Kayla's POV

I stared at my phone while laying on bed, wondering if Jarvis had fallen asleep. He was no longer replying to my last chat. He must be really tired. I could easily tell. The situation was draining him, maybe more than it did to me.

I wished I could visit him or freely be with him. I wished I was beside him to assure him that everything would be fine. But we were both suffering in different worlds right now and I couldn't do anything for him.

Inalis ko ang reading glasses ko at nilapag sa bedside table kasama ang phone ko. Inabot ko ang switch ng lamp shade to dim the light just enough for me to fall asleep. I never sleep with the lights completely off since I was a kid.

Bumagsak ako sa kama at pilit pinikit ang mga mata ko. The past few days had been mentally and emotionally draining at ngayon lang ulit  ako nakakahinga.

I heard the familiar buzz of notification from my phone. Inabot kong  muli ito. It was from Jarvis. Nagsalubong ang kilay ko nang makita ang screen.

What does he mean he's outside?

Agad akong umalis sa kama at sinuot ang house slippers ko habang nagt-type sa phone. Nagtungo ako sa glass wall ng kwarto ko para sumilip sa labas. The night sky remained cloudy. There's no way he's outside.

My phone vibrated with Jarvis' reply, asking me to let the guard know  so he could come inside. It took me seconds of staring at my phone screen before I rushed to get a jacket out of the closet and head out. Seriously, Jarvis?

Hindi ako mapalagay habang nasa elavator. I kept tapping my shoes against the steel floor, impatient by the slow movement from every  floor.

Once the door opened to the lobby, I immediately checked if Jarvis was really outside. He was waiving near the door, a black hoodie covering him up to his head and even if he was wearing a face mask, I could tell he's grinning from ear to ear.

Hindi ko alam ang magiging reaction ko. I was relieved to see him, almost close to laughing, but I couldn't help but wonder how long he  had to drive to be here at this time and how it must have been exhausting for him.

Pinuntahan ko agad ang guard para magpaliwanag, that the weirdo waiting outside, was indeed my boyfriend. The good thing was the  guard was too old to be aware of things such as social media or Saint Claire. He regarded Jarvis as a normal silly guy, tulad noong hinintay niya akong makauwi buong hapon.

Nang sa wakas ay pagbuksan si Jarvis, agad niya akong tinakbo upang yakapin nang mahigpit. My favorite hugs were always from Jarvis...  tight, comforting, safety. He dug his face to the side of my neck, breathing me in, something he loves to do.

"Babe..."

Napailing nalang ang matandang guard sa nakikita saka bumalik sa kanyang post.

"It's late," I whispered to Jarvis. Nanatili siyang nakayakap sa'kin sa gitna ng tahimik na lobby. Hinawakan ko ang magulo niyang buhok. "Let's get inside, okay?"

Inside the elevator, Jarvis held my hand and played with my fingers and the silver bracelet on my wrist. Then he raised my palm to his lips and kissed my knuckles.

"Namiss kita, Kayla..."

"Silly," I mumbled, letting his long fingers intertwined with mine. "You can't just pop in my place whenever you like..." I told him. "Mabuti nalang walang nakakilala sa'yo."

Jarvis rested his head on my right shoulder even though he's way taller than me. I didn't know if his fans knew about this side of him but Jarvis was immensely clingy. Ilang beses ko itong napatunayan tuwing nagkikita kami.

"Babe, para naman tayong tumatakas..."

Hindi ako sumagot sa sinabi niya. Agad naming narating ang unit ko. While entering the pass code, I couldn't help but glance at him at the corner of my eyes. Hindi ito ang unang beses na makakapasok siya sa unit ko but it was still a bit awkward, specially I never had someone in here beside Eula.

Nang makapasok kami sa loob, I stared around in case there were mess I didn't bother cleaning during the day. "Uhm, just sit in couch..." I mumbled. "Do you want anything?"

Jarvis remained standing by the closed door bago siya lumapit sa'kin at mahigpit akong niyakap.

"Jarvis..."

Hindi siya umimik. He only rested his forehead against my shoulder, breathing deeply as though he's tired.

"Babe..."

Pinagmasdan ko siya saka inabot ang likod niya, gently tapping his  broad back. "It's okay... It's okay, Jarvis..." I mumbled. "We'll be okay..."

"Babe... hindi ko akalain na mapapagod ako sa pangarap ko," tahimik niyang bulong.

"Jarvis, you're not tired of your dream... you're just tired of fighting against the odds..."

He stayed still beside me. I almost believed he was crying. He looks tough on the outside, but Jarvis was such a soft soul, easily pressured,  easily breaks.

"Jarvis..." I whispered to him, staring at the skyscrapers outside the  glass window. Tiny lights from different window glowed under the city sky.

"Would it be easier for you if you have nothing to worry but yourself  and your career..."

He raised his head to look at me, eyes confused and weary.

"Would it be easier if you don't have to worry about me?"

"Kayla..."

"I know this situation is tiring you more than anything. You're hurting more than anyone..."

Inabot ng kanyang palad ang pisngi ko. "Hindi ako mapapagod  hanggang nandyan ka. Ikaw ang pahinga ko, Kayla." Marahan niyang hinaplos ang pisngi ko. "I've never felt so sure about something or someone before. Sa'yo lang."

Sumilay ang ngiti sa labi ko. Despite the odds surrounding us, hearing  his words of assurance, being with him, he's like this ray of light,  melting away the darkness inside my head.

"Kayla, come with me to the concert."

"Concert?"

"It's for the band's anniversary two weeks from now in MOA."

"Jarvis," I exclaimed. "That's one of the biggest venue in the country. This is amazing for the band, Jarvis. You've made it..." Hindi ko napigilan ang saya ko para sa grupo.

Tinitigan ako ni Jarvis, ang mga mata niya seryoso. "I want you to be there, Kayla..."

Napakurap ako, hindi alam ang sasabihin. "But..."

"I know my world is too loud for you... and I promise to protect you as much as I could. Just be there for me please, even from afar. Hear our songs, Kayla. Hear my song..."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. "Is that... the song Eula was talking about?"

The side of his lips curved to a playful smile. "I'll play it for the first  time in the concert."

"What is it about?"

"Malalaman mo kapag pumunta ka," Jarvis teased, his eyes alight.

I faked a frown and folded my arms in front of my chest in warning. "Hindi mo talaga sasabihin?"

Humalakhak siya saka umiling, eyes staring at me like he's in front of someone astonishing. Ngayon nakikita ko na ang tinutukoy ni Eula. Tuwing kasama ko si Jarvis, ang mga ngiti niya, ang mga halakhak, ang mga mata niyang nakatitig sa'kin. I thought those were his usual demeanor... but now I could see...

"How about hum the tune?"

Napaisip siya sa alok ko. "Deal... just promise me you're going to the anniversary concert."

Ngumiti ako. "I'll be there."

In the dim light of my living room, with the city lights glimmering outside the glass wall, Jarvis took my hand and started humming a song... unfamiliar to my ears, but comforting to my senses. It was a  calm tune, his voice reassuring. We started swaying, dancing in slow, delicate movements.

He pulled me closer to his chest while humming. The slither of the crescent moon outside showed up beside the clouds. Pumikit ako at hinayaan ang sarili ko na sumandal sa kanyang dibdib, binabalutan ng kanyang bisig. We swayed from side to side, feet on the cold floor and Jarvis' voice in the warm night.

Bigla siyang tumigil at humarap sa'kin. His calloused palms reached for both sides of my face, smiling this familiar smile only Jarvis could  give... playful, pleasant and his eyes... filled with affection it felt so warm.

Jarvis leaned down to my face and I slowly closed my eyes as his lips finally reached mine.

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