CHAPTER 39

"You look great"

I flash my sweetest smile. "Same to you, Grayson"

I was shocked, pag dating ko sa resto ni Kalee nandito si Grayson.

"This is all for you" I think nasa 10 na paper bag ang nasa baba ngayon ng table. Kaya pala tuwang tuwa si Kalee kanina pa kahit napaka dami nyang ginagawa.

"Thank you. Have you eaten?" I asked dahil walang laman na kahit ano ang table nya.

"I did. Kalee cooked a lot of food for me awhile ago"

"Oh. She did? I'm sorry it took me awhile. I didn't know na you'll show up like this"

He flash his sweetest smile "Its a surprise"

"So, how's life?" He asked.

I smiled. "Same as usual. Trying to survive each day."

He look straight in my eyes. He still the same Grayson I know.

"Remember what I said? You should always live your life to the fullest, Reese." He said.

I couldn't smile. I just looked straight in his eyes. He hold my hand, na nasa taas ng table and he smile.

"There's never a single day na hindi ka sumagi sa isipan ko. I always think about you, kung okay ka lang ba because I know you're torturing yourself and "

He stop for a moment and stared at my hand. "You did"

He sigh. "You have to let it all out so it won't suffocate you, Reese"

I tried to smile to assure him na everything is okay. "I'm okay now, Grayson"

He convulse his head "No, you're not. You will never be, if you keep doing this. Free yourself, Reese. No one wants that thing to happend. It's not your fault okay?"

Hindi ko alam na umiiyak na pala ako. Hindi ko alam kung anong meron si Grayson. Sa tuwing sya ang kausap ko para bang ang gaan at nailalabas ko lahat ng mabigat na bagay na meron ako.

"I hope one day, you'll have the desire to hope and heal."

"We'll ditch you muna ah?" Pang aasar ni Grayson kay Kalee.

Mabilis na sumimangot ito "I'll close the store"

Wala si steven today, kaya hindi pwede iwanan ni Kalee ang store nya. Andami pa naman tao ngayon. Gusto ko man syang tulungan pero nahihiya ako kay Grayson. Ngayon lang ulit kami nagkita.

I chuckle "Let's hang out nalang later okay? Babalik din kami agad" I responded.

She pout her lips. "Enjoy. Huwag mo muna ibalik agad si Reese okay?"

"You want this?" Turo ni Grayson sa isang pair ng rubber shoes.

Mabilis akong umiling "You bought me a lot of stuff already."

He chuckle "I just want you to see kung gaano na ako ka-yaman" and he laugh.

He's just kidding when he said ka yaman. I know Grayson, he's too humble.

"Can you give me a house and lot?"

"I can" he answered.

I'm so happy though. Because he's finally free and enjoying his life without thinking about anyone.

"Have you found someone?" Natigilan ito.

"Girlfriend" I added.

This is so awkward but I want to know. Sobrang tagal na din and I know naka move on na si Grayson.

"I had. But we broke up" he looked down.

"Why?" I asked again.

He looked at me for a moment "She said I was too boring" he laugh but I know he's hurting inside.

"You're not"

Kinuha nya ang dalawang pares ng puting sapatos. He's changing the topic.

"Matchy matchy" sambit nito habang naka ngiti.

"No. Andami mo na kayang binigay saakin."

Napakamot ito ng batok at nahihiyang tumingin saakin. "Please?"

I sigh "Fine"

Binili nya talaga yung shoes at pinilit na pinasuot saakin. Nahihiya naman ako kaya sinuot ko na.

"Great! It looks good on you" He said while smiling.

"Thank you" I never experience something like this. When Sandro and I dated we never do something like this.

Argh. I suddenly remember him. We never talked after what happend to us. Dahil ba nakuha na nya ang gusto nya?

Damn it. You're so stupid, Reese Allison.

"Have you met him?" He asked out of nowhere.

I smiled and whispher "I did"

"So, what happend?"

Nasa isang coffee shop kami ni Grayson ngayon. I insist paying for the coffee but he declined saying na he wants to treat me.

"Nothing, we ended things between us for good. I guess? Wala na din naman babalikan"

He chuckle "You sure?"

I nod my head. I guess? After what happend we didn't really talk about it and he didn't show up.

Maybe that's the closure that he wants. He's still a jerk.

"What do you do?" He asked while taking a sip of his latte.

I looked around and sigh "Nothing. Just roaming around and helping out Kalee when she needs a hand"

"I have a small business around here. Do you want to handle it?"

"Hah?" I asked again.

He smiled "I have a small business, I said. Do you want to manage it?"

"No way, I don't have the guts to do that." Mabilis kong sagot.

I'm not that confident. What if it go down as soon as I handle it? It will be embarrassing.

"Think about it, Reese."

I just nod my head.

"Thanks for today! Glad I got to spend this day with you"

I chuckle "Thanks too! I had a lot of fun and thanks for the gift, Grayson. I'm really so grateful."

"I've been thinking about you since I came back and I'm really sorry if I disappear back then without saying anything." I added.

Just like the old days, when things go bad, Grayson hug me.

"I'm here. Always remember that. You don't need to handle every situation by yourself. I'm here okay? You don't need to feel bad anymore, Reese."

"How's your date?"

Gulat akong napalingon kay Sandro, na nakaupo sa sofa sa sala.

"What are you doing here?"

Here we go again. Sandro the trespasser.

"I was calling you but you're not picking up your phone"

Right. My phone was deadbat. I forgot to charge it but what's wrong with that? I don't need to pick up the phone because he's not my boyfriend.

"So, I guess. Steven and you was not really dating because Grayson was with you awhile ago"

I didn't say anything. I'll just look at him.

"You have a lot of guys roaming around you huh?"

Para akong nabingi sa sinabi nya kaya hindi na ako nakatiis.

"And what's wrong with that?"

"I'll take responsibility for what happend between us the other day"

I laugh, really hard. "Its just a mistake, Sandro. You don't really need to think about it"

He glared at me. "So you let any guy fuck you and that's it?"

I slap him. "What your mouth, Sandro"

"You still choose him between me huh" He sarcastically said.

"Get out, Sandro. I have nothing to say to you. So please get the hell out of my house"

"I'll get you pregnant. Remember that"