My Chinese Marvel

Chapter 13

Thank You

Three thirty na yata nang maalimpungatan ako kaya't napa bangon ako. Napa tingin ako sa mga room mates kong pare parehong tulog. Tsk. Palibhasa walang training ngayong umaga.

I grabbed my phone to check the time. 3:30 AM. And I have one message from King Archer.

From: King ???

Good morning, mahal! Time to wake up and get ready.

Gonna pick you up at 4. Wear something cold. See you po Idol! :)

I cant help but smile tuwing tinatawag niya akong mahal kahit na sa text na. So I looked for my towel then quietly went to the bathroom. Mahirap na. Baka magising ang mga amazona.

Jeron and I are going to Tagaytay this morning to witness the sun rise. Even before, ginagawa na namin ito. Ngayon lang ulit namin gagawin dahil pareho nga kaming busy sa mga commitments saWesley.

When I finished my rituals, bumaba na din ako at nag iwan nalang ng note para sa spikers. Sakto naman na pag labas ko naka tayo na si Jeron at may hawak na... HELMET?!

"Good morning." Sabi niya at bumeso sa akin.

"Good morning." I smiled back. "Ano yan?"

"Motor bike." Sinamaan ko ng tingin. Ang pilosopo kasi. Then he laughed. "Joke. Naisip ko kasi na mas maganda kung mag ganito nalang tayo, kesa yung car. Malamig naman at masarap ang hangin diba?

"Oo. Pero, will you be okay? Hindi ganun kalapit ang Tagaytay ah." Yup. We're going to Tagaytay. Wednesday kasi eh at wala naman akong pasok.

"I can handle. Mabilis lang to. So, hop in?" Binigay niya sa akin yung isang helmet. Agad ko naman itong sinuot at sumakay na sa motor.

"Kapit ka sa akin ha. Baka mahulog ka. Walang sasalo sayo." Then he laughed.

"Je, uhm, hindi pa ako nagbe breakfast." He slightly chuckled.

"Ako din. Pero mamaya na, pag balik natin. Wala pang bukas na fast food ngayon eh." Tumingin siya sa mirror para makita ako. "Your baby worms can wait right?"

"Che! Mag drive ka na nga lang diyan!" At muli nanaman siyang tumawa.

He started driving his bike, which is, uh I don't know kasi I'm not into bikes naman. Basta I think this is a big bike. Hindi pa kami nakaka layo sa dorm nang marinig kong mag rebolusyon ang tyan ko. Opps. Ayan nananaman ang tawa niya.

"Sabi ko nga daan muna tayo sa 7/11 eh. Hindi pwedeng gutumin ang baby worms Miks." Muli siyang tumawa. Ako naman ay nag taas nalang ng isang kilay. But anyway, he stopped driving in front of 7/11 and decided to turn the engine off. Bumaba kami pareho at pumasok na sa store. "What do you want?" He asked.

"Donuts nalang. We'll still eat later right?" He laughed.

"Hindi pa nga nakaka kain eh. Kain ulit?" Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at nag taas na din ako ng isang kilay kaya tumigil siya sa pag tawa. "Sabi ko nga, titigil na." Tahimik na siyang pumunta sa counter for our order. Ako naman ay umupo nalang.

This is the place where Kiefer and I usually hang out. But this is also the place where we ended our relationship. Hindi sa, hindi pa ako maka move on. It's just that, I still can't believe the fact that Jeron is already courting me and that our story has finally started.

Maya maya pa nang maka balik siya na may bitbit na donuts and hot choco.

"Let's make this fast, okay? Minsan kasi may mga ka team ako na nagja jog sa mga oras na to. Baka tuksuin pa tayo lalo kapag may naabutan tayo dito." Then he laughed.

We started eating and talked about random stuffs. I really love the simpleness of this guy. Biruin mo, enough na sa kaniya yung magro road trip lang somewhere tas kakain lang sa tabi tabi for a date? Eh kung si Kiefer to, baka dinala pa ako sa BGC, oh kaya sa Aura or kung saan man kasi gusto niyang ipakita sa public na 'kami'. Puro kaartehan kaya yun si Kiefer. Tsk.

"A penny for your thoughts?"

"I was thinking kasi, napaka laki ng difference niyo ni Kiefer."

"Why?" Kunot noo niyang tanong.

"Etong date na to, hindi to uubra sa kaniya. Alam mo naman yun, ang daming echos sa buhay. Hindi tulad mo, you're simple, kind, go lang ng go sa life." Sabi ko at uminom na ulit ng hot choco.

"Hindi naman kasi lagi dapat mag effort kapag nakikipag date eh. Yun yung nami miss understand ng ibang guys. Na ubos pera lang kapag nagkaron ka ng girlfriend? No. Kasi pwede nanaman yung mga simpleng kain ng street foods, o kaya, mag picnic kayo. Hindi mo na kailangang magpasikat o gumastos ng malaki para pasayahin yung taong mahal mo. Mahal ka nga eh. Sapat na na mag kasama kayo kahit na walang magarbong foods or candlelight dinner." Napaka simple lang talaga ni Jeron.

 Biruin mo, sa kaniya pa talaga nanggaling yung mga salitang yun? Hay. Kaya ko to nagustuhan eh.

But anyway, papalabas na sana kami ng 7/11 nang saktong may papasok na dalawang pamilyar na mukha. Nagkatinginan tuloy kami ni Jeron. Something fishy heh.

"Ate Mika/ Kuya Jeron?!" Sabay at gulat na sabi nung dalawa. Jeron and I just crossed our arms dahil kailangan ng explanation nitong dalawa.

"Sige. Order muna kayo. Galing kayo sa jog. Pero mag uusap tayong apat." Mabilis na lumakad yung dalawa papunta sa counter to get themselves something to eat or drink. Kami naman ni Jeron ay nagkatinginan nalang matapos tumawa. "I smell something fishy ah." He said.

"Yang archer mo ha. Sawayin mo yan. Umaaligid aligid sa rookies namin. Tsk." Then he laughed.

"Mana sa hari eh." He smirked after saying that. Tatawa pa sana ako nang senyasan niya ako na nandito na ulit ang dalawa. Kaya agad akong nag seryoso ulit. "Explain, Drei." Agad na lumuhod si Andrei then started to speak.

"Cap. Wag mo na akong parusahan please. Nililigawan ko siya. Oo na. I admit it." Lihim akong napa ngiti at saka tumingin kay Tin.

"Naks. Haba ng hair ah." I joked. Napa yuko nalang tuloy si Tin.

"Come on, Dude. I'm not planning to stop you from courting this rookie spiker. Ang sa akin lang, bat kailangan pang itago?" Jeron asked.

"Eh kasi, marami ang magagalit sa amin. Tin's just starting to fulfill her dreams. Baka ma discourage sa kapag na hate siya ng mga fans because of me." Agad na nag blush si Tin nang marinig iyon mula kay Andrei.

Other people thinks that the Green Archers are un gentleman, mga casanova, play boy, at walang respeto sa babae. Pero lahat sila, mali. Sobrang laki ng respeto ng archers sa girlfriends at nililigawan nila. They are also protective. Kaya nga ayos lang kay coach Ramil kahit na halos kalahati ng archers pumoporma sa mga anak niya eh.

"Good decision. I'm proud of you man." Jeron even tapped Andrei on the shoulders.

"Wag mong sasaktan tong baby namin ah. At saka pala, kailangan ligawan mo din ang lahat ng spikers." Sabi ko naman.

"Hinding hindi ko sasaktan si Tin, ate. I promise you that." He smiled.

"Tsk. Kaya pala kapag kasama kami, haters kayo ng isa't isa. Pero kapag nalingat pala kami lovers na kayo. Tsk." Tin and Andrei blushed when Jeron said that.

"Oh pano, we'll head out first ah? Tin, ako nang bahala. Tutulungan kita para masabi mo to sa team." She nodded.

"Thank you ate. Enjoy kayo sa date!" They waved as the two of us parted our ways.

Tahimik lang kami ni Jeron sa byahe. Hindi rin kasi kami magka karinigan dahil sa maingay sa daan.

But anyway, it was around 5:45 in the morning when we reached our destination, isang overlooking view sa Tagaytay. Sakto din dahil malapit na ding sumikat ang araw.

And I really like how simple dates like this make me happy. Yung simpleng pag dala lang sa akin ni Jeron sa isang lugar na may overlooking view at panunuod ng sunrise or sunset ang saya saya na? Iba lang kasi talaga kapag mahal mo. Simpleng gestures lang mapapa saya ka na.

"Lalim lagi ng iniisip mo. Should I get you a psychologist?" He joked. Sinamaan ko naman agad ng tingin.

"You're talking to one," I smirked.

"Baka nga kailangan mo na ng psychologist eh. You know, you're focusing too much on your studies. Baka kaya nababaliw ka na." He laughed then shook his head. Mas kumunot yung noo ko at lumiit na din ang mata ko.

"Nilalait mo ba ako?" Umiling siya. "Good. 'Cause if you are, then ngayon palang, busted ka na. I'll go to Jay and tell him that I love him." Agad siyang napa harap sa akin at saka niyakap ako ng mahigpit.

"Please don't do that. We both know how we love each other." My hands run through his hair and combed it.

"I'm just joking. Ikaw lang, Je. Ikaw lang." He broke the hug at saka ako hinalikan sa noo.

"Always?"

"Always."

Napa tigil kami sa aming 'moment' nang biglang mag liwanag ang kalangitan. Unti unti na kasing sumisikat ang araw. A brand new day, and a fresh start.

Naka ngiti ako habang naka side hug kay Je. We stayed like this for 10 minutes but decided to let go nang makaramdam na ng init.

"Let's go? Breakfast." Hinawakan niya ang mga kamay ko at sabay kaming nag lakad. He even put the helmet on for me. How sweet of him.

He started driving until we reached Taal Vista. Breakfast lang naman, kailangan dito pa?

"Yung reservation ni Jeron Teng?" Ang sabi niya dun sa nasa front desk. Agad namang may lumapit sa amin na hotelier at ni lead kami patungo sa labas. Wow. Dito nag date sina Alden at Maine nung valentines.

"Akala ko ba, we'll just have simple breakfast? Bat kailangang ganito pa?" He chuckled.

"I always want the best for you. Besides, ngayon lang naman ako nag prepare ng ganito ka bongga."

"Fine. Then, let's eat?" He pulled the chair for me then let me sit. Then, he went to the other side to sit.

We just started talking nang isa isa nang dumating yung waiter for our foods. A fine dine with a view of Taal Volcano is just so sweet and perfect.

"Miks, have you ever pictured yourself with me two years after that happened?" I was quiet when he asked that.

"Hindi ka ba marunong mag bilang? It has been three years you know." He chuckled.

"Well, not exactly." He sips on his coffee before talking again. "So, going back to my question?"

"No." I honestly answered that made him stop eating. "Kasi I didn't know that Kiefer would cheat with me and that you would end your relationship with Jane. You know, I was so happy with him back then, I never thought that things won't turn out good in the end." I rested the fork and knife that I was holding to look at him straight in the eyes. "But then I guess, the two of us are really meant for each other. Na kahit andaming nangyari in the past, tayo pa din pala." Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko then kissed it.

"I know you know that a lot more is coming in the future." I nodded. "Will you promise to hold on, still ano man ang mangyari?" I smiled before nodding my head.

"Can we take a picture?" He called the waiter to take a picture of us. Priceless.

Then he took out his phone from his pocket and we took a selfie. Maya maya pa nang mag yaya na siyang umuwi since it's getting hotter. It's 8am and he still have a 10AM class when we get back.

We rode to his bike then he started driving again. I'm just too happy that my right time with Jeron has finally arrived. After all these years. After all the 'hopias' that we've been giving to our fans, finally, eto na yun.

Around 9:30 when we arrived at our dorm. He still has half an hour to prepare for his class.

"Thank you." He said.

"For what?"

"For coming back." He placed both of his hands on my cheeks then kissed me on the forehead.

We bid our good byes dahil kailangan niya nang mag prepare for his class. I smiled at my mind. It was worth it. It was worth the wait.

From: King ???

On my way to school, baby. Thanks again for this day. I hate you po. ❤️