So...are we official?" Iggy asked as he took another step towards me until we were standing toe-to-toe. "Tayo na ba?"
I smiled at him. "Grabe, hindi ka man lang nag-effort..." I jokily said.
"Akala ko ba naubos ang lakas mo, sa lagay na 'yun ay hindi pa ako nag-effort?"
"Iba ang effort mo, Sir," I flippantly countered although at the back of my mind, I was still having doubts.
"May duda ka pa rin, ano?" he asked as if he had read my thoughts.
"I am scared..." I truthfully told him.
"Because?"
"Iggy, I hope you're not just looking for sex and I hope that the reason why you want to be in a relationship with me is because you really want me to be your girlfriend at hindi dahil nasarapan ka lang sa akin."
"Hindi ko i-de-deny na masarap ka," he shamelessly told me. "At kung sarap lang din naman ang habol ko, ang dami-dami rito, Eira. Ready, willing, available, and no strings attached. Pero, kahit kailan ay hindi ako nakipag-girlfriend dahil naghahabol lang ako ng sarap. Seryoso ako sa lahat ng naging relasyon ko. Mas natatakot nga akong ma-turn off ka sa akin kapag nalaman mo kung gaano ako kaseryoso."
"Um...wait lang, paanong seryoso?"
"Ako 'yung tipo ng karelasyong naghahatid-sundo, nag-ti-text mula umaga hanggang gabi, nagtatanong kung kumain ka na ba, anong ginagawa mo, sino ang kasama mo, anong oras ka makakauwi. And for most those are too much, pakiramdam nila nasasakal sila because I constantly want to know where they are and what they are doing."
"Hm..."
"What's with the hm...?"
"Ano 'yun maya't maya ka nag-ti-text at tumatawag? Like every minute nag-ti-text ka at bawat oras ay tumatawag ka?"
"Hindi naman. Sweet lang ako, hindi ako baliw."
I couldn't help but laugh.
"Pero, siyempre gusto kong alam ko what you're up to. Halimbawa kapag sinabi mong papasok ka na ng office, my follow-up text would be, ilang minuto bago ka makarating d'un, after that I will ask kung nakarating ka na ba. Kapag sinabi mong oo, okay na 'yun sa akin, at least alam kong you got to your office safely."
"'Tapos lunch ay mag-ti-text ka ulit kung kumain na ba ako?"
"Tatawag na ako n'un kasi miss na kita."
I laughed out loud. "Gan'un?"
"Oo. At kung may pagkakataong hindi mo ako masasagot, I will continue texting you or calling you until I am assured that you're okay kaya kung busy ka, you have to tell me in advance para hindi kita kulitin."
"Hindi ko na lang ibibigay ang number ko sa'yo para wala na tayong problema."
"Too late, Ma'am, I already have it," he proudly said.
"Paano mo pala nakuha number ko?"
"I called my number using your phone. Inilagay ko na 'yung number ko sa telepono mo dahil naisip kong kung sakaling hindi mo hingin ay at least nand'un na."
"Sneaky..."
He guided my arms to drape around his neck.
"Kung may hindi ka gusto sa mga ginagawa ko, sa mga inaasal ko, just tell me. I know most women would rather keep quiet and hope that their men would be able to read their thoughts as if we were gifted with the talent to read minds. Sasabihin ko na sa'yo ngayon, I am dense most of the time so you have to spell it out for me. For example, kung naiinis ka kasi tawag ako nang tawag, sabihin mo lang, I will put my phone down and wait for an hour before I will call you again. O, pwede mo ring sabihin sa akin when I can call."
