CHAPTER 14
1578 Words
CHAPTER 14
Naglakad-lakad kami sa park kabang karga ni Jaxon si Milo. Nasa ‘di kalayuan lang ang parkeng ito sa building ng condo kung saan kami nakatira. Wala pa masyadong tao dahil ‘yung iba siguro ay nasa kanya-kanya pang trabaho at klase. Medyo mainit pa dahil mag-a-alas tres pa ng hapon.
“Pagod ka na ba? Magpahinga muna tayo doon,” sabi niya habang tinuturo ang isang wooden picnic table na kasya ang apat na tao. Nakangiti akong tumango at naglakad na kami papunta roon. Hindi gaanong naaabot ng araw ang lugar na iyon dahil natatakpan ng mga sanga ng puno.
“‘Di ba may trabaho ka?” tanong ko habang paupo kami. Kinuha ko sa kanya si Milo na inilapag niya sa mesa at ipinatong ko sa aking kandungan. Milo is such a sweet boy, kapag nakikita ko siya naaalala ko si Jaxon.
He placed his right hand on the table and rested his head on his palm while looking at me. He gently fixed a few strands of hair that had fallen on my face and tucked them behind my ear.
“Nag-half day lang ako,” he said softly. By looking into his eyes, para akong hinihila palapit sa kanya. ‘Di ko napigilang ibaba ang tingin sa kanyang mapupulang labi, at nang ibinalik ko ang tingin ko sa kanyang mga mata, napansin kong sa labi ko rin siya nakatingin. I felt the electricity flowing through my body, kaya umiwas ako ng tingin upang hindi niya makita ang pamumula ko. I bit my lip when I heard him chuckle.
He leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper, “Bakit mo iniwas ang tingin mo?” His tone was teasing, but there was a hint of seriousness in his eyes. I felt my heart race, and I struggled to find my words.
“W-Wala…” I stammered, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks even more. “Naisip ko lang…baka may makakita sa atin dito.”
His smile softened, and he reached out to gently take my hand. “Sophia, you don’t have to worry. We’re just spending time together, and there’s nothing wrong with that.” He squeezed my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in a comforting gesture.
I nodded, feeling a little reassured, but still, the tension between us was palpable. The unspoken words, the lingering gazes—it was as if something was building up, something we both knew but were hesitant to confront.
“Let’s just enjoy this moment,” he added, his voice warm and inviting. “No pressure, no expectations. Just us.”
I looked into his eyes, seeing the sincerity there, and slowly, I began to relax. “Okay,” I whispered, offering him a small smile. “Just us.”
We sat there in comfortable silence, letting the gentle breeze and the quiet rustling of the leaves around us fill the space. It was a moment of peace, of understanding, and of something deeper that neither of us needed to put into words just yet.
“About last night, I’m really sorry for what happened. Pasensya ka na rin at naistorbo ko ang pagtulog mo kanina; gusto ko lang talaga bumawi.”
“Jaxon, okay na. Bawing-bawi ka na, sobra pa.” I assured him, and I noticed how his eyes seemed to sparkle at my words.
“Kailan nga ulit yung birthday ng pinsan mo na dadaluhan natin?”
Woah! He actually remembered that? I was trying not to think about it, and now he brought it up again. “Next weekend,” I replied.
He nodded thoughtfully, “I see. Do we need to buy something? A gift, perhaps?”
Umiling ako, “Huwag na, —”
“Nakakahiya naman sa pamilya mo,” pagputol niya sa sasabihin ko. Gusto atang magpa-good shot sa angkan ko. “Magdadala na lang ako ng letchon.”
Napa-awang ang bibig ko sa narinig at natawa na lang, “Seryoso ka ba dyan?”
“Yap,” he answered without any hesitation. “Ako na ang bahala.” dugtong pa niya at ngumiti.
***
Isinukbit ko ang aking sling bag at pinasadahan muli ang aking itsura, I’m wearing a green v-neck sleeveless and pants with white sneakers and cap. Inimbita ako ni Jaxon to watch a movie and since it’s Sunday ay pumayag na ako. Nang makapante na ako ay lumabas na ako ng kwarto, nilapitan ko si Micah na naka-upo sa sofa habang nanonood ng TV habang si Milo naman ay natutulog sa ibaba ng dining table.
“Alis na ako,” bumeso ako sa kanya.
“Ingat love birds!” sabi niya na may panunuya sa boses.
“Sira!” Tinignan ko lang siya ng masama at lumabas na ng condo namin. Ilang araw na rin ang nagdaan at walang palya ang pagkikita namin ni Jaxon. Tinutukso na kami ni Micah at kumakanta pa ng ‘Bakit ‘Di Totohanin’. But as the days pass by, Jaxon keeps on showing me that he respects what we have right now. Ngunit paano nga kaya kung totohanin na lang namin?
Biglang nagwala ang puso ko nang makita siya na nakatayo sa gilid ng kotse, wearing an army green front button short sleeve shirt and long trouser. Pareho pa kaming naka-white sneaker at talagang hindi nalalayo ang kulay ng damit. Napaka-aliwalas ng mukha niya kahit nakasuot siya ng shades.
“Hi,” salubong kong bati sa kanya. I tiptoed dahil matangkad siya ng kaunti sa akin at hinalikan siya ng mabilis sa pisngi. I noticed how his ear turned red so fast.
Banayad niyang hinawakan ang magkabila kong braso, “You look so beautiful.” It was almost a whisper but brought butterflies in my stomach. Nahampas ko siya sa tagiliran pero ‘di man lang nasaktan at ngumisi lang. Porke’t mala-bakal ang abs. Psh!
I took a picture of the movie ticket we bought, followed by a shot of the free popcorn and the long line of people entering the cinema. I also snapped a candid photo of Jaxon while he was getting our food and drinks.
Nang nasa loob na kami ng sinehan at nanonood na ng movie, ipinatong niya ang dala niyang jacket sa aking balikat. He is so attentive! This is one of the qualities I really like about him—he notices even the smallest things and takes action without me even asking.
Mugto ang mata ko matapos namin panoorin ang movie. Nang bumukas na ang ilaw ng sinehan ay napatingin ako sa gawi ni Jaxon na halatang nag-aalala sa akin.
“Okay lang ako,” natatawa kong saad. “Halika ka na, lumabas na tayo.” I stood up and gave him back his jacket. Tumayo na rin siya at imbes na kunin ang jacket niya ay hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at hinila ako papunta sa kanya at niyakap ako ng mahigpit.
“That won’t happen to us, I promise.” Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya, ngunit nang makabawi ako ay niyakap ko rin siya ng mahigpit. Sana nga hindi mangyaring maghihiwalay kami sa huli.
I didn’t have any idea what enters his mind, dahil dinala niya ako sa isang ice cream stall sa mall. Siguro para kumalma ako?
“Here,” he handed me a cup of coffee crumble-flavored ice cream. He bought the same flavor for himself. We both stayed quiet, savoring it until I noticed a woman approaching us.
"Asher? Sabi ko na nga ba, ikaw 'yan, eh! How are you? It's been a while!" she exclaimed in a high-pitched, overly enthusiastic tone, her voice dripping with exaggerated sweetness as she addressed Jaxon. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay, and I could see her scrutinizing eyes as she looked me over. Walang panama ang kasuotan ko sa suot niyang knitted halter neck tank top and woven shorts. "Siya na ba ang pinalit mo sa akin?"
Ano ang ibig niyang sabihin? Ex ba siya ni Jaxon? Kaya ba noong gabi na nagkakilala kami ay ayaw niyang tawagin siya sa second name niya dahil naaalala niya ang babaeng ‘to?
Jaxon stiffened at the woman's words, his expression turning cold. He shifted slightly, subtly positioning himself between me and her as if to create some distance.
"Wala ka namang karapatang magtanong niyan, Laica." Jaxon replied firmly, his tone flat but edged with a hint of irritation. He didn't bother hiding his displeasure.
Laica pouted, her exaggerated sweetness fading as she crossed her arms. "So, you're just going to ignore me now, Asher?" she pressed, her voice losing some of its earlier confidence.
I felt a slight tension building in the air, but before I could react, Jaxon reached for my hand, squeezing it gently. "Sophia, let’s go—"
Tinanggal ko ang pagkakahawak namin ng kamay nang biglang tumunog ang cellphone ko. Hindi ko na tinignan kung sino ang nasa kabilang linya at sinagot na ang tawag.
“Hello.”
“Sophia, dinner naman tayo?”
“A-aldrich?” Sumulyap ako kay Jaxon na ‘di pa rin nawawala ang kunot sa noo. Dumistansya ako ng konti, alam kong gusto niya akong pigilan pero hinayaan na lang niya ako. “Pasensya na Drich, hindi ako pwede ngayon, eh.”
“Bukas pa naman ng gabi, Sophia. M-may gusto lang sana akong sabihin.” Ramdam ko ang kaba niya.
Napabuntong hininga ako at tumango kahit hindi niya ako nakikita. “S-sige. Let’s have dinner tomorrow night.”
- Writer
