You're Still The One

CHAPTER 2

"Hey, I won! Nauna ako sayo." Sumisigaw na siya but Hannah still didn't move sa kinatatayuan nito. Kinabahan na siya so he quickly ran pabalik sa kinaroroonan nito. He was now standing near her at tinapik niya ang kalaro. "Hey, what's wrong with you?" To his surprise, Hannah suddenly moved at kumaripas ng takbo samantalang siya ay naiwan doon, he was still standing there, stunned.

There was nothing he could do, he also ran towards the cottage, he couldn't imagine that he would be tricked by her at natalo siya. When he arrived Hannah was smiling, stucking out her tounge on him.

“Hey, you cheated!” In his head, he still can't accept the fact that he was tricked by her.

Nakangising sumagot ang kalaro niya at saka bumungisngis. "Didn't you say whoever comes first will win?"

"But, I should be the winner kung di kita binalikan."

Hannah continued on teasing, "Kasalanan ko ba? Did I tell you to go back and check on me? It's just a trick and you fall for it.”

Nakabusangot na si Jake alam niyang tama ang sinabi ng kalaro niya.

Hannah grinned and approached him. "A deal is a deal, ako ang nanalo kaya may pipingutin ako ngayon ng limang beses.”

Jake couldn't do anything but frown and put his ear closer to his friend. Tawang-tawa naman si Hannah habang pinipingot ang kalaro niya.

Meanwhile, mula sa di kalayuan, their parents who had been watching their game ay napailing na lamang sa kalokohan nila.

A few hours later, after the conversation between the two families were over, napagpasiyahan nilang umuwi na sa kani-kanilang tahanan.

The friendship of the two families continued, the Smith's always visits the resort of Suarez family and the two children always play together and became close friends.

***

Eight years passed by and Hannah is celebrating her 15th birthday. It was held at Suarez's Beach Resort & Resto Bar around 5 o'clock and of course the Smith family is invited. Di pwedeng di kasali si Jake sa party kaya agad niya itong tinawagan at nangako naman si Jake na makakarating siya.

During the celebration, Hannah was very happy because her school friends Dave, Nathan, and of course her bestie Astrid also came. Siya namang pagdating nang parents ni Jake, they greeted me at pagkatapos siyang batiin ng mga ito ay umalis na din at dumiretso sa dining kung saan nandoon ang kanyang mga magulang. Ilang oras na sya palinga-linga sa paligid pero ni anino ni Jake ndi nya makita. Inisip na lamang niya na tinakasan na ata siya ng kanyang kaibigan o baka busy ito kaya nalulungkot man, nagpasya siyang iwaksi nalang ang pagkadismaya.

Lingid sa kanyang kaalaman, mula sa di kalayuan nakatanaw sa kanya ang isang binatilyo at iyon ay walang iba kundi si Jake. He was staring at Hannah who looks so gorgeous in her pink off- shoulder dress paired with three inches white heels and she has a little make-up on at nakalugay ang mahaba niyang buhok.

Jake stayed in the car watching her. Few hours later, the celebration went well and because Hannah was busy entertaining the guests, Jake decided na maghintay nalang sa sasakyan hanggang matapos ang party at saka niya na iaabot ang regalo niya 'pag pauwi na ang mga bisita.

The birthday celebration ended and Hannah's guests soon went home. Tapos na ang event pero di niya pa din nakita si Jake. Balak pa naman sana niyang i- introduce ito to her schoolmates but she didn't see him.

Naglakad na siya palabas nang party room at saktong papasok naman si Jake kaya they bump into each other. Jake was wearing a white polo-shirt, blue jeans, and sneakers and he looks so cute while holding a small gift box with a pink ribbon on it.

Nagtatampo man pero napangiti siya sa nakita at sabay tanong, “Bakit ngayon ka lang? Saan ka ba galing?"

"Uhm, I was just outside, medyo maraming tao kaya nagpahangin lang ako saglit," Jake answered but that's not what he really wanted to say. "Anyway, Happy birthday and here is my gift.” Nahihiyang inabot niya kay Hannah ang kanyang munting regalo.

Hannah accepted it but she didn't open it yet. She put the gift on her shoulder bag and invited Jake to the dining table and they ate together. After that, naglakad sila sa dalampasigan. It's seven o'clock at night and the stars are already visible in the sky. Napakaraming bituin maliliit at meron din malalaki, kaygandang pagmasdan ng kalangitan kaya nagpasya silang umupo sa may seawall para pagmasdan iyon.

"Won't you open my gift for you?" Jake asked.

Hannah smiled and took the gift box from her bag. "I will, of course.” She then carefully removed the pink ribbon tied there at nagulat siya upon seeing what's inside the box, she took it out. It was a gold necklace with a bow and arrow pendant.

"Oh my gosh, I like it-- Thanks!" Hannah was very happy at gustong-gusto niya talaga iyon especially it was the first gift that she opened from all the gifts she received at the party.

"I'm glad you liked it.”

"Thanks again," she smiled and gave Jake a hug.

"You're welcome.” Right at that moment Jake was very happy but what bothers him is that he felt something strange. Habang yakap niya si Hannah his heart beats faster than usual, feeling confused he tried to ignore it.

Time passed without them realizing it was past eight already. They quickly got up and walked back to the venue, when they arrived, both their parents were having a conversation while eating and they look so happy, nagkatinginan pa ang mga ito nang makitang sabay silang papasok.

Si Hannah and Jake ay walang kaalam-alam that their parents are talking about their future. As soon as they walked towards them, they became silent. They joined their parents on the dining table and after dinner, the Smith family left and return to Manila.

***

Pagkalipas ng dalawang taon, nawalan ng komunikasyon ang dalawang pamilya dahil lumipat ang mga Smith sa Amerika. Umalis sila ng Pilipinas para asikasuhin ang kanilang negosyo doon at simula noon ay wala na silang naging komunikasyon sa isa't isa. Hanggang isang araw, nabalitaan ng pamilya Suarez na na-involve sa car accident ang mga Smith sa Amerika habang pauwi ang mga ito mula sa isang business meeting. Jake's parents were both safe and okay but Jake was not. He temporarily lost his memory at walang maalala sa kanyang nakaraan dahil sa aksidente.

Noong una ay hindi makapaniwala si Hannah sa nabalitaan ngunit sa huli, ang tanging nagawa niya lamang ay ipagdasal ang paggaling ni Jake. Umaasa siyang gagaling ito, pero sa puso niya alam niyang iba na ang mangyayari. Will Jake still remember her?