Moving Into My Brother's House

Chapter 37

Bitin po. As usual. Medyo nabablangko po yung utak ko. Sorry! Huhu.

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Hindi na ako nakasagot sa tanong ni AJ. He took my silence as a yes kaya hinatak na lang niya ako papasok sa jewelry shop. Since hindi ko rin naman alam kung ano ang dapat sabihin at gawin, hinayaan ko na lang si AJ na mamili ng singsing. It was his idea after all. After a couple of minutes, may napili na siya.

"Miss, can you put the other one in a chain?" Tanong ni AJ sa sales lady which she gladly obeyed. At that time, I was curious sa kung ano ba ang balak niyang mangyari. I mean, couple rings should be worn sa ring finger di ba? What was the chain for?

When AJ was done paying for the rings, we went outside the shop and walked around the mall. We stopped in front of the fountain. Inside my head, the word cliche was popping out pero hindi na lang ako nagsalita. I didn't want to be a party pooper. I know this is difficult for AJ as well so I just kept my mouth shut.

"I know this is very cliche but I guess this is a lot better than the car." AJ started which made me laugh. He immediately smiled because of that and it kind of melted my heart. Seeing him like this, I knew that I was in for a great ride.

"Lauryn, I won't make any promises not because I will break them but because I want to make this relationship as real as possible. We may have fights or misunderstandings but at the end of the day, I want us to talk about it and solve it out. I may be cheesy at one moment then moody at the next so please bear with me. I know we can't have the perfect relationship but every moment that I will be spending with you is already close to perfection. Lauryn, thank you for giving me this chance. I will try my best to show you that you have made the right decision. Always keep in mind that I love you. Okay?" AJ said and I just found myself crying. He then wiped my tears away and hugged me tight.

"Bakit ka ba umiiyak? Kinikilig ka nga dapat ngayon di ba?"

"Ugh. I hate you! Lalo mo lang pinapasama yung loob ko dahil sa nangyari kanina sa sasakyan e." Sagot ko sa kanya habang hinahampas ko siya sa likod niya. AJ then laughed because of what I said.

"Stop being too adorable Lauryn. You might be the death of me." AJ said then he kissed me on the forehead. Sasagot pa lang sana ako sa kanya kaso bigla niyang inilabas yung kahon nung singsing na binili niya. Isinuot niya sa daliri niya yung kanya tapos ikinabit niya naman sa akin yung necklace with the ring as the pendant.

"I didn't want this to seem like we're getting married so I placed yours on a chain. I hope it's okay with you." He said as he locked the chain. So that was the chain for. Cliche nga talaga 'tong moment na 'to but I'm not complaining.

xxx

The next day, our class continued our tour. Hindi na sumama sa amin si AJ, saying that he has some things to take care of. Upon hearing this, kung ano ano na agad ang tumakbo sa utak ni Mae.

"OMG. Baka may surprise dinner ulit siya para sa'yo! Yung kakabog pa doon sa moment niyong dalawa sa Victoria Peak. Ang swerte swerte mo talaga Kat!" Excited na sabi ni Mae habang nasa train kami papuntang Disneyland.

"Ewan ko sa'yo Mae. Grabe lang yung imagination mo." Natatawa ko namang sagot sa kanya.

"Malay mo naman di ba? Saka from the way he looks at you, it's pretty obvious that he would do everything just to make you happy. By the way, bakit pala Lauryn ang tawag niya sa'yo? It seems like he's the only one who calls you that."

"To be honest, hindi ko rin alam. Ever since we were young, Lauryn na ang tawag niya sa akin. When I asked him before kung bakit ang sabi niya para raw maiba siya but I don't know. His answer was not that convincing for me pero hinayaan ko na lang siya na tawagin akong Lauryn. Then it stuck na up to now."

"Shocks. Ang sweet niya talaga! Sana makahanap din ako ng lalaking katulad niya." Mae dreamily said kaya natawa ako lalo.

Pagdating namin sa Disneyland, everyone was busy taking their pictures. I, on the other hand, took out my phone and called my brother.

"Kuyaaaaaa!" I immediately screamed when he answered my call.

"Lauryn Katreena, may sunog ba?" He immediately asked.

"Harhar. Ang corny mo lang." Sagot ko sa kanya which made him laugh.

"So why did you call? Oh wait. Congrats on having your first boyfriend!"

"Wait. Paano mo nalaman?!"

"I'm his bestfriend, remember?" Sagot niya sa akin which made me irritated. Dapat ba lahat nirereport sa kanya ni AJ?

"Before you get mad at AJ, he did that out of respect. I was with mommy and daddy when he called up last night. He couldn't contact mom and dad so he called me instead." Pageexplain niya tapos napatahimik ako bigla. I didn't expect AJ to do something like that. I mean yes, he asked for permission when he started dating pero up to this point pala ipinagpapaalam pa niya kila mommy. Now I know kung bakit botong boto sila si AJ para sa akin. It's not just because he's the son of their friend. It was something much more than that.

"Are you with him right now? I need to talk to him."

"Nah. He said he has some things to take care of. I'm just with my classmates. By the way, may gusto ka bang ipabili dito sa Disneyland? If not for yourself, for Nicole?" I said, trying to change the topic. Talking about AJ kind of makes me miss him. I didn't want to be the clingy girlfriend so I had to divert my attention to other things.

"A stuffed toy of Mickey and Minnie Mouse would be great."

"Is that for you or for Nicole?" I asked kuya. He was just about to answer when a though entered my mind.

"Wait. Don't tell me couple stuffed toy niyo 'yan? Yuck lang kuya ha!"

"Ewan ko sa'yo. Basta bilhin mo na lang 'yon! Bye na nga." Sagot niya sa akin tapos he ended the call. Napailing ako dahil doon. Tignan mo 'to. Pikon talaga kahit kailan kapag inaasar ko kay Nicole. Paano na lang sila aabante kung ganyan siya palagi?

After trying some rides and having our pictures taken, binili ko na yung bilin ni kuya plus some other things that could serve as pasalubong. Palabas na sana ako ng shop when something caught my eye.

"Oh my god. Tsum tsum!" I said to no one in particular and started hoarding the tsum tsum that were available. I even bought the Marvel ones for AJ. Sana lang magustuhan niya.

When I was done shopping, I went back to the meeting place of our class. Mae immediately walked towards me with a shocked expression on her face.

"Jusko Kat. Binili mo ba yung buong Disneyland?!" Tanong niya sa akin then we laughed out loud.

"It just happened. Saka hindi naman 'to puro sa akin."

"Right. As if naman gusto mo yung Marvel. Let me guess, those are for AJ right?" She asked and I just nodded at her. Hindi naman sa nahihiya akong aminin na binilhan ko ng ganito si AJ pero ewan ko ba. I still feel awkward doing things for him.

Ganito ba talaga sa simula? Oh god. Somebody help me, please!