Saving Harper

Yes

"Excuse me miss, I need a favor."

I thought for a while na ako yung kausap ni Xavier. We already boarded the plane bound for Manila and I was already in my seat. He was standing along the aisle habang nadadaanan na sya ng mga tao sa likod nya. Yung katabi ko palang babae yung kausap nya.

"Buntis kasi yung asawa ko." Xavier pointed at me lumingon din sakin yung seat mate ko and I smiled at her. Or tried. Tumingin sya bigla sa tyan ko. Buti nalang I was wearing a sundress so baka medyo believable. "Magkahiwalay kasi yung seats na nabigay saamin. Ok lang ba if we switch seats?" Xavier flashed his smile rather exaggeratedly and feeling ko konti nalang mahihimatay na tong katabi ko.

"Ah, sure." Tumayo na yung babae then Xavier gave the seat number where he was supposed to sit. I heard Hilda giggled sa kabilang side ng aisle after hearing Xavier's conversation with my seat mate.

"Buntis?" I whispered to him and tinaasan ko sya ng kilay as he settled on the aisle seat vacated by the girl. "Yeah. Ang galing ko diba? Hinalikan lang kita may baby na tayo." Kumindat sya sakin and I uncontrollably rolled my eyes. Alam ko hindi nya sinasadya and mahirit lang talaga sya pero naalala ko nanaman yung fact na PG-13 lang kami. I'll always be cringing deep inside pag maaalala ko yon.

"Uhuh. First, fake boyfriend lang kita, tapos ngayon fake asawa na? Bilis ah." I couldn't help but smile at it. Yes bumabalik nanaman ako sa pagiging teenager. I wonder if masyado akong nadeprive ng mga kilig moments the past years kaya ako nagkakaganito ngayon. Or masyado ko lang gusto si Xavier. Baka both. Anong baka? Definitely both.

"Correction, fake asawa and fake tatay ng anak natin." Natin. Natutunaw nako sa upuan ko. "Yeah don't forget fake din yung anak natin." Anak natin. I couldn't imagine I'll be saying those words to Xavier. Potaaa pati sarili ko pinapakilig ko na.

"Eh ikaw lang e." Xavier whispered and pinalo ko sya sa braso tapos tumawa sya. "Joke lang. Wag ka masyadong gumalaw dyan, yung baby natin." Inakbayan nya ko at kahit hindi ako kumportable sa ginawa nya, kebs.

"Ninong ako ha." I couldn't believe na pati si Nick sumasakay na kay Xavier. Ang nagagawa nga naman ng Boracay. Sila na yung bagong mag bff. Nagfist bump pa sila along the aisle. Boys. Internal eye-roll.

But eto talaga yung charm ni Xavier. He's able to have anyone and everyone like him kasi he's funny, smart, friendly and well...charming. It helps a lot na gwapo din sya. Biro mo the girl beside me just gave up her seat nginitian lang nya.

Tumigil ka Harper, ganyan ka din nahulog sa kanya. Isang ngiti, isang kindat, isang hirit, isang kilig. I never stood a chance from the moment na nginitian nya ko.

Xavier took my hand and intertwined his fingers with mine. "Busy ka ba pag weekends?" As if naman. "Check ko yung calendar ko. Pero diba as my assistant alam mo kung anong schedule ko?"

"Weekdays. Pero pag weekends?" I think he's just trying to humor me. Syempre. As always. He already knows that this was the first vacation weekend I've had for a long time. Kung hindi man sinabi sa kanya ni Franco, dahil kilala na nya ko.

"Para sayo?" I gave him a sideways glance with a smile.

"Para sa fake mong asawa." He chuckled but I have a feeling he's considering something. OMG don't tell me iniisip nya talaga yung what if? Teka lang, Harper don't get ahead of yourself, ni hindi mo nga sya boyfriend. You're only dating. Pero what if?

Stop.

He was waiting for me to answer him as I swam into my thoughts. I'm already dating him but I was still pining. Why do people always want more pag natikman na nila? He's leaving, Harper. Akala ko ba you just want to spend his remaining time here with him?