Rain (Marckianna)

VI.

4 months and several Starbucks meetings later...

It has been 4 months now since Marck first started courting Jia. Yes, you read it right, courting. After their encounter in Starbucks that involved corny jokes and a lot of laughing, Marck realized that Jia was just special. Too special to let go. So he didn't. 

They sit in the same coffee shop now, with their favorite cups of coffee in hand. Tall American for Marck, and a Mocha Espresso for Jia.

"So yeah, my mom wants to go there for Christmas." Jia says. Marck isn't listening. He's still thinking about the text Rex sent him earlier that morning. Jia notices him spacing out. "Marck?" she says. No reaction. She pats his hand "Babe?" Finally, a reaction. 

Marck turns his head and clears his throat "Yes, babe?" he says. Jia looks at him with a worried expression "Are you okay, babe?" she asks him. Marck nods and gives her a small smile "Y-yeah. Just not feeling well that's all." he says "Are you sick?" Jia asks as she puts the back of her palm to his forehead. Marck shakes his head "Okay lang ako, Ji." he says, kissing the back of her hand. Jia smiles and hits the back of his head "Hokage." she whispers. Marck laughs.

"What were you saying a while ago?" Marck asks her "Yung about Christmas?" Jia leans into Marck's shoulder "Hm? Oh, mom wants to go to Singapore for Christmas." He gives her a confused expression "Singapore?" he says "Anong meron sa Singapore?" he asks. Jia sighs "Hindi ko rin alam. Pero you know mom, 'pag gusto niya, there's no stopping her." 

"Babe." 

"Hmm?"

"That means wala ka dito for our first Christmas together?" Marck says sadly. Jia gets up and cups his face between her hands. Marck looks at her sadly "I know. I know." She says with a sad smile "Babawi lang ako when I get back, okay?" He sighs but nods. He knows Jia has been patient and understanding of him. She was willing to wait when he wasn't ready to go to certain places yet because it reminded him of her; she was willing to wait when he wasn't ready to hold her hand or kiss her because memories of her still painted his mind. Jia was just a good girlfriend. Maybe too good for Marck. 

 2 hours later, and Marck drives Jia back to her condo. The ride is full of small talk. Future plans and such. Marck doesn't even remember half of that conversation. He is still spacing out. "Bye babe." Jia says as she unbuckles her seatbelt and leans to give him a peck on the lips. The electricity is still there. Marck is relieved. "Bye." He says to her "Ingat ka, okay?" Jia smiles at him "Of course. I love you." she says. 

Marck pauses. Should he say it? One second. Two seconds. "I love you too." He says. He silently breathes a sigh of relief. He stays parked in his spot. He holds his breath until Jia closes the door beside him and he sees her leave. He sighs. He doesn't want to get his phone out of his pocket. He doesn't want to read that text from Rex again. He doesn't want to do so many things. 

But he has to. 

So he does. 

From: Rex Intal 

Pare. 

                                                                                 Pareee. Wassup?

May news ako. 

Di ko alam kung good or bad ba.

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