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“See you soon.”
Ken stopped the car one block away from his friend’s house. He won the battle of wits earlier, patibayan when He said “iuuwi kita sa inyu.” vs “It’s out of the way, magtataxi nalang ako” rebut from Paulo.
There’s a tension hanging in the air coz let’s be honest, they wanted to extend the time as much as could.
Nobody wanted to go home. But no one is willing to put down the facade of “we’re just friends”.
And they know why.
Paulo’s an ex-lover of Ken’s best friend, Mav.
This is just a “friendly date”. They bought a ticket for the script concert with friends. No one admitted who asked first. But does it count that they ended up with each other’s company for the rest of that night?
The tension in the air is palpable.
Ken shot him a sideway glance, He saw how tense Paulo was as he didn’t know where he would rest his hands now.
“Uwi na ako, Ken.”, Pau returned the gaze, as if testing the water, waiting for Ken to acknowledge it.
He looked at the rearview mirror, Silently hoping that it would take them hours to walk Paulo home.
Please, konti pa. Ayoko pang umuwi…
As he pulled up the hand brake, Paulo’s elbow lightly grazed his arms as he was removing his seatbelt.
As they felt the electricity that soon became a heartbeat faster than before, they recoiled back to their seat, both looking outside the car’s window.
Man, this same unknown feeling again, whenever I get close to him. Too close…
That same churn in my stomach whenever we stare at each other for a little too long.
That dumb smile I have on my lips whenever I see his messages.
I don’t know what spell he had cast on me. But boy, that was strong.
Hindi ako makaahon.
Hindi to tama pero bakit di ko siya mabitawan.
I can tell he felt it, too. I saw the slight panic in his eyes as he withdrew his arms away from mine.
We looked at each other. And that same fire in his eyes mirrored mine.
As the second passed, Ken cleared his throat.
“Pau, can I see you again… sometime?”
He dragged the last words a little too long, hoping this time, Paulo would be a little braver to answer the real question he had thrown.
“Can we?…” as always Pau answered the question with another one. Unsure of how he feels. Or let’s be honest. He’s in denial of his real feelings.
“Pau. Oo o hindi lang..”, Ken, disappointed looked at Paulo’s eyes.
Do I always have to get it out of you?
Paulo sighed and closed his eyes before answering.
“Ok. Yes, Ken.”
“Ayan ganyan. Dalawa na lang tayo dito naglolokohan pa tayo.”
“Haha! Galit ka ba?”, Pau automatically reached out, only to stop himself in the middle, now only brushing his fingertips to Ken’s arms. silently reprimanding himself for giving another mixed signal to his friend.
As Ken saw everything as he always does. He chuckled and shook his head.
“You have no idea, do you?” his voice cracked with the truth.
“Ken...” he said in a small voice. They both know they need to confront these growing feelings sooner rather than later, but Paulo doesn’t know if he is ready for it.
“… that you’re driving me crazy?”
A deafening silence ensued as they both stared deep into each other's eyes. Searching for clues, that will encourage them both to jump off the cliff.
Then it snaps as quickly as the lighting, they hold hands as they both leap.
They went for each other's lips, hot and wanting.
Ken, pulled him closer by the waist and gently cupped his pretty face in his other hand as he led the kiss.
Paulo anchors his arms around his nape as it feels like coming home. He’s been dreaming about it, the moment he felt butterflies flapping wings inside his tummy whenever Ken was around:
As he bit the lower lip of his passenger, he groaned making it hard for Ken to take it slow. He’s afraid it will scare away Paulo. But at the same, he wants to savor this moment where Paulo is momentarily brave for the two of them.
They gasped for air after a few minutes of bliss still keeping the gap if not closer between the two of them.
Ken as if hearing his thoughts, breaks from the kiss to adjust his seat, pushing it backward. It all happened so fast that Ken commanded him to sit on his lap.
“Come here…”
He can’t explain it but as Ken commanded, he felt the tug in his heart, that for once… someone said something. Maybe just maybe, he just needed to hear that to get the courage he needed to follow what her heart felt.
Paulo obeyed and sat on his lap, they stared at each other longer this time. Both waited if someone was brave enough to break the spell.
“Do you still..” Ken said lovingly while stroking his face.
“You talk too much..”, it’s Paulo’s turn to be brave as he leans forward and devours Ken’s wet lips,
He’s tired of all the pretensions. He wants to confess.
He wants to scream his heart out in this neighborhood that Paulo’s is so damn beautiful and he deserves all the love in the world!! He closed his eyes, savoring the moment…
“Ken? Ken?”
“Okay I lang ba? Masakit ba ulo mo?”
…His trance was interrupted with Paulo’s tapping on his shoulder checking if he was okay.
“Bigla ka na lang nagzone out ha?”
”Huh? Okay lang ako.”, Ken snapped himself out to reality, realizing it was all nothing but his daydreaming.
”Ken. Alis na pala ako…”
Ayoko.
Dito lang ako…
Dito lang.. sa tabi mo.