#PTG16 Chapter 16

My heart... it felt like it would betray me and jump out of my chest just to go to Jax. I had always known that my heart's with him. It may be crazy for everyone else, but the first time I had laid my eyes on him, I knew it. He's the one. Siya na talaga. Maybe that's why I never bothered to look at anyone else. Because I knew that at the end of the day, there's only one person I'd look for.

Siya talaga.

Kahit ano'ng gawin ko, siya talaga ang gusto ko.

"Ano? Magsalita ka naman," nanginginig ang labi na sabi ko habang naghihintay ng sagot mula sa kanya. He was just staring at me. I shifted on my feet.

"Ayaw mo ba?" I followed-up.

"Gusto."

"Bakit 'di ka sumagot agad?"

"You stole my moment."

Umawang ang labi ko. "What?"

He took a step forward, forcing me to take a step back. I didn't think I could be near him. Not right now. Not when my heart was threatening to explode from all the feelings he was making me feel. I clutched on to my chest, gently begging my heart to calm down. Pakiramdam ko ay bigla na lang akong matutumba dahil sa paraan ng pagtingin niya sa akin.

"For four years, you always charged at me. Always the one who looks first, always the one who initiates the conversation. But now..." he said, then shook his head with what felt like disappointment. "You really couldn't give this to me?"

He took another step forward.

I took a step back—but failed to do so because he quickly grabbed my arm and pulled me towards him.

"Stop running," he said, staring at my eyes. "Don't even try."

My lips were quivering, but I didn't want him to see how badly he was making my heart throb with all kinds of emotion! Para na akong aatakihin sa lahat ng ginagawa niya! Even the simplest movement from him could create havoc in my heart! Parang hindi niya pa alam ang epekto niya sa akin!

"A-ano ba?" I managed to ask. Sobrang kinakabahan ako sa mga ganyang tingin niya! Pakiramdam ko talaga konting galaw niya pa, ikamamatay ko na!

"Katherine Tyrese Arellano," banggit niya sa pangalan ko. My chest was tightening so fast. God, I couldn't breathe! Pinapatay na ako ni Juan Alexandro Yuchengco!

"A-ano?"

"Be my girlfriend?"

"Q-question ba 'yan o statement."

"Question, of course. We're living in a democratic country."

I bit my lower lip. "Pwede akong magno?"

But instead of answering my question, he fucking lowered his head until we're face to face! I swear, just a little movement would make me kiss him! Sinusubukan talaga ako ng lalaki na 'to!

"You can try," he said. He was so close that I could feel his breath on my face. God, I love him so much.

"Pwede kong i-try?" I asked, testing him, but this brute just got his face closer to mine! Lord, nauubusan na ako ng hangin sa katawan! Feeling ko hinihigop ni Jax lahat ng hangin at energy ng buong pagkatao ko!

I tried to push him away dahil iyong puso ko ay parang bibigay na talaga, but he caught my hands and held them against his chest. Lord. Ano'ng nangyayari sa kanya?! Balak niya yata akong bigyan ng heart attack!

"Katherine," he said. I love it when he says my name.

"What?"

"Girlfriend na ba kita o ano?" tanong niya habang naka-lapat pa rin sa dibdib niya iyong kamay ko na hawak niya. I could feel how fast his heart was beating. If not for this, I wouldn't know na kagaya ko ay kinakabahan din siya. Jax had always been a master of masking his emotion. But... but I was happy that he's finally letting me close enough to know how he was feeling.

"A-ano'ng pinagkaiba kapag boyfriend na kita?"

"I'll kiss you," he said, his eyes never leaving mine.

Mabilis na napa-kurap ako. Paulit-ulit.

"Seryoso ka ba?"

He nodded. "Pangarap mo 'yun, 'di ba?"

I pushed him. "Ang kapal!"

He laughed. "Heard you telling Joey that you want me to be your first kiss," he said. "Let's make that come true tonight."

Mabilis na namula ang mukha ko. Lecheng 'to! Chismoso pala! Nakikinig sa usapan nang may usapan!

"Napaka-epal mo minsan!"

He was still laughing. I struggled hanggang sa makuha ko iyong kamay ko mula sa kanya. I was about to walk away when he caught my hand again, pulled me until we're face to face again. He cupped my face.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't—"

But I quickly cut him off. I tiptoed and kissed him.

It was quick... but it was enough to shake my world... And Jax's world as well because his eyes were wide like mine. Like he didn't expect that I'd do it. Well, he provoked me! You don't joke about a girl's dream first kiss!

"Katherine!" he shouted when he finally realized na tumatakbo na ako palabas ulit ng village nila.

"Mapanaginipan mo sana 'yan!" sigaw ko. Epal talaga siya!

"But are we together now?" he shouted from behind me.

"Obviously!" I shouted before I ran faster than I have ever run in my life.

* * *

For the first time in forever, I ignored Jax's text. Sobrang dami niyang texts kagabi sa akin, but I buried my phone in my drawer! Hiyang-hiya pa rin ako sa sinabi niya na pangarap kong maging first kiss siya! Leche talaga 'yung anemic na 'yun!

"Katherine, nandyan si Jax sa labas," Yaya said.

"Papasukin niyo po," I said, my eyes still focused on what I was reading. Puro na nga doodle ng name ni Jax iyong notebook ko, e. Mabilis kong tinago iyong notebook dahil baka makita na naman ni Jax tapos tuksuhin na naman ako. Epal talaga.

"Aba'y malamang pinapasok ko na. Nakita ko nga lang kanina nung lumabas ako. Tawagan o labasin mo na lang," Yaya said.

I sighed. I quickly grabbed my jacket. I was only wearing cotton shorts and white shirt. 'Di pa ako naliligo. 'Di naman ako takot magpakita kay Jax. Aba, tanggapin niya ako bagong ligo o wala mang ligo.

"Ayaw mong pumasok?" I asked, my brows arched. He was inside his car. There were dark circles under his eyes. Aba... mukhang 'di nga naka-tulog!

"Are your parents inside?"

A quick pang of guilt seeped through my system. I forgot about that. Hanggang ngayon, naiinis pa rin ako sa ginawa nila kay Jax. My Mom specifically told me to stop dating Jax. She's acting like I was too good for Jax when in fact, he's the one who's too good for me. I didn't know why my parents refused to see that.

"Wala," I said. "Did you eat breakfast na?" I asked, as I opened his car door. I wanted to hug him, pero nahihiya ako bigla. Akala mo hindi pa kami nagkiss, e! Ugh! Ang pabebe namin! Ang tanda na namin, e!

Umiling siya. "You didn't answer my texts," sabi niya na parang bata na nagsusumbong na naagawan ng candy.

"Naka-tulog na ako."

"Tss."

"Di ka naka-tulog?" I teased.

"I'll get back on you," he warned.

"Yie, takot ako," I said, laughing at his face. Nakita kami ni Yaya kaya napatigil ako bigla. Thankfully, may breakfast na na naka-handa kaya pinakain ko muna si Jax. This boy has an appetite. It's a wonder bakit 'di siya tumataba. Mukhang 'di naman nag-e-exercise 'to. Mukha ngang never pa tumapak sa gym, e.

Okay lang for me. Baka kapag nagka-abs 'to dumami kaagaw ko. I love my squishy boy.

"Dala mo gamit mo?" I asked.

He nodded. "Can I study here?"

"Parang tanga. Syempre, pwede," sabi ko sa kanya. "Kunin ko lang 'yung gamit ko sa taas."

I quickly got my things from upstairs. Pagdating ko sa salas, nagulat ako dahil bukod sa gamit ni Jax, nandun na rin iyong case digests ko... na nasa expanding folder na. He already puncher-ed it and everything!

"Already did the table of contents. Just re-write it," he said, showing me the table of contents he did. It was 25 pages. Sinulat niya na para mas madali sa akin. God, what did I ever do to deserve him?

My eyes started to tear up. I was feeling overwhelmed by him. He was so overwhelming. I felt like I could never keep up by how much he cared for me.

"Are you crying?" nagulat na tanong niya.

My lips were quivering. "Kainis ka naman. Bakit ba ang bait-bait mo kahit tinutukso kita lagi?"

He laughed, then wiped the tears with his thumb. "You crazy woman, stop crying, baka isipin nila Manang pinapaiyak kita."

My chest heaved. "Kasi naman!"

"I just like doing things for you, okay? You can't always cry whenever I do things for you," sabi niya habang pinupunasan iyong bawat luha na tumutulo mula sa mga mata ko.

"Kainis ka naman! Ano'ng pwede kong gawin para sa 'yo? 'Di ko alam mga inaaral mo..."

He looked over my shoulders, then behind him. Then... he stole a quick kiss. "There, we're even."

Para akong baliw na iyak tawa. "Iyon ba gusto mong bayad?"

He nodded like a kid.

I wiped my tears with the back of my hand, and pulled him up with me. I quickly scanned the surroundings at mukhang nasa kusina sila Manang. Mabilis kong hinatak si Jax papunta sa study room.

"What—"

"Sshh," I said as I locked the door. Magsasalita pa sana siya, but I quickly pushed him against it. "Please don't talk," I begged him kasi baka mahiya na naman ako! But ugh! He's making it really hard not to kiss him! Kainis! First kiss ko lang 'yung kahapon, but Jax's making me feel very addicted already!

I tiptoed.

"This one's for recommending the books," I said, planting a quick kiss on his lips. "This one's for telling me na walang pasok kapag first week of class..." And I kissed him again. "This one's—"

I was about to plant a quick kiss when Jax held my shoulders, and made me look at him. I saw in his eyes that he looked... pained.

"Can we consolidate all your liabilities?" he asked in a rather throaty tone. His eyes looked drunk... and I was probably mirroring the same expression on his face.

Agad akong napa-lunok. "W-what do you mean?"

His hands went from my shoulder to the base of my neck until he was cupping my face again. His eyes never left mine. God, my heart was really trying hard not to explode from all the sensations he was making me feel! Binabaliw niya na talaga ako!

"This is what I mean," he said, his lips reaching mine and kissing me until I forgot how it feels to breathe.