I am not going to change my mind about us, Marcus. And if you think that you are not worthy of me, gusto kong marinig mo galing sa akin na hindi ako susugal sa'yo kung hindi ako naniniwala at hindi ako sigurado na ikaw 'yung para sa akin..."
I pushed to my feet.
"O, ano na namang nangyari sa'yo?"
"Teka lang..." I said before I started walking a few steps away.
"Marcus! Saan ka ba pupunta?" you asked following me. "Marcus!"
"Teka nga lang. D'yan ka lang. Saglit lang."
"Uuwi na ako!"
"H'wag!" I turned around so abruptly that I felt dizzy.
I inhaled deeply. "H'wag kang umalis, please..."
You were frowning at me, your hands on your hips and you were the most arresting sight I have ever laid my eyes on.
"Ano bang problema mo?" you asked approaching me. "Bakit ba bigla ka na lang tumayo? There I was baring my soul 'tapos aalis ka—?"
"Kinikilig ako, okay?" I replied.
You were standing right in front of me and I was certain that you could hear how loudly my heart was beating.
"Kinikilig ako at ayokong makita mo kasi I want to be that guy for you who's cool, has complete control over his emotions, and says the right things at the right moments. I don't want to be some rambling schoolboy whose heart flips at the sight of you —"
You kissed me then. On the lips. It was long and sweet and our faces were both crimson when we parted for air.
"You, too, are my kind of perfection, Marcus..." you whispered.
"Diyos ko, ilang linggo naman kaya akong hindi makakatulog nito?" I whispered back.
You smiled before coolly draping your arms around my neck and kissing me again.
