Play The Game (COMPLETED)

Chapter 19

#PTG19 Chapter 19

They were right when they said that time flies fast when you're having fun. Parang kailan lang, kakasimula ko lang pumasok sa law school. Parang kailan lang, tinititigan ko lang si Jax mula sa malayo. Akalain mo 'yun? Finals na next week! I was one week away from ending my first year in law school!

Jax made everyday really special for me. Alam mo 'yun? He could literally exert minimal effort and I'd feel maximum happiness. Kahit nga puntahan niya lang ako sa bahay tapos mag-aaral kami ng sabay, sobrang saya ko na talaga nun! Tapos nung first monthsary namin, he surprised me with flowers sa school. Alam kong hiyang-hiya siya na may dalang bouquet pero dahil pinaringgan ko talaga siya nang todo, binigyan niya talaga ako. Love talaga ako niyang tao na 'yan, e.

Hindi kami magkasama nung Christmas dahil may pre-planned na iyong family niya na out of the country trip nila. It was extended until before school resumed. But even with the distance between us, he still managed to make my year.

"What time is it there?" he asked.

"2 minutes to midnight. Ano'ng ginagawa mo d'yan?" I asked. I was spending the New Year's Eve alone. My parents were supposed to accompany me dahil kasama naman sila nung family nila nung Christmas. But of course, they bailed on me. Mabuti na lang hindi umuwi sila Manang... I would hate to spend the holidays alone... but ano'ng choice ba ang meron ako?

"Grocery. Magluluto daw sila mamaya. Nandyan naman sila Manang, 'di ba?" he asked. Medyo maingay sa end of his line. Busy siguro sa New York.

I nodded although he couldn't see me. Sabi niya kasi magfacetime daw kami, but I thought I'd cry kapag nakita ko 'yung mukha niya. There's really something about the holidays that was making me melancholic.

"Yeah... I kinda feel guilty kasi naka-sched na talaga 'yung uwi nila sa province, but when they learned na 'di na naman tuloy sila Papa, they cancelled their sched for me..." I said, sighing. "But let's not talk about that anymore. Uuwi ka naman na sa 3, 'di ba?"

I heard him sigh. "Yeah... I'm sorry you have to be alone."

"I'm not," I replied. "Ang ganda ng fireworks dito," I said as I stared at the colorful sky. Mas ma-e-enjoy ko talaga 'to kung nandito sila Mama. It's been an awful time with them. Balak ko sanang magsorry kasi ayoko naman na tapusin iyong year na ganito. But they bailed.

"Happy New Year, Jax!" I greeted when the clock officially struck 12. Sobrang lakas ng mga putok sa labas. I was walking back inside when I halted. Medyo pinikit ko pa iyong mga mata ko dahil hindi ko sigurado kung nasobrahan lang ba ako sa lungkot kaya nagmamanifest na siya sa harapan ko.

"Are you really here?" naguguluhan na tanong ko nang makita ko si Jax na naka-tayo sa harapan ko. My whole face was probably confused. He's in New York! Bakit biglang nandito siya?!

"Happy New Year, Katherine," he said.

My lips were still parting. "H-happy New Year... But... how are you here?" I asked.

"Cut the trip short. I can't bear the idea of you spending New Year alone," he said, tousling my hair. "Can I crash for a few minutes? I literally just landed a few minutes ago."

"O-okay..."

I started to walk inside, but he pulled me close and cupped my face. I felt his lips on mine. Agad akong napa-pikit nang maramdaman kong gumalaw ang labi niya. I hitched my breath. God, I love it when he kisses me. Nawawala ako sa sarili ko.

"You're the best part of my year, Katherine. I love you."

And that was when I realized that there's no way I'd ever recover from loving Juan Alexandro. Wala na. He really set the standard way too high.