24 Hours Challenge: EX EDITION

V. In Character

Gal

"We're almost there, baby!"

Halos mapapikit ako nang mariin dahil sa inis. Kanina pa. Kanina pa 'yang pagtawag niya sa'kin ng 'baby' sa bawat salita niya!

"Sabing h'wag mo 'kong tawagin nang ganyan!" I snapped. Asar na asar ako. Kanina ko pa pinipigilan ang sarili mula sa pagsigaw pero ngayon, hindi ko na talaga mapigilan. Sinabi ko naman na na 'wag na lang kaming gumamit ng endearment pero... ugh! Lintek na 'yan! Nakakaasar talaga!

Ike let out an amused laugh, tila ba ang reaksyon ko lang ang hinihintay niya.

"Masyado kang galit, 'no?" aniya nang humupa ang tawa. "Ba't ayaw mong tawagin kitang 'baby'? Cute naman, ah?"

He glanced at me briefly, wearing a curious expression. I frowned.

"Cute? Cute ba 'yon?" sarkastiko kong sabi. I then crossed my arms and looked out the window. "Baby baby. Parang bata."

My voice went lower on the last sentence, in attempt to not let him hear it. Pero narinig niya pa rin.

"Para ka naman talagang bata. Childish."

Bakit parang hindi talaga siya nauubusan ng pang-asar?

My eyes drifted back to him. "Anong childish? Baka ikaw."

He shook his head. "Hindi. Ikaw."

"Hindi ako childish!"

I sounded too defensive. He noticed that too because he replied with a chuckle.

"O, sige. Hindi ka childish. Pero para ka paring bata dahil baby kita."

Our eyes met and he smirked victoriously, seeing that he made me speechless. Mas lalo lang akong naasar. 'Yan! Dyan siya magaling! Dyan sa mga walang kuwenta niyang banat!

Instead of arguing with him some more, I just chose to reserve my energy and wait for us to arrive at the grocery. Ilang minuto lang din naman ang lumipas bago ipinarada ni Ike ang sasakyan sa parking lot.

I grabbed the video recorder before heading out. Sabay na kaming lumabas ng kotse. Oo, mukhang hindi talaga uso sa relasyong 'to ang pagbukas ng pintuan. Well, okay lang din naman. Mas prefer ko naman 'to kesa doon.

Nang makalabas kami, magsisimula na sana akong maglakad pero lumapit siya sa'kin at hinawakan ang kamay ko. Ikinagulat ko 'yon kaya binawi ko agad.

"Sabing walang holding hands!" reklamo ko.

"Nope. Magho-holding hands tayo sa ayaw at sa gusto mo. Kaya akin na kamay mo," sinubukan niyang kunin ang kamay ko at mabilis ko 'tong inilayo.

"Puwede bang hindi na lang 'yon kasama? 'Tsaka, hindi naman talaga kita totoong boyfriend kaya please naman! Layuan mo 'ko!"

Medyo tinulak ko pa siya pagilid para lang makita niya na ayokong magkadikit kami. I hate how uneasy I was when he held my hand. That was the closest physical contact we've had after five years!

Ike heaved a sigh. Humarap siya sa'kin. His brow was slightly raised.

"Akala ko ba we'll 'make this day as real as we possibly can'?"

I paused. Well...

Before I can say a word, I saw how his face reflected a look of concern. It's as if he realized something. He then wet his lip with his tongue before asking,