Carpool

Chapter 29

~ Status ~

JHOANA

"Well?" I stared at Beatriz and waited for her response. My heartbeat raced faster while I held her hand.

Was this a bad idea? Wrong move ata ginawa mo. I began to think to myself.

"Beatriz!" I lightly shook her. "Please say something!" I asked and couldn't help myself to feel a little frustrated. Her eyes were still wide but I can tell that she's trying her best to come back to her senses.

She then held both sides of my shoulders and smiled slightly.

"Wait lang Jho... I'm still processing what's happening."

I groaned.

"Bea naman eh, kanina ka pa kaya nakatulala." I sighed.

Natawa naman siya at hindi ko na rin napigilan tumawa. I couldn't help it. As cliche as it sounds, her laugh is contagious.

"You're adorable." I heard her mumble as she looked down. She then tugged my arm and engulfed me in a hug. "Look Jho, you don't know how happy you're making me feel right now." She whispered.

I pulled away when I felt that she wanted to look at me.

"I really really like you too, bud. Matagal na actually."

I tried to hide my smile by hugging her again.

"Oh, ano are you hugging me because you want to or you just didn't want me to see you get kilig?"

"Shut up." My voice were muffled while hugging her as I felt my face flush. Bea tried to pull my body away to look at me but I just hugged her tighter.

"Are you blushing?" She asked while laughing. "Aww, buddy!"

I rolled my eyes and slapped her head which I immediately regretted when she winced in pain.

"Ouch!"

I panicked and pulled away from her, expecting to see her hurt but I was faced with a grinning Beatriz.

"Ayun! Akala ko magtatago ka nalang sakin the whole night eh." She teased while poking my cheeks.

"Ewan ko sayo, Beatriz. Can you stop, can't you see that this is hard for me!" I crossed my arms and turned my body away from her.

"Hey!" She held my shoulders and forced it in her direction again. Ang kulit talaga. "Joke lang eh, ito naman. Sige na tonight I won't tease you... that much anymore."

I got the cotton balls and band aid again to finish treating Bea's wound.

"Now can we finish cleaning up your wound first? Hindi na tayo natapos." Hindi na nawal yung ngiti ni Beatriz. Kung maka ngiti at tingin siya akala mo hindi lang siya nasuntok kanina. "And can you stop smiling so much, ang creepy na."

"Alright, I'm ready." Parang bata niyang sabi.

I gently dabbed the cotton and tried to focus despite how close we are. My heart slowed down a little but I'm still a little shaken up because of what I've done.

I can't believe I really confessed. And grabe that was so casual?

"So, kailan mo nalaman?" She asked while still smiling.

I looked up and started to think as I finally put the bandaid on top of her wound.

"Hmm.. I guess before the birthday of Nico's dad."

Bea gasped.

"Wow, tagal na ah!" She pinched my nose and laughed."Kaya pala kung maka habol sakin sa car akala mo that one scene from Meteor Garden."

Bea teased while trying to imitate Shan Cai when she was trying to catch up to Dao Ming Si's bus. 

"Akala ko ba less teasing? Buong gabi mo lang ba ako aasarin?" I glared.

"Sorry na! I'm just really happy." She intertwined our hands. "I didn't expect this at all."

"Me neither."

"I just wanna ask, though. What made you confess? I mean, no offense but your friends even nicknamed you after Summer Finn. Whatever happened to 'Relationships are messy'?" She asked while imitating how I quoted the movie when we were together at the back of her car.

Natawa naman kami parehas.

"Honestly, I'm not so sure as well. I've been asking for signs and they were given to me. I guess the final major sign for me was when I heard what Maki said." Beatriz sheepishly smiled.

"Hay nako, Maki." She sighed and shook her head.

"But thanks to her I actually gained the courage to take a risk." I smiled. "Hoy ikaw naman, so kailan mo nalaman na crush mo ako?" I teased.

It was then her turn to avoid my gaze.

"Gosh, can we not talk about that na. Matagal na nga eh." Bea said in a 'duh' tone.

"Hindi pwede! That's unfair because I told you yung akin." I protested.

"Hay nako." I heard her mutter in defeat. "Fine, na confirm ko lang after we got stranded in Laguna.

It was now my turn to gasp.

"Ang tagal na nga!" I exclaimed and laughed. "Grabe, Bea ang bilis ma fall ah." I joked.

"Oo nga eh." Mabilis niyang sagot.

Natigil naman ako tumawa. After a few seconds, she realized what she said.

"I was kidding Bei..." I whispered after a minute of awkward silence.

"I wasn't." She replied in a serious tone.

Ayan Jhoana mag joke ka pa.

"Uhm.."

Ngayon lang rin nag sink in sakin yung ginawa ko kaya nakaramdam ako ng takot ulit.

Just because I confessed that I like Beatriz, that doesn't mean that I'm ready for love. It was still a lot to process considering my trust issues.

Beatriz must have sensed that I was uncomfortable so she composed herself and looked at me again.

"Look, bud. I know all of this may be overwhelming but I'm not forcing you to feel the same way. Knowing that you like me, is more than enough for me. We don't have to rush into things. So... do you trust me?" She asked while giving me a reassuring smile.

Right. Hindi naman kami mag mamadali so I guess there's no harm in this.

"I do." I replied. "So what happens now?" I nervously asked.

Bea chuckled as she held my hand tighter.

"Relax, as I said, there's no need for us to rush. I'll be here waiting for you to be ready, don't worry." She softly said while caressing my cheek.

"So just to be clear, our status is?" I awkwardly asked.

"Exclusively dating?" She suggested. "I mean it's just like we're getting to know each other better, but this time with feelings."

We both laughed once again.

"What do you say? Are you G?" She held out her hand as if asking for a handshake.

"G." I smiled while shaking her hand.

At this moment, I felt grateful.

As someone who has seen relationships as a distraction, I can finally say that maybe I was wrong.  Maybe Jia and Maddie were right. I should go out of my comfort zone and don't let past experiences hinder me from being happy.

And with Bea, I truly am happy.

"Baby steps, Jho." Bea whispered as she rubbed her thumb on my hand that was intertwined with hers.

"Baby steps." I nodded.

I rested my head on her shoulder and closed my eyes.

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Author's Note

Filler chapter lol I can't help but update because I was too happy with CMFT's win yesterday <3 stay safe girlies