To Love Him Once More (USFIL Book 2) - Completed

Chapter 16

JEARRI

A month has passed and I can't believe I'm still with Laxer. I told him he could go back to the Philippines, and I'd just give him pass for the premiere night of the movie, but he stayed with me and followed me everywhere. I just let him. After all, I couldn't stop him this time. He had already become close with my assistant, Jenna, because he wanted to be included in all my schedules. I guess I now have two assistants.

"I haven't seen your fiancé, lately," he whispered while driving to our next location. I looked at Jenna through the rearview mirror. She was suppressing a smile, I could tell. "I've heard rumors from the mansion that your wedding was called off. But you're still wearing the ring, so I thought maybe it's just a weird rumor."

"Why do you care? I'll invite you to my wedding. Don't worry you won't miss it. I'll make sure of that," I grinned at him. He just smiled back at me, genuinely happy that I was getting married. "I'm glad you're happy for me and that we're still friends like this." I waited for his reaction, but he just casually focused on driving, as though it didn't matter to him.

"You've moved on," I whispered, resting my head on the window. "You're only doing this to make up for the years you missed."

"Overthinker," he said, laughing, and pinched my cheeks. "Don't think too much, you have so many things to prioritize now, and that doesn't include me. Pagkatapos ng lahat, ako naman. Hindi naman ako mawawala, okay?"

"I have a fiancé."

"Sure, you do," he said, obviously mocking me. "I'm so excited to meet my half-brother on your wedding day," he chuckled. I rolled my eyes at him.

He was carefree now, and I think I'm starting to fall for this side of him. I didn't know how to explain this to Kyron. My feelings for him and Laxer were so different, and I couldn't understand why it was so hard to differentiate between them. I wasn't in love with Kyron at all, that's what I realized. All these years, it wasn't love. I liked the idea of him being by my side. Maybe what we had was platonic.

But with Laxer, everything feels insane and refreshing at the same time. I'd go crazy for him, and yet I find comfort in him. How is that even possible? I don't know. I looked at him as he focused on the road. Now, I remembered everything—how I had memorized every detail of his face. I couldn't deny it anymore. Kyron was right. No matter how much I tried to forget him, my heart remembered him—the love I had for him, the things I was willing to do for him. And he loves me now, more than I did.

I avoided looking at him, but he held my hand, making me look back at him. "Keep staring," he said. "My heart will explode from you staring at me, and I love it. I want it. I want you to stare at me all day, like you still love me." He turned to me. "Pigilan mo lang ako kapag tingin mo ay ginugulo ko na kayong dalawa."

I let him hold my hand. He should know by now that this confirmed the rumors about me and Kyron.

"Gustong-gusto kong manggulo," humigpit ang kapit niya sa kamay ko. He looked at me, passion, desire and love in his eyes, all at the same time, and I was about to give him the same look, but I looked away instead. This isn't the time for that. I have so many things to prioritize, he isn't part of it—at least, not yet.

***

LAXER

I didn't expect much, but if rumors were true, maybe I still stood a chance. Kaya wala akong sinasayang na oras. Kung kaya ko siyang makasama araw-araw, gagawin ko. Kahit pa magsunod-sunuran ako sa kanya, masaya ako sa ginagawa ko.

Mula sa malayo ay tinanaw ko sila ng assistant niyang si Jenna habang nakikipag-usap sa producer ng movie. Kahit pwede na akong bumalik sa Pinas ay mas pinili kong manatili na lang sa tabi niya. In the mornings, I drive her to every location she needs to visit or any schedule she needs to attend to, and in the evenings, I still handle my responsibilities with my company—although Dad's got my back.