Against All Odds | ✓

Chapter 20

Chapter 20.
 
 
I texted Titanang that I will go home late. Mga 8PM naman. We have a date ni Jaziel at ihahatid niya na lang ako pauwi. Ito rin maganda kapag alam nilang may nanliligaw sa akin, pumapayag naman sila kaagad.
 
When Jaziel closed the store, he held my hand. It's already 5:30 p.m. Maaga nagsasara ang store na ito, kaya maaga rin minsan nakakauwi si Jaziel sa kanila, pero ngayon at magde-date raw muna kami.
 
I agreed with him. Biglaan lang din naman kasi ang pagsagot ko sa kaniya. Kaya nag-aya si loko.
 
"Chim," pagtawag niya sa akin. Tumingin ako sa kaniya. "Ang ganda mo."
 
I smiled at him and encircled my hands around his arms. "Thank you so much," sagot ko kaagad.
 
He kissed my temple.

We reached the unli wings. Medyo malapit lang ito sa palengke. "There's a lot of yummy foods here, but the best is the chicken wings."
 
"Really? Lagi ko lang itong nadadaanan," I said.
 
Pumasok kami sa loob halos pagtinginan kami. We chose a window near the window. Akala ko ay uupo siya sa harapan ko, pero umupo siya sa tabi ko.
 
He showed me the menu. "What do you want? The flavor."
 
I looked at him. "Ano'ng best-selling nila rito?"
 
He looked back at me. "The barbeque one. Do you want to try it? Tapos dagdagan natin no'ng cheese flavor."
 
"Sige."
 
He called the server and gave us our orders.
 
He looked at me again. Inayos niya ang buhok ko sa pamamagitan ng pagtipon no'n sa aking likuran at tinali gamit ang hawak taling nasa kamay niya.
 
"Why did you have that?" I asked casually.
 
"Madalas kitang makitang pawis, kaya napabili ako. I have a plan to give this to you every time I see you, but there are no chances."
 
I smiled at him and nodded. "By the way, I have a gift for us," sabi ko sa kaniya.
 
Nakita ko lang ito kanina habang papunta ako sa palengke. It's a handmade bracelet made from it's like yarn. I got it from my small bag and showed it to him.
 
"Tig-isa tayo," I told him, excited to get his hand. "Tadaa!" Nakangiti kong sabi nang mailagay ko na sa kaniya.
 
"So you were really prepared to say yes? "
 
I shook my head. "Pinuntahan lang kita kasi nag-away sina tita sa bahay. Nahihiya akong humarap sa kanila. Kaya ayun pinuntahan na lang kita, but before I got there, I saw this one, and I find it cute. Sabi ko ibibigay ko na lang kapag tayo na, pero ayun biglaan nga rin kaya ibibigay ko na ngayon."
 
I saw his hazel eyes sparkling like the first day we'd met. A strange smile appeared on his face, and minutes later, he hugged me.
 
"You're so beautiful, Xachi. You're so adorable."
 
Kumalas siya at ngumiti. "Daming tao, Jaziel. Akala ko ba nonchalant person ka?" pang-aasar ko.
 
"Pagdating sa 'yo? Siyempre hindi. Ilabas ko pa pagiging clingy ko, e," bulong niya sa akin kaya parehas kaming natawa.
 
Kinuha niya sa akin ang isa at isinuot sa kamay ko. Ang akin ay nasa kaliwa, habang ang kaniya ay nasa kanan. Kaya kapag magkahawak kami ng kamay ay mapapansin iyon.
 
Dumating na rin ang order namin na tatlong flavors ng chicken wings. May kasamang isang platong spaghetti, dalawang rice, dalawang juice, isang cheese-flavored french fries, at isang burger.
 
Ang dami! Mukhang mabubusog talaga ako ngayong gabi.
 
"Kaya ba natin 'to?" tanong ko sabay turo sa mga pagkain.
 
"Oo naman."
 
Tama nga ang sinabi niya. Naubos namin ang mga pagkain, pero siya ang mas maraming nakain. Paano ay hindi ko naubos ang pasta, kaya binigay ko sa kaniya, kinain pa rin naman niya.
 
"Fries gusto mo?" tanong ko sa kaniya.
 
Iyon na lang kasi ang nginunguya ko. Napanguso siya dahil mukhang busog na busog na siya. "Dapat pala isang order lang tayo," sabi niya sa akin.
 
"Kulang naman 'yon," nakanguso kong sabi.
 
Inusog ko ang plato papunta sa harapan niya. I smiled ear to ear when I saw him getting fries from the plate. Naubos pa rin niya.
 
We split the bill, and we decided to rest for awhile before going north. Mayroon daw kasi roong view deck. Makikita mo ang view ng buong South, kaya excited din talaga ako. Jeep lang daw ang sasakyan para makarating doon.
 
Kaya nang matapos kaming kumain ay dumiretso kami sa sakayan papunta sa may North. Mabilis lang biyahe. Hawak-hawak ni Jaziel ang kamay ko habang papaakyat kami sa may view deck mismo.
 
When we reached the top, we sat on the bench. From here, kitang-kita ang city lights. It's really pleasing to my eyes, and I want to go back here if we have time.
 
Jaziel kissed my knuckles, so I looked at him. "Xachi," he called me. "Can you be my girlfriend?"
 
My forehead knotted. "Bakit tinatanong mo pa ako ulit?"
 
"I just want to have a proper proposal," he said seriously. "So..." May inilabas siya sa kaniyang bulsa. It's a pink watch with a shade of blue. "Can you be my girlfriend?"
 
I nodded slightly. "Of course."
 
He slowly put the watch on my wrist. "Pasensya na kung mumurahin muna ang ireregalo ko sa 'yo. Next time na ang mamahalin kapag mayaman na ako."
 
"No worries. It doesn't matter."

"It's matter because you deserve a good life with me."
 
He hugged me before putting his hands on my cheeks. He kissed my temple and the tip of my nose. Our eyes met. He looked at my lips.
 
I closed my eyes when I felt the urge to kiss me. Seconds later, I feel his lips brush on mine. Hindi ako marunong humalik pabalik, pero ginaya ko lang ang ginagawa niya. We let go of each other, and he hugged me.
 
"Thank you for coming into my life, Xachi. I'm head over heels for you."

I smiled. "Do you still remembered our first kiss?" tanong ko.

"The game?" tanong niya. Marahan naman akong tumango.

"Yes. What does it feel?"

He shyly scratch his nape. "I already like you that time, Chim. Hindi ako makatulog pagkatapos ng gabing 'yon tapos sa yakap mo pa kinabukasan."

I chuckled. "Bakit parang wala kang pakialam no'ng mga oras na 'yon?"

"Magaling akong magtago ng nararamdaman ko, Chim besides hindi pa ako nakakaamin."

I held his hand. "Kailan mo ako nagustuhan?"

Curious talaga ako kung paano siya nagkagusto sa akin at kung kailan. Kung lagi ko naman siyang sinusungitan.

"Hindi pa kita kilala, gusto na kita. I like smart girls and competitive. Pangalan mo pa lang, nakuha mo na atensyon ko."

My lips parted. "Is that possible?"

He nodded slowly. "Yes. For me lang naman."
 
I feel his hands on my hair. We finished by discussing our day. Ikinwento ko sa kaniya ang nangyari kanina sa bahay. Habang naikwento naman niya sa akin na nakausap niya na raw ang mama niya. They're okay now, but she doesn't want to see me unless we've both graduated. Sa graduation na lang daw siya magpapakita.
 
Sabi ko ay ayos lang naman dahil alam kong malalim ang dahilan ng galit niya sa mga katulad ko. I will let her heal first, and I don't want to force everything.
 
"May favor sana ako." I looked at him.
 
"What is it? "
 
"Can we keep our relationship private? Ayoko kasing maraming mangialam. The last time I told you about my classmates, I bowed my head. "I'm sorry if I have to keep our relationship private."
 
"What do you mean by that?" he asked softly.
 
"Walang makakaalam sa school na tayo until graduation."
 
His brows furrowed. "Even our friends? "
 
I shook my head. "Of course not. I mean just the other people, and to our friends just tell them to keep it secret too."
 
"Why? Ayaw mo bang malaman nila na ako 'yong boyfriend mo?"
 
"Of course I love to announce that I'm your girlfriend, but you know... We need to keep it private for awhile."
 
"O–okay."
 
"Please, Jaziel. Understand me. I'm sorry."
 
He managed to smile. "It's fine. Always remember that I'm head over heels for you... forever."
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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