chapter theme: paramore - my heart

7:32 PM

Silver:

sorry i wasn't able to finish the game

gusto na kasing umuwi ni Reika

ayokong umalis siya nang mag-isa

8:03 PM

Jethro:

Kaya pala nawala kayo bigla

It's okay, we lost anyway haha

Silver:

are you okay?

Jethro:

I'm at my happiest :)

Where are you now?

Silver:

at home with Reika and Tita

Jethro:

Can you sneak out?

I want to see you

please?

Silver:

sure

i'll make up an excuse

Jethro:

Great! I parked a few blocks away

Near a playground

Silver:

kanina ka pa diyan????

Jethro:

Just got here

Silver:

Give me 10 minutes

next time let me know if you're on the way para di ka na naghihintay

Jethro:

You're worth the wait

Silver:

can you not be cheesy?

Jethro:

Blushing? hahaha

Silver:

humanda ka sa'kin mamaya

Jethro:

Why does that sound exciting?

Silver:

FILIMON!!!!

Nasapian ka ba o nabagok????

Jethro:

I'm just happy :)

I stood up from the couch where Reika and I sat. Dali-dali akong pumasok sa kwarto at naghalungkat sa aparador na pinaghahatian namin ni Reika. After a couple of try-ons, I ended up wearing my white sundress and topped it with my denim jacket. I didn't know what to do with my hair so I decided to just comb it and let it be. 

"Oh, sa'n ka pupunta?"

Natigilan ako nang biglang pumasok si Reika, kunot-noo at parang pulis na mangi-interrogate.

"E-emergency sa hospital," palusot ko.

"Emergency? Eh ba't nakangiti ka?" tanong niya.

"May naalala lang." I shrugged and enforced a serious look on my face. Puchangama, nakangiti pala ako?

"At bakit ganyan ang suot mo? Emergency libing?" Reika crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow. 

I grunted and heaved a big sigh. "Okay, fine! Makikipagkita ako kay Jethro! May mali ba doon?"

"Sinabi ko bang meron?" Reika's lips formed to a mischievous grin. Tumayo siya nang maayos at ibinaba ang kamay. "Don't forget to brush your teeth and pack some breath mints. Pretty sure you'll be making out 'til midnight."

"Reika!" Napapadyak ako sa inis. Masyadong madumi ang isip ng puchangama.

Humalakhak si Reika at tumalikod. Akala ko aalis na siya pero muli niya akong nilingon sabay ngisi. "And don't forget to use protection. Remember, no love without glove!" 

"Reika!" Napasigaw ako ulit at lalo lamang siyang natawa.

Panay ang takip ko sa bibig ko gamit ang nakakuyom na kamao, pilit na tinatago ang ngiti sa habang naglalakad patungo kay Jethro.

Nakangiti siya habang nakasandal sa hood ng sasakyan, nakahalukipkip ang mga braso. Hulmado ang malapad niyang mga balikat sa suot na itim na polo shirt at nakabukas pa ang isang butones nito. Suot na ulit niya ang makapal na salamin.

Patawa-tawa siya at ako naman ay parang tangang hindi matigil sa pagngiti. Para kaming mga tanga.

Didiretso sana ako sa passenger seat, pero bigla niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko at hinila ako papalapit sa kanya. Nang nakatayo na ako sa tapat niya, para na akong tangang tawa ng tawa at umiiwas ng tingin.

"Anong nakakatawa?" tanong niya, natatawa rin.

"Tumatawa ka, nahahawa ako." I pursed my lips, trying to stop my uncontrollable smile. Masakit na sa panga!

He held my other hand and swayed them idly, making my heart thump crazier.

 "Tingin ka nga sa'kin," he said playfully. I could tell he already has a smirk up his nerdy face.

Umiling ako at humawak pabalik sa mga kamay niya at pinagsalikop ang mga daliri namin. "Umalis na tayo, mamaya makita tayo ni Reika."

"So what?" He chuckled as he bowed his head down, leaning his forehead on mine. 

I swallowed hard at our proximity. Parang maghahalikan na ulit kami sa sobrang lapit. Baka aatakihin na talaga ako sa puso nang wala sa oras nito. Puchangama ka Filimon.

"Malakas 'yong mang-asar at pikon ako. I don't want to feel awkward with you," giit ko.

He let out a soft laugh. What a beautiful sound. "I don't want you to feel awkward with me again."

"Then let's get the hell out of here," giit ko.

"But how can I drive if you're still holding my hand?" I looked up only to see his heart-fluttering grin. Don't even get me started on his eyes. Puchangama ka Filimon.

"Ikaw naunang humawak," I said defensively. Bumitaw ako sa kamay niya pero nanatili siyang nakahawak sa akin. Pilit akong naglakad papunta sa pinto ng passenger seat at para naman siyang tangang nagpadala sa akin, hawak pa rin ang kamay ko. I laughed upon hearing his jumpy footsteps behind me. 

He eventually had to let me go when he ran inside to the driver's seat, pero matapos maikabit ang seatbelt niya, hinawakan niya ang isa kong kamay at hinalikan ito ng marahan. Pabiro ko namang pinkit ang mukha niya. Para na naman tuloy ulit kaming tanga na tawa nang tawa.

"Where to?" I asked.

"Saan mo gusto?" He smiled.

"Kung si Reika ang tinanong mo, impyerno ang isasagot niya sa'yo," biro ko.

Pabiro niya akong pinaningkitan ng mga mata. "You keep bringing up Reika in our conversations. Should I be threatened?"

"And you keep bringing up Sawyer's eyebrows. Should I be threatened?" I retorted, mimicking him by squinting my eyes.

Both of us laughed.

Eventually, we decided to have dinner in the library with some take-out food. Gaya ng dati, dahil gabi na, kami lang ulit dalawa sa third floor ng building. The guards were nice enough not to come up to the third floor. Perks of being with a Filimon.

I found myself sitting on the bench, facing the windows where I can see the city lights of Filimon Heights, with Jethro next to me, holding me by the waist and my hand on the other. I had my head leaning on his shoulder while his head hovered above mine. I've never felt this happy and content. 

"This is nice," I commented.

"The view?" he asked.

"Here. Being with you." I smiled as I stared at the city lights. 

I heard him chuckle and then I felt him plant a soft kiss above my head. "I like your honesty."

"Promise me, whatever happens, we'll always be honest with each other?" I asked.

"Haven't we always been?" He chuckled.

"I've always been guarded," pag-amin ko. "I can be stubborn sometimes and I lie a lot to get away with things... that's why I want to change things up, at least with you. I'm a liar, but I want to always be honest with you."

"I promise, I'll always be honest with you," he said, making me close my eyes and smile.

"I'll hold on to that," I replied.

"Promise me you'll have your walls down with me too," aniya. "You can tell me anything that's in your heart and mind."

"Promise." I smiled.

For a minute we stayed still and silent, I for one basked in what felt like serenity with him, and perhaps he did, too. That was until he slowly let go of my hand, prompting me to sit up with curiosity.

"I was planning to give you this on your birthday, but I figured, why not now?" He smiled as he grabbed something from his backpack.

"No expensive gifts please," I jokingly said despite meaning every word of it. 

He just chuckled. "Close your eyes, Elemento."

I closed my eyes and frowned. "Reika calls me that! Have some originality."

I heard him shift to his seat followed by what sounded like a box being opened.

"You can open your eyes now," he said and I could feel the excitement in his voice.

I did as told, only to see him holding up a rectangular box with a silver stethoscope with rose-gold tubing. I was so surprised that I had to blink twice as I smiled with an open mouth. 

"Do you like it?" he beamed.

"That's gotta be the prettiest stethoscope I've seen!" I couldn't help but laugh in awe. "You didn't have to but thank you!"

I could tell he was just as happy with my reaction. He fetched it out of the box at siya mismo ang nagsuot nito sa tenga ko. Awtomatico ko namang kinuha at pinagmasdan ang bilugang chestpiece.

"Teka ano 'to?" I flashed a curious smile when I saw letters engraved on the side of the chestpiece.

I looked at Jethro but he only pursed his lips and shrugged, as if trying to keep it a mystery.

Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa chestpiece at tinitigan ito nang maigi. Pasulyap-sulyap ako kay Jethro na para bang hinihintay niyang malutas ko ang kung anong misteryo sa mga letra.

"S. V. J. F.?" basa ko sa mga maliliit na letra.

"Do you know what that means?" he asked with anticipation. He was almost biting his bottom lip from smiling.

I pressed my lips together and smiled. My heart melting at his sweet gesture. "Our initials. Silver Villafranca. Jethro Filimon."

"Smart girl." He pressed his lips together as well, smiling uncontrollably. He looks so proud of himself that I just can't help it...

"You do realize this could also mean Slade Villafranca, right?" I asked, trying to stop myself from laughing.

The smile on his face immediately disappeared.

"I'm just kidding, thank you! Sobrang nagustuhan ko," bawi ko at agad na humawak sa magkabilang pisngi at pabiro itong pinisil pero patuloy niya akong sinamaan ng tingin. Lalo tuloy akong natawa. Akala ko noon bato lang 'tong si Gori, magaling rin palang magpa-cute.

|End of 49 - Thank you! |