CHAPTER 100

EVIE RAN A HAND through her now short hair a couple of times now. A habit she did whenever she was nervous or giddy. Today, she was both. Ilang beses din siyang nagpalit ng damit bago mapagdesisyunan na mag dress na lang.

Hindi niya alam kung bakit kinakabahan siya sa magiging reaksyon ni Jachin. But she was giddy that she's about to see him again after a week. And of course, to see her little baby bear too. Na-miss niyang yakapin ito at bigyan ng treats!

Jachin offered to pick her up at her house but she refused. She wanted to have that travelling time by herself to ease her nerves so that by the time she arrived at Jachin's house, mas excited na siya.

His house was of normal size, pero malinis ang puti nitong mga pader sa labas at naririnig niya ang mahinang pagdaloy ng tubig sa mini fountain nila sa loob ng garden. It was obvious that his parents maintained it well.

Evie gripped the strap of her bag tightly before pressing the doorbell. Agad niyang narinig ang maliliit na tahol sa loob ng bahay bago pa man lumabas si Jedidiah. And then she was running towards her, with her eyes alight with happiness. Ito ang kamukha ni Jachin sa magkapatid.

"Ate Evie!" she excitedly flicked the lock open and unbolted their gate, and immediately threw herself in for a hug. They were both only a few years younger than she is so she appreciates having someone near her age to talk to.

Evie let out an oof, but grabbed her small frame tightly so she wouldn't fall sideways. "Hello, Jedidiah!"

As soon as Jedidiah saw her face, her mouth immediately formed an 'o' and Evie had to put her finger to her lips because she didn't want Jachin to know just yet.

Tumango naman ito at agad na inilingkis ang mga kamay sa braso niya para akayin siya papasok ng bahay nila.

"You look pretty, Ate Evie! Bagay sa 'yo. I think magugulat si Kuya!"

Evie nibbled on her bottom lip before nodding. "I'm kind of nervous. Will he like it?"

"Doesn't matter! Ang ganda ganda mo, Ate. Matutulala lang 'yon si Kuya, trust me."

She waved both of her hands before Jedidiah gets the wrong idea. "Oh, no! We're not-"

Naputol ang sasabihin niya nang buksan nito ang screen papasok sa bahay nila. The younger led her inside their house and as soon as she was in, sinalubong agad siya ni Lulu na kanina pa gustong lumabas. Nagtatalon ito sa legs niya kaya agad niya itong binuhat. Sugar was also there so she gave her a pat also.

"My baby bear!" Evie cooed.

Lulu immediately tried licking her face, and squirmed on her arms like a worm. Mas lalo na ito lumaki at naging mas maliksi kumpara nung nasa clinic nila ito. She was glad that they were taking care of her.

"Na-miss ka ni Lulu, Ate. Alam mo ba 'pag naririnig niya pangalan mo na binabanggit ni Kuya, lumalapit siya kay Kuya."

"I missed her too! So much! Yes, you want belly rubs?" Evie tickled Lulu's belly while still holding her. She wanted to squeeze her so badly if she wasn't afraid to suffocate her.

Evie was still swinging her body from side to side while Lulu was in her arms when she heard voices and footsteps from upstairs.

And then, Jachin came running down from the second floor. "Jedi, nandyan na ba s-" He stopped when his eyes landed on her.

For a moment, Jachin could only stare at Evie. Like time was suspended and everything else was a fading noise between them, not Jedidiah's giddy expressions, nor Lulu's excited barks were able to pull them out of their own small world.

"Hi, Jachin." Evie gave him a small wave and took a step towards him. Hindi pa rin kumikibo si Jachin na nakatapak ang isang paa sa lapag, habang ang isa ay nasa huling palapag pa rin ng hagdan.

"Kuya, ano ba! Kanina ka pa nakaharang! Tabi!" Itinulak ito ni Jenyl na kasunod niyang bumaba.

It was only then that Jachin was snapped out from his thoughts. He shook his head a little before taking a few steps towards a smiling Evie.

His eyes were glued sa mukha nito, and all Evie could see was deep admiration from the way they softened when his gaze reached her eyes. "Nagpagupit ka."

Evie tilted her head so he could see her hair better and gave it a soft pat. "Yes. You like it?"

Jachin couldn't help but lift his hand to touch the ends of her hair, resting both his arms on her shoulder. "Very much."

Evie's breath hitched at how close he was in front of her. Mukhang bagong ligo ito judging from the way his hair was still damp, the ends dripping with water and the peppermint soap scent that he was using that she immediately caught.

He took another step towards her before Evie felt the warmth of his body closed around her in a tight hug. She could feel his breath on the bare skin of her shoulder and the way his hands held the side of her curves, touching her in places that made her feel like she could melt at any given moment.

"Ang ganda mo." Jachin uttered softly, his lips grazing her skin as he spoke.

He tried his best to not trace her skin with his mouth.

Napangiti si Jachin nang maramdaman niya ang pagyakap pabalik ni Evie. Her small hands gently caressing his back.

"Thank you. Kinabahan akong ipakita kasi sobrang ikli ng gupit."

Kumalas sa yakap si Jachin at hinawakan ang mukha niya, his fingers grazing her jawline. "No, it's perfect."

Evie smiled. "Thank you."

"Kuya, Ate! Tama na raw po ang lambingan at kakain na!" Jenyl yelled over them.

Mahinang natawa si Jachin nang nanlaki ang mata ni Evie sa narinig. Her big round eyes made Jachin want to squeeze her cheeks, but he stopped himself.

"Sorry. Walang preno talaga mga kapatid ko?" Jachin's mouth curved into a smile. "Tara?"

Nagmano si Evie sa mga magulang ni Jachin na sinalubong naman siya ng yakap.

"Ba't ikaw ang pumupunta? Dapat ito ang pinapapunta mo sa inyo 'di ba?" Nginuso ng nanay niya si Jachin.

"Ma-"

"Oh, mas magiging hassle po kasi kung dadalhin niya si Lulu. He has to bring a lot of her stuff."

"Ah, may anak-anakan nga pala kayo. Baka maging totoo 'yan ha? 'Wag muna."

"Mama naman. Nasa harap ng hapag oh."

"Bakit? Nagsasabi lang ng totoo."

Napailing na lang si Jachin at iginiya si Evie sa tabi niya para umupo. He knew that his mother meant well, but it might be awkward for Evie to hear that especially since it's her first time having dinner with them.

The whole dinner Jachin couldn't seem to stop his eyes from looking at Evie. Everytime she spoke to his parents or his sisters, his attention was immediately drawn back to her.

Nilingon siya ni Evie saglit nang maramdaman ang titig niya and she blushed under his gaze.

"Uhm, may nasa mukha ko ba?"

"Wala naman," Jachin squeezed his eyes shut with a smile. "Ang ganda mo lang."

"Jachin!"

After dinner, habang nag-se-set up ang mga kapatid niya ng pwede nilang panoorin, Jachin and Evie decided to play with Lulu outside for a while.

He bent down to sit on the steps on their veranda leading to their gate, and gently reached for Evie's hand so he could guide her to sit next to him.

Panay ang takbo ni Lulu sa tuwing ibinabato ni Jachin ang bola nito. The small ball of fur was so energetic and Jachin liked to think that it was because both him and Evie were present.

Hindi naman ito matamlay 'pag siya lang, pero mas makulit ito kapag nasa tabi si Evie.

Jachin didn't let go of Evie's hand and instead let their hands fall comfortably on his lap.

Evie didn't know what to make of Jachin's gesture because he hadn't stopped staring at her and giving her little touches that made her stomach flutter.

She took a peek at him and then back to her hand that was still clasped together with his on his lap. "Uhm, Jachin?"

Masuyong hinahaplos ni Jachin ang mga daliri niya.

"Yeah?"

"Uhm, can I have my personal space back?" Evie asked, still smiling. Hindi niya mapigilang hindi mapangiti dahil sa ginagawa ni Jachin. If she had to guess, touching might be his love language.

"Oh, sorry." Jachin quickly scooted to make a small space between them. "Sorry. 'Di ko namalayan."

Evie stared at the distance between them and she almost wanted to take back what she said. "It's okay. But your parents. . ."

Jachin chuckled. "Ah. Oo, tatanungin ako niyan mamaya pag-alis mo. Kita mo kanina, pinapahiya na ako."

"Your face turned red!" Evie's body shook with laughter na mukhang kanina pa nito pinipigilan.

"Ikaw ba naman sabihan no'n. Alam naman niyang nagtatapos pa ako para matulungan ko sila."

Evie reached for his head and gave him a two soft pats. "You're a good son."

"Thank you. That means so much."

Lulu returned to sit between Jachin's legs. "Oh, pagod ka na? Hinihingal na ang baby ko."

Despite being tired, Lulu stood again and sat in front of them.

"Pakita mo nga kay Mommy 'yong tricks natin. Pakita mo 'yong hold hands."

Lulu lifts her paw at the command and places it on Jachin's palm.

"Galing naman!" Evie gave her a pat.

Jachin throws the ball again so Lulu can run and retrieve it.

"It's almost your birthday, Evie." Jachin mentions after a while.

Evie's eyes lit up in surprise. "You remembered!"

"Of course. Sabi mo Valentine's day 'yon, eh."

"For me, it's also just Valentine's day. Nothing really special. Usually, nanonood lang ako ng rom-coms with a tub of ice cream or with Mimi to watch our favorite crime documentary."

Jachin leaned back, propping both his arms to support his weight, before turning to Evie. "I want to celebrate your birthday this year. And next year too. And the year after."

Evie struggled to keep her eyes on him and blinked a couple of times when she heard it. Hindi niya alam kung tama ang narinig niya, pero nang salubungin niya ang mga mata ni Jachin, alam niyang seryoso ito.

She slowly nodded. "Okay. I will celebrate with you then."

Ngumiti ito, the one where his dimples deepen. "Can you tell me your wish now?"

"You remembered that too?"

"Utang mo sa 'kin 'yon, eh. Sinabi ko sa 'yo wish ko noon."

Evie tilted her head to look at the stars above, they were littered across the vast sky, each with a different purpose.

She quietly wished that her star's purpose was to keep her beside Jachin.

"I have two wishes."

Jachin's brows went up. "Dalawa? Grabe naman. Baka magalit si Genie."

"I can't have only one!"

"Fine. Anong mga wish mo?" He relents. Kahit na gusto niyang nakikita na nakakunot ang noo nito at parang pusa kung magalit, mas gusto niya na nakangiti ito ngayong gabi.

Evie was silent for a solid moment, her side profile was the only thing Jachin was focused on. Her sharp nose and the softness of her face despite her strong jawline were all things that were highly attractive to Jachin.

But his favorite part will always be her eyes. It was so gentle and angelic that he wants to be the only one at the receiving end of it.

Bumaling sa kanya si Evie at sandaling tumitig. "I wish that you'd be happier because I love seeing you smile. Your smile makes my heart. . . thump, thump." She gestured her heart thumping with her hands.

Jachin couldn't help but smile at her cute antics. Ang ganda na nga, cute pa.

"Bakit para sa 'kin wish mo?"

Nagkibit-balikat si Evie. "I just want to."

"And your other wish?"

Evie took a deep breath, almost like she didn't want to say what she was going to say next. "I. . . I wish that you'd have more courage to take a chance with someone again."

Jachin gave her a half-hearted smile, one that didn't quite reach his eyes, and Evie knew what it was for. Evie knew that it was still hard for him to think of himself as someone separate from Mila. She saw the indecision in the way his head slowly bowed down to stare at nothing beneath him.

Nang tumingin ulit ito sa kanya, his lids were glistening with unshed tears. He quickly wiped those tears with the sleeve of his shirt. "Natupad na 'yong una. I'm happy. . . I'm happy with you."

Evie hummed. "That's good. At least may isang natupad na."

Sensing that their small and intimate moment was about to end, Evie started to stand up to go back inside, but she was gently pulled back by Jachin to sit again.

And as if all that he had made her feel tonight wasn't enough, Jachin leaned his head closer to her and tilted it like he was angling for a kiss, while still keeping his eyes on her and loving the way her cheeks were dusted with a pinkish hue at the way he was so close to her.

"Can I kiss your cheek?"

Jachin heard the faintest gasp that she let out, saw her mouth part in the softest way possible, and felt her hand clutch his arm tightly.

His heart was beating so loud that he could feel it drum against his ribcage. Pero nang marahang tumango si Evie, he felt his nerves calm down and could only feel the sense of relief.

He then press a soft kiss on her cheek, just where her dimple was, and let the feeling of her skin linger underneath his lips.

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a/n: happy 100th chapter! <3 here's an artwork of evie and jachin as a treat :)

artwork by cairousell

#ATSWHIwp