Chapter 3
When I get to the park, I get a text from Kia saying she can't make it 'cause her mom asked her to run some errands. I decide to just sit down on one of the benches and read my book. It's a sappy love story, which I love. I'm probably the sappiest, cheesiest, most hopeless romantic on earth!
I take out my book and start walking towards the bench. I didn't notice that a skateboard was blocking my way. I keep on reading while walking when all of a sudden I'm falling backwards. I let out a small yelp. I close my eyes, bracing myself for the pain when all of a sudden, I feel a strong pair of arms catching me. I look up at the person who caught; I was gonna mumble a "thank you" when I was taken off guard by the most beautiful pair of brown eyes I have ever seen. I am a sucker for brown eyes. Whatever apology I was planning to mumble got pushed to the back of my mind as I continued to stare. I don't know how long we stayed like that. I'm finally brought back to reality when I hear someone clear his throat. I realize that it's him. I hastily try to get up when I lose my balance and fall... again. He takes hold of my arm to steady me and keep me from hitting the ground.
"Whoa, easy there." He says with a smile. His voice is laced with a thick accent which I suspect to be Australian.
Once I get myself up again, I look up at him and mutter a thank you.
"No problem." He says with a smile.
Wow! His smile makes him even cuter. This 'guy' I'm talking about stands just a little taller than me (I'm 5'4), has short dark hair and, well, is über cute!
I give him a small smile and mutter another thank you then I start walking away. I head into the opposite direction of where I was originally headed. I had no intention of staying there after I embarrassed myself in front of a really cute guy.
I was only a few steps away when I heard him call me "wait!" He said. I pretended not to hear him. He might be cute, but I wasn't about to fall in his arms all over again. My 'play deaf' plan would have worked, if he wasn't fast. He caught my arm and pulled me back to him.
"Hey" he said " I didn't even get your name. I'm James, James Reid." He said, smiling. He extended his arm to me. I shook it.
"I'm Sera Roberts." I told him.
"Sera." He repeated. "That's a nice name."
I just nodded, not knowing what to do. We stood there in awkward silence for a few moments.
"I better go." I tell him.
"Oh, ok. Yeah." He says.
Although he was smiling when he said that, I swear I detected a hint of disappointment in his voice. No, that's not possible. Sera, get a hold of yourself.
I slowly turn around and walk away.
AT HOME
It's 1am and I still can't sleep. I've been tossing and turning for the past 3 hours but, my brain just won't stop buzzing. I won't deny it, I can't stop thinking about James. There's just something about him (well, besides being absolutely gorgeous). I've been replaying in my head over and over again what happened that afternoon.
I decide to go downstairs to the kitchen to get a cup of tea. I figured it would calm my nerves and allow me to get a little shuteye.
When I get to the kitchen, I am surprised to find my dad there. He's normally the first one to sleep and it's rare to find him in the kitchen at this time. He has a cup of hot cocoa in front of him and he seems to be deep in thought. He doesn't notice that I'm there until I get to the cupboard.
"Hi." He says.
"Hi dad." I answer.
I continue stirring the contents of my cup, waiting for him to say more. He opens his mouth as if to say something then closes it then opens it again after a few moments.
"Pwede ba kitang kausapin?" He says.
I was quite surprised when he said those in our native tongue. It's been 7 years since we moved here in the States from the Philippines because of a job opportunity my mom got. We've been speaking English ever since. I know it's a bit drastic or even weird, but it just turned out like that and we all just got used to it, I guess.
"Dad, okay ka lang ba?" I ask him, a bit worried.
"Okay lang ako, gusto lang kitang kausapin tungkol sa pagkacollege mo." He answers.
Ohhh, so this is what it's about. I think to myself.
"What about it?" I ask him.
"Gusto kong malaman mo na kahit anong pipiliin mo, mamahalin ka pa rin namin nang mommy mo. Kahit hindi ka pa maging lawyer." He pauses, then continues " your mom and I just want what we think is best for you. But also, we want you to be happy. If you think that entering law school wouldn't make you happy, then so be it, don't go to law school. But, you also have to think about your future. You have to make sure na ang kukunin mo ay makakasuporta sa iyo. Ta, mahal na mahal ka namin nang mommy mo. Tandaan mo yan ha. Kahit ano man ang gagawin mo, we will support you all the way."
Wow! I didn't expect that speech. I'm touched by what he said. Really touched.
I walk over to him and give him a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"Thanks dad." I say "I love you too."
We stay like that for a few moments until my dad breaks the silence and tells me he better get back upstairs before my mom calls 911 and reports him missing. I laugh at his joke.
"Night dad, love you." I call out to him when he reaches the staircase.
"Night ta, love you too." He says back.
I stay in the kitchen for a few more minutes, just until I finish my cup. When I get back upstairs to my room, I fall asleep immediately.
