31 Chapter 31

Our First Summer Together

I woke up disoriented. Someone moved beside me and snuggled close. It was Via. Beside her was Marion still sleeping soundly. I snuggled back to Via savoring this bond with these girls. Summer's end was fast approaching, and I would not see them as often since they lived with their parents in a different town and go to different schools. I was really grateful to more than two months of hanging out with them. I hugged Via tightly. She protested by wiggling out of my embrace. Marion let out a grunt to silence Via. I smiled to myself. I got out of bed and did my morning hygiene routine. I checked on the mirror to see if I were pretty enough to meet my boyfriend. Just thinking about Justine appraising me was enough to make me blush. 'God, I miss him already!'

Justine was already in the kitchen when I went there to get my coffee. He was standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, absorbed with the beautiful scenery before him. He did not notice me come in, so I took time to say hi. I observed him from a distance. I even like his back. It was straight and strong. I approached him quietly and hugged him from behind. I rested my head on his back.

"Do you miss Aunt Helen already?" I asked

"A-hmnnn…" He replied. He took my hands and swung me in front of him and hugged me from behind this time. He rested his chin on my head. I looked up to him. He gently brushed his lips with mine very quickly and hugged me again. I rested my head on his chest. We stayed that way for a while, both of us lost in our thoughts.

I remembered Aunt Helen left incredibly early. She came to our room and kissed us girls goodbye. I hugged her tightly. She assured me that she would keep in touch and that we would see each other again. The girls joined us in a group hug. I felt an emptiness when she left. But I was too tired of the day's activity that I went immediately back to sleep. That must be the reason why I woke up disoriented.

"Stop thinking of me, I'm already here." Justine teased interrupting my thoughts. I laughed softly. I liked it when he playfully acts confident bordering to being arrogant.

"It's not always about you, you know?" I retorted.

"It's not?" he asked feigning disbelief. I pinched his side hard. He winced in pain. I tiptoed to kiss his cheek, but his lips met mine. I tasted coffee. 'Coffee?' His eyes confirmed it. He kissed me deeper. 'God, I don't think I'll ever get enough of this.' He nibbled on my lips.

"Aherm, aherm!" somebody cleared his throat. When we turned to look, it was Grandpa! I wanted the floor to swallow me. Following him was Auntie Anita.

"You are scandalizing the whole household and the whole farm, both of you!" She scolded. Grandpa laughed amused. This incensed Auntie Anita more.

"Don't encourage them Don Anton!" She scolded Grandpa this time. He laughed harder even more.

"Ah, the beauty of young love. When was the last time we saw something like this Anita?" Grandpa Anton asked. His eyes were glassy as if he were transported to a happier time. "And I trust these two. I'm sure they know what lines not to cross. Right, Justine and Nina?" I blushed profusely. I could not say a word.

"You have to be clear about the lines so Nina would understand, Grandpa!" seconded Justine.

"O God, like grandfather like grandson!" Auntie Anita exclaimed. But she joined the two men in laughter. At that moment I resented the three of them for killing me with embarrassment.

Justine and I returned to his room after that embarrassing breakfast. Via and Marion had left the room. They must have joined the staff for breakfast. Sometimes they prefer to join their relatives for meals instead of being with us. They had made up the bed, so I lay on it. I was unusually quiet because I was still nursing some resentment over breakfast. I thought Justine would spoon-cuddle me like he always did but he did not. He must have sensed my irritation. He went to the bathroom. He got out with our toothbrushes. He handed me mine and pulled me out of the bed. We went to the bathroom and brushed our teeth. I had barely finished when he lifted me and made me sit on the sink counter. He parted my legs so he could stand between them facing me.

"What are doing?" I demanded, blushing again.

"You're so pretty when you blush." He said evading my question. He cupped my chin and tilted my head so he could look at my eyes.

"Justine Rodriquez!!!" I hissed, glaring at him. He laughed soundlessly. He suddenly grabbed my hair and kissed me on the mouth hard. So hard it took my breath away. He stopped as abruptly as he started and stormed out of the bathroom.

"I was just checking what lines not to cross!" He said while he was leaving. I was fuming mad but so aroused at the same time. I calmed myself. I smoothed out my hair and shirt and prepared myself for a petty fight. I smiled despite myself.

I found Justine lying on his bed, lovingly looking at a small-framed photo. Curious, I lay beside him and took the photo frame. It was Aunt Helen's gift to us the night before her departure. She called Justine and I to her room. She asked us if we wanted to know the first time, we saw each other. We both look at her puzzled. She waved an old fading photo to us. Justine took it and was puzzled even more. I looked at it and gasped. It was my mother carrying me as a baby. Beside her was a little handsome boy holding my hand. He was the boy in my dreams telling me to stop crying! I looked at Aunt Helen, bewildered. She confirmed my wild guess. It was indeed Justine. I was swept by a flood of emotions. This must be what destiny felt like. It was our first summer together.

According to Aunt Helen, when Justine was three years old his family came home for a visit and coincidentally I was already born. They visited my mother and I. It was our first meeting. Our first summer together!

"I must have loved you even then." Justine declared. I got up without warning and straddled him. I took both his hands and pinned them over his head. He looked at me with a shocked expression. It was his turn to ask me what I was doing.

"Shall we cross ALL the lines?" I teasingly asked as I slowly lower my head to claim his lips. He willingly surrendered.