[A/N: This is a sequel to Mesmerized: Mr. Playboy Meets Ms. Naive. Please read the first book to know the characters. http://www.wattpad.com/story/18475741-mesmerized-mr-playboy-meets-ms-naive  Thank You.]

[Picture on the right - Ate Gel & Kuya Daniel]

JX POV

Alas Siete ng dumating ako dito sa bahay nina Ate Gel at Kuya Daniel. Nandito rin si Mommy, Tita Olive at Gabriel. Magkapit bahay lang kasi ang townhouse ni Mommy at Tita Olive. Baka sinabihan ni Mommy na bumalik na ko kaya nandito rin sila.

“Uncle, uncle, I miss you!” salubong sa kin ni JD.

“I miss you, too! I have alot of pasalubong for you from your Tita Joelle.” sabi ko kanya. Tinuturuan din siya ng Tagalog kaya naiintindihan niya ang “pasalubong”. Most of time, tagalog nila kausapin si JD.

“How's my Tita Joelle, I miss her so much. Why she didn't come with you?” he asked innocently.

“She's fine and she wants you to have this. . . .” I kiss him in his both cheeks and tickle him. Nakakahawa ang tawa niya. Very ticklish kasi tong bulilit na to. I miss him.

“Kamusta ang biyahe, hijo!” duet pa si Mommy at Tita Olive. Nagpi-prepare sila ng dinner.

“Ayos lang naman po.” sagot ko.

==

Habang nag-di-dinner kami kinamusta lang nila ang bakasyon namin ni Joelle sa Boracay, Palawan at Puerto Gelera. Nakita naman kasi nila yung mga picture na ipinost ni Joelle. Walang nagbabanggit ng tungkol kay Eric dahil kasama namin si JD na kumakain.

“Uncle, I saw yours and Tita Joelle's picture in facebook. You're always together but where's Tito Eric? Why he's not there?” tanong ni JD.

Nagkatinginan kaming lahat. Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko. Wala rin gustong magsalita.

“Remember, Tito Eric's on his business trip, kaya di mo na siya nakita ulit.” Si Ate Gel. “Come baby, let's go check their pasalubong sa room mo.”

Tapos na rin kasi kaming kumain. Nag-excuse lang si Ate sa min. Si Gabriel ang nagligpit ng kinainan. Bumaba kami sa basement kung saan may minibar sila. Dito rin sina Tita at Mommy para magkape. Binigyan naman ako ni Kuya Daniel ng beer.

“Nalulungkot ako sa pag-uwi mo, hijo, ay nawala naman ang kinakapatid mo. Hindi man lang kayo nagkita.” malungkot na sabi ni Mommy.

“Kamusta si Joelle?” tanong ni Tita Olive.

 “I just talked to her a while ago, Tita. She's going to visit Eric before going to his new job. She's trying to be strong.” may pag-aalala pa rin sa tono ko.

“Thank you nga pala, hijo, sa pag-alalay mo kay Joelle nung nandon ka.” sabi ni Tita Olive. “Natakot ako ng mabalitaan ko ang nangyari kay Eric para kay Joelle. Hindi ba siya natutulala? Nagsalita ba siya agad or umiyak agad? Hindi niya nabanggit sa kin nung magka-usap kami sa phone.” Sobra ang pag-aalala sa boses ni Tita.

“Sabi ni Joyce hindi nga po daw maka-usap at hindi rin umiiyak si Joelle mula nung mabalitaan ang nangyari kay Eric. Nang magkita kami sa Baguio, she was drunk. I don't know by that time what's happening to her but she seems to be broken hearted.” I started but of course, I omitted about our first kiss.

Baka masuntok ako ni Kuya Daniel at Gabriel, seryoso pa naman silang nakikinig. Bumaba na kasi sila ni Ate Gel. Tulog na raw si JD at tapos na si Gabriel sa paghuhugas ng pinggan.

I continue. “It seems that she forgot about Eric the next day – she seems normal, we're talking, joking not until Joyce called and ask her to go back to Eric's burial. Don ko po nakitang natulala siya. I've learned from Joyce what happened to Eric. I talked to Joelle after for her to open up her feelings and she did. After that you can talk to her and she cried if she needs to.”

“Ganon kadaling nag-open up sa'yo si Princess?” tanong ni Kuya Daniel na parang nagtataka.

“She did. I don't know why, maybe because I told her that I understand her feelings because I felt the same way when Dad passed away.” I continued. Tatangu-tango si Kuya Daniel.

“Ilan linggo din kasing natutulala si Ate Joelle nung mawala si Papa, siya ang apektado sa aming lahat dahil Papa's Girl siya. Si Kuya Daniel ang una niyang kinausap. Spoiled din kasi siya kay Kuya.” sabi ni Gabriel. “Maybe she saw Kuya Daniel in you?” dugtong pa ni Gabriel.

Ouch na naman sa puso ko. It means kapatid ang tingin niya sa akin? Older brother?

 “Bro, thank you for being there with our Princess. I really appreciate it!” sabi ni Kuya Daniel.

 “Don't mention it.” sabi ko lang pero siyempre natutuwa ako. Iniisip ko na advantage din na kakilala ko ang family ni Joelle. Kung sakaling maging kami man, wala ng family interview. . . he he he

 Umakyat na sina Mama at Tita Olive sa taas. Kami na lang apat ang naiwan dito.

 “Lil Bro, kamusta naman ang puso mo???” tanong ni Ate Gel.

 o____O Tingin sa'kin nina Kuya Daniel at Gab.

Ito talagang si Ate, minsan walang preno ang bibig. Alam ba nilang may gusto ko kay Joelle? Kala ko secret lang namin yon.

 “Huh??? What do you mean, sis?” kunwari wala akong alam.

 “About Joelle, so, what do you feel about her??? Do you really love her???” dagdag pa ni Ate. Haynakupo! Ate ko ba talaga siya? Bakit ibinubuko niya ko sa mga future borthers-in-law ko?

 “So, talagang may gusto ka kay Princess??? Hindi kaya - bantay salakay ka???” Lagot! Si Kuya Daniel yan, sobrang seryoso na naman itsura at ang sama pa ng tingin. Mukhang susuntukin ako.

 “A-e-i-o-u, I prove it to my self that I really fall for her.” buko na rin lang. . . hindi ko naman kailangan ipakaila pa. . . totoo naman sobrang mahal ko na si Joelle. One weakness ko, di ako magaling magsinungaling.

“Eh, bakit ka bumalik dito, kuya JX, basted ka na?” Sino pa ba kundi si Gab ang nagtanong niyan. Nakangisi pa.

Napakamot tuloy ako sa ulo ko. “Hindi naman. . . sabi niya – she needs time and space and we can stay as friends.”

“Diba ganon din yon, basted din yon? Sa mga picture nga na naka-post 'My Guardian Angel and I'. . . ibig sabihin guardian angel lang ang tingin sa'yo ni Ate! Ha ha ha” walang prenong sabi ni Gab. Tumawa pa.

I need help. Wala ba kong kakampi dito?

“Well, bro. Hindi naman ibig sabihin na “let's stay as friends” ay basted na. It's depends on the situation -” Wow, si Kuya Daniel ba talaga 'yan – kinakampihan ba talaga niya ko?

“in our Princess situation, her first boyfriend just passed away, and we saw how much Eric loves her. It's not easy for her to let go of him. Right now, all she needs is a friend who can understand her. It just happened that JX was the one beside her on those time. If only can go back to Philippines to comfort her?” May panghihinayang sabi niya.

Ouch! Kala ko boto na sa akin, nagkataon lang palang ako nandon. . . Nag-isip tuloy ako don! I remember – Joelle said. . . “It might be love. . . I don't know . . . baka nasanay lang akong ikaw ang lagi kong kasama, kadamay, ang umaalalay sa akin.”

Kaya gusto niya kong lumayo sa kanya para alamin ang damdamin niya. Nagkataon nga lang bang ako ang lagi niyang kasama at that time?? Kung iba, possible siya ang kadamay at umaalalay sa kanya. At possible wala pa rin akong ka-chance chance. Hindi nga ako dapat mag-assume.

 “Seryoso ka ba kay Princess?” dugtong na tanong ni Kuya Daniel. Nakatingin pa sa mga mata ko.

“You knew me, Kuya, I had alot of fling relationship! But I never feel anything like this towards any other girl. I never courted any other woman. I never ashame to tell the world how much I love your sister. I want to hold her to be her strenght, I want to sing to her to make her smile, I want to love her even she can not return my love. I want to wait until she's ready to open her heart again. If that time comes, that she is ready to open her heart and it didn't belongs to me, though my heart broke, I will be happy for her.”

Napahawak na pala ko sa tapat ng puso ko habang nakatitig kay Kuya Daniel. Hindi naman ako makata at madrama, ewan ko saan ko hinugot ang mga salitang iyan. Marahil dito sa puso ko. Ganon siguro talaga pag nagmamahal – nagiging korni at madrama. Ang pakiramdam ko ang pula ko. Di ko pa nga nauubos tong isang bote ng beer.

“I can conclude that you, lil brother, is really in-love with Joelle.” nakangiting sabi ni Ate Gel. “Nagbi-blush ka pa, eh.”

"Wow, kuya JX, ikaw ba talaga yan? Eh, pano yung mga babaeng humahabol sa'yo? Kaya mo ba silang tiisin?” Panunukso pa ni Gab.

Disadvantage din pala na kilala ko ng family ni Joelle, alam nila ang pagiging playboy ko. . . dati. . . nung hindi ko pa nakikilala si Joelle.

“Mula nung makita ko ang picture ng Ate Joelle mo, natiis ko na sila. Good boy, na ko!” Totoo naman di ba?

“Eh, hanggang kelan mo kaya mag-iintay kay ate Joelle? 10 years? Alam mo naman ang lupit non? Kung paakyatin ka rin ng puno ng buko, kaya mo?” Si Gab pa rin, walang iba.

“Kakayanin ko – kahit paakyatin pa niya ko ng Rocky Mountains, kakayanin ko pa rin.” Seryoso ko – hindi ako ngumingiti.

“Hindi naman siguro ganon katagal ang ipag-iintay mo, just give her the time and space - that she's asking you.” Tinapik pa ko ni Kuya Daniel sa balikat.

Does it mean boto siya sa 'kin??? Pinalakas niya loob ko, eh!

 “Lil brother, did you already tell her what you feel? Baka sa amin mo lang sinasabi yan? Alam ba niya nararamdaman mo para sa kanya?” tanong ni Ate Gel.

Bakit di ko pa ba nasabi sa kanila, talagang nagtapat na ko kay Joelle?

 “Kinantahan ko siya sa harap ng maraming tao sa Boracay at hinarana ko siya sa Puerto Galera. At ipinagtapat ko damdamin ko nung nasa cruise kami. . . that's when she told me, right now, all she need is a friend and not a lover.” pagtatapat ko.

Ewan ko kung saan ako kumukuha ng lakas ng loob para sabihin sa mga future brothers-in-law ko yan. Feeling ko talaga future brothers-in-law! Kasi si Gab di ko naman brother-i-law si Kuya Daniel lang. He he he

Dagdag ko pa. “Pero hindi ako magsasawa sabihin sa kanya how much I love her! Kahit pa siguro I-reject niya ko ng paulit-ulit. Now, I understand Eric.”

Kuya Daniel POV

Iba nga naman ang nagagawa ng pag-ibig. Nanliligaw pa lang ako Kay Gel, playboy na tong si JX. Pero totoo naman wala pa siyang niligawan, puro yung mga babae ang humahabol sa kanya. Di ko naman masisisi, guapo rin talaga parang kami rin ni Gab.

Nasa lahi rin namin ang habulin. Si Gel lang ang hindi humabol sa kin. Pero ibang usapan ang love story namin. Sa pag-uusap namin pinakikiramdaman ko ang katapatan ng mga salitang sinasabi niya. At nakita ko sa mga mata niya ang sinseridad ng pagmamahal niya kay Princess.

Pero siyempre, hindi pa rin ako gaanong kumbinsido. Paano kung ngayon, in-love siya kaya niya nasasabi iyan but how about after a month? Eh, magkalayo sila?

“How are going to show her your feelings if you are ocean apart from each other?” I asked him.

“Kuya, we are in the 21st century, its very easy to communicate thru phone, internet like FB or Skype. Kung talagang gusto maraming paraan. At gagawin ko ang lahat ng paraaan makakaya ko.” determinadong sabi niya.

“Lil borther, why do you need to come here. You can just stay there to make sure no one else can catch her heart if ever she's ready. You can just run our business there?” Sabi ni Gel.

“I need to give her what she wants. . . time and space. Time to heal her broken heart and she told me, I will know when she's ready. Space for her to realize all the many whys at the back of her mind. And I am hopeful that I will be the reason to mend her broken heart. But as I told you, if it's not me, I will still be happy for her.”

I can't believe it's JX talking to us like this. Masyado siyang seryoso sa bawat salitang binibitiwan niya.

 “What are your plan then?” tanong pa rin ni Gel.

“I will quit my job and I will finish my masteral at Harvard. I cannot just handle our company without any credentials. Ninong and I already talked about it. As part of my training, he will send me all the information that I need to learn about our business. I just hope that when I finish my studies, Joelle will be ready for a new relationship. She will be my inspiration!”

His turning to be a young fine man with determination to succeed, full of responsibility unlike a happy-go-lucky playboy he was. And it's all because of his inspiration, our Princess.

“Ikaw na kuya JX. Sige, sa'yo na ko boto para kay Ate Joelle. But I will keep my eyes on you. Isusumbong kita pag nambabae ka.” Si Gab talaga!

“Well, good luck, bro! I hope na ikaw nga ang makapagpasagot kay Princess.” Tinapik ko siya sa balikat at nginitian. “But can I talk to you alone?” Princess asked me something that I need to clarify with JX.

 [A/N:  Please don't forget to vote every chapter!  Thank you!]