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Chapter 54
Marriage
Nang umalis na si Jax ay mabilis na kinuha ni Grant iyong gamot ko at naglabas din ng bottled water na hindi ko alam kung saan nanggaling.
"Uminom ka na," aniya sabay abot ng gamot at tubig.
"May water pala..." I told him.
"I only asked him to get one just so he wouldn't see you taking the medicine."
Tumango-tango ako sa kanya. Hindi alam ni Jax ang tungkol sa sakit ko kaya mas mabuti na umalis siya.
After drinking, I immediately felt better. I smiled at Grant because he knew exactly what to do.
"You know my medicines... And you know when I don't feel good," I told him. "And I'm probably the only one who knows that you're nice."
He laughed a little. "I'm not nice."
"You're nice to me. Akala tuloy nila may gusto ka sa 'kin!" I laughed at that thought. "They're crazy."
Grant laughed again, but this time parang pilit lang. "Yeah... They are."
I put my head on Grant shoulders. "Hindi mo naman ako gusto, 'di ba? Friends lang tayo?"
I wanted to make sure so the next time Xuri will make asar about it, I'd tell her that Grant really don't and it came out of his mouth!
Hindi siya nagsalita at humiga lang sa ulo ko.
I was about to say something when I saw Jax holding a bottled water while walking away from us.
The family decided to go to our house in Baguio for the weekend. Dad will have a very important meeting around the area. And I really need a fresh air. Mom thinks it'd be a nice idea if we spend the weekends there.
What we have in Baguio is a log house, it's actually the most favorite guest house of mine that our family owns. It enjoys lush Benguet pine forest and totally pollution-free mountain air.
I posted a story on facebook and added a text 'otw to baguio' with a pine tree emoji.
Bago pa ako makapag-exit ay bumungad iyong status ni Jax days ago.
Jax Pereira: Paa... Tuhod... Balikan tayo...
Then there's a several comments from him also that was only posted yesterday.
Jax Pereira: Kumuha lang ako ng tubig tol bakit ganon tol
Jax Pereira: Awit awitize awitism
Pagdating sa lugar ay na-excite agad ako sa view dagdag pa ang malamig na hangin. Matagal na rin kasi ang huling bisita namin dito.
The circle wooden table on our dining is huge. The food was already set-up for lunch. Busy si Kuya sa phone niya. Napansin ko namang wala si Daddy. Akala ko kasi ay nandito na siya dahil nauna siyang umalis.
"Where's Dad?" I asked Mom.
"Business meeting," Mommy said. "I don't know when he's going to come back kaya mauna na tayong mag-lunch."
I wondered why there's a lot of plates kung kaming tatlo lang naman pala ang kakain? Tulog din ang kambal.
Naupo na ako pero nagulat ako nang biglang dumating si Ate Paige, Kuya Beau at pati na rin si Jax. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at hindi makagalaw sa puwesto. Why are they here? Inimbita ni Kuya?
Kuya kissed Ate Paige on the cheeks. Lumapit din ako para makipagbeso kay Ate pero hindi ko alam kung bakit biglang ipinuwesto rin ni Jax ang pisngi niya na agad naman ding tinulak ni Kuya palayo.
"Kamayan lang, pare," Kuya Kai said.
Jax and I shook hands like we just met each other. Tawang-tawa naman si Kuya Beau sa gilid.
"Okay naman ba ang byahe ninyo? Did you bring body guards with you?" Mom asked them.
Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na nandito si Jax. Hindi rin naman siya nagsabi sa 'kin?
I checked my phone to see if he texted me about it pero wala naman.
Jax Pereira: Hi! Pwede mag hello?
Iyon ang huling nabasa kong text niya at no'ng nakaraan pa iyon. Hindi ko siya na-replayan doon.
Magsisimula na sana akong kumain pero may inuutos si Kuya Kai bigla.
"Sige na, gusto ko 'yong timpla mo, eh... Make timpla na," pilit ni Kuya Kairon sa akin, nagpapatimpla ng juice.
"Fine!" I said and stood up.
"Samahan mo na Jax, hindi niya ata abot 'yong mga cabinet do'n," habol pa ni Kuya Beau.
Hey, I'm not that small!
Sinundan ako ni Jax sa kitchen at tahimik lang kaming dalawa. I got the cucumber and lemon in the refrigerator to make the juice. Kukunin ko na sana iyong sugar sa kitchen cabinet pero tama si Kuya Beau, hindi ko nga iyon maabot.
I tried reaching out to prove a point but I was startled when Jax reached it and open the cabinet. Nagkadikit iyong mga kamay namin.
"T-Thank you," I said shyly. Sinimulan ko na ang pagtimpla ng juice. "I didn't know that you'll come here."
"Ah..." Jax scratched his head. "Inimbitahan ako ni Paige."
Tumango-tango ako sa kanya. I didn't know that Kuya invited Ate Paige and Kuya Beau too. He must be scheming something or whatever.
Tahimik lang kami hanggang sa makabalik na sa dining area.
We were already eating when Kuya Kairon started asking inappropriate questions.
"Mom, do you know the Saavedras?" Kuya asked.
"Yes, of course..." Mom nodded. "What about them?"
I immediately eyed Kuya. Tungkol saan naman kaya ito at bakit ngayon niya tinatanong sa harap pa nila Jax?
"Do you know the Saavedras in the same age as me?" he then asked.
That was Chance and Grant! Hindi ko alam kung may iba pang Saavedra na ka-edad niya pero sigurado ako na iyong dalawa ay ka-edad niya. I'm just a year younger than them.
"Yes, I heard a lot about the young Saavedra heirs during business gatherings," Mom said. "Sa tingin ko'y mababait naman ang mga batang iyon."
"Good enough for Cali?" Kuya said at biglang hindi ko malunok iyong kinakain na baked oyster. What the hell, Kuya?!
Tinignan naman ako ni Mommy at kitang-kita na naguguluhan din siya sa mga sinasabi ni Kuya.
"I mean, would you marry her off to one of the Saavedra heirs?" si Kuya, hindi pa rin nakukuntento.
Napatingin ako kay Jax na pinapaikot-ikot lang iyong tinidor sa ulam niya at si Ate Paige na mukhang hindi alam ang gagawin sa gitna no'ng dalawa.
"Of course, I wouldn't. They are very nice kids but I wouldn't and I would never, marry off any of my children," Mommy said.
"So, Cali can marry anyone she likes, Tita?" si Kuya Beau naman.
Ngumiti naman si Mommy. "Oo naman, she can marry Jax."
Agad akong nabilaukan doon. Mabilis kong inabot iyong tubig para uminom. Parang bumara pa ata iyong oyster sa lalamunan ko! Oh my God, Mom!
I kept on clearing my throat at hindi makatingin kay Jax. Nakakahiya!
"I think I ate something spicy," I said and drank water once again because I was so embarrassed.
"Wala tayong maanghang, Cali-bear. I know you don't like anything spicy–"
"Maanghang po talaga Mommy!" giit ko pa.
My heart monitoring watch suddenly started to beep. Mabilis ko namang pinagpipindot iyon. Why is it beeping? Wala naman akong nararamdaman!
Sabay na sabay na tumayo sina Mommy, Kuya Kairon, Kuya Beau, at Ate Paige. Kitang-kita ang concern nila. Pagbaling ko naman kay Jax ay takang-taka siya kung bakit nagtayuan sila Kuya.
"A-Ano 'yon? Bakit? May earthquake drill ba?" si Jax na nalilito tapos ay tumayo na rin.
"Oo! Tara, duck, cover and hold!" si Kuya Beau at idinuldol iyong ulo ni Jax sa ilalim ng lamesa.
Mommy immediately held my face. "Are you okay? How are you feeling?" mahina niyang tanong.
"I'm fine, My... I really don't know why it keeps on beeping."
Nauna na akong umakyat para makainom ng gamot. My heart rate gone up but I don't really feel that bad at all. I wanted to rest but when I see the terrace, I suddenly want to go there instead.
I went ahead and I was greeted by the pine-forested mountains surrounding the area. Sobrang lamig, buti na lang at makapal ang jacket na suot ko.
Ang ganda ng view. I got my phone and started to take some pictures of the scenery. Kumuha rin ako ng selfies.
"Picturan kita?" I was surprised when I heard Jax's voice.
"O-Oh... Okay," I said and handed my phone. It'll be a lot more awkward if I say no! "Half body lang."
"Sige," sabi naman ni Jax.
Ang tagal pa dahil kumukuha ata siya ng maayos na angle. Sobrang seryoso niya.
"1, 2, 3..." Jax counted and I struck a pose. "Okay na."
He handed me my phone at halos malaglag ang panga ko nang makita iyong picture. "Sabi ko, half body!"
"Half body naman, ah!"
"Pero hindi ko sinabing lengthwise!" giit ko.
Hindi ko na napigilan iyong tawa ako. Bakit siya ganyan? Kalahati lang ng mukha ko ang kita sa picture! My face and body was literally split in half!
Jax smiled a little. "I just want to know if I could still make you laugh..."
Unti-unting napawi ang ngiti ko dahil bigla siyang naging seryoso.
"Kasi kung hindi na, bibitaw na ako. Kahit ayaw ko. Kahit hindi ko kaya, gagawin ko. Kasi gusto ko masaya ka. Kung saan ka masaya, Cal."
I can see how tears formed in his eyes. My heart swelled.
Bakit ba namin pinatagal pa rito?
"I'm the happiest when I'm with you," I told him. Mabilis napuno ng luha ang mga mata ko dahil hindi ko kayang makita siyang ganito.
Hindi siya nagsalita. Parang hindi naniniwala.
"Promise. Mamatay man!" I added. "And I don't say mamatay man when I don't mean it."
Hindi pa rin siya nagsasalita.
I took a deep breath and walked closer to him.
"Just say you love me and I'll come running back to you."
Nagulat ako nang mabilis siyang lumapit sa akin at yinakap ako. Sinara ang natitirang espasyo na mayroon sa amin.
"Ako ang laging tatakbo pabalik sa 'yo."
I hugged him back and it felt so nice. I waited years for this moment. Napapikit ako roon. "I love you, Jax."
Naramdaman ko ang pagkapanatag niya nang sabihin ko iyon. Na para bang okay na bigla ang lahat para sa kanya.
"Sobra akong natakot," he said softly. You can hear the pain and happiness in his voice. "Mahal din kita. Lagi kitang mahal."
My tears started to fall. Mas lalong bumilis ang mga pagpatak nang maalala ko na dapat ko nang sabihin sa kanya ang tungkol sa sakit ko. Jax deserves to know the truth. I'm just so afraid that he'll get hurt about it. And I don't want him to get hurt.
Tumikhim ako at kumalas sa yakap. "I have something important to say–"
Natigil ako nang makarinig ng ingay sa labas. Busina iyon ng kotse at mukhang ang Daddy na iyon.
"I think we should greet your Dad... Baba muna tayo?" Jax asked. His eyes were a little red.
I nodded and held his hand. Sabay kaming bumaba pero para akong aatakihin nang makita si Kuyang nakaabang sa baba. Pareho kami ni Jax na binitawan ang isa't-isa.
So, how could we tell them that we're back together? I don't want them to think that it was so sudden when it's actually not!
Hindi na masyadong nakihalubilo si Dad. He was so tired at batid ko na tungkol pa rin iyon sa mga Fuentabella. Tito Zimmer is his closest friend, same with Tito Dominic. We know that he is doing his best to help. Lalo na at kalat na sa media ang nangyari. Nag-aalala ako lalo kay Ate Ariyah, pero sabi naman ni Kuya, hindi nila ito pababayaan ni Kuya Shawn.
Jax and I decided to plan our feasibility study. Dahil nanunuod ng TV sina Kuya Beau roon sa sala, sa kwarto ko na lang kami nagpunta ni Jax. Doon kasi tahimik at may lamesa pa.
Desidido na ako sa gagawin, pangalan na lang talaga ang kulang. I just can't think of something yet!
"I'm decided na about the oil-based tints. Gusto ko na matte finish and then the shades will range from nudes to reds."
"Kabog, sis!" si Jax iyon na sinusuportahan ako kahit parang hindi naman niya naiintindihan.
Napangiti ako.
"Kaso wala pa akong naiisip na name," sabi ko at kinuha iyong notepad ko.
"Hmm..." Jax crossed his arms.
Mabilis kong inangat ang kamay bilang pagpigil. Baka kung anu-ano na naman ang i-suggest niya!
"Seryoso 'to! Di ba gusto mo ng milktea?"
I looked at him suspiciously and nodded.
"Bakit hindi na lang milktea plus liptint... Milktints! Oh, 'di ba! Tapos ipapangalan mo, mga flavors ng milktea!"
My eyes widened. That's actually a clever idea!
"I like that!" natutuwa kong sabi.
Pumunit ako ng isang page sa notepad para makapagsulat ng mga maaaring ipangalan sa kada shade.
Nakabukas lang ang pinto ng room ko kaya napansin ko agad si Kuya no'ng unang beses siyang dumaan. Magsusulat na sana ako pero dumaan na naman siya, ngayon ay naghahasa na ng kutsilyo. Oh my God.
Dali-dali akong lumabas.
"Kuya, what are you doing?"
"Nothing, my dearest sister," he said and hide the knife on his back.
"Bakit ka daan ng daan sa room ko at may knife pa?!"
"Eh, bakit kasi nasa kuwarto mo si Jax?"
"Eh, akala ko ba boto ka na?"
Kuya and I continued to argue until Mom came.
Everyone was called for meryenda. Si Jax ang naglagay ng truffle pasta sa plate ko kaya napangiti ako roon.
"Manloloko raw ang mga J, ah..." Kuya said out of the blue.
Oh gosh. Seriously? What's with Kuya? I thought that he wanted Jax and I to be together again? Come on, now!
Bigla namang inubo si Jax na parang wala nang bukas.
"W-Wala naman akong kilalang J! Ikaw ba Paige?" si Jax iyon.
Ate Paige looks like she doesn't know what to do. Marahas siyang umiling. "Wala! Wala akong kilalang J! 'Di ba, Kuya?"
"Oo nga, 'di ba, Beau?" buyo pa ni Jax.
Kuya Beau shook his head as well. "Wala, ah! Axith lang meron dito!"
It was such a nice weekend for me even if Kuya Kairon suddenly started to be very weird and hateful towards Jax.
I was so happy that Jax and I were finally back together. Excited na rin akong sabihin iyon sa mga kaibigan.
Bukod sa approval ni Prof. Somero sa project proposal, kailangan din ng approval ng headmistress para sa aming mga tiga Star Sapphire Class.
Dahil na-finalize ko naman na ang lahat, I went ahead to the headmistress' office. Binabasa ko pa ang folder habang papunta roon para masiguradong tama naman ang lahat ng details na nailagay.
I was about to knock but the door was left a little opened. Papasok na sana ako pero napahinto nang makitang nandoon si Jax sa loob. Magpapa-approve din siya?
"Jax are you really willing to lose the academy and all of your mother's hardwork?!" asik ni Ms. Andromida Yrreverre.
It felt so illegal to listen but I couldn't move a muscle. Hindi ko makuhang gumalaw sa kinatatayuan.
"The major stockholders doesn't want me to lead! At alam nila na wala ka pa sa wastong edad para mamuno kaya sinasamantala nila ang pagkakataon para makuha ang ownership ng eskuwelahan!" kitang-kita ang frustration ng headmistress. "The only hope we have now is Attorney Ignacio... That's why I told you to treat Claire nicely!"
Umuwang ang bibig ko roon lalo sa huling narinig.
"I am nice to Claire," narinig kong sabi ni Jax.
"You have to push through the marriage! That's the only way we could get Atty. Ignacio on our side," pinal na sabi ng headmistress. Agad na nanlambot ang mga tuhod ko roon.
Marriage? What marriage?
"We only have two options here. We lose the academy or you marry Claire."
Bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Agad akong napahawak doon dahil parang sasabog. Bakit ganito?
"Hindi ako papayag na mawala sa atin ang academy," Jax said and everything suddenly fell apart.