Don't Me, Arden

Final

Final

Nadia's POV

Agad na napabalikwas ako sa kama nang may marinig akong sumigaw. Lumabas ako sa veranda at dumungaw sa veranda nila Arden kung saan nanggangaling ang sigaw.

A curve formed my lips when I saw him. Arden...

This guy's so noisy talaga.

Pero parang ngayon ko lang nagustuhan yung pagiging maingay niya.

"I love you Adi ko! I love you, okay? I love you! So much!" paulit-ulit na sigaw niya at nagpa-flying kiss pa.

"I love you too," I softly said that made him stopped. Nag-flying kiss din ako sa kanya and a soft chuckle escaped my lips when he act as if he's catching my kiss. Umabot pa siya sa dulo ng veranda nila at doon lang niya nakuha. Pagkatapos ay itinapat niya ang kamay sa dibdib niya at sinabing "ackk".

"Para kang sira," natatawang sabi ko.  

"Hm, sira na nga ako. I'm crazy for you, Adi ko."

"Do I need to call you Arden ko na ba?" I asked. He turned his back at me. "Hey? Bakit?"

He slowly face me and when our eyes' met, he looked down.

Eh?

"Uy, Arden ko," bulong ko. He looked up to me with his lips purse. "Are you alright?" Tumango siya.

"Aren't you going to talk ba?"

"Wait, give me some time," sabi niya at yumuko.

"Hoy, hindi pa nga tayo, tapos you want some time na agad?"

"N-no, it's not like that, Adi ko. I love you okay? What I mean, bigyan mo ko ng time huminga," sabi niya kaya agad namang umurong yung luha ko.

Well, wala naman palang luha.

Gagong 'to. I thought he was going to leave me hanging, eh.

"Pero bakit 'di ka makahinga? Are you sick? Are you going to die?! Are you having a heart attack?!" Nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa sunodsunod na tanong ko at kaagad na umiling.

"No, hindi. I just can't breathe well, kasi... pinapakilig mo 'ko, eh," he said that made me burst out laughing.

"You are crazy Arden." Lumabi siya. "Oh, bakit?"

"Nawala yung 'ko' eh. Sa'n napunta?"

"Para ka namang bata, Arden ko..." I said emphasizing the word ko. Yumuko na naman siya. "Tumingin ka nga sa'kin."

"Ayoko, nahihiya ako." 

"Bakit?"

"Mukha akong bading, eh. Para akong tangang nakangiti."

"Okay lang. I'm still willing to love you... kahit para kang bading," sabi ko. Natawa ako nang pagtingin niya sa'kin ay pinipilit niyang lumabi, but still, he ends up smiling.

May tumikhin kaya napatingin ako sa baba at parang nilamon ang buong sistema ko ng kaba nang makita ko si mommy.

"Mom..." Napatingin ako kay Arden, he was also looking at my mom.

My eyes widened when I saw him smile at my mom. And my mom... she freaking smiled back!

Well, okay na sa kanya na magdecide ako on my own. Okay lang din sa kanya na may manligaw sa'kin.

But she never did smile on anyone na nanliligaw sa'kin! Kay Arden lang.

Wait, baka may ritwal na ginawa si Arden?

"Nadia, that's Arden right?" I nodded. She took her gaze off me and turned to look at Arden, who's still smiling. "Arden, come here."

Agad na tumakbo ako pababa nang marinig ko ang sinabi ni mommy. Nang nasa sala na 'ko ay nakaupo na roon si Arden.

The fuck? He's too fast!

"Nadia, sit beside your boyfriend."

"H-hindi pa kami mom, uhm. Well, medyo? Teka, tayo na ba?" tanong ko at hinarap si Arden.

I saw him gulped, hard. He look tense.

"Kanina lang, nakangiti ka, ah?" I asked under my breath.

"Iba pa rin talaga kapag malapitan na, Adi ko. Pero..." Takang napatingin ako nang tumigil siya. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang kunin ni Arden ang kamay ko. He then intertwined his fingers with mine! And in front of my mom!

Gosh, how to calm?! How to freaking calm?!

"What's with that face, Nadia? Any problem?" asked mom. I simply shook my head. Arden cleared his throat making me and my mom look at him.

"Yes po, Nadia and I..." I gave him a questioning look when he stopped, again. "We are together po," he said and smiled softly while me on the other hand was caught off guard, trying to process on my mind what he just said.

"I-I thought you're going to court me fi—" He cut me off.

"You insisted naman na, na I don't need to court you kasi you'll say yes pa rin. Conyo yun, para tanggapin mo," sabi niya kaya lumabi ako. He leaned closer to me and whispered something that made the butterflies in my stomach dance in so much happiness. "But I'll still court you, Adi ko."

"Congrats to the both of you," my mom said. "Just please, don't hurt my daughter." She looked at me with soft eyes. "She's the only precious thing that I have, and seeing her hurting was the last thing that I want to happen. So please... don't hurt her."

"Aw, mom..." Yun lang ang tanging lumabas sa bibig ko. Wala akong ibang masabi, pero I'm really touched. She's really the best mom that I could ever asked for.

Kahit madalas she's controlling me that it's nakakasakal na. But I guess, it's just her way to protect me. So, I could avoid making mistakes that will hurt me? Maybe.

Tumikhim si Arden kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. I saw that he was already looking at me. He smiled and gently squeeze my hand. After that, she looked at my mom.

"I can't promise you anything po... I can't guarantee you that we won't hurt each other... That we won't fight... Aside na mataray si Adi ko, it is also part of a relationship po, pero I'll do all my very best so that it won't happen... 'cause I also don't want to see her getting hurt. I can only promise you... is that I will love her... I will love her with all my heart and make her feel loved... that's the thing that I can only promise you po," he said that made my heart leap. And I can really feel that all he'd said was genuine!

Paano ko ba nagawang tarayan 'tong lalaki na 'to?

Arden looked at me. He was smiling and argh! How could he be so handsome?!

"I love you, Adi ko," he mouthed. "Uhm, can I hug her po?" he asked my mom. Tumingin ako kay mommy. She smiled and nodded.

Magsasalita pa sana ako pero hindi ko na natuloy. I just felt Arden's arms wrap around me. I hugged him back as tight as I could.

"I love you, Adi ko," he uttered and I felt him kiss the corner of my head. I smiled and looked at my mom. She was smiling while looking at me and Arden.

I mouthed 'thank you, mom' then hugged Arden tighter.

"I love you too, Arden ko..."