Love Never Ends [Watty Awards 2012]

Chapter 11: Holding Hands

Chapter 11: Holding Hands

I dedicate this story to @madieberswag hope you like it!

The title is requested by Blake himself, you’ll know why

Hi to all readers as promise here is chapter 11 after having 1000 reads. My next goal is 3000 reads and 100 votes; once I get that I’ll upload the next chapter.

Please don’t be silent readers, I love reading all your comments. It’ll inspire me to continue the story. Besides, the story has really started. So keep on reading, keep on voting and say something!

Few weeks after, Reynald, Misty’s boyfriend, arrived all the way from the United States. It has been the church members’ interests to finally know the mystery guy that Misty likes. At first the other members only know that Misty and Reynald only met in chatting, Skype and Facebook and that they don’t approve it. But Misty told some people, that Reynald was actually a schoolmate of Misty way back since high school. After a few days Reynald started to attend and join us in the church and indeed he loved it.

Until a day finally came, that we were invited to go to Batangas, a province good for beaches in the south of Manila. Reynald and Misty decided to be baptized since he was already planted in the church and that he received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Misty actually cried when that happened because the whole time Misty kept on praying for him that once he arrives in the Philippines he will meet her family and even most especially to encounter the God whom Misty loves so much. (A little information, our senior pastor is the uncle of Misty, her mother and our senior pastor is actually brothers and sisters).

We were invited to attend their baptism, Misty and Reynald’s, the day after it was informed to us. Our pastor was assigned and that the people included were my mom and dad, for them to drive all the way, me, Blake, her mom Auntie Lily, Bernard and Rose. The next day we were about to leave when we found out that our pastor was not available since there has been a schedule book before the baptism. We found out also, that it was not only baptism but it’s actually the engagement and photo shoot of their pre-nuptial photos. It was a surprise for us since we don’t really know what to do. We were all dressed up because they told us to dress up for the photo shoot. My mom was wearing a blue simple dress but brought a formal dress just in case. My dad was in a simple dark blue shirt and wearing shorts while I was wearing a pink floral sunny dress since we just know there’s swimming we know it would be warm. When we came to the church to change to the van since there are many of us and we also picked up Bernard, Auntie Lily, Rose and Blake, they were all dressed up. Rose was wearing semi-formal attire and even paired it up with black heels, Auntie Lily was wearing a white blouse and pants, and so is Blake, white polo shirt and pants, as of Bernard, he was wearing an orange plaid polo and slacks. We did not bring swimming clothes because we were thinking that after the baptism we will go straight home. We were still in the stop over when Rose changed her attire to a blue blouse and pants for she said, no more photo shoot for her and we were all laughing along the way.

While in the van I was in the second row together with Auntie Lily and Rose while the one in the back is Bernard and Blake. I was in the middle feeling comfortable with my shawl as my cover and lying down while everyone was busy having their photo shoot in Tagaytay. It was not only us who were there but other people from the church and Reynald’s father and his auntie’s who took care of him. Tagaytay is a good place where people likes to visit since it’s cold, well not really cold, but it’s a place to cool off in a warm weather especially here in the Philippines. When you look at the view in Tagaytay you can see the crater of the smallest volcano which is Taal Volcano located in the middle of Taal lake. Tagaytay is only a few hours drive in the middle of Manila and Batangas.

While lying down, I reclined my seat. My seat is actually where you can place the cups if you put it down so since it can full 180 degrees recline just to lie down. I saw a red Dora the Explorer pillow for about a square shaped of 15 inches and I placed it in the middle of the seat of Bernard and Blake. From there I lie down and I put my head in the pillow. Blake was stroking my hair as if he was combing it and then we were talking while everyone else was also busy in their own thing.

“How come your hair is short and thin?” he asked me.

“No it’s not, it’s just a trick, when you hold it it’s thin but when you tie it you will notice it’s not. When I lie down you might think it’s short but when I stand up, it’s actually average of length.” Since my hair is actually about 4 or 5 inches below my shoulder.

He was silent for a while and was stroking it, later on I fixed the pillow and while I was fixing it, he held my hand under the pillow. I did not remove it afterwards. It was all so hidden that I don’t think anyone would notice since I was just lying down closing my eyes to take a nap while he was also relaxed in his seat taking a nap.

The whole time he was holding my hand it was ever so sweet. When the photo shoot in Tagaytay was done we travelled again to Batangas. When we arrived in the venue, a clubhouse in Leisure Farms Batangas, there we were all singing songs for the Lord and knowing what was going on because we felt that there’s been a clash between the parents of Misty and Reynald. My mother was able to discern what was wrong that she started talking to each side to know the story for a while.

For about some time we were just in one of the cottages trying to figure out what to do, while Bernard was practicing the song “How Did You Know” to sing for the newly engaged couple. While everyone was taking pictures, there goes Blake requesting again. Auntie Lily has her camera which she brought for picture taking.

“Joy can we have a picture of the both of us?” he asked me.

“How? I have no camera?” I replied to him

“Mama brought her camera how about hers?” he replied and I agreed he called his mom and asked to take a picture of us.

We were both smiling at the same time while Auntie Lily was taking a photo. I saw in her eyes that she was thinking of something like we both look good together or something like his son smiles differently in this photo with her. I could read what her eye was saying.

By the time everyone were all prepared, the baptism was about to start. At first it was taught how baptism goes and what the meaning of it is then we sang a song and prayed, they went to the water and there the testimony was read. At first it was Misty and her mother cried then afterwards it was Reynald. His father and his aunties’ eyes opened when they found out that he indeed changed for the better and they accepted it. Afterwards, it was about the engagement already. Their parents gave a message for them.

We still felt there’s wall between the two families until Reynald said something

“I have to tell you all something.” He started speaking

“It was since we were in high school I bumped into Misty and then I went to look out who she was and I kept on waiting for a time she was not dating anyone until I was able to date her. The first time I saw her I already liked her. Until the time I went to United States that time and was able to communicate again there he admit to Misty that he still likes her and there Misty gave him a chance.

The wall was broken when Reynald spoke. It was something to break the ‘who’s the person anyway’ ice that the curiosity was all gone. Afterwards, the couples gave advice to them then Bernard started singing “How did you know” and there they danced.

Afterwards, we took a snack and then we started packing up. It was time for us to go since it is already four in the afternoon. Before we left it was time for us to take photos together with the group who was in the van.

We were going home that time and that again, I reclined my seat to 180 degrees and from Batangas all the way to Manila, and my hand was again under the pillow, holding his hand. We both never let go unless I was about to sit down.  

How he held my hand was so different, it’s true that if we indeed thought of it it might be tiring but it’s not. It was all worth the while for the whole trip. I know nobody saw us since we were able to hid our hands in a way where we were sure no one could actually see it.

I had to go down before reaching the church since I had to drop by in the office to finish some stuff then afterwards I went home.

Again we exchanged messages those times and we just kept on talking.

Few days after the photos were out and uploaded. Auntie Lily uploaded me and Blake’ photo and that their relatives keep on sending comments and liking it and even asked  if I’m the girlfriend using their dialect (which I can understand a little of it) and he replied with a no then he deleted our photo.