#PTG14 Chapter 14

"Katherine..."

Slowly, I peeled my eyes open. I saw Jax standing before me, carrying his review materials. I yawned and stretched my arms out as I looked around me.

"Kakatapos lang ng exam mo?" tanong ko dahil halos wala ng tao sa paligid. It was unusual... The usual scene after exams was students comparing their answers. Iniiwasan ko 'yun. There's no use to me getting frustrated dahil mali ang sagot ko. So, as much as possible, I do not discuss my answers. Tapos na, e. Ano pa bang magagawa ko? Besides, I didn't want the frustration to carry over the next days. Marami pa akong kailangang sagutan.

"Twenty minutes ago," he said.

"Bakit ngayon mo lang ako ginising?" I asked while I was picking up my things. Mas nauna kasi iyong exam ko sa kanya. Dapat maghihintay lang ako dito, but I guess I fell asleep. Today was the last day of the midterm exams, and I was spent as hell. Kung saan-saan na lang talaga ako nakaka-tulog.

Sabay kaming naglakad ni Jax papunta sa labas. He's the one who usually drives, but this week, I told him na balik driver muna siya. It's not safe for him to drive lalo na at alam kong puyat siya. Kung puyat ako, paano pa siya?

"You look so tired, so I let you sleep for a while," he said, then got the books from my hands kahit na ang dami niya ng dala. I just let him. He said kasi na he likes to do things for me. And I like seeing him put the effort. Pa-kunswelo man lang sa four years na paghihintay ko, noh!

"Pangit na ba ko?" I asked, pouting. "Gaganda na ulit ako after nito. 'Wag mo akong iiwan, please?"

He rolled his eyes while shaking his head. Kinulit ko lang siya nang kinulit hanggang sa makarating kami sa sasakyan niya. I greeted Kuya Eduard as I got inside. I was still stifling a yawn. God, I was so tired! I felt like I needed to sleep for days para maka-recover sa lahat ng kalokohan na nangyari ngayon!

I yawned again nang masandal iyong ulo ko.

"Pagod na pagod na ako," I said as I leaned my head against his shoulder. Hindi naman siya umaangal. Palagi ko na tuloy ginagawa.

I saw his phone lighten up. Nakita ko iyong pangalan nung least favorite kong classmate niya.

"Psh."

"What?"

"Close ba talaga kayo niyan?"

"Who?"

I pointed at his phone. "Yan. Close ba talaga kayo?" I asked. Kasi tuwing magkasama kami ni Jax, madalas ko talagang nakikita na nagnonotif iyong pangalan niya. Text nang text! Wala ba siyang ibang ma-text? Obvious naman na ako iyong nilalandi ni Jax, pero bulag-bulagan lang yata talaga siya.

He handed me his phone. "You wanna read her texts?"

I shook my head. "Ayoko. Privacy mo 'yan."

"I'm waiving my privacy," he said, still handing the phone to me. "Come on. Basahin mo na. Wala naman akong tinatago."

Inalis ko iyong pagkaka-sandal ng ulo ko sa balikat niya tapos tinignan siyang mabuti. "Sure ka?"

He nodded. "Yeah."

"Talaga lang..." I said, glaring at him. "Kasi kahit cute ako sa paningin mo, masama akong magalit," I threatened him. Never pa akong nagka-boyfriend, pero kapag naiimagine ko dati na kami ni Jax tapos lumandi siya sa iba, laging nag-e-end up iyong scenario sa sabunutan. Aba, ang tagal kong hinintay si Jax, papayag ba ako na agawin siya?!

There was a hint of amusement on his eyes. Again. Tuwang-tuwa talaga 'to kapag binabantaan ko siya!

"Really? What will you do?"

I crossed my arms. "Basta. Alam mo 'yung kasabihan na mas masama magalit ang maliliit? Totoo 'yun."

He pinched my nose. "Kulit," he said, then he opened his phone. "Go, scroll. There's not much there, really." Magkatabi kami. Nahiya ang space sa sobrang close naming dalawa. Pinapa-kita niya sa akin lahat ng laman ng inbox niya. Puro sila Tito, Tita, at Joey lang. May konting pangalan, pero halos puro name naman ng lalaki. Marami ding unregistered number.

"Ang igsi ng thread natin compared kay Cha..."

He flickered his fingers against my forehead. "Because we're always together."

"Tss. Tetext kita mamaya, tignan mo mamamatay 'yang battery mo," sabi ko tapos tinawanan niya na naman ako. Akala ba niya nagbibiro ako? Competitive kaya akong tao. Mas lalong hindi ako magpapatalo kung siya ang prize!

Pagdating sa bahay, inaya ko si Jax na pumasok muna para kumain ng dinner. I was unsure kung may tao ba sa bahay nila. Malungkot kaya kumain mag-isa... I should know because before him, mag-isa lang naman ako kumakain palagi sa bahay. And I didn't want him to feel lonely... lalo na at nandito na ako.

"Sige na, please?" I asked. "Quick dinner lang, then uwi ka na..." I pleaded. Baka kasi matulog na siya diretso pag-uwi niya. Ni hindi na nga siya nakapaglunch nang maayos kanina dahil sobrang dami talaga nung inaaral niya from CrimPro. I was just worried.

He sighed. "Fine," I replied to my grin. I always got my way. Bakit ba siya pumapalag pa sa 'kin?

I was literally pulling him with me nang sabay kaming mapa-tigil dahil nasa salas iyong parents ko. They were looking at us... like they were disappointed.

"Ma?" I asked, trying to break the tension that was rather unwelcomed. I didn't like how they were looking at Jax. I didn't want Jax to feel this. He's been through too much this week. The last thing that I wanted was for this to happen—whatever the hell this was.

Mama stood up, and kissed both my cheeks.

"Look at you," she said, cupping my face. "You look horrible, Katherine. Are you still sleeping? And you look like you gained a few pounds."

I bit my tongue to stop myself from snapping. She's my mother. She's just worried. I kept on telling that to myself whenever she'd make me feel... so inferior.

"I'm fine, Ma. Why are you two here?" I asked, trying to divert attention. I rarely see the two of them together. They already both have their own families. I only see them when it involves the business.

"Aren't you gonna introduce us to your... friend?"

Pilit akong huminga nang malalim. God. I shouldn't have pushed Jax to come here. Stressed na nga siya sa school, mase-stress pa siya sa mga magulang ko.

I forced a smile on my face. "Jax, these are my parents," I said, stretching my lips too wide that I feared that it my get torn. "Ma, Pa, this is Jax..." I trailed. God, ano bang sasabihin ko? Kapag sinabi kong manliligaw, I knew it would entail a lot of questions that I absolutely wouldn't want to deal with. Kapag sinabi ko namang kaibigan, I knew that it would be unfair to Jax.

"Friend po," Jax said, cutting me off. He took a step forward to shake my parents' hands. My eyes were wide open, still trying to process everything. It was a lot to take in. I certainly didn't imagine this night to go like this! Akala ko tapos na iyong hell week ko, may pahabol pa pala!

"Hinatid ko lang po si Katherine. Aalis na po ako," Jax politely said. He's just so polite. Kahit ganito na sobrang halata na hindi siya welcome. Naiinis ako. Bakit ba ganito sila? Halos hindi na nga sila magulang sa akin, e! Tapos ganito pa sila sa mga tao na may pakielam sa akin?

Naunang lumabas si Jax. I remained standing there, looking at the two of them with disappointment.

"The least you can do is to be nice to the people who are good to me," I said with gritted teeth. Pinalagpas ko lahat ng ginawa nila. Wala akong pakielam kahit sobrang madalang ko silang makita. Na mas marami silang oras sa bago nilang pamilya. I was fine with all of that. I didn't give much shit. Pero 'wag 'yung ganito. Ayoko na bastos sila sa mga tao na mas may pakielam sa akin kaysa sa kanila.

I quickly turned my back against them and ran after Jax. I quickly shouted his name.

"I'm sorry..." sabi ko habang naka-tayo sa harapan niya. I could see in his eyes how tired he was. This was the last thing that he needed. I felt so shitty for doing this.

There was a small smile on his face. "It's fine. Balik ka na sa loob."

Umiling ako. "No, it wasn't fine."

He tousled my hair. "It's fine," he insisted. "Get back inside. It's drizzling. You can't be sick."

I gently pushed his chest. "Bakit ako lang? Magkaka-sakit ka rin. Ang masyado mong caring. Nakaka-inis ka na minsan."

He laughed. "Nagagalit ka kapag tahimik ako. Nagagalit ka rin kapag nagsasalita ako. There's no winning when it comes to you, you know that?" he said, his eyes on me. His eyes were smiling. I love seeing him like this... I love knowing that I am the reason behind his happiness. I wanted him to always be happy. He deserves that.

"Get back inside, Katherine. You can't be sick. You promised to date me, remember?" he said.

I wrinkled my nose. Mabuti na lang madilim kaya hindi niya nakita na namula bigla iyong pisngi ko dahil sa sinabi niya! Ang kapal ng mukha kong sabihin na marupok siya pagdating sa akin, e mas malala naman ako pagdating sa kanya! Feeling ko talaga kapag inaya akong magtanan ni Jax, ako pa talaga magpe-prepare ng lahat sa pagtakas namin. Ganoon na talaga ako kalala.

"Ewan ko sa 'yo," I said, trying to sound cool kahit gustung-gusto ko na siyang talunin dahil sa lumabas sa bibig niya.

"But seriously, balik ka na sa loob."

I nodded. "Okay... but sorry ulit sa kanina, ha?"

He messed with my hair again. "I told you, it's nothing. You'll text me later?"

I playfully pushed him. "Oo na. Pero kain ka muna pag-uwi mo, ha? Tapos 'wag kang matulog agad. I'll text you. Marami pa akong hahabulin para mas mahaba thread ko kaysa d'yan sa classmate mo."

Tumawa na naman siya. "Yeah, sure." Hinatid ko na siya hanggang sa maka-sakay siya. "I'll wait for you text, okay?"

I nodded, and waved until the car's out of my sight. I begrudgingly went back inside. Both my parents were still sitting as if they're anticipating for my return.

"What?" agad na tanong ko. I was tired. I wanted to get some rest. I was pretty sure they just needed me for the business. Ganoon naman lagi.

"Is he your boyfriend?" Mama asked.

"No," I responded. "But if he is, so what?"

"Katherine!" she said as if I just disrespected her.

"Ma..." I trailed. "Jax is a good guy. He's really nice to me. And I really like him. So, please? If you're really my mother, please try to be happy because he makes me really happy."

Mabilis akong tumalikod. This week had been a lot. I didn't have any energy left. I just wanted to lie on my bed and text Jax. That's all I wanted.

"Katherine—" Mama said, but she was quickly cut off.

"Let her be," I heard Papa said. "Let her date whoever she wants. Let her play right now," he continued. "We'll just wait when she's done playing, then we'll introduce them to each other."

I rolled my eyes. Come on. As if I'd let them decide whom I'd date. They should know better.