Not My Type, Not Yet.

Chapter 30

Malapad na ngumiti si Aling Glenda, "Sige na nga, total bagay naman kayo. O sya mga anak anong sainyo?" she asked.

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag dahil hindi nya kami tinignan na para bang kakaiba kami. She accepted it. There's no judgement in her eyes, like how Memere's glance at us.

"A pink tulip," I answered. Mom liked it. Kaya yan lagi ang binibili ko sa tuwing pupunta ako dito.

She nodded and went to grab my order. Knox, eyed me.

I smiled. "Relax baby, mabait si mom hindi ka non mumultohin."

His eyebrows meet, "Mumultohin?" nagtataka nyang tanong. I clear my throat. "Hey..."

"Anak, ito na. Dalawin mo na mommy mo baka nalulungkot na yun," Lumabas si Aling Glenda na dala-dala ang isang bouquet na puno ng tulips.

She handed it to me, kaya agad ko ring binayaran. We said our goodbyes before going out. Nakatingin lang saakin si Knox, I know naman na may idea na sya kong saan kami pupunta, but he's waiting for me to say it.

I drove for a moment hanggang sa naabot na namin ang sementeryo.

"Let's go, I'll introduce you to my mom," I said at nauna nang lumabas sa kotse.

Tahimik lang syang sumunod sakin, ni isa walang kumibo hanggang sa makarating kami sa lapida ni mommy.

Chrysanthe Elizabeth Hermosa

"Mom, I'm here again." I caress her tombstone and I carefully place the bouquet of flowers on top.

"How are you? I'm here with someone mom, and I want you to meet him." I shifted my body and face Knox. Naluluha nya akong tinignan ngunit ngumiti lang ako at inabot ang kamay nya.

"Mom, He's name is Knox. Sya yung nilait ko dati sayo, pero ngayon boyfriend ko na," I laughed a little. Randam kong nanigas si Knox.

"Multohin mo sya mom if ever makipag break sya sakin," Biro ko. Lumakas ng kaunti ang hangin kaya napaayos ako ng tayo. "Is this a yes?" I chuckled again.

"I..."

Humarap ako ng Knox ng mas lalong humigpit ang pagkakahawak nya sa kamay ko.

"Hello po ma'am, I'm Knox, your son's Boyfriend." Umpisa ni Knox at lumuhod sa harap ng lapida ni mommy kaya nabitawan ko ang kamay nya.

"It's nice meeting you ma'am, you don't have to worry about leaving your son behind anymore because he has me now. I'll make sure to love him as much as you love him, so please wag nyo po akong multohin," nagawa nya pang magbiro kaya napatawa ako.

I bent my knees and wrapped my arms around his shoulder. "Multohin mo mom, para matakot na iwan ako if ever magbago ang isip nya."

He chuckled. His laugh is low and soothing. His fingers found mine again. He held it so tight like the world might steal me from him. "I will never change my mind." He murmurs.

He brushed his thumbs over my knuckles. "I waited for almost a decade to hold you like this. I saw how the tides rise and fall, and saw how the moon shifts and fades from a distance. Baby, there's no way I'll let you go after overcoming many storms just to get to you. I will hold you tight through ups and down, through every turn life takes. I promise." He kissed the back of my hand tenderly.

I breathed. Dinala ko rin ang kamay nya sa labi ko at pinatakan yun ng halik.

"Knox, you're the melody my soul was waiting to dance to, so don't you fucking dare break that promise of yours," pagbabanta ko sakanya. He smiled and caressed my cheek.

He leaned closer and brushed our lips. "I promise, baby. May the constellation hear this promise—that no matter the distance, the storms, or the passing of years, my heart will always find its way back to you."

Pinagtagpo nya ang noo namin. "Pangako, Austine."

"You heard him mom, paki remind mamaya sa panaginip nya." We both laughed.

Alam ko naman. Alam kong hindi nya ako iiwan, we both waited for each other and the fact that we can embrace each other like this is more than enough than words can say.

Matapos ang dalaw kay mommy, I insisted na ihatid sya sa bahay nila dahil malapit lang naman but he refused saying na madumi ang bahay nila kaya nahihiya syang dalhin ako don. Sus.

Knox:

Baby, naka uwi na po ako:(

Napakagat ako sa labi ko ng mabasa ang text nya. Tangina ang corny.

Austine:

Stay here if you want, I miss you already (っ◞‸◟ c)

I parked my car just outside our gate para lang replyan sya.

I sent a photo of me leaning on my car seat while smirking boyishly.

Austine:

I miss you :((

After I sent my photo pinatay ko muna ang cellphone ko. I was giggling like a fucking teenage girl.

Seconds later my phone lit up and his name popped out.

It was a picture of him—topless in his bathroom, water still dripping from his hair, every line of his toned body defined by the dim light. His deep brown eyes locked onto the camera with a slow, smoldering intensity, biting the tip of his glasses as if daring me... inviting me.

My grip on the steering wheel tightened until my knuckles turned white, my pulse thrumming in my ears.

Knox:

Come here, baby.

Austine:
I'm coming over. Prepare your fucking ass Villanueva.