CONSEQUENCE OF TEMPTATION

Chapter Eleven

I started dating Bela without confessing my love. Gusto ko munang iparamdam sa kanya ang pag-ibig ko bago ako umamin. Gusto ko din siyang mahalin muna ko. It's not that I want her to love me just because I love her. I just want our feelings to be mutual. Ang hirap naman kasi kung magmamahal ka ng isang taong hindi ka mahal. Ayaw ko ng one-sided love.

I stopped by a flower shop to buy some white tulips for Bela. Palagi na lang kasing rose ang binibigay kapag nanliligaw. Paguwi ko ay hinanap ko si Bela at nakita ko siyang nagluluto ng dinner. Zach giggled when he saw me.

"Hey." Bati ni Bela kaya agad kong tinago sa likod ko ang dala kong bulaklak, "I'm just cooking dinner. Saglit na lang to."

"I-I have something for you." I said with my stuttering voice. Shit, ngayon pa ba ko mauutal? Kinakabahan din ako at pinagpapawisan ako ng malamig.

"What is it?"

"For you." I said and gave her the bouquet of tulips. Her eyes widened before taking it, "Nagustuhan mo ba?"

"This is beautiful." She whispered and my heart raced as I stared at her.

"Yes, you are." Her eyes turned to me, and she smiled. Patakbo siyang lumapit sa'kin at niyakap ako tsaka pinagdikit ang labi namin. I hugged her and kissed her back and a smile formed my lips. "You're so beautiful, Bela."

"T-Thank you Zephyr." She smiled at me.

"A-da!" Natigilan kami pareho nang marinig si Zach. He was playing with a spoon as he smiles widely, "A-da! A-da!"

"Woah! He just said his first word!" Gulat kong sabi at lumuhod sa harap ni Zach. He giggled and gave the spoon to me, "Can you say it again, son? Say dada."

"A-da!"

"Good boy!" I said and kissed his forehead. Nilingon ko naman si Bela na may malaking ngiti sa labi.

We ate our dinner together with smiles on our lips. I still can't believe that I'm in love. Kakaiba sa pakiramdam. Para kong lumulutang sa saya lalo na't kasama ko si Bela. She is so wonderful and perfect for me.

"Can I ask you something?" Tanong niya.

"Yeah?"

"Why did you give me flowers? I mean, hindi sa hindi ko nagustuhan pero nagtataka lang ako." Saad niya. Napa-ngiti naman ako.

"Gusto ko lang. Gusto lang kasi kita pasalamatan. I'm just happy that you came to my life." I answered sincerely.

"Oh, Zeph. You don't know how much you made me happy tonight." she said while blushing.

"I can make you happier later if you want." Sagot ko na may ngisi sa labi. Natawa naman to at tumango tsaka pinagpatuloy ang pagpapakain kay Zach.

It feels like we're a family now. No, we are a family now. Me, Bela and Zach. Hindi ko alam na ganito pala kasaya magkaron ng pamilya. They give me inspiration every day. I'm trading all the pussy in this world just to be with them.

Nang matapos kumain ay nag-presinta na kong magligpit ng pinagkainan. Si Bela naman ay papatulugin na si Zach sa kuwarto. After I washed the dishes, I quickly entered the bedroom and took a shower.

Bela was playing with Zach when I got out, "Ayaw pa din niyang matulog."

"Makakatulog din yan." Sagot ko at nahiga sa kama na tanging tapis lang ang suot, "I can't wait to hold you tonight."

"Zeph, nasa harap ka ng anak mo."

"Di pa naman niya naiintindihan yan." I laughed, "At kahit naman maintindihan niya ay ayos lang. At least he knows what making love is."