VOW SERIES #1: The Vows We Made (Epilogue Is Exclusive In The VIP Group)

Kabanata 8

Kabanata 8

I stayed silent until Zon parked the car. Dinala niya ako sa park kahit na sinabi ko namang may klase pa ako after lunch. He assured me he'd bring me back to the university before my next class starts, pero hindi ko siya kinibo. Ni ayaw ko siyang tapunan ng tingin dahil pakiramdam ko ay makakalmot ko lamang siya kung magtatama ang tingin namin.

He sighed as reached for my hand. Inirapan siya ngunit talagang hindi niya ako tinigilan hangga't hindi ako bumabaling sa kanya. 

"That was an old clip, okay? Here. Check the photos Jolo sent me," he said. Kinuha niya ang laptop niya sa backseat at binuksan. Pasimple ko namang sinilip ang screen hanggang sa mag-load ang video. Mayamaya ay itinuro niya ang petsa sa bawat larawan. "See? Two years ago."

Nanatiling tikom ang bibig ko. Bumuntong hininga naman siya't itinabi na ang laptop niya. Nang masuyo niya akong hinatak ay hindi na rin ako nanlaban. 

What can I do? Para bang saksakan ako ng rupok pagdating sa lalakeng ito, at hindi ko alam kung bakit. Dati naman ay natitiis ko si Gavin ng buong linggo, pero pagdating kay Zon, para bang hindi sapat ang depensa ko palagi. And that's frustrating!

"Come on, Audrey. Let's learn to communicate when things are getting frenzied so we won't fall apart easily." He tucked my hair behind my ear. "I've been into several relationships before, and the very reason why we break up is our lack of ability to talk things out."

Umarko ang kilay ko pataas. "So you're comparing me now to your exes? Pasensya na, ha?" sarkastiko kong sabi.

He groaned. "It's not like that, alright?" 

Napabuntong hininga siya na tila pinipigilan ang sariling mapikon. That's something I kind of like about him. I know he's got anger issues, pero kapag ako ang kausap niya ay para bang siya na ang may pinakamahabang pasensya sa mundo. 

He reached for my hand. "Look, don't you think it's better if we'll discuss about what's bothering us? I don't wanna jump into conclusion so I waited for you to clarify things to me about your ex, kaysa magselos kaagad ako."

Nalukot ang noo ko. "What do you mean? Kilala mo si Gavin?"

Nakita ko ang paggalaw ng panga niya na tila ba nayamot siya nang marinig akong binanggit ang pangalan ng ex ko. He even looked away as if he didn't want me to see his jealous expression. 

"He sent me a message. Pinapalayo ako sayo." Humawak siya sa manibela nang mahigpit. "Kursunada ka pa yata no'n."

Nalunok ko ang sarili kong laway. "Anong sinabi ni Gavin?"

His fingertips tapped on the steering wheel as if he's contemplating whether he'll show me Gavin's message or not. Sa huli ay dinukot niya ang phone sa kanyang bulsa at ipinakita ang chat ni Gavin na hindi niya ni-reply-an.

Gavin De Dios: Huwag si Audrey, pare. She's got big dreams in life. Huwag mong guluhin. I've heard a lot of things about you already, and you could tell that I wasn't impressed.

I took a silent breath as I gave his phone back. "Anong tinutukoy niya?"

Halos magsalubong ang may kakapalang kilay ni Zon. "About what? The things he heard about me? Mas importante ba talaga kung anong narinig niya tungkol sa akin sa ipinapakita ko sayo? Does his opinion matter that much?"

"Bakit ang defensive mo?" Hindi ko na naalis ang inis sa aking tono.

"I'm not being defensive, alright? But you're making me feel like his voice sounds louder. Parang kung siya ang magsabi na may iba akong babae, kahit na sabihin kong wala, mas pakikinggan mo 'yang ex mo."

Umakyat yata lahat ng dugo sa aking ulo. I wanted to argue with him. Gusto kong sabihing hinuhusgahan niya na ako kaagad, pero sa huli ay umiwas na lang ako ng tingin at tumingin sa labas ng kotse nang magsimulang uminit ang mga mata ko. God, I really hate arguments like this. I'm too sensitive!

Binalot kami ng katahimikan hanggang sa narinig ko na lang siyang nagpakawala ng hangin. Mayamaya ay hinapit niya ako para yakapin. Parang piniga ang puso ko at para akong batang humikbi sa balikat niya dala ng magkahalong inis at kirot sa puso. 

"Sorry na," masuyo niyang sabi sa mahinang tinig habang hinahaplos ng hinlalaki niya ang likod ng aking tainga. It felt comforting, as if he knew already that my love language was touch. 

I sniffed. "Kasi nang-aaway ka kaagad diyan, tinatanong lang naman kita." 

God, I felt so immature, but Zon just chuckled softly. He then cupped my face before he kissed the sides of my eyes with my tears. Hindi ko pa sinasagot ang mokong ay ganito na. Ano ba naman 'yan!

"I'm sorry. Long term 'yon, Audrey. Medyo threatened pa ko dahil... hindi pa naman tayo," pag-amin niya. 

I found myself staring into his eyes, and when I realized that he was honest when he said he was threatened by Gavin, my heart felt a different kind of warmth.

"Seryoso ka ba talaga sa'kin, Zon?" hindi ko naiwasang itanong.

Sandali siyang nanahimik at pinagmasdan lang ang mga mata kong basa pa ng tumigil nang luha. His thumb stroked my jaw as his lips formed a small smile as if he's getting bewitched by my eyes. 

Madalas ko siyang nahuhuling ganoon kung tumingin. Tila nakakakita ng Diwata sa aking mga mata kahit alam ko naman sa sarili kong hindi ako ang pinakamagandang babaeng pwede niyang makilala. 

"Anakan na lang kaya kita at kaladkarin na sa simbahan nang hindi mo ko kwestyunin?" aniya matapos ang ilang segundong pananahimik. 

I smacked him lightly on his chest before I rolled my eyes at him. Mahina naman siyang tumawa bago ako ulit hinapit para yakapin. I found myself biting my lower lip to prevent my smile when he kissed my temple before he spoke in a gentle and sincere tone. 

"I grew up in a small family with just my mom and dad, but our home was filled with something I wish to have someday soon, Audrey. Not all men have the balls to play hearts, and my mother didn't only raise me to be a son. She raised me to become someone's husband someday. Playing with another girl's heart is like a lowkey permission from me for my father to hurt my mom. That's something I could never allow." 

Kinuha niya ang aking kamay at hinalikan ako sa aking pulso habang nakatitig sa aking mga mata. 

"I don't know what I saw in you, Audrey, but I know I can free up a lifetime of my time just to figure out why I want you so bad."

Hindi ko na napigilan ang pagkurba ng mga labi ko. My heart felt so happy to hear him say those words, as if it knew every word he just said was true. Siguro masyado lamang din akong nasanay na connection takes time to build, pero ganito rin naman kami ni Gavin noon. Everything happened too fast but we still lasted for a couple years together. 

I sighed. "Sige na nga."

Napakunot siya ng noo. "What do you mean?"

I bit my lower lip, my cheeks turned red. "Tayo na."

Napakurap siya't hindi kaagad nakakibo. Tinamaan tuloy ako ng hiya kaya umiwas ako ng tingin. 

"Ayaw mo yata, eh--"

Natigil na ang litanya ko nang hawakan niya ako sa batok at walang anu-anong sinakop ang aking mga labi. It was light, warm, and with no sense of lust at all. I couldn't help but kiss him back with no more holding back. At nang maghiwalay ang aming mga labi ay ngumisi pa siya na akala mo ay nanalo ng lotto. 

"I'll tell the boys," he said, sounding really happy, kaya lang ay napawi kaagad ang kurba sa mga labi niya nang mabasa ang bagong pasok na chat. 

Napakunot ako ng noo. "Zon? May problema ba?"

I saw his Adam's apple bobbed up and down before he showed me the chat from his Dad, his expression remained on a state of shock.

"Wala na raw Mommy ko, Audrey..."