Chapter 13

I was in the middle of counting the chocolates na ipapamigay ko ngayon sa hospital. Kakagaling ko lang sa mall para bumili. I finally used the other half nung pera na binigay sa akin ni Rhys. Chester wanted to come with me, but he was busy. Okay lang since sinamahan naman ako ng isa kong friend.

I almost jumped from where I was standing when I felt someone kissing my cheek. Mabuti na lang nakita ko na si Chester 'yon.

"Hi," he said with a smile. I wanted to tell him not to do that again kasi ayoko nung ganun, but he looked so cute, so I'd let this slide for now. Sasabihin ko na lang the next time if gawin niya ulit.

"Hi," I replied. "Di ka na busy?"

"For now," he said.

"Alam mo na dito ako?"

He shrugged. "Got a feeling that you'll need help."

"Kaya mo ba 'tong buhatin?" I teased him.

"Nabuhat ko nga 'yung mga laruan nung Pasko," he said like he was on a defense mode.

I chuckled. "I know. I'm sorry. You're so strong," I replied as I hugged his waist and sinandal ko iyong mukha ko sa dibdib niya. I looked up to him. "Happy heart's day again, boyfriend," I greeted. Ngayon lang kasi kami nagkita since yesterday kasi ang daming nangyayari.

I felt him kissing the top of my head and I smiled to myself. Yes, definitely. This was so worth the worth—he is worth the wait.

Tinulungan ako ni Chester na ipasok iyong box na may laman na chocolate. Sinamahan niya rin ako na magpamigay, but he had to leave agad. Tinapos ko iyong pamimigay ng chocolates tapos ay umuwi na ako kasi wala akong duty ngayon. Siningit ko lang iyong pamimigay ng chocolates since tradition ko na 'to.

"No date?" Mama asked nang makita niya ako.

"I think bukas pa," I replied since may duty si Chester. I mean, it would've been nice to have a date today, but work's work. Besides, binati niya ako ng saktong midnight! And binibigyan ako ni Papa and ni Rhys ng flowers yearly, so wala naman akong flower deficiency na nararamdaman.

I excused myself after kasi gusto ko na talaga magpahinga. I just took a quick shower and then planned to nap... but nagising ako ay around 10PM na.

'San ka?'

'Tulog ka pa? Tawagan mo ko kapag gising ka na.'

'Dumaan ako sa inyo. Tulog ka pa raw. Iniwan ko sa baba 'yung regalo ko sa 'yo.'

My eyes widened. I quickly went downstairs. Tulog na lahat ng tao. Hinanap ko iyong sinasabi ni Chester and nakita ko roon na nakapatong iyong isang boquet ng flowers tapos may isang paper bag na may lamang chocolates. Hindi naman ako nageexpect ng flowers, but this was so nice! I was conflicted if tatawagan ko ba siya or I'll take pictures of the flowers, but my desire na makausap siya iyong nanalo.

I kept on calling but he wasn't answering. Baka naliligo or something. Mabilis akong bumalik sa room ko. Nagpalit ako ng damit and wore a denim shorts and loose white shirt tapos pagbaba ko, kinuha ko ulit iyong mga bigay ni Chester tapos dumiretso ako sa car. I drove to his apartment. I gave Manong money para sa parking tapos bantayan iyong car ko. Wala kasing extra parking sa mismong apartment ni Chester.

Naglakad ako papunta sa apartment niya. Normally, I didn't like walking alone at night, but hindi ako kinakabahan sa paglalakad papunta sa apartment ni Chester kasi maganda iyong place na napili niya. Well-lighted iyong daan and may mga security sa area dahil may mga commercial establishments. I didn't have the heart to ask him kung ano iyong alam niya sa nangyari sa akin before kaya dito iyong napili niya. It wasn't a secret naman... but at the same time, I'd rather not discuss it. And I wanted to tell him about it, but like him with his dad, I was finding the right time.

Dumiretso ako sa unit niya. I knocked, pero walang sumasagot. Chester gave me a key since sometimes when I am too tired to drive, dito ako natutulog. Chester bought a nice mattress! Mas gusto ko matulog dito kaysa sa on call room.

Inilagay ko na iyong susi sa may pintuan. I struggled to open the door dahil dala ko iyong flowers and iyong chocolates, pero agad akong napahinto nung makita ko siya.

"I—"

Oh, wow.

Chester was there... covered with only a towel... and with beads of water dropping from his hair.

It's February, but biglang ang init na!

"I—"

I tried to speak again, but it was as if nag-short-circuit iyong utak ko! Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya and nakatingin siya sa akin. May hawak pa siyang maliit na towel to dry his hair. Oh, my gosh. My boyfriend's a hottie.

"Happy Valentine's Day," he greeted in his towel-clad form.

"T-thank you."

Gosh. Why was I stammering?! This hottie's my boyfriend?! We've make out a lot of times already! I mean, technically, nahawakan ko na 'yan and nakita ko na, but this felt different!

"Bakit hindi mo ako pinagising?" I asked as I struggled to keep my composure because he looked really good right now!

"Kahapon ka pa gising tapos namigay ka pang regalo," he explained.

"I know but..." sabi ko tapos ipinatong ko iyong gifts niya sa akin sa table. I tried na lumapit, pero napatigil ako. I know myself—hindi ganoon kataas ang self-control ko lalo na pagdating sa kanya. Kaya nga lagi kaming nagmamakeout, e!

"But?"

"Nothing," I said, and smiled instead. "Uh... bihis ka muna."

Napatingin siya sa katawan niya. Ngayon niya lang ata narealize na halos nakahubad siya sa harapan ko. "Right... Sandali lang," sabi niya tapos naglakad siya papunta sa room.

I fanned myself. "Hanggang saan aabot ang pasensya ko..." I told myself as I sat down sa couch and waited for his return.

Sobrang bilis niya lang magbihis. As usual, he was wearing a light gray cotton shorts and black shirt. Agad siyang naupo sa tabi ko. I immediately felt happy nang maamoy ko iyong after shave niya. In all fairness dito kay Chester, kung gaano kakonti iyong gamit niya sa bahay, ganoon kadami iyong toiletries niya (I mean, hindi naman ganoon karami, but it was evident that he takes care of himself).

"I wanna go on a date, but feel ko wala ng bukas na resto at this time," sabi ko kasi anong oras na din. Tumingin ako sa kanya. "Did you make a reservation ba? Sorry talaga na nakatulog ako."

"It's fine. Wala namang downpayment 'yon," sabi niya kaya medyo natawa ako. "Order na lang tayong pagkain?"

I nodded. We browsed the different selection and settled na umorder ng isang box ng pizza and chicken wings. After that, kinuha ko iyong laptop niya to watch Netflix. Wala kasi siyang TV and understandable naman kasi wala naman siya lagi sa dating place niya. Gusto ko ngang dalhin iyong TV ko rito kaya lang 'wag na muna.

"Anong gusto mong panoorin?" I asked him.

"Kahit ano."

"Ikaw mamili," sabi ko tapos binigay ko sa kanya iyong laptop.

Most of the time, ganito lang pinaguusapan namin. We sometimes talk about serious stuff, but we mostly talk about random things. Pero kahit ganon, I always enjoy every conversation with him. Even silence with him? I'd take it. Basically, as long as he's within the proximity, sure ako na mag-e-enjoy ako.

"Nursing grad ka, right?" I asked because he was taking forever sa pamimili ng papanoorin namin. Tumango siya. "Registered?" Tumango ulit siya. "May picture ka ba na naka-nursing uniform ka?" I asked, suddenly feeling excited. I tried na tumingin sa Facebook account niya pero wala man lang posts 'dun! Puro tagged ng mga ibang friends niya. Walang tagged from family. I mean, ano pa ba ang aasahan ko sa mga kapatid niya?

"Bakit?"

"Gusto ko makita," sabi ko sa kanya. "Bilis. Papakita ko rin sa 'yo picture ko na naka-uniform ng pharma."

"Hindi ako nagpipicture," he said. "ID picture, gusto mo?"

I frowned. "What? Totoo ba? Wala kang like selfie?"

Umiling siya. "Mukha ba akong tao na nagseselfie?"

"Bakit? Nagseselfie naman tayo."

"Keyword—tayo," he said.

"Ugh. So wala ngang college pics for me?"

"Wala."

"Sad naman."

"Gusto mo ba talaga?" he asked.

"Yes. Gusto very much."

"Nandito pa ata 'yung uniform ko. Gusto mo bang isuot ko?" he asked.

My eyes widened in excitement. "Yes. Yes, please. Ito na lang ang birthday gift mo sa akin," I said with my hands clasped together. Gosh, nakaka-excite naman! Buti na lang nagising ako sa nap ko kung hindi baka hindi nangyari 'to.

Chester went inside the room and dahil clingy girlfriend ako, sumunod ako sa kanya. I sat on his bed while he was looking for his uniform. His room was okay—not as clean and as organized as my room, but it's fine naman. Although I heard na makalat daw talaga si Chester. I guess naglilinis siya for me. I mean, if that's not love, I don't know what is!

"Lukut-lukot," he said nang ipakita niya sa akin iyong uniform niya. "Labhan ko muna—"

"No, okay na 'yan," I said. "San 'yung iron mo? I'll try to straighten it."

Binigay sa akin ni Chester iyong iron. I tried to iron his uniform habang lumabas naman siya para kunin iyong order kasi dumating na. I was humming while ironing the crease out of his uniform. Napatingin ako sa likod ko when I felt like someone was watching. True enough, nandoon sa may pinto si Chester and he was watching me.

"What?" I asked.

"Pinakamasaya ka kapag naglilinis talaga, noh?"

"Wrong," I said. "Pinakamasaya ako kapag nagkikiss tayo."

I laughed when I saw his whole face reddening. I'd never get tired of making him blush! I continued to iron his uniform. After a while, I was finally satisfied. I sat on the couch sa sala as I waited for him kasi sa bedroom siya nagbihis.

"Tapos na—"

Oh, my gosh. I thought formal-wearing Chester is already my favorite, but Chester in a nursing uniform is definitely a contender! Ano kaya itsura niya nung nasa college talaga siya? I was sure na maraming nagkaka-crush sa kanya nun. Kasama ako kaya doon? For sure! I mean, look at him! That boy's mine!

I bit my lower lip as I smiled. I saw that he was uncomfortable because I was definitely happy sa itsura niya. I stood up and walked towards him.

"I wished I met you when we were in college," I said as I wrapped my arms around his waist. "Do you think magugustuhan mo ako nun?"

"Yes."

"Ang bilis sumagot, ah."

He shrugged. "You were cute even then."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "What?" I asked, but he just shrugged again. "Did we meet back then?" I asked again kasi hindi ko talaga tanda. I mean, I knew him med school days but like not close since not same circle of friends.

"No, not really," he replied.

"But... kilala mo ako?"

"Yes," he said. "Pero hindi mo ako stalker."

"Grabe, wala naman akong sinabi," I said, frowning. "Bakit hindi mo ako kinausap before? We could've dated sooner!"

"I asked. May boyfriend ka raw."

My lips parted. "Oh," I said.

I had a few boyfriends in college. I mean, going in college, si Iñigo iyong boyfriend ko but that was a crazy time because he kept on breaking up with me until I got tired and really called it quits. Then I went on dates. And got some boyfriends but... those relationships never felt quite like this...

Like, after all the stopovers, I reached at my destination.

That I was finally home.

"Maybe that was a good thing, though," I said with a smile.

"Why?"

"College was a dark time," I simply said. "Ikaw? How was college for you?"

He shrugged. "Aral lang."

"Really? As in you weren't lying talaga nung sinabi mo na ako lang girlfriend mo?"

Tumango siya. "May scholarship akong kailangan i-maintain."

"Grabe... How did I get so lucky?" I asked, copying his words. "Ang gwapo na ng boyfriend ko, ang talino pa."

I saw him avert his gaze kasi nahiya siya. "Lalamig 'yung pagkain," he said because he was shy na.

"Okay, but wait lang, I'll take photos muna."

Chester being already trained, he let me have my way. I took photos of him. I couldn't help but gush at how cute he looked! I should ask Cha kung may pictures siya ni Chester. We took selfies din. I made him take a selfie. I'd probably print that one and keep it for myself.

We were sitting on the carpet tapos nasa may coffee table iyong laptop niya and iyong box ng pizza and iyong chicken. We were watching some random movie. My head was leaning against his shoulder and my arms were anchored with his. It was such a great night.

"Chester," I whispered.

"Hmm?" he replied while his eyes were still on the laptop screen.

"I love you," I said. He looked at me. I smiled. "Thank you for loving me and making me happy. I hope I am making you happy, too."

Instead of answering, he leaned in a kissed me. "Just keep being you," I heard him say, but then he kissed me again and this time, no one was planning on stopping. 

**
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