Transferring to several schools because of his family's business and getting adored by random strangers for his handsome Westerner features, Jonas Stevenson has had enough. But meeting Corliss changed his perspective in life. With the growing feelin...
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Kaya pa, #TeamBakod? Mag-ingay kayo para pansinin ni crush! Yieeee!
P.S. This is one of the longest chapters I have ever written! Almost 3.7k! Enjoy!
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IT'S BEEN three days since I arrived in New Zealand and I've been completely restless and homesick. Pulos pag-uwi sa Pilipinas ang umookupa sa aking isip. I am with my family but my mind is elsewhere. I am missing my Lilo badly.
I've been hiding in my room and staring at her pictures. Mabuti na lang at binibigyan ako ni tita ng update. Pero gaya noong nakaraan, nagkukulong pa rin si Lilo sa kuwarto niya. Pinagsisisihan ko tuloy na umalis ako sa tabi niya.
"Son," tawag ng isang malalim na boses. Napalingon ako sa may pintuan at nakatayo ro'n si dad at nakahawak sa doorknob.
"Dad..."
"I've been knocking but it seems that you're preoccupied," aniya. Akmang tatayo ako pero kusa na siyang lumapit kaya't umupo na lamang ako sa kama.
"What are you doing here? Where's mom?"
"She's with your kuya," he replied with his slang Kiwi accent. "How's everything, Jon?"
Ngumiti ako ng mapakla kay dad. "I'm not quite sure, dad," pag-amin ko.
Totoo naman 'yon. Hindi ko talaga alam kung kumusta ba ang lahat. Pakiramdam ko ay maraming bagay sa mundo ang magulo sa buhay ko at hindi ko alam kung ano ang dapat gawin para maayos 'to. Everything has just collapsed.
I saw my father sigh before speaking again. "Look, I know you want to return to Corliss' side as soon as possible so I'll make a deal with you."
Nagliwanag ang paningin ko kay dad. When he makes a deal with me and kuya, usually ay pabor pa sa amin 'yon. Mapagkumbaba si dad at family-oriented—something a bit different from a normal Western household. It just changed when he got together with my mom and had this family of ours.
Sabi ni mom, dad was not like this when they met. Medyo badboy raw at parang walang direksyon sa buhay. But that didn't stop them from being close during college. Dad was working two jobs that time and he did a great job proving himself to my mom and her family. Things worked well between them despite several hurdles. And when dad started his own business, kuya came along. And soon, I joined the family.
"What is it, dad?" excited kong tanong sa kanya. I could see how he tried to remove the smile from the edge of his lips. Gusto niyang maging poker face lang but as my mom calls him, my dad is our big teddy bear. Malambot si dad pagdating sa pamilya namin.
"Help us in the next twenty-seven days with the business and I'll let you return to the Philippines with no reservation," saad ni Joe sa bunsong anak.
"Really?"
"Of course, Jon. When did I lie to you?" He smiled. That's true. Dad has been a straight up kind of guy which I admire. Malakas ang loob niya kaya't lumago ang family business namin.
