Chapter 7 "Her favorite place in the world"

PARAISO ba sa ibang mundo ang lugar na nasa harapan niya? It's a private place, and there's a Mansion that looks like an old European house in a creamy beige palette. It looks so elegant with this romantic style post making it looks like a classic roman structure. There is a swimming pool surrounded by well-groomed Bermuda grass and a minimalist glass house not far away from the Mansion.

There is a cliff that shows the stunning view of the ocean and heaven's horizon. She's speechless and couldn't find any word to describe how romantic and peaceful the place was.

It has a different vibe compared to their Mansion. It looks homey and relaxing, while the Mansion where she lives is too luxurious and screams how extravagant their lifestyle is.

'Intimidatingly huge to make it simple.'

"Do you like it?" biglang napabaling siya sa hindi niya namalayang kanina pa palang nasa tabi niya. She's too busy being mesmerize by the whole place.

Their gaze met, but not only her eyes are amazed but also her heart. Tanging ngiti lang ang naisagot niya dito. Her heart raced at the sight of him.

"Na-love at first sight kana ata?" bahagyang nilapit nito ang mukha sa kanya at parang batang ineksamen ang reasyon niya.

"How can I resist the beauty of this place?" muli niyang pinagmasdan ang tanawin bago muling tumitig dito.

"This is the place where my parents fell in love." He smiles in a way that you can feel the wonder inside his heart.

They never know about each other's families, and Dave totally understands her issues, that's why they agreed not to talk about it.

At some point, she still has that habit of keeping a wall between her and other people but seeing him so happy telling something about his family makes her feel sad. She also wishes she could share something about her family, but she doesn't have one.

Isang malungkot na ngiti at muli niyang ibinaling ang paningin sa tanawin.

Masuyo nitong hinawakan ang kamay niya, "I hope this place will make you forget the sad world in your heart."

"It did. At this moment it feels like a dream," halos pabulong niyang sabi.

'Including your existence in my life.'

There goes that smile again. How she wishes that she could frame it. So, she could keep it.

"Since you're already in love, may inihanda akong food kasi nakakagutom ma-inlove," Sabay pihit sa kanya paharap sa likuran nila.

"Tada!"

Napamaang siya nang makita ang naka prepare na picnic blanket sa ilalim ng isang puno kung saan malapit ito sa magandang pwesto para pagmasdan ang dagat. May mga cute ding throw pillows at duyan na nakasabit sa puno. He also prepared some food and fresh flowers for her.

Nang balingan niya ito ay nakita niyang pinapanood nito ang reaksyon niya.

"Ok lang naman sigurong... idate ka ng angel mo?" bahagya itong napahaplos sa batok nito na halatang tinatantya kung anong magiging reaksyon niya.

He smiles shyly.

Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit nangingilid yung luha sa mga mata niya at hindi niya na napigilang pang yumakap sa may baywang nito.

"W-why? Why are you doing this?" she whispered but enough for him to hear. She feels really overwhelmed about everything, about him, it makes her feel weak. She firmly closes her eyes as she tightens her hug.

Ever since he came into her life, the way she sees things are now becoming different, like the world of blue was now painted with hues of happiness that makes her heart grow fonder towards him.

'It's surreal.'

The happiness is too much. The way he makes things special for her that nobody ever does makes her feel her worth.

Tinugon nito ang mga yakap niya.

"You're s-scaring me," her voice is shakingly, close to crying.

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'BAKIT?' Bakit ito natatakot? Is he doing it fast or is he crossing her boundaries?

"Am I doing something that scaring you?" bahagya niya itong inilayo sa kanya at hinawakan sa magkabilang balikat.

He's confused, seeing her eyes are in tears with a hint of agony.

"I'm scared, Dave," he can see the fear, and now he can't help worrying too.

"Scared of what? Me?" he wants to understand where is that fear coming from.

"I'm scared of what you're making me feel."

"What do you feel?"

"I don't really know what I feel... because I have never felt this way before. It's so strong. You make me feel so alive, you make me forget the world, and I'm scared to lose my control in here." Kinuha nito ang kamay niya at itinapat sa puso nito, where he can feel her heart beats so fast and strong, "This never works until you came. I don't care whoever comes to me and go, but now, I'm not sure anymore."

Naiintindihan niya na ang nararamdaman nito dahil ganoon na ganoon din ang nararamdaman niya.

Kaya nga lagi siyang humahanap ng way para makasama ito.

He always makes sure to be there beside her whenever he can.

'After class,

during a study session,

lunchtime,

before going home,

late coffee chats,

and sweet midnight phone chats.'

And all the time he could get to spend with her. He's taking all the chances to make her feel that he is there, that she is not alone, and that her angel is there.

Her falling angel falls deeper, and harder every time he stares at her lonely eyes.

Ang kaibahan lang hindi siya natatakot sa kung ano mang nararamdaman niya o sa kung ano mang pwedeng maging sila dahil ang tanging mahalaga sa kanya ay makasama niya ito sa araw-araw at dulutan ng ngiti ang mga labi nito.

"That is the same reason why I'm always around you." Kinuha niya rin ang isa nitong kamay at itinapat din sa kaliwang dibdib niya, "Before you lose yours, I just lost mine."

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TOTOO ang lahat ng mga nangyari pero bakit tila hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala?

Sa tuwing ipipikit niya ang kanyang mga mata... bibilis ang tibok ng puso niya at tanging ito ang nagiging sentro ng daigdig niya.

Parang kiti-kiti siya na kanina pang pabiling-biling sa higaan sa tuwing makikita niya ang garapon ng cookies na ibinigay nito sa kanya.

Ayon dito, ito mismo ang nag-bake noon para sa kanya nang malamang paborito niya ang cranberry and white chocolate cookies ng Cafè mi Amore. Talagang nag-effort pa itong aralin yun para lang sa kanya... 'That's the sweetest thing!'

Usually, guys will just give her expensive gifts, but him? 'Oh my gosh, I'm lost in this game, but I don't care!'

Parang timang siyang namimilipit sa kilig at hindi mapigilang tumili habang nakatakip ng unan ang mukha sa tuwing maaalala ang iba pang nangyari.

Unti-unti itong lumapit at masuyong hinawakan ng mga palad nito ang kanyang mga pisngi, pinagdikit ang mga noo nila at ipinikit ang mga mata.

"Please don't be scared... I'm not going to hurt you."

Who will be scared with that sound of a voice? Just the tone of it makes her feel safe.

Napapikit din siya at napakapit sa mga braso nito. Inside her, there she is kneeling and praying so hard that no one will take this happiness away from her.

Praying fate will let her keep him forever. It's so sudden, but it's digging so fast and deeply into her soul.

"I wish I could always be this close to you," she whispers, making him open his eyes and softly stares at her.

"Why not?" he responded without taking away his eyes off her, but he slightly distances his face so she could see him clearly, "I would love to. Actually, I will make sure that I'm always close. So, you will never feel alone again."

Her heart is melting in his words.

"Like this?" She clams her arms around his waist, and that distance no longer exists. It's the best feeling to hold him in her arms as if he is someone who only belongs to her, that he is the most precious of all she has ever found in this lifetime.

"Ohh, make it tighter," he did the same to her in a tighter way and still not letting go of that gaze. The squeeze of his hug makes her want to stay in that moment for a lifetime.

She giggles as he smiles and pouts at the same time. "From now on, this will be my favorite place in the world. Right here... in your arms, so you should always stay close to me as much as possible," bahagya niyang nilapit ang mga labi niya sa may bandang taynga nito, "Please add this to your angel's duty."

"Copy that," he said almost like a whisper, and then he...

He gently cups her cheeks and slowly claims her lips sweetly and softly like he was handling a delicate glass, and for that, the world stops for them. Not only their lips found where they belong to but also their heart. The tickling electricity flows like a splash in her veins. Making her heart hurt from the intense beating, but she can take it. She actually loves it.

Suddenly the most beautiful scene of her life made her forget every single pain she had inside her heart.

She's in love. Finally, the word pops up.

'Yes, that's it! It's love!'

Love is the feeling that she keeps on guessing after all this time.

She closed her eyes and answered his lips so dearly, not knowing how to, but amazingly she did perfectly without hesitation but instead longing for it. Those lips are the sweetest and the loveliest her soul has ever felt.

She held her pillow tight.

This emotion inside her is driving her insane.

'Ganito pala ma-in love... It's Aiiiiiiiiihhhhhh!!!!'

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"GRABE ka! Nilinlang mo kami! Kaya pala nananahimik siya nung nagkukwentuhan tayo, sa kanya na pala agad!!" esksaheradang sabi ni Rich nang maupo ito sa damuhan kasama niya. Nag-aaral siya ng mga oras nayun nang dumating ang dalawa.

Natatawang napailing-iling na lang siya. Alam niyang sang damakmak na tanong ang nakahanda para sa kanya.

"Oh, bakla simulan mo na yung tanong," pangunguna ni Sofie.

Nagpapalit-palit ang tingin niya sa dalawa habang pinipigil ang napipintong pagtawa.

Parehas kasi itong nakakuno't ang noo sa kanya na para bang may atraso siya sa mga ito.

Napabuga naman ng hangin si Rich at pinipilit ikalma ang sarili.

"Hay naku! Di ko alam kung saan ako magsisimula," nanghihinang napatingin ito kay Sofie.

Napairap naman ito. "Ano bayan?! Kanina dami mong tanong, yung totoo?!"

Ngumuso ito at tumingin sa kanya. "Ano ba kasi talaga ang ganap?"

"Ano bang ganap ang ibig ninyong sabihin?" kunwaring painosenteng maangan niya.

Lalong nagmaktol ito, "Naman toh eh... nagpapasabik pa!"

Natutuwa siyang bitinin ang mga ito.

"Parang may iba sayo?" biglang turan ni Sofie at titig na titig sa mukha niya.

"Tignan mo baks... parang kumikinang mga mata niya tapos she can't stop smiling."

Napasapo sa bibig si Rich, "Ayyy... oo nga girl!"

"Anong sinasabi niyo?" kunawari'y napakuno't noo siya pero obvious pa din na nagpipigil siya ng ngiti.

"Umamin ka! In love ka no?!" hindi siya sumagot bagkus tanging ngiti lang ang gumuhit sa mga labi niya.

"Oh my God friend!!!!" histerikal na sabi nito sabay pasugod siyang niyakap at nakisali na rin si Sofie. Sabay-sabay silang napahiga sa damuhan at nagtitili, "Totoo ba??? Si Honey Veraniel in love??" parang di makapaniwalang sabi nito.

"I'm so happy for you!" Sofie said while pouting, "Sana all."

At ikinuwento niya ang istorya kung paano nagsimula ang lahat.

"Hayyyy... kinikilig ako sa inyo girl! Akalain mo yun? Buti pala di ka namin sinundan ni Sofie... edi naka istorbo pa kami sa moments of love niyo!"

"Grabe ang bilis ng pangyayari OMG!" Napahawak nalang sa pisngi si Sofie, "Hayyysss ang pag-ibig nga naman pag trip ka... kahit manhid ka bigla ka nalang tatablan," bahagyang pinakutitap nito ang mga mata na nagmukhang nangangarap.

"Basta huwag ka lang niyang sasaktan sis kagaya ni Jake," concern na sabi ni Rich.

"Sus hindi naman ako nasaktan kay Jake," napangiweng sabi niya.

"Totoo ba?" napakuno't ito ng noo.

"Honestly, I understand why Jake cheated on me. It's one-sided love," paliwanag niya sa mga ito.

"Ano kaba sis there is no excuse pagdating sa cheating edi sana nakipag-break muna siya sayo pero dahil wala siyang delekadesa ayan ang napala niya," Sofie's eyeballs rolled in dismay.

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"YOU know what... mabilis talaga ang babaeng yun pag dating sa lalake noh?!" wika ng isang tinig na kapapasok lang ng CR.

"Kaka-break niya lang kay Jake nung isang linggo mukhang may kasunod na," the other girl spits out with a disgust in her tone.

"Hindi sila bagay. Sayang naman yung napakagwapong estudyanteng yun kung sa kanya lang mapupun-"

Binuksan niya ang pintuan ng isang cubicle kung saan kanina pa siya naroroon at nakikinig sa kwentuhan ng mga haters niya. Papalabas na sana siya kanina kaso natigilan siya nang marinig ang usapan ng mga ito. As expected mga alagad na naman ni Katrina.

'Bakit ba kasi pakalat kalat ang mga trolls na ito?! inis niyang reklamo sa isip.'

Parang nakakita ng multo ang mga ito nang lumabas siya at parang patay malisyang naghugas ng mga kamay.

Nagtinginan ang mga ito bago muling ibinalik sa kanya.

Kumuha siya ng paper towel at tinuyo ang mga kamay.

Nang kunwaring napansin niya na nandoon pala sila ay sinalubong niya ng blangkong tingin ang mga ito.

"Oh, why did you stop? Magkwentuhan lang kayo... I don't mind," she said sarcastically and smirked at them, "I'm used to it... when people talk about me. After all, I'm still the Campus Queen... and I can't stop people like you from being obsessed with my life."

Napataas naman ang kilay nung isa dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Campus Queen huh?! Maybe you mean Campus Bitch... mukhang may bago ka na namang biktima," punong-puno ng pang-iinsultong ani nito.

She scoffs, "If getting what you want is what you call bitch, then you can call me that," nang-iinis niyang balik sa mga ito, "And what do you mean bagong biktima?" mahinahon at kalmado niyang tanong dito.

"Come on! Honey! You know what we're talking about."

"Correction, I was not the one who cheated," isang matalim na tingin ang pinukol niya sa mga ito.

"Exactly! Panakip butas mo lang siya dahil hindi mo matanggap na ipinagpalit ka lang ni Jake... poor guy for sure he doesn't know about that."

Napailing-iling nalang siya bakit ba hindi mawala wala yung idea na siya yung may kasalanan pero dahil good mood siya wala siyang balak patulan ang mga ito.

"You girls are funny, sometimes try to use your brain, hindi puro bibig." Lumakad siya palabas.

"Don't worry hindi naman magtatagal iiwanan din siya nun pagnalaman ang tunay niyang kulay," pahabol na parinig ng mga ito sa kanya.

Anong sinasabi ng mga ito. Ang akala ba nito hindi seryoso ang meron sila ni Dave?

'Well, you are all wrong.'

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"SO, how's the date?" bungad ni Sedrick nang umupo sa katapat niyang upuan sa library.

Agad na gumuhit ang matamis na ngiti sa mga labi niya.

"Ah I know that smile..." napahagikgik ito nang makitang namula ang mga pisngi niya, "Congrats and Goodluck bro." Tinapik siya nito sa balikat.

"Kagabi pa ako lumulutang sa ere," natatawang sabi niya habang hawak ang dibdib.

Napailing-iling ito, "Oh man... your madly in love. You are now a part of that 80% but happen to be the lucky one who won her heart."

Napakagat siya sa labi habang hinahaplos ang dibdib. "It's insane bro. Have you ever experienced this before?"

Biglang napataas ang dalawa nitong kilay at napaisip. "I think I haven't." Napakamot ito sa ulo, "Masyado ata akong naging busy sa career ko at family business namin. I mean nagkakacrush pa rin naman ako pero alam mo yun hahaha!" Napangiwe ito habang alanganing napatawa.

"After Liza, you never had any relationship?"

It's his first love that didn't work out because of long-distance, and now she's happy with someone else.

Napa-iling lang ito, "But you know I'm ok. It's just that I made myself too busy and learned not to think of it." He smiles, but it does not reach his eyes.

He knows how Sedrick loves Liza so much, but it's a sad story. He knows his best friend is a strong guy. That he just found his priorities and learns how to accept them.