Chapter 14

Araw-araw akong sinusundo ni Tanner sa school tuwing hapon. Lagi siyang agaw atensyon dahil naka-corporate attire pa ito at sasakyan niya isang puting SUV. May mga nagpapansin din sa kanya at 'yung iba ay walang hiyang lumalapit talaga para magpa-picture. Minsan sinasadya kong bumaba ng building namin para makita ang reaksyon niya kapag may mga lumalapit sa kanya. Alam kong nayayamot na siya pero ayaw niya lang sigurong maging rude sa kanila. Kagaya ngayon, ilang babae na ang lumapit sa kanya. Dahil naawa na ako sa itsura niya, dinalian ko nang bumaba para mapuntahan siya.

"Hi."

"Excuse me, my girl is here," sagot niya sa mga babae.

Lumapit na siya sa akin at hinalikan ako sa noo. Sumakay na kami sa sasakyan niya.

"Gwapo mo talaga. Hindi magkamayaw ang mga babae mo."

"There are so many girls out there, but I only want you."

"Luh, pa-fall."

"Aren't you fallen yet?"

"Wow the fighting spirit. Di mo sure kung nahulog na o hindi pa."

"Then why would you make out with me a couple of times?

"Gusto lang kita tikman," asar ko sa kanya.

"Playgirl," he muttered.

"I'm not, ask your cousins if I am."

Hindi na siya nagsalita pa, nag-focus na lang siya pagda-drive ng ma-realize ko na ibang daan ang tinatahak namin.

"Where are we going?"

"To heaven," malisyosong sagot niya.

Dinala niya ako sa isang hotel.

"Wow, heaven talaga."

Tumawa siya, hinila ako sa loob ng elevator at pinindot ang pinakamataas na floor ng hotel. Papasok na kami sa rooftop ng hotel nang biglang bumukas ang mga ilaw. I saw a table for two in the middle of the rooftop. May mga pagkain doon at isang bote ng wine na nakalagay pa sa bucket. Sa gilid ay may isa pang table na may lamang mga desserts.

"Flowers for you," inabot sa akin ni Tannerang isang boquet ng tulips.

"Thank you."

Pinaupo niya ako tsaka sa nag-punta sa nasa harap kung upuan. For the first time in my life, I was really surprised. Isang masayang surprise. I am used to bad surprises. I never imagine that I will experience this kind of surprise.

"How did you pull this out successfully?"

"I have my ways babe," he chuckled.

"Thank you."

"No need to thank me. I am doing this because I like you and you deserve the best."

I never imagine liking someone would feel like this. I am like floating in cloud nine. The feeling is really amazing that it makes my heart skip a beat to hammering like I am in a track and field game. I never imagine that it would make you feel so much emotion when you are doing it with the person you want. I dated a lot of guys my age, older and even younger but this is the first that it flutters me. I don't believe in having butterflies in the stomach but with Tanner I start to see a new perspective. With my dad cheating with my mom, I chose not to believe that there is true love. But maybe this time, I have a reason to believe in it again.

Tumayo ako sa upuan at nagpunta sa part ng rooftop na makikita ang city lights, the busy city street. Sumunod din si Tanner sa akin. He hugs me from the back.

"I would spend the rest of my life with you. I can't imagine my life without you in it," he said.

"What if we aren't meant to be? What will you do?"

"You are so good at ruining beautiful moment's e," he pinched my cheek.

"I am just thinking about possibilities."

"Being meant to be is our choice. People believe in "aren't meant to be" or "not destined" things because when they are given the opportunity to love the person they like they did not gave their best."

"So you don't believe in 'pinagtagpo pero hindi tinadhana'?" I asked him.

"Kaya nga pinagtapo kasi in that phase you were both given the opportunity to make the best out of it. Kasalanan niyo na kapag nagkaroon pa rin kayo ng reason to part ways. But for me you will part ways because you did give your all to be committed in that person. Kaya nagiging pinagtagpo pero hindi tinadhana na lang sila."

"What if---" hindi na natapos ang sasabihin ko dahil nagsalita na ulit siya.

"You say too much negativity. Trust me with this babe. I know my feelings than anyone else."

I nodded. We silently watch the city lights and the busy street. Bumaling ako sa side niya para siya naman ang titigan ko ngayon. I stared at him and admired how beautifully crafted he was.

"I think I will melt any minute if you keep staring at me," he said amused.

"You are beautifully crafted and I can't get enough. I just want to stare at you all day," I giggled.

"My pleasure."

I didn't know that he got us a hotel room for us to stay the night together. I wasn't prepared but he said he is a grown up Boy Scout that he took care of everything. He bought clothes for me. Pinaalam na din daw niya ako sa mga kapatid ko na hindi muna ako uuwi ngayon. Friday night naman ngayon kaya pinayagan naman daw ako ng mga kuya ko. I asked him what they told him and he answered.

"Use protection."

"Lol."

"But no worries, I don't want to have sex with you yet until you wholeheartedly offer it to me."

I showered first, I blowdried my hair and make my night skincare routine. Lumabas siya ng banyo na nakasuot ng gray sweatpants pero walang pang-itaas.

"For your eyes only, no touching," asar niya sa akin.

"Asa, I'm looking at the view turo sa may bintana na kita ang city lights."

He blocks my vision, "I'm the view."

"Tanner, I remembered you once told me that you might consider marriage because of me, why would you say that?"

"I don't remember dreaming of marriage and having a family once ever since. When I saw you at the Ace that night, in that rest room you already caught my attention. When I saw you for the second time, in our company, I felt a different feeling that I never felt with other girls. And the moment I saw you in our kitchen comfortably eating and laughing with our house helps and drivers, I already imagined you doing that with our future kids."

"Ang corny mo," I laughed nervously.

How can he confidently say that he is planning his future with me when I am here not yet sure of what I am feeling for him.

"What if I can't like you back? I told you that I will just test the waters, right?"

"At least you have given me a chance to prove myself. We can learn everything and loving someone is not an exception."

"How were your past relationships when you did not want a marriage back then?"

"A lot of flings. No strings attached. Just plain play," hindi makatingin na sagot niya sa akin.

"Paano kung hulog na hulog na ako tapos tsaka mo lang mare-realize na you just want to play with me?"

"I don't know what you can't understand when I already told you that you were the only girl I met that I considered marriage by merely seeing you comfortably mingling with people who are not in the same level as you are."

Inirapan ko siya dahil parang ang baba naman ng comprehension ko, "Hindi ko lang maiwasan mag-isip ng negative things. Seeing my parents wreck marriage frightened me about marriage."

"You are not your parents, if you don't want to have a shaky marriage like them then marry me."

I rolled my eyes, "Are we in a relationship now?"

"The moment you told me that you want to go out with me, I already considered you as my girlfriend."

"The pressure ha."

He kissed the side of my head, "No pressure, babe."

"What is your relationship with Prince?" siya naman ang nagtanong sa akin.

"Ex…"

"What? You were—" nakakunot ang noong tanong niya.

"Admirer," tumawa ako dahil sa reaction niya, "Ex-admirer."

"I wish I met you earlier like Prince and Arjo. I am kinda jealous when they know how to comfort you when you were down and how they know your insides."

"You have all the time to know me now."

"And I will not waste a single second of it," he hugged and kissed me on my forehead.