Love on Board

Chapter 25

Jhoana's POV

On the way pa lang kami pabalik sa condo ko. Pinipilit pa nga nila akong mag-overnight na lang, kaso maaga kasi duty ko tomorrow. Hassle pagbiyahe ng maaga at nakakahiya din kay Bea.

"I can drive you early naman, baby," sabi niya, ang bilis naging "baby."

"Baby ka diyan, kahit na you can drive early, you need to rest. At yang sugat mo, you can remove the patch kapag hindi ka lalabas para mas madali mag-heal," I said.

"What? You don’t like ba na I’m calling you baby? Well, if you don’t like, I like it, even may other suitor ka pa," she said with a sad tone of voice but she kissed my hand. Tumawa na lang ako.

"Why are you laughing, doc?" she seriously asked.

"Sino naman yung other suitor ko?" tanong ko.

"The one who gives a bouquet of roses. Nakita ko sa office mo. His name is Nico, right?" she said.

The night Bea had an accident, yeah, I was with Nico. I was with Nico kasi I cleared sa kanya na magkaibigan lang talaga kami and I talked to him na he needs to stop giving a bouquet every day. Kasi wala akong maibabalik sa kanya.

Nico is a good man. I don't want to take away the chance for him to find someone who will love him genuinely. His feelings are valid. He deserves to love and be loved.

Flashback...

"Doc, I'm glad you gave me a chance na ilabas ka tonight," he said, masayang-masaya siya. Nginitian ko lang siya ng tipid.

"Nico...," I said. Ngiting-ngiti siya sa akin.

"Ayaw ko nang patagalin 'to. I don't want to be unfair to you. I swear I tried to fall in love with you, I tried to want you. But it didn't work, which is why I accepted your invitation tonight to talk to you to say stop giving me a bouquet every day. I don't want to take away the chance for you to find someone who will love you genuinely. Your feelings are valid. You deserve to love and be loved," I said, nakangiti pa din siya sa akin.

"Jho, I understand. I just tried. Baka sakaling makuha ka with that, but I guess I'm wrong. You're not being unfair. From the start naman, I'm aware that all you can give is full of friendship. I'm the one na nagpumilit na I'll try pa din, kahit una pa lang busted na," he said.

"I'm sorry, Nico," I said.

"Jho, no. Hahaha, you don't have to. So, friends?" he laughed.

"Friends," I said, and we shook hands.

"Let's order food na. Sagot ko pa din syempre, wag ka mag-alala. Hahaha," he said.

End of Flashback...

"Ah hahaha, he is not my suitor anymore," sabi ko. Bigla siyang nagpreno.

"Ano ba, Beatriz?" reklamo ko.

"Sorry, sorry, nabigla ako sa narinig ko eh," sagot niya.

"So kayo na?" tanong niya nang matamlay, sabay malalim na paghinga. Minsan, slow din pala mga piloto at si Bea patunay niyan.

"Paano kung oo?" sabi ko, pero hindi siya nagsalita. Tumahimik na lang at nagstart ulit magdrive hanggang makarating kami sa condo.

"We're here," sabi niya pero hindi siya lumalabas ng kotse para pagbuksan ako.

"Thank you sa paghatid. Take care ha, dahan-dahan lang," sabi ko. Tumango lang siya. Gusto ko lang naman siyang pagtripan, ang cute kasi niya.

"Gusto mo ba pumasok muna sa loob?" tanong ko. Umiling siya kaya lumabas na ako ng kotse. Bumusina siya at bigla na lang umalis. Nawala ata sa mood.

Pagkapasok ko ng unit, nagmessage na lang ako sa kanya.

Hi, about your question kung kami na ng suitor ko, hindi pa eh. Hindi ko pa kasi siya napapakilala kay Mama. Feeling ko nga wala siya sa mood kaya balak ko mag-halfday tomorrow para ayain siya sa Batangas.

Sineen niya yung message ko at nakikita kong typing siya.

Oh, that's nice. Happy for you, doc.

Hahaha ang ikli ng reply. Hindi niya pa din na-gets. Hays.

Can you help me? Paano ko ba siya aayain tomorrow? Nagtatampo ata siya sakin eh.

Wala sa mukha niya na ganito siya magtampo. Hahaha.

Just ask him kung pwede ka niya samahan. Jho, I'm driving. Just message him.

Sungit. HAHAHAHA.

Okay, okay. I'm sorry. But it's her, not him. Captain Isabel Beatriz Paras de Leon, can you come with me tomorrow?

After that, hindi siya nagreply. Anong nangyari doon? Nag-aalala na ako. I tried to call her pero hindi siya sumasagot. Umakyat na ako para kunin yung key ng kotse ko para sundan siya pero may nonstop na kumakatok sa door ko.

"WAIT!" sabi ko. Natataranta na ako. Tinatry ko pa din siya tawagan pero ayaw sumagot. Kumakalabog pa din pinto. Bwisit naman 'to.

"ANO B-" pagbukas ko ng door, Bea hugs me tight.

"Baby, tell me I'm not dreaming. You're not wrong send. That's for me, right? Tell me, baby." Inalis niya yung hug at hinawakan ako sa balikat. Natatawa ako sa kanya, hingal na hingal.

"Kumalma ka nga muna. Hahaha," sabi ko.

"Tell me I'm not dreaming, baby. This is not a dream, right?" she said. Hinila ko na nga para makapasok siya.

"Hahaha, stop, Bea. You're not dreaming. I'm serious. Can you come with me tomorrow afternoon? Are you free?" I said. Nakita kong teary-eyed siya.

She hugged me again.

"What, Beatriz?" she nodded.

"I will. I want to, but you're crazy. I thought sinagot mo na yung manliligaw mo. I thought I don't have any chance to prove myself to you."

"He is not my suitor na nga. He just posted that kasi he treated me and that caption baka daw next life pwede na gamitin for me. So far, ikaw ang natira na manliligaw ko," I said. She kissed my forehead for a minute.

"Thank you for giving me a chance to prove myself, to court you. I promise hindi ko sasayangin. Just take your time. No matter what, I'll wait for your 'yes,'" she said. Hinug ko siya, napansin ko yung sugat niya. Need palitan ng bandage kaya humiwalay ako sa kanya.

"Stay here. Let's clean your sugat."

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A/N: I apologize for any typo and grammar errors you may have noticed. :D

Bahala na ulit kayo di ako nagproofread😭😆