You're still the one

Chapter 19: The game

Nagbago yung mood ni Michael nung tanghalian na.

"Babe! look.." Tukoy niya sa mga pagkain na kinuha niya para samin.

Steaks, pork, fish, pasta, chicken.....at para saming dalawa lang talaga pero halos kalahati na ng table. Nahiya na siguro mga katable namin sa dami nun.

Michael has a habit or goal na patabain ako. Starting from their restaurants hanggang saan kami magpunta, wala kaming ginawa kundi kumaen.

"Gusto mo talaga akong tumataba"

Sabay pamewang ko. Gusto ko maglaway sa mga foods kaso I'm on a diet dahil nga sa outing na ito. I have to maintain my figure.

"Haha funny mo babe"

Tumayo at pinaupo ako sa upuan sa tabi niya. I crossed my arms and pouted my lips.

"Diba love parin kita kahit maging balyena ka pa?"

He took my chin and kissed me in the forehead. I closed my eyes and smelled his sweet fragrance.

"A flower for you, that is just like beautiful as my princess"

And as usual, sabi yan ni surprise king - Michael. I am speechless again kasi may hawak siyang single stem of rose nung buksan ko yung mga mata ko.

"I'm sorry babe. I know I shouldn't act like that but I can't help it. You know, I can't pretend not to be jealous 'cause I really really am."

He continued as I am so speechless still. Iniisip ko na lang din na it's a good thing na nagseselos siya 'cause that means na mahal niya talaga ako. Pero dapat mapatunayan ko sa kanya na wala siyang dapat ikaselos.

"It's just that I feel really strange nung nakita ko si Jason sa bahay nila Jonathan. Parang there's something in me that needs to protect you from him. I don't want him around you. Yes, I admit that. But that's because I don't want you getting hurt again or worse.... he might take you away from me...I don't wanna lose you"

He said, heads down. I know he's hurting and I don't want to see him like that. He can't even say those words, yung mahihiwalay ako sa kanya dahil kay Jason.

Hindi ko rin inisip na mangyayari yun kasi lahat ng nangyari between me and Jason are already in the past and ilang taon na ang nakalipas. Imposibleng mahal niya pa ko at ayoko rin tanungin ang sarili ko kung mahal ko pa siya.

I held his face with both of my hands.

"Babe, you don't have to worry. Don't think or treat Jason as a threat. What happened between us is already in the past and all I cared about now is YOU...US. Nothing else. No one else."

I said reassuring him that I'm his. He kissed and hugged me tenderly. I meant everything I said but with Jason sitting at the table behind us, it's making me doubt my self again.

Nakatingin lang siya samin.....sakin ata. I don't know if may nararamdaman pa ko sa kanya. It's been almost four years since nagkahiwalay kami but I know deep down in my heart that he still has his own place.

It is actually locked but he has the key and I just hope that he won't use it. Michael hugged me tighter, I hugged him back.

Jason's still staring.

***

We're all currently in the Bay side, tinipon kami nila April and Jonathan dahil may games daw sila for us to have fun.

"Okay! we're going to play a game and bawal ang kj"

Sabay na sigaw ni April and Jonathan. They must have plan a list of games for us. Tinatamad sana ako but I know that I have no choice.

"We'll divide you guys into two groups. The Girls team and the Boys team and these two boxes here, it contains white sticks for all of you pero ang makabunot ng white stick with a red end, siya ang mauuna sa pila for this game"

We all get our sticks inside the box and lucky me talaga kasi I got the one with the red end. What can go wrong nga naman?

"Okay, kilos kilos rin guys. Pila na"

April shouted, instructing us to take our position.

"What are we going to play ba?" Tanong ni Kristal na kanina pa excited at binubulungan ang lahat na wag magpapatalo sa boys.

"The famous tug of war"

April and Jonathan shouted together.

"Dito natin itatayo ang bandera natin girls kayo go go go" April cheered, as well as everyone.

We started to fall in line and dahil ako ang nakabunot ng white stick with the red end, ako ang una sa pila and ako rin ang unang makikita ng boys sa unahan at lalong ako ang mauuna kapag natalo kami dahil ako ang unang sasalpak sa sahig na mabuti na lang ay buhangin.

"Ang lalake ng kalaban natin pero kaya natin to girls" Kristal cheered.

"Good luck Babe" Michael shouted.

I smiled, sasagot sana ako kaso nailang ako kay Jason. I can't take my eyes off of him. Lalo na at siya yung tumayo sa unahan ng pila ng boys team and I don't know if it's coincidence or what, but how can I play with him in front of me?

Pinilit kong pakalmahin yung sarili ko, I need to focus. He can't just distract me like this. Dapat wala na siyang epekto sakin.

I really don't have a choice with this so the game started. We really tried our best for the girls team and ayoko matalo. So lahat ng pwersa ko sa katawan nilabas ko na.

We need the boys to step on the line diving us so that we would win. We are actually winning which is nakakagulat dahil puro kami babae at sa side nila ay puro lalake na malalake ang katawan.

It turns out na mas nahihila namin yung lubid kasi almost kalahati na lang matatapakan na nila yung line. So we pull harder.

I'm still trying to focus for us to win but I can't help but stole a glimpse of Jason. He's actually looking at me too. I tried to smiled but then, with a full force he pulled the string hard which makes me fall out of balance and like a domino, natumba narin lahat ng girls sa likod ko dahil nahila yung lubid na hawak hawak namin and sa lakas ng pagkakahila ng boys, para akong lumilipad papunta sa kanila.

I am in the front so kagaya ng iniisip ko, I was the first one who fall down and I fall on top of Jason.

Nakaiwas yung ibang boys but Jason lying with his back on the sand catches me . Ang awkward ng position namin na nasa ibabaw niya ko. Nakapalupot pa yung dalawang braso ko sa leeg niya na naipit dahil nakahiga siya. Nakapalupot rin yung dalawang braso niya sa katawan ko.

I don't know what to do or kung magpapanic ba ko but nastuck kami sa ganitong position.

"Okay ka lang Iya?" Jason asked.

I didn't answer kasi para akong natulala. It's been years since the last time I remembered that I was this close to him.

"Are you okay babe?"

Michael ignoring Jason, rushed and helped me get up. I know he didn't like the scene with me and Jason. Naguilty ako bigla dahil parang deep inside parang ginusto ko yung nangyari.

"I'm okay"

I said reassuring Michael habang tinutulungan niya ko makatayo. Nakita kong nakatingin lang saming tatlo yung lahat lalo na mga kaibigan ko pero hindi na sila nangielam.

I want to scream for help. Why do this have to happen na magkasama kaming tatlo sa iisang lugar. Kill me now.