#PTG21 Chapter 21

Jax is a very confident person—hindi iyong mayabang o kung anuman—but with the type of environment law school forged us to become, he's very assured of himself. I'd seen him debate once... and damn. We made out so hard after that. Sobrang gwapo lalo ni Jax kapag nilalampaso niya iyong mga kalaban niya sa debate. Kaya rin siguro minsan pinipikon ko si Jax. Ang hot niya kasi kapag nakikita ko na naiinis na siya sa 'kin.

But all that confidence? It went missing nung aalis na siya sa study area. I swore I saw him sweating so hard. Alam niya kasi na hindi man siya makita nila Yaya na umalis, makikita siya ng guard. And as they say, news travel fast.

"Kumalma ka nga," I said. I was back to wearing my jacket. Jax forced me to wear it dahil naiilang pa rin yata siya na makita akong walang suot. Tss. As if nahihiya siya kanina pagkatapos ng lahat ng ginawa niya sa 'kin.

"Tahimik muna, please, Katherine," sabi niya habang parang tanga na naka-silip sa pintuan. It was already 3am. I was sure na naka-uwi na sila Yaya from the concert. Sure din ako na natutulog na sila. Ewan ko ba kay Jax. I

I stood up, and pulled him back to the couch. "Dito ka na lang, please? Tapos sabihin na lang natin kila Yaya na maaga kang pumunta. Lagi mo namang ginagawa 'yun," I said, trying to convince him. Pero alam ko naman na hindi siya papayag. He's very... protective of his image kila Yaya. As if naman hindi pa kami nahuli ni Yaya before! Napa-sign of the cross pa nga si Yaya nung nahuli kaming gumugulong sa sahig, e.

"I need to go home."

"Wala rin naman sila Tita, 'di ba? Sabi mo may conference siya. Tapos si Tito din sabi mo may operation kaya nasa hospital lagi. Dito ka na lang, please?" I urged still.

I kept on pulling his arm until I finally got him to look at me. Medyo naka-kunot iyong noo niya habang naka-tingin sa akin. I gave him a small smile.

"Fine... but we'll just sleep."

My smile was replaced with a grin. "My, my... ano ba'ng naisip mo na gagawin natin, ha?" I asked while my fingers were crawling on his chest. "Jax, we're gonna sleep. As in literally. I promise."

Jax rolled his eyes again. "Fine. Basta matutulog lang."

I laughed. "I promise," I reiterated.

The couch was huge enough for the both of us, but Jax wrapped me inside his arms para hindi ako mahulog. I snuggled closer against his chest. I love it when we're like this. As in ganito na talaga iyong gusto ko forever. Siya na talaga. Ito na talaga.

"What's your plan this summer?" I asked after I yawned. This week had been hard. Halos wala pa akong tulog dahil sa dami ng inaral ko for finals. Alam ko na mas pagod si Jax dahil mas marami siyang subject kaysa sa akin. I kinda felt bad dahil pinagod ko pa siya ngayon.

"You. You're my plan this summer."

I wrinkled my nose. Kainis. Kung anu-ano na naman lumalabas sa bibig nito. "Ano nga?"

He hugged me tighter. "There's no plan, really. Hindi kami gumagawa ng plano kapag summer kasi busy sila Mama sa trabaho. Dati kami ni Joey 'yung umaalis, pero busy na rin siya sa school."

I looked up to see his pretty face. "San mo ba gustong pumunta? You're my plan this summer din kasi," I said, smiling at him. Hindi ko alam bigla kong kinagat iyong baba niya. Kinunutan niya na naman ako ng noo. Sarap kasing kagatin nito, e.

"Ikaw? San mo gusto?"

"Hmm... Beach?" sabi ko. Gusto ko talagang paarawan si Jax.

He nodded. "Okay," he said, then planted a kiss on the top of my head. "We'll go to the beach..." he continued, but in a fainter voice. Tinignan ko iyong mga mata niya na ngayon ay naka-sara na. Napa-ngiti ako. He's so tired.

"You did well. Sleep soundly, Jax," I said, as I cuddled and relaxed inside his arms.

* * *

Jax and I went to the beach the day after. I forced him to sleep the next day. Mukha kasi siyang zombie dahil alam ko 3 hours lang ang tulog niya dahil sa dami ng inaral niya. Nung satisfied ako na okay na ulit siya, doon kami umalis. Mayroon kaming nakita sa Batangas kaya doon kami nagpunta. He initially wanted to go to Zambales pa, but I insisted against it. Pagod pa siya from that entire finals debacle, so I really didn't want him to do a long drive.

Minsan, naiinis ako kasi mas inuuna niya ako palagi. Akala niya lang hindi ko napapansin, but when it came to me? He wouldn't care kahit pagod na siya o nahihiya siya. Basta alam niya na sasaya ako, he'd do it—no questions asked.

Sometimes, it scared me.

It scared me how far he'd go for me.

Pero siguro ganon talaga... kasi ako rin sa sarili ko, ganoon sa kanya. Maybe it's what love does to a person. It makes you selfless. It makes you give without even asking. Kasi mahal mo. Ganon talaga.

"Tara, sunbathing tayo," aya ko sa kanya. Iyon naman kasi talaga iyong dahilan kung bakit kami nandito! Kailangan niyang maarawan!

Naka-kunot iyong noo niya. Kinunutan ko rin siya ng noo. Ano na namang problema nito?

"Di ba pwede na mag-t-shirt ka?"

"What? Nasa beach kaya tayo..." naka-labing sagot ko. I was wearing bikini kasi nasa beach naman talaga kami! It was a decent red bikini.

"I know," he replied, still studying me. He sighed. "Fine. Tara na," he continued, but he was murmuring something na hindi ko na naintindihan.

I was hopping while we were walking towards the beach. Medyo maraming tao dahil din siguro summer na. Doon kami nagstay sa part na medyo malayo sa mga tao. It was also under the shade of a humungous tree.

"Tanggalin mo shirt mo," I told him. "Lagyan kita ng sunblock, bilis."

"Ayoko."

I pouted. "Sige na, please?" pamimilit ko sa kanya. Ayaw niya talagang maghubad! Ang arte talaga ng tao na 'to! Nahihiya ba siya na baka masilaw iyong mga tao sa beach dahil sa sobrang putla ng balat niya? Kasalanan niya naman! Palibasa sa gabi lang lumalabas. Daig pa bampira nito.

Determined to have some color on him, I said, "Pag hinubad mo 'yang shirt mo, ako na magsusuot..." I bargained. I could see how he was looking around trying to see if someone was looking at me. Ayoko rin naman na mapaaway si Jax. 'Di pa naman violent 'tong tao na 'to. Masungit lang, pero alam ko na hindi siya iyong tipo na nakikipag-away.

Plus... I was the only one in a bikini. I knew eyes were on me. And before, I was okay with it. But I'm with Jax. I didn't like anyone else looking at me. Kay Jax lang ako.

Reluctantly, he took his shirt off. I was clapping like a little kid when I finally got him topless. Mabilis na pinasuot niya sa akin iyong shirt niya. I could see him relaxing nung covered na iyong katawan ko. Tignan mo 'tong lalaki na 'to. Sobrang possessive din talaga, e.

I made Jax lie down. I took my sweet time putting sunblock on his back. Gusto ko ring hawakan iyong buhok niya. His hair's really black... and it looked so nice against the paleness of his skin. Ang ganda rin ng mukha niya... Minsan, napapa-tulala na lang ako kapag tinitignan ko siya. May something kasi talaga sa kanya na parang bigla na lang akong natitigilan. Alam mo 'yun? Iyong parang ang sarap niyang alagaan?

Damn, I really got lucky with him.

"Your hands," he said with his head resting against the roundie.

"Ano na naman?"

"Kung saan-saan pumupunta iyong kamay mo."

Napa-tingin ako sa kamay ko na nasa pwet niya na pala. Bigla ko iyong natanggal sa gulat. Damn! Ayan! Kakaisip ko sa mukha niya, nawala na naman ako sa sarili ko! Ang gwapo naman kasi nito, kakainis! Tapos 'di pa niya alam na gwapo siya. I mean, sure, nakikita niya iyong mukha niya sa salamin, but he never act like it.

He's just... Jax.

"Sorry," I said. "Tapos na ko sa likod mo. Harap ka na."

"Ayoko."

I pulled him. "Bilis na. Para pantay."

"Ayoko."

"Tsk. Ayan ka na naman sa kaartehan mo!" sabi ko habang pilit na hinahatak siya para sa kabila naman. Ang tibay din talaga; ayaw niya magpahila!

Annoyed, I walked out on him. Naglakad ako papunta sa sasakyan. It was parked near the beach. We paid a lot for a parking fee, but it was fine kaysa mawala 'tong Range Rover niya na pwede ng ipambili ng house and lot.

I tried to open the door, but stopped upon realization na nasa kanya nga pala iyong susi nung sasakyan. I was gritting my teeth so badly. Nakaka-pikon din 'to minsan si Jax. Pasalamat siya mahal ko talaga siya kaya hinahabaan ko iyong pasensya ko sa kanya.

Pero nang tumalikod ako, kumunot ang noo ko nang makita ko siya na naka-sunod lang pala sa akin. He got the roundie covering him.

"Para kang tanga," I said. "Iniwan mo 'yung gamit don."

"Are you mad?" he asked.

"Gusto lang naman kitang lagyan ng lotion."

He sighed, then handed the bottle of lotion over. "Fine," he said. I arched my brow at him. Ibibigay din pala niya, bakit kailangang magwalkout pa ako? Minsan iniisip ko na turn on ni Jax kapag napipikon ako kasi lagi niya talagang ginagawa!

I crossed my arms. "Bakit nagbago 'yang isip mo?"

"I..." he trailed. "I can't let you rub lotion all over me there."

My brows were on full arch. "And why is that?"

Sobrang lalim ng buntong-hininga ni Jax. Tinanggal niya iyong roundie na naka-balot sa kanya. "Because of this," sabi niya. Agad na nanlaki iyong mga mata ko nang makita ko iyong... tent. What the fuck?! Seriously?!

My lips were parted widely. Bigla akong pinagpawisan.

"Don't stare at it!" sabi niya.

"But you're showing it to me!"

He covered himself up again. He clicked on his key fob, and got inside his car. "I swear, one day, you're gonna kill me!" he said, before slamming the car door closed.

Ilang segundo siguro akong tulala at hindi alam ang gagawin. What... what just happened? I blinked a couple of times before I finally got the courage to follow him inside the car. Mabilis akong sumakay sa shotgun.

"Are you mad?" I asked. His head was resting against the steering wheel. His body was still covered by the damned roundie.

"Sshh."

"Don't sshh me!"

I saw his shoulders rising and falling. "One minute, Katherine. Please," sabi niya na parang nahihirapan siya.

"Ano ba kasi? Galit ka nga?" pilit ko sa kanya, pero ayaw niya pa rin akong tignan. Naka-subsob pa rin iyong ulo niya sa steering wheel. Pilit ko siyang kinakalabit, pero hindi niya ako pinapansin.

"Hindi ako galit," he said.

"Bakit ayaw mo akong tignan?"

Akala ko patuloy pa rin siya sa pag-ignore sa akin, but I was quite taken aback when he finally looked at me. His eyes blazed like fire and his jaw was clenched dangerously. If I were standing, I would've fallen on my knees with the way he was looking at me.

"I'm horny, okay? Leave me alone," he spat before resting his forehead against the steering wheel yet again.

Malaki ang awang ng labi ko dahil sa mga salitang narinig ko mula sa kanya. Hindi ako naka-galaw. What... what the fuck did he just say?

"Do you... uhm... Do you want us to... like take care of it?" naguguluhan na tanong ko. I mean, we already did that, but it was still... awkward! It was both our first time. I mean, Jax was really good, but nakakahiya pa rin!

I heard him groaning. "Papatayin mo ba talaga ako?"

"What? Kasalanan ko na naman? For your information, nilagyan lang kita ng sunblock! Malay ko bang ganyan kadumi 'yang isip mo, Juan Alexandro!"

It seemed like what I said riled him up dahil inalis niya na iyong ulo niyang kanina pa naka-dikit sa steering wheel, at tinignan ako.

He scoffed. "Ako pa?" he asked incredulously.

I nodded. "Hindi ba? Ikaw d'yan 'yung biglang nanghahablot ng mukha ng may mukha!" paalala ko sa kanya. Ilang beses na kaming muntik mahuli ni Yaya dahil bigla na lang nanghahalik 'tong anemic na 'to! Ugh! Ayan! Makulimlim na! 'Di na naman siya naarawan!

He groaned—kasabay ng pagkulog ng malakas mula sa labas. I didn't know if it was just because his car was heavily tinted, but the outside looked really dark. May bagyo ba? But it's summer!

"Iyong gamit—" I said, but I was quickly cut off when he grabbed my face yet again and kissed me so hard. His hand tore the shirt. "Jax!" gulat ko nang mapunit iyong suot ko.

"That fucking shirt," he said before he reclined the seat. He quickly pulled me until I was sitting on his lap again. "Be thankful I don't have scissors here with me. I'm gonna fucking cut that into pieces," sabi niya bago mabilis na hinila pababa iyong bikini top ko.

Hindi ako maka-hinga dahil sa mga ginagawa niya. Hindi ko alam na ganito pala siya. I didn't know if it was the weather or the bikini or his anger? But this was... shocking... in a pleasant way.

Jax's mouth covered my breasts. Kinakabahan ako dahil baka may maka-kita sa amin dito. It was still a public area! But all that worry flew when I felt his fingers... oh, wow.

"Promise me you'll never tease me in public again," he said while his fingers were doing magic.

Napa-kapit ako sa balikat niya. "W-What?" I asked, barely able to breathe properly with how he was fiddling with me. I was shivering with every touch, every flicker. Mababaliw ako.

"Promise me, Katherine," he replied, a finger inching its way in. "Promise me," he repeated, adding another. Fuck. Fuck you, Juan Alexandro!

Where did he learn this?! Imbes na matulog, nagresearch ba siya kahapon?!

"I... I promise," I said, breathing unevenly.

He quickened his pace. "Good... I don't like getting boners in public."

I leaned my head against his shoulder and bit whatever my mouth could reach. "Please stop talking like that..." I whispered. "Papatayin mo rin ako..."

He chuckled. "I can't promise," he said. I was about to argue with him, but my eyes widened when he pulled me up, only to pull me down into his member.

"I love you, Katherine Tyrese," he whispered into my ears as he showed me just how much he did.