Forgetting My First Real Kiss

Chapter One

Chapter One

"JJ! Pick up your toys! The condo is so messy!" I yelled at my seven year-old brother. "And you, TG! Stop playing with your PSP! I swear to God, I will kick you in the face if you don't stop that!" I yelled at JJ's twin. Mga sakit sa ulo!

"Ate, why are you shouting?" TG asked while still playing his PSP.

"Oo nga, Ate Daph. Papangit ka niyan. Sige ka," JJ said, his face serious.

"Stop making fun of me!" I took the PSP from TG's hands. "Just freaking sleep!" I grabbed both of their arms and dragged their lazy asses to their bedroom.

"Ateeeee. I don't want to sleep yet!" JJ pouted. Nagpapa-cute pa!

"Why do you want us to sleep early, anyway?" TG asked.

"Tomorrow's your first day of classes! Lagot ako kay Mommy kapag na-late kayo!" Kanina ko pa ine-explain sa kanilang dalawa ito pero hindi naman nila iniintindi ang sagot ko.

Kung bakit ba naman kasi date night ngayon ng parents namin. As if naman mapapaniwala nila kaming masaya pa sila sa marriage nila.

"Ate naman kasiiiii! Mommy doesn't have to know!" sabi ni JJ. Napakapilyong bata talaga.

"Huwag niyo na akong inisin, please. Why can't you just sleep?" I continued dragging them until we reached their bedroom here in my condo.

Humiwalay na ako sa parents namin. I decided to stay away from them because I'm not comfortable around them anymore. Especially, around Dad.

Like what I said earlier, kahit anong sabihin ng parents ko na okay silang dalawa at masaya ang marriage nila, I still don't believe them. I love my Mom, pero she's so stupid for sticking with Dad.

"Matulog na tayo, JJ. Makikipagkita lang yan si Ate Daph sa boyfriend niya." And before I could react, both of them hid under their covers.

I just shook my head in amusement. Mga pasaway talaga! Pero kahit na ganyan sila, I still love them. And of course, these kids know me too well. They're right, makikipagkita ako sa boyfriend ko tonight.

***

"Hey, babe!" I waved at my boyfriend as he stepped out of his car. He waved back and smiled.

"Hi." He smiled before kissing my cheek. I felt myself blushing, I just bit my lower lip to rein in my reaction. Kakilig talaga si boyfriend!

"Ang late nitong date natin ha," I teased him. He chuckled as he put his arm around my shoulder.

"Late ka kasi dumating." He squeezed my shoulder. "How did you managed to get them to sleep?" he asked. We started walking towards our favorite resto na malapit lang sa building ng condo ko.

"As usual, sigawan. Sigurado naman akong nagtulug-tulugan lang yung mga yun so I can leave na." I smiled at him. They're probably playing with their gadgets.

He peeled his arms off me but held my hand as we cross the road towards the resto.

How did I get from here? I feel like I'm in cloud nine when I'm around him. I just realized that even though my family and parents are having problems, masaya pa rin ang lovelife ko. Me and my boyfriend love each other.

"Babe..." Napatingin ako kay Nico. Nakangiti siya. "I love you." Aww, I think I just melted.

"I love you, too." I kissed his cheek.

After namin mag dinner sa aming favorite resto, naglakad na kaming dalawa pabalik sa building ko. Hindi kami pwedeng magtagal na magkasama dahil may pasok na rin kami bukas sa university. Kahit hindi kami nag-uusap, parang nagkaka intindihan pa rin kami. Comfortable silence lang. 'Yung kuntento na kung anong meron ka kasi masaya ka na. Sobrang chill lang.

I just hope masaya din ang marriage ng parents ko. 'Yung sana ganito rin sila kasaya. Kung hindi lang kasi dahil kay Daddy, baka okay pa kaming lahat. Ito namang si Mommy, napaka forgiving and understanding.

Don't get me wrong, ayokong maging product ng isang broken family. Pero ayoko rin namang nasasaktan ang Mommy ko. I love her so much and she's been through a lot.

"Okay ka lang?" I heard Nico ask.

I looked at him and frowned in confusion. "Yeah. Bakit naman hindi?"

He smoothed the creases on my forehead. "Kasi nakasimangot ka na."

"Ah. Don't mind me. Naisip ko lang si Mommy," I explained. Understanding where my head's at, he just kissed me on my forehead.

"Magiging okay din ang lahat, babe," he whispered.

Ngumiti na lang ako para hindi na ma-spoil ang gabi namin.

Napaisip ko, what if matulad kami sa parents ko? At dahil naman sa kasinungalingan ko? He's just too good to me and I'm feeling like a fraud because I'm hiding things from him.

You see, I'm not exactly honest with him. But it was just about that one thing I really wanted to forget.

"Babe, pakiss nga," he said as he lightly grabbed my nape.

I tensed at his sudden move. Shit.

"Hey. I was just joking," he immediately said, chuckling before ruffling my hair. "Ikaw naman. Sinabi ko na sa'yo diba, hangga't hindi ka pa handa sa first kiss mo, okay lang." He squeezed my hand. "I'll wait."

First kiss. That one thing that I really wanted to give to Nico. But how could I do that if I have already given it to someone else? Someone else that is unworthy.

Teka, pwede ko naman sigurong bawiin ang nakaraan? Paano kung i-consider kong si Nico na lang first kiss ko? Ang first REAL kiss ko?

I could pretend and no one would know.

Right?

Before I could answer my question, suddenly all I could see was... him.

"Babe, okay ka lang ba talaga?" I snapped out of my reverie. Napatingin ako kay Nico nang marinig ko ang pag-aalala sa boses niya. "Namumutla ka na."

Napatingin ulit ako sa lugar na kinatatayuan niya. Walang tao.

I saw him. I know it was him. He was standing near the light post.

Was my brain playing tricks on me? Nandun ba talaga siya? Namamalikmata lang ba ako? Bumalik na kaya siya?

No. Impossible. He wouldn't come back for me. He won't.

Last time I tried calling his mom's number, they wouldn't let me talk to him. They even told me they were staying in Canada for good. Hindi na sila uuwi... ever.

Shit, Daphne. Just forget the damn guy!

Just forget Lourd!