9 SEALED WITH A KISS

Jacky arrived from Japan, She has some boxes of Japanese goodies to be given to her classmates and friends.

She is still thinking of her short vacation to her home in Japan. She enjoyed her brother who just comes home from military duty. They chatted about her experiences in the Philippines. What she wants from his brother is that she trust her to be strong in any situation. He said I know you can defend yourself and can be a successful person.

In her stories, he teased her about the mention of Juan. Dad, Mom! Your lovely daughter is having a crush!

Her Dad and Mom rushed to the sofa and interviewed her. Her brother, laughing, don't be so strict on her, I trust her judgment. I think the guy is respectable. It's just a crush anyway and nothing serious yet hahaha...

Her Dad and Mom nodding, smiling... "Who is he?" She told them everything that happened.

Her father and mother are bit concerned but her mother said "I seem to like your "prince in shining armor", her Dad just nod and said if he is ok for your Mom, and will pass her high standard quality test from a quality assurance manager then he may pass to me. Be careful my baby, let me met Juan also sometimes in the Philippines. Jacky agreed and smile.

Her thinking was interrupted by her cellphone ringing.

Juan called if she would like to eat sweet corn and Tilapia to be grilled because he has some from the farm send by his father. "Hello, Jacky I have something to tell you."

Jacky asked Elena to tell her mother if they can use the rooftop again with Juan, he has a Tilapia and sweet corn to grill. The landlady gave the key to the rooftop.

They grilled and ate, they talk about what happened in Japan and here, Elena laughing with them and they enjoyed the evening. Then Jacky asked Juan: "What is that, that you want to tell me?"Jacky getting serious...

"Why are you looking for your Nanny?" Juan asked.

" I missed her, I want to know what happened to her? Why do you know her?" Jacky asked.

"What's her name?" Juan asked.

"She's Nanny Martha..." Jacky answered.

" We lost her..." Juan tearfully said.

"What do you mean, you lost her? Do you know her? please answer me..." Jacky can't believe her ears. "How can you know her, she has a different surname from yours..." Jacky replied.

" She has Alzheimer's and she was lost in Japan. We don't know where she is. We try to find her through her close friend, but she can not be located. She is still being located." Juan said with tears.

"What? why is your surname different, meaning you are her son? Seriously?" Jacky is starting to cry...

" There was a mistake when I was registered. It was mistyped by the midwife who typed my surname and it was noticed too late." Juan said.

" What happened to my Nanny?" Where is she?" "Is she just ok?" Jacky crying, Juan cried too.

"What can we do? what in the world can we do? Please Lord, help us find my Nanny... please..."The first time Jacky prayed aloud."

"I'll go home now, Jacky..." Jacky embraced him and said we will find her. God will find a way... Juan nodded and went down the door out from the rooftop.

Juan is carrying this burden for so long and pretended as if he has no problem. But when asked by his friend Tammy, he said, I cast that burden to God, I know He has a great plan for me.

Summer is approaching. The end of the school year is coming.

"Hello, Dad, I need your permission to attend the "Kalilangan Festival" I will be late coming home in the apartment during these events." Jacky on Skype.

"I trust you, baby, just be extra careful, Praying for you," Daddy Ely said.

"Thanks, Dad... Love you both, you and Mom. And my Brother too"

I have bad news. I will tell you tomorrow. I'm just shocked about it and I want to confirm things tomorrow.

Bye for now. Jacky replied.

Jacky closed the laptop and prepared for school.

There will be a "Kalilangan" a festival in General Santos and we will have a parade. We will present a variety show in the oval plaza.

Our school was assigned for that big event with, songs, dances, and drama with choreography. The theme this year is the history of how General Santos first founded the city and settled here.

The city program committee has assigned each school and Notre Dame was chosen to do the variety show to be performed on the second day of the festival.

The principal called a faculty meeting and they discussed who will lead this important event. The Filipino teacher, Ma'am Ballesta had three choices of students to take the lead. But the school History teacher, Sir Bubungan suggested that Jacky is the top in History and has a thorough study of General Santos City history although she has a half Japanese father. They had a lengthy discussion of what to happen, and the principal approved that Jacky will be the lead implementor of the program.

The oval plaza had many flea stores, food stores, and circus and carnival ride that it became a complete amusement park.

During off class, the students from all schools are scattered in this place. Many people here and abroad are excited to be part of this festival.

Jacky called a meeting. Juan sends the information to all presidents of each classroom to attend this meeting for the Variety Show of the festival. Their tandem is working. They will plan for the sequence of the show, the songs to sing, the dances and the historical significance, timing, and the musical skit. The choreography must be perfect.

The Meeting ended with the schedule of practices, the preparation for the props, the sound system, everything was to be taken into account. The whole city will see this in person and in televised broadcasted in all the local TV and some cable channels.

Jacky is now on the pressure with her advisers, Ma'am Otic and Sir. Paciente.

Juan assisted her with the help of CAT officers.

Rose, her friend, asked her if what is her relationship with Juan. " We are brothers in Christ", why? Asked Jacky.

You're so close and seem intimate at times.

Jacky, I like Juan. If he will court me is it OK with you? Rose said frankly and her tone is with strong determination.

"What? I like him too. But if he will like you, what can I do?" Jacky said.

So I hope this will not be an issue with our friendship. Rose said.

Jacky did not answer.

Juan entered, and asked what will be the schedule of those officers who will have a part in the skit that will wear their uniform and will carry the colors (the flags).

Rose and Jacky were silent...

Rose get the schedule in the paper and went near Juan. She let Juan sit and she sit beside and give the schedule and tried to explain the schedule. But Juan felt awkward, stand, and went outside with the paper. Rose look at Jacky who did not look in their direction. She made herself busy encoding in her laptop the other parts of the program. After finishing, went home alone.

Juan felt the strange ambiance in the classroom with Jacky and Rose. He wondered what's the problem with them, why some kind of strange air...

Rose was tailing Juan and asked if she found Jacky. Juan said: "I thought she was with you." She was not here anymore. She went home. Can you walk with me? Rose asked.

"I'm going to the grocery in a different direction," Juan answered.

"Are you avoiding me?" Rose asked.

"No, why should I? Juan asked.

"Well if she can't get you, I will," Rose said.

"Rose, are you crazy?" Juan blurted.

"Why, is to like a person, crazy? Rose also teasing him she approached him going near him to embrace him.

But, Juan got angry. "Rose, if you cheapen your self, don't include me. I did not court Jacky not because I don't want her if that is the question in your mind with your friends. I did not court her yet because I don't deserve her yet. I'm just a poor farmer, who tries to survive and fight to succeed with God's help. I respect you as her friend and as my friend. Never destroy that trust with your dirty style because instead of getting my approval, I will hate you and feel that you are dirty. Please stop this none sense and don't ever talk to me till you fixed your mind to stop this craziness!"

Rose cried, " Sorry" she then run away.

The next morning, the practice went fine until during the stunts, one of the performers, fall down from the human pyramid, just a bruise but Jacky decided to cool it off for a while.

Jacky has the command and can influence discipline from all the performers, she instilled professionalism and mutual respect.

The committee was happy with what they see in the practice and seem to have the confidence that the school participation in the festival will be rewarding.

During those busy practices, Juan and Jacky never bothered each other and never actually had spoken with each other.

Rose apologizes to Jacky and told her of what happened with Juan during the time that she made a move to seduce Juan. Jacky did not answer but inside her heart, she felt relieved. She just nods to signal that she's ok.

Jacky actually misses the usual friendship with Rose, Juan, and the rest of the class.

The next day Jacky went to school with a bigger backpack. Then announced in the class... Lalaine, Miss President, I propose to have a ramen party in the canteen today. "Wow! Let's have a Japanese ramen party! Lalaine announced. Inform the canteen Mr. Business Manager and I will assign with you some of our classmates who will surely volunteer, just teach them how to cook it. Jacky said: "Thank you. This ramen party was forgotten for a long time. Now is the time."

Juan finds Rose back to normal, and Jacky was a bit aloft...

Juan went to the canteen and help with the cooking. Jacky recognized him and just do things as if she did not see him. But Juan went near and ask how to serve the ramen with the sidings and the tea in the table. Jacky called all the cookers and demonstrate it. She even demonstrated how to use chopsticks.

Jacky can't stop the feeling of missing him. But she controlled herself. Juan also is suffering from the fact that it's already a long time that she had not talked to him.

All of them enjoyed the ramen and the tea party. It is a day that the whole class is united with their teacher who is given one dozen ramen.

The day of the event. It started with the parade, Juan only has a constant glance to Jacky's direction. From time to time, while Jacky seems to ignore him.

The night of the Variety Show was a success. The Mayor expressed his joy and thanked the school and the administration for the very excellent job of entertaining the whole city and called Jacky and the Principal and awarded a certificate and a plaque of appreciation.

In Japan, the whole family of Jacky watched through cable TV and the internet his brother viewed it with co-soldiers and shared it on YouTube and Facebook. It generated a trending and an initial of 100K of views and likes.

But in spite, the success, Jacky has a feeling of loneliness. Behind, the smiles, the desire to stop this silence with Juan. She finally breaks it by texting Juan.

"My brother, thanks for supporting and understanding me in the busiest days and in the times that I can't entertain you. I miss you."

Juan replied to the text: " Please, can we ride the Ferris wheel?"

Jacky replied: "Yes, where are you?"

Juan texted, " I'm here in the entrance"

"Going" Jacky texted back.

They meet as if they have not seen each other for a long time, Jacky ran and embraced him. "Thanks, Bro..." Jacky sighed.

They entered, Juan paid their entrance, Jacky gets her wallet. Juan stopped her, "I got this".

Then they ride the Ferris wheel, Jacky leaning on him and holding him tightly when she feels afraid.

They ride the carousel, then the roller coaster, bumper cars then before the allowance of Juan is spent because she doesn't want that Jacky will spend even a penny, he prepared by working part-time in the library and sell some native chickens from the farm. His business went well that he wants to make an extra sideline with it.

Jacky said, before we go home, let's ride the tunnel...

Juan hesitated, "how much is it? Do you want to eat after?"

" Don't worry, I will back you up, Brother," Jacky said teasing him.

Juan tried to go out, but Jacky said: "This is my dream, my desire to ride this tunnel, even in Japan, but no one will ride with me. Please can you ride with me?"

Jacky holds his arm and he just obediently went to the entrance of the tunnel and they ride with other riders.

It started slow, they can see beautiful sceneries in the sides then it gained speed like a roller coaster, Jacky tried to hold in his arm, then it entered the tunnel, dark inside, then with the loud sound of a monster a frightening monster appeared that Jacky entered inside the jacket of Juan covering her eyes but still she can see it. Juan said laughing, "you're like a small child hahaha!" Jacky just closes her eyes and then they entered a beautiful place that it's so romantic with a love song that they felt they desired of their hearts were enhanced. Jacky said "If this will be the last chance that we know that we are together before the school year ends, will you promise that you will find me after college? Please... I will wait for you Brother Juan, no matter what... as I have committed to finding Nanny Martha... I will wait for you. Never forget that. I will not deprive you of your dreams, and I know why you never courted anybody because you want to finish college. I'm willing to wait... Juan, can you seal that promise?" Jacky said tearfully.

"What?" He said and kissed her in the lips for just one second.