Chapter 10

I woke up earlier than usual because I slept early. I said a quick prayer, just being thankful for everything that happened. I also prayed for my family, my friends, and like always, I felt guilty para sa iba, so ang ending, pinagpray ko na silang lahat. And after that, I took a bath. While I was waiting for my hair to dry, inayos ko na iyong mga gamit ko para ready na akong umalis.

While I was folding my dirty clothes, I received a text.

'Good morning,' the text said. 'Gising ka na?'

Before replying, I changed his name to Boyfriend 😙. I grinned as I looked at his registered name. I didn't care if may ibang makakita. I was doing this for my own happiness. Ang tagal ko kaya naghintay ng lalaki na makakapa-feel sa akin ng pinapa-feel sa akin ni Chester. So, just let me be happy.

'Good morning!! Yes, I'm awake already. Breakfast?'

'Okay. Punta na ako d'yan.'

After about a minute, I heard a knock on the door. I opened it and I immediately smiled when I saw that handsome face. I pulled him inside and then closed the door behind him. I wrapped my arm around his neck, tiptoed, and kissed him on the lips.

"Good morning," I said with a smile.

Nakita ko na napa-smile na rin siya. "Good morning," he replied as I felt his hands on the sides of my waist. "Nakaayos na gamit mo," he pointed out nung mapatingin siya sa mga gamit ko. Nakalagay na silang lahat sa bag ko. I was particular kasi sa pagaayos ng gamit. I watched a lot of videos online to master the art of packing! Marami kasi akong dala, but ayoko na maraming bag na bitbit.

I nodded. "Tapos ka na magayos?" I asked.

"Hindi pa."

"You want help?"

"Hindi na."

"Okay," I said because I didn't want to push this. But if papayag siya, he'd be doing me a favor! I felt like siya na talaga iyong perfect match ko! I love cleaning and he has a lot that needs to be cleaned after! Kasi sila Rhys and Iñigo minsan naiinis na sa akin kapag naglilinis ako. But here came Chester na maraming kalat. He's really the intended one for me!

"Wait lang. I'll just wait for my hair to dry," I added as I sat in front of the electric fan since wala naman akong dalang blower. Chester just sat on the chair and played with his phone while waiting for me.

"Chester," I called. Tumingin siya sa akin. "Pwede paabot nung hair tie?" I asked. Kinuha niya iyon tapos ay iniabot sa akin. Nakaupo kasi ako sa sahig since maliit lang iyong fan. Instead na iabot lang sa akin, naupo rin si Chester. "What?" I asked, natatawa because he was watching me intently as I combed my hair through my fingers to make sure na dry na.

Umiling siya. "Nothing," he replied.

"Okay..." I said as I combed my hair na para itali. I was looking at Chester weirdly because he was so intent on watching me. "What?" I asked again.

"Ang cute mo."

I felt my cheeks reddening. "Stop."

But instead of stopping, he got his phone at inilagay sa harap ng face ko. "Kuha akong picture."

"Okay," I said as I smiled with my eyes closed para mas cute.

"Sabay ka sa 'kin pabalik," sabi niya.

"Ano'ng sasabihin ko if may nagtanong?"

He shrugged. "Sabihin mo hinahanap ka ng kapatid ko kaya didiretso tayo 'dun."

My lips parted. Ang bilis niya naman magbigay ng excuse! Pinagisipan niya kaya 'to? I wanted to tease him, but baka magbago ang isip niya. So, in the end, I agreed. Besides, gusto ko rin naman na kasama siya. Sure kasi ako na bukas, magiging busy ulit. Sana talaga same sched kami para magkita kami. Kasi if hindi, baka pumislit ako sa department nila para makita siya. Papagalitan na naman ako nito, but worth it!

"Thank you," I said with a smile nung ioffer niya iyong kamay niya sa akin and pulled me up. My eyes widened when instead of saying 'you're welcome,' he planted a kiss on my lips. My cheeks heated up once again! Grabe talaga siya. Ever since we kissed, parang every chance he gets, he'd kiss me! I mean, not that I was complaining...

"Okay na," he replied.

"Grabe!" I said. "Lagi nangkikiss."

"Ayaw mo ba?"

I frowned. "Wala akong sinabi na ganon," I said and I saw him fighting a grin once again like he was proud of himself.

Nauna akong lumabas and when the coast was clear, lumabas na rin si Chester. Pagbaba namin, everyone was hungover, so wala namang tumingin sa aming dalawa. We got our breakfast tapos nung pagdating namin sa kung saan nakapark iyong vehicle pabalik sa hospital, doon ako dumiretso sa car ni Chester.

"Di ka sasabay?"

"No. I need to go to Iñigo, so sasabay na ako kay Chester since pupunta rin siya doon," I answered. Hindi na nag-ask pa ng question since kilala naman nila si Iñigo. Maraming kilala si Iñigo sa mga ka-work ko because he had a 'phase' back in law school. Sobra talaga 'yon. For a while, naging tanungan ako ng mga tao kung bakit hindi nagrereply si Iñigo sa kanila. Now naman, tanungan ako kung single ba si Iñigo.

Pagpasok ko sa car ni Chester, it was spotless! And I even saw na he bought air freshener. Buti na lang hindi iyong pine scent because nahihilo ako roon.

"What?" he asked when he saw me looking proud.

"Nothing," I said, shaking my head because I didn't want na batiin iyong paglilinis niya. Baka kasi mahiya siya tapos hindi niya na ulitin! Nakita ko sa likod iyong mga napanalunan niya na plates and glass. We should keep at least a pair of both... If ever na ikasal kami, parang maganda na doon iyong first meal namin as husband and wife. But of course I wouldn't tell Chester this kasi baka matakot naman siya sa akin!

"Seatbelt," he reminded like the good boyfriend that he was.

Chester was a safe and cautious driver. Even nung ihatid niya ako sa bahay and nung pumunta kami sa perya, I noticed na safe siya magdrive. Hindi sobrang bilis. Kapag din may magttry magovertake, pinapauna niya madalas. Hindi din siya nagbubusina as much as possible (unlike Rhys talaga na hindi ako magtataka if mabiktima ng road rage dahil maigsi ang pasensya nung isang 'yon halos sa lahat ng bagay). For some reason, I felt like it had something to do doon sa sinabi niya sa akin na answer na hindi siya kumakain ng streetfood before dahil ayaw niya magkasakit dahil sa pangbayad sa hospital.

Napa-sigh ako. Masyado atang malalim kaya napatingin sa akin si Chester saglit while he was still driving.

"Gutom ka na?" he asked. "May gas station tayong madadaanan."

"Pagod ka na ba?"

"Hindi naman."

"Pagdating sa Manila, do you wanna have lunch?"

"Saan?"

"I don't know. Kahit saan," I said.

"Okay," sabi niya. "Isipin mo na kung saan para dun na ako didiretso."

So, while he was driving and I was chilling in the passenger seat, naghanap na rin ako ng place kung saan kami pwedeng kumain. Initially, I wanted to go to this resto kasi sobrang sarap nung food. But I immediately chastised myself. Naisip ko na nagtitipid ng pera si Chester, so I needed to choose a place na mura lang. Ako rin naman walang pera. Ang difference namin, may parents ako na willing akong bigyan ng financial aid at kakambal na hindi ako kayang tiisin kapag nagugutom na ako.

I felt so sad for him. But I didn't want to tell him because I felt like he didn't want to talk about it—at least not now.

"Sure ka?" he asked when I told him na sa fastfood kami.

I nodded. "Yeah. I'm craving for burger and fries."

"Okay," he replied na parang hindi naman siya nagduda.

We went to a fastfood na wala masyadong tao. We ordered burgers and fries. Nandoon lang kaming dalawa sa isang gilid. Ewan. This was way better than the dates I went to kahit pa nasa high end resto kami nun.

"Grace," he called my name while I was busy eating my fries. We ordered one large fries lang and share kami, but I was pretty sure na ako ang uubos nito.

"Yeah?"

"Ano'ng sched mo?"

"Meron na mamayang 11," I told him. "You?"

"Bukas pa."

"Oh... Magaabot naman tayo for sure," I said kasi for sure naman 'yon. "I'll swing by your department!" I added because the thought of me sneaking out of my duty to meet my boyfriend? It was thrilling! I mean, of course hindi naman ako aalis kapag kailangan ako. Hindi naman ako irresponsible. Kapag benign lang, tatakas ako to go to him.

"Ihahatid na ba kita sa inyo after nito?" he asked.

I looked at him and grinned. "Ikaw, ha... You want to spend more time with me?" I asked, but apparently, I was not prepared to handle a very vocal Chester because he was quick to nod. I felt my cheeks heating up once again! Grabe naman sa pagiging vocal ang boyfriend ko.

I tried to clear my throat because honestly? That caught me off guard. I really thought I would be the clingy one, but apparently, we're both the same.

"I'd invite you over but I'm pretty sure my parents are there..." I said, suddenly, I understood why Rhys' first move was to move out nung naglove life siya. Ang hassle nga na dalhin pala sa bahay (more so dahil kilala nila si Chester). And knowing my mom? She'd ask a hundred of questions!

I was waiting for him to invite me sa place niya. I mean, we're both consenting adults naman and we're in a relationship. Saka I trust him enough not to force me to do things I wasn't comfortable with.

I didn't know why... but for some reason, I felt his discomfort. And my immediate reaction was to make that disappear.

"I know this coffee shop near work. Pwede tayo tumambay don," I offered. "My friend owns the place and she's always telling me to support her business," I added.

"Okay," he replied.

I smiled. "Okay. At least one thing off my task!" sabi ko sa kanya. I have a lot of friends with business and I really try na puntahan lahat (pero busy nga kasi ako), but those na may stores, I order talaga if may magustuhan ako (kaya sabi ni Rhys din if magmmove out ako, dapat malaking lugar kasi dami ko raw order online). And I recommend din sa iba kong kakilala. Wala lang. It's nice to see my friends be successful.

When we finished with the burger, we were back in the car.

"Pagod ka na ba?" I asked. "I can drive naman."

Instead of answering, tumingin siya sa akin. He looked serious (but different kind of serious), so I was a little thrown off.

"Is... there a problem?" I asked. I hope if meron and he wanted to tell me, he would. I really like him and I want to make this work. And the only way to make this work is if we'd communicate.

"Since you're my girlfriend," he said and I felt my cheeks reddening again. "Namumula ka," he pointed out.

Hinawakan ko iyong face ko. "Mainit kasi."

"Okay," he said but I frowned at him kasi niloloko niya na naman ako. "Anyway," he continued. "I want to be completely honest."

"Okay..." I said. Medyo kinakabahan ako. Hindi agad siya nagsalita. "Ano ba 'yan?" I asked. "As long as you won't tell me na may ibang girlfriend ka or kasal ka na sa iba, I think I'll be fine..."

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Wala nga akong girlfriend o ibang pamilya."

"Then, that's good," I said.

Nakakunot pa rin ang noo niya. "Meron akong apartment," he said. I remained silent and waited until sabihin niya iyong kasunod. "But it's really small. I just need it para lagyan ng mga gamit ko. O minsan matulog at maligo. I really don't stay there most of the time, so I figured I didn't need to find a nice place."

Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya because I didn't know what he wanted to say.

"Hindi naman ako maarte," I said. "I mean, at one point, I'll probably beg you to let me clean... but that's not on you, but more of a me problem."

Nakita ko na napa-smile siya sa sinabi ko.

"I know," he said.

I frowned. "Wow, so mean."

I looked at him and he was just looking at me. I wanted to kiss him again, but I figured baka nasobrahan na kami sa kiss! But I really wanted to kiss my boyfriend! Besides, heavily tinted naman iyong car niya. And kiss lang naman!

So, I did what I wanted to do. I unbuckled my seatbelt and leaned in and kissed him. His eyes were open pa when I first kissed him, but soon after, I felt him kissing me back. I didn't know if ako ba iyong first kiss ni Chester, but whatever... all that mattered was how he literally could take my breath away whenever he'd kiss me!

When the kiss ended, we were both breathless.

"I'm sorry," I said kasi may sasabihin siya na important. "Go on. Usap na ulit tayo."

The end of his ears were both red. I was ignoring the boner that was right in front of me. It was not the right time to discuss that.

"Iyong sa apartment mo," I said because he seemed to forget what he was talking about. Sobrang galing ko ba magkiss kaya nalimutan niya?

"Right..." he said as he brushed his fingers through his hair. So gwapo! "Maghahanap ako ng bagong apartment—"

"Because of me? Hala, no, 'wag na," I replied. Baka isipin niya ang high maintenance ko. I just wanted him and him alone! I didn't need any extras! I just want love kahit na sinasabihan ako ng ibang tao na love can't make the world go round. Well, it can make my world go round. Besides, I wouldn't choose someone na irresponsible naman. I was pretty sure I'd be fine.

"No, it's for me," he said. I frowned. "I want to have you over every chance we get, so I need a better place. So, no, it's not for you."

I frowned harder. "Mean."

"Tapos na ako sa sasabihin ko," sabi niya tapos ang sunod na narinig ko ay ang pag-unbuckle ng seatbelt niya and then next thing I knew, we were kissing once again. 

**
This story is already at Chapter 15 on Patreon (patreon.com/beeyotch). Subscription starts at 100php per month for all stories.

If you're having any problems with your payment or if you want to pay via GCASH, you can email [email protected] for assistance.