CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

JAIRO'S POV

"Wha-What do you mean wala na?" tanong ni JP sa akin. "As in kalas na tayo? FO na?"

I flatly looked at him. "No friendship overs, John Paul. I'm just saying, we'll no longer interfere with gang wars," pagpapaliwanag ko.

"Then how about the other gangs that couldn't move on? You know that there are tons of gangsters who wanted to hurt you so bad," punto naman ni Cyril.

"Ryan promised that he'll handle those. As an exchange, they'll get the highest seat."

"Seryoso ka na ba riyan?" tanong naman ni Nathan.

I nodded. "More than sure. Ikaw ba? Gusto mo pa rin bang tumuloy? I know that Xei worries about your fights too."

Napailing naman si Sean. "Hay... mga nagagawa nga naman kapag in love na in love na."

'Di ko naman napigilang mapangiti. "Ayoko na lang ulit na mapahamak siya."

Napatango naman silang apat. For sure, Bryle would have agreed to this decision in an instant. Napailing na lang ako.

"Oh, so ano na? Payag na ba kayo?" muli kong tanong sa kanila. "It'll benefit us, you know? We'll soon be in our third year," pangungumbinsi ko pa.

Nanatiling tahimik ang apat pero si Cyril ay nakatingin sa akin. He was also the first one to respond. "Kristine is really that important to you, huh?"

Tumango naman ako. "The most important person in my life."

Saglit naman siyang natahimik pero nakatingin pa rin sa akin na para bang pinag-aaralan ang pagkatao ko. "Don't hurt her again, Jai."

Ako naman ang napatingin sa kanya ng seryoso. "I will not make that mistake again."

Napatango naman siya. "Good. Kristine... she... she became an important... friend to me."

There was a different emotion in Cyril's voice. Parang tono ng pananalita ni Bryle noong pinagbabantaan niya akong aagawin niya si Kristine kung sakaling saktan ko siya. Mas lalo tuloy akong napatitig kay Cy.

"But if that's the final decision then, I'll respect it. I'll do my best to protect you two if something happens," muli niyang sabi. Are they really that close?

At the end of the discussion, they all agreed about letting our gangster ways go. A new life. A safer life.

When our class ended and it's finally lunch time, I went to Kristine's room and picked her up. "Anong... ano sa tingin mo ang ginagawa mo?" mataray niyang tanong sa akin.

Ngumiti lang naman ako saka mas hinigpitan ang hawak ko sa kamay niya. "So they'll know that I'm yours."

She raised an eyebrow. "Hindi ba't in-announce mo na rin 'yan kahapon?"

Mas lalo lang lumaki ang ngiti ko. "Well... that's a different thing, you know?"

Napailing na lang siya. "Ayaw mo talagang magpatalo eh, ano?"

"Ikaw rin naman ah." Sinamaan niya naman ako ng tingin. "Just stating facts." I shrugged.

Napailing na lang siya saka kami dumiretso sa library. I have to get used to spending my lunchtime in this room full of books.

Nang makaupo na kami ni Tine sa pwesto niya ay hinayaan ko lang siyang magbasa. Then I remembered something. "Mom wants to invite us for dinner. Well, as usual."

She nodded her head, eyes still glued to her book. "Sure. Though... alam na ba nila ang... well... na ano..."

"Na tayo na?" I grinned while staring at her blushing face. She then nodded. "Yep, for sure ay ipinaalam na ni Karl."

She took a deep breath before nodding again. "Yeah... Si Ayel nga rin. Paniguradong naikwento na niya."

Napangiti naman ako. I then slowly took her hand and intertwined it with mine. Hindi naman siya nagreklamo. We just stayed like that.

Kristine reads her book while I hold her hand and watch her. It was a comfortable silence.

Nang matapos ang lunchtime ay inihatid ko na siya sa room niya saka ako pumasok sa akin. As for the other break times, kapag nasasaktuhan ay sabay kami kasama ang iba pang Black Dragons at girlfriends nila.

Pagdating naman ng uwian ay inihatid ko na siya sa bahay nila. I told her that I'll pick her up for dinner.

When I got home, my family welcomed me. As in all of them, even Dad. "What's going on?"

They suddenly popped the confetti. "Congratulations!" They all shouted. They all looked so happy. But why?

I couldn't help but frown. "What for?"

Nilapitan naman ako ni Ayel. "Duh, cuz. Of course for being officially in a relationship with my best friend." She then gave me a short hug.

Si Mommy naman ang lumapit sa akin. "We saw the video. So congrats, my baby Jai." She also hugged me.

I was about to ask exactly which video when Dad spoke. "I couldn't believe that you fainted, son."

Dahan-dahang nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Wha-What? Which video are we talking about?"

Karl raised his phone and slightly shook it. "I kinda got it from your phone when I borrowed it yesterday. Hindi ka kasi naglalagay ng password."

My mouth dropped open. Natawa lang naman silang lahat. That is so embarrassing. Hanggang ngayon nga ay hindi maka-move on si Tine sa nangyaring pagkahimatay ko, and then this? Just great.

Inasar lang naman nila ako saka hinanap si Kristine. "You should've just brought her here," Mom said.

"Nah. It was her choice to go home first."

Napatango naman sila. "I still couldn't believe that she actually said yes to you, Kuya," naiiling na sinabi ni Karl.

Napakunot ang noo ko. "Bakit naman?"

He shrugged. "Wala lang. Ampanget mo kasi. Buti na lang at hindi bumabase si Ate Tine sa itsura."

Natawa na naman sila, habang ako ay masamang nakatingin sa kapatid ko. How dare he‽

When the time came, I left our house to pick Kristine up. "You look beautiful as always."

She rolled her eyes. "Napaka-bolero."

"Oh edi hindi na lang. Ang sagwa mong tingnan."

Sinamaan niya naman ako ng tingin. "Bawiin ko na lang kaya yung oo ko, ano?"

"Ang gulo mo naman kasing kausap eh. Ayaw mong maniwala when I complimented you, tapos magagalit ka kapag nilait ka," pang-aasar ko sa kanya.

Napailing na lang siya. "Ewan ko sayo. Bahala ka riyan." Nauna na siyang sumakay sa akin sa kotse.

Natawa na lang ako saka pumunta sa driver's seat. Nasa kalsada na kami at hindi pa rin siya umiimik. "Galit ka?" I quickly asked the question that came to my mind.

She shook her head, still looking over the window. "Nag-iisip lang."

"About?"

"First time ko kasing sasabay ng dinner kasama ang pamilya mo na official na tayo." I heard her sigh. "Baka iba yung maging atmosphere."

I reached for her hand and slightly squeezed it. "If there's something that changed, that would be their adoration for you. Mas dumoble kasi."

She looked at me with worry in her eyes. "You sure?"

I nodded and kissed the back of her hand. "Don't worry too much. They'll just love you more."

Kristine finally smiled. "I do hope so."