The Tranquility in You

Chapter: 14

Hindi ko nadala yung rush guard ko! Napilitan akong isuot yung yellow and green na bikini na iyon. Nag suot ako ng denim short at white long sleeve para medyo takip pa rin ang katawan ko.

Lumabas ako at nakitang kausap ni Jance ang pamilya ko. I ran down para makausap siya.

"Yes po, stressed po kasi siya so I decided to do this for her." He explained to my father.

"Eh hijo, hindi naman sa pangigealam. Alam mo naman, bunso ko iyon eh." Papa said at tumango si Jance. "Girlfriend mo ba siya?"

"Ay hindi po." He answered at natawa saglit. "Nililigawan ko lang po si Laina, wala pa po kami sa ganiyang status."

JANCE!

Tinignan ko si Papa at kung paano niya suriin si Jance. He looked at me and approached me para i-butones ang suot kong long sleeve.

"Cover up, honey." He said at niyakap ako.

"Lalai." Papa called kaya lumapit ako. "Ingatan mo ang puso mo, huwag kang magpapaloko."

"Papa hindi siya ganon." I said at tumango si Papa. "Saan ka naman matutulog? I refuse to share a room with you."

"I refuse to share a room with you too, baka patayin ako ng tatay mo." He answered. "I have an office here at pinapunta ako ni Dad."

"Kuya jowa mo si ate?" Kakarating lang ng mg pinsan ko at tinitignan nila si Jance.

"Kung papalarin." He said at lumapit sa akin. "I missed you."

"Ako rin naman." I said at niyakap siya. "Magiging busy ka ba while you stay here?"

"Oo eh, uuwi na rin ako bukas ng umaga. Baka hindi tayo mag bond gaano kasi I came here for work pa rin."

"Okay, next week na lang tayo bumawi."

Bumitaw ako saka siya tinignan ng ayos.

"Be safe ah? Hindi kita mababantayan." He reminded and fixed my hair. "Bye for now, Laina."

"Babye." I said at pinanood siyang umalis.

I wasn't really planning on swimming. Mamayang gabi na lang pag walang araw.

"Why aren't you swimming hija?" Tita asked. "Resort pala ito ng manliligaw mo, enjoy the place."

"Mamayang gabi na lang po." I said.

I was just tired, gusto ko lang sana matulog but I really want to be with Jance now. Kaso ayun nga busy hindi ko pwedeng puntahan.

"Lalai tignan mo." Tinuro ng isa kong tita si Jance na may kausap na dalawang babae.

He was avoiding them, mukha ngang tatakbo na siya palayo at hindi siya nakikipag eye contact sa dalawa. He was using his phone while talking to them both.

From: Jance kulit

Miss na kita agad. Kung pwede lang kita isama sa office kaso bawal talaga huhu :((

Natawa ako kasi I knew that he was just assuring me not to be jealous.

"Tita what's for lunch?" I asked once I hid my phone.

"Fish, hija and some letson manok."

"Pwede po bang sa room muna ako? Call me for lunch na lang po."

"Sure darling, go on."

Umakyat ako sa room ko at nakita ang box of cookies na nasa kama. It had a note saying that Jance left them in my room.

"Sneaky."

I watched a full rom com in my room. Habang nanonood ay inisip ko kung pano kami ni Jance as boyfriend and girlfriend. Ayaw ko kasing toxic ang first relationship ko and ayaw kong sa akin lang iikot ang mundo niya.

"Hindi siguro ganoon." I assured myself.

Tinawag ako ng pinsan ko dahil kakain na raw. They all told me to call Jance pero hindi ko ginawa at baka busy siya.

"Ayun oh! Kuya Jance!" Arthur called. "Kumain ka na, Kuya? Sabay ka na sa amin oh marami pa yan."

"Ay hindi na nakakahiya." He said.

"Pilitin mo na, Lalai."

Tumingin si Jance sa akin at ngumiti.

"Kain na, Jance dito ka sa tabi ko oh." I said.

Naupo siya at kinuha ko siya ng food. He wasn't clingy like he was kapag kami lang. Parang lalayuan na nga ako eh! He said na he respected the time my family gave him para makilatis siya ng maayos at ayaw niya raw na magmukang desperado sa akin sa harap ng pamilya ko.

"Slowly, Laina." He said nung nabulunan ako. "Number?"

"Se-seven!" I said while coughing.

"A, B, C, D, E, F, G." Saad ni Ate Camille. "G.. Gary?"

Umiwas ako ng tingin sa pamilya ko nung pinapainom ako ni Jance ng tubig. I didn't need to talk about him in front of Jance.