LOVE AGAIN: Chapter 8

JARED'S POV

I was so relieved to know na hindi lang iisa ang kwarto sa bahay. In fact, there were four rooms. tatlo sa itaas at isa sa ibaba. 

Rindel so conveniently took the Master's bedroom while I on the other hand took the room adjacent to his. Pero kahit na nasa kanya ang master's bedroom ay mas malaki ang kwarto na nakuha ko. 

At least marami akong mailalagay na gamit. Naisip ko.

So we went shopping for furnitures. Habang naghahanap kami ay hinayaan nya akong pumili kung ano ang gusto ko and he just went along with it. Ipinagtaka ko ito pero hindi ko na rin tinanong kung bakit.

We had the furnitures delivered sa address ng bahay. Hindi naman natagalan ang delivery at nakarating agad ang mga ito. We had sofas, throwpillows, pillows, beds and beddings, and cooking materials. While on our way, namili na rin kami ng mga makakain. We bought ingredients for food. We also bought toiletries. Frankly, it made me feel as though bagong kasal kaming dalawa and we're getting ready for our housewarming. 


We arranged everything in the house without realizing that it was already getting late.


"It's already nine-thirty, are you hungry? Do you want to grab a late snack?", tanong nito sa akin habang nakatingin sa kanyang wristwatch.


I checked my own wristwatch and agreed.


"Sige. Maliligo muna ako. Medyo nanlalagkit na kasi ako sa pawis eh.",sabi ko rito.


"Sure. Maliligo na rin ako.", sagot nito.


Tumango lang ako saka tinungo ang kwarto ko para kumuha ng towel. He got the room with the personal bathroom. He said something about taking a bath at night. I guess habit niya yun kaya hinayaan ko nalang. After all, wala naman kaso sa akin and this is still his house.


I quickly showered and ran straight to my room. I figured if I was going to have dinner with him, then I might as well pretend that it's a date.


Napangiti ako dun.


Matapos ko magbihis ay lumabas ako ng kwarto. Laking gulat ko nang makitang nakatapis lang ng tuwalya si Rindel na palabas sa kanyang kwarto. Pakiramdam ko tumulo ang laway ko.


He smirked.


"Like what you see?", tanong nito.


Ramdam ko ang biglang pag-init ng mga pisngi ko but I retorted.


"No. I thought someone broke in. Mukha ka kasing tambay.", sabi ko sabay talikod at bumaba.


Yeah, heart attack nga ang magiging rason ng kamatayan ko. Naisip ko nalang.

RINDEL'S POV

It took everything in me not to blush. I mean, hindi naman ako ang tipo ng tao na mahiyain. In fact, i'm proud of my body. It's not well built, but it's taken care of. Hindi ko lang trip magmukhang the Hulk. 


It was the first time in a long time that I was kind of insecure. What if he didn't like my physique? 


Shut up. Did you see the way he blushed?, sabi ng isang parte ng utak ko.


This thought made me smile. I was affecting him.


Nagpatuloy nalang ako sa pagbibihis.

----------------------

"Where are we going?", tanong nito sa akin nang nasa kotse na kami.

"Hillary's.", maikli kong sagot.

"You always do that. I mean giving me short answers. Would it hurt kung hahabaan mo ang mga sagot mo?", iritadong sabi nito.

"I don't see the point."

"Well I do. If I'm going to live with you, we might as well establish some kind of relationship. Ikaw na rin ang nagsabing gusto mong maging magkaibigan tayo hindi ba? The night at my restaurant. Tapos ngayon, you're building up walls around you."

He's right. I was building up my walls. But what he don't understand is why I'm building them again. Kailangan kong makasigurong may gusto nga siya sa akin dahil sigurado akong hindi lang basta pagkakaibigan ang gusto kong mamuo sa aming dalawa.

I was liking him and it's getting deeper the more time I spend with him.

"Sorry. Alright. I'll keep them in mind."

He smiled and looked ahead on the road. A smile of content knowing that he's won this argument.

I smiled to myself and continued driving.

Nang makarating kami sa Hillary's ay puno pa ito. I looked at him and saw that he fell in love with the place. Pero sino ba ang hindi? It has an amazing ambience. Dagdagan pa ng acoustic band, and it's perfect.

"I wonder why I've never been here before.", sabi nito.

"That's because you're too busy. Come on. May reservation ako sa isang private room dito."

"Ha? Room? Bakit?", takang tanong nito.

"They have these rooms for people who wants to have a bit of a privacy."

"Oh, okay. Sayang, maganda pa naman sana makinig dun sa banda."

"Meron namang LCD screen sa loob, so you will still see and hear the band perform but if you wanna stay out here, then I'll ask the waiter."

"No. Wag na.", mabilis nitong sabi. "Nakakahiya naman. Dun nalang."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Tara na. Medyo nagugutom na talaga ako eh."

I moved towards the room. He followed closely.

Mabilis namang nai-prepare ang pagkain namin. So we were eating in no time.

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JARED'S POV

Hindi kami masyado nag-usap habang kumakain. Sure we talk now and then but it was all small talk. 

We got home after a while and decided to call it a night.

I tried to get some sleep pero nangangalahating oras na ay hindi pa rin ako makatulog. Nagpaikot-ikot ako sa kama. Still nothing.

I decided to get up and go downstairs. Pagbaba ko ay nakita kong nanonood ng TV si Rindel. He looked up when he noticed me.

"Can't sleep either?", tanong ko rito.

He just shrugged.

"What are you watching?", I asked again.

"Just flipping through some channels.", sagot nito.

"Puwede bang makinood?"

"Sure. I don't see why not."

Lumapit ako rito at naupo sa kabilang dulo ng sofa.

"I don't bite you know."

"Well I'm not taking that risk.", sagot ko rito saka nagkibit-balikat.

He laughed.

"Oh my sweet mother of pine trees! You laughed!"

"Uhh. Yeah? Last I checked I am human."

"I know but it's just rare. Parang ang suplado mo kasi. Always putting up your guard and all that. Parang ang hirap mong kilalanin."

He looked thoughtful for a moment. Then he smiled. Tumingin ito sa akin.

"Then tonight, I'll throw away all my defenses. Maaari kang magtanong, any question. I'll answer with the truth. Well, most of them at least."

I rolled my eyes.

"Comforting. I guess I'll take you up on that. Walang bawian.", sabi ko rito.

"Fire away."

"Ilan kayong magkakapatid?"

"Apat."

"Panganay ka?"

"Yup."

"Why are you not living with your parents?"

"They don't like the fact that I'm gay."

"Sorry."

"No worries. I've had enough time to adjust."

"Yeah. I know the feeling.", sabi ko rito.

He just smiled.

"Why do you want to help me get away from Luke?"

He looked at me before answering.

"Because I like you."

"What do you mean?"


"I mean I like you."


"Pero we've only been interacting professionally before last week."


"I know."


Nanatili akong tahimik. Muli naman itong nagsalita.


"Look, since we're being completely honest here, I wanna say something. Asking you to live with me, hindi ko itatangging wala akong hidden agenda. I like you and I want to get to know you more."


"But if you like me why did you still have sex with someone?"


"Look. I'm not a saint. I have needs. I would have preferred you pero ayokong gamitin ka for sex. I want you to be with me. Not just a casual one. So yeah, I had sex with someone but that was just it."


"Well you have a funny way of proving that you like me."


"That's why I'm telling you now. Para malaman ko ang terms mo. If you don't want me to have sex with anyone on the process of getting to know each other, I won't do it."



"Pero hindi ba unfair yun sa part mo?"



"All's fair in love and war daw diba? I just want to know, if I have a shot at proving myself worthy for you. Kasi after I saw you cry because of that guy, I promised myself that I wouldn't let you cry like that again."


I thought about it a little.


Then I closed that gap between him and me and kissed him. Nothing big. Just a peck on the lips.


"Does that answer your question?"


He looked shocked. Then he quickly regained his composure.


"I think I need a little convincing.", sabi nito saka muli akong hinalikan. Only this time, it's a real kiss.


Oh my freaking leprechaun! I'm kissing Rindel! And damn, it feels so good.

TO BE CONTINUED....



Author's Note:


No excuses. I fucked up. But like I said. I'm going to finish this. Here's to make up for it.