SEDUCING THE THORN °[KathNiel] ✓COMPLETE

CHAPTER 21

DOS

Everyday just gets better with Brook. She is still mean, hard to tame but she's sweeter this time. At kahit ayaw niyang sinusundo ko siya, sinusundo ko siya after work niya sa restaurant ni tito Levi kasi minsan, naikwento sa'kin ni kuya Denis na may dumadaan daw palagi para hanapin si Brook. One time, I caught the guy. It was Jared. Buti nga nakapagpigil ako e. Pinainggit ko lang ang gago, hinalikan ko sa harap niya si Brook. It was a smack but I was sure he's jealous. Tsk. Buti nga sa kanya. Ang tanga niya e!

"Babylove!" Tawag ko nang pumasok ako sa kitchen. Nanlaki ang mata niya at namula ang kanyang pisngi. Halatang nahihiya.

"Dos." Tawag naman ng mga chefs sa'kin.

"Lover-boy na lover-boy ang datingan ah." Panunudyo naman ni kuya Randy.

"In love kasi." Sagot ko. "Ang ganda niyang assistant chef mo kuya Ran."

"Ay siyempre naman. Ligawin nga e. Walang araw na walang naghahanap. Kaya kung ako sa'yo, bakuran mo na." Tumatawang saad ni kuya Randy. Namula lalo si Brook. Pinandidilatan na niya ako para lumabas ng kitchen. Siyempre, di ako sumunod. Nilapitan ko muna siya at niyakap.

"I love you." Bulong ko saka siya hinalikan sa noo. "I'll wait outside."

Dinig kong tinukso siya ng mga kasama niya habang palabas ako. Haha. Ang cute ng future-girlfriend ko kapag nahihiya e. Nakakagigil.
Okay na nga pala sila ni mommy. Mom personally visited her here at work to apologize. And last few weeks, during Uno's 20th birthday, mom invited her too. In three days, pasko na. Kahit ayaw ni mommy na wala ako sa pasko, nagpabook parin ako ng flight namin ni Brook to Cebu. Bukas na ang flight namin. Excited na nga akong makilala ang pamilya niya.

"Ikaw ha. Wag mong uulitin ang ginawa mo kanina!" Sita ni Brook nang pauwi na kami. Tinawanan ko lang siya kaya nakatanggap ako ng kurot sa kanya. "Nakakaasar kaya. Pinapahiya mo 'ko e."

"Pinapahiya ba 'yon? I'm just proud of you." Pang-aasar ko.

"Napaka-ewan mo talaga eh. Asungot ka talaga eh." She murmured, looking adorable as she made face.

"Sorry Brookie. I love you."

"Ewan ko sa'yo." Pagtataray niya. "I love you mo 'yang mukha mo."

Tinawanan ko lang siya. Nasanay na ako sa katarayan niya. Mataray talaga siya kahit kailan lalo na kapag nireregla. Haha. Sobrang hirap amuin. Nasanay na ako na minsan sa isang buwan, nagagalit nalang siyang nilalapitan. Pero minsan din, sobrang sweet. I've eventually fallen so hard for her and I couldn't see myself unloving her. Four months with her were months well-spent, months I will forever treasure.

A night before our flight, pumunta kami ni Brook sa resthouse namin. It's on top of the hill kaya tanaw namin mula sa balcony ang city lights. Nakasandal ang ulo ni Brook sa balikat ko habang pinapanood namin ang magandang tanawin.

"Kung mas maaga bang bumalik si Jea, naging kayo kaya ulit?" She asked out of nowhere. I looked at her, only catching a glimpse of her long lashes, her small pointed nose and rich cheek.

"I guess I can never answer that." I replied honestly. "Maybe, I only said that if she did, we could happen again is because I know it won't happen ever. Maybes are said because they are plainly possibilities that won't just happen and aren't made to happen." Makahulugang sabi ko.

"Maybe, you would."

"And maybe, we wouldn't. Maybes are just endless list of uncertainties."

Tumahimik na naman siya. Samantalang binalikan ko ang araw na bumalik si Jea.

I was anticipating to see Brook in the kitchen and as quickly as I got in, I saw her there. I was all smiles when I approached her with a small velvet box in hand which I planned to prank her with.