Chapter Nineteen

Kai

I didn't know that having a date could be this nerve wrecking. My legs are shaking as I seated at the sofa waiting for Ren to get out of her room.

I've been with her for a long time but it's the first time that were going out as a couple. It was all too sudden but I don't want to regret anything. I want to at least make her happy even for a short period of time. I actually don't have a plan on our date I wished I asked her what her ideal date was. I'll just do what I think she would like.

I glanced at Nigel's direction he was also staring at me not showing any emotion. I know he is upset that I dragged him in my plans. He even asked me If I was sure of it. There' no turning back now. I wished I could live a normal life. The creaking sound of Ren's door caught my attention and saw her coming out of her room.

I can't help but smile at the sight of her. I could say that she put an effort to look good today, she even wore a dress. She gave me a quizzical smile and bit her lower lip after.

"Hoy! 'Di ikaw si Cinderella panget! H'wag ka na mag-moment diyan 'di ka pa rin maganda, kahit nagayuma mo tong si Kai." Hearing what her brother said turned her smile to a glare.

I really don't get it why Aizen likes to make fun of Ren, I guess this is what they call tough love. I stood up when Ren made it down the stairs.

"Pangit ka din, kuya kita tandaan mo." Ren snarled at her brother. They are always like this, getting into the nerves of each other.

"Kai, ikaw na bahala kay Ren iuwi mo ng maayos yan." Tito Felton requested.

"Grabe naman, parang ang layo ng pupuntahan namin ahh."

"Yes sir, I'll make sure to bring her home in time." I assured them. I turned to look at Ren.

"Hala! May sapi ka ba Kai?" My brows furrowed at her question.

"Bakit ka nakangiti? Ganda ko noh?" She said while grinning.

Am I?

I just shook my head, I didn't notice that I smiled. I just softly pat her head.

"Lumayas na nga kayo! Kinikilabutan ako sa inyo." Aizen said acting like he is disgusted. We then decided to take our leave.

...

I let out a deep sigh and turned to look at Ren since I didn't have the time to look at her briefly a while ago. She was wearing a sky blue sundress partnered with a converse. She gently scratched the tip of her nose and looked at me.

"Uhm, anong gagawin natin?" she asked me.

"Where do you want to go? We got a lot of time before the fireworks." I asked her, I just want to know if she had something in mind since I'm clueless. I should've read romance novel to have an idea.

"Wala kang idea noh?" she accused as if she read my mind."To tell you honestly, yes. I don't really have any idea." I admitted avoiding eye contact.

She gave me a heartily laugh, as if making fun of me. She just stopped when she noticed my stare.

"Totoo ba talaga Kai?" She asked looking so amused.

Is it really unusual for me not to know anything about dating?

"That's why I'm asking what you want to do?" I tried not to sound rude in any way.

"I'm sorry." I apologized.

"Oh bakit may pa sorry pa? Halika na nga." She said with furrowed brows but doesn't sound disappointed at all.

She kept tugging the hem of my shirt as she took the lead. I was just following her steps. She turned to look back at me when she noticed I stopped walking.

"Oh? Anong problema? Bakit huminto ko sa paglalakad?" She asked confusion painted on her face.

"You kept on tugging my shirt." As if on cue she instantly removed her hand on my shirt.

"Sorry, sundan mo na lang ako." She said as she turned and started walking again. She sounded upset did I do something? I walk after her and he was not saying anything. Nice Kai you made her upset on your first date.

"Ren!" I called her name enough for her to stop.

"Ano?" she turned to look at me. I swiftly walked to her side.

"Where exactly are we going?" I asked.

"Doon lang, magrenta tayo ng bike, mas madali mag bike kesa maglakad." She pointed at the direction of a small shop few blocks away.

"Show me your hand." I asked her.

She looked confused but she did what I asked. I held her hand and let our fingers crossed let it rest on our side.

"This better than tugging on my shirt." I told her.

"Ha?" She replied as her cheeks started to blush.

I just chuckled at her reaction. She really looks cute every time I do something she didn't expect. I can't help but smile as we walk together with hands intertwined along the side of the street 'til we arrived at the Bike renting Shop.

She tried to pull her hand away from mine but he I didn't let her. The owner of the shop noticed us the moment we entered.

"Goodmorning po, rent po ng dalawang bike na single."

"Sigurado ka Ineng magbabike ka nang ganyan ang suot mo?" The old man looked at her from head to toe.

"Where going to rent only one, probably with a pillion." I butted in.

The old-man looked pleased with what I said and walk through the bikes parked on the side. He dragged a pink bike one not too high to ride on with a front basket and gestured to try it.

I let go of Ren's hand and tried riding the bike. It's not heavy and easy to navigate sounds good we agreed to rent it.

"Sigurado ka, okay lang umangkas ako?" She asked hesitantly.

"Di dapat ako nakinig kay Nigel ehh, dapat nag pantalon na lang ako." She muttered regretting wearing a dress.

"Your dress suits you well, you look cuter in it. And don't you think it's romantic riding a bike together."

"Binola pa ako." She didn't sound amused as she took her seat. I turned to look at her.

"Di pa ba tayo aalis?" She asked me waiting for me to kicked on the pedal.

"Hold me tight, I can't let you fall." I said as I took her hand wrapped it around my waist. Before she could protest I started kicking on the pedal. She doesn't have a choice but to hold unto me.

"Padyak ka nang padyak wala ka naman maisip kung saan tayo pupunta." She said in protest.

That's what she thought I was thinking a while ago what should we as we wait for the night to come.

...

I took her to the park few blocks away from the Plaza. We on to the nearest Bench as I drag the bike with us.

"Wait her I'm going to get something." I told her as I rode the bike again.

"Sigurado ka iiwan mo akong mag isa dito?" It seems that she didn't like to wait for too long.

"I'll be quick. You won't even have time to miss me." I said and wink at her. I drove the bike and went on the nearest bookstore I see. I even went to grab some drinks for us. I got off the bike and drag it as I walked towards her.

She was staring at people roaming around the park children playing and laughing. She even stares at the dried leaves being blown by the wind. Her eyes are smiling as she looked around her. She suddenly blinked turned to look at me when she realized I arrived.

"Saan ka nanggaling? Akala ko ba di kita mamimiss?" She said with crossing her hands.

Did she really miss me?

"Am I gone for too long?" I asked her.

"Di na mabiro, di naman ako na bore madami akong nakitang gwapo." She said.

Is she trying to make me jealous?

I narrowed my eyes, how could she say that in front of her boyfriend?

"I still look better than them." I said confidently with a proud face. She gave me a smug face as a protest.

I ignored her reaction and parked the Bicycle on the side of the bench and sat beside her.

"Ano yang binili mo?"she asked.

I handed her the paper bag containing our snack she opened it inspecting what's in it.

"O bakit isang drink lang 'to?" She wondered when saw it.

"Let's share, you can't finish that alone." I told her, she slightly blushed and I know exactly what she was thinking.

We started eating the sandwiches I bought for us. The wind was blowing her hair and I couldn't see her face clearly. I leaned closer and tucked few strands behind her ear. She faced me with bewildered look surprised with what I did.

"I was just fixing your hair so I could see your face clearly." I explained.

She looked away and started eating faster until she started coughing. I handed her the juice and she immediately drink.

"Sorry," I apologized.

"Get use to me acting like this, okay?" I told her. We both finished eating when she noticed the paper bag behind me.

"Ehh ano yang hawak mo?" she asked me. I took out two sketch pad and a set of crayons.

"Mag-drawdrawing ba tayo?" She asked me. The way she said seems like she didn't like the idea.

"Seems like you don't like the idea." I said outloud.

"Matampuhin ka naman masyado. Wala naman akong sinabing ayoko ah."

She grabbed one of the sketchpad from me and laid the crayons on the space between us.

"Anong i-drawdrawing natin?" she asked having no idea what to draw.

"Just anything you like."

I don't really have any idea what to draw. I was supposed to buy a board game but I saw these drawing materials.

"Di ako artist pero sige na, di naman graded drawing to diba?"

"No." I answered her. Few seconds after a kid approached her.

"Ate ate magaling ka po ba mag drawing? idrawing mo naman po ako oh." The little girl asked with her high pitched voice.

Her eyes widened as she looked at me unsure if she'll do the child's request. I just nodded at her telling her to do it.

"Di ako magaling pero susubukan kong idrawing ka, pero H'wag mo kong aawayin 'pag di mo nagustuhan ha," she told her.

"Opo!" The little girl agreed to it.

"O sige upo ka diyan sa may bato." She instructed the child. The little girl did what she instructed and seated on the big stone.

"Smile ka lang, h'wag kang gagalaw ha." She reminded the little.

She then started picking on the crayons and draw the little girl. I couldn't see what she was drawing so I started drawing the little girl just like her.

"Ate matagal pa po ba?" the little girl asked impatiently. She wasn't even sat there for too long.

"Sandali na lang, bilang ka ng one to thirty." Ren rushed on what she was doing.

"Ate tapos na akong magbilang ng one to thirty." The little girl informed her as she walked towards us.

"Patingin nga po ng gawa ninyo," the little girl asked her.

She then showed her drawing. I could see the confusion on the poor child's face.

"Ang ganda diba? Mas maganda pa yan sa Monalisa." Ren was really making fun of her.

"Monalisa? Sino naman po'yun?" The little girl asked with confusion.

"Aba sikat yung painting na 'yun, malalaman mo 'yun sa school." Ren told her.

The little girl was just staring at her, having no idea what she was saying.

"Ate pwede akin na lang yang drawing niyo?" the little girl requested. Ren peeled the page and gave it to the little girl.

I can't help but chuckle when I saw what she did, there was nothing similar about the little girl and her drawing except for the color of the clothes. The little girl was grinning at her before she left. Ren turned to me with a raised brow.

"Ano pinagtatawanan mo ba ako?" She asked me with suspicion.

I shake my head as an answer. Obviously she didn't buy it.

"Di naman kasi ako mahilig mag-drawing."she muttered.

"But the little girl likes your drawing." I told her trying to say that she is good.

"Buti pa siya nagustuhan drawing ko." She pouted her lips.

"Draw me too." I asked her.

"Ehh? Okay ka lang?" she asked hesitating.

"I'm serious." I insisted.

"Bahala ka walang sisihan." She warned. She faced me and started drawing again.

"Ngumiti ka naman," she instructed, I did what she asked I stayed still until she was done. She was literally laughing while I was looking at her work. I snatched the pad out of her hand. I narrowed my eyes as I was looking at her drawing.

"Is this really me?" I asked her, I wasn't really sure of what she draw. She just nodded as answer.

"Abstract nga lang." She let out a laugh, she was literally making fun of me.

I just shrug, she was happy. Her eyes are smiling, I wished I could make her laugh like this everyday. As the time goes the parked started to get crowded. Ren started frowning.

"What's wrong?" I asked her.

"Wala." She answered but she looks pissed. I clearly don't know why she's upset.

I started looking around and notice some girls looking on our way. Some waved at me when they notice I was looking. Now I get it why she's upset.

"Let's go." I told her.

"Saan tayo pupunta?" She asked.

"I don't know let's just get out of here."

We took our stuff, ride on the bike and left the park. We stopped by the Plaza, we got off the bike and started looking around. There were different booths there.

"Kai halika, dun tayo." She dragged me at a photo booth.

"Ate pabantay po ng bike saglit." She asked the the lady whose in charge of it.

"Halika na!" She immediately entered the booth.

I just found myself taking photos with her. She excitedly took photo strips of our shots and handed me the other copy. I didn't expect it to be this crowded. Everyone was looking forward to the fireworks display.

"Ang daming tao, mamasyal muna tayo." Ren suggested.

"What about the fireworks?" I asked worried that we might miss it.

"Mamaya pa naman iyon." It felt like she was up to something.

I just followed her around, even the streets were packed with people. It was filled with colorful lights. Loud music was played everywhere. She was blending in the crowd, I might lose sight of her. Out of reflex I held her hand. She turned to looked at me and didn't say a word but she was smiling. We continued roaming around the area playing on the booths and eating snacks from the food stalls until it gets dark.

She I could see that she was having fun looking at the colorful night lights. She was grinning from ear to ear I could really say that she was enjoying it.

"What do you want to do next?" I asked her. Maybe she wanted to do something.

"Sakay tayo dun!" She was pointing at the octopus ride.

I don't like the idea of riding it since she might get dizzy and throw-up.

"Have you tried riding the ferriswheel?" I asked her.

Her face turned pale, as if she saw something dreadful.

"H'wag tayo dun, di maganda." She refused.

"I can sense someone's scared." I mocked her.

"Sino?" She denied.

"Let's try that then." I dragged her on the way to the ferriswheel. It was the biggest ride of all and it was also an attraction. We were lucky enough that queue was not that long. We waited in line to have our turn. "Sigurado ka bang safe yan?" she worried.

"I'm here, I'll keep you safe there's nothing to be scared of."

I held both of her hands assuring her, she looked at me with hesitance but still nodded. The operator opened the cable door and let us in. Ren and I was sitting across each other. She was tightly holding on the hand rails.

"Are you really scared?"

Why am I even asking? I slightly felt bad for dragging her.

"But the view here is wonderful." She admitted. I started shaking our cable swaying it.

"Hoy Kai! Tigilan mo nga yan!" Now her face was burning with anger.

"Kai na man ehh!" She shouted at me.

But it didn't stop me from shaking our cable. She suddenly stood up and reach for me. She went out of balance and fell unto me. We stared at each other for a moment when we snapped out of it she composed herself and sat beside me.

"I'm sorry." I apologized for making fun of her.

"Sorry lang ba ang sasabihin mo?" she asked.

She was looking straight at me waiting for me to say something. My heart began to raise as if if it was calling for her. I should say it now.

"I love you."

The eight letter word came out from my mouth. Her eyes widened at may confession. She gave me a warm smile. Suddenly colorful fireworks covered the night sky. We turned to watch it. The colorful lights were reflecting on her eyes. I just felt my hands moving on its own.

I cupped her face and made her look at me. Her eyes widened from my sudden move. We were both staring at each other not moving. My eyes went down on her lips. I gaze at her eyes asking for permission. I leaned closer and slowly claimed her lips and closed my eyes.

This was different from the kiss we had before. It felt like I was filled with emotions I have for her. Her lips were soft and smooth. I could kiss her forever. I stopped when my hand felt her tears. I opened my eyes and realize she was crying. The fireworks didn't stop yet.

"Why are you crying?" I asked her.

She shook her head back and forth, saying it was nothing. She suddenly hugged me. I could still hear her sobs.

"Kailangan mo ba talagang umalis?" she asked. I couldn't answer her. I just slowly patted the back of her head.

"Bakit pakiramdam ko di ka na babalik?" She said.

I felt a throb in my chest, it hurts because she was right.

"Do you really love me?" she started asking.

"I do love you." I assured her.

I really do love her. I don't know when I know why I don't know how. I just felt it. I was happy just by staring at her but at the same time it made me feel sad. I hugged her tighter hoping that my feelings reach her.

"Then why did you hide what you really are? " She asked. I froze at her question. My heart started to raised.

What does she mean?

"Did you honestly think that I would love you less if I find out your secret?"

What is she saying?

I was confused on what she was saying. I pulled off her hug when I realized what she meant. She was still looking down wiping her tears. She looked up to meet my gaze. She was smiling bitterly.

No! It can't be!

"I remember everything Kai."

<End of Chapter 19>