Game Over, Engineer

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AND THE NEXT days were just like that, Jaxavion is still acting civil towards her. Para pa nga itong dumidistansya sa 'di malamang dahilan.

When he apologized, that's it. Wala na. Gone was the goofy Jaxavion. It seemed like he just realized something when he apologized to her.

And now, it's her day-off. She expected him to join him watch a movie, pero nagce-cellphone lang ito, halatang nagso-scroll sa Tiktok at wala man lang itong karea-reaksyon habang ginagawa iyon.

Jill blew air and clipped her hair. "Jack. Grocery tayo. Wala na tayong stock," saad niya nang mabungaran ang halos-wala nang lamang cupboard. From scrolling on his phone, Jack looked at her and nodded. Pansin niya pa ang eyebags sa mga mata nito kaya 'di niya maiwasang mabahala.

Hindi ba ito natutulog?

Sinundan niya ito ng tingin nang tumayo na ito at naglakad papunta sa guest room nang hindi siya nilingon. Jill could only sigh and sat on the chair.

She badly wants to know what's running through his mind.

Nagbihis muna siya ng shorts at red t-shirt and she tied her long wavy hair that reached the curve of her back. She applied a lip tint and perfume before grabbing her purse. Pagkalabas niya ng kwarto ay siya ring pagkalabas ni Jack sa guest room. Bahagya pa itong natigilan at napatingin sa kanya.

She didn't mind his stare at smiled at him instead. "Let's go?"

Tumango lang ito at pinauna siyang bumaba. Jill bit her lip when she felt Jack's presence behind her. Ang mga yapak nito ay hindi gano'n kabigat, at hindi rin gano'n kagaan. Sakto lang.

Sa bawat yapak nito, naalala niya bigla kung gaano ito kakulit. Jack is naturally a goofy person, but now, she can't see that Jack anymore.

Pinikit niya nang mariin ang kanyang mga mata. She can't stand this any longer! Pakiramdam niya'y binabagabag siya kapag ganito ang trato nila sa isa't isa!

Huminto siya sa paglalakad, and she heard Jack stopped, too. Huminga muna siya nang malalim bago ito hinarap.

Kita niyang kumunot ang noo nito na para bang nagtataka sa kanyang ginawa. Nasa ikalawang palapag pa ito habang siya ay nasa ikalawang baitang na ng hagdanan. Jack is towering her, and she had to look at him over the rim of her glasses.

"Jack, can we talk? I'm bothered by your actions. One day, you're playful. And when you apologized, you somehow distanced yourself from me." Humalukipkip siya at tinaasan ito ng kilay.

Hindi niya na ito maiintindihan!

Gano'n na lang ang gulat niya nang makita ang malawak na ngisi na unti-unting sumilay sa mga labi nito. He playfully winked at her, making the air left her chest.

"Effective ba 'yong pagiging cold ko? Pwede ko na bang sabayan 'yong mga cold kong kapatid nito?" He even brushed his hair upwards na para bang nagpapapogi.

"Futore!" Sinamaan niya ito ng tingin. She knows he's making up excuses again to divert the topic!

"Hindi ka ganyan kababaw! There must be a reason why you acted that way!" Tumaas na nang bahagya ang kanyang boses. Jack's smile slowly vanished as he stared at her, ang mga mata nito ay muling bumalik sa pagseseryoso.

She remembered the emotions in his eyes when she tried to confront him. Jack looked like he wanted to break down. Hinding-hindi niya iyon makakalimutan.

Jack stared at her, not saying anything as if he was thinking about what he should say to her. Later on, he sighed, his shoulders rising and falling gently as his gaze turned soft.

Gano'n na lang ang pagdamba ng kung ano sa kanyang puso nang nakapamulsa itong naglakad papalapit sa kanya. She wanted to take a step backwards, pero pinigilan niya ang kanyang sarili. She fought Jack's stares, and when he stopped in front of her, inangat nito ang kanang kamay at nilagay sa tuktok ng kanyang ulo.