A Happily Ever After

Chapter Two

JESSA

"Teka Rosales, makiki-CR lang muna ako. Saan 'yon?" Tanong ni Navarro.

"Doon sa baba. Liko ka lang sa may kusina tapos.. aish, samahan na nga lang kita."

Hindi pa kami nakakapasok sa kwarto ay lumabas na naman ako. Pero bago 'yon ay nilingon ko muna ang mga kagrupo ko sa loob ng kwarto ko, naka-upo na ngayon si Castillo sa dulo ng kama, hawak hawak pa rin ang The Blood of the Dragon habang seryoso itong binabasa. I slight discomfort settled over me, I was the one who bought the book, pero hindi ako ang unang nakabasa. Si Jonah naman ay nakatayo at pinagmamasdan ang bookshelf ko, habang ang kapatid niya ay nakadungaw sa bintana. Dela Cruz, being a cute fluff ball he is, sat down beside Castillo and said, "seryoso natin ah."

"Babalik kami," Sabi ko. Jonah is the only one who nodded in agreement, then me and Navarro climb down the stairs.

My heart still wasn't stopping from racing so aggressively inside my ribs, and it's getting really annoying. Navarro is in my freaking house, using our freaking bathroom. I have to take deep breaths every twenty seconds in an attempt to calm down my nerves.

Navarro gently closed the door of the bathroom and I leaned on the wall. The rain is still pouring outside. Lightning is still crackling in the gray sky. The smell of damp soil lingered in my nose. Then Castillo's image of her reading my book suddenly appeared in my mind, the restlessness inside me intensifies even more. Kasalanan ko rin naman kung bakit hindi ako ang unang nakabasa eh, but there's a nervous voice panicking behind my brain.

"Timpalahan ko kayong magkakagrupo ng gatas?" Hindi ko namalayan si Mama na nasa kusina pala habang kumukuha ng mga baso sa kabinet namin. Tumango ako.

"Gatas? Sige Ma, gusto namin 'yon."

Bumukas ang pintuan ng banyo at lumabas na si Navarro. He's still brushing his tousled black hair, and when he sees Mama, he smiles way too bright for my heart to take.

"Hello po, Ate," he said.

Tumango lang si Mama at tinignan siya mula ulo hanggang paa. "Magtitimpla ako ng gatas para sa inyo, gusto mo ba?"

Lalong lumapad ang ngiti ni Stefan. "Ay opo! Sakto kasi medyo malamig hehe."

My cheeks are starting to blaze for whatever reasons, kinakausap lang naman kasi ni mama 'yung lalaking crush ko. Yes, unfortunately, I developed a stupid little crush on Navarro. A crush that developed since our first week of school.

Before I could explode here and embarrass myself, nagsalita na ako. "Punta na kami sa taas Ma." Tumango naman si mama at sinundan ni Navarro ng isa pang 'bye-bye po' bago na tuluyang nawala si mama sa paningin namin.

We made our way upstairs. "Parang ang cool ng Mama mo, Rosales," Navarro said and I felt his soft and warm hand placed on my shoulder.

I flinch, almost jumping on my spot. The small contact erupts numerous butterflies in my guts, making my cheeks feel hotter every second. Navarro stares at me, looking both confused and concerned at the same time. I am not a touchy person. Ayako sa lahat 'yung bigla bigla akong hahawakan, I don't like the feeling of skin to skin, it makes me feel way too occupied. Then here is Navarro, someone who can make me nervous just by simply existing, is gently squeezing my shoulders like it's nothing.

Tila naman napansin niya 'yon kaya agad din niyang inalis ang kamay niya. Nag-iwan ng mainit na sensasyon ang parte ng balikat ko na hinawakan niya.

"Cool talaga siya," sabi ko nalang. Pretending to not notice anything.

Nagtuloy tuloy lang kami sa pag-akyat at ramdam ko na hindi pa rin inaalis ni Navarro ang tingin sa akin. "Ayos ka lang ba? Masama ba pakiramdam mo?"

Ramdam ko pa rin ang init ng kamay niya sa balikat ko kahit na kanina niya pa ito inalis. He's hand is softer and warmer than I thought. His long slender fingers feel nice in my skin. Oh my God, teka teka, what am I actually thinking?