Now and Forever |순키| Finished

27

Kei

I was busy washing the dishes while Jaze was watching every move I make. He was telling me stories while I listen and try my best to give him a reply kahit na sobrang busy ko dahil sa mga gawain dito sa loob ng bahay.

"Oh, I almost forgot pala, alis tayo tomorrow? Let's go to the mall? To hangout! What do you say?" He said. I smiled at him and answered with a nod.

"Tayong dalawa lang?" I asked bago ko punasan ang mga kamay ko at naupo sa tabi niya. He became silent na para bang napakalalim ng iniisip. He smiled and looked at me.

"Yes, tayong dalawa lang, ayaw mo ba?" Sagot niya pero agad akong umiling. Ofcourse I'd want to go with him, hindi ko na kailangan pang maginarte dahil sandali nalang ang panahong hinihintay ko.

"Gusto ko! Syempre gusto ko ano ka ba?" I responded before giving him another soft and sweet smile. He smiled back to me and placed a kiss on my forehead.

"Ang landi naman, dito pa sa bahay ni lola, mahiya kayo!" Ate Amyra suddenly said making both of us laugh. Inirapan niya lamang kami bago siya tuluyang lumabas.

--

We were at Jaze's car, kanina pa ako daldal nang daldal habang siya naman ay tahimik at busy sa pagmamaneho at pakikinig saakin, he'd still try to reply para hindi ako tumigil sa pagsasalita.

I noticed his phone dahil merong nagmessage sakanya, I frowned and looked at it and saw 'Liane' on the notifications. Agad akong napasimangot at tumingin sakanya. I wanted to ask him pero natatakot ako.

We arrived at the mall after a few minutes, I wasn't saying anything, he was holding my hands habang ako ay nakasunod lamang sakanya, I still couldn't stop thinking about the girl who messaged him. Was it someone from the past? I am starting to overthink and I don't like it.

"Are you okay, Lovely?" Jaze asked. I stopped walking and looked at him, I could feel my heart beating so fast and loud na parang lahat ng tao rito including him ay naririnig na yon.

"I'm just... Worried..." I answered looking down at the ground. Hindi ko alam kung sasabihin ko ba, I feel so scared and shy at baka ito pa ang maging dahilan ng pagtatalo namin, takot ako.

"What's bothering you? Gusto mo bang umuwi at magpahinga? We can do that if you want to." He said. I remained silent looking at him, he looked back at me and waited for my response. I took a deep breath and finally said it.

"Sino si Liane? Is she someone from the past? A-are you cheating on me, Jaze?" I said. I tried my best to say it straight pero hindi ko nagawa nautal pa rin ako. He stared at me for a few minutes before he smiled and chuckled. Is my feelings a joke to him?

"Jaze, anong nakakatawa? Pinagtatawanan mo ba ang nararamdaman ko? Is my feelings a joke.to you now?" I asked. He stopped laughing pero hindi niya ito napigilan at muling tumawa. Nakatingin lamang ako sakanya habang pinipilit niyang pigilan ang pagtawa.

"Lovely, Liane is my older sister." He said. I froze and looked at him blinking my eyes. Nararamdaman ko ang muling paginit ng pisngi ko noong banggitin niyang kapatid niya si Liane.

TANGINA NAKAKAHIYA? ANO BA

"HALA EH BAKIT HINDI MO SINABI? NAKAKAHIYA!" I responded bago yumakap sakanya at isiniksik ang mukha sa dibdib niya. I feel so shy and stupid right now, gusto ko nalang magpakain sa lupa.

He continued to laugh at kinurot ko na lamang siya sa tagiliran para matahimik siya, It took him a few minutes bago matigil sa pagtawa kaya agad akong bumitaw sa pagkakayakap sakanya pero hindi pa rin nawawala ang pamumula ng pisngi ko dahil sa hiya.

"Let's go?" He asked. I answered him with a nod at nagsimula na ulit kaming lumarga. I was clinging to his arms while walking.

Pumasok siya sa isang malaking restaurant at sandaling kinausap ang nada cashier. I was waiting for him to finish so we could go pero napansin ko ang isang babae at isang lalaki na nakangiti at kinakawayan ako. I looked back to check kung meron bang tao sa likod ko pero wala naman. I waved back to them and gave them a smile.

"There they are." He whispered to me and we started walking towards the direction of the two who's waving at me earlier. Nagtataka ako kung bakit dito kami pupwesto. I was about to ask Jaze but I was interrupted by him.

"Lovely, This is Liane and Luan. My siblings." My jaw dropped when he mentioned that they're his siblings. Hindi niya binanggit saakin na we're going to meet his siblings. I looked at him habang nanlalaki ang mga mata ko.

"You must be Kei! You look so cute!" His sister said before she stood up and gave me a hug and cupped my cheeks. I hugged her back and smiled at her. I'm glad that she accepts me as his younger brother's significant other.

"I'm Liane! I am Gabriel's sister. This is Luan, panganay namin siya, dad and mom's favourite." Ate Liane said. She was so energetic and happy to meet me, I feel like we'd be close. I smiled at the both of them and waved my hands to greet them.

"Hello Ate and Kuya... Nice to meet you po!" I said giving them a smile. Jaze signalled me to sit down next to him and so I did. Hindi ko sila magawang tignan sa mga mata dahil nahihiya pa rin ako.

Ate Liane, Kuya Luan, and Jaze started talking to each other, I kept on listening to their stories habang naghihintay sa pagkaing inorder ni Jaze. The food arrived and all four of us started eating.

"So Kei, nagaaral ka pa ba? Jaze told na you're not going to school anymore, wala akong tiwala sakanya kaya I'll ask you myself nalang." Kuya Luan said. It's been so long since someone asked me kung I am still going to school.

"Hindi na po, I've graduated from senior high school and couldn't afford college kaya I've decided to just stop." I answered smiling. He slowly nodded and I could feel Jaze's hands squeezing mine. All of us continued chatting and eating.

Suddenly I miss going to school, I was always the rank 1 of our class, always the president and always the school's representative, I could've applied for scholarship not until I found out I have cancer, I got so depressed to the point that I've lost track and just decided to stop studying and just focus on our business. Everything feels so wrong when it comes to me, to my life.

And I couldn't be more thankful that Jaze arrived, he came for me, he saved me, and I will save myself for him.