BELONG WITH ME | SB19 Justin ✓

Chapter 44

JUSTIN.

I can't wait to see her.

Maaga pa lang ay nakahanda na ang gamit ko at hinihintay ko nalang na mag-text sa akin si Josh bago ako umalis. I'm currently sitting on my bed and staring at the frame beside my bed.

A frame of me and Mira is there. We're both smiling. She's leaning her head on my shoulder while my arms is around her shoulder.

I remember that photo. It was taken on our first year of highschool and despite of many years passed, I still keep every photo of me and Mira.

My phone rings kaya agad ko iyong sinagot.

"Jah!" Josh's voice greeted me.

"What? Naka-ready na ako. Saan na kayo?"

"Nasa grocery. Ngayon kasi naisipan ni Stell mamili ng pagkain. Kung kailang paalis na eh saka naman— Tumigil ka, Josh! Mas maganda nga kapag sariwa ang pagkain natin, paulit ulit ah—" My brows furrowed hearing them fighting. Seriously? Nag aaway sila dahil sa pagkain.

"Matagal pa ba kayo? Where's Pablo and Ken?"

"Ken fetched Xianne and Pablo is with them. Tagataboy daw ng mga haharang sa daanan," I heard them laugh. Tingnan mo 'yan, nag aaway kanina tapos magtatawanan ngayon.

"How about Mira?" I asked. Who will fetch her? Matatagalan sa pamimili itong dalawang ito dahil nag aaway pa. I suddenly wanted to say na ako na lang ang susundo sa kanya pero, 'wag na. Nakakahiya.

"Hoy, Justin! Mapagpanggap ka! Kunwari pang magtatanong eh. Kahit naman hindi mo sabihin, alam naming nangangati ka nang mag-drive at puntahan si Mira kaya go na. Walang napigil sa 'yo," Stell said making me smile. Edi pupunta na.

"Okay, bili well. Puntahan ko lang si Mira."

"Oo na. Bilisan mo, alam kong excited ka na makita sya. Watch me whipped~" they laugh again pero pinatay ko na ang tawag at binulsa ang phone ko. Binitbit ko ang bag na may lamang gamit ko at dumiretso sa kotse ko.

I whistled while driving towards Mira's house. I feel like a teenager getting excited to see his crush. Tama nga siguro sila, I'm whipped.

Kahit naman gaano katagal ang dumaan, siya parin ang mahal ko. Walang nagbago at hindi na magbabago pa. She owned my heart the moment I fell inlove with her.

I know, I'm a jerk to neglect her pero naipit ako sa sitwasyon noon. Isa pa, Drake and her are in a relationship. Anong laban ko do'n?

I snap out of my thoughts nang matanaw ko ang babaeng nakatayo sa tapat ng isang gate. I smile while getting near her. She's beautiful. Always beautiful.

Binuksan ko ang pintuan nang driver's seat but I didn't went down. Katapat ko lang siya at agad gumuhit ang simangot sa mukha niya.

"Nasaan sila?" Tanong niya. Bumaba na ako ng kotse at tinulungan siya sa gamit niya. I didn't hear any complaints so I smile.

"Josh and Stell are buying groceries. Pablo is with Ken and they're fetching Xianne. Si Xianne lang kasi ang makakasama dahil abala ang kapatid ni Pablo at Stell," I opened the passenger seat's door for her. Walang imik siyang pumasok and I make sure that she wore her seatbelt bago ako pumasok at nagmaneho.

Damn. Pakiramdam ko, naririnig niya ang lakas nang tibok nang puso ko. Being this close to her already made my heart beat crazily. Look at her effects on me.

"Ilang oras ang byahe?" She asked. I smile and answered her.

"Maybe, 3 to 4 hours. Inaantok ka pa ba? You can sleep first," I told her.

Wala namang kaso sa akin kahit matulog siya. Kahit lawayan niya pa 'yang upuan, walang kaso sa akin. Basta siya.

"Okay, wake me up when we arrive," she said before yawning. Nakatulog din siya matapos ang ilang minuto.

While driving, my thoughts went back to what happend before. I thought, we'll stick together until college and until we got a job but it didn't happen. I don't blame Brianna. Wala siyang kasalanan doon. She's sick at hindi niya kasalanan ang sakit niya. I chose her instead of Mira dahil nakokonsensya ako at may pakealam pa rin naman ako sa kanya.

But, I realized, sana pala, pinaalam ko man lang kay Mira. Hindi 'yung basta akong mawawala at napapabayaan ko siya. I even failed my promise to her on that pageant.

I nominated myself dahil alam kong ayaw niya sa gano'ng event. Sabi ko sa sarili ko, sasamahan ko siya. Sabi ko, lalakad siyang kasama ako but instead, she walked alone and lose. Imbis na ako ang nando'n, Drake was the one who's there for her.

I regret that. I regret not being by her side. I regret leaving and neglecting her.

And, seeing her with Drake on the day of school festival, killed me. She even kissed him and that day, I feel like someone stole my heart and tear it into pieces when she said that she likes Drake and she planned to say yes to him. Alam ko naman na gusto niya si Drake pero sobrang sakit pala kapag narinig ko sa kanya mismo.

I always watched her from afar. I know, napakawalang hiya ko sa part na iyon but, what can I do? Gusto ko siyang nakikita pero hindi ko naman siya malapitan. I saw her everytime she's with Drake.

When their photo passed my newsfeed, I realized that they're really great with each other. Si Drake nandyan para sa kanya samantalang ako, walang lakas ng loob. I got drunk that night and I want to get rid of the pain so, I tried my luck. I confessed to her pero natauhan din ako agad. I let her go dahil alam kong masaya sya kay Drake. When Brianna died, I leave and before that, I talked to Mira. I don't want to leave without seeing her.

But now, seeing her here at mukhang wala naman siyang nobyo. She's single. I'll take this chance. I told her years ago na sana balang araw may chance na ako and I believe, this is the chance.

I'll make sure to let her know who she really belongs to. I'll never let her go once I get her. I'll not repeat the same mistake. I'll chose her and only her over anyone else.

I can already see the car Ken and Pablo used parked outside the gate of the private beach Josh rented. Nagdalawang isip pa ako kung gigisingin ko na ba si Mira. She looks really tired. But, she can continue her sleep in the suite.

After minutes of thinking, I decided to just wake her up. Pabor naman sa akin ang buhatin siya kaso baka masampal niya ako. We're not like we used to be.

I sighed and get the heavy feeling off my chest. I tap her shoulder softly but she didn't budge.

"Mira..." I called her but she's still sleeping. I tried again and after a minute, she finally opened her eyes.

"Hmm, dito na ba?" She asked while looking on the place infront.

"Yes, go inside. Nando'n na si Pablo, Ken and Xianne. I'll handle our things," sabi ko at dahil alam kong magrereklamo pa siya, bumaba na lang ako. I want to do simple things for her. Kahit tagabuhat ng bag niya o gamit, like before.

I watch as Mira went to them. Nakita ko na din si Ken, Xianne at Pablo. They hugged Mira and seeing them made me smile. Especially, Mira is smiling.

"Hoy Mr. Watch Me Whipped, baka naman makalas 'yang panga mo kakangiti ah," I turned around and saw Josh and Stell. I didn't answer Stell's word. Josh just remains staring at me until he smile and put his hand on my shoulder.

"Justin, p're. Bumalik na siya. Alam kong matagal mong hinintay na magkaroon ka ng pagkakataon sa kaniya at ito na yon. Don't mess it up, p're," he said. I nodded and smile. I won't.

"Prioritize her this time, Jah," Stell added.

I smile at them. "She's always my priority and will always be."

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Edited Version.