Chapter 35: Serene

When some say that after the rain, there's always a rainbow, for me it symbolized my loneliness... until someone came and become my companion through my good and bad days.

"Pack some of your things, gonna pick you up tomorrow, " Zian said and waved his hand inside his car.

I smiled. "Okay." Hindi ko na ulit siya nilingon kasi nahihiya ako kanina sa amusement park.

But before I could even make more steps, he called me. "Persian..."

"Yeah?" I responded and looked back.

"You didn't give me a good night something," he said, brushing his thumb against his lower lip.

I frowned and walked back.

"What good night something?" I asked innocently, bowing a little so I could see him from inside.

He wiggled his eyebrows and rested his elbow against the window. "What's with that attitude?" he asked.

I groaned and looked away.

Gosh, for sure this guy would be the death of me! Couldn't he notice that I'm kinda embarassed?

I wrinkled my nose. Kung wala pa akong gagawin ay baka tumagal pa ako rito. So, I did what I think the best to make him stop.

"Persian—"

Before he could say anything I reached for his nape and kissed him deeply. I felt him smiling between our kisses. "Gosh, that's not what I meant..." he playfully whispered.

I looked at him in confusion after he left my lips.

"Well, I just asked for a simple 'good night' or 'sweet dreams', but then you gave me something that would surely give me a nightmare."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Jerk."

He chuckled. "Fine, have a good night. And please, pray."

I nodded. "Yeah, whatever. Bye." I was about to walk back when he called me again.

"Wait!"

I stopped on my track and glared at him. "What?"

"Well... I don't think I can able to sleep properly tonight without checking your apartment..."

"You're so clingy!"

"Ayaw mo ng clingy?"

I crossed my arms. "Well, if it's you... of course, I want it!"

He pouted and opened his car's door. "Lead the way, just gonna check if it's really safe."

I started to walk while him following behind. "Gosh, Zian, you're being paranoid. I'm really fine here," I said while inserting my key in the doorknob when we got there.

"Just wanna see... if it's fine with you."

"Nandito ka na, aayaw pa ba ako?" I answered and opened the door widely. My face crumpled when I saw mess inside. Gosh, I haven't cleaned yet, wala pa akong time, I am always tired from working.

"Are you really okay here? No offense, okay? But I don't think Persian Audrey can live in this place. Though it's convenient naman."

I faced him. "I'm fine, really. Don't you like the new me?"

"Of course, I like it more. Feel ko ganiyan na iyong type ko..." he murmured while checking my doorknob, avoiding my gaze.

"Huh?"

He straightened his posture. "Nothing, so... get inside and sleep." He still wandering the inside of my apartment.

I leaned against the wall while watching him. "If I were to think... pakiramdam ko gusto mo matulog dito."

He quickly looked at me.

I smirked. "You know, you can sleep on the sofa... or if you want to share a bed... it would be great."

He frowned. "Persian and her moves. Just get inside, then I'll leave."

I shrugged and stole a kiss on his cheek before getting inside. "Have a wet dreams with me, love," I teased.

He frowned once again.

We stared at each other's eyes in a minute before I slowly closed the door.

After that, napahawak agad ako sa dibdib. "Gosh, what was that?" I asked myself as my heartbeat pounding loudly.

I wonder what's our score now? I mean, it's clear that he likes me now, so definitely it's a mutual understanding. Finally, I got him. He broke his own words.

Hindi pala type, ha?

I PICKED my pen to enumerate the costumer's order. But quickly stiffened when I looked who was it.

My heart began to clench its own.

I gritted my teeth when I saw her smile.

"What the fvck is your order, ma'am?" I asked, atleast there's still a respect on what I said.

"Hey, little sister— oh, my bad, dear cousin na nga pala."

I turned my fist into balls, fighting the urge to punch Fiona across her face.

"What do you want?"

"Well, I'm here to see you. Gosh, ang dali mo namang hanapin—"

"I'm not hiding," I cut off.

She raised a brow. Even then, I noticed her physical features got changed a bit.

I twisted my lips as my eyes went on her stomach. Getting curious, but I won't ask. The hell, I care.

"Curious? Well, I want us to be civil, so mind if you sit down?"

I rolled my eyes. "Working hours."

"Come on, ngayon lang ako nag-yayaya hindi mo pa pauunlakan?"

"Sino ka ba?" I retorted.

She rolled her eyes. "Don't make me mad, Audrey."

I sighed and sat in front of her. I didn't even know why I obliged, but I guess this is for peace, she's making me piss.

"How are you?" she asked.

I was taken aback by what she said.

Fiona's asking how am I?

Wow.

"Don't be surprised."

I rolled my eyes. "I don't care. Why are you here?"

"Well, gusto ko lang ng peace of mind... and even how hard I try to be at peace, I just couldn't... so, I gave up and my shoes brought me here."

I was just listening to her as I examined her body again. She even had a change of attitude.

Is she... perhaps... pregnant?

"I just wanna apologize for everything, Audrey."

And like that, I felt my surroundings fell in silence. As if, after hearing those words made me deaf.

I looked at her in confusion. "What have you eaten earlier? A left-over food?"

She chuckled. "Alam ko namang hindi ka nagtatanong, pero gusto ko lang i-share, I am not proud to say this, but... I'm pregnant."

Once again, I stunned in shock.

My lips parted.

"What?"

"I got pregnant, bingi mo naman."

My lips were still parted, until I recovered. "Nino?"

"Sa tingin mo sino?"

I rolled my eyes once again. Pakiramdam ko lagi talagang iikot ang mata ko lalo na kapag si Fiona ang kaharap ko. "I don't like thrill when it comes to you."

"Kurt."

I'm not even surprised. Kung siguro hindi pa siya nabuntis ay hindi siya manghihingi ng tawad sa 'kin. This wench.

"Where is he?"

"Somewhere, pinaalis ko muna kasi kakausapin kita. I just want peace, and I can't have it without apologizing to you, so here I am."

Parang hindi ako sanay na hindi kami nagbabangayan kahit mag-usap lang. I ignored her remarks, and asked what I was really curious to.

"How about..." Alam ba nila Daddy?

"If you're talking about the family. They knew, they're disappointed at first until they learned to accept, nandito na, e."

"Stupid."

She glared at me. "Si Kurt ang tanga, kung hindi lang siya tigang edi sana hindi niya nakalimutan—"

"I'm not interested."

And she's talking about being pregnant like it was just a joke, as if it's not a burden to carry! Come on, she's still in college and got pregnant. I ain't worried, but... how about her dreams? I mean, it's hard to be a mother, you could still enjoy your life but she chose to be pregnant— Why am I even problematic? After all, it's her life. I shouldn't care even she's always sticking her nose with my businesses.

"You know what? You should come home, our parents surely missed you."

Our.

Wala naman din akong pake kung angkinin niya, they're not even being parents to me.

I scoffed. "It felt a sin hearing it from you."

"I really hate you, Audrey."

"I hate you more. I even despised you."

"Umuwi ka na—"

"Pagkatapos mo akong palayasin, pababalikin mo 'ko? Hindi ka naman siguro baliw?"

She massaged her temple. "Stressed ako sa 'yo. Bahala ka kung ayaw mo, atsaka kung bumalik ka roon, minsan mo na rin naman ako makikita, e. I'll just visit sometimes since I am kinda busy with my life."

I rolled my eyes. "Mr. Vallejos?"

She shrugged. "Papa's fine, we often bond together, hindi kita pinapaiingit, ha?"

I sighed. "Leave, Fiona, naiinis ako sa mukha mo."

She smiled. "Me too, baka paglihian pa kita, that would surely infuriate me."

She's still spitting nonsense, until I already finished counting mentally and left her without saying anything.

Somehow... I felt something lift up from my shoulders.

After I finished my shift, I quickly changed my outfit since Zian will pick me up and then we'll go somewhere to unwind.

"Alis ka na? Punasan mo muna—"

I raised my hand at Shanny. "Can you give me a peaceful night even just now? And... how many times I'll tell you na I'm not a freaking janitress? You're stressing me out." I rolled my eyes and she remained silent until I left the resto.

"I felt so drained today," I exclaimed as I relaxed myself on shotgun seat.

"Are you tired? Let's eat first." Zian looked at me and smiled a bit, but I could sense him worrying.

I rolled my eyes and left myself from leaning before closing our gap. I smiled as I cupped Zian's handsome face. "Why do I feel just fine after seeing your face in a split second?"

He shrugged. "What do you want to eat?"

"You."

I chuckled when he tried to get his face away from my hold. He's blushing for heaven's sake!

I pouted, pointing at my lips. "Come on."

He rolled his eyes at me before leaning to plant a kiss on my forehead, nose, and lips. "Let's go, we should arrive 2 hours before our flight."

Natigilan ako. "Flight?"

"Right, sorry for not informing you, but we're going to Palawan."

My eyes widened. "Really?!"

So, that was what happened. Bumalik ulit kami sa loob para kumain, I wasn't even hungry, but he's insisting that I should eat! We went to my apartment to pick my things, and then we drove to airport, ibinilin na rin niya iyong sasakyan niya sa driver nila.

Almost 2 hours lang ang biyahe sa NAIA papuntang Palawan, so I just took a nap while we're on our flight. I felt Zian gently massaging my hands while I rested my head on his shoulder.

Pagkagising ko naalala ko ulit bigla si Fiona. Zian looked at me. "You okay?" he asked while fixing the jacket I was wearing.

"Malapit na tayo?"

"No, you just slept for more than 20 minutes. Are you hungry?"

I shook my head.

He raised a brow. "What are you thinking?"

"I talked with Fiona earlier," I confessed.

"Your sister?"

I shook my head. "She's not my sister."

His forehead creased.

I began to tell him everything, as in everything including Violet. And told him I talked with Fiona earlier, but didn't tell him about the pregnancy. I felt like I shouldn't have to.

I am still mad at Fiona. She almost destroyed me, she's always like that. And I just can't forgive her just because she apologized. Maybe it'll take time. I don't want to force myself for the sake of forgiveness.

"I booked us two rooms, I'll be next door, so just... anyway, you don't have my number." He scratched the back of his head.

I smirked and crossed my arms. "I have your number in mind... unless you changed?"

He looked at me in the eye. "I didn't change my phone number."

"Good, I'll save your number on my phone, then. Anyway, two rooms? Can't we just stay in a same room?"

He shook his head in disapproval. "Definitely not."

I scowled. "You're spending too much money! Nakakainis ka!"

He wrinkled his nose. "God..." he murmured and looked up, his hand on his waist.

I bit my lower lip while looking at him.

"Can you please just get inside? I'll knock later for our late dinner, just rest first, okay? Please..." he pleaded, para bang hirap na hirap siya sa 'kin.

"Fine! Anyway, just enter my room if you're going to wake me up."

So, that's what I did. Inayos ko muna iyong gamit ko, and did things before I showered inside this hotel room's bathroom and slept.

I woke up when I felt someone looking at me. Nagpalinga-linga ako, until my eyes landed on Zian who was seating on the edge of the bed.

"If I didn't know you, I'd surely have a heart attack! Why are you looking at me like that?" I complained while fixing my hair.

"Didn't mean to wake you up, but you have to eat now."

"You? Kumain ka na?"

"Nope, we'll eat together."

That made me smile. "My heart fluttered."

He chuckled.

We both walked on the hallway to go in a nearby restaurant. Walang masyadong tao pagkarating namin sa isang restaurant, at ngayon ko lang nalaman na hating-gabi na rin pala.

"You should eat properly, baka naman puro processed foods lang ang kinakain mo? It's unhealthy," pangaral niya.

I drank on my glass before I put it down and looked at him. "I don't know how to cook, so I have no choice. Minsan, nag-oorder na lang ako or worse I'd sleep without eating... you know, work is tiring so I don't have a time." I shrugged. Wala naman akong balak magpaawa, pero kung tama iyong iniisip ko...

"Kailangan mo talagang alagaan. When we get back there, I'll cook for your dinner para hindi ka na malipasan. Is it okay—"

"Oh my! Of course, I would love to!" I giggled.

Gotcha, this is what I was thinking.

Which means... I'll see him often than usual!

He clicked his tongue, and shook his head in amusement. "Kinokonsensya mo yata ako, Valderama?"

I laughed, got caught. "Assuming! You volunteered!"

"And you wished."

I laughed again when I saw him pouting. "Don't make me fall even more..." I said, reaching for his chin.

"Hulog na hulog ka na ba? Wala pa akong ginagawa, Persian..." he said in a boastful way that made my eyes roll.

"Bold of you."

"Finish your food." He pointed at my plate after a while.

"But I'm already full," I whined.

"Persian..." he warned.

I made a face. "Huwag ka magsasayang ng pagkain dahil maraming nagugutom," I mocked, remembering his words before.

He chuckled and leaned on his chair. "Silly."

After we finished eating, I forced Zian to walk on the seaside. The beach was very calm and silent, adding the cold breeze that made me shiver.

"I told you, mamaya na lang madaling araw," he scolded and wrapped his arm around me, offering me body heat.

I bit my lower lip and snaked my arm around his waist while we're walking on the seaside. The moon was so bright that it could give us enough light to see the place.

"Do you like this place?" he asked, looking at the calm sea with a sound of waves, while brushing his thumb against my skin.

"I love it here," I commented as we stopped walking and just watching the small waves come and go.

I looked up at Zian who's looking down at me. I smiled and looked down as I wrapped my other arm on his waist, hugging him tightly. "I wish we can stay like this forever, but I know I'm just being corny," I whispered and rested my head against his chest. I could even his heartbeat, it beats loudly.

A moment of silence.

"I don't know why, but sure... you're the one who made me like this, and I am beyond grateful... I couldn't even thank you enough for coming into my life. You had the great impact, Zian. You changed me into something good."

It was true than the others truths. I noticed how fast the time changed, so did I.

I saw his smile as he caged me in his arms, slowly dancing us. That alluring smile of his.

My heart took a leap.

I genuinely smiled as my eyes began to water. "Darn it... I am in love with you."

He stiffened.

I looked up at him. He's downright handsome. No wonder, I drooled over when I first encountered him. I admit.

Plus, he's personality... I realized I learned to love everything about him. No exceptions, just everything.

We stayed silent until he spoke up. "God, Persian..." He looked down at me and sighed.

"I don't know if this is the right time and place..." he trailed of, looking around. "In the middle of the night, under the sky with the moon and the stars, together with the calm sea and its sounding waves..."

He sighed again. "Can I have the permission to kiss you... as my girlfriend, Persian Audrey?"

Ako naman iyong natigilan.

My heart began to beat erratically.

I slowly looked up at him. He's just calmly waiting for my answer.

Is this really happening?

I don't know if this is a good idea. I don't know if this includes in my impulsive doings but... I want him.

"I would love to."

"What?"

I smiled widely. "Of course, Zian, I'll always say yes. It's just only you can make me like this..."

He smiled down at me and cupped my face. "Wanna hear something?"

I nodded, chuckling.

"I love breaking my own promises," he whispered as he pulled me on my waist and crouched down to reach my lips.

I closed my eyes and encircled my arms around his neck to deepen the kiss. I smirked when his tongue asking for an entrance, so I gladly obliged as he toured every corners of my mouth.

This felt amazing.

My Zian's now finally grown-up.

As his lips left mine, our gaze connected.

"I am 100 percent sure," he whispered, staring at me intently. Our faces were just inch away from each other.

"What?" I whispered back.

"That you'll be the first and last girl I will love... that's the promise I won't ever break. The moon, stars, and the sea will now always remind me of us," he said.

And that made me smile as our lips locked again.

As if the entire universe conspired to let the serenity kiss the chaos... and once again, the creation of God witnessed it all.