Paper Planes (Sandejas Siblings: Companion Book)

Kabanata 12

Kabanata 12

WHAT DO WE do best to celebrate? Go to our favorite place, the carnival.

I waited for my boyfriend to take a shower first before dragging him to our favorite hang out place to enjoy. Tonight is extra special, I heard from the ticketing area since they will be launching their first photobooth here!

We got the golden tickets again, iyon kasi ang madalas na nakukuha kapag special night dito sa perya. Minsan ay dalawa sila, asul at ginto kagaya no'ng dati pero mas madalas iyong blue at medyo may pagkamadalang itong isa.

We are holding hands, my eyes are bright looking at the ferris wheel as the main attraction of the place.

"You really love this place, hmm?" a soft and gentle whisper filled my ear and when I glanced back, Jer's amused and gentle blue eyes' what I've seen.

"Yeah, aren't you?" I shot my brow up.

"Hmm...I fell in love in this place because this is where I realized I'm in love with you," he answered me back and smiled.

My heart pounded harshly. It was just way louder than before because no fireworks would hide my beating heart.

"M-mag..." nag-init ang mukha ko, "m-mag-photobooth na nga tayo!"

He laughed, he held my hand and pulled me closer so we could fall in line until we reached our turn for a picture.

When we got inside, we're both confused what to do.

"We'll get the photo sa may labas, 'di ba?" I asked, staring at the camera in front.

"I guess so," nagkatinginan kami at napangiti ng sabay. "We'll see, hon."

The machine got this countdown and at first, we didn't know what to pose or something. We've seen our face in the blurry monitor and upon reaching the first countdown, our shoulders touched as we smiled formally at the camera.

"Three more shots, ano bang pose?" kinakabahang nilingon ko si Jer na napakurap-kurap din sa akin.

"Anything?" he chuckled, "sorry, hon, I didn't know what to do, too."

"Three, two," the machine started counting down again and I panicked. "One!"

I immediately kissed Jer's cheek and felt him froze at my sudden action. Kasabay noon ay ang pagtunog ng camera at ang paglayo ko sa kanya.

His eyes are wide, my cheeks heated up too upon realizing what I just did.

"S-sorry," I cleared my throat, embarrassed. Nagkatitigan kaming dalawa.

"Three, two!"

"Wala na kasi akong maisip na p-pose—" he reached for my nape in a heartbeat, pulled me closer and kissed me on the lips the same time the camera snapped it.

Is it bad to wish for something simple? Just to be genuinely happy? Why does it always have to be taken away from me? Can't I enjoy my life? Have fun? Fail? Fall in love?

"Leona, what's the meaning of this?!" I closed my eyes when I heard my mother.

"Mamá," I softly called.

"What is it? Is it true? Are you in a relationship with that Sandejas?!" Tumaas ang boses niya at humugot ako ng hininga bago sinubukang pakalmahin siya.

"Ma, please, not now."

"What?! You woman! I warned you about that man! At anong ginawa mo? You even made him your boyfriend and cut classes! He's a bad influence to you, Leona! Can't you see?!"