"Good morning, Jewel." Kuya Jackson greeted and they all gazed at me.
"What's that?" I asked when Kuya Jackson put the food on the table.
"Fried rice and a sunny side up," he answered.
"Still the best cook, kuya Jackson."I complimented him and he smiled. "The restaurant is still fine, right?" Umupo ako sa upuan katabi kay Kuya James na may tinatawag. I heard Jamie's name, maybe he's calling his son.
"Yes." He answered. "But I planned on staying here. Got the plans for my new restaurant."
Oh, sh*t! He's staying here?! When?! What am I gonna do now?!
I hide my horrification from the news. I tried to smile and be happy for him. I can feel my eyes starting to twitch. Bakit dito pa sa Pilipinas?! Eh ang dami na niyang restaurant sa Europe! 40 restaurants, I think? I lost count. 10 restaurants naman dito sa Asya. Sa Pilipinas wala pa siyang ginawa na restaurant dito. Hindi ko alam kung bakit.
"Ngayon o babalik ka pa sa America?"I nervously asked.
"Babalik muna ako sa America. Besides, babalik din kami dito para kunin ka para sa party."I wanted to sigh out of relief, but that would just make me suspicious.
"GOOD MORNING!"They all looked at the staircase when they heard someone scream. I don't have to look to see who it is, because I already know.
"Ang aga pa, Sapphire."inis na sabi ni Amber. She even covered her ears because of the noise. Pababa na sila tatlo, bihis na at lahat lahat. Kakain nalang before going to school.
"Oo nga ang aga, kaya nga dapat nakangiti tayo in good mood tayo ngayon."She strutted and went to Amber's back. She touched her lips and made her smile."Hindi dapat nakasimangot. May bisita tayo oh."She pointed at my brothers. Lasing ba 'to? Kahapon nahihiya pato ah.
But Amber didn't mind her and just sat in her chair. "Morning." she greeted with no energy. Mukhang ayaw pa niyang gumising. I've always known Amber as the night owl. Ayaw niyang maging early bird, because she's so grumpy in the morning. She does not like anyone waking her up. Gusto siya na siya lang ang gumigising sa kanya.
"Morning."My brothers greeted me back. Except for Kuya James, who is still on the phone. Nope, he's done. He currently puts his phone down after saying goodbye.
"Oo, nga pala."I suddenly said. So their attention turned to me. "Hindi muna kayo uuwi ngayon?"They look hurt by my question. Or act hurt, because they put their hands in their chest and look at me with a pained expression. So dramatic.
"Parang gusto mo na kaming ipaalis, ah."Kuya Jedan joked.
"I'm sick and tired of your faces. Sa america palagi ko nakikita ang mukha niyo, pati pa naman dito sa Pilipinas."I joked.
"That hurts, sis."Kuya Jaydee said while smirking.
"Tomorrow, we will leave."Kuya James answered my question.
"Pwede naman dito tayo titira diba? Ayaw ko pang umuwi, eh!"pagmamaktol ni kuya Jedan.
"Hindi ka na bata, Jedan. May trabaho din tayo naiwan sa America."Kuya Jem said.
"Hayst!Magpagawa ako dito ng bahay at doon kami titira ni Jewel."Kuya Jedan said and pulled me towards him.
"Mabuti pa kumain na tayo. Baka ma late pa iyong apat."Kuya Jackson said that made us start eating. Sh*t! Nakalimutan ko na may klase pa kami.
After eating, kuya Jackson offered to wash the dishes so we let him. I told them that it was pointless trying to stop Kuya from cleaning. The kitchen is like part of his soul. Parang gusto pa nga niya matulog sa kusina kaysa kwarto niya.
"Aalis na kami."paalam ko sa kanila.
"Hahatid ka namin."sabi ni kuya Jedan at tumayo, pati din ang iba kong kuya ay tumayo din.
"Malapit lang naman dito ang aming school, kaya huwag na."I told them, but they still kept on standing. "Why are you all here, anyways?May malaki naman tayong bahay dito sa Pilipinas."I asked them. Totoo naman ah. We actually have a house here in the Philippines, but I'm wondering why they want to stay here and try to force themselves to walk around and sleep in these places that are not compatible for a lot of people. Lalo na't malaki din ang mga katawan nila. Pwede naman doon sila sa bahay. Tutal, palagi naman malinis doon dahil may palaging naglilinis sa bahay at nag-aalaga. Binabayad lang namin sila.
"Eh, bakit wala ka doon?"tanong ni kuya Jedan.
"Dahil gusto ko tumira dito."
"At gusto namin tumira dito, bakit bawal ba?"kuya Jedan asked.
"Bawal. Ni hindi nga kayo humingi ng permiso sa mga mamay-ari."I told them and pointed where Sapphire is and the rest of the girls. Nagulat pa nga sila dahil tinuro ko sila.
"We did. Diba Sapphire?"tanong ni kuya Jedan with his smile na maraming babae ang nagugustuhan. May pakindat pa. Hindi ko mapigilan mapairap.
"Ahh, oo, "Sapphire said like she was hypnotized. I glared at her and she avoided my eye contact.
"Hayst!Ewan ko sa inyo."I said and left them in the house. Sumunod din si Amber sa akin, pati din si Sapphire at Natasha.
"Mabuhay ba iyong mga kuya mo doon sa bahay, Jewel?"tanong ni Natasha habang naglalakad kami papunta sa school.
"Kaya nila iyan."
When we arrived at school, many people stared at us or in particular at me. Hindi ko sila pinansin dahil sanay na ako. Probably they were gossiping about what happened yesterday in the dean's office. These people. There are so many better things to do than gossip. They can't stop minding their own business.
"Narinig mo ba iyong nangyari sa kotse ni Penny?"rinig namin na nagsasalit sa harapan. They were blocking our way by their chit chat. Oh, so that's what they have been talking about.
"Oo, iyong may mga spaghetti."The other girl said.
"Do you think it was Jewel who did it?" she asked. Her tone was a bit low, more like a whisper, but I still heard it. I'm not deaf.
I cough in front of them and they all look in my direction. Nagulat pa sila na nandyan ako sa harapan nila.
"Pati ba naman dito ay may chismiss kayo. Hindi niyo ba napansin na nandito lang sa harapan ang pinag-usapan niyo?"Amber step forward. She looks pissed.
"Well, if the shoe fits."The girl smirked. She even eyed me up to down. And my eyebrows raised like did she just look down at me? Oh, I'm amused.
"You are all such insensitive b*tches."Sapphire hissed.
"We all know na kung gaano kalaki ang galit ni Jewel kay Penny. Hindi na tayo magulat na siya ay may gawa non."She said and I stared at her face, because she's so familiar. Then, it clicked me. She was that girl that Jace busted in the clinic. D*mn. How stupid was I to think of her as a victim back then?
"I don't hate her, but I also don't like here. I just don't care about her well-being. Sadyang, dinamay lang niya ako sa gulo niya."I said. "And what if I'm the one who destroyed her car? Do I look like I f*cking care?"They were shocked by what I said and immediately scurried away. They looked like they were scared. Ang dali nila matakot. Just because I told them that I destroyed Penny's car?
"Mukhang takot na sila lahat sayo."Natasha said we started walking to class.
"Mabuti nalang upang hindi na nila isipin na may gagawin sa akin."I smirked.
Time went fast and the next thing I know is that it was already lunch time. Kagaya ng dati ay kasama ko si Drake.
"Alam ko na ikaw ang may gawa sa kotse ni Penny." He suddenly said.
"Bakit?Takot ka din ba sa akin?"I teased.
"Hindi, pero takot ako para sa kotse ko."He smirked. I chuckled at what he said.
"What's your car?"I asked him, curiously.
"Black Camero."
"Wow ha," I said and ate my chocolate.
"What's yours?"Tumawa ako sa tanong niya.
"Wala akong kotse, hindi ako papayagan nila kuya."I answered. His mouth formed an 'oh'. "Makukuha ko lang ang kotse ko kapag graduate na ako."
"Malapit na iyan mangyari."He cheered me up and it made me smile. Patuloy kami sa pag-uusap hanggang sa may lumapit sa kanya na kaibigan niya.
"Bro."
"Shane."Drake greeted him. His friend glanced at me and smiled. Nakita ito ni Drake at pinakilala ako sa kanya. "This is Jewel."
"Hi. I'm Shane. A friend of this a**hole."He introduced himself and it made me laugh. Drake rolled his eyes.
"It's nice to meet you."I smiled at him. Nakipagkamay siya sa akin at tinanggap ko ito.
He turned to Drake. "About our assignment."
"Ahh oo nga pala."Tumayo si Drake at nagpaalam. "Uuna na ako, Jewel."
"Bye."He smiled at me, before leaving.
Tumingin ako sa paligid namin at para akong nawalan na aso, dahil walang kasama. However I saw Jace, who is all alone and reading his book. It looks like it's all about business.
Nilapitan ko siya dahil may naalala ko na ibibigay sa kanya. Mabuti naman dala ko ang bag ko kaya nandon lang sa loob ang damit niya. I sat across him and his brows furrowed. He glanced at who it is and his brows furrowed more when he saw me. Tumingin siya kung saan umupo ako kanina at bumalik ang iyang tingin sa akin.
"What are you doing here?"He asked. "Where's your boy?"My brows furrowed when he referred to Drake as a 'boy' and even 'your' like he's mine, but isn't. He's just my friend.
"He's not my boy."I said and he smirked."And to answer your question, he left. He's busy."
"So you decided to approach me? That hurts my feelings, mon treasure. It makes me feel like I'm your amusement when he's not here."His smirk still lingered on his lips. His brown eyes beneath those glasses reflected amusement and mischief.
"It's not like that."
"I don't mind."He winked.
Kumunot ang noo ko sa tanong niya. "You're weird."He chuckled. Bipolar yata tong kasama ko.
"What are you doing here, anyway?"He asked and put a bookmark on his book, before placing it down. He even leaned ahead and put his arms at the table like he was giving me all his attention.
"Here."I gave him his shirt. His brows furrowed.
"Why are you giving this back?"He asked as he gazed at it. He even smelled it. I can even feel my cheeks heated by what he did, because of embarrassment.
"Hoy!Nilinis ko iyan kagabi!Mabuti nga umuga eh!"I told him.
"Yeah, just making sure."He smirked and gave it back to me. "Here."Tinignan ko siya na nagtataka.
"Bakit mo ito ibalik sa akin?"
"Hindi ba pwede?"he sarcastically asked.
"Tanga ka ba?Sayo iyan."I gave it back to him and he shook his head. What is wrong with this guy? It's his shirt.
"Hindi ko sinabi na ibalik mo ito sa akin."He told me and leaned at his chair. My mouth agape. Diba ganyan talaga gagawin kapag may ihihiram ka? Ibabalik?
"Kahit na. Sayo na iyan."I urged him to accept his shirt l, but he wouldn't. Ramdam ko na pinagtinginan na kami at naweweirduhan na yata dahil pinag-awayan namin ang shirt niya.
"It's yours now. I have tons at home."
"Niyabang mo na marami kang tshirt sa bahay?"Taka kong tanong. This guy is crazy.
"Yes, from different brands."hambog niya. I snorted. D*mn. A smile lingered on my lips.
Jace saw that and he grinned. Tinignan ko siya ng masama. Pero nakangisi pa din ito.
"Whatever."I saw our friends gazing at us like they were teasing. I rolled my eyes. Tumayo ako at aalis na. "I have to go."
"Let's go home together."He said and even held my hand. I can hear some gasps from a lot of people. Nakatingin na pala sila?
"I'd rather go home alone."I break free from his grasp.
"Oh, come on. I'm your bodyguard. I can protect you."He smirked.
"I don't need your protection."I glared at him and left him on his table. I can still feel his stare and smirk as I leave the cafeteria.
Pumunta na ako sa susunod namin na subject at umupo sa upuan ko. I started studying. Minutes later, the girls arrived.
"I saw that!"kilig na sabi ni Sapphire. She even startes nudging me. Kulang nalang ay mahulog na ako sa upuan ko.
"May love story na kaya na mangyari kay Jewel at Jace."Natasha teased.
"Shut up."I glared at them and continued reading. Kahit wala na ako maintindihan dahil sa pagtutukso nila.
"Galit ah!"Amber teased."Denial siya."
"It was nothing. And I'm not acting defensive."
"Halata na, Jewel. There's tension between the two of you."Natasha smirked. I got weirded out by that.
"No, there isn't," I said with a straight face.
"Keep believing that and see who's gonna regret that, "Amber smirked. I just rolled my eyes and continued reading.
May mga pumasok na mga estudyante at pati na din ito sila Jace. They all gave me teasing smiles when they saw Jace and I rolled my eyes. Bumalik ako sa pagbabasa.
Ramdam ko umupo siya sa gilid at tinignan ang binasa ko.
"Why are they looking at us weirdly?" he asked. I know that he's referring to our friends. My brows furrowed as I gazed at him. Is he f*cking serious?!
"You're so oblivious," I told him and he didn't quite understand.
"Did something happen?"
I rolled my eyes. "Nothing that will interest you."Bumalik ako sa pagbabasa.
"Humor me," he said and I glanced at him.
"I don't like talking about it, "I told him. "Mind your own business."
We didn't speak again. Pagakatapos ng klase ay hindi pa din kami nag-usap. Hindi naman siguro totoo na siya ang maghahatid sa akin. Nah. It's Jace. He wouldn't.
"Let's go."sabi ko sa mga kaibigan ko.They all nodded and we were about to leave, when Jace spoke who is right at my side.
"I'll take her home."He told them. His face was emotionless, but his hand was now on my shoulder. Pumunta ang tingin nila dito at nanlaki ang mga mata nila.
"Oh."
I immediately take his hands away from my shoulders and get away from him.
"What?!NO!"
"I already told you that I'm taking you home." He said, coldly.
"Paano sila?"I pointed at my friends so that I could have a reason to not go with him. Don't give me that bodyguard B*llsh*t!
"Okay lang naman sa amin. Bye Jewel! "Sabay nilang sabi at umalis na. They look like they rehearsed that line a couple of times and even left at the speed of light. Parang Flash. I can see the dust.
I sighed and faced Jace with a glare, who was smirking at me. Do you think this is funny a**hole?!
"Did I already mention that I hate you?"
He smirked. "A couple of times verbally, but most of them are because of your sarcastic remarks and glaring."
Glad that he knows that it's for him.
"It's like I'm not discussing it with you because you still try your best to annoy the sh*t out of me," I said to him and he is still wearing that smirk.
"It amuses me when you're mad."Mas lalo sumama ang pagtingin ko sa kanya.
"A*shole."I cursed."If I'm the public and you're the actor. I would say that you're providing bad publicity."I said with no emotion and relating our situation to the media. Parang ganon naman talaga ang nangyari sa amin ngayon."You know you should try for positive publicity, in that way maybe I'll look at you in a different light."I gave him a sarcastic encouraging smile.
Lumapit siya sa akin at ngayon sobra na kaming lumapit. We were so close like one wrong move, something might happen. I can feel his breath on my lips. He's quite tall and he's looking down at me, while I'm looking up as I gaze at his eyes. "Bad publicity is still publicity. Either way, your attention is still on me."
Our gazes were still fixated and no one dared to end the eye contact or should I refer it to a staring contest. We were competitive. Nobody wanted to end this. Hanggang sa parang lumapit ang mukha namin ay napagising ako sa realidad. Mabilis ako lumayo sa kanya.
I lost.
I turned to him, however he was still where he was earlier. Hindi parin siya gumalaw. His hands were inside his pockets and he was gazing at me. "Let's just go. I'm having a headache because of you." I told him and walked to the door. Sumunod naman siya sa akin.
D*mn that eye contact.