"HA! YOU BIATCH, you like him! I know you like him! Bakit hindi mo pa sagutin? Don't mind your parents. Hindi sa bad influence ako, ha. But, you're old enough." Reklamo ni Paula. Sinabi ko sakanya na pinapasok ko si Diego.

"Can you please lessen your voice?" I rolled my eyes. "Amina yung kit ko d'yan." Turo ko sa hygiene kit. Nagdala rin ako ng extra toothbrush kasi baka hindi ready si Diego.

"Hygiene kit, ha. Baka gusto mong lagyan ko na rin 'to ng condom? May feminine wash na ba 'to?" Hinampas ko siya ng unan. "Ano?!"

"Bastos mo! Hindi ako ganong klaseng babae, 'no! Kahit kiss hindi 'yon mangyayari habang hindi kami. Gagang 'to."

Kasalukuyan niya kong tinutulungang mag-impake para bukas. Tagaytay day namin! Nae-excite ako na otw na sa pag tatae. Baka daw kinabukasan na kami nakauwi kasi may ipapakita raw siya sakin.

"Sus! Kunwari ka pa. For sure nakikita mo na yung future mo with him. Let's start from getting married, then having kids, then grow old while loving each other. HAH! Sana all." Tumawa pa ito bago tinulungan akong magsarado ng bag.

"Stop." I laughed.

"You can fool them, but not me! Duh. I'm your best friend since high-school." She shrugged bago mas lumapit sakin. "Pero don't like him too much, ha. Habang hindi pa kayo kasal pigilan mong mahalin siya ng sobra. Ikaw na rin nagsabi na parang attitude ang parents no'n. They might tear you apart."

I shook my head. "Hindi ko pa siya mahal, okay? I just... Like him and that's all." I rolled my eyes. "Dito ka na ba matutulog?"

"Oo. Pa-shower ako, ha. Maghanap ka na din ng movie!"

Napangiwi ako. What? Movie? Maaga pa ako bukas! Well, okay lang. Hindi rin naman agad ako makakatulog. Nae-excite ata ako ng sobra. Shit!

Naghanap agad ako ng movie sa Netflix. While waiting kay Paula, biglang umilaw ang phone ko. There's a message from Diego.

From : Diego

Ready for tomorrow?

I pouted my lips. Bakit pakiramdam ko excited din siya? Papasyal lang naman kami bukas.

To : Diego

Yes.

From : Diego

What are you doing?

To : Diego

Looking for a movie. You? Paula's sleeping here tonight.

From : Diego

Sana all.

My eyes widened so bad. What does it mean?! Anong sana all? Ha? Gusto niya ring matulog dito kaya gano'n? Shit! Hindi pwede!

I immediately turned off my phone. I don't want to text him na. Kinakabahan ako. Laging kumakabog ang dibdib ko kapag nagkakaro'n kami ng kahit anong paguusap.

"Huy! Tulala ka d'yan. Nakakita ka na ba ng movie?" Biglang lumabas si Paula na nakapang-tulog na. May hawak siyang bote ng lotion bago sumalampak sa tabi ko.

"Meron na. Hindi ko lang inano, uhm, sinimulan." Napahilot ako ng ulo. Hindi na ata gumagana ang utak ko.

"Oh. Sige. Simulan mo na para matapos din agad natin. Maaga ka pa bukas."

While we were watching, I can't help, but to look at her. Bigla kong naalala yung nangyari kanina sa school. Her boyfriend, okay, I mean her ex-boyfriend begged her to stay.

"Paula! Please naman! Ano na naman bang inaarte mo? Hindi pa ba sapat na mahal kita?" Geez. Her boyfriend keeps following us.

"Shut up! Umalis ka na! Hindi ba sinabi kong wala na tayo? Can't your brain accept it?" Paula rolled her eyes bago ako hinila para mas maging mabilis kaming maglakad.

"Paula, ano bang problema mo?!" My eyes widened nang marahas niyang hinila si Paula.

"Hey! Don't touch her like that!" Saway ko.

"Huwag kang makialam dito, Crizia! Paula, ano bang ginawa ko?!" Nalaglag ang panga ko nang sampalin siya ni Paula.

"I saw you kissing your freaking schoolmate! What do you expect me to do?! To accept you with open arms?! Are you nuts?!"

"I was being gentleman, Paula. Hindi naman pwedeng itulak ko siya!"

“Anong!" Napasabunot si Paula. "I don't want to explain myself. Putangina mo. Hindi pwedeng itulak siya? You are committed! Well, pagod na rin naman na ako sayong letche ka. Gigil na gigil na 'ko sayong kingina ka! Pucha, wala kang utak!"

"Anong sinabi mo?!" Mas lumapit pa ito kay Paula.

"Don't you ever touch her. You won't like the consequences when you touched her." I said. Sisipain ko lang naman ang itlog niya.

"Hinding hindi ka na makakahanap o nakakakita ng katulad ko! Tandaan mo 'yan!" Dinuro pa nito si Paula.

And then Paula kneeled. Nakaangat ang dalawang braso niya na parang may himala.

"Jusko, maraming salamat kung gano'n! Lord! Salamat! Sobrang salamaaaaat!" I covered my mouth to stop myself from laughing. Tumayo si Paula at hinawakan ulit ako bago hinarap ang lalaki. "Inamo!"

I chuckled a little. She really kneeled, huh. When I looked at her, she's sleeping peacefully. Hindi na natapos ang movie na pinapanood namin so I decided to turn it off.

I was about to lay down beside her when my phone vibrated.

Diego :

I'm here at the lobby.

WHAT?!

Mabilis ko siyang tinawagan. Ano namang ginagawa niya sa lobby?

"Are you kidding me?" Mahinang tanong ko habang naglalakad palabas ng kwarto.

["Come here. I'm waiting."] I bit my lower lip. Anong oras na. Maaga pa kami bukas!

"Ano ba kasing ginagawa mo dito? You must be sleeping." I rolled my eyes bago pumasok muli sa kwarto at kumuha ng jacket.

["Let's buy some food."] I licked my lower lip. ["Crizia?"]

"Yeah. Uhm. Bababa na ako." I said while holding my jacket. "Wait for me." Sinuot ko ang jacket habang nagmamadaling bumaba papunta sa lobby.

And then I saw him sitting. He's wearing a black hoodie and he looks tired.

"What?" I asked nang nasa harap niya na ako. Tumayo siya at hinalikan ako sa noo. Saglit na nanigas ang katawan ko sa ginawa niya. Para siyang boyfriend ko kung umasta.

"Let's go." He held my hand papunta sa parking lot. "I'm sorry, I disturb you. I just want to rest. The Empire is making me so sick." Napatitig ako sakanya.

Tumango lang ako bago pumasok sa kotse niya. Hindi ko alam kung saan kami pupunta, but I just don't care. As long as I am with him, I know I'm safe.

"What happened?" I asked.

"My... My mom just called me. She said that my other cousin is the favorite grandchild of Grandpa L. There's a possibility that my cousin will be the heir. I don't care though, but my mom... She's pushing me." Huminto siya sa pagmamaneho. He looks exhausted.

"You don't really want to be the president of that Empire?" I asked again. He shook his head.

"Handling the Empire is not my passion. I want to create my own. My mother... She keeps pushing the hell outta me." I held his hand.

"Didn't I told you to never let anyone dictate for what you are going to do? You have your own mind. Your own decisions. You don't have to obey your mom all the time."

Biglang nabuwag ang dibdib ko nang makita kong tumulo ang luha niya. He's looking at the ceiling of his car.

"I don't want to fucking dissapoint her. She's my mother. She did everything for me. Ginawa niya lahat para mapansin ako ni Grandpa L and I just can't disobey her like that, even it's suffocating me." Nanlabo ang paningin ko. Because of tears. I don't want to see him like this. "I only have her."

"Diego, I'm here." Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Ano ba 'tong ginagawa ko?

"What?"

"You can always put up with me. I am here no matter what happen. Don't let yourself drown." I wiped his tears and pull him so I could hug him. "Hush..."

He wrapped his arms around me so he could hug me back. He's crying. Oh, God! My... My Diego is crying.

"I can't believe that my own mother is the reason why I am miserable." He sniffed bago siya kumalas ng yakap sakin.

"Maybe... There's a reason." Napatitig siya sakin. Matagal na titig. "Uhm..."

"I can disobey them all, if you will come and go with me." Natigilan ako. Inaaya niya ba akong makipagtanan?

"Diego..." Napalunok ako.

"Can you forget and leave them too? To runaway with me?"

Napatitig ako sakanya. Matagal. I don't know what to say, but...

"Yes."

Natigilan siya at parang hindi makapaniwala sa sinagot ko. Para bang sobrang imposible ng sinabi kong 'yon.

"Zia, do you like me?" Napalunok muli ako.

"Yes." I bit my lower lip. Sumunod ang tingin niya don kaya nangatog ang binti ko.

"Is there a possibility that you will love me as much as I love you?" Para akong hihimatayin!

"I don't know because I think there's a possibility that I will love you more than you love me." Shit! Saan ko ba hinugot ang mga sinasabi ko?!

"Really?" Unti unti siyang ngumisi.

"Oo."

"Can I kiss you?" Bumilis ang paghinga ko. Is he serious?!

"Ha?"

"Can I kiss you?" Ulit niya pa.

"Ano... Uh..." I looked away. Nakakahiya!

"It's okay if you don't want. I can wait—"

"NO!" Natakpan ko ang bibig ko sa biglaan kong pagsigaw.

"Y-yeah. I won't kiss you." Napa-sentido ako.

"I mean... You don't have to wait," I licked my lower lip. "You can take my first kiss now."

Napangisi siya. I saw him licked his lips bago lumapit sakin. Then he claimed my lips.

I was expecting a sweet smack kiss, but he gave me french or torrid kiss?! I don't know! All I know is I felt his tongue pushing my lips so it will be parted a little then I felt his tongue inside my mouth!

WHAT THE HELL? WHAT THE HELL AM I GOING TO DO?!

His other hand went to my neck. Nagsitayuan ang balahibo ko nang sipsipin niya ang dila at labi ko! Mabuti na lang at nakapag toothbrush ako!

His breath... Ang bango bango. His lips, parang ang tamis tamis!

I was busy trying to kiss back when his kisses went to my neck. Napakapit ako sa sleeves niya dahil sa matinding init na binibigay niya sakin.

Napatingala ako pero tumatagilid talaga ang ulo ko! Shit! Nakakakiliti!

"Hihihi." Natakpan ko agad ang bibig ko. What the hell?! Bakit ako tumawa? Nakakahiyaaaaa!

Because of that, he stopped!

"Shit." Napaayos siya ng upo at pinasadahan ng kamay ang kanyang buhok.

Umayos ako ng upo. Nakakahiya. Shit. Shit!

"I'm so sorry. Did I make you uncomfortable?" He held my hands and kissed it.

"No. Uhm, your kiss is uh, good." I bit my lower lip as I avoided his gaze.

"I just want to give you a smack kiss, but I can't resist your charm so I went... I'm so sorry." Tumango ako at ngumiti.

"It's okay. Are you feeling okay now?" I asked. Kanina kasi ay umiiyak siya, but now he looks happy.

"Yeah. Thank you." Tumango lang ako.

"Teka, kumain ka na ba?" I asked.

"Not yet." My eyes widened.

"What?! Bakit hindi pa? Please u-turn. Magluluto ako. Sa condo ko na ikaw magpalipas ng gabi." Umangat ang kilay niya sa sinabi ko. Shit. "Paula's there."

"I know." He chuckled.

Buong byahe ay hawak niya ang kamay ko hanggang sa makapasok kami sa unit ko.

"Shh." Paalala ko. He nodded. "Upo ka muna. Luto lang akong ramen noodles."

"Thanks."

Mabilis akong nagluto. May rice pa naman kaya kumuha na rin ako at nilapag 'yon sa harapan niya.

"Paula's sleeping inside my room. You can sleep here. Naa-adjust naman 'tong sofa into bed. Just open the aircon."

"Thank you." Sinaluhan ko siyang kumain. Tahimik lang kami. Ewan ko pero parang gutom din ako kaya naparami ang kain ko with egg.

"We can reschedule our plan for tomorrow." I said.

"No. I'm kinda excited to went to Tagaytay. We will not resched it." He said.

"Okay. Kukuha lang ako ng pillows and comforter." Mabilis akong kumuha no'n at pagbalik ko, he's already sleeping. I opened the aircon immediately.

Nilagay ko sa ulo niya ang isang unan habang ang isa ay nasa gilid niya. In case na gusto niyang yakapin. Kinumutan ko na rin.

He looks peacefully. I kissed his forehead bago bumalik sa kwarto.

And then I realized something.

I GOT MY FIRST KISS!

Sana nagustuhan niyo!