7 Chapter Five

05 - Necklace.

I am not with Jax today since I am currently with my group members in our class to finish our group project. But Jax told me that he would fetch me hereafter practicing for the annual event this coming Friday.

Ella, Athena, Kenji, Patrick, and Kevin are my groupmates. We are here at the canteen to finish our project. It's our finals next week, and we need to complete this last assessment to graduate.

We are almost finished when they decided to eat outside the campus. I refused to join my groupmates and told them that I would continue our project to lessen our work. Kevin also declined to join them.

They bid their goodbyes after. I looked up at Kevin and saw him checked his wristwatch.

"Zoey, you can leave it for the meantime. Let's take our lunch first. They will arrive soon." Kevin spoke.

"Later. I'll finish this." I told him while I continued to encode in my laptop the necessary details for this group project.

"I will order for you." Kevin offered and stood up. I didn't have the time to decline his offer because before I can stop him, he directly went to the counter.

I heaved a sigh then went back to what I'm doing. I just stopped when Kevin placed his orders for us on the table.

I was about to hand him the payment for my lunch, but he didn't bother to get it. He told me that this is his treat for me. I tried to insist, but he still refused.

"You shouldn't have to bother paying. I can pay." He shook his head, and he just smiled at me.

"Let me, Zoey. I'll let you treat me next time." He interjected after we finished our meal.

"Thank you," I mumbled and caught him staring at me.

It was then when I notice his hand nearing my face. With his sudden move that caught me by surprise, I didn't move away quickly.

But before his hand reaches my face, someone pulled me up, trying to stop Kevin's hand from touching my face. I almost jumped in surprise and felt that someone's hand on my arms gripped but still manage not to make it hurt.

I looked at who did that, and I saw Jax. He was staring at Kevin darkly, and his jaw tightened. I can also notice he's gritting his teeth in annoyance.

"Jax," I called him when I tranced back from the immediate shock I felt a while ago. I roamed my eyes around the canteen, and it seemed like we caught most of their attention.

"Who are you?" He coldly exclaimed using his baritone voice. I noticed his chest heaving fast.

"Jax, he's one of my groupmates." Trying to get his attention. He's still looking icily at the guy.

"I'm sorry, man," Kevin answered.

I pushed Jax's chest for him not to cause a commotion. If I can't stop him with his temper, maybe he'll throw a punch at Kevin.

"Come on, Jax. Let's get out of here." He still stood there, not wanting to move, and continued to shoot daggers at Kevin.

I looked at Kevin, and when he saw me gazed in his direction, he started to talk again.

"Zoey, sorry. We'll finish this group project. You're already done you're your part, so you can go home now." I am glad that Kevin's not trying to test Jax's temper and decided to lay low. I nodded at him.

I saw him gathered all his things and started to walk away. I followed him with my eyes as he left the canteen. I saw our other groupmates approached him before they looked where I am.

They waved their hand, and I did too. I am glad that my group members were very understanding.

I heard Jax snorted and his arm around my waist tightened. I faced him.

"Calm down, Jax." With what I said, he looked calmer now, and that's my cue to get his hand and lead him out of the canteen.

I felt his arms around my waist tightened when we started walking. His brows are still furrowed, but his breathing is even now.

He pulled me to his car. I don't know how to open what happened a while ago, and I am unsure what to say. By looking at him now, the cat got my tongue.

"What was that, Cali?" He asked after a long silence enveloped his car after he started his car away from the university. His voice was trying to be calm, yet he failed. The coldness and anger were very evident in his tone.

"Jax… I was too stunned a while ago. That's why I didn't move away immediately." I explained. While watching him, he still looked directly in front, not glancing at me.

His right hand was on the steering wheel while the other one leaned over the window, and his fingers stayed on his lips.

"Maybe if you just let me punch that guy." I was shocked by what he just told me.

"Jax… really?! I will not let you brawl in there and punch someone who didn't do anything wrong." I called out.

"Cali, if I wasn't there that time, he probably touched you." His eyes were screaming rage, and his hold on the steering wheel tightened, which made me observe how the veins in his arms protruded.

"Jax, if you weren't there, he won't still touch me. I will move away." I answered.

After that, he didn't say anything until we arrived at our house. His irritated face still on display, and he never bothered to look at me.

I watched him while we stayed inside his car. He's very frustrated and hot when he gets jealous.

"Jax, please. Look at me now…" His brows still creased.

"Jax," I called him again. I reached for his hand, but still, he didn't glance in my direction. I smirked when I thought of something. I immediately removed my seatbelt.

Rising, I put my hands on his shoulders and straddled him. He almost jumped in surprise. His hands rested on my waist.

He closed his eyes tightly as if he doesn't want to look at me. He's breathing too fast, and I can feel his breath fanning my neck as I leaned down on him.

"Jax, come on, let's make up," I whispered. His hold on my waist tightened, but still, he didn't reply with what I said.

"You don't want me anymore?" I tried to make my voice soft and weak. I leaned in and whispered. "You don't wanna make up? So… let's make out then?" I felt him went rigid. I chuckled lightly.

"Touch me, Jax," I whispered as I start to move my hips on his.

"No!" He growled, and I felt a little uneasy.

My breathing picks up as I realized our position. I started to stand, but Jax grabbed my hips and pulled me further up his lap.

"I want you forever, baby." When he spoke, his breath warmed my already heated cheeks.

I touched his face, and he leaned into my hand. I'm already as close as I can be, but he squeezed my hips and pulled me closer still. I placed my forehead to his.

"Sorry a while ago, Jax. Please don't be mad at me." I whispered.

He wrapped his arms around me and held me tightly. I looked at him as his face descended on mine. I closed my eyes and felt his lips on mine.

I get lost in his kiss while his hand roamed my body. I'm not hungry for slow, but his touch helps my craving.

His fingers lightly run over my stomach, almost touching my under boob, and I gasped. I can feel him smile against my lips before he took the kiss deeper. His kiss got more urgent as he brought his hand up to hold my face.

My hands fisted his hair, and I kept him close to me. I was ultimately out of breath after our kiss. I don't want to get up. I want to stay close to him.

He kissed my shoulder. I held his face, and he kissed my hand. I touched his face, his lips, his jaw, his lashes…

He traced my jaw down to my neck and kissed it.

"You're forgiven, baby." He whispered.

Finally! It's our graduation day. Our family, together with the Villaraza, decided to celebrate at a restaurant. Jax and his family arrived there first. Mommy and Daddy were talking about their surprise for Jax and me. Kuya Zach and Kuya Zavi came after.

Tita Veronica at Tito Lorenz approached Mommy at Daddy. I felt Jax's arm around my waist and kissed my forehead.

When Mommy faced us, I went closer to Tita and Tito and hugged them. Jax did the same to my parents. Tita Veronica offered us to sit down.

"Blaze, congratulations on being a Magna Cum Laude. So, what are your plans after this?" Daddy Zion uttered.

"I'll take over our business, Tito," Jax answered.

"How about you, Zoey?" Tita Veronica glanced at me and smiled.

"I will work in our company, Tita."

After that, Tito Lorenzo and my dad indulged in some business matters. Jax and my brothers also talked to them.

"Isn't she going home?" I whispered to mommy when I noticed her busy creating a message to Astraea.

Mommy glanced at me, and she smiled sadly. She's longing for her for almost a year now when she decided to go to New York. She held my hand.

"No… Solace still not willing to go home, according to your dad. I tried to convince her almost every day to go home, but she didn't want to. It seems like she doesn't have plans to go home." Her eyes glistened with tears after saying that.

As those years passed that we were with her, we loved her despite the idea, especially mommy. She welcomed Astraea with all her heart even though she's not her own, and when she learned about the truth, it was too late, and Astraea was hurt, and we didn't know what to do at that time. She decided to stand on her own and followed Kuya Zavi's offer to stay in New York.

She was so innocent and pure. But because after that one painful night, she just changed.

I glanced at Jax when he told our parents and my brothers that we'd go out for a while. He offered his hand before pulling me outside.

We reached the garden outside the restaurant. Jax led me to the pavilion and held my hand while staring at me intently.

"Cali, I waited this moment for so long. I'm so glad that your parents approved of us living together after our graduation." I smiled and gripped his hand.

"I'm also happy, Jax. I appreciate your patience. Thank you for waiting for me." I sincerely said.

"I'm so excited sleeping beside you and waking up every morning seeing your beautiful face first." I blushed.

"I am also excited to see you cook every day. I am so glad that my boyfriend is perfect at cooking. I am lucky. I'm so lucky to have you, baby."

"So do I, baby. I love you so much." He moved away and gave me a blue rectangular box.

"What is it?" I asked excitedly. He opened it, and I saw a white-gold necklace with a pendant "J" covered with tiny gold gems. I looked at him.

"Jax… it's so beautiful." He smiled.

"I'm glad you like it." He turned me around, and I felt the cold metal touched my neck. I caressed the necklace.

I'm too overwhelmed with what he just gave me. I frowned when I remember that I don't have anything from him.

"What's wrong, love?"

"I don't have any gift for you." He chuckled then pulled me to a hug.

"You don't need to give me a gift, Cali. It's okay, baby. Just stay with me. As long as you're at my side, I don't have anything to wish for."

"Thank you, Jax," I told him and returned him a tight hug.

We decided to go inside after a while. As we reached our table, I observed our parents' bright smiles while looking at us. Well, Kuya Zach was smirking, and Kuya Zavi is still there, emotionless.

"Mom?" Jax asked.

"We have a surprise for you two." Tita Veronica handed us an envelope. Jax let me opened what they gave.

My eyes widened, and I almost shout in delight when I saw their gift. We will stay at one of Villaraza's luxurious private resorts!

"Oh my gosh!" I exclaimed, not able to able to contain my enthusiasm.

I hugged Jax and looked at him. He kissed my forehead before looking at them.

"Thank you, Tita, Tito." He uttered to my parents before turning to his. "Thanks, Mom, Dad." I heard Jax say before tightening his embrace around me.

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