Saving Harper

"Ohmygod ka! I look stupid in these videos! Hindi mo man lang ako sinabihan yesterday na ganito pala itsura ko while surfing!" Kinurot ko sa tagiliran si Xavier habang nagdidrive na kami pauwi from La Union, Sunday after lunch. While surfing, I thought baka I might look decent, but seeing this, it was a conclusion na mukha akong tanga.

"Ang cute mo kaya." He lightly laughed and hinampas ko yung braso nya. "Babe I'm driving." He protested.

"Mukha bang cute to?" I groaned and rewatched the one where I was desperately wobbling on the board para makatayo then fell backwards on the wave. My facial expressions were as terrible as my attempts. Ugggh. I handed him his phone back forcefully ayoko ng panoorin yung iba.

We decided to go surfing again this morning bago kami mag check out from the hostel by lunch time and this was the time he took these kasi hindi kami sabay nagsurf so we can take pictures and videos of each other. I posted some of his photos sa IG story ko and of course Jem and Liv flooded my DM. It reminded me that I have to meet with them soon kasi I didn't answer any of my messages and calls.

I pretended to sulk over Xavier's videos kahit na deep inside natatawa ako every time I remembered how I looked like struggling to surf. And kahit na most of the time I looked like a fool, I really enjoyed this trip. Again, I wouldn't think to go there and I'm glad Xavier was the one who took me.

I used to think I wasn't missing out on a lot of things. I thought na a lot of people pass up a lot of experiences as well because they also didn't bother. What's life if you haven't tried surfing, going to theme parks, seeing museums and art, parasailing, bungee jumping, roasting marshmallows on campfires, dancing in the rain, stare at stars all night, travel, watch sunrise and sunsets, spending time people-watching in cafes, meeting strangers, eating new delicacies, or even long drives to unknown destinations. Those were the things I found mundane. Na hindi ko ikakamatay if I didn't get to try and experience even once in my life. But now I'm starting to change my mind about it.

Now I wanted to do everything. With the guy sitting beside me. I glanced at him and tumitig lang sa kanya. "Yes Ms. Javier?" He asked nung napa lingon din sya sakin for a while and he saw me staring at him. "Gwapong gwapo ka nanaman sakin no?" He kidded in his typical fashion. Totoo yon but it wasn't my reason for staring.

"Wala, I was just thinking right now that I'm glad pinakilala kita as my fake boyfriend sa pamilya ko that night during your apology dinner." Napanguso sya straight ahead and napangiti. "Pakilig ka din e." "Gumaganti lang ako." I smiled to myself dahil I was able to make him feel the same way I always feel pag humihirit sya sakin all the time.

"Kung ganyan ang ganti mo, sige gumanti ka lang ng paulit-ulit." He took my hand and kissed it and never let go while he still drove.

"Sa saan tayo next weekend?" I was overeager to know. Sana mag weekend na ulit. I might not be able to work properly kasi iisipin ko lang yon, or if surprise ulit, huhulaan ko ng huhulaan.

"Eto magugustuhan mo promise." I wouldn't doubt that even for one second. "Pero parang kailangan ko ng sabihin sayo ng mas maaga."

"Like now?" I smiled widely habang nakatigil kami sa tollgate, giving him hopefully my most cutest face that I've never needed or wanted to use until now. Gusto ko lang malaman if gagana kay Xavier.

He shook his head in disbelief at the look I've been giving him. Konti nalang, but he knows what I'm trying to do. I don't know if we're going anywhere soon kasi mahaba pa yung pila sa toll and it's moving real slow, so I pulled him towards me to kiss him slowly. He chuckled while we kissed.

"Grabeng manipulation tong ginagawa mo sakin ah." He whispered and gave me a swift kiss again dahil bumusina bigla yung kotse sa likod. Two cars already moved in front of us. Panira naman tong kotse sa likod, feeling ko sasabihin na ni Xavier but we were interrupted.

"Well obviously it didn't work." I pouted sourly.

"Sinong nag sabing hindi?" He smiled and scrolled down his phone. When he saw what he was looking for, he handed it to me. I frowned pero lumaki yung mata ko staring at some email.

It was an airline ticket to Iceland! For the both of us.

"Tangina seriously????" I screamed excitedly. We were still in tollgate traffic so I took my seatbelt off and I hugged him at halos lumipat nako sa upuan nya. Feeling ko maiiyak nanaman ako ano ba to.

Xavier has given me the best gifts and surprises the couple of months he's been in my life that I've ever received ever.

"Happy birthday." He whispered and kissed me on the cheek.

I almost forgot na magbibirthday na nga ako next week. Pero syempre nothing gets past him. Every year, I made it a point to file my 3 days leave during my birthday (the day itself, one day before and after) just to make sure no one throws me a surprise birthday at the office. The first and last time they did was 6 years ago and si Franco yung may pakana despite me saying na ayaw kong mag birthday. I didn't speak to him for a week and di na nya inulit ever.

Do I hate my birthday? Not particularly. Nasanay lang ako that it wasn't a big deal. Sabi ko nga, text lang nakukuha ko sa pamilya ko and a night in or dinner out with Jem and Liv and minsan plus Franco, ok na sakin.

So ngayon nalang ako may gagawin na sort of celebration for it. Ngayon nalang din naman ako naexcite sa birthday ko. Matatamaan nung trip namin yung birthday ko and it's just perfect. Birthday in Iceland? It was the utopian dream. But then again, so is Xavier.

"Ha. Talo si Franco sa pustahan namin!" Xavier exclaimed from his seat paired with a triumphant smile.

"Pustahan saan?"

"Sabi nya you wouldn't like any big celebration sa birthday mo." He grinned at me and started driving nung nakalagpas na kami sa tollgate.

"I did. Not until someone gave me tickets to Iceland! Alam ba nyang eto ibibigay mo?"

"Hindi." Xavier was still grinning. I rolled my eyes. E nandaya pala sya e. He knew it was one of the places I wanted to visit.

"You cheated. You knew I'd love this." I pointed it out.

"Harper sorry pero tried and tested, you love everything I give you." He wore a satisfied smile. I couldn't deny that and he knew it so well. Kahit ano ang ibigay nya he knows I would love it. Kahit siguro mag paparty pa sya sa office, I would gladly oblige to all the mingling I'll be doing.

Mukhang hindi na nga ako masyadong kinakatakutan sa office e. Being with Xavier has somehow made me approachable. Human.

"Ohmygod! Ikaw yung kapustahan ni Franco kung gaano ka tagal yung magiging assistant ko no???" It wasn't a question. For once, I knew it. He laughed aloud. Pinalo ko sya sa braso.

"Sorry! We couldn't resist! Actually ang pustahan na namin kung magreresign ba yung assistant mo or papaalisin mo."

"You don't look sorry at all!" Mukha lang syang aliw na aliw at my conclusion. I crossed my arms in front of me. Mga gago. But I kind of found it funny. Now. Kung nalaman ko dati when I couldn't even find a decent assistant, mapipikon ako. "So anong pustahan nyo ngayong ikaw na yung assistant ko?" I was curious. Franco would probably say na papaalisin ko si Xavier. So and iniisip ni Xavier mauuna syang mag give up sakin?

"Sabi ko maiinlove ka sakin." He made sure I saw his smug face that says he did really make that bet. Syempre ang yabang nya kasi totoo na lahat yon. I made a face at him.

As if Harper. Alam mo na e. Isang ngiti, wala kang pag asa. He already had you.

"Sana man lang malaki yung pustahan nyo." I finally smiled.

"Di pumatol si Franco. Alam na yata nyang mananalo ako." Nagyabang nanaman sya. "Wow ah. Ang yabang." I chuckled.

"Harper, di kailangan ng pera sa ganong klaseng pustahan. If mainlove ka man sakin, panalo nako non. Baka si Franco pa yung bigyan ko ng pera sa saya." He glanced at me again to see my reaction sa sinabi nya. Kahit di nya ko tignan, alam naman nyang kilig na kilig ako. "Uuuyyyy kilig sya." Kiniliti nya ko and I giggled confirming it. Teenager ka???

"E paano kung natalo ka?" I asked him.

"E di talo. Pero di ko pagsisisihan yung chance na nakilala kita. It was enough. Panalo na din ako na nakapag pacute ako ng sandali sayo."

"You always know what to say no?" Gusto kong malaman kung paano nya ginagawa. How he manages na pakiligin ako ng paulit ulit sa lahat ng kumakawala sa bibig nya. Or everything he does with it. Ay. Ang landi.

"Saan? Na pakiligin ka? Alam mo kung anong sikreto dun?" Di ko alam kung nagyayabang nanaman sya kung paano nya ko nakukuha every time.

I just waited for him to answer. Baka magbibiro nanaman sya.

"Just tell the truth." Ohmygod. Baka atakihin nako sa puso with all these feelings. I should have known? He was never the lying type and he even told me that already. Pero ako dahil ayokong mag assume, I thought it was all part of the charade.

"Harper, lahat yon totoo. Kung ayaw mo sakin, di ka maapektuhan sa lahat ng yon. Mukha lang akong tanga para sayo. Swerte lang ako na napapakilig talaga kita sa lahat ng sinasabi ko."

I think nasa langit na nga ako. I'm glad all of this happened. I'm glad I couldn't control myself. I'm glad I fell for him.

"Ohemgeeeeee!!!! Iceland seriously????" Jem practically screamed at my ear. Actually kanina pa sya sigaw ng sigaw. Buti nalang Liv had this incredible reflexes dahil muntik ng matapon ni Jem yung wine nya sa sofa ko.

Tuesday night and we were finally able to schedule a girls night. Pizza and wine. Although di na namin mahintay yung pizza and we started ahead with the wine. Kanina ko pa kinekwento sa kanila everything that has been happening with me and Xavier. Umabot na kami sa pinaka huling nangyari and I showed them the tickets Xavier forwarded to me kahapon.

"I know. Who the hell gives an Iceland trip to someone na hindi man lang nya girlfriend?"

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"Wala kayong labels, pero yan na yon." Liv said in an obvious tone.

"Agree with Liv. Labels are overrated anyway. Why didn't you text man lang?! Nakakatawag ka sakin over your family shit and this is so much more important!" Jem accused me.

"Mabibitin tayo no. Mas okay yung in person. And I've been busy." Yeah busy dealing with my rollercoaster of feelings for Xavier.

"Teka anong family shit?" Olivia suddenly asked. Hindi ko pa pala sa kanila nakekwento yung latest drama. Feeling ko napaka tagal na nung tumawag ako kay Jem about feeling the need for validation with everything I'm doing for my life. Which I know nakwento na nya kay Liv.

"Shit sorry di ko na kayo na update. FO na ko sa pamliya ko." I scrunched up my face. Dapat pala inuna ko tong ikwento.

"Friendship over? I didn't even know you were friends with them."

"Not 'friendship over' Jem. 'Finally over'." I corrected her. It was actually the term that fits with what I did.

"What happened?" Liv asked. Tangina ang dami ko talagang utang na kwento sa mga to.

"Diba inaway ko si Holly dun sa ArtFair? Well nagsumbong sya sa parents ko. Long story short, ang version nya of the story was sya yung nilalandi ni Xavier and my ever wonderful and loving parents took her side."

Liv made a slightly horrible face. Yup, I feel you Liv. Jem didn't look surprised. Kilala na nya masyado yung pamilya namin. Nothing shocks her anymore pag dating sa kanila. Baka mas magulat pa sya kung biglang magbago yung relasyon ko sa magulang ko at kay Holly.

"On the upside, mas close na ulit kami ni Hilda." I shrugged. They already knew it was Hilda who took me to Boracay for her wedding preparations. Next time we have a girls' night, I would invite her.

"Grabe din yung parents mo no?" Liv was still frowning. Feeling ko Liv feels bad for me and Jem dahil sa family problems namin. Liv was the only lucky one saamin na maayos yung pamilya.

"Di ko alam kung bakit ka pa nagugulat hanggang ngayon. E since highschool kayo mag kabarkada." Jem made a good point. But Liv knew everything noon pa. She knew how my relationship parents eventually deteriorated.

"Di ako nagugulat over that. I've always hoped na maayos nila. Hindi yung 'finally over' na pala." Liv retorted at Jem. Nainsulto ata sya na parang hindi pa nya matandaan yon.

Yeah in a way I was also hoping for that, but I was the one who should have known. "It was bound to happen. People don't change." I said taking a swig of my wine.

"But you did." Jem smiled at me. Thank you for changing the topic.

"Oo nga. I've never seen you this happy and trying things. I'm happy. But I find it really unfair na ako lang yung hindi nakakakilala kay Xavier." Liv frowned at me. Na parang kasalanan ko lahat. Yup, it is.

"Don't worry, I think makikilala mo na sya. Like soon." Jem winked at Liv.

"Yup. Since nasa Iceland kami sa birthday ko, we'll just have dinner for my birthday pag balik namin. Promise isasama ko sya." Well duh.

I stood up to get our second bottle of wine and the doorbell rang. We ordered pizza so malamang eto na yon. "Jem, pizza. Pakuha ng money dyan sa table please." I called over to her.

I opened the door and found Xavier there, smiling and holding a box of pizza. Napanganga ako.

"Special delivery." Kumindat sya. Pumasok sya and he kissed me. I was still glued to where I'm standing. Tumili si Jem and Liv sa kilig sa nakita nila. Xavier smiled boyishly at the two.

"PDA parin hanggang dito?" Nakarecover na ko. "What are you doing here?" I asked him as I closed the door. He already drove me home kanina and he knew na dadating si Liv and Jem for wine night. Bumalik ulit sya?

"Diba thing natin yung PDA? May nag order ng pizza." He looked over to Jem. What the??? I looked accusingly at her. Ginawa pa nyang pizza boy si Xavier.

"What? We wanted pizza and Liv wanted to meet him so I hit two birds with one stone. I messaged him sa IG and he gave me his number. Sya yung kausap ko nung akala mong nag oorder ako ng pizza." Jem looked super excited. Bumeso sya kay Xavier and transferred next to Liv para magkatabi kami ni Xavier sa couch.

"Entrance fee daw yung pizza e." Xavier chuckled and placed the pizza sa table and umupo. "Xavier, Liv. Liv, Xavier." I said as I got the chilled wine and extra glass kung gustong uminom ni Xavier.

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"Sorry sa lack of skills ng highschool bestfriend ko when introducing people. Sanay ka na ba sa kanya?" Bumeso si Liv kay Xavier like she has known him already. Well, sa mga kwento ba naman namin ni Jem diba, she would definitely feel na magkakilala na sila.

"Let's just say, hindi ako nagugulat." Xavier answered her. Siniko ko sya nung umupo ako next to him. Habang kumuha yung dalawa sa pizza, I asked Xavier. "So bumalik ka?"

"Syempre. Nung sabi ni Jem na kailangan kong makilala yung isa nyo pang bestfriend, I didn't think twice. Saka kailangan nyo daw ng pizza."

Ang sama nanaman ng tingin ko kay Jem who ignored me. "Tumigil ka nga Harper. I'm sure, pag labas mo palang sa sasakyan nya, miss mo na sya." Laglag. Natawa si Liv and Xavier looked satisfied.

"Namiss mo na agad ako?" Pang asar nya. As if di naman nya alam yon. Ngumuso lang ako.

"Next time pwede mo namang sabihin nalang." Inakbayan nya ko and pulled me towards him. I curled up comfortably in his arms and he kissed my hair.

"Ohmygod! So thing nyo nga talaga yung PDA. At pagiging clingy." Liv was finally convinced. Akala nya lang kasi exaggerated lang na magagawa ko lahat ng nakwento ko sa kanila. She knew me. Devoid of any inclination to show off anyone thru PDA.

"Nahawa lang ako sa kaibigan nyo." Xavier chuckled and inirapan ko sya. The night was spent with Liv, Jem and Xavier getting to know each other.

"Okay, officially naiinggit nako." Liv declared habang pinapanood nya kami ni Xavier. I think we just looked like we've been together for a long time. Maasikaso sya and sweet. And amoy ng amoy sa buhok ko and sa balikat ko and nagbubulungan din kami pa minsan-minsan asking each other if the other one needs anything or kahit pag may pinapaabot lang.

"May kaibigan ako." Hirit ni Xavier. Liv looked up interested. "Hoy ako din!" Jem interjected. "Franco yung pangalan." Xavier chuckled continuing what he was saying.

"Ay nako, Liv sayo na yon. Hindi ako Holly."

"Umm, ex nya yon." Liv gestured to me. Para namang hindi magkakilala si Franco at Xavier para hindi nya yun malaman.

"Hindi ko ex si Franco. I just dated him for a while. And we're friends. Alam nyo naman yon." I pointed out to Jem and Liv. Pero actually mas fit yung ugali ni Franco kay Liv. I wonder if we should actually get the two of them together. Hmmm pwede. They knew each other already.

Before we knew it, late na and kailangan na nilang umuwi. Nagpaalam na kami kela Liv and Jem after cleaning up and promised to see each other after ng birthday ko.

"So, lahat ba ng dinedate pinapamigay pagka tapos?" Xavier turned to me pagkasara nya ng pintuan when the two left the condo.

"Seryoso bang naiwan ka dun sa part ng conversation na yon?" Natawa ako. I leaned on my counter and looked at him amused. "Pinapamigay mo si Julian sa ate mo, tapos ngayon si Franco kay Liv."

"Excuse me Mr. Arnaiz ikaw yung nagpapamigay kay Franco, hindi ako. Dinate mo din ba sya?" He's too cute. Di ko alam kung nagseselos sya. But I think he wasn't the type to get jealous. He's much too cool and confident for that. "Ako din ba ipapamigay mo?" He snaked his arms around my waist and naka kulong ako sa kanya as he pulled me towards him. I was now facing him. "Pwede." I shrugged trying to look serious. He kissed me softly. "So kanino mo naman ako ipapamigay?" He whispered. I was swimming in his scent. Nahihirapan akong mag isip kung ano yung una naming pinaguusapan. "I don't know." I said softly. Nagbibiruan ba kami kanina? He trailed kisses from my shoulder to my neck and whispered on my ear. "Sure ka dyan?" Kinilabutan ako sa ginawa nya. "No, I'll never give you away. I can't." He smiled at my answer then deeply kissed me as I wound my arms around his neck. My world melted around him once more. After our kiss, I asked him. "Are you staying over?" I was too hopeful. Sobrang clingy ko na nga. "I want to but I can't babe. I almost forgot na may dinner ako bukas and wala akong dalang damit. Masyado akong nagmadali pabalik dito." "Sinong ka dinner mo?" Siningkitan ko sya ng mata. Ngayon lang nya namention yung dinner. Well sabi nga nya nakalimutan nya e.

"Uuuuyyy selos sya." Biro nya. Inirapan ko sya.

"Pwede mo naman kasing sagutin." I made a face.

He was about to answer but his phone rang. It was placed on my side dahil pinatong nya don nung niyakap nya ko and hinalikan. A large lump formed in my throat nung nakita ko yung caller ID nung tumatawag. Kylie Guerrero.