Chapter 23 (1/2)

Huh? This is the last chapter already? That was fast! Justice for TeamLeche!

¹NBSB - No Boyfriend Since Birth

#WhenElebenTwent.i.triStarted

“Perhaps to experience true happiness, one must accept the broken self.”

-x-

If given a chance to relive a past, Jhing Blanco’s smiling lips wouldn’t hesitate to answer a day: 11/23. Not to change it, no. Nothing to fix. It was perfect as it is. She just wants to re-watch that one perfect night and say “you’ve made the right choice” to herself while tapping her own shoulder.

But heck.

Reality check: she couldn’t go back to the year 2016.

There was no turning back.

Only moving forward.

The smile on her lips vanished when July and Yayo looked at her with creased foreheads. Even though she was looking at her screen, her ears were focused on the two—afraid of what they will say.

“Are you sure you're going to wear that?“

There. July said it.

What's wrong with simple s.h.i.+rt and jeans? Jhing had been living her 25 years in the world and her list of responsibilities never included makeup and dressing up.

But July and Yayo had other plans.

That's why when they attended the premiere night, Jhing was all dressed up like a disguised princess—her brown hair down and even curling at the tips, the natural makeup, and her white long-sleeved flowing dress just above her knee.

As Jhing looked at the mirror, she looked like a decent angel… with horns which, by the way, looked overdressed for the event.

A few readers showed up early so they quickly got busy entertaining them. Jhing, however, couldn't help but glance around—searching for a particular face.

But there was none.

He was nowhere.

He also didn't send her a text.

“Jhing!” Fall called from the cinema’s entrance. The audience is now walking inside. “Let's go!”

Fall started a tug-of-war with Jhing but the latter's stubbornness won. She stood there, outside, like a lost puppy, waiting for her person.

Her anger and happiness mixed when he called.

But what he said through the phone wiped her smile out.

“I can't come,” his voice, heavy in Jhing’s heart. “Traffic. The movie will end before I get to reach the place.”

Jhing wanted to cry. She was waiting for him to come! He promised and she believed him! The expectation crashed her but she still managed to smile.

“It's okay.”

It's NOT okay! But h.e.l.l, what else can she do? Jhing felt like someone died as she entered the cinema.

“Are you sure?”

Jhing couldn't help but get mad. “Do I have a f.u.c.king choice?”

He laughed. “Insist for me to come and I might fly to where you are.”

“Wow, Superman?”

Before she could step on the stairs, someone grabbed her arm.

Jhing almost screamed for help if not for realizing the familiar face that was smiling brightly at her.

Miko.

They looked like idiots, talking on the phone, in front of each other.

“Why were you outside?”

“Because the person on the phone was being dramatic.” Jhing’s brow arched while Miko chuckled. “Why are you here so quick?”

“I teleported. There was actually a traffic in the sky too ah.”

Jhing rolled her eyes and shook her head— from disappointment? From relief? She didn’t know.

“There were so many customers in the workshop,” Miko explained as they sat on their corresponding seats. “Seems like Mom was telling the truth—it's hard to manage two coffee shop.”

He smelled like coffee and books— Jhing’s favorite scent.

Then Fall hissed from the side. “You should just break up if he keeps coming late.”

Miko glared at Fall. “I'll push you off your chair, Fall.”

Fall stuck her tongue out.

“I'll ban you from entering KapeLibro,” Miko shot back.

Fall’s eyes widened. She feigned shock and pain before frowning. “I'll tell Jhing that you're bullying me.”

Miko and Fall looked at Jhing at the same time with glints in their eyes. But Jhing dismissed the two. “Sshh! The movie is starting.”

Concentrate? Hah!

It was hard for Jhing to concentrate on the movie. Not because it wasn’t her novella that got the big screen because she wasn’t popular enough to win the trending contest…

But because Miko was holding her hand and intertwined it with his—even squeezing it from time to time.

Her heart wanted to jump out of her chest. f.u.c.k it. Her heartbeat is killing her.

Jhing forced herself not to smile when Miko leaned his head on her shoulder. His hair tingled on her neck and when he moved his head, Jhing could feel his warm breath on her jaw.

“I'm bored,” he complained.

She didn't turn her head to look at Miko because she was afraid of the mere inches distance from her face. “Someone will hear you.”

Miko frowned. “Your novella should've won the movie—ah, I even created a bunch of twitter accounts.”

Of course, Jhing was disappointed, but does she need to sit in the corner and cry just because she didn't get the chance? Well, fine. She did get depressed for a day or two. She also lost her mood to do anything. Even if Miko took the effort to drown her with Maltesers chocolates, it had no effect on Jhing.

But c’mon, she moved on from that s.h.i.+t. There are still opportunities in the future. Or maybe it wasn’t just meant for her—that there’s a bigger plan for her. Maybe.

“I told you—you should've changed the t.i.tle to Ms. Ice Meets Mr. Crazy,” Miko said.

“Wow.” Jhing rolled her eyes. “You’re the one who suggested that You Had Me at Seenzoned.“

“That was way back in chat,” he said while shaking his head. “I didn't think you'll still remember everything I told you.”

To stop Miko’s daily ego boost, Jhing said, “It's fine already.”

“It's fine because you have me anyway, right?” Miko wiggled his eyebrows and smiled.

“I can just give you to someone else.”

“Awts.” Miko lifted his head and stared at Jhing who was still looking at the screen. ”Can't you at least pretend that you love me?”

Jhing, finally looked at Miko, at his eyes, and swore to the G.o.ds she won’t let go of the man in front of her ever again.

She smiled, but the b.u.t.terflies in her stomach flipped when Miko’s eyes fell to her lips as she bit it.

Because of the nervousness, Jhing leaned on Miko's wide shoulder and tightened the hand holding his. She could feel his breath hitched and felt the vibration when he softly laughed.

“Are you pretending right now or not?”

Jhing closed her eyes, not minding the movie, and let herself dissolved with her heartbeat that matched Miko’s.

”Guess,” she whispered.

Miko gently fixed Jhing's head on his shoulder. Miko was ticklish. He would laugh from time to time when Jhing’s hair would touch his skin, and when she wanted to move away, the man didn't let her.

A few minutes of silence, Miko whispered, “Jhing. Did you dress up for me?”

“What the?”

Miko laughed and wiggled his shoulder so it felt like Jhing's vision shook. ”I guess you felt embarra.s.sed because I'm so handsome  .”

Jhing sat up straight up before rolling her eyes. ”Lol.”

It was at that moment when the audience started shrieking because the leads of the movie kissed each other.

Suddenly, Miko’s grip tightened.

Jhing felt his presence crystal clear—their knees that were sticking to each other, arms that were linking, hands that are intertwined, and Miko's breathing—he filled up Jhing's whole being.

She could even feel Miko's stare at her, but all she did was a fail attempt to concentrate on the movie. Jhing couldn't help but feel awkward as she watches the male lead kiss the female lead for a whole minute.

When the movie ended, Jhing went out of her trance. They started chatting as they went out of the cinema and took pictures with the celebrities, director, and co-authors. After a long time, they decided to eat late dinner. While walking, Jhing heard July and Yayo’s voice from the side.

“I thought they were ex,” Yayo said.

July sighed. “They weren't in courts.h.i.+p phase either.”

Jhing shook her head. She found out that they had a bet way back in what Jhing and Miko's real score is. Both of them lost money. Fall was the one who won because she was the keen observer, they have something, but not there yet, she bet.

Miko was the one that picked Fall as the winner but Jhing knew that was because he owed Fall something.

As they walked, Miko's hand brushed hers and her veins tingled.

Weird though, Jhing wanted to grab his hand and hold him tight.

But she was the one who wanted to avoid PDA—Public Display of Affection, which Miko respected; that's why they only walked casually side by side even though everyone close to them knows that they’ve been together for months already. And that they had something from the past.

The daydreaming stopped when Miko nudged her.

“What's your peace offering for your Tatay?” he asked.

Jhing frowned. She forgot about that so she shrugged. “I don't know.”

“Think about it,” he insisted. “Remember what I told you? I was being too stubborn so my Dad—”

“Yeah. You couldn't ask for forgiveness even if you want to. He's already gone,” Jhing sighed.

Miko gently pats her head. He smiled as they entered the restaurant. “You need to do the things you want to do with the person you love while they are still with you,” he said as they sat. “Regrets are only felt when it's all too late. You might turn into an emo again ah.”

He really can't help himself but fool around. Jhing almost slapped him.

As the group ordered food, Miko and Jhing isolated themselves from the real world. The bubble around them was stronger than before. Jhing didn't even notice her officemates' gazes towards them.

She didn’t like attention, while Miko didn’t mind. Even though he noticed the teasing smiles, Miko still focused all his attention on Jhing like she was a prized possession and looking away from her would be a disgrace to his family honor.

“Dammit. You're making me feel guilty.”

Miko’s laugh, for Jhing, was music in her ears—but it wasn’t the right time, so she frowned. “Do you feel guilty?”

“I'm innocent ah!” Miko held Jhing’s hand under the table and squeezed it a bit. “Just try it.”

“I don't know when or how to start.”

“Talk to him?” he suggested.

Jhing grunted. “Easier said than done.”

“Let him read your letter?”

She rolled her eyes. “Hah.”

“You hate all my suggestions.” Miko frowned and tried to act cute.

They stared at each other for a moment before Jhing’s gaze pa.s.sed Miko and saw a man giving a m.u.f.fin to his daughter outside the resto. The act made her heart burn a little as she looked at Miko again and tried to smile. She heaved a sigh. Miko’s expression was a combination of both disappointment and hope.

“I'll just buy him a cake.”

His brow arched. “What will a cake do?”

“Slap your face, bwisit,” she said, but instead of getting angry, Miko laughed. ”Write Happy Birthday on it? I never gave him anything. It’s a start, right?”

Miko couldn't help but hug his arm over Jhing’s shoulder and pulled her closer. Jhing’s cheeks burned when she felt Miko’s lips touched her forehead as he whispered, “I'm proud of you.”

Jhing couldn't smile when the group started whistling. ”Woah, woah, woah!”

She kept on dismissing them and turned to Miko for help but the idiot was enjoying the teasing, of course. What did Jhing expect? He even held her tighter. And because July and Yayo were the giddy girls, they kept pus.h.i.+ng Jhing closer to Miko.

In the end, her face hit Miko's neck, chest, and chin. ”Ag!” Jhing held her lips when it smacked against Miko's shoulder. ”Enough! That hurts!”

“Your lips hurt?” Miko’s question made Jhing tense. She avoided Miko’s eyes.

G.o.ds. Her heart was killing her.

“Kiss her, Miko,” Yayo teased. “So the pain will go away.”

Both Miko and Jhing’s eyes widened when the group started cheering, kiss her, kiss her. And f.u.c.k it, even those strangers from other table looked at them. They laughed, cheered and teased—Miss Zue and Sir Franz that rarely fools around actually joined the group this time!

Jhing kept wiping her cold sweaty hands on her dress. She habitually bit her lip which was a wrong move because the teasing increased.

“Uy, Jhing is biting her lips~”

Jhing glanced at Miko and saw the man staring at her lips. She became conscious and anxious. ”It doesn't hurt anymore,” she said as her cheeks burned. “Enough already.”

“KiiisssSSSssSss!”

Ugh. Yayo was such a fangirl!

Jhing almost jumped on her seat when Miko’s hand landed on her shoulder.

When they looked into each other’s eyes, she gulped.

Her heart is jumping out of her chest!

While her whole body turned into stone as she watches Miko leaning closer and closer to her.

They almost went deaf because of the loud cheering but Miko and Jhing were only seeing each other's right at this moment.

The world almost stopped when Miko’s lips landed… on the side of Jhing's lips.

And just like that, everything that happened after didn’t make sense anymore. Jhing would smile, laugh, nod, and shake her head, but her mind could only repeat how warm his lips were on the side of her lips. She can still feel the skin burning even though they were already on the bus ride home to Quezon to visit her family.

“Are you okay?” Miko asked while he held the cake on his lap.

All she could do was nod.

Pathetic, Jhing.

As she pretended to be asleep, her heart pounded and stomach churned. She felt really embarra.s.sed at the tingling feeling all over her body which sucked big time. Why can't she move on? Her thoughts keep distracting her!

The whole ride, Jhing couldn't look at Miko directly.

s.h.i.+t. This is Yayo and July's fault!

Jhing's siblings greeted Miko and her at the door when they reached home. It was a good thing, really. Enteng and the others distracted Miko away from her so Jhing was relieved. But she was scared— she will see her Tatay again after a long time.