I was supposed to write this yesterday pero nakatutok kasi ang atensyon ko sa Twitter haha I'm sorry! #10YearsOfOneDirection
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40.
"I thought you have exams and you need to study?" I asked Xerxes when he knocked at the door of my unit one Wednesday night.
He let out a smirk and showed me his med books. "Who says I cannot study here?"
He went inside my unit so I just shrugged. Alangan namang makipagtalo pa ako at pabalikin pa siya sa Maynila gayong mag-aalas nuwebe na ng gabi. He told me that he already had his dinner so we just proceeded to my room since he wants to study there.
Tumabi ako sa kanya sa higaan umunan sa kanyang may tiyanan, naramdaman ko naman ang kamay nito sa aking ulunan at bahagyang hinahaplos ang aking buhok.
"Ang bilis ng panahon..." I suddenly whispered. "Parang kagahapon lang ay kakasimula palang ng third year. Tapos ngayon, -Ber months na. Your birthday's already on Friday. What do you want?"
"Wrap yourself with a gift wrapper and be on my bed."
Tinampal ko ang hita nito. "Umayos ka!"
He let out a sexy chuckle. "I'd like whatever it is that you'll give me. Kaya ngayon, matulog ka na dahil may pasok ka pa bukas, captain."
"Good night," I told him. I was about to rest my head on the pillow when his hand stopped me from doing so. He pointed at his lips and I playfully rolled my eyes before giving him a quick smack.
"Good night, doll," he grinned.
I closed my eyes and covered myself with the comforter. "Turn off the lights after you study."
He continued combing my hair gently with his fingers which made me doze off to sleep easier. At the middle of the night, I woke up feeling the need to urinate and before I could even get up, I felt a hand that's rested on my head and my gaze turned to Xerxes who's already sleeping but still seated with his books on his lap and wearing his reading glasses.
After doing my thing in the bathroom, I went back on my bed and took the books beside him before putting it on the bedside table. I was about to take the two more on his lap but I think he felt my sudden action because he groaned and opened his eyes a bit.
"I'm not yet done," mahina ngunit basag na tinig nito at sinubukang bawiin ang dalawang libro sa kamay ko.
"You need to rest. I'll wake you up again later. I'm going to be the one to make breakfast so you'll have more time," I told him and smiled. "You'll find your exams hard and you won't be able to focus well if you're tardy."
He sighed in defeat so I placed the remaining books on the bedside table and I also took off his eyeglasses. He rested himself on the bed and I did the same. He hugged me and buried his face on my neck.
"Thank you, wife," he whispered.
It made me smile so I played with his hair before closing my eyes again to sleep. "Sleep now, my future doctor."
Mauve and the girls planned to go out drinking and I, not being a killjoy, went with them to Cove Manila. Tomorrow's Xerxes' birthday already and I still have no idea on what gift will I be giving him.
"I heard he'll be buying the PS5 on Sunday, sabay sila ni Denver," Mauve told me. "Unahan mo. Bumili ka na bukas sakto wala tayong pasok tsaka tutal ay gabi pa naman ang simula ng party ni Saint."
"P22.5k ang starting price noon diba? Pero iba iba ang presyo niya sa bawat mall. Ang narito sa pinakamalapit sa'tin P31k ata or P32k," Ayesha articulated.
"Hello? Kailan pa naging issue kay Leigne ang pera, Eshang?" Mauve joked before looking at me. "Well, kidding aside, mahal naman talaga iyon just for a birthday gift so I think you should just get Saint a hoodie or sweater-"
"Let's get that PS5 tomorrow, samahan niyo ako," sigurado ko nang pahayag. Ayoko naman kasi siyang bigyan ng hoodie dahil ang dami niya nang ganoon. Tapos wala na talaga akong maisip na maibigay kaya iyon na lang.
All of their jaws dropped. "Sana all!" they screamed altogether.
"Imagine X and Leignie getting married, then Gorostiza Establishments, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Dela Gente Group of Companies being one in business, pucha! Baka mas mayaman pa ang kalabasan nila kaysa kay Bill Gates," Garri cackled while drinking her vodka.
"And, hindi lang si Saint at Arleigne ang Gorostiza't Dela Genteng magsasama. Let's not forget their siblings too!" Mauve added.
"Ganoon rin naman ang kalalabasan niyo ni Aqui, Mauve," natatawang singit ni Ayesha. "Kung hindi nga lang kayo naghiwalay."
"You two broke up again?!" gulat naming reaksyon ni Garri. "Pang-ilang breakup n'yo na iyan, Mauvey?" tanong ni Garri.
Mauve shrugged. "Aba malay ko, ang dami na, e. That guy! If I only knew that we'll break up again, I shouldn't have bought him a fucking yacht-"
"What the hell?!" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Garri. "A yacht? Are you serious, Mauvennice Crescelda?!"
"Actually, just a cabin cruiser," pagtatama ni Mauve. "Huwag na nga nating pag-usapan! Naiirita lang ako!"
"You know what, girls, let's just drink up and dance. Sisters time na lang muna," Ayesha articulated and raised her glass. We started drinking more until we ended up dancing like there's no tomorrow.
Supposedly, the money that I totally own is already more than $65,000 but less than 70 thousand. That's everything that I have earned since highschool and all came from the performances I've had in Atlanta and here in PH. Hiwalay pa ang 65 thousand dollars na iyon sa pera ni mom na ihinuhulog sa mga bank accounts namin ni Zent.
The money I've been earning for years is planned for building my own house in the Netherlands for the future. That's where I am going to live when I started my training after graduation and when I became a pilot from KLM.
I don't want mom to spend for it since I've been using her money a lot already, that's the reason why I am earning my own. For Xerxes' birthday gift, I guess there's nothing wrong if I'll take $648 from my money to buy the PS5 worth P32,000. I still have more upcoming musicals though, makakapag-ipon pa ako at madami pa namang panahon ang meron ako bago makagraduate.
Sinamahan ako nila Mauve na bumili ng maireregalo kay Xerxes at sabay na rin kaming apat na pumunta sa The Island sa Taguig kung saan gaganapin ang party ni Xerxes. We already drank and partied last night and now, may inuman na naman.
"Aleezah!" I called Aleezah when I saw her in the middle of the huge crowd. "Si Xerxes?"
"Andiyan lang siya paikot-ikot at kausap ang mga inimbita niya. For you to easily find him, he's wearing white shorts and black Jeep jersey," she said.
"Okay, thank you!" I was about to walk again when she suddenly stopped me. She looked at me from head to toe.
"Blooming ka. Well, as always," she complimented and flashed a smirk. "Parang lumaki ng kaunti ang boobs mo."
"Aleezah!" mahina kong asik dito at malakas siyang tumawa.
"Are you wearing foam or nagpa-silicone ka ba? Or…" her grin grew wider. "It grew because of someone's hands?"
"Alam mo ikaw, mana ka sa kuya mo. Puro kabastusan nasa isip," I told her instead.
She snickered. "My best friend is no longer a virgin," she chanted. "Oh, don't worry, I won't tell Zent."
"Jeez, whatever you say, Aleezah." I left her already and looked for a man wearing a Jeep jersey and when I find it, I walked towards him and gave him a hug from behind.
"What the hell? Ano ga at niyayakap mo ang boyf— Leigne?!" Serena said in surprise.
Naguluhan naman ako at nang matignan kung sino ang aking niyakap ay si kuya Aeign pala.
"I thought— I'm sorry!" I said in embarrassment.
The two of them laughed at me. "No, it's okay. Marami din ang inakalang si X itong si Aeign. Nagkataong parehas ang suot nila kaya lumabas muna si X para daw kuhanin iyong extra niyang damit sa kotse," Serena explained, chuckling.
"Kainaman ka, Arleigne. Hindi tayo talo, ako'y huwag mong yakapin ng ganoon," kuya Aeign teased. "There's your man, by the way."
I glanced at the direction that he's pointing at and there I saw Xerxes, wearing white shorts like what Aleezah described earlier and for his top, he's wearing a white casual button up polo shirt at tanggal ang butones nito hanggang sa kanyang dibdib, revealing the gold necklace with a small cross pendant.
All white. Akala mo naman may lakad sa langit!
"Don't drool, baby," Xerxes held my chin with a playful smile plastered on his face.
He looked at Serena and kuya Aeign beside me and he gave them a nod before resting his arm on my shoulders for us to walk away.
"Happy birthday," I smiled at him and handed him my gift.
"I'm gonna open it." He was about to rip the wrapper when I stopped him.
"No," I said.
"I'm not asking."
"Okay, pero huwag mo dito buksan. Layo muna tayo," I told him when someone from his guests dived on the pool, letting out a splash of water towards us.
We walked to the position where it's a bit far from the pools and when he finished taking off the gift wrapper, he looked at me with shock.
"Doll, I… I know money's never an issue for you but, are you sure? This is what you'll give me?" he showed me my gift.
"Wala na nga akong maisip ibigay," I reasoned with a pout. "Ayaw mo naman kasi sabihin kung anong gusto mo."
He chuckled. "You're already enough as my birthday gift," he sweetly sentenced. He encircled his one arm around my waist and pulled me for a kiss on the cheek. "Anyway, thank you for this."
Denver was walking along so Xerxes called him. "Denvs! Kay Rengell ka na lang magpasama sa Linggo, may PS5 na ako, hindi na ako bibili."
"I'd rather buy alone kaysa magpasama sa isang madaldal," he smirked. "Happy 22nd birthday, fucker."
When Denver already walked away, Xerxes gripped my waist tighter and nuzzled into my neck. He planted light kisses all over my face and neck in a teasing manner which made me feel like he's tickling me. I let out a soft giggle before pushing him lightly.
"You're sexy and hot in rompers," he commented while looking at what I'm wearing. "But you're hotter without wearing anything—"
"Shut that filthy mouth," I covered his mouth. I could sense him laughing dahil ramdam ng palad ko ang pagngiti niya at kita rin ang paniningkit ng mga mata nito.
He removed my hand. "Cocktail, you want?" he asked and I before I could even answer, he already pulled me again to walk with him. Hindi niya na rin naman kasi ako kailangang tanungin dahil iinom naman talaga ako.
The party is until two in the morning so there's plenty of time for us to party around and go wild. Xerxes was with me all the time and he brings me with him everytime someone's going to talk to him or greet him and take him to different places around. He even introduced me to his cousins on the father's side and I easily got along with them. They're all nice.
"Para sa kaibigan naming malandi noon, loverboy ngayon! Happy birthday!" Lix shouted on the microphone and raised a bottle of beer. He's with Rave and Aeign in front while all guests are watching and cheering aloud.
The three of them were sharing such things and memories that they had with Xerxes and afterwards, he called him to go in front with them. Xerxes beside me gave me first a quick kiss before walking towards their direction and giving his guests a short message for coming to his birthday celebration.
I felt someone sat down beside me and I just ignored it because this is just one of Xerxes' guests. Wala lang siguro maupuan pang iba.
"Arleigne Dela Gente."
I glanced at my side and even though I was shocked to hear that voice and see his face, I remained calm and gave him a bored look.
"Yes?" I tried to sound civil while talking to Ruel.
Matagal na panahon na mula nang huli ko siyang makita. And after what everything my brother, Xerxes and his friends did to him, I can't figure out where did he still get the guts to show up to me… or even this party. Is he invited? Because I'm pretty sure he's not.
Ruel let out a lop-sided smile. "Bored?"
"No," I answered and smiled sheepishly before glancing back at Xerxes. He's currently talking to some of his schoolmates.
"You look bored and not enjoying your boyfriend's party," he articulated and suddenly, naramdaman ko ang kamay nito sa hita ko.
Sa gulat ay bigla akong gumalaw at lumayo ng bahagya pero ngumisi lang siya lalo at sinubukan pa akong hawakan.
"I've been wanting to fuck that gorgeous body ever since…" he held both of my arms. "Shall I take you out? Let's have a good time."
"I'm not cheap, mister," matigas kong sambit.
"I didn't say you are," he chuckled. "Come on, Arleigne, it's just one night. I know you're into this. You used to flirt."
"Exactly. Used to," giit ko. I stood up from the high chair so that I could walk away but his grip on my arm became tighter as he pull me near him. "Let me go!"
Sinubukan kong magpumiglas pero ayaw niya ako pakawalan. Wala ring nakakapansin sa amin dahil siguro sa sobrang lakas ng tugtog at dimmed ang mga ilaw.
"I said, let me go!" I tried to jerk away more.
"Fucking dumbass, get your hands off her!" kuya Aeign suddenly appeared and gave a hard punch on Ruel.
Ruel stood up immediately to return the favor but Xerxes was fast enough to catch his fist before kuya Aeign could do it and he twisted his hand, making Ruel groan in pain. Lix and Rave appeared too and held Ruel's arms and made him face Xerxes wherein Xerxes just kicked his stomach and punched him again.
"You piece of shit!" Xerxes growled in anger. "Lubayan mo ang girlfriend ko!"
"What's going on here?" Arlszent barged in and when he saw Ruel, his eyes landed on Xerxes then to me since I was hiding behind him. He already understood what's happening by just seeing the situation so he raised his fist up and it landed on Ruel's face. "Tangina ka! Hindi ka na talaga nadala, ano?!" he punched him again. "I told you a hundred times already, don't touch my sister!"
Everyone was shocked upon watching the scenario and none of them even bothered to help them pull away from each other, not even Xerxes' cousins. They're all just watching. Rengell, Lance, and Denver were just looking at them with a chilled expression.
Xerxes was about to fight him again when I held his wrist. "Xerxes… stop already.." But he didn't listen. He looked at me and pushed me away. "Chivas! Take her to my car!"
"Okay," Serena replied in panic and went to my direction. She held my hand and pulled me away from them. "Aeign! Itigil n'yo na iyan, please," she yelled.
We both reached the parking lot and we leaned at the side of Xerxes' BMW. She held my hand. "Ayos ka lang? Anong ginawa ni Barton sa'yo?"
I just bit my lip after telling her what just happened and she just squeezed my hand lightly for comfort. After a while, I already saw Xerxes approaching us.
"Si Aeign?" Serena asked. Xerxes told her that he's still inside so she ran back to The Island.
I looked at Xerxes and he's already sweating bullets, probably because of the fight he just had. I looked at him with an apologetic look because he really looked mad. "I'm sorry for destroying your party—"
He suddenly hugged me. "Did he hurt you?"
"No," I answered in a low tone and hugged him back.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left you sitting alone."
"Hindi naman sa lahat ng panahon kailangan magkadikit tayo," mapakla akong natawa. "You shouldn't have fought with him."
"Kahit patayin ko pa, wala na akong pakielam," he sighed heavily. "When it comes to you, I'm willing to sin and make a crime. I'll do everything just for my baby."
"Don't kill. Don't," I told him. "Promise me."
"No."
"Xerxes…" nagsusumano kong tinig.
"No," determinado niyang sagot. "Once I'm pushed to my limits, I won't have a second thought and I'll immediately pull my gun's trigger."
"Then try not to reach that limit," saad ko. "Please? I don't want you to serve a life sentence like what Bronze is having right now."
"Okay." He took a deep breath. "Let's go home."
"Paano ang party mo?" I questioned.
"Satina and my cousins will handle that." He opened the door of his car for me to get in. And then, we drived out of Taguig, he brought us to Sampaloc, Manila where he lives.
It's already past midnight and I'm already feeling a bit drowsy so Xerxes and I took a shower together and slept on his bedroom. We played with the PS5 the next day since it's a weekend.
"Xerxes, I'm really sorry about last night. I ruined your birthday—"
"Being with you was the best part of the celebration of my 22nd year. It's fine, doll," he gave me an assuring smile. "There's nothing more important than protecting you."
As days turned to weeks, and weeks turned to months, my birthday came and that date was also our first anniversary! Xerxes surprised me so much that my heart almost fell on the ground.
We went to the Carnaza Islands in Cebu where I met another one of his cousins from the Legazpi side. At night, he told me he'll just get us some beer so I let him walk away while I'm seated on the white sand, waiting for him.
But what I did not expect is that he's holding a very huge bouquet of red roses when he came back. Plus, he's even singing in front of me which I did not also expect that he knows how to sing!
"I'd spend ten thousand hours and ten thousand more, oh if that's what it takes to learn that sweet heart of yours," he sang the chorus. "And I might never get there but I'm gonna try, if it's ten thousand hours or the rest of my life…"
I covered my mouth while my heart is pounding with pure happiness at nang magkalapit na kami ay iniabot ni Xerxes sa akin ang isang manipis na regalo na hawak ng isa niyang kamay.
I took it from him and removed the wrapper, only to see a transparent Spotify plaque inside. The song he just sang was there and instead of it's album's picture, it is our picture that's printed there.
"I'm gonna love you…" he said in a song while handing me the bouquet next.
"Stop singing, kiss me already!" I closed our distance by brushing my lips onto his.
He chuckled and responded to my kiss. Matapos ay pinagdikit niya ang noo naming dalawa at tinignan ako sa mata.
"Happy birthday and happy first anniversary, doll," he whispered. "Te quiero."
"Mahal din kita," I whispered back. "Ngayon, bukas, palagi."
"Tayong dalawa. Ngayon, bukas, palagi.." he paused and smiled. "…habangbuhay."
🌞