Song: Till The End Of Time- Jona x BoybandPH

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I made sure to wake up before my alarm the next day. I should be up at seven o'clock because Jaxon promised to be here at exactly eight. Alam ko namang sobrang punctual niya when it comes to this kaya kailangan ay punctual din ako.

I wore my halter top bodysuit and paired it with a faded skinny jeans. I checked the time. It's seven-fifty. Tamang-tama lang para makapaglagay pa ng kahit kaunting make-up.

I finished at exactly eight o'clock. Nagbilang muna ako hanggang lima bago ko buksan ang pinto.

Isa.

Dalawa.

Tatlo.

Apat... Lima.

I opened the door and there he is! The very punctual Captain Jaxon Alexander Ventura is waiting outside my door. He was really serious about waiting outside at the exact time.

"Good morning!" bati ko sa kanya.

Hindi siya sumagot at sa halip ay pinasadahan lang ako ng tingin. Umangat ang isa niyang kilay.

"Shall we go now?" aya ko sa kanya.

"You should eat breakfast first."

My mouth parted. Oo nga pala! Maybe I was just too excited to go to the lagoon and that I haven't thought about eating breakfast. Tumango ako at sumunod na sa kanya.

"Ikaw ba? Kumain ka na? I mean, ang aga mo sigurong gumising kaya baka nauna ka na."

"Not yet. I'll join you."

"Oh. Okay." I nod my head.

Nilagpasan namin ang ibang doktor at sundalo. Habang naglalakad at hindi ko maiwasang mapansin ang pagsunod nila ng tingin sa amin.

Lalo pa sigurong rumami ang mga matang nakamasid sa amin nang makahanap na kami ng upuan. Siya na rin ang nagpresenta na kumuha ng pagkain namin.

When our food came, we started eating quietly. I was about to ask him something when someone grabbed my attention.

"Doktora!" agad akong napalingon sa bagong dating. Kiel sat on the vacant seat on my right. "Good morning."

Ngumiti siya sa akin at saka nilingon ang kapatid niya. "Kuya,"

Jaxon only nods his head and continued eating his breakfast.

"Hindi man lang kayo nag-aaya. Kuya, you should've told me para ako na sumundo sa kanya."

Sa halip na sumagot ay sinandal lang ni Jaxon ang kanyang sarili sa upuan. He crossed his arms over his chest. Diretso siyang tumingin sa akin na naging rason naman kung bakit ako napaiwas ng tingin sa kanya.

I silently ate the food he got for me. Kiel got his, too.

"Margaux..." napapikit na lamang ako nang madinig ko ang boses ni Ethan. Looks like he just arrived as well. "You're up early."

"I have to go somewhere." Sagot ko naman sa kanya.

Kunot noo siyang umupo sa isa pang bakanteng upuan sa gilid ko. Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang mga kasama ko. Kiel stared at him coldly while Jaxon's eyes remained on me.

Seriously? What is this scene?

"Where? Sama ako!"

"Hindi mo na kailangan pang malaman, Ethan."

"But there will be check-ups for the civilians at ten o'clock. Hindi ka pupunta?"

"Of course, I will! Ako ang humiling na gawin iyon kaya malamang pupunta ako!" I rolled my eyes at him. I heard Kiel chuckled beside me.

Ngumisi na lamang si Kiel at binaling muli ang tingin sa akin. "So... I see, you have a busy day today?"

"Yes. I just have to go somewhere then mag-focus na ako sa check-ups."

Nalipat naman ang tingin ko sa kapatid niya na kanina pa hindi kumikibo. He only touched his food twice. Simula nang dumating ang dalawa ay hindi na niya muli ito ginalaw.

"Aren't you going to touch your food anymore?" Hindi ko maiwasang itanong sa kanya sabay turo sa kanyang pagkain.

Parehas ding napabaling ng tingin ang dalawa sa kanya pero hindi niya ito pinansin. Nanatili lamang siyang nakatingin sa akin.

Well, I'm starting to get uncomfortable by his stare. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ba siya titig na titig sa akin. I did not do anything wrong para tingnan niya ako nang ganito!

"We should go." Aniya. Agad siyang tumayo at hindi na hinintay pa ang magiging sagot ko.

"But you barely touched your food!" reklamo ko.

"It doesn't matter. Let's go."

I slightly panicked when he started walking away so fast. Dali-dali rin akong tumayo at hinabol siya, hindi na nakapagpaalam pa sa dalawa.

"Where are you going, Margaux?"

"Where are you going, Kuya?"

Sabay na nagtanong sa amin si Ethan at Kiel. Napatigil ako sa pagsunod kay Jaxon at muling humarap sa kanila.

"Aalis kayo nang kayong dalawa lang? Saan kayo pupunta, Margaux?" tanong muli ni Ethan.

Bumuka ang bibig ko para sumagot ngunit nagulat ako nang kuhanin ni Jaxon ang kamay ko. My eyes immediately widened.

"Let's go now. We don't have much time left." Seryoso niyang sinabi sa akin sabay hila sa akin palayo.

Iba ang dinaanan namin ngayon. Mas patag ang daan. Hindi katulad sa dinaanan namin ni Ethan noon. Jaxon reached out his hand for me nang medyo mataas ang aapakan namin. I gladly took it and then he pulled me up.

Muntikan pa akong tumama sa dibdib niya pero buti na lang at napigilan ko ang sarili ko.

"Careful."

"Thanks," I mumbled.

Patuloy lang ako sa pagsunod sa kanya. We reached the lagoon in less than twenty minutes. Kumpara sa inabot namin ni Ethan noon, mas mabilis ngayon.

How did he found this way? He really has his own ways of figuring things out ha?

I sighed when we finally reached the lagoon itself. The water is as clear as the last time I saw it. I smiled to myself at dinama ang hangin dito. Nakita ko namang umupo si Jaxon sa isa sa mga bato. Sumunod ako sa kanya at naupo sa kanyang tabi.

"How did you find that way?" Tanong ko sabay turo roon sa dinaanan namin kanina. Sinulyapan niya lang ako at binalik muli ang tingin sa tubig.

"It's easy to figure things out."

So, what he meant was he only figured that one out? Ang husay niya naman kung ganoon!

Tahimik naming pinagmamasdan ang paligid. Napatigil na lang ako at nagulat nang maglabas siya bigla ng swiss knife. I backed away from him a bit.

"W-What are you d-doing?" Natatakot kong tinanong sa kanya.

Sobrang tahimik namin dito tapos bigla siyang maglalabas ng ganyan? I was batshit scared for my life!

He can obviously overpower me anytime he wants to. He's very strong and I clearly have no capacity to match his strength! Wala pa nga ata sa kalingkinan ng lakas niya 'yung akin, e.

Sumulyap siya sa akin at ngumisi. Kumunot naman ang noo ko. What? He's enjoying this?

Nagulat na lamang ako nang maglabas siya ng mansanas galing sa kanyang bulsa. He started cutting it using the swiss knife. I sighed in relief.

Buti na lang! Akala ko kung ano na ang gagawin niya, e. Napabuntong hininga ako sa sobrang kaba kanina.

"You got nervous huh?" Aniya.

"Who wouldn't? I clearly got nothing here while you have a swiss knife! How can I protect myself in case you attack me?" Inirapan ko siya.

He offered me a slice of apple. I took it and started munching it.

"I'm not going to do that." He sounded like he's assuring me that he meant no harm.

"Dapat lang! Baka isumbong pa kita kay Daddy."

Jaxon chuckled a bit. Natigilan ako at napatingin sa kanya. Oh my gosh! This is the first time I heard him laughed!

"Oh! So you know how to laugh huh? I didn't know you were capable of doing that. Akala ko seryoso ka na lang lagi, e." pang-aasar ko sa kanya. He gave me another slice of apple.

Kumagat siya sa kanya sabay umiling. "That's because there's nothing to laugh about here."

"So... achievement na ba ito na napatawa kita?" Tanong ko. "Mas maging proud na ba ako sa sarili ko dahil doon?"

"Why did you choose to become a soldier, anyway?" I asked curiously. "Ang daming ibang trabaho na fit sa 'yo. Like being a businessman. It suits you really well. Why enter the military?"

Ang tagal niyang hindi nagsalita. I started to think na ayaw niya atang pag-usapan iyon.

"If you don't want to talk about it, it's fine. I'm just curious."

"I've always wanted to become a soldier. My father was the military general before your father took the position. Bata palang ako, namulat na ako sa kung paano mamuhay ang isang sundalo. And I suddenly wished to become like one. It was a personal choice that my parents didn't like at the beginning. But they can't do anything about it. I already made up my mind." Aniya.

Buti pa siya...

Buti pa siya nasunod niya ang gusto niya. Buti pa siya at hinayaan ng magulang niya na sundin ito kahit na ayaw nila.

It's funny how easily others reach for their dreams. They can reach it without anyone stopping them from doing what they really want.

I wonder how it feels like to live a life like you wanted. Everything that I have now, was because of my father. He wants me to become like this, I followed. He wants me here, I followed.

Lahat nalang ata ng gusto niya, sinusunod ko. Wala na ata akong kalayaan upang piliin ang gusto ko. Because everytime I tried, I regret it. 'Di dahil sa ayaw kong hindi masunod ang gusto ko, kung hindi dahil pakiramdam ko parang mali na hindi ko masunod ang gusto niya.

"What about Kiel? What made him choose military?"

"I don't know. Maybe he also got inspired. Seeing two of his family members in the military, maybe he wanted to be like one as well." Tumango ako.

"May lahi siguro kayo ng matatapang. Buti nalang 'yung Mommy mo hindi member ng military 'no? At least, one member from your family isn't exposed to wars."

Nakita kong umangat ang gilid ng kanyang labi. "Actually, she used to be a military doctor."

My eyes widened. "Really?!"

Tumango siya. "My dad met her in Syria. My mom is a volunteer."

"Oh, wow...that's amazing."

Humarap naman siya sa akin. Sinulyapan ko siya ng saglit sabay balik muli ng tingin sa tubig.

"What about you, Margaux? What made you decide to become a doctor?" Tanong niya naman sa akin.

I didn't choose to become a doctor if that's what you want to know...

Sa halip na sumagot ay ngumiti na lamang ako. Nagkibit ako ng balikat at hindi na siya muling hinarap pa.

"Is that what your father wanted for you?" He asked again. I gulped.

Ganon na ba siya kagaling mag-figure out ng mga bagay-bagay na pati pa 'to napapansin niya?

"There are things that we want that we cannot pursue. Ito ang halimbawa no'n." Sabi ko sa kanya. I tried to smile to lighten up the mood but Jaxon remained serious while listening to me.

"Pero nagpapasalamat pa rin naman ako na naging doktor ako kahit papano. I get to expose myself to a lot of things in medicine and I think that made me better. It made me face reality better. It also thought me how to be brave. Especially when you're in the middle of an operation. I didn't even imagine that I could handle those kind of situations until I became an intern." I laughed a little nang maalala ko ang mga panahong iyon.

I almost backed out knowing that it's my time to help the surgeon in charge. Hindi ko kasi talaga kaya. It is not what I wanted from the very beginning.

Pero kung magbaback-out ako, magagalit si Daddy. So, I need to face the reality and get this done quickly. Soon enough, I learned to love surgery.

May mga bagay naman na kahit 'di natin ginusto sa una, natututunan pa rin nating mahalin sa huli. There may be days that I regret why I didn't follow my dreams but there are also days where I am thankful for what I have now as a profession.

"What do you want to be if your father didn't force you to become a doctor?"

"A flight attendant." Agad kong sagot.

Kung sakaling nasunod ko nga ang gusto ko, maganda kaya ang buhay na meron ako sa eroplano? Matatanggap kaya ako sa pinakasikat na airlines? I couldn't imagine...especially when I already gave up on it. I also stopped seeing myself as a flight attendant.

"Suits you. You're tall and lean." I smirked. Tumango ako. "And you're very...pretty, too."

My smirk grew bigger until it turned into a smile. Hinarap ko siya at mapang-asar na tumingin sa kanya. Walang malisya siyang humarap pabalik.

"Sabi ko na nga ba attracted ka sa'kin!"

I couldn't help but laugh when his forehead creased because of my accusation.

"I was just being honest. I think there is nothing wrong with telling you the truth. I'm sure a lot of people have already told you that." Seryoso niyang sinabi.

"Oh! No need to be defensive! I was just also being honest about your attraction towards me." Nginitian ko siya para mas lalo siyang nang-iinis. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. "Don't act like I don't have an effect on you—"

Napatigil ako nang bigla niyang ilapit ang mukha niya sa akin. Sa sobrang lapit muntikan na niya akong mahalikan! My eyes widened.

"I-I...w-what the hell w-was that?!"

I blinked. Siya naman ang mapang-asar na ngumisi sa akin ngayon. Ugh! Gosh! I should've controlled myself better! Mukha pa tuloy ako ang mas affected kaysa sa kanya!

"It's good to know that I also have an effect on you." Aniya.

My jaw dropped. Gosh! This guy!

"I-I don't! Nagulat lang ako. At saka, kung ikaw ang nasa posisyon ko, 'di mo rin naman aasahan na bigla mong gagawin 'yon!"

Nagkibit siya ng balikat at hindi kumbinsido sa excuse ko. I gasp exaggeratedly. Pinilit kong nagulat lang talaga ako at hindi affected pero ayaw niyang maniwala sa akin!

After a while of teasing each other, Jaxon stood up and offered his hand for me. Tiningnan ko lang ito nang masama sabay ngumuso.

"There's no need to be defensive, Margaux." He smirked again. I rolled my eyes at him. "Let's go. The check ups will start in a while."

He still offering his hand for me. I had to think twice if I should accept it or not. Pagkatapos ng ginawa niya kanina, baka maramdaman niya kung gaano namawis ang kamay ko.

Maybe I don't really have an effect on him kasi baka ako 'yung meron! Goodness!

I've never been that close to someone! Not even with my ex-boyfriends. I have never been kissed! Hawak lang sa kamay ang inaabot namin!

I groaned and took his hand as he guided me down the traul. He keeps on assisting me habang pababa kami. He makes sure that I'm doing okay as we go down.

"Just so you know, Jaxon...you don't have an effect on me." Sabi ko dahil pakiramdam ko hindi pa masyadong nadedepensahan ang sarili ko.

I heard him chuckle again. Mamaya pa ay lumingon siya sa akin at saka kinuha ang baywang ko bago ako dahan-dahang ibinaba. Napasigaw ako sa gulat.

Oh my god! What is he doing!?

I hit him para ibaba niya na ako. He probably heard how my heart is beating so fast!

"Hey! Put me down now!" I demanded. My eyes widened at him when he did.

"See? You wouldn't act this way if I don't have an effect on you."

Gosh! This brute! Hindi ko alam na may mapang-asar pala siyang side!

"Okay? Why are we even fighting about this?! Alam mo... bumaba na lang tayo kasi hinihintay na ako ng mga pasyente ko! Let's go!"

Hindi ko na siya hinintay pa at nauna na dahil sa takot kong makita niya kung gaano ako namumula dahil sa ginawa niya.

Nang tuluyan na kaming makababa ay dumiretso agad kami sa kung saan magaganap ang check up. Agad akong sinalubong ng mga nagtatakbuhang bata. Bahagya akong nagulat sa biglaan nilang pagyakap sa aking binti.

I worriedly looked at Jaxon who is silently watching me and the kids.

"Hello, doctor!" bati ng mga bata sa akin. Nginitian ko sila.

Sa dami ng mga bata na nandito ay nagawa ko paring makita si Andrew na masayang nagtatawanan kasama ang kanyang mga kaibigan. I waved at him and he immediately rushed towards me. I leaned down so he could reach me. He enveloped me into a hug.

"Doctor! I missed you!" masaya niyang sinabi habang maghipit akong niyayakap.

"I missed you too! Are those your friends you wanted to introduce to me?" I asked. Hinarap niya ang mga kaibigan at masayang ngumiti sa akin.

"Yes, doctor!" hinila niya naman ako palapit sa mga kaibigan. I look back at Jaxon to see him getting flocked by children, too.

Some were touching his dog tag and some were touching his hat. He remained serious despite the energy that the children are giving. I smiled a little at binalik muli ang tingin kay Andrew at sa mga kaibigan niya.

"Doctor, this is Tyler and this is Sasha. These are my friends!" proud niyang sinabi sa akin.

"This is Doctor Margaux. She is my favorite doctor!" Pakilala ni Andrew sa akin.

Umupo kami sa mga bangko roon. Binuhat at iniupo ko sa aking hita si Andrew. Masaya nilang ikinukwento sa akin ang mga ginagawa nila rito. I'm glad that they're happy. I'm glad they've found friendship here.

I unconsciously look back at the place where I last saw Jaxon. He was still there. Ngunit wala nang masyadong mga bata. May iilan na nakayakap sa kanya binti. He smiled a bit while looking at them.

The boy on his leg raised his gaze at him. Jaxon ruffled his hair which made the boy beam. My mouth parted when I saw Jaxon smiled widely in return.

It was my first time to see him smile like that. Hindi ko alam kung gaano ako katagal nakatingin sa kanya. Mabilis niyang nahagip ang tingin ko. He's still smiling because of the boy but when he probably saw me admiring him from a far, his smile lessened a bit.

I slowly smiled at him while holding Andrew. I'm surprised when he smiled back.

Oh my gosh. I like this guy now.