The Ride of Love (JaDine FanFiction) [COMPLETED]

Forty-fourth Stop

-Her POV-

Inamin na nila sa akin ang lahat. I thought James was my friend way back. Nagkamali pala ako. James said that we met in the most unexpected way and I hated him and his guts. On the other hand, tuwang-tuwa daw sya sa akin. Tuwing naiinis ako sa kanya mas lalo daw sya natutuwa sa akin. It's a weird thing for him.

Just like what I remembered, we were in the same P.E class. Doon daw talaga kami naging close. But the immersion was our game changer. I can't recall that but he said that it was then when we knew each other deeper. We had let each other see into our souls.

From then on, we had become friends. We don't have the same classes but he said that we could still hang out. He knew my friends and I knew his. He has helped me with school and he always, he said, fetched me from Connie's – the café I used to work before.

Noong una, hindi ako makapaniwala. I mean for three months na nagkasama kami, hindi nya naikuwento lahat ng 'yon. Why now? Is it because he was guilty? Pero saan? Dahil ba doon sa nangyari sa bahay ng tita nya? Hindi ko naman sya sinisisi, lalong hindi rin si Reese. She was nice. Nag-sorry sya kaninang umaga sa akin. I told her na wala syang kasalanan. Hindi ko nga rin alam kung bakit madalas akong mahilo at mahimatay nitong mga nakaraan.

After Reese left, James told me the story. He was my best friend. At kaya daw close ako sa pamilya nya is because I was always there. Nandoon daw ako noong unang Pasko nya dito sa Manila. Sinama nya raw ako kasi alam nyang mag-isa lang ako sa apartment dahil alam nyang galit ako noon kay dad. Hindi ko kayang hindi maniwala sa kanya. At the back of my mind, pakiramdam kong tama sya eh. Wala naman sigurong dahilan si James para mag-sinungaling sa akin.

"Ready?" James asked. Aalis na kasi ako sa hospital. Ayaw pa nga nya pumayag pero mapilit ako. Ayoko kasi mapabayaan yung Secret Paradise project namin. Hindi naman sa wala akong tiwala sa mga associates pero first major project ko ito, ayokong pumalpak.

I smiled and said yes. Binuhat nya yung bag ko sa kaliwang kamay at naka-akbay naman ang kanan nya sa balikat ko. Pagkalabas namin sa kwarto ay kinausap lang namin yung doktor para sa mga konting bilin at dumiretso na sa elevator pababa.

"Nadine!"

A very familiar man approached us noong nasa lobby na kami.

"James, tara na." Sabi ko at hinila sya palabas.

"Nadine, saglit lang!" the man said behind us.

Lalo kong binilisan ang paglalakad habang hila pa rin si James. "Don't you want to give him a minute?" tanong nya.

"Not now. Please, James. Let's go."

Saktong may taxi sa labas kaya pinara ko na agad. Ayokong mahabol nya pa kami eh. Selfish na kung selfish pero ayoko makausap si dad. Ayoko marinig kung ano yung sasabihin nya.

Nang medyo nakalayo na kami ay kumalma na ako. Hanggang sa makarating kami sa apartment ay tahimik lang ako. James asked me if I'm just alright at tumango lang ako sa kanya. I don't feel like talking and I suddenly missed my mom.