Zoey: the Road leads to Rome (Completed)

Chapter 13- Practice

Zoey's POV

"Zoey." I heard Rome called me when we were at the restaurant that Tito Red reserved for us.
I smiled at him. "Yes?"
"I want to give you this." Rome gave me a rectangle velvet blue box. I opened it and saw a gold bracelet with charms.
"I want you to have a piece of memory of me when you go to London. I'm so proud of you Zoey."

The bracelet has charms of pine trees, and it always reminds me of Baguio.

"Ang ganda. Salamat." I said shyly. This must be expensive. I don't deserve it, but I want a piece of him with me.
"Don't forget me. Keep in touch Zoey." He said then he went back to our friends.

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"Feel at home, Zoey." Rome said after he opened the door of his condo in Makati. The place is bigger than what I expected. His place is clean, tidy and minimalist.
"There's our room. Sorry, we need to share bedroom as I converted the spare room into my office."

Kinuha niya ang maleta ko at pinasok sa kwarto.

We will sleep in one bed?

Not like we haven't slept in one bed before. But this will be different.

"Are you hungry?" He asked after niyang mailagay sa kwarto ang maleta ko. Umiling ako. Hindi pa rin ako gumagalaw sa kinakatayuan ko.
"Tired? Sleepy?"
Umiling ako.
"What are we doing?" I asked him. Lumapitsi Rome sa akin at niyakap ako... ng mahigpit. Not that I'm complaining.
"Practicing..." He replied. He kissed my forehead and hugged me again.
"Practicing? For what?"
"For being together." Simpleng sagot niya. Binitawan niya ako at pumunta sa kitchen.
"Naguguluhan ako sayo. You really don't have to do this Rome."
"But I want to... And besides, we need to marry bago lumaki ang tiyan mo. I was thinking na civil muna and after mong manganak tayo magpakasal sa simbahan." He said it casually like he is discussing his machines to me.
Napanganga ako sa kanya... He chuckled when he saw my reaction.

"Kailan mo naisip yan?"
"When you were sleeping that morning beside me." He replied.
"And what made you think na magpapakasal ako?" I asked back.
Nawala ang ngiti ni Rome. I don't want him to do this because we are having babies.
"Because somehow, I know you care for me." He replied.

"Look, Zoey. I know I have a bad reputation, but I will be a good father...and a good partner to you. Just give it a try. Am I a bad choice?"
What he said made my head spin... What I know about Rome is, when he decided, nobody can change his mind.

"You have to tell your plans to your parents." I told him.
"I'm an adult, Zoey. I am capable of providing everything for you and my babies. Now, are you hungry?"

Inabutan ako ni Rome ng...kaymito. Napangiti ako.

"Thanks." Kinuha ko ang kaymito saka binuksan.
"You really have to eat more other than kaymito. Pumapayat ka na."
"Because I have two gummy bears in my tummy. Siguro kapag tapos na akong maglihi, mawawala din ang pagsusuka ko. Makakakain na ako ng normal."

Tumabisi Rome sa akin. Meron siyang nilapag na susi at cards.

"These keys are for here. So you can have access to it. Debit card para meron kang cash na kailangan. Password is your 6 digit birthday. Credit cards incase you want to buy something."
"I have my own money." I told him. Masyado na akong naguguluhan kay Rome sa mga ginagawa niya.
"Like I said, I can provide everything for you. You can buy a car using that if you want... But I think, bawal pa sayo ang magdrive."
What? Unlimited ba ang credit limit nito?
"Zoey, alam mong matigas ang ulo ko. So, you can keep it or you can argue with me until you keep it. Your choice."

Wala akong lakas makipagtalo so I keep it for now... But it doesn't mean na gagamitin ko.

"And I mean it, Zoey. Kung ano man ang nasa account mo, ayaw kong mababawasan pa yun. Whenever you use your own money, the same amount will soon be transferred to your account." Nakangising sabi nito. As if he can read my mind.
"You don't know my account number."
"But I do..."
"So unbelievable." I murmured.
"But adorable." He kissed my head and went to our room.

"Cailee, naguguluhan ako." I told my best friend when Rome is at his officeroom and I was in our bedroom.
"Zoey, walang masama sa pinapakita sayo ni Rome." She replied.
"Pero ayaw kong masanay."
"Bakit naman hindi?" Tanong niya.
Baka kasi mawala din siya...magsawa... pumunta sa iba...
"Zoey, stop thinking too much negative. Magiging momshie ka na... be positive bes. Let Rome spoiled you. You deserve it. And we can use that credit card,you know." She's chuckling at the other side.
"Missed you Cailee. Sana nasa Country Club kami instead dito sa Makati."
"Oh...nasa Makati ka? Then please by all means, ask Rome to come in here withyou. I will go crazy with Gab acting like my dad."
"What is it this time?" natatawang tanong ko sa kanya.
"Sige na punta ka na dito. Dadating si Allison kasama ni Khal so buo tayo habang nandito pa si Jack."
Si Allison ang naging best friend ni Khal noong nag-aaral kami sa Brent. She once put Stacey in her place when she cut the queue to order her coffee.
"I'll try... Bye Cailee. And please, stop torturing Gab. Stop seducing him, then leave him with blue balls."
Napasinghap si Cailee. "Zoey!... stop feeding my imagination. See you momshie...Ingat kayo."

Nakahiga ako sa kama habang nakatitig sa kisame.

"Okay ka bang magbiyahe bukas?" Rome asked on the doorway.
"Okay naman ako Rome."
"Punta tayong Country Club." He beamed at me.

I didn't know what I did to deserve this man. But dear God, please let him stayin my life. Because I loved him since the day I saw him...And I am falling inlovewith him more.

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A/N

Cailee is a tease... I swear...
Do you remember that girl that asked Stacey to fall in line?! Yup... sya si Allison...