#PTG18 Chapter 18
"Oh, my god!" I panicked as I stared in horror at Joey and Psalm's figure outside! Nakikita ba nila kami?! Or worse, did they hear us?!
"Katherine," I heard Jax calling me but my whole system was already in terror over the possibility of my best friends catching me making out with my boyfriend! Oh, my god! Mas nakakahiya 'to kaysa nung sinigawan ako sa classroom!
My mind was already in haywire, thinking about the possible reasons that I could tell kung bakit may kababalaghan na nangyayari sa loob ng Range Rover ni Jax, but before I could even come up with a sound idea, I felt Jax holding both my shoulders, forcing me to look at him.
"Breathe," he said.
"I can't! They're outside!" I hissed. "Why aren't you panicking?!"
"Why will I?"
Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mga mata. "Because they caught us—"
"Kissing?" parang tangang tanong niya.
I nodded. "Yes!"
"And that's?" he asked.
"Horrifying!"
"Why? You're my girlfriend. And besides, those two," he said, pointing at the two who were now talking. Shit. Mukhang heavily tinted talaga 'tong sasakyan! "Those two surely have done—"
Agad kong tinakpan iyong tenga ko. "Oh, my god! Don't even say that!"
I could see Jax holding his laughter. I was about to smack his face when his phone vibrated. Nakita ko iyong pangalan ni Joey doon.
"What did she say?" I asked when he was reading the text. Hindi ko makita kasi naka-upo pa rin ako sa lap niya.
"She said na puntahan ko 'yung sasakyan ko kasi bigla daw tumunog," Jax said, then looked at me. "They don't know we're here. Stop panicking already."
I nodded, then looked outside again, only to see the two already gone. Para akong nabunutan ng malaking tinik sa dibdib. Agad akong napa-sandal sa dibdib ni Jax.
"God... That was the most nerve-wracking moment of my life..." I said as I took comfort with the fact that I had his arms around me, and I could feel him caressing my back. Then, I felt him planting a kiss on the side of my head.
"Katherine."
"Hmm?"
"I love you."
I stiffened, but my heart started to race.
"I know now, you love me more than I love you, but I know someday, I'll love you more than you love me."
I bit my lower lip. "Hindi naman 'to contest."
"I know," he said, tracing patterns on my back. "But I want to be the one who's crazier, the one who's more in love, the one who's willing to give you everything. Is that so bad?"
"I don't know... I just want you to love me. I'm okay with anything you can give me," I said, hugging him closer—tighter than I ever could.
Jax pulled away, and cupped my face with his hands. Even in the dark, I could see his eyes sparkle. I never want for him to lose that sparkle. I'd do anything to keep him this way. I'd give anything for him to stay happy.
"I'll give you more than you want," he said, his thumb gently caressing my cheek. "Don't give up on me, okay? I promise I'll work harder to give you the life you deserve."
I bit my lower lip as I felt tears forming in my eyes. "Ano ba 'yan, Jax! Pupunta pa tayo sa birthday ng tatay mo. Pinapaiyak mo naman ako ngayon!"
He laughed, and then kissed my forehead. "Cry baby."
"Ikaw kasi! Dami mong sinasabi!"
"Lagi mo kasi akong inuunahan."
"Bagal mo kasi."
We fought for another five minutes bago kami tuluyang naka-labas sa sasakyan. I had to retouch my makeup dahil gulu-gulo na pala! Lalo iyong buhok ko! Grabe talaga si Juan Alexandro! Who would've know?!
Pagpasok namin sa loob ng bahay nila, agad akong nakaramdam ng kaba. I had met Tito and Tito a lot of times before, but tonight was different. Jax would introduce me as his girlfriend! Kanina ko pa kinukurot iyong sarili ko dahil feeling ko talaga nananaginip ako! Parang nung college ako, nagde-daydream lang ako about dito! But now? I was living my dream.
Life—ever unpredictable.
"Kitty?" Joey asked, her forehead creased. "And you," sabi niya, turo sa kapatid niyang 'di niya alam na malandi pala. "Bakit kayo magkasama?"
"Bakit din kayo magkasama?" parang tangang tanong ni Jax kay Joey at Psalm.
"Uh... because he's my boyfriend? And invited siya ni Papa?" Joey replied. "Bakit ulit kayo magkasama?"
Jax looked at me, like he was giving me the opportunity to tell Joey about us. My god. Ang hirap pala nito! Ngayon gets ko na si Joey kung bakit parang kabadong-kabado siya before nung sasabihin niya na sa barkada na sila na ni Psalm! And to think na si Joey palang 'to! Mas kinakabahan ako kapag kila Simon na! Sobrang feeling tatay ko pa naman 'yung mga 'yun!
"Uh... we're together."
Unang kumunot ang noo ni Joey, followed by her eyes widening. "For real?"
I nodded. "For real."
Joey shrieked kaya napa-tingin sa amin iyong mga kaibigan ng Papa niya. Joey, then, pulled me in a corner and asked me a million things about me and Jax! I was busy answering all her questions when Jax called me.
"Hindi pa kami tapos mag-usap," Joey said, her arms crossed when Jax pulled me.
"That can wait. She has to eat," Jax replied.
Joey arched her brow. "Who would've thought? Dati pa-Tinder Tinder ka lang..."
Jax's face grew red. "Shut up," he said, pulling me with him towards the dining room. Ha! Naka-hanap na naman ako ng pangtutukso sa kanya!
Since his parents were busy accommodating all the other guests, I spent the night with Jax and my friends. Nasa garden kami habang nag-uusap. I actually did all the talking since I kinda felt that something's off with Psalm and Joey... I wanted to ask and I tried, but it seemed like they didn't want to talk... I wished those two would fix it. They're really good together. Maybe 'di lang sila sanay ngayon na 'di magkasama. For four years kasi palagi silang magkasama sa school... tapos biglang ganito.
Biglang nasa Cavite si Joey. With Marcus. Of course I knew Psalm would be bothered that his girlfriend's away with Marcus who's like really in love with Joey.
Ah, love, you're complicated. Buti na lang okay na kami ni Jax. We already said our I love yous. Kinikilig pa rin ako! I never thought talaga na maririnig ko 'yun mula sa kanya! Before law school, I was really beginning to think that he'd just be a dream...
"You ready?" he asked. Naubos na iyong mga bisita. Medyo nahilo ako sa mga narinig ko dahil puro tungkol sa medicine naging usapan sa bahay, courtesy of Tito's friends from work.
I let out a deep breath. "Yes. But kinakabahan ako."
"They're just my parents. And they already like you. They'll just like you more because you're my girlfriend now," he said, shrugging.
"Alam mo, may pagka-mayabang ka rin talaga," sabi ko habang iniirapan siya. Jax laughed shortly before he escorted me to the receiving area. Si Tito at Tita na lang iyong nandun. They both looked spent from hosting the party. Napa-ngiti ako dahil naka-sandal pa si Tita kay Tito. I wanted that for myself. Na kahit matagal ng magkasama, sweet pa rin. Na kahit sobrang tagal na, nandun pa rin 'yung love.
And I think I can do that with Jax. I know I'll love him forever—ang hindi pa nga sure ay kung kaya kong itigil. Naka-condition na yata ako na mahalin siya habang nabubuhay ako.
"Ma, Pa," Jax called. Both his parents looked at him... at me.
"Katherine," Tita said. "How's school? Pasensya ka na at busy lang kanina."
I smiled. "I'm okay po. School's hard."
"I'm sure Jax will help you. Saan ka ba nahihirapan? Tulungan mo siya, Juan Alexandro."
I bit my lower lip to stop myself from smiling. Ang cute pala kapag si Tita ang tumatawag sa kanya ng Juan Alexandro!
"I'm helping her, Ma."
"Good... but why are you two here?" Tita asked, her forehead creased.
"Kayo na ba, Kitty?" Tito interjected even before Jax or I could talk. "Bumigay ka na ba, anak?"
"Pa!" Jax groaned.
Tito laughed, and kissed Tita's temple. "Sabi naman sa 'yo, choosy lang 'tong panganay natin. Naka-hanap na sa wakas ng katapat," Tito said, then gave me thumbs up. "Good job, Kitty. Sabi sa 'yo at pagtyagaan mo lang at bibigay din 'yan."
I gave in and laughed. Si Tito talaga!
The next few hours were spent with Tito asking us uncomfortable questions! Kung anu-ano tinatanong! Buti na lang nahalata ni Tita na ikamamatay ko iyong tanong ng asawa niya kaya hinila niya na si Tito palayo.
"Where's Joey?" I asked when it was only the two of us left. Malinis na rin iyong paligid. It was as if no party happened.
"Pabalik na sa Cavite."
"Psalm?"
"Hinatid si Joey."
I nodded. "Hope those two are okay."
"They'll be fine. They just need to talk."
I nodded again. "Yeah..." I rested my head against his shoulder. "Kapag may problema, sabihin mo lang sa 'kin, okay? I'm a big girl. I can handle problems. Ang ayoko, iyong hindi sinasabi sa 'kin."
I felt Jax wrapping his arm around me. And I spent the remaining of my time snuggling closer to him.
* * *
The next few days were rather challenging. It was already finals. Bawat recit, importante. There's no room for mistake because one wrong move could literally get me kicked out. May maintaining grade kasi sa school, so every point matters.
God, this was mental torture at its finest.
"I was doing research kanina for the presentation," I said as I was resting. Nasa bahay kami ngayon. Napagod na iyong mga mata ko sa pagbabasa kaya nahiga muna ako sa sofa. Si Jax naman, patuloy sa pagsusulat. Bawal kasi books or gadgets sa isang class niya kaya kailangan niyang isulat lahat ng notes niya.
"Tapos napunta ako sa isang site. Nakita ko 'yung mga tao na tina-tag iyong CHR kapag may nababalita about na-rape or napatay ng drug addicts. Mali naman 'yung tinatag nila," I said, sighing because it was just... frustrating. And saddening, really. "I mean, 'di ba? Sabi kasi sa Consti, since there's balance and checks sa government, the duty of CHR is to check if the other branches are taking advantage of their position to violate the human rights. 'Di naman nila duty na hulihin 'yung mga kriminal. That's the duty of the police. Ang duty ng CHR ay icheck kung umaabuso ba 'yung police."
Sumasakit na naman iyong ulo ko kapag naaalala ko iyong nabasa ko kanina. I tried kaya na sabihin sa kanila, pero nagalit pa! Sinabihan pa ako na Dilawan daw ako! Ugh! As if people can be labeled as easily as that. 'Di ba pwede na Pro-Filipino? Dapat talaga may political association?
"They don't know, that's why."
"I want to explain naman... Kaya lang nakaka-pagod."
Jax shrugged. "If you can't explain calmly, better not explain at all. People will shut you out if they feel like you're belittling them. Instead of listening, they'd be defensive."
"Ano'ng gagawin ko?"
"Study hard. Be the change you want to see."
"Ang tagal pa nun. First year pa lang ako."
"Every journey starts with a single step."
Napa-ngiti ako. I love my smart boy.
"Okay po. Sige, aaral na ulit ako," I said, but I sneaked in a quick peck on the cheek kasi kanina ko pa siya gustong i-kiss kaya lang naka-bantay sila Yaya. Buti na lang halos madaling-araw na kaya tulog na iyong mga tao sa bahay. Literal na kami na lang ni Jax pati iyong guard sa labas iyong gising.
Jax yawned.
"Antok ka na?"
"Medyo," sabi niya.
"Gusto mong magising?"
He nodded while crumpling his eyes. "May kape ba?" he asked, but instead, I pulled him to the study room.