Grief Of The Arts

GOTA: 26

"Love, luto ka kimchi stew." Saad ko kay Jace habang nanonood.

It is our second day here in their rest house here in Tagaytay.

"Kimchi Stew? What's that? Pagkain ba 'yon?" Sunod sunod na tanong niya sa'kin.

"Hindi ka marunong magluto?!" Sigaw ko sa kaniya.

He bowed his head and played with his hand. Shit. Bakit ba kasi ang cute niya?

"I-I don't know how to cook. I always refuse mom when she always want me to join her cooking thing." Parang batang nawawala niyang saad.

"Oh my god! Tara turuan kita! Kaso dalawang putahe lang alam ko. Kimchi Stew at Chicken Adobo?" Alinlangang saad ko.

"Let's buy groceries." Suggest niya.

He just wore a black hoodie and so am I. Ito ang pinasuot niya sa'kin! Nagalit ata nung nakita akong lalabas ng nakatank top at shorts lang. Muntikan pa namin makalimutan yung cap at mask. Madaling madali kasi si Jace! Atat na atat e kaltukan ko 'to. Charot.

He's holding my left hand the whole drive. Paminsan minsan ay hinahalikan niya ito kaya't pigil na pigil yung ngiti ko. Wala pa ata siyang balak bitawan ako. Hanggang sa pagbaba ng sasakyan hindi niya ito pinakawalan.

Habang naglalakad ay nadaan kami sa pet store kaya inaya ko muna siya doon. Tumingin ako sa mga aso. I wanted to buy one pero hindi ko naman maalagaan dahil allergic si mama sa mga mabalahibo. Pagkatapos tumingin ay inaya ko na siyang lumabas para mag grocery.

"Is this all?" Tanong niya sa'kin habang naglalakad papunta sa cashier. I just nodded at him.

Hindi naman ganon kahaba ang pila. Five groceries bags. I feel him hold me on my waist habang naglalakad palabas ng grocery store. Andami namang nakatingin at nagbubulungan. Mayroon ding ilang mga reporter kaya medyo yumuko ako.

"That's Mr. Sanford!" Sigaw ng isang reporter pero nanatili pa 'rin kaming nakayuko. "He's with the model! Ms. Shy Mendez!"

"Since when you know each other?!"

I gestured Jace to stop walking to face the reporter. Umayos lang naman siya ng tayo. He gestured the reporters to interview us outside para hindi makaistorbo sa ibang tao.

"Since when you both are in a relationship?!" Sigaw ng isang reporter.

"Almost 3 and a half months." Untag ko ng walang pag aalinlangan.

I can feel that Jace's grip on my waist tighten. I keep answering their questions until they asked one.

"Mr. Sanford why did you date her?!" Sigaw ng isa pang reporter kaya't na estatwa ako bigla.

"I date her to marry her in the future."

This is the second time he said that words but it always have a big impact on me. Do I really love him that much?

I looked at my side only to see him looking at me, cap aside, mask down. He smiled at me and also put down my mask. He deep down before crashing his lips to mine.

My world stops. Wala akong naririnig na ingay. Only him and I kissing infront of the cameras. Almost infront of whole Philippines.

When he moved away to breathe, I gave him a smack on his lips na ikinangiti niya.

"We guess that what happened is enough?" Tanong niya sa mga reporter na parang robot na tumango.

Jace hold my wrist then urged me to go to his car. Sinunod ko naman iyon because he was still putting the groceries at the back seat.