CHAPTER 8: AUNTIE EVA’S BIRTHDAY Part 2
*FLASHBACK*
After dinner, Rev and I went to his room upstairs. Yes, in his room. And it’s okay with Auntie Eva because I am an honorary member of this household. Lol. I am an adopted occupant of Rev’s room.
I don’t know why Auntie is fine with me just coming and going into Rev’s room, sometimes even sleeping there. I think she wants me to corner Rev into marrying me. Haha!
It’s not that she does not like Jean. It’s just that she really likes me to be her daughter. I’m strong like that. Lol.
When we got to his room, Rev and I raced to the bathroom. We always do that because the one who comes last will have to clean the bathroom afterwards.
“Ouch!” I held my stomach.
“Why?” he walked back to check on me. I approached the bed while still holding my belly. He followed.
“Is your stomach upset? Wait, I will get medicine-“
“Yaaaaah!” I wrestled him to the bed and sprinted to the bathroom and locked the door behind me.
“Cheater!”
“BWA-HA-HA-HA!” I answered with a mocking laughter.
I took the blue toothbrush and put toothpaste on it. I hear his litany about all the times I tricked him while I continue to brush my teeth. I chuckled.
After brushing, I put my brush on the rack and arranged it so that it is facing Rev’s green one. They look like a kissing couple. I giggled because I imagined them as me and Rev.
I proceeded to clean myself and remembered that I did not bring my clothes. I pulled Rev’s towel from the rack and wrapped it around my damp body.
I almost bumped against him when I stepped out of the bathroom. He was about to knock while holding in his hand a towel and a set of his old undershirt and boxer short which is my favorite sleep wear. I recovered before he did. He still looks frozen in front of me so I flicked my fingers in front of him before he could speak.
“You forgot these again, stupid. Get dressed, it’s cold,” he pushed the things he’s holding onto my hands and pushed me back inside, then closed the door behind.
I opened the door again and called.
“Rev!”
“What?” He asked without looking at me. His eyes are fixed on the PSP. He must be playing his favorite game again.
“My underwear!” I shouted. Yes, I have underwear in his closet. We’re close like that. I don’t mind him touching my lingerie. We don’t even mind discussing about sexual topics as if we were just talking about our subjects in school. The only thing I cannot open up to him about is my feelings.
He picked up what I asked for without taking his eyes off his game.
“Aish! Games again!” I remarked and took my undies while he kept on playing as if he didn’t hear me. How did he even manage to play Tekken with just one hand?
Once I am done changing, he quickly went inside the bathroom.
I dropped my body on the bed but kept my foot on the floor. My head reached only the middle of the bed. Rev’s bed is king-sized, we usually use it as our wrestling arena.
I felt so tired today, I don’t know why. Maybe because I didn’t spend the day with Rev.
I closed my tired eyes but I opened it again when I heard Rev’s phone ringing. I looked for it inside his discarded pants and saw that Jean is calling. I decided against answering the phone until it stopped. I went back to bed and laid down again.
After a while, Rev came out wearing a soft sleeveless undershirt and a boxer short.
“Are you sleepy?” he asked softly.
“Hmm..”
He climbed on the bed from the other side and leaned on the headboard. I pushed myself to reach him without getting up and placed my head on his belly. Yep, he’s my favorite pillow. My favorite blanket, too.
I curled up slightly.
“Are you cold? Why don’t you use the comforter? It’s there for a reason, you know,” he said jokingly.
So corny. I just rolled my eyes at him.
“Just put your feet under the comforter,” he said.
I heeded his suggestion because it’s really cold. Then I squeezed myself in between his arms and his chest. He hugged me and caressed my hair.
“Rev..” I was almost falling asleep when I remembered something.
“Hmm..?”
“Jean.. You haven’t texted her.”
“I’ll do that later.”
“She called earlier when you were in the bath.”
He slightly stopped moving. Then, “I will call her later and talk to her all night. Go to sleep.”
I took a huge yawn and my eyes clouded up.
-----------
*PRESENT DAY*
I stood up and picked up my clutch bag. It’s Auntie’s birthday today. I almost forgot again. If I didn’t start getting emotional and recalling the past, I would have forgotten altogether. Now that I remembered, I have a valid reason to go to their house.
Tomorrow is my wedding day and I promised him that I will not show up in front of him again. I will honor that promise. Anyway, it would be impossible for me to see him since Bryan wants us to move to his house in Australia. I think it is for the best. It would stop me from seeking Rev again and again.
“Rein, I’m so glad you remembered my birthday,” Auntie Eva meet me at the door. I gave her the gift I bought from a boutique I passed by.
“Happy birthday Auntie!”
“Thank you.” Then she turned to Rev who wouldn’t even give me a glance. “You were saying, son?”
“Hi Rev.”
He still would not look at me.
“Come, hija. Feel at home because this will always be home for you.” Auntie Eva led me to the dining table.
“I bet you’re having jitters.”
I gave her a confused look.
“For your wedding.” She said.
“Ah.. Anxiety is more like it,” I admitted.
Sadness enveloped her face, then she sighed and glanced at Rev who is silently eating.
I also want to sigh. Why can’t I just forget my feelings for him? Things would be easy if I just can do that. Then I wouldn’t be feeling like crap right now. Tomorrow is my wedding yet here I am, still tempted to beg Rev to stop me from getting married. Wishing I would hear from him that he didn’t want me to love someone else. Or if that is really impossible, I would settle for just his friendship. I would be willing to stay by his side even just as a friend.
If only he’s tell me again that I should stay by his side for the rest of our life, whether I like it or not.