Gunned Down (Chasing Dreams Series #4) | C O M P L E T E D

Chapter 57

This chapter is dedicated to: secret_only and exoshidae_jocel

Life became peaceful ever since the trial. Nakapag-focus ako sa trabaho dahil wala nang media'ng nakabuntot sa tuwing lumalabas ako. Of course, I was uncomfortable. Spotlights weren't just for me.

Peaceful life, but not complete...

It has been months since Marcus left and I couldn't believe that we would see each other again in a few days. Plano niyang dumiretso muna sa Cebu para ihatid si Harmony bago magsimula ang klase nito. He said, she was doing better than before, but she didn't want to go home yet.

Inalis ko ang tingin sa binabasang text message galing kay Marcus nang sikuhin ako ni Jeremiah. Narito kami ngayon sa isang bistro sa BGC at hinihintay ang kanyang girlfriend na nais niyang ipakilala sa akin.

"Ano?" tanong ko at napansin 'agad ang pamumutla niya.

Itinukod niya ang mga siko niya sa ibabaw ng table sabay takip ng mukha. "N-Nothing... Don't mind me..."

"What the heck?" Napangisi ako at ginantihan ang paniniko niya sa akin. "Nag-aalala ka ba na baka hindi ko magustuhan si Maribel? You gotta chill! Hindi ako katulad ng isa mong kapatid."

"Isa pa 'yon..." He sighed as he looked at me. "Nag-maldita na naman no'ng dinala ko si Maribel sa bahay last week. But I had no intention to please her or whatsoever just because she doesn't like my girlfriend. She's not a kid anymore."

"You don't need to compare us, though. I won't judge your girlfriend. Ang gusto ko lang talaga ay ma-meet siya. At alam kong mabuti siyang babae dahil ang akala kong himala ay nangyari na! Akalain mo 'yon at tumino ka? Do'n pa lang botong-boto na 'ko sa kanya..." natatawa kong sinabi para maalis ang kaba ni Jeremiah.

Hindi na umimik ang pinsan ko. In fact, mukha siyang natatae kahit wala pang laman ang aming mga tiyan. I just laughed at him and sipped my juice as we waited for nearly five minutes. Nang nabasa ang text ni Maribel ay 'agad siyang lumabas upang salubungin ito.

I looked at the glass doors and spotted a shy, pretty girl in uniform who entered the bistro. Sumunod ang pinsan kong ngiting-ngiti na ngayon.

"Oh, boy. This is what love can do..." bulong ko sa sarili bago tumayo para batiin si Maribel.

I grinned when Jeremiah pulled the chair for his girlfriend. Lokong 'to. Gentleman na rin pala ngayon.

"Hindi ka man lang sinundo nito?" tanong ko kay Maribel matapos taasan ng kilay ang pinsan ko.

Maribel, who was still shy, raised her gaze at me. "Hindi po talaga ako nagpasundo, Ate Olga. Mas prefer ko pong mag-commute."

"You know I just got off work. Ayaw niya lang akong ma-istorbo..." bulong naman ni Jeremiah na tila 'yon nga talaga ang nangyari.

He was blushing when I glanced at him. I'd really love to take a picture of him right now, but I didn't want him to feel embarrassed in front of his girlfriend.

Tumango na lang ako at umambang tatayo. "O-Order muna ako."

"Libre mo, cous?" ani Jeremiah sa nanlalaking mga mata.

"Yup! Ngayon lang 'to dahil nandito si Maribel," tugon ko at ngumiti sa dalagang nakatitig sa akin.

He told me what she would like to eat, so I went to the counter. Sa gilid ng aking mga mata ay nakita ko ang mabilis na paglapit ni Jeremiah ng upuan niya sa kay Maribel. I was surprised at how gently he acts and speaks to her—unlike what I had witnessed in his past relationships.

Ewan ko na lang kung hindi pa si Maribel ang nakalaan para kay Jeremiah...

I went back to our table and Maribel just ended a call. Inilapag ko 'yung tray na may complimentary snacks at pagka-upo ay pinakinggan ang pang-uusisa ni Jeremiah.