All Chapters of The Fiery Antagonism（Taglish）: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

He’s driving me off to work, one hand on the steering wheel and the other intertwined with mine. I was busy playing with my lips, biting and rubbing them with a finger when I felt him squeeze my hand, and slightly graze his thumb through my skin. I absent-mindedly turned to him, before I could say something he already did.“What is it?”“Hmm? What ‘what is it’?” taka kong tugon, then eventually panicked. “Are we talking about something? I’m sorry, ano nga ulit ‘yon?”Sandali siyang sumulyap sa akin at agad rin ibinalik sa daan ang tingin. “Mukhang malalim nga ang iniisip mo. Do you mind sharing? I would like to hear about it, Ms. Velasquez.”“I’m…” I’m overthinking things. “I’m just stressed. A-Ang dami ko pa kasing pending projects. Well… I’m almost done designing your restaurant, so you don’t have to worry about it.”I don’t know, but these unnecessary thoughts just keep coming and distract me at random times of the day. I just can’t stop thinking about his dateless departure and ou

Having a quite heavy workload kind of helps me to drift away from overthinking. Yes, it is exhausting but at least I’m not as restless as I am when I’m having sleepless nights, doing nothing but stress about things I shouldn't exaggerate in the first place.Actually, I've already decided to confront him but I just can't do it. Pinangungunahan ako ng takot ko at alam kong hindi dapat ako nagpapadaig sa mga naiisip ko ngunit ayoko rin naman na masyadong magpa-kampante. Either what we have is real or he’s just playing around, but it could be neither of these.Even after all the assurance Aven's been showing or telling me, ang dami pa rin talagang "what if's" na naglalaro sa aking isipan. Alam kong kung may isang tao man na gustong malaman kung anong bumabagabag sa akin, it’ll be Aven. But I have no plans on telling him about it, I don't want him to think or feel that I don't trust him. I trust him, I just can’t help having doubts. Maybe it’s too soon to decide for that, at baka kaya ko pa

I’m not sure if that ‘workmate’ word repetition was just a dream or if it really happened but when I woke up the following day, our arms are both encircling each other’s waists already. I swear I felt something slightly rough on my face earlier and I am certain, it was his stubbles. Positively, he was smooching me while I was still asleep.Bumungad sa akin si Aven na seryoso ang mukhang nakatitig sa mukha ko. He wasn’t even startled when he saw that I’m already awake. Still his arms around my waist, he gently draws small circles on my lower back with his finger—a very cuddly gesture yet he’s keeping a straight face. Napaawang ako at babatiin na sana siya ng magandang umaga nang maalala kong hindi pa nga pala kami bati. Ahm… So, what now? Hindi pa ba kami bati sa lagay na ‘to?“Ano? Nasa’n na ang morning kiss ko? Pati ba naman ‘yun ipagkakait mo sa akin? Hindi ka na nga nag-goodnight kiss sa akin kagabi, e.”I remain staring at him for a while and then snuggled against his chest. Napapi

We already dine like this before but right now, the atmosphere is way different than the last time. Something’s up, I can feel it. Naguguluhan man sa kung anong nangyayari ay isinantabi ko na lang muna ang pagtatanong at nagsimula na kaming kumain.Halos mapapikit pa ako sa sobrang sarap ng pagkaing nakahain sa harapan ko. I dramatically point a finger on my food as I chew. Siya ‘lagi ang nagluluto ng pagkain namin sa bahay niya kaya hindi ko na kailangan pang mag-isip, siguradong siya ang nagluto nito. Hindi ko alam kung sadyang talento niya lang ‘to o talagang ipinanganak siya para sa ganitong purpose, e. Jusko, ang sarap!I heard him let out some soft little giggles.“You like it? That’s one of my specialties.”I slowly nodded. “God, Alessandro… Please cook for me for the rest of my life,” I muttered in awe.I’m not good and I don’t usually give comments about what I eat since I often drink coffee the whole day instead of having an actual meal but every time I taste his dishes, I a

The following days went well although, going back to my old routine—my life before Alessandro and I decided to live together doesn’t feel the same as before anymore. Like what we have compromised, we settle for texts and calls. But it makes me miss him more, it makes me want to see him and feel him so I keep making excuses to shorten the duration of our talks. Ayos lang naman no’ng una, pero no’ng napapansin kong palagi na siyang matamlay tuwing nagtatawagan kami at hindi niya na rin halos binabalik ang mga texts ko ay nalulungkot na ako. He’s obviously making time for me, pero anong ginagawa ko? Sinasayang ko ang oras niya imbes na ipagpahinga niya na lang ‘to.Getting up to get ready for work wasn't as refreshing as my usual weekday mornings with him. It feels like something’s missing doing things even if I’m used to doing them alone. It’s just been a few days yet I’m already longing for Alessandro’s warmth; I miss him.Unlike before, nagluluto na ako sa umaga upang makapag-almusal