Best for Us (GU #3)

forty-one

Forty-One: Vanessa Gerleen

Tinitigan ako ni Tyler na tila tinubuan ako ng sungay sa noo. And though how much I love unicorns, I know that their existence is impossible. At ganun ako kung tingnan ni Tyler ngayon, like I'm impossible.

And I couldn't blame him. If I was him, I'd be flustered too.

"This isn't a joke," he finally said after a long silence. Hindi rin 'yun lumabas bilang isang tanong.

But I still nodded anyway. Saka kinumpirma, "It's not. I'm serious here, I really need you to kiss me."

Napaungol si Tyler saka tinakpan ng parehong kamay ang mukha. Nanatili siyang ganoon at sobrang gusto ko nang malaman kung anong iniisip niya sa akin ngayon. Did I come off as easy? Desperate?

Inalis na ni Tyler ang kamay sa mukha at binalingan ako ng tingin. At balak ko na sanang umiwas sa seryosong tingin niya nang mahina siyang natawa. "Vanessa, why are you making this hard for me?"

"What?" I blinked at him. Kumunot ang noo ko.

He let out another small laugh again before his eyes softened at me as he sighed. "I'm trying hard to keep things right. To take things slow. To be at your pace. Then you're suddenly saying things like that right now and all I want to do is to just screw waiting and give in." Napahinga na naman siya nang malalim. "But I know you deserve more than that. So, please, help me a little bit here. Don't tempt me like that."

Natigilan ako doon, sa damdaming nasa mga mata ngayon ni Tyler. He looked so conflicted. And it was my own doing. Nahiya naman ako sa sarili. How I easily jumped into doing things without thinking.

"I'm sorry," I apologized. "I didn't mean to make things hard for you. It's just that something happened and ito yung naunang naisip kong gawin. Kanina, it seemed like a good idea but seeing you like this right now...I don't think so." Napatungo ako. "I'm so sorry."

Naramdaman ko ang kamay na marahang pumatong sa balikat ko, sunod ay maingat na paghawak niya sa baba ko, iniangat iyon. My eyes met again his that were shining brightly now as he smiled down at me.

"Why don't we sit down first and tell me what happened and lets try to think together how we can deal with it? Hmm?"

Tumango na lang ako. Mas lumawak ang ngiti niya saka inalalayan ako sa pag-upo.

When I was settled down, he filled the space beside me. Tahimik lang na nakatingin sa akin si Tyler, naghihintay na magkwento ako.

I drew out a long heavy breath. Alright, mukhang kailangan ko talagang ikwento ang lahat.

"I got in," simula ko. At pinanood ko kung paano nagbago ang ekspresyon sa mukha ni Tyler. How it changed from a serious one to delight. At doon ay alam kong nakuha niya na ang sinabi ko.

"Sa play?" tinanong niya pa rin para kumpirmahin. Nang tumango ako bilang sagot ay nadagdagan ang excitement sa mukha niya. "Oh wow! Congrats! I just know you'll get in with that performance." Pero, ilang saglit at unti-unting nabahirang muli ng pagkaseryoso ang mukha niya. "But, what does it have to do with...the favor you're asking me?"

Kung hindi lang medyo seryoso yung atmosphere ay natawa na ako. He avoided to say the word 'kiss'. Tyler Osmond Villaruiz, who got a wide range of experience beyond kissing was being so shy right now.

Maybe something happened. Maybe some fairy did a spell on us tapos pinagpalit kami ng personality.

I rolled my eyes mentally. Talaga naman. Nakakapag-isip pa ako ng kung anu-ano.

I shook my head, trying to clear my mind. Saka ko sinagot na rin si Tyler, "They casted me as Juliet. Well, one of the Juliets since dalawa yung kinuha nila. But back to my favor, may sinabi kasi si Ren. My classmate. I don't know if you remember her pero napakilala na siya sayo ni Olivia, first day of school."