Remember (MaiDen Fanfiction) | Wattys 2019 Winner

Chapter VIII

JAKE told her a lot of stories about his travels and all other stuffs. Nonstop, at that. Hindi ito maubusan ng kwento. Halos dumugo na nga ang tainga niya dahil doon. Hindi kasi siya makasingit ni isang segundo. Grabe lang talaga ang kadaldalang taglay nito.

She laughed out loud when he told her about that one hilarious meeting he had with a foreigner. Kulang na lang ay sumakit ang tiyan niya katatawa. She can't stop laughing.

"What?" tanong nito maya-maya. "Di maka-move on?"

"Sorry. Sorry." Pinunasan niya ang gilid ng mata dahil sa sobrang pagtawa niya.

"Naiyak ka na sa sobrang tuwa mo?" He sipped on his wine.

Nasa isang table silang dalawa at sabay na kumakain, kahit pa nga hindi naman siya nagugutom. So she opted to eat some salad, while Jake ordered a heavy meal. Sagot na daw nito ang dinner nila kahit na hindi naman niya pinababayaran. He's that egoistic, but she likes him that way.

"I can't help it. I just can't imagine you and that girl. Oh my gosh." Natawa siyang muli nang maalala iyon.

Jake is a closet gay. He looks so manly and masculine but he likes the same sex. They are cousins. Madalas lang pagkamalan na mag-boyfriend sila ng ibang hindi nakakakilala sa kanila. Why? Because he's overprotective of her. One of the things that she likes about him.

He despise woman, except for her of course. Lalo na 'yung mga nagpapa-cute sa kanya. Kaya tawang-tawa siya sa kwento nito because a woman tried to hit on him and seduced him. Panigurado na hysterical ito ng mga sandaling iyon.

"Oh. Stop it. I knew you'd be like this." Sinapo nito ang noo na tila pinagsisisihang naikwento pa sa kanya ang bagay na iyon.

She smiled after a while. "Fine. Fine. I'll behave," saad niya.

They continued talking until everyone left. Naiwan silang dalawa sa resto kahit na nakaalis na ang mga staff niya. They just couldn't get over each other. Halata na na-miss nila ang isa't isa. Hindi na rin nila napansin pa ang oras.

"You have to go home," nauna itong tumayo at tumingin sa suot na relo. "It's almost three. You need to sleep."

"Yeah," sang-ayon niya at sinukbit ang bag. "I'll probably look like zombie tomorrow because of you." Paninisi niya sa pinsan kasabay ng pagngiti. Naglakad na sila palabas ng resto.

"Why me? Aminin mo na lang na you missed me so bad that you don't want me to go," Jake got the keys from her. Ito na ang nag-lock ng resto. He also checked it for a few times before returning the keys to her.

"Of course I missed you," sagot niya. She hugged him tightly. It's really good to have him around. Ito kasi ang madalas na nakakausap niya tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay. Having him means she'll never be alone again.

"Huwag mo na akong iiwan," dagdag niya.

"Don't worry. I'll be staying here for good." Gumanti ito ng yakap sa kanya. "I bought a condo unit just near your place. I'm here to stay, okay?"

Jake felt home because he is family. She never felt this relieved. May kakampi na ulit siya at kasama sa kung anumang kalokohan. She remembered those days when they do crazy things together. Karamihan pa doon ay madalas na napapaaway silang dalawa.

"Don't be too melodramatic, Menggay." Maya-maya ay sambit nito.

They both broke from the hug. Then she nodded at him. He gave her a kiss on the forehead. Kahit noon pa man ay doon lang siya nito hinahalikan. Ayaw sa cheeks kasi kadiri lang naman daw dahil pareho silang babae. Baka magmukha pa daw itong manyak sa mata ng ibang tao. At least sa noo, it means respect.