Maginoong Medyo Bastos

Chapter Nineteen

Vannessa had never felt the same nervousness in her entire life. Kakaiba ang kabang nararamdaman niya sa mga oras na 'yon. Marahil hindi niya madalas ginagawa ang bagay na 'yon; ang bumisita sa isang binata upang humingi ng tawad.

Gusto niyang tumakbo at umaktong hindi siya nito nakita at walang nangyaring ganoon sa araw niya ngunit nang makita niya ang binatang naglalakad papunta sa direksyon niya ay naestatwa siya sa kanyang kinatatayuan. The only thing that she was left to do was to gather up her courage, and remind herself to draw lines on the sand and respect those lines. She didn't want to repeat the same mistakes that she made.

She reminded herself to see Jax not as a man but as a person because she knew that her prejudice against men was still there, and it was hard to take away.

Malalalim ang kanyang mga hininga habang sinusundan niya ito ng tingin. Pakiramdam niya'y mauubusan siya ng hangin nang huminto ito sa kanyang tapat bago nagsalita. "Maayos na ba ang pakiramdam mo?"

Natigilan si Vannessa sa ibinungad na tanong nito sa kanya. Napayuko siya't napakagat sa kanyang labi. After everything that she said and she did, the first thing that he did was to ask her if she was already feeling well. He didn't ask why she was there. He didn't ask how she knew about his address. No. He asked if she was fine.

Pagkatapos ng lahat ng ginawa niya'y inaalala pa rin siya ng binata.

She bit her lip, and forced herself to breathe deeply in an attempt to ease the nervousness she was feeling even just for a little bit. "You're being too good to me." I do not deserve it, she wanted to add, but she bit her lower lip instead.

Tumango ang binata, nakangiti nang tipid. "I admire you," he said. Napalunok si Vannessa sa narinig at kaagad naramdaman ang malakas na pagkabog ng dibdib nang dahil doon. Ramdam na ramdam niya ang panginginit ng kanyang tenga at ang titig nito sa kanya. "I admire your courage."

Tumalikod ito sa kanya pero kaagad din siyang tiningnan pabalik. "Pasok ka," aniya. "You have been traveling for too long."

She just nodded before following him with her small steps. She could still feel the pounding of her heart against her chest.

Hindi na yata iyon mawawala hangga't kasama niya ang binata.

Kaagad siyang sinalubong ng ngiti  ni Bee pagkaapak na pagkaapak niya sa gate ng bahay. Sinuklian din niya ito ng sinserong ngiti pabalik.

Bee was pretty with her soft features. She was even prettier up close. Hindi niya masabing magkamukhang-magkamukha ang magkapatid kasi ang hugis ng mga mata lamang ang pagkakapareho ng mga ito. Nang makita niya sa sala ang litrato ng ina ng mga ito ay kaagad niyang napagtantong si Bee ay nagmana sa nanay nilang dalawa. 

Vannessa took a moment to stare at Jax when he wasn't looking. Nililinis kasi nito nang bahagya ang iilan sa mga gamit na nagkalat sa sala ng bahay.

She knew that he was a product of an affair when she let Venice investigate on him, but she did not bother knowing whose son he was, but his dad was a businessman. He would be considered as a son that had been hidden in the shadows.

There was no way that she could confirm, but she felt like Jax probably inherited more features from his dad than he did from his mom.

"Upo ka." Natigil siya sa pag-iisip nang marinig itong magsalita. Marahan siyang iginiya ni Jax paupo sa sofa kung saan nakaupo na rin ang kapatid nito. 

When their arms brushed against one another, Jax immediately said an apology, as if it was something that he shouldn't do even when it was unintentional. 

Vannessa, once again, felt bad.

"It's okay." Their eyes met, and she let out a sincere smile. "No need to apologize," she added.