“Darling, love… is there something wrong?” he asked softly as he closed the distance between us. He asked softly as he closed the distance between us. He squatted down since I was sitting on the sofa, leaving me feeling like I was trapped right between him.
I could feel the heat radiating off him, because, of course, he wasn’t wearing a shirt. My brain briefly short-circuited just from that alone.
Then he leaned in closer, gently cupping my face so I had no choice but to look straight into his eyes.
“Where is this coming from?”
The kilig hit me instantly (because who wouldn’t?).
“N-nothing hic!” I squeaked, my face turning deep crimson, and I knew he could see it too but said nothing. I stood up abruptly and started pacing before turning back to him with an awkward smile. “Darling, wala. Hahaha. I-ikaw naman. I was just asking. It’s from a TikTok question." I said in a very awkard tone. "Ikaw ba Ace, What would you do if it were you? Do you think you would eat the cookie or the empanada?” Jusko, kung anu-ano nalang pinagsasabi ko.
Ace studied me for a moment, clearly trying to understand what alternate universe I had just dragged him into. But Ace being Ace, instead of arguing with me, he simply chose to indulge my craziness.
“I think,” he began slowly, staring straight into my eyes, as if silently inviting me closer.
For a split second, I even thought he would kiss me.
But then he continued.
“I would first need to understand why you’re suddenly asking me about a Dubai chewy cookie or an Ilocos empanada.”
“First?” I whispered, walking closer in like this was suddenly a very serious exam.
He let out a quiet sigh, then shook his head slightly like he had officially given up trying to understand me.
“Then let me ask you this,” he said more seriously. “Why are you even thinking about those food on Tiktok? Did you forget we’re both vegan, love? I’m not even sure what’s in that chewy cookie, and an empanada is definitely not vegan. Why would we even eat them?”
The logic hit me like a bucket of ice water.
All the kilig, all the dramatic scenarios I had built in my head—the rated SPG ni Supremo, everything, it shattered by what he said.
As I have found an escape. So me as an OA person did this—
“Wag na!” I snapped, pulling myself away. “Wag na tayong mag-dinner! Mag-biscuit ka na lang! Ang tagal mong mag-decide!” then I hurriedly turn around.
I muttered a quick prayer of relief, then marched straight toward my room like I was deeply offended.
Sorry, darling. I know I was wrong. But you don’t need to know that. I’ll just make it up to you tomorrow.
Ace stayed where he was, completely frozen, blinking like he still hadn’t processed what just happened.
“What did I do?” he muttered to the empty room, scratching his head. “I just said they weren’t vegan…”
He sat down then leaned back slowly, staring toward the direction where Zein disappeared into her room.
That is how he spent the night, wondering if he should have just picked the Dubai chewy cookie from the beginning.
