Magkasabay na bumaba sina Deanna at Jema sa hagdan papunta sa kusina.
Binitiwan ni Jema si Deanna at dumiretso ito sa fridge para kumuha ng freshmilk.
Pinanood lang siya ni Deanna habang kumuha ito ng baso. Nilagay ni Jema ang baso sa harap ni Deanna na ngayon ay nakaupo na sa harap ng counter. Jema smiled at Deanna then poured some milk sa glass.
"Do you want it hot?" Tanong ni Jema.
"No na. It's fine." Nakangiting sagot ni Deanna.
Uminom naman si Deanna ng gatas and then asked Jema, "Do you want some?"
"Sige after you." Jema responded.
Ininum naman ni Deanna ang natirang gatas.
"Do you want more?" Jema asked Deanna.
"I'm good na." Sagot ni Deanna.
Nirefill naman agad ni Jema ang baso.
"You sure?" Tanong uli ni Jema.
Tumangong nakangiti lang si Deanna sa dalaga.
"Okay, ubusin ko na to ahhh.." Pagpapaalam ni Jema bago tuluyang ininom ang gatas sa baso.
"How did you know na I always drink milk at night?" Deanna asked after ibaba ni Jema ang baso.
"We used to drink at least one glass every night before diba?" Jema said.
"We?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Deanna.
"I mean, diba nung mga bata pa tayo, our parents would always give us a glass of milk before bedtime? Hindi ba ginawa ng parents mo yun sayo?" Jema replied.
"Ahhhh, yeah and nadala ko pa din sya kahit ito matanda na ako." Medyo natawa si Deanna.
"Sabi nga nila milk has a calming effect and with what happened to you and Jho, I think you really deserve some milk." Jema continued.
Napangiti naman si Deanna.
Nakakatuwa ka Jema, parang ang smart smart mo. And yeah, I wanted to drink milk kanina pa.
"So what happened with Jho ba?" Jema asked para mabasag ang katahimikan.
Kwinento naman ni Deanna kay Jema ang nangyari simula ng umalis sya sa garden at nakasalubong si Jho, hangang sa conversation nila sa kitchen and finally, ang paghahanap nila sa bahay nila Jema.
"No wonder bakit ganun si Jho." Sabi ni Jema matapos magkwento ni Deanna.
"I really don't know what to do. Lahat sila friends and teammates ko. I feel a little bad kasi I can't help." Malungkot na sabi ni Deanna.
Lumapit naman si Jema kay Deanna at hinawakan ito sa braso. Napalingon naman si Deanna sa direksyon kung nasaan ang dalaga.
"Hey! You did the best you can. Sometimes nga, just listening to them is more than enough. I can sense that they trust you so ingatan mo iyon." Sabi ni Jema.
Napangiti naman si Deanna.
"Thank you ha? I'm new to this and never pa naman kasi akong nainlove or something." Deanna explained.
"Talaga? So kahit crush?" Jema asked.
Napangiti pa lalo si Deanna.
"So meron nga." Sabi ni Jema.
"I really don't know Jema." Nakangiti pa din si Deanna.
"Whoever you are thinking right now, could be the lucky person." Patuloy ni Jema.
"Talaga? We'll I'm thinking of ate Madds and you lang." Halos pabulong na sabi ni Deanna.
"Crush mo si Maddie?" Tanong ni Jema.
"She's nice and she really helps me a lot. Siguro it's more on admiring her. Feel ko naman na gusto nya si ate Bei eh." Sagot ni Deanna.
"Ahhhhh..." Jema said while she walked away para ilagay ang baso sa hugasan.
"But the thing is, I can't get you off my mind..." Deanna said.
Jema froze, thinking if she heard it right.
"What did you just said?" Tanong ni Jema while she turned and faced Deanna.
"Ahhhh eeehhhh..." Nauutal si Deanna lalo't nakatitig na si Jema sa kanya.
Papalapit ng papalapit si Jema kay Deanna at di pa din napuputol ang eye contact nila.
Napalunok si Deanna ng nasa harap na nya si Jema. Ang daming nasa isip nya and didn't know what to say.
They continued the staring game until Deanna uttered the words, "You are still a mystery for me. I can't explain this feeling, all I know is that I want to know you more and I like it when I'm with you."
Ramdam ni Deanna na super bilis na ng tibok ng puso nya.
Bakit ko ba sinabi yon? Ano bang naiisip ko. Isip nya habang hinihintay ang reaction ni Jema.
Jema looked at her as if she was examining if Deanna was telling the truth.
Finally, Deanna can't take it and was the first one to look down and disconnect from their eye contact.
Jema smiled and said, "It's okay. I'm the happiest when I'm with you."
Nagulat si Deanna sa sinabi ni Jema and immediately looked up and their staring game continued.
You are happy when you are with me? Talaga? I don't know why pero your reaction gave me chills. Kilig? Is that the term? Isip ni Deanna.
Hinawakan ni Jema ang mga kamay ni Deanna and said, "We can figure it out together if that's okay with you?"
Deanna felt that same comfort whenever Jema hold her hands and she couldn't say anything more kaya yinakap nya na lang si Jema.
Jema hugged her back and they stayed like that for no one knows how long.
"Jema?" Deanna asked which made Jema let go of her.
"Yes Deanna?" Jema asked her back.
Deanna smiled, "I'm feeling a lot better now. Parang nawalan ng tinik ang dibdib ko. I don't know what's going to happen next but I promise you one thing."
"Ano yun?" Jema asked.
"I'll be honest to you about everything lalo of what I am feeling. I just hope you don't expect too much from me." Deanna said.
Napangiti naman si Jema.
"I've waited long enough to be near you again. Anything that we have now is more than what I asked for. I can only promise to be honest to you too and to be patient until you figure things out. Okay?" Jema said with a smile.
"Thank you Jema. I appreciate you and I hope we get to be good friends." Deanna said.
Napangiti naman si Jema before answering, "No worries, I'm okay with it for now."
"Jema?"
Napalingon naman sila sa may gawing hagdan at nakita nila si Jho.
"Jho? Kaya mo na ba?" Tanong ni Jema habang sabay sila ni Deanna na pinuntahan si Jho.
Inalalayan nila itong maupo sa dining area, then umalis si Jema para kumuha ng tubig.
"How are you feeling ate Jho?" tanong ni Deanna.
"I'm okay, salamat Deanns!" Sagot ni Jho.
"Inumin mo muna ito" Sabi ni Jema habang inabot kay Jho ang isang baso ng tubig.
Inabot naman ito ni Jho at ininom agad.
"Can we drink?" Jho asked.
"Sige kuha pa ako more water." Sabi ni Jema pero biglang pinigilan sya ni Jho.
"Alak. I need alcohol." Matigas na sabi ni Jho.
Nagkatinginan naman si Deanna at Jema.
