9 Summer Lovin’

I woke up from my nap at lunchtime. My room's door was closed. I felt a little panic but soon found out that I was alone. Justine must have closed it when he left. I saw my desktop computer was open. 'How dare he touch my things?' Justine can be rude sometimes. I made a mental note to scold him later. There was a post-it note attached to my desktop: Hi Nina. Sorry for operating your desktop without your permission. Forgive me please, baby?

'Baby?' My heart skipped a beat. 'It's cheesy but I kinda like it.' I giggled despite myself.

I noticed a new folder in my computer screen labeled SOMEDAY. I clicked on it. It was a folder full of pictures of Gaudi's works in Barcelona, tapas and sangria and famous streets of the city. 'How can I scold him now when everything he does makes me happy?'

I heard voices coming from the kitchen. I made myself presentable and went down to check. There was a crowd in our kitchen! Justine, Alexis, Karlo and our other friends Victor, Marion and Via were already eating lunch. Karlo even brought Melody, our close friend from school. They all stood when I entered the kitchen. Justine made me sit beside him. I fought the urge to hug him. Auntie Aida set up a plate and silverware for me.

"Hi Princess!" Alexis said. I flashed him a smile but remembered Justine's pleading. 'How do I treat Alexis now?' Justine squeezed my hand under the table.

"Justine made an announcement earlier, my dear friend." Melody said to me with a mischievous smile. "I thought I'd be the first friend you'd tell with," she added grudgingly while the other two girls giggled.

Karlo laughed at my confusion and pointed Justine with his eyes. I looked inquiringly with Justine.

"Didn't we agree to tell everyone? I just told them." Justine lifted my hand and kissed it. I blushed. I pinched him on his side. He reacted as if hurt extremely. Everyone laughed.

Auntie Aida admonished us to eat our lunch or it'd get cold. We happily followed. We bantered once in a while about our favorite online games, favorite online influencers, the teachers and classmates we like or don't like. Karlo and Melody told anecdotes about me. I was embarrassed by some stories. I covered my face several times but Justine would hug me and tell me that it was all right. He still liked me anyway.

After that hearty lunch, Justine shooed everyone and declared that I have to get more rest. Alexis tried to hug me but Justine protested. Alexis looked a bit hurt but stopped anyway.

"You're still my Princess, Nina" Alexis said.

"Stop calling her that. She's my princess now." Justine declared.

"She's my princess first!" Alexis challenged. I smiled remembering what Justine told me about Alexis. He did act spoiled sometimes.

Karlo pulled Alexis. Melody was laughing and gestured with her hand to give her a call. They all told me to get well soon. Justine took my temperature. Thankfully, my fever had subsided. I still feel sluggish though. Justine said he'd stay with me. Also, he wanted to wait for my father before he went back home.

We moved to the living room. We switched on the smart TV and chose programs to watch. We found out that we both liked a number of programs. We settled on the latest season of Stranger Things. He put a throw pillow on his lap. I laid down on it. He stroked my hair while we watched Netflix.

"When do we go to Barcelona?" I asked.

"We can go when you've turned 18." He said. As if it was that easy for me to go to Barcelona. But I played along. It was the perfect moment to dream of nice places and things.

"Why do we have to wait 'till I'm 18?"

"Because by then, you can travel without a chaperone."

I gasped and sat abruptly. I crossed my arms over my body.

Justine laughed so loud, Auntie Aida came to check what it was he was laughing about. He just continued laughing. Auntie Aida went back to what she was doing. Justine's laugh was infectious. I can't help but laugh with him too.

"Is that all you can think of, Nina? You're a pervert!" Justine laughed some more.

"Ok, St. Justine, let's travel when I'm 18. Let's see who's the pervert." I pinched him.

Justine became serious. He put his arms around me and leaned on my shoulder.

"Nina…"

"Uhmn…"

"I love you." Justine said tenderly.

I stiffened and looked at him. I was so stunned I dashed to my room. My heart was beating furiously. I paced back and forth, my hands on my heart willing it to calm down. Justine stood by my bedroom door, watching me. He later approached me and hugged me from behind. He rested his chin on my head.

"I'm sorry, I startled you. But I'm not sorry for telling you what I feel. ``I love you"

"Oh, Justine... Why do you make my heart flutter so much?" I turned around and hugged him back. His heart was beating fast too. We stayed that way, calming both our hearts. He kissed my forehead and broke off the embrace. He took his mobile phone out.

"Do you know how to take selfies? Should we take some?" He suggested.

I checked myself in the mirror in my room. My cheeks were flushed and my lips slightly wet. I covered my face, mortified. Justine laughed softly and handed me the mobile. I took selfies of us. My shots were tentative at first but playfulness soon took over and we took shots of different poses. There was us goofing, looking at each other affectionately, with me leaning on his shoulder, him kissing my forehead. We laughed a lot at our little game. Justine direct messaged (DMed) all the photos in my Instagram account. We had another blast looking at them.

We heard a vehicle parked in front of the house. We rushed downstairs thinking it must be my father.

Father found us sitting in the living room. I welcomed him back with a hug. He put his hand on my forehead. He said he was glad that my fever had subsided. He told me however to rest one more day to regain my strength. I readily agreed. Father noticed Justine fidgeting in one corner of the couch.

"Justine, you're still here!" my father teased.

"May I ask permission to date Nina, Uncle Amor" Justine asked without reservation.

My father seemed to be taken aback a bit but acted cool about it.

"Have you asked Nina's permission? She'll be the one you'll be dating." my father said.

"Yes, Uncle. She said, yes." Justine answered with conviction.

My father peered at me looking for confirmation. I nodded and gave him a pleading look. 'Please say yes.' I prayed.

My father sat across Justine and in a serious voice said: "You both have my permission. But I expect you to be responsible, okay? I know how young people can be carried away by passion but please no more physical than kissing."

"Father!" I protested.

"I've always been open and frank with you my dear, so I can tell you candidly about these things. I wish your mother were here to help me guide you. I repeat, be responsible. Have fun and enjoy your first love but don't break my trust. Protect each other." my father ardently said.

My heart flowed with joy. I was so proud of my father. I felt so lucky to have him. I admit, I missed having a mother sometimes but he made sure I wasn't wanting anything. The two of us, we made a team! I hugged him to show my gratitude. He ruffled my hair and exclaimed that his baby girl was now a lady.

"I promise to be responsible and to protect Nina, Uncle," Justine vowed.

"Please tell your Grandpa too" Father reminded Justine.

"I will Uncle Amor." Justine acceded.

That night, dinner was unusually animated in our house. Even Auntie Aida who joined us was in a mood to tease Justine and I. She reported to Father that she monitored us closely. We didn't do 'hanky-panky' as she liked to put it. My face and Justine's turned crimson with the adult's ribbing. They laughed at our uneasiness.

I showed Justine the door when It was time for him to go home. If he had his way, he wouldn't want to leave. He knew it would be pushing his luck if he insisted on staying. We stood face to face by the door. Justine held my hand and looked at me longingly.

"Try not to miss me so much?" I said

Justine laughed quietly. "See me in your dreams?" he countered.

I tiptoed and reached for his ear, pretending to kiss it. "I love you too..." I whispered.

Before he could react, I hurriedly went inside the house and shut the door. I leaned on my back against it, breathing heavily. My heart was beating wildly again. I heard a soft chuckle outside.

"Nina, Nina, Nina…"Justine muttered as he drove away on his ATV.