When Stars Collide With Hate

Chapter 28

Hindi ko siya pinansin at tumingin ako sa kawali. Nasunog iyong mga hotdog na niluluto ko. Inuna ko pa talaga makipaghalikan... ayan tuloy nasunog.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Raphael, nasunog na, oh!" singhal ko sa kanya.

Hindi niya ako at pinansin at mabilis siyang umalis ng kitchen ko. Maya maya pa ay dala dala na siyang first aid kit. Lumapit siya sa akin at dahan dahan ginamot 'yung paso. Nilagyan niya iyon ng ointment saka idinikit 'yung bandaid.

"Bakit mo kasi ako hinalikan?" I asked him.

He shook his head. "Seriously, you already forgot?" sagot niya. Kumunot naman ang noo ko at inirapan niya. "Cuss words equals to kiss," he said, cocking his head to the other side. Kanina lang ay parang nag-aalala siya tapos ngayon nang-aasar naman. Dami talagang personality ng ungas na 'to.

"Hindi naman ako pumayag," I retorted and rolled my eyes once again.

"But you were silent," he rebutted with a teasing tone. "And do you know what they say? Silence means yes."

"Hindi talaga ako manalo sa'yo!" sabi ko at tinalikuran siya. Pumunta ako sa ref at kumuha ng malamig na tubig. Nag-iinit lang ang ulo ko sa lalaking 'to.

"What do you mean?" he asked tapos sinundan niya ako. "You already won my heart," he said, looking straight into my eyes. I almost choked drinking the water. Un-fucking-believable.

I heard him laugh. I suddenly had the urge na batuhin siya. Though, gusto ko siya pero minsan nakaka-asar talaga si Raphael. Taena talaga. I swear, everytime he opens his mouth, puro ganyan mga sinasabi niya.

Ending, we ordered food delivery dahil tinamad na akong magluto ulit ng hotdog—thanks to a certain someone. After our food arrived, inayos ko 'yung table at nilagay iyong mga pagkain sa mga plato. Naglagay na rin ako ng juice at binuksan ang TV.

"Anong gusto mong panoorin?" I asked Raphael.

"Abbot Elementary," he said as he placed some of the food on his plate then did the same thing for me. I smiled seeing him do things like this. It's always the small things talaga ang nagpapakilig sa akin.

Taena. Bakla na nga ako. Lalo pa akong nababakla sa kanya.

"What?" he asked. "You don't like sitcoms?"

"Hindi ah, favorite ko nga 'yung modern family."

"Yeah, that was funny, too."

"Through the fire," I said.

"Through the fire?" he asked, wrinkling his forehead.

"Wala. Hindi mo talaga ako gets minsan." I replied.

"Sometimes, you're like puzzle that's hard to solve," Raphael said. Kung ako puzzle, siya naman math... mas mahirap intindihin minsan. Tsk. "I really don't understand you, sometimes..." he added.

"Okay lang. E di 'wag mo kong intindihin. Simple lang."

"Galit ka?"

"Overthinker."

Raphael stood in front of me and then placed his hand on top of my head. He ruffled my hair using his hand and then softly looked at me.

"What I'm trying to say is... I will stay and like you despite our differences," he gently said. "And, I want to keep you by my side. Always, Julian. Always."

My heart was slowly beating faster. His stares weren't helping my case, either. Sanay na ako sa mga ganitong tinginan niya.... na parang gusto niya akong tunawin iyong buong pagkatao ko hanggang sa wala ng matira sa akin.