Forget You Later (PREVIEW / Sample Chapters Only)

Chapter Three

I'm in New Orleans, finally. Dalawang heses na-delay ang flight pero maayos akong nakarating. I also didn't fall asleep, thank God! I finished a book. I took everything that was offered to me in the business class cabin.

I still know who I am, where I just landed, and why I'm here. Alam ko rin kung saan kukunin ang sasakyan kong nauna na dito. By midnight I arrived at the McLean Estate and met my patient Aldous for the first time. And his wife, si Ate Jo, na Pinoy din.

At 'yung kapatid ni Ate Jo, na napagkamalan akong kriminal kaya tinutukan ako ng baril. Yep, a gun. A real fucking loaded pistol. I was definitely scared. I thought I was going to pass out! Shit. She did look like she would fire that thing if she didn't like my answer when she asked who I was.

Buti na lang dumating sila ate Jo. The gun was put away and locked. Nagkalinawan din. Buhay pa 'ko.

Her name is Jake. Short for Jacqueline. Cute, right? Cute din sya - no, wait she's beautiful. Breathtakingly so. Big soulful eyes, sexy full lips and a pixie haircut.

And yep, that was her gun. Ate Jo said later on that she used to be a police detective, but has been teaching at the academy for over two years now.

Jake wouldn't move even after we're introduced. She shook a bit. Her cheeks were flushed. Her eyes had that deer-caught-in-the-headlights look and I wondered what was going on.

Pamilyar ang ganoong itsura.

Hindi ako psychiatrist at isang taon lang akong naging resident sa trauma unit pero sapat na ang mga nasaksihan at napag-aralan ko para masabing may kung anong anxiety o panic disorder siya. Puwede ring trauma o matinding napagdaanan na hindi naproseso ng maayos.

She obviously still doesn't trust me, haven't eliminated me yet as a suspect. She hasn't done all she could yet. Kaya nagprisinta na 'ko, puwede nya 'kong kapkapan para makasiguro siya.

She didn't expect I'd be okay with it, but it's clear that's what she wanted to do. Her hand shook at first, and she couldn't look at me. But once she stepped into my space, she was fine. Hesitant but fine.

Siguro nag-aalalang tama ang hinala niya. Pinanood ko lang siya, at pinigilan ang aarili kong huwag mapapikit hanggang matapos siya.

She smelled so good, like fresh cream and vanilla. She was hot, literally, and her hands all over my body sent shivers through me. I liked how she touched me.

That's probably a strange thing to say after being mistaken for a burglar, nearly shot at and frisked but... God, I wish I don't have to read this to remember.

This was the craziest first meeting ever.

I can't wait to see her again.

~•~❤~•~

His own words, written in a haphazard scrawl as he tried to fight sleep for a few more minutes at past one in the morning was thankfully stuck in Jessiah's head as he met the other residents of the McLean estate in the past few hours.

Pasado alas siete at katatapos pa lang ng unang check-up niya kay Aldous. Nasa kusina siya at nakasandal sa counter, kakwentuhan sina Aldous at Ate Jo, ang mga magulang ng una na sina Bill at Annabel, ang mag-asawang katiwala sa estate na sina Tony at Leila, at mga anak na sina Diana at Alfonso. Naroon din ang kambal nina Aldous na sila Kiera at Knox, ang dalawang pusa na sina Lupin at Spock, at mga asong sina Apollo at Kasparov.

The smell of coffee, fresh milk, bacon and butter filled the air. Maingay ang usapan at malakas ang tawanan at kahit maraming tanong ang lahat ay madali niyang nakagaanan ng loob ang mga ito. They were all warm and welcoming, he didn't feel the least bit awkward the moment they stepped into the room one by one. Mukhang excited ang mga ito na makilala siya.

Pero nasaan si Jake? Napansin din niyang halos hindi nababanggit si Jake sa usapan, maliban sa nasabi ni Aldous na nagkakilala na sila nito kagabi. Everybody seemed to have moved on from there. There was no mention of how exactly they met. Medyo nagtataka siya doon at nag-aalala.

"Oh, finally! "bulalas ni Alf dahilan para mapatingin sa direksyon ng hagdan ang lahat. Pababa na si Jake, nakabihis at may dalang messenger bag.

Kumabog agad ang dibdib niya. Humigpit ang hawak niya sa mug at napainom ng tsaa. Jake looked weary as she approached the kitchen. Her hair was still damp and the smell of fresh cream and vanilla mixed with all the other aromas that filled the kitchen.

"Good morning," mahinang bati nito, alanganin ang ngiti at medyo nanumula. Tumingin ito sa mga McLean. "Sorry, I overslept," then to Alf. "Thanks for the wake-up call."

Alf snorted. " Yeah, well, we know why you were up late last night," the lanky fifteen year old turned to him and grinned conspiratorially.

He blinked. Napatingin siya sa ibang naroon na curious din siyang pinagmamasdan, pati sina Aldous at Ate Jo. Bumaling ang focus niya kay Jake na alinlangang nakatayo at parang hindi alam ang gagawin. Hinuli niya ang tingin nito at nagbigay daan sa counter. "Hi." nagawa niyang sabihin, bago iniusad palapit dito ang coffee pot.

"Hi," tumango ito. "I don't drink coffee." aabutin na sana nito ang jar na may tea bags nang makita ang isa pang pot. "Ano 'yan?" she aniffed the air.

He smiled. "Chocolate tea. My brother sends me this stuff from Scotland." kinuha niya ang isa pang mug at sinalinan iyon bago ibinigay kay Jake. "Here."

Tinitigan siya ng babae ng ilang segundo, bago kinuha ang mug. "Salamat!" tumabi ito sa kanya at dumanpot ng isang toast sa plato, at tahimik na kumain.

"Okay ka na?" hindi makatiis na tanong niya. Hindi niya rin alam kung tama ang mga detalyeng nasa journal niya. His description of Jake from last night didn't do her justice.

She's unconventionally beautiful - not the classic, flawless kind that become models or beauty queens, but the kind that looked delicate and vulnerable, but packs a punch. 'Yung hindi nakaksawang ringnan, at habang tumatagal, lalong gumaganda.

Kumurap ito. "Okay lang ako." mahinang sagot nito. "Ikaw 'yung parang hihimatayin na kagabi," bulong nito at napangiwi. "Sorry ulit."

"Hindi ko na nga maalala, eh. Huwag mo nang isipin 'yun." At least, that one's true. Hindi na niya talaga maalala.

"Ehem, excuse me, Jake?" tawag ni Ate Jo. "Kami na nga pala muna ni Aldous ang maghahatid sa mga bata sa tae kwon do lessons nila. May pupuntahan kasi kaming Birthday party after na invited ang parents, so isang lakad na lang at hindi na babalik muna dito."

Nakatingin lang si Jake sa kapatid. "Okay, I'll stay here, then."

Umiling si Ate Jo. " No, aalis ka pa din. Samahan nyo ni Alf si Jessiah, " bumaling ito sa kanya."You said you need to shop for more clothes, right? Magpasama ka na sa kanila para makapasyal ka kahit papaano. Hindi puwedeng puro si Aldous at research ang buhay mo dito."

Tumango siya. 'Sure," bago alanganing bumaling kay Jake na nakayuko sa mug nito, na marahang tumango.

"Okay," she said and smiled faintly. "But let's use my car."