Be With Him

“Oh my gosh, Zhack!”

My eyed were already wet when I saw Zhackie in his white polo shirt and jeans, standing firmly katabi ng kotse niya.

“Ate! Wow!” he chuckled before hugging me tightly, I can’t help but to cry! He’s a grown up now!

Kung dati pa lamang ay malamlam na ang kaniyang mata, ngayon naman ay mas lumamlam ito, even his voice sounds manly, I guess hindi lang isang babae ang umiyak dahil sa kaniya? Gosh this man!

“Stop crying, Ate, you look shit” he said making me pouted even more ” Nah, just kidding.. ikaw ang pinaka-magandang babaeng nabubuhay sa mundong ito”

” Loko! Ano ba! ” tatawa-tawa niyang inabot ang maletang hawak hawak ko at ni-diretso sa compartment ng sasakyan.

“Halika na, may pupunta–”

“COUSIN!!”

Mabilis ako’ng napa-tingin sa bandang likuran namin ng mayroong matinis na boses ang sumigaw, it was Lynx. na-una ako sa kaniya kase may ka-usap siya sa cellphone niya kanina

Kayakap niya ang tatlong babae na pare-parehas nagsusumigaw ng karangyaan ang itsura, Well except sa isa– She’s pretty pero naka-suot siya ng white loose shirt, maluwang na pants at may bandana pa sa ulo, but I just shrugged.

Kumaway na lamang ako kay Lynx nang mapa-tingin siya sa pwesto ko at mabilis na sumakay sa sasakyan ni Zhack

“How are you, Ate?” napa-ngiti ako habang nagsusuot ng seatbelt bago mabilis ba humarap kay Zhack “Ano ba!” his brows knitted when I suddenly kissed his cheeks, napa-simangot ako.

“Hoy! Parang dati lang kapag namimiss moko na-kiss ka! Bakit ngayon bawal na ngayon?!” I squinted my eyes to him but he just smirked ” May bebe ka na no?!”

But instead of answering he just laughed before driving away, Gago to.

“Umidlip ka muna, may pagkain sa bahay, nag-luto si Mom” he said making me smile, I wonder kung sinong Mom ang tinutukoy niya.

Nagising ako sa kalagitnaan ng byahe, nakita ko ang burger at fries take-out sa isang kilalang fast food chain dito.

“Nag-drive thru ka?” Obvious na tanong ko, tumango lang si Zhack, kinuha ko ang isang coke at burger na nakalagay sa gitna namin at kinain ito.

“hm… may girlfriend ka na, Zhackie?” I asked seriously, his lips rose a bit and bite his lower lips.

“I’m chasing” he casually said, my eyes widened and almost choked on my food.

“C-chasing? bakit iniwan ka?” I furiously asked, god, who’s that bitch?! ” at tsaka bakit ka naghahabol?”

“Nah, I was the one who left her” he said ignoring my last question.

” pero ikaw naghahabol?” I asked curiously while taking a bite on my burger, he nodded and smiled weakly at me.

“Funny, right?” he said trying to cool around but his voice almost broke. “Let’s just say na… karma ‘ko ‘to”

“Why still chasing her kung ayaw na niya?” I asked.

” I love her” he answered.

Love, what a powerful word.

“But I guess the feeling isn’t mutual” he added bago iparada ang sasakyan sa harap ng kulay itim at puting modernong bahay.

I smiled at him bago mabilis na kinalas ang seatbelt.

“Susuko ka na? Father didn’t raise us to be weak, Zhackary Arisone Lawrence Peralta” I winked at him, madali ako’ng bumaba ng sasakyan rinig ko pa ang halakhak ni Zhack, lumapit siya sa ‘kin at inakbayan ako.

“Tell that to yourself, Sister” he sarcastically added before bowing his head a little, dahil mas matangkad siya sa ‘kin ay nang yumuko siya ay halos magpantay lamang ang mukha namin “I miss you, sis.. welcome home” he kissed my cheeks.

” Zhack? Kayo na ba ‘yan??!” my eyes widened when I heard a stern and baritone voice.

“PAPA!” I ran excitedly ngunit natigil ng makita kung sino ang katabi ni Papa habang nag-aantay sa patio ng bahay

“Won’t you give your old man a hug?” matamis ako’ng napa-ngiti at bahagya pa’ng kinikilig sa itsura ngayon ni Papa at Tita Zheria. Mabilis ako’ng tumakbo palapit kay Papa at ni-yakap siya ng mahigpit.

“Huwang ka ngang umiyak, Pa!” sito ko nang makita’ng naluluha si Papa ngunit natawa na lamang ako dahil pati ako ay naluluha rin naman. Nalipat ang tingin ko kay Tita Zheria at mabilis ring yumakap dito na ginantihan niya rin naman.

“Thank you for not leaving my Father, Tita” I whispered.

“No need to thank me” she whispered back while caressing my hair, for a minute I miss my Mom ” I love him”

She smiled before letting me go.

“Kain na tayo… pinagluto kita” I giggled when Zhack snake his arms around my shoulder, pinagluto e wala naman siyang alam sa pag-luto.

“Welcome Home!”

I was more than surprised nang makita ko si Derek at Kino sa aming salas habang may hawak na bote ng wine.

“God! I miss you!” mabilis ako’ng tumakbo palapit sa kanila at inakbayan sila, nang lingunin ko si Kino ay haos malaglag ang aking panga.

Oh my god, Kung hindi lang ako taken by heart baka ni-landi ko na ‘to.

Sa limang taon pagkakahiwalay sa kanila, mas nadepina ang kaniyang pigura, he’s wearing a black turtle neck at may specs, naka-brush up ang kaniyang mala-abong kulay buhok, habang si Derek naman ay mala-business man ang datingan, he’s wearing a white long sleeves habang naka-tuck in sa itim na slacks, mayroon ding kumikinang na silver watch sa kaniyang kamay at naka-patong ang kaniyang itim na coat sa balikat.

I pouted.

“Bakit ang laki ng pinagbago niyo?! Look at me!” I pointed at my pink floral dress that ends above my knee at ang suot kong colored peach na ankle boots.

“Hey, you’re now look like a hot momma” Derek with his low and baritone yet in a husky way said, damn that voice!

“Mas babae ka ngayon kesa naman dati, you loves wearing baggy clothes” Tita Zheria added, hindi ko man lang namalayan na narito na sila sa tabi ko.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

“Sila ang gwapo na, lalo ka na Derek!” I pouted and stared at him, gone the bad boy aura, but he still look intimidating and ruthless, “But you should smile more often!”

“Huwag ‘yan, Ate, ikakasal na ‘yan” mabilis na nalaglag ang aking panga at napa-titig kay Zhack dahil sa sinabi niya.

“Totoo?!” I exclaimed almost yelled. But they just gave me a weird looked.

“Kaya ka nga umuwi di ba?” Kino asked curiously. “Don’t tell me hindi sinabi ni Zhack?”

“Sabe ni Macey wag daw sabihin! Baka daw sabunutan siya!”

Macey? Wedding? Uh it’s make sense!

“May invited ba kayo’ng Suarez?” I asked while putting my both hands in my waist.

” The Amathews, Liroriedel, Galvez, Shirowell–Suarez” Derek answered me in a bored way “D’yah know them?” I sighed.

Lynxhielyn Louiese Amathews Suarez.

” Im friend with the Amathews-Suarez heiress” they all looked me in disbelief.

“Bakit?” Zhack asked looking so disappointed “Sobrang arte non!”

“She’s my friend, shut up ka nga, brother” I used my maarte voice making them laughed, except for Zhackary na ngayon ay isang nakakadiring tingin ang binigay sa ‘kin

“You’ve changed a lot huh?”

nah, feelings ko nga hindi ‘e.