Seven

Seven
– Hannah Mae De Vera’s POV –
I was looking down as I put my hands together. I’m kind of unsettled with this idea dropping by at King’s house. He invited me for a dinner and I said yes to it without thinking. And now, here I am. Dealing with my cold chills in my palms as my heart beats fast.
“Hey, cool it.” I heard him say as he glanced at me, “My mom is good and friendly. She will like you.”
I lifted my eyes to see a glimpse of his face with a small smile and I looked back down, “I hope so.”
I didn’t notice that we were standing on the porch until he took a deep breath. I lifted my head as I looked at him. He seems tense but he tried to act calm. He looked at me when he noticed that I was staring at him. He forced a tense chuckled that made me feel even awkward.
“I’m sorry. It’s my first time to introduce a girl to my mother.” His smile was so innocent and sincere.
I softly chuckled as I looked down and played with my fingers, “It’s also my first time to be introduced by a guy.” I paused as a nervous chuckled came out from me. I lightly moved my eyes to peek his face from the corner of my eye and he was staring at me, grinning from ear to ear.
“Really? You’re the campus crush and no guy asked you out?” He seems like he doesn’t believe me.
I shrug, “Yeah, I received love letters, roses and stuffs but I didn’t entertain any of it.” I should admit it. This topic makes my heart beat so fast. Like it was about to come out of my chest in any minute.
“But why did you accept my invitation?” His tone became deep and serious.
I automatically lifted my head and meet his eyes. He was seriously staring at me. I hold back a smile as I tried to think of how his question caught me off guard.
I swallowed before my nervous get the best of me as I tried to smile though my lips was slightly trembling, “Maybe because… I’m comfortable being with you. And my instincts also tells me… that I can trust you.”
He smiled. The most charming and captivating smile that I ever see. I don’t know what is this but I feel some sparks everywhere in me every time he smiles like that.
“Thanks.” I could sense his sincerity. That makes me like him even more.
We stared on each other’s eyes for a while before we both chuckled.
In our surprise, the main door suddenly opened and we were both smiling as we looked at whoever opened it.
A middle age woman appeared at open door with an energetic smile greeting us.
“Welcome home, King.” She greeted in a cheerful tone.
“Hey, mom.” King respond with a smile as he glanced on me, “Hannah, this is my Mother Jenalyn.” He paused as he glanced at his mother, “Mom this is Hannah.”
“Hello dear. How are you doing?” His mother said with a warm smile.
“I’m great.” I smiled awkwardly.
“Come in.” Her mother invited as she opened the door wider. She took a side step to give us way.
I smiled at her. I was looking at my steps as I entered their house. I could feel King’s presence behind me and I heard the door closed when we were totally inside.
I lightly moved my eyes to see a glimpse of King leading the way to their living room while her mother was cheerfully smiling at us. And I could feel her eyes examining me from head to toe. It makes my fine hairs raised.
“Can you sit in the couch for a few minutes? I’ll just change my clothes.” I heard King voice in a low soft tone.
I turned to smile at him as I nodded. He smiled back and turned his back to me before he left.
I sat on the couch while looking down. I can’t help but play with my fingers every time I felt uncomfortable. I had this weird feeling that I don’t understand that makes my heart race.
“Hello, sweetie. Can I get you something to drink?” I heard his mother’s cheerful voice.
As I lifted my head, I saw her sat on the single couch across me with a genuine smile. She looks like King. He got her nose and eyes from her mother and of course, he also got her beautiful smile.
“Thanks but I’m good.” I respond with a small smile.
My palms are sweating even more, most especially that his mother is in front of me. I feel like I’m about to sit on the hot seat because of some few questions that she might asked me. I had an idea in my mind of what she might asked me but I can’t get my thoughts together.
“How long you’ve been dating, King?” She asked. Her smile gives me chills down to my nerves and her eyes seems like reading what’s on my mind.
I swallowed to drain my nervous. Is it considered a date those days when King taught me about Math during lunch break? Or those days that we stayed at the room to study just the two of us? I mean, we didn’t formally hang out together. This is the first time that he invited me her.
“Actually, we don’t hang out that much.” I paused when I heard my heart beat as I looked down. I can’t look to her eyes, though her smile is friendly as it seems, it makes me heart beat faster, “But we were together most of the time during classes. He help me improved my grades in Math and other subjects.”
“That’s good to hear.” Her tone was cheerful as ever, “King is pretty good in Math and Science.”
I nervously chuckled, still playing with my sweaty fingers, “Yeah. He’s even our top 2 in this quarter.”
“Really?” I moved my eyes to see his mother grinning from ear to ear, “He hadn’t told me. Perhaps, your teacher already released your report cards.”
Oh God! This is why I’m so unsettled. For a second I lost my senses. Mentally blank while staring on her eyes. Her eyebrows raised when I slightly opened my mouth.
I moved my eyes away from her as I thought of an excuse, “Well, Mrs. Onevic did announced the top 5 in this quarter but she hadn’t released our report cards. Maybe, she will release our cards in the 4th quarter.” I swallowed as I pressed my palms together.
She nodded with a curved lips, “I see.”
I tried to give her my most friendly smile but my lips were lightly trembling. I hope that she bought it but she seems unconvinced.
Before her mother could thought of a next question, a pitcher of orange juice with 3 glass in a tray was put on the small table in front of me.
I deeply exhaled when I saw King from the corner of my eye who put the tray on the table. I was still looking down when he sat next to me. My elbow was accidentally rubbed against his soft skin that sends me weird feeling in my nerves.
“Thank you, King.” Her mother’s voice was so sweet.
As I lifted up my head, I saw them smiling to each other. They glanced on me and I smiled back to them as they both chuckled. I never saw King smiled this much. In school, he is the serious type but friendly. He doesn’t smile that much. Or maybe because Sanchez keeps on bullying him that is why he doesn’t even talked that much.
King and my eyes meet. We both stared to each other for like minutes. Forgetting that his mother was sitting in front of us. Examining our gestures and eye contacts. He is so handsome if he keeps on smiling. And I can’t even stop myself from staring at his smile.
“Keep smiling, King. You never knew who is dying to see it.” Words came out of my mouth without thinking. But good thing that my tone was sincere. Though after, I regret saying it. It sends warm feeling on my cheeks.
He stared at me for a while with his charming smirk, “I never thought that someone would wanted to see my smile.”
I hold back a smile, trying not to get carried away with the butterflies in my stomach, “Who knows? Your smile might be someone’s inspiration to graduate.”
His smirk was something that I won’t get used to, even when I’m staring at it the rest of my life. It brightens his handsome face and it is so refreshing to me. He even looks hot with his loose white t-shirt, pairing it with a jersey shorts.
“Ehem.” I heard her mother cleared her throat, “The orange juice was too sweet, King. Did you add sugar to it?”
In that instant, I realized that we were staring on each other while grinning from ear to ear that took minutes. I didn’t notice it and it seems King either. I was carried away and I let this butterflies get the best of me. We both chuckled awkwardly as we both looked at her mother.
Her mother was smiling at us with a glass of juice on her hand. She seems enjoying the view and I can’t stop myself from giggling as I cover my mouth with my palm.
“Who are you?” A voice from somewhere caught my attention.
My eyes accidentally laid at the old man standing behind his mother. His eyes was widen and his lips were parted. He is eyeing me from head to toe. I don’t understand why he had that impression but it made my smile slowly fade as he slowly walked towards me. He didn’t broke the eye contact until he kneeled in front of me, which made my brows crossed and my eyes widen.
I glanced at King and at his mother. They were both curiously staring at us, specifically to the old man. King was stunned and I could see he was puzzled, while her mother was somehow shocked.
What’s going on?
A small tear is starting to form on the corner of the old man’s eye, “Veronica… Is it you?”
My mouth was hang opened. I was froze on my sit. My heart beats even faster like in any minute now, it will explode. My palms are sweating even more.
“What?” Her mother frowned as she uttered in disbelief.
King shook his head as he shut his eyes, “Grandpa, that’s Hannah Mae De Vera. She’s my classmate.”
“De Vera?” The old man was shocked as he gave King a quick look, “You are Emilia Gallego- De Vera’s daughter?” His lips was shaking as he mentioned my mother’s name.
How did he knew my mother? And who is he?
I left my mouth opened as my brows crossed in confusion. I don’t know what to respond or even how to react. I need someone to explain it right now.
The old man was staring at me with his wet eyes and cheeks. He gently holds my hand as he gave me a weak smile. I literally froze as my heart skips a beat. I can’t breath anymore like something’s blocking on my lungs.
“Dad, what are you talking about?” His mother said as she grabbed his hand and pulled him to stand, “Let me take you to your room.”
He didn’t break the eye contact as he stood, “Its her Jenalyn. It’s her.” His voice was filled with sadness as his tears fell from his eyes.
He didn’t removed his eyes at me as he was leaving with King’s mother. While King’s mother was softly rubbing her palm on the back of the old man.
I was left stunned. Not a single thought came in my mind. My mind was filled with confusion. My lips were trembling as my heart race like it was about to explode. I put my hands together though it was shaking and sweating. Is this why I felt uncomfortable from the very moment I set a foot in this house?
– Third Person’s POV –
“What did you just did, dad?” Jenalyn uttered the moment they entered her bedroom.
“Can’t you see, Jenalyn? I’m footsteps away from paying my mistakes in past.” Alexander stated as he hold back his tears.
She frowned, “What are you even talking about? That girl will never be Veronica. She’s way too young to be your sister who was adopted in 1959.”
“But she looked exactly like her.” Alexander protested in a controlled voice.
“Dad, please. Break free from the past. You can never take it back.” Jenalyn’s tone became soft as a tear started forming in her eyes, “Wherever Aunt Veronica might be now, I’m sure she’s in good hands.”
Alexander gasped as he sat on the edge of the bed. He squeezed his chest as he took heavy breaths. Tears keep falling from his eyes without a single sound.
“What if she’s her daughter?” He managed to speak even though he was struggling to breath.
She looked down as she walked towards him. She sniffed before she sat next to him and gently hold his hand.
“Stop overthinking about everything, dad.” She paused as a tear escape from her eyes and it fell on her hand, “It’s time to let go and move on. Don’t chain yourself in the past. You’ll never see the beauty of the future.”
Without another word, Alexander looked down as tears fell on Jenalyn’s hand. She tighten her hold on his hand as he quietly sobs. She moved closer to him and leaned her head on his shoulder and caressed his hand with her thumb.