"S-Sister?" gulat kong tanong tsaka ako napatingin kay Jazen at tinanguan naman niya ako. Nang humarap naman ako kay Jade ay nakangiti siyang tumatango. Nakaramdam ako ng pamumula ng pisngi dahil sa kahihiyan.
"Ara, are you okay?" Jazen asked but then I just nodded. We continued eating the food while they're talking just as what usual family does. Hindi ko ramdam na out of place ako dahil Jazen's family never let me feel that way.
"Mija.." Jazen's dad said which made me look at him. What made him call me 'mija'? "Don't be shocked. I consider you my daughter now dahil dun din naman ang uwi no'n." he said while cutting the steak on his plate. Nakita ko ang ngiti sa labi ni Jazen habang abala siyang kumakain kaya maging ako'y napangiti na lang din.
"Mija, what are your parents doing for a living?" Tito Jaden asked me.
"My father is an architect po same with my mother." I answered then I continued eating.
"Really? Why did you took Legal Management instead of architecture?" Jade asked me dahilan para bahagya akong mailang.
"So you're a Law student?" Tita Celest added up.
"Yes po. I'm currently taking Legal Management. That's what I aspire to become in the future. Also, Mom told me to follow my dreams." Sabi ko habang nakatingin kay Jazen remembering how he told me that line. "Right Jazen?" I said trying not to laugh.
"Water, kuya?" Jade said offering Jazen a glass of water dahil mukhang nasamid siya sa sinabi ko and that made me chuckle.
"No, thanks." Jazen said. After having dinner with Jazen's family, Jazen and I went to the garden.
"So how was it? Having dinner with my family?" Jazen asked.
"Great. I had fun eating with you and your fam." I said. "Your mom cooked the foods?"
"Yes. How was the foods anyway?"
"Good. Great, rather. You're Mom's good at cooking pala. How I wish I am as well." I chuckled as I say that.
"We can cook together. I'll help you learn how to cook. If that's fine with you." Jazen said with a smile while looking at me.
"Why not? That would be awesome!" sabi ko at hindi ko inaasahan ang pagyakap ko sa kanya dahil sa tuwa ko. "Uh, sorry." sabi ko habang inaalis ang sarili ko mula sa pagkakayakap kay Jazen.
"T-That's.. fine." he said. "Hm, Do you wanna go home now?" he asked me then I nodded. Pumasok muna kami sa loob ng bahay nila para magpaalam sa parents niya.
"Thank you po Tito Jaden and Tita Celest for having me tonight! I had fun po and the food's great po!" I said.
"You are always welcome, Ara! Let's have dinner together again soon!" Tita Celest said then she hugged me.
"Sure po!" sabi ko habang nakangiti sa kanilang magasawa. "Jade, thank you! Cloud's such a cutie!" I said to lessen the awkwardness.
"Thank you too, Ara! See ya around!" she said then she hugged me as well. "Let's hangout some time with Jill and Ali!" sabi pa niya at tumango naman ako.
"It's getting late. I'll drive Ara home now, Mom, Dad." Jazen said then he hugged his parents.
"Drive safe, anak. Magingat kayo, ha?" Tito Jaden reminded us then we both nodded.
"Ara.." Jazen said while driving. Lumingon ako sa kanya tsaka ko siya hinintay magsalita muli. "About what happened earlier, that's fine."
"Yes, I know. You told me earlier, remember?" I said then he nodded. Nanatili lang kaming tahimik buong byahe hanggang sa makarating kami sa parking lot ng condo.
"Thank you, Jaze. Okay na 'ko dito. Baka gabihin ka pa lalo." sabi ko tsaka ako tumalikod mula sa kanya pero bago pa ko makapaglakad palayo, he held my wrist which made me stop from walking.
"Let me walk you to the lobby. I swear, sa lobby lang. Please, Ara?" ani Jazen. Tumango ako bilang tugon. "You know, about what happened earlier sa garden, I told you not to worry about that."
"I'm not worrying. Baka nabigla ka sa ginawa ko, gaya ko." sabi ko naman. "Thank you pala for inviting me to join your dinner. I swear, I had a great night."
"Yeah, I know. They wanna see you again soon, so are you good with that?" he asked me which made me smile.
"Oo naman!" sagot ko. "I thought hanggang lobby lang?" natatawang tanong ko nang marealize na nandito na kami sa tapat ng pinto ng condo namin ni Ali at nakita ko ding tumawa si Jazen.
"Hey, promise me na you won't worry about what happened anymore, okay?" he asked me at bago pa man ako makasagot at naramdaman ko na lang ang labi niya sa labi ko. There's this feeling na sinasabing magrespond ako pero ako lang ang pumipigil sa nararamdaman kong iyon.
At last, i gave up on stopping myself from what I really wanna do at this moment. I responded which deepen the kiss. Habang tumatagal ay mas ramdam ko si Jazen. Pakiramdam ko ay kaming dalawa lang sa lugar na 'to at sa amin ang oras. At mas lalong dama ko yung nararamdaman ko para sa kanya.
Bigla kaming nahinto at agad akong humiwalay sa kanya nang bumukas ang pinto ng condo at bumungad sa amin si Ali.
"Nandyan ka na pala. Akala ko susunduin kita sa lobby?" ani Ali.
"Masusundo mo pa ba ako eh nandito na ko?" natatawang sabi ko. "Sige na, susunod ako. Papaalam lang ako dito." sabi ko at tsaka pumasok sa loob si Ali.
"And that's included with the things you don't have to worry about." Jazen said then winks after.
"Alam mo ikaw, ewan ko sayo." natatawang sabi ko. "You go home na nga!"
"I will, master scorpion!" Jazen chuckled after saying that. "Good night, Ara. See you tomorrow." Jazen told at and once more, he winked at me.
"Drive safe! Text me when you're home!" I said then he nodded as he walks away.
Pagpasok ko sa loob ay naabutan ko si Ali na nakaupo sa couch at halatang nagaabang sa pagpasok ko.
"What?" tanong ko.
"Ya have stories to tell?" asked by Ali.
"Let's hangout tomorrow with Jill and you'll know the rest! Goodnight!" Sabi ko bago ako pumasok sa kwarto ko. I did my night routine before going to bed. After doing my night routine, i checked my phone to see if Jazen texted me and as i expected, he did.
From: King Scorpion
just got home. goodnight, love u to the moon, mi bellissima
Reading his text makes my heart jump. This guy, i swear. I've received much blessing more than what I've expected and this guy, my soon to be guy, proved that.
After reading his text, I place my phone on the table then I closed my eyes with a smile on my lips. The next day, Ali and I woke up early that's why I cooked for our breakfast.
"Wow? Nesfruta real na real? Ara's cooking for our breakfast this early?" natatawang sabi ni Ali at mukhang gulat pa dahil nagluluto ako ng ganto kaaga than the usual time ng pagluluto namin ng breakfast. "Blooming ka ata girl? Nadiligan—"
"Hey! Okay ka lang? This is even tighter than tight." depensa ko.
"Kalma mo yan, girl. Itatanong ko lang naman kung nadiligan na ba yung halaman natin. Haha, defensive!" sabi ni Ali tsaka siya umupo sa countertop.
"Sana okay ka lang, wala tayong halaman dito." sabi ko pero natawa lang si tanga. After naman naming kumain ay nagligpit lang kami then tsaka kami naligo. Nang matapos kaming magayos ng sarili ay umalis na kami ni Ali.
When we got to school ay umattend kami sa morning classes namin. Nang malaman namin na walang professor for our morning classes ay dumiretso nalang kami sa library to study gaya ng lagi naming ginagawa.
Nang makaramdam kami ng gutom ay pinaphotocopy nalang namin yung nirereview namin tsaka kami dumiretso sa canteen. Sakto ay nakasalubong namin sila Allen kaya nagkayayaan kaming magBlackscoop.
"So anong balak natin ngayon? Magtitigan? Walang oorder?" reklamo ni Ali.
"Blueberry Cheesecake, Ali!" sabi ko.
"I'll order the same." sabi naman ni Jazen then he chuckled teasing Ali as well.
"Wala kang choice Ali, Smores Frappe akin! Thanks!" sabi naman ni Allen. Ngumiti kami kay Ali na mukhang onti nalang ay sasabog na. Ang ending, si Ali ang umorder.
"Alam niyo kayo, pasalamat kayo kaibigan ko kayo, mga dimuho!" reklamo ni Ali habang umuupo.
"Kamusta pala kagabi? Family dinner? With the Falcons?" tanong ni Allen.
"Masaya! Sobra, tsaka ang sarap magluto ng Mom ni Jazen!" kwento ko.
"That's right! Kaya we enjoy staying sa kanila lalo na every weekend!" Allen said.
"Anyway guys, we'll be hanging out tonight with the thomasians. Do you wanna come?" Ali said.
"Buti naman marunong na kayo magyaya ngayon! Hahaha!" sabi naman ni Allen.
"Whatever." I said rolling my eyes at Allen. "Ano, do you guys wanna join us?"
"Count us in!" Jazen said. We spent our time telling lots of kwentos and laughing just like what we usually do pag magkakasama kaming apat. When we decided to go home because we're gonna be going out tonight, we fixed our things then we headed out of the cafe.
"See you guys later!" Ali said then pumasok na siya sa kotse.
"I'll pick you up later. Allen will pick up Kio, Jill and Ali." Jazen told me.
"Sure, king scorpion! Copper!" I said with a smile then he smiled back at me. Nang makapasok na ko sa kotse, Ali started driving. I received a text message from Jazen while we're on our way to our condo.
From: King Scorpion
I'll see you later, Mi Corazon.
And with that, I smiled as if I've got the gift I've been asking Santa to put inside my Christmas Socks..
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surfries xd (2)