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Chapter 35
Cathedral
Grant made me so confused. I am not really sure about the back story, but the way he said it before is like his girlfriend cheated on him with his cousin, assuming that was Chance... Pero bakit niya sinabing nangyayari ulit ngayon na nag-aaway sila dahil sa babae?
Nagulat ako nang biglang lumitaw si Jax sa harapan naming dalawa ni Grant. Mukha siyang galing sa malayong lugar. Saan ba siya galing? Their house ain't that far here in this school!
"Pasok na tayo?" he asked and softly grabbed my hand.
I smiled and nodded.
Napatingin naman ako kay Grant na napatitig sa kamay ni Jax na nakahawak sa akin. Hindi ko mabasa ang reaksyon niya.
"T-Tara, Grant..." aya ko para sumabay na siya sa amin.
"'Wag na 'yan! Salbaheng mingming 'yan!" ani Jax at dahan-dahan na akong hinila.
Mingming? Why naman biglang naging pusa si Grant? I can't even!
"You look exhausted," I worriedly said.
Ngumiti si Jax sa akin sabay kamot ng ulo. "Gusto raw ni Kuya Kairon ng mineral water pang ligo niya roon sa Garnet, kaya dinalhan ko siya."
"What?!" My mouth was left wide opened. Galing pa siya sa Garnet Academy? My gosh! Kailan ba titigil si Kuya? He's being so childish!
Jax and I planned to tell our friends that we're together. Siya kay Theo, ako naman kay Xuri at Gelo.
We are now at the library again to review. Inaya ko si Xuri sa rest room at plano kong sabihin muna sa kanya. Mamaya, kay Gelo naman.
Habang naglalagay ng powder ay sumimple na ako.
"Xuri, kami na–"
Agad akong napahinto nang makarinig ng malakas na flash.
"Huh? Anong kayo? Anong gagawin?" she asked me, puzzled.
"Kasi... Kami ni J–"
We heard another flash. I released a deep breath. My gosh naman! Nakakasira ng timing! Next time na nga lang!
Bumalik na kami ni Xuri at tumabi ako kay Jax na mukhang failed din na sabihin kay Theo ang tungkol sa amin.
"Failed?" I asked him.
He slowly nodded. "Sinulat ko sa papel, tapos hindi niya mabasa. Ang pangit daw ng sulat ko!"
Natawa ako roon. Maybe it's not really the right time.
There will be an event before the exams, naisip namin ni Jax na roon na lang sabihin sa mga friends namin. The timing would be perfect by then.
Patapos na sana ang klase pero pinatawag kami ni Prof. Somero sa greenhouse. Is there an announcement or something?
The Star Sapphire Class were all gathered inside the greenhouse. Pumasok si Prof. Somero and he looks a little sad. Anong meron?
"Hi, everyone. I received a notice today, at aaminin ko na nalulungkot ako rito..." Prof. Somero started. "To the students who decided to drop out this semester, please stand up."
Lancer immediately stood up. Everyone was expecting it already, pero no'ng tumayo rin si Theo ay medyo nagulat pa rin ako kahit alam ko naman na.
I was really saddened about this.
"Theo, 'yong mag-da-drop out lang daw... Umupo ka nga!" natatawang sabi ni Jax.
Mas lalo akong nalungkot. Hindi pa rin alam ni Jax... I should've told him before this happened, but Theo said na 'wag muna. And I am not in the position para pangunahan siya.
Malungkot siyang nilingon ni Theo. "Jaxy baby, sorry..."
"Oh my gosh! Seryoso, Theodore?!" si Gelo iyon.
"Bakit naman kayong dalawa pa? Pwede namang si Grant!" Xuri cried.
Jax suddenly stood up. "Sir, I don't feel well. Mauuna na po ako," he said and walked out.
Malungkot ko siyang sinundan ng tingin. I feel really bad about Jax. Two of his closest friends will leave...
Ni hindi ko na masyadong naintindi iyong sinasabi ni Sir. My mind left with Jax. Gusto ko siyang habulin at sabihin na nandito lang ako para sa kanya. If he's lonely, he can be lonely with me. Always.
Nang mag-dismissed na si Prof. Somero ay dali-dali na rin akong umalis. Where could he be?
I followed my instinct and ran to the rooftop. And I was right, he's there...
"Jax," I called.
Nakaupo siya roon at nakayuko. Agad akong tumabi sa kanya. He looks really sad.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
Unti-unti siyang tumango tapos ay humiga siya sa balikat ko. "I'm okay... Just a little sad that the two of them will leave."
My soft boy.
I slowly put my hand over his head and caressed his hair "I know," I told him in a small voice.
Jax and I stayed there for a while. Wala akong maisip na gawin para mapasaya siya. Ano kaya ang pwede?
"Mag-date tayo!" I suddenly said. It just popped off my mind.
Mabilis siyang napabangon at nag-puppy eyes pa. "Yes, please."
I smiled at him. "Where do you want to go?"
Saglit siyang natahimik at parang malalim na nag-isip.
"Do you want to go back to Intramuros?" he asked me.
Napahinto naman ako roon. It still scares me every time I think about it... The kidnapping still haunts me.
I vowed my head. "I-I don't know... I'm scared."
Jax softly held my hand. "Alam ko," he said and smiled. "Kaya nandito ako. Kasama mo ako... Let's conquer the fear together."
Unti-unti akong nag-angat ng tingin. I will forever be scared if we don't do it now. Jax is right.
They said that fear has two meanings... Forget everything and run or face everything and rise. The choice is yours.
Tumango ako sa kanya. "Okay, let's do that."
What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?
Hinatid ako ni Jax sa kwarto ko. And because I don't want him to be alone and sad in his room, mabilis ko siyang hinatak papasok sa room ko.
"W-What are you doing?!" he panically said. Napayakap pa siya sa katawan niya! Ano ba ang iniisip niya?
"Dito ka na lang mag-sleep!" I suggested.
Mabilis siyang umatras kaya naman tumaas ang kilay ko roon. What's wrong?
I looked at him with confusion in my eyes. "I just don't want you to be alone and sad..."
Mabilis siyang ngumiti ng ubod laki. Labas pa lahat ng teeth niya! "Hindi, ah! Okay na ako! Ang saya ko kaya! I'm very happy! Happy happy happy!" aniya at fake pang tumawa.
I crossed my arms. "Ayaw mo ba akong makasama?"
"H-Hindi sa ganoon!" giit niya. "Cali kasi... Baka hindi na lang mineral water ang ipadala sa 'kin ng Kuya mo. Baka sa susunod, kabaong ko na!"
Masama ko siyang tinignan pero nakuha ng labi niya ang atensyon ko. Oh no, it's dry! Lumapit pa ako lalo sa kanya at unti-unting dinutdot iyon.
"T-Teka, Calixta!" awat ni Jax at parang napadasal pa.
"Your lips are dry!" I told him. "I'm gonna get a lip balm... Wait!"
Is he dehydrated or something?
I took my favorite bubble tea lip balm and opened it.
"Make nguso," I demanded. Pinakita ko pa kung paano para gayahin niya.
Napalunok siya. "H-Hindi na! Laway laway lang 'to!" he said and licked his own lips in an instant.
Bago pa ako makapagreklamo ay biglang may kumakatok sa kuwarto ko. Oh my God? Who could that be?!
Mabilis na sumilip si Jax sa peephole. "Anak ng tocino! Sila Xuri!"
Agad kaming nag-panic na dalawa. Sa dami ng pagkakataon, bakit ngayon pa?
"Magtago ka dali!" mahina kong sabi.
He can't be seen inside my room! Baka kung ano pa ang isipin sa amin!
"Cali?" Xuri called.
Hinila ko si Jax doon sa closet. It's big enough, he can fit there for sure!
"Diyos ko po!" si Jax habang pinagkakasya ang sarili.
"You're kasya naman!" sabi ko at tinulungan siyang maisara iyong pinto. The closet is big, it's just that I have a lot of clothes inside!
"Cali? Tulog ka ba?" si Gelo naman iyon.
"W-Wait up!" sigaw ko.
Tinulungan ko pa si Jax hanggang sa successful naming maisara iyong closet. Oh my grabe! Ang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko!
Dali-dali na akong tumakbo sa door para mabuksan iyon.
"G-Guys, what are you doing here?" I asked and tried to act cool.
I can seriously feel the droplets of sweat around my face!
"Malamig naman, ah... Bakit pawis na pawis ka?" Theo asked.
"H-Huh? N-Nag wowork-out kasi ako!" I said and started doing some jumping jacks.
I immediately stopped when Grant entered my room too. He stared at me like I was so ridiculous!
"What?!" angil ko.
"Work out? Naka uniform?" Xuri asked and pointed at my skirt.
"B-Bakit kayo nandito lahat? Anong meron?" I asked them.
Kumpleto pa talaga sila! Napapatingin ako sa closet ko. I'm praying that it will stay closed. Pag bumukas iyon at iluwa si Jax, we're both dead!
Hindi ko talaga alam ang gagawin if that ever happen!
"Siguradong malungkot si Master Serge... Puntahan lang sana natin since tayo ang OG Class A," Gelo said.
"Ayaw ko namang umalis na hindi kami maayos na dalawa," si Theo naman.
"O-Okay... Let's go!"
Inaya ko silang lahat na lumabas at pumunta sa rooftop. I told them that maybe Jax was there because he's not in his room. Sumunod naman sila sa akin. Nakakakaba! Lalo na pag napapatingin ako kay Grant na masama ang tingin!
I texted Jax to go at the dining once we're out of the room. Para roon naman namin siya next na hahapin kunwari. I can't believe that I'm doing this! Feeling ko, kriminal ako! It's so chaotic!
Nakapagpaalam na ako kanila Mommy at Daddy tungkol sa date namin ni Jax. They both agreed in one condition, I should bring body guards with me. Pumayag naman ako. I know that we should still be extra careful.
Buti na nga lang at hindi pa nakakauwi si Kuya Kai kaya walang kontrabida! He's so mean to Jax!
I wore a simple old rose puff sleeve dress and a Chanel slingback heels. I told Jax to match outfits with me.
Napangiti ako nang mag-send siya sa akin ng picture habang nakasuot ng pink na polo.
Jax Pereira: Ikaw ang Master Sergeant ng Master Sergeant
I giggled while walking out of the house, reading the message.
Agad din akong napa-poker face nang mapansing nakatingin sa akin sina Manong Anton at Manong Robert! Baka masumbong ako kay Kuya!
A car parked in front of our house. My lips parted when I saw that it was a white Maserati.
Jax came out of the car. He's indeed wearing a pink polo that matches my dress. Lalo akong napangiti.
"Is that your car?" I asked.
Tandang-tanda ko pa noon kung paano ko siya tinanong at kung paano rin niyang itinanggi na hindi iyon kanya.
Jax nodded.
"Hindi na hiram?"
He nodded again. "And the body guards are mine too," aniya nang mapatingin ako roon sa naka-park na SUV doon lang sa likod ng kotse niya.
I'm so happy to be with him. And this time, everything is real.
It was already dark, just the right time for our dinner date. Jax and I stopped by at a cafe in the heart of old manila.
I was so amazed at how wonderful the place is when we've reached the roof deck of the La Cathedral. I never thought that there's something like this in here. It has captured the scene of a romantic European vibe with the backdrop of the beautiful Neo-Romanesque church.
The deck was decorated with hanging lanterns, making the place even more romantic. Everything seems like a scene from a movie.
Jax pulled a chair for me. Napangiti ako roon. How lucky I am to find someone who is very smart, understanding, caring, funny, respectful, gentlemanly, loves God, and just the nicest person I know!
Madamot ang mundo, pero kapag nagbigay, sobra pa sa hinihingi mo.
"Anong gusto mo, Madam?" Jax asked after we both scanned the menu.
"I like seafood in olive oil pasta," I told him.
"One seafood in olive oil and chicken alfredo pasta," Jax told the waiter.
Habang nag-aantay ay napatingin naman ako sa lugar. There's a lot of tables and chairs, but there's no one here aside from us.
"Bakit kaya tayo lang ang nandito?" I asked Jax.
The weather is not bad at all. I wonder why we're the only ones here? It's such a beautiful place!
Jax smiled. "I rented the whole place."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. He did what?!
Jax and I ate dinner. We even ordered garlic prawns and then added cheesecake for the dessert! It was so cozy and romantic. Marami rin kaming picture na dalawa, but we both agreed to not post it for now because Kuya might go ballistic!
The night was so dark, but I admire the stars for decorating the skies.
Jax and I stayed there for a while. Both of us gazed at the stars above. Sobrang magical lang talaga ng gabing 'to.
"Ang ganda," I whispered while looking up above.
"Sobra," Jax said. Nang tumingin ako sa kanya ay mariin siyang nakatingin sa akin... It's like he was looking at me for a while now.
"What?" I asked him.
He held my face softly. Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko dahil doon.
"1 universe, 8 planets, 204 countries, 809 islands, 7 seas... And I had the privilege of meeting you," Jax said. "I love you, Calixta."
My heart beats even faster and it was so hard to keep up. I am nothing but speechless.
I want to be with someone who is equally in love with me and I don't want it to be just love... I want us to be the closest friends and to adore and respect each other.
I hope to find a First Corinthians type of love, the one that is patient and kind.
And now, under the night skies, beside the historic Minor Basilica and Metropolitan Cathedral, I think I already did...
"I love you too, Jax." I said with every bit of my heart.
Imagine you are on a dinner date with the best person, set in a roof deck and well lit towers of a cathedral on the backdrop... It was perfect.
Jax and I held hands while walking around Intramuros. Para siyang isang tore na handa akong protektahan. Tuwing may mga tao kaming nakakasalubong, hinaharang niya ang sarili niya sa akin para siya ang mabangga at hindi ako.
I hope that Kuya will somehow see how Jax takes care of me.
I don't know what changed tonight, but I wasn't afraid anymore. I'm not shaking, nor having chest pains. Pakiramdam ko, I overcame the trauma. I overcame it with him, beside me.
Saglit akong napahinto nang makaramdam ng sakit sa paa. Urgh! Can you remind me why I wore heels again?
"My feet hurts," I told him.
I don't think I can walk with these heels anymore! Wala rin naman akong nakikitang shoe stores sa paligid!
Agad napayuko si Jax at tinignan ang paa ko. "Palit tayo," aniya.
Umuwang ang bibig ko sa sinabi niya. Tama ba ako ng narinig? "H-huh?"
Mas lalo pa akong naguluhan nang bigla niyang tinanggal iyong sapatos niya.
"What are you doing?" tanong ko pa.
"Wear my shoes."
My eyes widened. "Huh? Eh, paano ka?"
Hindi naman siya pwedeng mag-paa? Malayo pa kami sa kotse! The walk would be too long!
"Susuot ko 'yong heels mo."
Jax slowly removed my heels and slid my feet into his rubber shoes. Sobrang laki no'n sa akin, but it feels really, really comfortable. Ni hindi pa rin ako makapagsalita habang sinusuot niya iyong heels ko. His feet are so big! Lagpas na sa takong at mukhang hirap na hirap pa siyang tumayo.
"A-Are you sure you're okay wearing that? Kaya ko namang tiisin–"
"I'm okay," agap niya. "Kayang-kaya ko 'to! Gusto mo nga rampa pa, eh!"
Habang naglalakad kami pabalik sa parking lot ay hindi pa rin nawawala ang tingin ko sa heels na suot-suot ni Jax. He literally wore it for me.
I never felt so happy. This night was so perfect... Nothing could ever go wrong.
When Monday came, I was so excited to go to school. I can't wait to see Jax again! There's this giddy feeling! I went straight to the greenhouse and I was surprised when I saw Chance there. He's back?
Pero mas nagulat ako nang makita si Claire na nandoon din at nakaupo sa upuan ko.