Grow with the Flow

Chapter 15

Bliss

Surprisingly, gumaling naman agad si Sir Colton.

I'm almost convinced na totoo naman palang nakakaalis ng sakit ang halik.

Almost.

Nang sumunod na araw ay tahip-tahip na ang kabog ng dibdib ko para sa gaganiping pageant.

Maaga akong nagising at napansin ang nanginginig na si Rafa habang balot na balot ng kumot. She's mumbling words I can't fully hear.

"Rafa?" lumapit ako sa kanya at agad na dinapo ang palad sa noo niya. Halos mapaso ako sa init na naramdaman.

"Rafa, you're burning!" I panicked.

"Ang.. ang sakit ng ulo ko." sabi niya sa napapaos na boses.

Ilang daing niya pa ang narinig ko bago ako dali-daling umupo sa kama niya.

I kissed her forehead 3 times.

Marahas na napagalaw si Rafa at napa-upo.

"Gaga ano ba yan may pagnanasa ka ba sakin?" natatawang sabi niya.

"H-huh? Eh diba ganun yun pag may masakit, iki-kiss lang tas mawawala na?"

"Ano ko 3 years old? Nari naman minsan talaga feeling ko may saltik ka rin." natatawa pa ring sabi niya atsaka bumalik sa pagkakahiga.

I felt my cheeks heated. Feeling embarrassed, I stood up and took some water for her instead.

I can't help but clench my jaw as I remember what happened yesterday.

I mean, yeah sure, I'm not tryna act like a victim here since I still had the choice not to kiss his face if I really don't want to but the tiny thought of him taking advantage of my being clueless makes me angry.

But you sure enjoyed it too. A voice whispered in my brain.

Still though! I battled.

Kaya naman nang makita siya sa harap ng dorm para sunduin ako ay agad ko siyang inirapan at di pinansin. Napanganga siya sa ginawa ko at sinubukan pa kong tawagin habang papalayo.

Alam kong wala naman siyang balak na masama sa nangyari at marahil pinagaan lang din ang sitwasyon kahapon pero basta. Medyo naiinis pa rin ako.

Panay agad ang pasok ng mga texts nya sa cellphone ko. I tried to look and check some of it.

Colton Jace:

whats wrong bb

Halos mapanganga ko sa tinawag niya sakin. Ramdam ko ang pagpula ng pisngi ko.

Colton Jace:

what u want bb

Colton Jace:

come here bb

Agad kong pinindot ang reply button at madiin na nagtipa ng sagot.

Nayeli:

bb mo muka mo

Ilalagay ko na iyon sa bulsa nang muling tumunog.

Colton Jace:

ok sorry typo *Nayeli then

Sasagot pa sana ko ngunit nagtawag na ang bading na nag-aasikaso sa practice ng rampa at intermission number naming mga candidates.

Sa kabila ng kaba ay hindi ko inaakalang maitatawid ko nang maayos ang kauna-unahang kong pagsali sa isang ganitong kompetisyon.

Nagulat pa ko nang makita si Sir Colton sa audience ngunit hindi na lamang siya tinignan muli para hindi madistract.

Sa dulo ng programa ay masaya naming nakuha ni Kier ang first place. Tingin ko'y panaginip lang lahat at hindi pa makapaniwala lalo na nang ngumiti si Kier!

May mga lumapit saming judges na nag-iwan ng mga calling cards. Agad tinanggihan ang mga ito ni Kier habang tinanggap ko naman ang mga ito dahil baka magamit sa hinaharap.

Marami pang batian at picture taking ang naganap bago sabihin ng head na hayaan na raw kaming magpahinga.

Para pa rin akong nakalutang sa alapaap pauwi nang biglang may humawak sa braso ko.

"Hey.." ani Sir Colton nang may pag-iingat. "Congratulations." saka nag-abot ng bulaklak.

Ibinaba niya iyon nang hindi ko agad tanggapin. "I'm sorry... did I do something wrong?" I was taken aback when I saw how scared his eyes look.

I sighed. "You fooled me." sabi ko at saka dinagdagan. "About the kiss."

Nanlaki ang mata niya at yumuko. "Okay.. I'm sorry if that makes you mad. Really." nakita ko ang pagpusyaw ng pisngi niya.

"...I admit, I kind of took advantage of the situation.. It's just that I love having you that close to me..." he said while still looking down.

"But I know no excuses can make up for it especially if you feel offended or something. So I'm really sorry."

I sighed.

Inangat niya ang tingin. "Give me a chance to make up for it."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya.

"Come with me tomorrow then decide whether you're still mad at me." he said sounding determined.

So the next day, even though I don't want to admit, I woke up early feeling excited. I was so much looking forward to where we're going.

Hindi ko na masyadong napagtuunan ang maraming pagbati dahil sa pagkapanalo namin kahapon. Magana lang akong nagtrabaho at hindi na makapag-antay pang dumating na ang oras para sa usapan namin.

Kaya't nang matanaw siya sa labas ng clubhouse matapos ang duty ay medyo hirap na kong magpanggap na galit pa rin.

"Uh.. can you.. change into these first?" he said while handing a paper bag.

I take a look and saw a beautiful dress inside with an expensive looking shoes. I don't want to spoil the moment so I obliged.

It wasn't a long drive until we arrived somewhere which looks like a rest house. It was dark so I can't really tell.

He offered his hand before going inside the place. When he opened the door, all I can see is black until he pressed something.

My lips parted.

The whole place was decorated with peach and gold. 

There were beautiful lights on the ceiling, balloons everywhere and all I can think of was that.... this is beautiful.

"Happy birthday, Nayeli Reese." I heared him whispered beside me.

Parang may humaplos sa puso ko.

"H-how did you know?"

Ngiti lang ang isinagot niya at iginiya ako. Nang makalapit ay saka ko lang napansin ang labing-walong bilog na lamesa.

18 tables with 18 different cakes and gifts.

I blinked my eyes.

"I figured... you may not had the chance to enjoy each of your birthdays before... so today you're going to blow 18 cakes to make up for those." he said with a warm smile.

Damn I can't take my eyes off this guys.

He pulled me to the first one and I was shocked when he even let me wear a birthday hat.

"Happy 1st birthday, baby Nayeli." natatawang sabi niya habang binabasa ang nakasulat sa cake. "Make your 1st wish for the night." he said, his eyes shining.

He let me blow each of the candle and let me open the gifts for every station.

I'm almost crying when we got on the 16th then he removed the birthday hat.

"Okay enough of this. You're now a grown up lady." he chuckled. Maaan, I love the sound of it.

A music suddenly played when we're on the last one.

"Ofcourse we have to dance, this is your 18th birthday after all." 

He offered his hand.

"So.. can I have this dance, Miss?"

A tear fell when I nodded.

We danced slowly while my head's on his chest.

I feel like I'm in such a wonderful dream.

A dream I don't ever want to wake up from.

"Still mad at me?" he whispered on my head.

I look up to meet his gaze.

All I can see is a man that showed me how it means to be happy. 

My eyes are being blessed with this beautiful creature in front of me.

Slowly, I tiptoed and let my lips meet his.

I closed my eyes and cherished the softness of his lips.

It was such a blissful feeling that my ears stopped hearing.

My senses stopped functioning

And my mind stopped working.

All I could think of was how his kiss feels like home.

I slowly pulled away, still mesmerized with the sensation it brought me.

Pumungay ang kanyang mga mata.

"Let's make this official, Colton.." I breathlessly whispered.