Vee and Vince (V series #3) (#Wattys2019) - COMPLETED

26 - Naked

Veera's POV

"Oh my god. It's even more beautiful when its naked." I'm still in awe kahit medyo kanina ko pa hawak tsaka tinititigan 'yung copy ng latest book ni Clark Maxwell na binigay sa akin ni KD.

Hardbound pala yung extra copy niya and ang ganda nung design ng cover ng book 'pag tinanggal mo 'yung book jacket.

"It is." KD agreed. "Hindi ko nga nilalagay yung book jacket nung akin eh." Kwento niya pa.

"KD, I swear! Babawi na lang ako sa'yo. Just tell me how could I make up to you."

He smiled. "Vee, it's okay. Hindi mo naman kailangang bumawi. But you always got my back, right?"

"Oo naman! Got you always!" Sabi ko pa and playfully winked at him.

He chuckled. "Well, then, that's enough for me, Vee."

Nagda-drive na siya papunta 'don sa hotel where we'll stay at simula kanina nung sinundo niya ako, hindi na nawala ang ngiti ko. First time kasi ni Clark Maxwell dito sa Philippines kaya nakaka-excite lang talaga.

"You know what, I like your car." I commented. "Ang cute lang."

"You mean, maliit?" Natatawang tanong niya.

Natawa rin ako but I agreed. "Yeah. Maliit but I like it small. Parang ang intimate lang ng feeling 'pag sasakay ka dito with the people who are important to you."

I saw a smile forming in his lips again.

"I was thinking about the same thing, Vee. That's one of the reasons why I chose to buy this car. Kasi nga it's small," Kwento niya then he added, "And it feels like there will be just enough space for significant people."

Napangiti ulit ako. "Is this your first car?"

"Yup. First car ng family namin, actually."

"Really? Eh bakit parang bago pa?"

"Bago pa nga lang. I just bought this last January." Kwento niya.

"Wait, what?"

Nagsimula siyang magkwento after we stopped when the traffic light turned red.

"You see,Vee. We were not rich. I mean, we still aren't." He laughed a bit. "Kaya nga I tried my best para makapasa sa UP."

I didn't talk kaya tinuloy niya ang kwento niya. "Ang tagal ko kayang pinag-ipunan 'to. Simula first year college, working student na ako. Aside from work, ang dami ko pang raket."

Huminto siya saglit when the light turned green. He continued habang nagda-drive na siya.

"Nakadagdag din sa ipon ko 'yung sweldo ko from my former company. Kaya 'nung sakto na 'yung ipon ko, binili ko na 'to. Tuwang-tuwa nga sila mama. Actually, this is a secondhand car pero ayos naman 'di ba?" Kwento niya pa. And all this while nakatingin lang ako sa kanya.

"Ilang taon ka na ulit?" I asked.

"I'm turning twenty-four this year."

"Wow." I blurted out without even thinking.

Natawa siya. "Why? Ang tanda ko na ba?"

"N-No. In fact you're too young."

"Why ilang taon ka na ba?"

"Twenty-two na." I answered. "And I haven't even bought a car yet. Or anything.  Or made any investment. With my own money."

"Vee, don't compare." Saway niya sa akin but he said with a calm voice. "We all grow in different ways. Okay lang 'yan."