[MESSENGER]

Jachin Avery Deogracias

12:04

Jachin
Namimiss ko si Lulu
Gusto ko na umuwi hay
Evie reacted 😆

Evie
She's just at your house!

Jachin
Alam mo bang pag aalis ako laging nakasunod sa akin yun. Pinapanood ako magsintas tapos hanggang gate lalabas sila ni Sugar :(

Evie
It's because you're their person. Katabi mo pa rin ba matulog si Lulu?

Jachin
Oo, itatabi ko na nga yung bed eh. Wala namang silbi.
Evie reacted 😆

Evie
Can I visit her? (´･･')

Jachin
Yeah, of course. She's your daughter too. :)

Jachin
Tapos na class mo?

Evie
For now, yes. But I have a 2-4pm class. :(

Evie
So I'm reading notes (๑-﹏-๑)

Evie
But I'm sleepy and in pain

Jachin
In pain? Bakit?

Evie
It's a girls thing 😵‍💫

Jachin
Ahh, time of the month? You can say it. Baka nakakalimutan mong may dalawa akong kapatid na babae.

Jachin
Ako punching bag ng mga yon pag meron at mainit ang ulo.

Evie
😔

Evie
I'll try taking a nap muna ( • ᴖ • ｡)

Jachin
Asan ka ba? Patapos na ako mag lunch eh. Kumain ka na?

Evie
Sa baba lang ng building namin, they have seats here

Evie
Not yet but I'm okay 🖐🏻

Jachin
Okay daw pero baka pag nagdala akong pagkain 🤣
Evie reacted 😡

Jachin
Hintayin mo ko wag ka muna matulog

Evie
But I'm eepy ( • ᴖ • ｡)

Jachin
Mabilis lang ako. Tatakbo na sige. Mga 5 mins

Evie
Okay okay ε(´｡•᎑•')っ
Don't run baka madapa ka pa and get hurt
Jachin reacted 🫡

* * *

[DIALOGUE]

< UNIVERSITY. AFTERNOON. >

Evie was murmuring incoherent words, reading from her notebook, when Jachin arrived.

Hindi nito napansin ang pagdating niya kaya nagulat na lang ito nang lumapit siya lamesa nito.

Jachin
Hey.

Evie
Oh, you're here. Ang bilis.

The small 'o' her mouth formed was the cutest thing Jachin saw the whole day.

Jachin
Sabi sa 'yo saglit lang ako.

Before Jachin could even sit beside her, Evie softly leaned her head on his stomach, her fingers clutching the hem of his shirt. Halatang nahihilo ito at hindi maganda ang pakiramdam.

Evie
Jachin, I'm sleepy. . .

Jachin's hand reacted faster than his brain could and his first instinct was to hold her head in case she falls, but his hand froze for a moment.

He could feel his pulse jump and the rapid intake of breath.

Jachin
Evie. . .

He was nervous. For what, he did not know for sure.

In the end, he allowed himself to place his hand over her head and gently brush her hair out of her face.

Jachin
Okay ka lang? Gusto mo pumuntang clinic?

Evie shook her head, still leaning on him, and Jachin felt the exact moment she realized what she was doing.

Agad itong napalayo sa kanya.

Evie
Oh, uhm, sorry. Nahihilo lang ako nang kaunti.

Jachin wanted to tease her, but she look like she was ready to pass out so he just smiled and took a seat next to her.

Binuksan ni Jachin ang dalang paperbag at inabot kay Evie ang pagkain na dala. He got her a rice meal and a few snacks.

Jachin
Bumili rin akong chichirya. 'Di ko alam kung gusto mo pero 'yan madalas craving ng mga kapatid ko.

Evie immediately grabbed the chip bag.

Evie
Thank you.

Jachin
Ayaw mo muna kumain ng kanin?

Evie
I'm not feeling well so baka isuka ko.

Tumango si Jachin at hinayaan siyang kumain.

Jachin
Okay. Pagtapos mo, tara.

Lumingon sa kanya si Evie.

Evie
Where?

Jachin
Sa sasakyan. Inilipat ko sa parking dito sa tapat n'yo mas malapit at makaidlip ka sa loob. Mainit din dito.

Evie
Oh, no, it's okay. Kailangan ko rin mag-review. Pag nakatulog ako, I won't be able to read.

Jachin
Saglit lang. Gigisingin kita pagkatapos.

The worry was evident in her eyes.

Evie
But—

Jachin leaned closer to her and brushed her cheek with his thumb to remove the stray strand of hair.

And it made Evie's stomach clench.

Jachin
Akong bahala. Gigisingin kita, promise. Kailangan mo umidlip para hindi ka mahilo.

Evie
Okay. . .

When she was done eating, Jachin led her inside his car and turned on the AC so she could sleep comfortably.

Jachin
Baba mo lang nang kaunti 'yong seat para naka-recline ka.

Evie did as she was told and lied down. Masakit na rin ang buong katawan niya kaya mabilis siyang inantok.

Evie managed to turn to her side and look at Jachin despite dozing off.

Evie
Anong gagawin mo?

Kinuha ni Jachin ang notebook sa bag niya at marahang iwinagayway ito.

Jachin
Magbabasa rin ng notes. May quiz ako bukas pero para wala na akong iisipin mamaya.

Even with her eyes closed, Evie could feel herself smile.

Evie
So sipag. . .

Tumawa si Jachin.

Jachin
Para rin hindi ako makaidlip at magising kita.

Evie
Thank you. . . for taking care of me.

Jachin bit his lower lip to stop himself from smiling.

Jachin
Of cour—

He stopped when he saw Evie fast asleep, her body lax and comfortable.

Jachin took a quick sweep of her figure, noting her all-white uniform and her ID clipped on her chest pocket.

And then her long hair sprawled across his passenger seat.

Without another thought, he pressed the side of his seat to recline it a bit. That way, he could look at her face properly.

Napangiti si Jachin nang gumalaw ito nang kaunti, her nose scrunching and some whisp of her bangs moving.

Jachin
(whispers) Ang ganda mo.

Hindi niya mapigilang hindi ito titigan. And he knows this might be his only chance.

The more he looked at her sleeping figure, and the way he could barely stop his heart from beating too fast, the more he understood why Mila did what she did.

She had everything to fear.

* * *

#ATSWHIwp