Encounter (Onze Series #1)

12

"You are?"

Gulat akong tumingin kay Jared. I blinked thrice to process what he just said. Am I hearing it right? Was he really serious about him liking me? He... he is courting me?!

"I am," he said as he smile sincerely.

"Ingatan mo 'yan si Valerie. Ikaw pa lang ang naging manliligaw niyan." Sambit ni Claire.

I bit my lower lip, feeling so ashamed. Well, Claire isn't lying at all, if he really is courting me then he's the first guy to do so. I don't let my past 'boyfriends' to court me since I'm not taking our relationship seriously, like ever.

"Really? I feel so privileged," sagot naman ni Jared at humawak pa sa dibdib niya, feeling so proud. Humarap siya saakin at ngumiti ng nakakaloko. Aasarin pa yata ako.

"Aalis ka?" Tanong ko na lang kay Claire na natigil sa pag-susuot ng sapatos niya.

"Oo, kahiya naman sainyo eh," she answered and even rolled her eyes. "Kay Lorr na lang ako kakain," dugtong niya at tumawa pa. See? Sa Katipunan na naman ang punta ni gaga.

"Okay, ingat," tipid na sagot ko naman at tumayo na.

Lumabas na din kaagad si Claire at naiwan na kaming tatlo. Awkward kong tiningnan si Jared dahil hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko.

"Are you g-going to stay here for l-lunch?" I asked as my fingers form a diamond, I usually do this when I'm in a very awkward situation.

"Yeah," Jared answered and tapped the floor, gesturing me to sit beside him, so I did. "She even brought clothes, pamalit." Dagdag niya pa at pinakita pa ang dalang backpack ni Jarah.

"Hi, baby!" I greeted Jarah. She giggled because of it. Tinanggal niya ang nakapatong na sketchpad at remote sa paa niya at lumapit saakin.

"Ate Valerie!" Bigla niya akong niyakap na ikinagulat ko. She's clingy, huh.

"Did you sleep well last night?" I asked her, caressing her hair lightly. Her arms were still wrapped around my neck.

"Yup! I was so excited to come here! I woke up early just to ask kuya to bring me here!" She said with so much excitement.

I'm feeling so much happiness right now. I was never been this soft for kids! Jarah is an exception.

"You don't hug me like that, Arah." Ibinaling ko ang tingin kay Jared.

"Oh? You want a hug?" Jarah cutely asked. Tinanguan siya ng kuya niya kaya mabilis na lumapit sa kanya si Jarah.

They look so cute!

I slowly stood up and went straight to my room. Hindi pa ako naliligo 'no! Nakakahiya pala kanina kay Jarah, gosh! Pumipili ako ng damit na susuotin nang pumasok si Jared. He walked towards me, leaving the door open.

"Oh? Iniwan mo ang kapatid mo roon," sabi ko kaagad ng makalapit siya.

"Can I hug you?"

Bahagya akong nagulat dahil sa sinabi niya. Natawa na lang ako. I looked down to hide my smile.

"Later. Hindi pa ako naliligo—"

Hindi na niya ako pinatapos at bigla na lang ako niyakap! My body stiffened because of his swift action! Gosh, crush na crush ata ako nito 'e. I also wrapped my arms around his neck. Because of it, he put his head on my shoulder.