Close Enough Novels & Stories

Pumasok sila, at hindi sinasadyang naging close ang katawan nila habang nag-aayos ng gamit. Sebastian’s hand brushed her waist. Hindi sinasadya—but his fingers lingered. Althea looked up at him, eyes wide but soft. “Bash…” “Hmm?” ‘Yung sagot niya, mababa at may halong pagnanasa na hindi niya tinatago. “You’re close.” “I know.” He leaned closer, nose brushing her cheek. “You want space?” She swallowed. “No.” “Good.” Hinatak niya siya sa bewang, marahan pero walang pagdadalawang-isip.

Isa iyon sa mga palatandaan ng pagiging close: kapag naikukuwento na sa kanya at nakikilala na niya ang mga miyembro ng pamilya. Intrimitidang utak: Ano ngayon ang gusto mong palabasin sa closeness na ’yan? Akala ko ba, naiintindihan mo nang talanding paasa lang ang lalaking ’yan na naa-amuse sa ’yo. Hindi por que inamin niyang pini-flirt ka niya, aasa ka na. Flirting is not feelings, Erin. You’re just deprived of romance these days that any likelihood to it excites you. Right now, he’s just randomly telling you things. Don’t put more colors to it. Matalinong utak: Shut up. May sinasabi pa si Adam.

"This video is actually pretty popular on this platform. Dapat kasi ay nag-install ka na rin ng TeeTok sa cellphone mo para nagi-gets mo kung bakit ako nahuhumaling, eh." "I don't have time for some random videos." Ini-itsa niya ang basahan sa lababo, ipinatong ang mga kamay sa gilid ng mesa kung saan nakasandal si Trini, at niyuko ang cellphone na hawak nito. He was standing so close to her, his arms extended on her sides as if he was cornering her. Their faces were just inches apart, at kung titingala si Trini ay baka dumikit ang mga labi niya sa noo nito.

“Tayong dalawa lamang ang nandito, eh. Sobrang lapit ko naman sa ‘yo.” “Mas maganda na ‘to kaysa sobrang layo mo.” “Hindi naman sobrang layo, ah.” kung alam mo lang ang nararamdaman ko ngayon, Ken. Kung alam mo lang! “You know what, I have this feeling that you’re too close to me yet so far.” he breathed again. “Basta diyan ka Lang. Ganyan ka lang dapat kalayo at kalapit sa ‘kin.”

“Tingin ko pareho.” Hindi ko napigilang ngumiti. Maliit lang. At doon ko biglang napansin napakalapit pala namin. Hindi sobra. Pero sapat para maramdaman ko ang discomfort. Automatic akong umatras. Maliit lang na hakbang. Pero napansin niya. At sa isang iglap, bumalik ang distansya. Professional. Safe. Tama. Nag-ring ang phone niya.

Lauren was left alone under the single yellow lamp, her hand slowly rising to touch her cheek where Anne’s fingers had just been. The shift in tone was brutal. She had been so close to holding the woman she loved, but as she stared at the empty doorway, she realized that Arguz's shadows were already closing in, and the walls around their secret world were becoming dangerously thin.

masayang sabi niya. Pigil ko ang hininga ko nang buksan niya ang pinto. Tumambad sa akin ang mga lalaking nakaupo sa sofa roon sa gilid, nakakandong sa kanila ang mga babaeng kasama. Sa kabilang gilid ay ganoon din, mas hindi nga lang intimate ang mga tao roon dahil hindi naman nakakandong sa kanila ang mga babae. Sa gitnang banda, naroon ang billiard pool. So, that is why this called playroom.

Hindi ko maintindihan kung ano ba ang ginagawa niya. Dahan--dahan niyang nilapit ang kanyang mukha sa akin. Amoy na amoy ko ang hininga niya na tumatama sa aking mukha. Peppermint with a smell of citrus. Kumain ba siya ng orange? Hindi pa nakatulong ang pabango niya. Is fate really seducing me?

So close… But not touching. “Do you have any idea,” I said quietly, eyes locked on hers, “what you do to me?” Her breath caught. And that was it. That tiny reaction...that tiny crack in her composure was enough to push me further. I leaned in again. Closer. This time… dangerously close to her lips. “If you do…” I whispered, my voice almost gone, “…you wouldn’t look at me like that.” My gaze flickered between her eyes and her lips.

⸻ But when they left the café— they walked side by side again. ⸻ Not perfectly close. Not distant. Just… present. ⸻ And for now— that was enough to start.