Worth The Risk (Book 2) [COMPLETED]

Chapter Twenty One

VICE

It's been weeks since I ask for Jackie's mother's permission to court her daughter. My everyday life consists of me, fetching Jackie and us going to work together. Tapos kapag maaga kaming matatapos, I'll take her out. Tinuloy ko ang panliligaw sakanya and it really makes me happy to do things for her. Hindi na matapos tapos ang pang-aasar ni Vhong sa akin dahil hindi niya daw akalain na darating ang araw na mag-eeffort ako ng husto para sa isang babae. I guess Jackie really is different. She makes me do things I never knew I'm capable of doing. Tinutulungan din ako ni Vhong sa mga dapat kong gawin. I'm happy that Vhong is there to support and help me through it all. He serves us our cover from our friends tuwing magdedate kami ni Jackie. Hindi ko pa kasi kayang sabihin kina Anne. Hindi ko naman planong itago sakanila pero hindi ko pa kayang sabihin sa ngayon. Lalo na at wala pa naman kaming label ni Jackie.

Maaga akong pumasok ngayon dahil may stage rehearsal ako. Binigyan kasi ako ni Direk ng prod today since it's been months since the last time I performed for the opening. Sinundo ko si Jackie at sabay na kaming pumuntang studio. Inihinto ko ang kotse ko ng makapag-park ako. Tumingin si Jackie sa paligid para tingnan kung may tao o wala. When the coast is clear she turned to me.

"Bye. See you later." She smiled sweetly. She leaned in and place a kiss on my cheek before stepping out of my car. Mabilis siyang tumakbo papuntang elevator. Napangiti ako. Hindi pa rin ako sanay na maramdaman itong warm feeling sa dibdib ko tuwing nakikita ko si Jackie. Naghintay muna ako ng ilang minuto bago bumaba sa kotse ko. Sinalubong ako ni Dianne ng makarating ako sa studio. Inabutan niya ako ng kape.

"Ma'am gusto niyo mag-breakfast muna kayo?" Tanong ni Dianne sa tabi ko. My steps halted. Nag-breakfast na kami ni Jackie kanina bago pumasok pero hindi iyon ang nakatawag pansin sa akin.

"You know Dianne ang tagal na nating mag katrabaho so stop with the formalities already."

Namula siya sa sinabi ko.

"Just call me Ate Vice or better yet Meme. Since that's what everybody's calling me." Sabi ko sakanya. Tumango tango naman siya. Ngumiti ako. "Good." I said before resuming with my walk.

Pumunta kami sa stage and my eyes automatically roam to find her. Nagkita naman kami kanina pero I can't stop craving for her presence every minute. Nakita ko siya sa gilid kasama sila Mandy at iba pang dancers.

"Oh nandito na si Meme. Settle everyone." Sigaw ng prod manager. Nagsitinginan naman ang lahat sa gawi ko. My eyes are only focused on Jackie. She smile at me and look down. I saw the tinge of pink on her cheeks. Is she seriously blushing? I chuckle before looking away.

Nakinig naman ako sa prod manager sa kung ano ang gagawin ko. Pinigilan kong tingnan si Jackie every now and then dahil baka may makahalata. Pero sobrang hirap dahil tumatawag talaga ng pansin ang kagandahan niya. Matapos ang practice ay hinayaan kong mauna nang umalis ang mga kasama namin. Tinagalan kong ayusin ang gamit ko dahil may gusto akong sabihin kay Jackie. Naririnig kong inaasar siya ng mga kapwa niya dancers tungkol sa manliligaw niya. Blooming daw kasi si Jackie kaya curious sila sino ang dahilan. Napangiti ako ng palihim lalo na ng makita si Jackie na pulang pula ang pisngi.

I brought my phone out and sent her a text. I watch her pull her phone out of her pants. Binasa niya ang text bago siya mag-angat ng tingin. Tumango siya at ngumiti sa akin. Nauna na akong umalis. Hinintay ko si Jackie sa loob ng kotse. I saw her walked out and went straight to my car.

"Hi." She greeted me. I smiled back.

"Tired?" I ask her. She put her seatblet on before shooking her head.

"Hindi naman."

"I got something for you." Sabi ko at may inabot mula sa backseat. Sinundan niya ng tingin ang paper bag na hawak ko. Binigay ko ito sakanya. Kinuha niya ito at sumilip siya sa loob.

"Hmm what's this?" She ask curiously and there's excitement in her voice.

"Just see for yourself." I grinned. Kinuha niya ang box sa loob at binuksan ito. She gasped. She look at me with wide eyes.

"V-Vice.." She murmured. I scratch the back of my neck.

"I remembered seeing you eyeing that pair of shoes months ago. I was suppped to give you that two weeks ago pero nung bumalik ako sa shop ubos na daw dahil limited edition lang iyon. I have to pull some connections from abroad to buy you one. Nagustuhan mo ba?"

"Are you kidding me? I love it Vice!" She throw herself towards me and embraced me. I chuckle and let out a relieved sigh. She pulled away.

"Thank you. But you don't have to do something like that just to give me these. " I smiled softly at her. "It's nothing. I'll do anything for you." I tuck her hair behind her ears. There's something in her eyes but I couldn't put it into words.

It's the truth. Money is nothing but I want to spoil her with the things she love. I've been spending money for people who don't deserve it from the past and this time I want to give my everything on the right person.

"Tara lunch na? It's a date." Sabi ko sakanya. She gave me a heart stopping smile before nodding. Umayos siya ng upo. Sinilip ko siya saglit bago ibalik ang atensyon sa pagdridrive.

"Any choice? Mexican? Italian?" She scrunched her nose up while contemplating what to pick.

"Hmm. No."

"What then?"

"I don't know. Pero I'm craving for something."

"What?"

"Hindi ko alam." She pouted like a kid. I chuckle.

"Nagcre-crave ka pero hindi mo alam kung ano?" I laugh.

She huff in frustration. Tumahimik siya. Tiningnan ko siya and she looks deep in her thoughts. Maya maya bigla siyang umayos ng upo.

"Ah alam ko na!" Her face brightens then she turned to me.

"Gusto ko kumain sa carinderia."

"W-What?" I asked, taken aback at what she said. Hindi naman sa hindi ako kumakain sa carinderia but it's been years since I last ate at those places. I'm planning on taking her on a five star restaurant but she surprised me with her choice.

"Are you sure?" Paninigurado ko. She nod like a kid.

"Yeah. Namimiss ko na yung luto ni Aling Bebang. Dati lagi kami nila Ate Mandy doon kapag natatapos ang practice pero dahil sobrang busy these months hindi na kami nakakapunta." She transferred her eyes at me.

"I mean.. Kung okay lang sa'yo?"

Mabilis akong tumango. "Ofcourse!"

The light turned red so I stopped the car. I look over at Jackie who's smiling while looking at a dog inside the car beside ours. She cooed like she just saw a baby. My heart swells with warmth. She overwhelms me too much. Hearing her choosing a simpler place to eat and seeing her gush towards a dog, right there and then, one thought came into my mind:

I couldn't let another day passed by without claiming her as my girlfriend.

"Jackie." She averted her eyes at me.

"Hmm?" There's a soft smile in her lips and then I drop the question.

"Can you be my girlfriend?" I let out a nervous breath as I felt my heart hammering inside my chest. She roam her eyes over my face and her lack of words scared me a little. I was about to take it back but she leaned in and kiss me on the lips. I closed my eyes instantly when I felt her soft lips. It was just a short kiss. She smiled against my lips before looking into my eyes.

"Yes. I would love to." She breathed out.

(A/N: helloooo!! may nag-aabang pa ba sa updates ko? huhuhu)