Unexpected Desires

CHAPTER 19: Uncharted Hearts

Chapter 19: Uncharted Hearts

Mayari Calleope's Point of View

"What? Inaya kang makipag-date ni Riley?" Ashley's incredulous voice cut through the room, punctuated by chuckles from our friends.

Tumango-tango ako and damn it! Kahit anong gawin kong pagpipigil ay hindi ko talaga maiwasang hindi ngumiti sa ideyang inaya ako ni Riley na lumabas kasama siya.

I mean, ito ang unang pagkakataon na lalabas kami ni Riley. This wasn't about casual intimacy; it was an invitation to a real date, the first of its kind with Riley.

At hindi ko alam kung bakit pero natutuwa ako. Kanina ko pa hindi mapigilan ang sarili ko sa pagngiti.

"So, where's the grand rendezvous?" Sophia chimed in, her teasing grin adding to the curious atmosphere.

Bigla naman akong napaisip. Wala kasing binanggit si Riley kung saan kami magde-date eh. Surprise raw.

"I don't know. Surprise raw sabi ni Riley," I replied with a shrug. Amara decided to poke fun at my expense.

"It looks like sparks are flying between you two," she said, poking my side playfully. Laughter filled the room, and my cheeks blazed, betrayed by an unbidden flush.

"Blushing!" Alex teased, and I nibbled my lower lip.

"H-hindi noh! It's just a friendly date," I insisted, attempting to brush off my embarrassment. Well, miski naman ako ay nalilito rin kung ano bang klaseng date itong gagawin namin ni Riley. Wala naman nabanggit si Riley sa akin eh. Basta mag-date raw kami.

Atsaka naguguluhan din ako sa status ng relationship namin. Talagang nagulat na lang ako ng bigla akong yayayain ni Riley makipag-date sa kaniya, which I happily accepted naman.

"But are you two gradually falling for each other?" Amara's question carried a mischievous undertone, catching me off guard. Are we? I mulled it over for a moment, and honestly, I wasn't entirely sure. The complexity of my feelings baffled me.

As for Riley, well, I was in the dark about his genuine emotions. Remember, he once told me that I had no inkling of his true sentiments towards me. So, when it came to whether we were developing feelings for each other or not, I found myself in a fog of uncertainty.

While in my own feelings, I'm still figuring it While I grappled with the enigma of my emotions, I remained uncertain about what exactly I felt for Riley. This was my first time navigating these uncharted waters, and the map of my heart was as yet uncharted.

However, one thing was crystal clear—Riley had a way of making me feel secure and content that no one else could replicate.

"Uy napaisip." Ashley seized the moment to tease me, breaking the contemplative silence. I glanced at the expectant faces of our friends, exhaling a sigh of contemplation.

"I don't know. I'm still unraveling my own feelings, and as for Riley? Well, I'm just as clueless about his emotions," I admitted, baring my uncertainty.

They all nodded in understanding, a shared empathy among friends.

"It's okay, Mayari. You'll decipher it in due course," Sophia reassured me, extending a reassuring pat on my shoulder.

"I believe Riley is also on a journey to fathom his sentiments for you. I'm quite certain he doesn't intend to lead you on only to abandon you," Alex chimed in.

Sumang-ayon naman ako sa sinabi niya. Feeling ko naman hindi. Riley didn't strike me as that kind of person. Or at least, I earnestly hoped he wasn't.

"But as for now, enjoy your first date, sweety!" Ashley's enthusiasm was infectious, and my cheeks turned an even deeper shade of red.

This was my maiden date, an uncharted territory, and I had no idea what to expect.

...

Kinabukasan ay maaga akong gumising dahil maaga akong susunduin ni Riley. Sabi niya mahaba raw kasi ang magiging byahe namin kaya maaga raw kaming aalis.

Napaisip tuloy ako kung saan kami pupunta at mukhang malayo ang pupuntahan namin. Sinabihan din niya akong magdala ng extrang damit dahil baka raw magtagal kami sa lugar na pupuntahan namin.

Amara noticed and teased, "You seem packed for a mini-vacation." Paglabas ko ng kwarto ay si Amara agad ang bumungad sa akin.

Bitbit ko ang isang backpack na naglalaman ng mga gamit ko.

"Sabi ni Riley baka raw magtagal kami sa pupuntahan namin eh," replied innocently, meeting her knowing smile. Kakaibang ngiti naman ang binigay ni Amara sa akin.

"Baka pagbalik niyo official na kayo niyan ah." Anito na agad na ikinapula ng pisngi ko. These past few days pansin kong ang bilis ko mag-blush kapag ganitong relationship at feeling ko about kay Riley ang usapan.

"C-che! Aalis na nga ako! Pakisabi na lang kela Ashley, Alex, at Sophia na umalis na ako. Mag-iingat kayo dito." Paalam ko kay Amara. Tumawa lang si Amara at tumango sa akin.

I called out to Amara, who laughed and nodded.

"Alright! Be safe, and have a blast, girl!" She winked, and I stepped out of the condo unit. The elevator took me to the lobby, where Riley waited in his car.

"Hey, good morning, baby," Riley greeted me as I approached his car, eliciting a shy smile from me.

"Good morning," I responded, keeping it simple. Riley's sweet smile stirred an unusual rapidity in my heartbeat. Why was my heart racing just from his smile? Geez.

"I'll help you with your bag in the trunk," he offered, taking my bag and neatly placing it in the back of the car.

"Thank you," I replied sincerely. Riley smiled back, inviting me to sit in the passenger seat.

"So, where are we headed?" I inquired as soon as he settled into the driver's seat. A mysterious grin spread across Riley's face.

"Sa paraiso na alam kong magugustuhan mo." he answered, winking at me. My curiosity piqued, I raised an eyebrow. What paradise was he referring to?

Hindi na lamang ako umimik pa habang si Riley naman ay pinasibad na ang sasakyan. Hindi ko mapigilang isipin kung saan kami pupunta. Saan kaya ang paraiso na tinutukoy niya?

"Eh?" I exclaimed as Riley abruptly held my hand with his free one. "Riley, the gearshift is over there," I pointed out impatiently, my tone sharp. I couldn't help but wonder if he mistook my hand for a car's gearshift.

He burst into laughter, a hearty sound that filled the car. His eyes twinkled with amusement, and a playful grin danced on his lips. "My apologies, baby. Your hand is far more captivating than any gearshift I've ever seen."

I couldn't help but roll my eyes, a faint blush tinging my cheeks. Riley had a way of turning even my annoyance into flattery. It was infuriating and endearing all at once.

"C-che! Manahimik ka nga diyan. Mag-focus ka na lang sa pagd-drive." Saad ko rito. Tumawa naman si Riley sa sinabi ko.

I ordered, though Riley's laughter rang in the car.

"Yes, ma'am. Anyway, you can sleep if you'd like; it's going to be a lengthy drive," he suggested, grinning. I nodded, still drowsy from the early wake-up.

I adjusted my seat to recline slightly. Hinayaan ko na lang si Riley na hawakan ang kamay ko. Basta humanda siya sa akin kapag naaksidente kami.

Pumikit na ako at maya-maya lang ay narinig kong umawit si Riley.

"I look at her and have to smile

As we go driving for a while

Her hair blowing in the open window of my car

And as we go, the traffic lights

I watch them glimmer in her eyes

In the darkness of the evening"

I couldn't help but let a soft smile play on my lips. Riley's singing had a magical quality that drew me in, making my heart dance to its rhythm.

Maganda ang boses niya at napakasarap pakinggan nito sa tenga. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay hinihela ako ng ginagawa niyang pagkanta.

I surrendered to the soothing melody of Riley's voice, his words weaving a spell around us as we drove through the daylight.

"And I've got all that I need

Right here in the passenger seat

And I can't keep my eyes on the road

Knowing that she's inches from me

We stop to get something to drink

My mind clouds and I can't think

Scared to death to say I love her"

My heart raced as Riley sang those three powerful words. I didn't understand the whirlwind of emotions that his singing stirred within me, and I could sense his gaze lingering on me after those heartfelt lyrics.

"Then the moon peeks from the clouds

I hear my heart, it beats so loud

Try to tell her simply

That I've got all that I need

Right here in the passenger seat

Oh, and I can't keep my eyes on the road

Knowing that she's inches from me"

I made a conscious effort to soothe my racing heart, but it stubbornly continued its wild dance within my chest. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ganito ang nararamdaman ko. Parang hindi ako mapakali at tila ba kinakabahan ako.

Ano ba naman 'tong nararamdaman ko? Could someone please decipher it for me?

"Sleep tight, baby. I'll wake you up when we are finally there," his voice, soft as a secret, whispered in the air. Hindi ako sumagot at nagkunwari na lamang ako na tulog kahit na ang totoo'y hanggang ngayo'y kumakabog ng malakas ang dibdib ko, its vigorous beats echoing loudly in my ears.

I couldn't fathom the origin of this peculiar feeling that tingled in the air. It was as though an unforeseen twist of fate lurked on the horizon. Little did I suspect that this date would serve as the catalyst for a profound transformation in both our lives and the intricate tapestry of our relationship.