So Close (Book 1)

Chapter 22

NAT'S POV

It's Run For A Cause dito sa RossCorp. They did it para sa panibagong hospital na pinapagawa ni Bryce. 

No. It's not a gift. It's more like an... Investment. Bryce wanted to add another of RossCorp's possessions and the hospital was the greatest idea we could come up. Dad Seb said na kami na lang daw ang bahala sa fund raising at ito yung naisip namin. Run For A Cause.

 Bryce stuck a number on my back. "Ayan. Nakalagay na."

"Anong number ko, love?" I asked. 

 "Yung birthday mo, love. 19." he said and placed an arm on my shoulder. "So, love, malapit na ang anniversary natin."

"Oo nga." I said. "Ilang araw na lang."

Mga two weeks niyan, anniversary na namin. We've talked about this, about where and how to spend it. I decided na kahit dinner by candlelight na lang. He agreed to it. 

"Excited na ba ang loves ko?" he asked me. 

"Pwede na rin." I said. "Anyway, hanggan kailan ka pa busy?"

Bryce had been out for most of the days kasi kailangan siya kung saan-saan sa mundo. There was one time na kailangan niya akong iwan for three days straight kasi kailangan niyang pumunta sa Singapore  para i-check ang RossCorp Sg. I was left to fend for myself, pero nang makabalik si Bryce, he made ammends at linibre ako ng three-days worth of food ko. 

"Maybe mga this week na lang. After that, dad told me to have the days off hanggang anniversary natin." he said. 

"That's good. Meron tayong quality time sa isa't-isa." 

He chuckled. "Parang walang quality time every night, love." he told me. 

Namula yung mukha ko. Every night.... Basta we're trying to have a baby. Ang aming misyon sa buhay.

"Ay basta." I said. 

"ALL RIGHT! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WELCOME TO ROSSCORP'S VERY FIRST RUN FOR A CAUSE!" The emcee said. 

Pumwesto na kami ni Bryce sa may starting line. 

"Ready, love?" he asked me. 

I smiled. "Ready."

After three counts, pumutok yung pistol at nagsimula kami. Nakisabay ako sa mga tao at alam kong nauna na akong nakatakbo. 

Everyone was signed up for running a 21K. It was a good thing na sanay na ako sa ganito because running, jogging and walking helps me keep relaxed. Ewan ko lang kay Bryce pero judging from his fit body, he must've been doing more than running.

I was about to round the curb nang matapilok ako sa bato. And in the process, na-twist ko ang ankle ko. I tried my best to get up pero masakit talaga ang paa ko. I grabbed the nearby mail box at itinayo ko ang sarili ko, to no avail. I was on for the third attempt nang bigla akong lumutang. 

"Akala ko ba running marathon tayo. Nagswimming ka ata, love." Bryce said. 

"Har-har." I said. May nakatama sa paa ko and I grimaced. Masakit talaga ang paa ko and I was sure na mamamaga siya. 

"Do you still want to finish the race, love? I can carry you." he said. 

"If it's okay. Ako kasi, gusto ko talagang tapusin." I said. 

"Then, let's finish it." he said. He broke into a jog at ako naman, kumapit ako sa leeg niya. My body was pressed against his and none of us seemed oblivious sa mga reactions ng katawan namin.