"So, bakit ka bumisita, hijo?"tanong ni mom kay Jace kaya napatingin kami lahat sa kanya.
He sighed."I want to court your sister, and I'm asking for your permission."
Nanlaki ang aming mata sa sinabi niya,at ramdam ko din ang paglakas ng tibok ng aking puso.
"Ano daw?"bulong na tanong ni kuya Jedan kay kuya Jem, pero mukhang hindi bulong dahil narinig namin lahat iyon.
"Courtship." sagot ni kuya Jem.
"Hiningi niya ang kamay ng ating kababatang kapatid."sabi ni kuya Jackson kay Kuya Jedan, pero mukhang mas lalo nalilito si kuya.
"Sa kasal?"Kuya Jem facepalmed himself of what kuya Jedan asked. Mahinang tumawa si kuya Jaydee at nagpigil naman tumawa si kuya Jackson habang ako naman ay napailing lamang.
Hahays.
"Hindi. Sa panliligaw."sabi ni kuya Jaydee kaya napatango si kuya Jedan.
"May ganito pa ba ngayon?"Kuya Jedan asked, curiously. Oo nga no. Dahil ngayon may idadala lang na lalaki ang babae sa bahay ng kanyang magulang at sinabi na nobya niya na ito."Seryoso ka?"Napatingin kaming nagtataka kay kuya Jaydan dahil sa kanyang tanong."I mean, may ibang babae naman na hindi kasing baliw ng kapatid ko-"
"Shut up, Jaydan."Kuya James said and Kuya Jaydan immediately shut up. Tinignan ko nang masama si kuya Jaydan, habang ang mga kapatid ko naman ay mahina tumawa dahil dito. However, my mom was shaking her head feeling embarass of what my brothers are acting.
"I love your sister, and she's the only girl I want."seryosong pagkasabi ni Jace. Our jaws dropped, and I felt my heart beating fast and my cheks reddened.
"Wow, kinilig si bunso."Kuya Jaydee teased and I glared at him.
"So, hindi pa kayo?"tanong ni mom.
"No, mom."I answered.
"Since when did you confess to her?"kuya James asked and leaned into his chair. Habang si Jamie naman ay walang pake sa pangyayari at kumakain lang ng cookies.
"About two weeks."Jace answered and they were shocked.
"So, matagal na kayo-"
"Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin?!"biglang pagtanong ni kuya Jedan.
"Shut up, Jedan."sabi ni kuya James at ngumuso naman si kuya Jedan.
"You can court my sister."kuya Jaydee said coolly, while leaning to his chair. Napatingin kami lahat sa kanya. Kuya Jaydee looked at me and winked."My tiwala ako sayo, Jace."
"After all, you saved and protected my sister. So I accept."sabi ni kuya Jackson.
"Noong una palang Jace, may tiwala na ako sayo."sabi ni mom at ngumiti sa amin dalawa ni Jace.
Tumingin kami lahat kay kuya Jedan nang bigla ito bumuntong-hininga at tumingin nang seryoso kay Jace."Just don't hurt our princess."
"I won't."Jace said.
"Protect my sister, at all cost."kuya Jem said while looking seriously at Jace.
"I will."
They all have said and accepted Jace courting me, all except...
"James?"Mom called kuya at bumuntong-hininga namn ito.
Nakatingin naman kami lahat kay kuya James at hinintay ang kanyang sagot. I unconsciously hold Jace's hands and I felt him lightly squeeze my hand to assure me.
"I will accept your courtship with my sister, but..."We waited with his condition. Mukha na nga kami lahat ay kabahan sa kanyan sasabihin."You have to race with me."Nanlaki ang mata namin sa kanyang sinabi. He can't be serious?!"Kapag matalo ka, hindi ka na magpakita sa kapatid ko at kapag nanalo ka"ngisi niyang sabi."You already know the price."
D*mn!
"Eh-"
"I accept."Napatingin kami lahat na gulat na ekspresyon sa sinabi ni Jace. While kuya James was smirking.
"Jace."I called his name and he looked at me and smiled.
"Excellent."Kuya James said, while smirking.
We're doomed! Isang international racer si kuya James, paano namin iyan matatalo? I mean, hindi ako nalalait si Jace pero ang dami ng experience si kuya James tungkol sa racing!
"Is this really necessary?"I crossed my arms asI looked at him, opening the hood of his car and checking it one more time. He laughed at my quesion.
"You know me, little sis."He said and ruffled my hair.
"Go easy on him."
"You know, I am always harsh at racing."he said and put his helmet on.
"Whatever."
Lumakad ako papunta kung saan si Jace nakapark sa kanyang kotse. He didn't use his aston martin, but he's using his other car which is a Ferrari Aventador. Nang makita niya ako ay ngumiti ito sa akin.
"Are you really sure about this?"
"I already accepted this, Jewel."he said and wore his helmet."There's no turning back."
"J-just be careful."I bite my lips.
"I will."ngiti niyang sabi."Paano ako mananalo kung mamatay ako o ma-injured?"Sinuntok ko siya sa dibdib nang dahil sa kanyang sinabi at tumawa naman ang loko.
"I'm serious,Jace."
"No way.I thought you were Jewel."he joked and I glared at him.
"Seryoso ako nag-uusap dito, Jace."inis kong sabi at tumawa ito.
"At seryoso din ako sa pagmamahal ko sayo, kaya kailangan ko ito gawin."he said and touch my cheeks.
"Just so you know, even if you lose, I will always be proud of you. Kung kailangan natin lumayas, dahil hindi pumayag si kuya ay sasama ako sayo."tumawa siya sa sinabi ko.
"Game."he said."Goodluck kiss?"He sounded hopeful.
"You know the rules."
"Forehead and hand kisses, then."He said and came closer to me and kissed my fore head and then proceeded to kiss my hand. Pagkatapos ay pumasok na siya sa Ferrari niya.
"Good luck."he looked at me and smirked. He then drove his car to the side of kuya James so that they can now race. Heck!Nervous is not the right word I am experiencing right now.
I sighed and compose myself, before heading where my family and friends are. It was just us in the stadium, pretty weird right?It was because my brothers and Jace rented the stadium, all for ourselves.
"Sana all,supportive girlfriend."Sapphire nudged me and I laughed.She probably saw what happened at the track. Heck! I am pretty d*mn sure, they all saw that.
"I'm worried, though."I said and rubbed my arm, trying to soothe myself.
"Don't worry, kaya iyan ni Jace."sabi ni Natasha habang may hawak na banner na nakasulat ang pangalan ni kuya at Jace. Its kinda nice, that we're supporting the two, but I know they want Jace to win.
"Woooohh!!Go Jace!Go Kuya James!"Sapphire cheered.
"That doesn't mean I shouldn't worry."buntong-hininga kong sabi.
"Kaya mo iyan bro!"Kaizer yelled.
And then, kuya Jedan was at the front holding a flag.
"Are you ready for this race?"sigaw ni kuya Jedan kaya nagsigawana ang lahat. "This will be the way if kuya James Arcuturus Montezalde let Jace Angelo Montezalde be Jewelry Grace Bernard's girlfriend?"I rolled my eyes at the question."Let's see. Get Set!"kuya Jedan said and raised the flag.
"Woooohhh!"
"3!"
"Go Jace!"
"2!"
"Go kuya James!"
"1!"
Kuya James and Jace drove off and all of us stood at our seats because we want a more clear view of the race. They're turning in the oval 5 times and the first one to cross on the finish line in the 5th will be the winner. I was nervous as heck!
They were tied in the first round and at the second kuya James was speedin off and Jace was trying to keep up. The second round kuya James won, and the third, and the fourth. It was the final round and they were tied. My hands were sweating and I can feel my heart beating fast!
F*ck!Sana manalo siya.
When they were almost at the finish line, suddenly Jace was leading and he was the first to cross, then it was kuya James. I was shocked and proud. Rinig ko ang sigaw ng mga tao rito habang ako ay gulat pa din sa pagkanalo niya. The girls was shaking me and screaming at my ears, because he won.
When Jace parked his car, I immediately head down. Tumakbo ako papunta sa kanya at nang makita ko na siya palabas sa Ferrari niya ay mas binilisan ko. When he took off his helmet, I immediately jumped on his arms and he was shocked that he drop the helmet in the process.
When our eyes met, I kissed him not caring the people around us, not caring about the shocked faces of my family and the teasing noises of my friends. Because this was our moment, and ours to hold.
Jace wrapped his arms around my waist and carried me. I broke the kiss and laughed when he suddenly spin me. I laughed and after that he settled me down. Our foreheads touched and he gave me a light kiss on my lips.
"I thought 'no kissing' was involved in my courtship for you."said Jace, while smirking.
"Oops."I smiled and gave him a peck to tease him.
When we heard a cough, we turned to our side and saw kuya James looking at us coldly. Kuya James approach Jace and put his hand out for a handshake and Jace accepted it.
"You are very good at driving."kuya James complimened.
"Thanks."
"Just keep my sister safe, and if I see her cry because of you."Kuya James warned."I will not let you see her ever again."
"I understand, but I promise I won't ever hurt her."seryosong sabi ni Jace.
Kuya James sighed."I better go home. I'm really tired."Lumapit siya sa akin at niyakap ako at hinalikan sa noo bago pumunta sa kanyang sakyanan at umalis.
After that, lumpit na sil mom sa amin at nakipag-congratulate kay Jace sa kanyang panalo. They were all proud of him because of his win. Lahat kami ay hindi inexpect ang kanyang pagkapanalo.
We immediately go back to the mansion after congratulating and made a party for Jace winning. Nandon nga si kuya James at nakipag-inom kasama ang kaibigan ni Jace. He wasn't holding grudges, he was even impressed. I was smiling, because kuya James likes Jace, but his protectiveness of me made it difficult.
Speaking of Jace, where is he? I saw him walking away minutes ago with a phone in his hand. He seems stressed, though. I walked around the house to find him and saw him at the balcony talking to somebody at the phone.
"Yeah, father...Not right now, we're both busy...soon. Tell mother... I still have to talk to her...Bye."He sighed and ended the call. He put his phone at his pockets and turned around and was shocke to see me.
"How long have you been standing there?"
Hindi ako sumagot at lumapit lang sa kanya.
"You should be at the living room. Partying, since this is for you."I said and put my hands at the railings and stared at the view.
"I don't really like parties."he said and copied my position."Besides, I'm not the real winner."he chuckle and I looked at him, questioningly.
"What do you mean?"
"Your kuya let me win."I blinked and procesed what he said. Kuya James let him win?
"How are you sure?"
"Because he slowed down, when we were almost at the finish line."he said and crossed his arms.
"You're not mad about that, right?"Tumawa siya sa tanong ko.
"No, of course not.He let me win, because he wants me to have you. He already trust me."sabi niya at kumindat sa akin.
"Then, why organize a race?"
"Maybe he wants me to find out of how far I would go for you."he shrugged his shoulders.
"You almost died. Isn't that enough for him?"I sarcastically asked and he chuckled."Who were you talking earlier at the phone?"I asked him, when I remembered he was at the phone earlier.
"My father."
"Are you two on good terms now?"I sounded hopeful.
"Yes."nakangiti niyang sabi sa akin. Dread consumed me, when I realized that I may be the reason why they are now together. I'm not thinking of it as a bad thing, but I couldn't help but wonder if he reconciled with them, just because I want him to.
"You did not do it because of me, right?" Lumapit ito sa akin at hinawakan ang aking mga kamay.
"No, Jewel." he smiled at me."I thought about what you said and I decided that maybe its time." He continued. "And just like you said, maybe they have changed and are truly remorseful for what they did. But I still have doubts."
"One step at a time, Jace." He hugged and I laid my head on his shoulder."Don't force yourself when you feel uncomfortable and pressured."
"Right."he smiled down at me."What would I do without you, mon amour?"
"I don't know."
"I'd be barely living."I was confused by what he said. "I won't have forgiven my parents if it wasn't you. I would still have kept this anger and resentment until the day I die."he said and cupped my cheeks. "And I am very thankful you came into my life, mon amour."he smiled and kissed me in the forehead. I close my eyes in the process."Also."I opened my eyes.
"Also what?"I asked, curiosly. He sighed and messed his hair a bit before saying the words that actually shock me.
"My parents wants to meet you."