Fourth of October (Juntarsiego Series #1)

Chapter 20

Tahimik lamang akong naupo, natatawa ng bahagya dahil sa ganoong pangyayari. He's driving his car while still muttering curses. Naalis sa isipan ko ang sandaling pag-aalala sa kanya dahil natabunan iyon ng nangyari kanina.

"Stop laughing. You always win when it comes to that." I raised my brow and looked at him. Nakakagat ito sa kanyang labi ngayon, iyong kanyang isang kamay ay unti-unting lumalapit sa hita ko.

I didn't stop him from doing that dahil alam kong nasasanay ito na gawin iyon sa tuwing nagmamaneho siya. His cold hand landed to my left thigh and gently caressed it, maneuvering the car using his other hand smoothly.

Hindi naman maiksi ang suot ko kung kaya't hindi ako naiilang. He loves doing that. It's as if feeling my presence beside him calms his mind, feeling that I am safe.

"Sorry, Jaed. Hindi mo naman siguro gustong ma-late tayo, hindi ba? Naghihintay na roon ang magulang mo, sigurado ako."

We would always set a date for ourselves  and that includes his parents. Hindi naman siya pinaghihigpitan. Pareho naman naming gustong ganoon ang gawin kaya nasanay na.

It's like a family gathering also. Sa bahay lang naman nila tapos kapag nagkaroon ng bakanteng oras sa ilang araw, nagkakaroon naman kami ng oras para sa ibang gagawin.

We'll have a date on our own and that's just so precious. I like how he improved himself whenever he's with me. I can see the true smile of him.

"I told them about your defense so they understood that we'll be late." His hand caressed my thigh more, calming himself. Hinawakan ko iyon saka tahimik na pinagmamasdan siya sa kinauupuan.

Tumikhim ako. Ang tanging alam niya ay nagiging maganda ang takbo ng pag-aaral ko. That I am slowly reaching everything. Tanging nasasabi ko lang sa kanya ay ang mga magaganda, hindi iyong mga problemang nakakaharap ko dahil ayokong mag-alala siya sa akin.

"Ilang beses nila akong tinanong. Chantal and her friends are my groupmates. So far, naging maayos naman ang kinahantungan. Magse-second year na ako, Jaed!" masaya kong sabi sa kanya kahit sa isang parte ng isipan ko ay may kaunti pang pagdududa.

I still need to do my best though.

He pulled my hand to his lips and kissed it gently, smiling sweetly after doing that. Katulad ng lagi kong ginagawa kapag nakikita ang matamis niyang ngiti, humanga ako ng tuluyan. Like there's a spell hidden in his smile that makes me melt while staring at it.

"I know you can do it as always. You've got this confidence, baby, so there is no chance for you to not succeed at everything," he chuckled and I slapped his arm a bit.

Kung mayroon man akong laging pinaniniwalaan, iyon ay ang kanyang paniniwala sa kakayahan ko, sa posibilidad kong matutupad ang lahat dahil sa lahat ng kagustuhan. He's one of those people that believes in me and I appreciated them, him, for making me feel loved.

Bumaba kami nang makarating na sa kanilang bahay. Their house is always full of decorations everytime we're here. Hindi nawawalan ng kahit anong palamuti at naroon din ang kumpletong presensya ng kanyang mga kapatid.

Nakasuot pa rin ako ng uniporme pero hindi naging problema iyon lalo na nang sinalubong ako ng kanyang magulang. Like what his parents would always do, they gave me a hug and offered me the seat beside Jaeden's.

Binati ako ng kanyang mga kapatid. Their big family is a goal, a perfect image for a good family they call. Iyong kanyang magulang ay laging sinasabi na parati akong welcome rito sa kanila. Still, though it's been months already, I feel the uneasiness inside me whenever I see their presence though I know that they are good to me.