Almost Enough (Could Trilogy #2)

Almost #13

ALMOST ENOUGH #13

Sharyn's POV

"Are you sure?" I asked, glancing at Hunter. "You might get bored. This might take a while—I'll be getting a mani, pedi, spa, facial, and doing some shopping for your mom's birthday, including picking out her gift."

Hunter shrugged with a smile, leaning back on the couch as we're inside the nail salon owned by Graceli.

"I'm sure. I'll keep myself entertained. I brought my codals. Also, don't pay. I'll be the one to pay for everything after," sagot niya.

"No need. Ako na—" I paused. Right, baka mainis na naman si Hunter kapag pinilit ko na ako na ang magbabayad. I would just treat him with something later.

"Okay." Ngumiti ako tapos tumabi na sa kanya habang hinihintay ang nail tech na laging nag-aasikaso sa akin dahil may tinatapos pa siya.

"Do you want to give it a try?" tanong ko kay Hunter. "What about a foot spa then they will just clean your nails? Sige na... para hindi ka na masyadong ma-bore."

"Uh..." Nag-isip siya. "No coloring of my nails?"

"Of course... siguro iyong colorless lang pero if you really don't want to... it's okay."

"I'll do it."

Yay! Pumayag siya kaya ang saya ko. Buti na lang may available pa na nail tech para kay Hunter kasi hindi dumating iyong nagpa-reserve.

He looks so innocent while watching the nail tech. I never really liked taking photos because Aero usually does that for us, but I found my favorite subject, so my gallery ended up filled with either selfies of me for him or candid photos of him.

"Why?" I asked him. "How was it? You don't like ba?"

"Hmm. It feels good. It's my first time. Aly always wanted me to go with her but I usually just watch her."

"Can you do it every time I also do it as well?"

I realized I sounded like a baby, but I couldn't care less because I was comfortable with Hunter. I thought I'd be shy, but he really brings out a side of Sharyn that I never knew existed.

Hunter chuckled as he brushed my hair. "Of course, Mommy."

It was my turn to laugh. He finally found a constant endearment for me—Mommy! Though he would still call me love, hon, or queen from time to time.

"Show me your hands," utos ko na ginawa niya.

His hands were like a candle—soft and smooth, without a single callus, clearly showing that he doesn't do much manual work at home. They looked almost delicate, the skin unblemished and tender, as if they were seldom used for anything strenuous. It was ironic, given that he was a military man, whose job one would expect to leave a mark on his hands.

"Do you want to do a manicure, too? Colorless lang din ipapalagay ko."

"No," he said, shaking his head. "I don't like it when a stranger holds my hand. But if you want to, you can do the manicure yourself."

"Okay." I happily smiled. "We can do it kapag hindi na tayo busy and because sinamahan mo ako today ay ikaw ang mamimili ng design ng nails ko."

"Really? But I don't know anything about it... baka ayaw mo ang mapili ko."

"No. Just choose."

"Hmm..." Kinuha niya ang brochure saka namili ng mga designs. Hindi nga siya makapili kasi ang dami niyang gusto. "Okay, next time na lang ang iba but for now... what about this Glazed Stone? Gray ang base color niya tapos you can add glitter effect, the pink one... or do you think dull siya?"

"I don't think so. It will be my first time but let's see."

Inabot ko sa nail tech ang napili ni Hunter. Medyo worried pa siya dahil baka nga hindi ko raw magustuhan but it turn out just fine so I required him to always choose my nail designs.

"I'll pay," sabi niya. "Go on. You can retouch. I will wait for you."

"Thank you."

I went inside the bathroom and spent five minutes fixing myself. Paglabas ko ay nasa labas na si Hunter ng nail salon tapos may kausap siya na lalaki. I saw him salute in front of Hunter.

"Bye, Miss Sharyn. See you again," sabi ng staff kaya nagpaalam na rin ako.

"Yeah, I am with my lady." Narinig ko na sabi ni Hunter. "I'll tell her first and let you know kapag pumayag siya." Tinapik niya ito sa braso tapos nagpaalam na. Saktong paglingon niya ay nakita niya ako.

"Hey, there, gorgeous. All good?"

"Yeah, who is that?"

"Ka-batch ko sa training. Niyaya niya ako na makipag-inuman sa iba pa naming kasama tapos sabi ko ay magpapaalam pa ako sa'yo."

"Huh? You don't need to. You can go."

"I know... I just want you to know. And no, that's not what I want to hear."

I raised my brow. "Means?"

"Means I want you to be possessive." Mahina siyang tumawa. "Tell me I cannot go because you want to spend more time with me."

"What? You're silly." I hit his arm. "You need time for yourself and your friends, like you told me."

"I know... but I do want that—you being possessive." He grinned as he leaned closer. "You can be as demanding as you want if we officially become a couple. Well, even now... you can."

For a second, I wanted to say, 'Don't go with The Apostles,' but even though he gave me permission, I still didn't want to take that away from him.

"But they might think ill of me for not allowing you, tapos they might say na baka under pa kita. Wouldn't that hurt your reputation?"

"It might." He placed his thumb under his chin and slowly nodded before giving me a wide grin. "But I actually don't care as long as I am gonna be your baby."

I rolled my eyes. "Let's stop. Ang cheesy na nating dalawa."

Pareho kaming natawa.

Sinamahan niya ako na magpa-facial. Niyaya ko siya kaso ayaw naman niya dahil ayaw niya na may ibang humahawak sa mukha niya. Well, he obviously doesn't need it. Wala naman siyang pores.

He patiently waited for me. Naabutan ko siya na nagbabasa ng codals doon sa lobby. Nakakunot ang noo niya tapos mukhang anytime ay manununtok kaya nakakatakot lapitan. He has this dark aura—na agad ding nawala nang makita ako.

"Wow... ang ganda," he complimented me. Lagi naman, kahit na minsan ay mukha na akong bruha.

"No. Don't look at me... sobrang pula ng mukha ko."

"It's okay. You are still beautiful."

Inayos na niya ang mga gamit niya.

"Thank you," I replied. "And you are also gwapo kaso masungit... tapos may dark aura ka."

"Really?" He eyed me. "Means?"

"Mukha kang mafia lord."

He started laughing. Medyo napalakas kaya napatingin ang mga staff sa amin—and they seem starstruck kasi tumatawa itong si Hunter.

"Ayan, hindi na mafia lord, just the assistant na lang ng mafia lord, whatever that's called."

Hindi pa rin siya tumigil sa pagtawa, and I just stood there because Hunter doesn't laugh every day... and at that moment, I knew I wanted to hear him laugh every day and be the reason. Napansin ko na sobrang babaw lang din naman ng kaligayahan niya.

"And you are gonna be my Donna or mob's wife." He winked.

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, whatever! Hunter! Let's just go! Ang dami nang nakatingin sa'yo."

"Right." Umayos siya ng tayo nang mapansin na rin 'yon tapos back to resting bitch face na siya. Kahit hindi ko kasama si Hunter, kampante ako na hindi siya titingin sa iba kasi matatakot din sila sa aura niya! But he is freaking handsome—gosh!

"Thank you for treating me today. I'll buy us yogurt and you can't say no kasi magtatampo ako, okay?"

"Okay." He nodded with a smile. Ang cute nito kapag nagpapa-baby.

Pagkatapos namin kumain ng yogurt ay sinamahan ako ni Hunter na mamili na. He wanted to pay for everything I was going to buy kaya imbes na bilhin ko pa ang lahat ng gusto ko ay tumigil na ako. Ang hirap kasi kapag kasama siya dahil babayaran niya lahat. Though he never complained kahit na apat na oras kaming nag-ikot sa mga store.

"Want to sleep in our house?" I offered while he was already driving me home.

"Aren't we going to fast? Sorry, conservative ako," he said in a straight face though I was sure he was trying to be funny.

Hinampas ko tuloy kaya natawa na lang din.

"Let's study together. Alam ko naman na you need to study for the bar pero sinamahan mo pa ako. Dala mo naman notes and codals mo, right?"

"Yeah. I will not say no," sagot niya habang naka-focus sa daan.

"You shouldn't... and I'll cook for you. What do you want to eat?"

"Afritada na may maraming pineapple."

"Okay." Ngumiti ako. "I'll cook that tomorrow. Nagluto na raw kasi sina Mommy. Great timing—we can all have dinner together."

"That's cool. I also need to give them the invitation for my mother's birthday. Hope they can come."

Pasulyap-sulyap lang siya sa akin habang nagmamaneho.

"Surely, they will. Sasabihan ko sila na pumunta."

"Yeah, so our parents could finally meet, not as business partners, but as in-laws."

"You are the one going fast now, huh." Siniko ko siya. Tumawa lang siya tapos gano'n din ako.

"Anyway, you can wear my brother clothes na lang pala later. Same size naman kayo," sabi ko. "Or do we need to buy?"

"No. I have extras."

"Really? How come?"

"Nakasanayan lang. My family has always loved spontaneous trips, so when we were kids, we were always told to keep extra clothes in our cars or bags just in case... and we were also always told to bring our passports. I actually hated it because I always wanted to plan things out... but Mom's the opposite of Dad," kwento niya. "Mom's spontaneous and Dad's a bit rigid... but they got along pretty well."

"I think namana mo both," sabi ko.

"I can bend my rules and routines for you, Latisha."

"I can clearly see it." I smiled happily.

"You know what..." His voice trailed off at the exact moment we stopped for the traffic lights.

"What?"

"I just figured out that I don't like you anymore," he confessed, "You are more than enough to keep my heart beating. I love you, Latisha Amaryn."

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