(Yours Series # 5) Always Yours (COMPLETED)

Chapter 11

"How are you? It's been so long," he said.

"I'm good," I replied. "You? Business doing good?" I asked to be polite.

He nodded. He was asking me about something pa nung mapatingin ako sa likuran niya. I saw Chester. I was about to wave at him when I noticed that he was frowning. Napatingin din doon si Richard kasi kanina pa ako nakatingin kay Chester.

"Chester," I called his name. He begrudgingly walked towards us. "Richard, this is Chester, my boyfriend," I introduced him. Nakita ko iyong relief sa mukha ni Chester. I fought a grin. So, he's the jealous type. Noted.

"Oh," sabi ni Richard. "Nice to meet you."

There was a few seconds of pleasantries before Richard excused himself. Nang makaalis siya, naupo si Chester sa pwesto niya. I grinned.

"Selos ka?" I asked, teasing.

"Naka-date mo?" he replied, instead.

I nodded. "Yes, but it felt a lifetime ago," sabi ko because truly, it felt like that part of my life was over and done with and I was in a new era with him.

Tumango lang siya. "Naging boyfriend mo?"

Umiling ako. "Nope," I said. "I went on a lot of dates. We'll probably bump into some of them," I added, just to warn him kasi if si Richard pa lang, ganito na iyong mukhaniya. "But I like you the most."

"So, you like them, too?" he asked.

Natawa ako. "I like a lot of people," I replied. Tumayo ako and naupo sa tabi niya. "To be fair, nagselos din ako sa kausap mo kanina."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Sino?"

"Iyong intern."

"Bakit?"

I shrugged. "Hinawakan niya iyong chest mo."

"Talaga?" he asked like he had no clue na nangyari iyon. He was probably daydreaming nung nangyari 'yon. It wasn't impossible kasi minsan talaga lutang siyang tao.

I nodded. "But... I trust you. Do you trust me?"

Tumango siya. "Of course."

"Good," sabi ko. "So, no need to argue over that anymore. But if any of my friends make you feel uncomfortable, do tell me so we can discuss it," I added. Because now that we're together, in the future, he'd meet my friends. I have a lot of friends—some of them are very touchy. I just want him to get along with everyone, if possible.

He nodded again. "Hindi ko na kakausapin iyong intern."

My eyes widened. "Wala akong sinabi na ganon!"

He shrugged. "Di naman sa department ko 'yon."

"Chester, wala akong sinabi na hindi mo siya kausapin!" I said para clear kami na hindi ko siya pinipigilan na kausapin iyong babae.

"I know, personal choice ko," sabi niya. "Di ko alam hinawakan niya pala ako kanina," he added and slightly shook his head like he disapproved that someone touched him without his consent.

We finished the cake together (more like siya iyong umubos) and then since walking distance lang naman iyong apartment niya, naglakad na lang kami. We were walking side by side, our hands clasped together. I liked how he was holding my hand and how his hand almost covered mine.

"Chester," I called his name. He just looked at me. "There's a dinner this weekend. You're invited. If you have time lang naman..."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

He nodded. "Ano'ng dadalhin ko?"

I was a little thrown off dahil before, kapag sinabi ko iyong word na 'parents,' it was as if I could visibly see the guy I was with shaking in fear... or worse, lie and make up some excuse as to why he couldn't make it.

"Hindi ka kinakabahan?" I asked.

Umiling siya. "Dapat ba?"

"Ang yabang."

"Bakit naman ako kakabahan?" he asked like he was genuinely wondering. "I love their daughter—if any, they should be happy."

My lips parted.

My eyes widened.

Natigilan din siya—like he only realized what came out of his mouth.

"You... love me?"

Slowly, he nodded. "Is that a bad thing?" he asked like he was already slowly panicking because of my reaction. "Babawiin ko—"

"What? No!" I quickly said. "Bakit mo babawiin?"

"Kasi iyong reaksyon mo."

"I was just shocked!"

"Oh. Okay," sabi niya. Magkaharap na kami ngayon. His hands were inside his pockets. I was sure his hands were slightly trembling kaya nakalagay sa pockets niya iyon ngayon. "Hindi ko na binabawi."

I blinked.

Everything was happening too fast between us... We dated just a month ago. We made out more than I could count (not that anyone's complaining!). He's moving to a bigger apartment (and I was pretty sure doon na rin ako halos magsstay kasi... ganon kaming dalawa). But for some reason, it felt... normal. Like this was how it's supposed to be.

Besides, hindi ba kapag alam mo na, alam mo na? So, really, why avoid the inevitable?

"I want to hear the words," I said.

"What words?" he asked.

"The three magic words."

"May pagkain na?"

I frowned. "Hindi 'yon!"

He was holding back a smile again. He reached for my hands and held them. Tumingin siya sa mga mata ko.

"Graciella Rae Arevalo," he called my name as he was slowly melting me into a puddle. "I love you," he added, and for some reason, he made me cry in public and pinagtinginan kami ng ibang tao because they thought we were breaking up kasi iyak ako nang iyak. Kinabig niya ako at niyakap, so my face was buried against his chest. "I love you," he whispered this time... and God, he really is worth the wait.  

**
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