Chapter 25| Courting

Angela’s POV

"Do you have anything left?" I asked my siblings who were now fixing their things.

"Yes, sister!" Maymay responded enthusiastically while clutching her bag on her shoulder. Kokoy, on the other hand, was already done fixing his things.

"Angela, water?" Bel offered to me which surprised me by her sudden appearance behind me. Looked like she had fixed her things.

I nodded to her in response and accepted the glass of water she was offering.

"Thank you."

"Where's Clark?" she asked out of curiosity.

I gulped the water inside of my mouth first and handed the glass back to her afterward.

"He's in his room. Changing his clothes," I answered and sat down on the nearby sofa. Bel quickly followed me and gently put down the glass on the glass table.

"The kids are having fun here," she suddenly spoke into the air. I looked in her direction and I saw she was smiling as she looked at my siblings who still haven't stopped running here inside Clark's house.

Clark's house is spacious so Kokoy and Maymay can run easily like that.

"Yeah. As if they are not running out of energy," I commented while smiling and watching them.

"Don't you worry. Someday, I'll also buy a big house. I'll also put a pool near the garden. As well as a playground for the kids. I'm going to build a house for the two of us—for your little brother and sister," she said with a smile and leaned back on the sofa. Her eyes were still shining looking in the air. As if she was amazed at what she saw in her mind. As if she could see her dream clearly.

Daydreaming.

I couldn't help but smile. Maymay, Kokoy, and I are included in her dreams. That was touching though.

"And we will live happily ever after!" The curve on her lips grew bigger after she said it.

I was startled when she suddenly hugged me tightly so that I could hardly breathe.

"B-bel?" I whispered and patted her arm. She immediately let go of the hug and looked at me in worry.

"Oh! I'm sorry, Angela. Are you okay? Do you want me to take you to the nearest hospital?" she asked guilty and frowned.

I laughed softly at what I heard.

"You're overreacting, Bel," I said and pinched her nose.

"Ouch! Come on, Angela! It hurts," she complained and immediately touched her hurt nose. She even moved a little away from me.

"It's because of you," I laughed, blaming her. She was too cute to watch. She looked like a seven-year-old kid.

"Are you done?"

Bel and I shifted our gaze at the stairs in unison. Clark was currently going down the stairs while adjusting the collar of his white long sleeves.

"We're ready," I replied shortly and smiled.

"Good," he smiled back. He approached us and then turned his gaze in the children's direction.

"Hey, kids! Let's go! We are going home."

The two immediately ran in his direction as if they were racing. Just to see who could get close to Clark first.

"Yes! I won!" Maymay rejoiced while hugging Clark's right leg.

"Tsk! I just let you win," Kokoy childishly responded to her sister as he crossed his arms.

"No. You're just really slow like a turtle. Bleh!"

Before the tension between the two escalated, Clark calmed them down by asking them to go home.

My siblings got in the car first. Bel helps them get up there. Later, Bel went inside.

"Uh, Angela?" Clark called my attention. I was about to open the car's door when suddenly I stopped. I turned my gaze to him and asked 'why?'

"I have something to tell you," he spoke softly and brought himself closer to me. He pulled me gently away from the car.

I looked to the left and right; as if I was afraid that someone might have caught us. We were holding our hands.

"W-what are you going to say?" I stuttered and gulped.

He breathed deeply and shut his eyes tightly. I noticed that he seemed restless and his body was tense. He puffed out a breath. I felt his grip tighten on my hand. After that, he slowly opened his eyes and looked at me again.

"Can I court you?" he asked gently, which surprised me.

I looked at him, eyes widened.

"W-what?" I whispered. Maybe I just misheard what he said.

He laughed slightly at my reaction.

"Why so cute?" he asked, then pinch my both cheeks.

I frowned and blushed like a ripe tomato at what he had done.

He laughed even more.

"I ask if I can court you, Angela?" he repeated.

I looked straight at his face. Measuring if he was serious about what he said.

Me? Courting? By him?

I laughed out loud.

"Clark, you're just kidding, aren't you?" I asked with a laugh. Maybe later it was just a joke. So, better not to assume.

"No!" he answered immediately and tightened his grip on my hand but it didn't hurt me at all.

"I really like you, Angela. Since we were in high school. Ever since then, I've told myself I'll protect you. That I will not leave you and make you happy all the time," he said softly and he lifted one of my hands to kiss the back of my palm.

I looked at what he did. My heart melted.

"Please, Angela, let me court you. Let me express what I truly feel towards you," he said sincerely and stared at me intently. He even raised his left hand and stroked my cheek gently.

Clark is intelligent, hard-working, and caring; especially with children. I've always wanted him too. But I can't say anything about it because I'm scared that he might reject me.

I was happy to know we feel the same way. But, I couldn't help but feel sad too because I was thinking again of the gap in our status in life.

"Uhm..." I muttered while staring at him.

"Please..." he whimpered like a child and made puppy eyes in front of me which made me laugh.

"Okay, then," I answered quickly and turned my back to him due to shyness. I walked in the car's direction.

"Are you being forced?" he asked with a laugh. He followed me.

"Just think what you want to think," I said.

He walked quickly and then stopped in front of me. He also blocked my way. He looked upset that you thought he was a kid who didn't get the toy he wanted.

I suddenly imagine a fourteen-year-old Clark in front of me, wearing our school uniform. Just turned back to the old days, when we were teenagers.

"Come on, Angela..." he whimpered. I just laughed and ran in the car's direction.

I heard him calling my name but I didn't look at him. I got inside the car laughing.

"What are you laughing at?" Bel asked after she saw me. She even told me to not make too much noise because my siblings were already asleep.

"Nothing. Don't mind me, Bel," I replied and smiled. I fastened my seat belt.

Later, Clark got in the car. He sat in the driver's seat and later on stared at me seriously and sighed.

I tried to suppress my smile. When he saw I was holding back my smile, his face wrinkled even more so I reluctantly approached him slightly and kissed him on the cheek.

He was dumbfounded for a second by what I did and looked at me in disbelief.

Maybe he didn't expect that.

"Ehem!" our staring contest was interrupted when Bel cleared her throat.

"Start the car, Clark. So the kids can rest," Bel said while caressing Maymay's hair. Mamay was on her lap while Kokoy leaned his head against the window.

"Sure," Clark immediately complied and started the car.

He quickly glanced at me and winked.

I averted my eyes away from him. My heart was pounding so loud.

I just watched the trees and grass outside the window while I was in deep thought.

I hope my decision was not wrong.