CHAPTER 4

SCARLET'S POINT OF VIEW

MOM gave me a milk before sitting beside my bed. Nagising na lang ako na nandito na sa kwarto ko. My mom told me that the guys next door contacted her dahil nahimatay daw ako sa labas. But I don't remember losing consciousness outside.

“Okay na ba ang pakiramdam mo?” Mom asked.

“Yeah...I guess,” I shrugged.

“I was so worried about you. Alagaan mo naman ang sarili mo, Scarlet.”

“Na-busy lang siguro ako sa school work kaya ganun.”

Mom's phone suddenly rang so I let her answer it. Bumangon ako at pumunta ng CR.

Tinignan ko ang sarili ko sa salamin. I look fine. I mean, wala namang signs na nag puyat ako at hindi din naman ako namumutla. I'm totally fine so paano ako mahihimatay sa labas?

Well, may mga bagay talaga na di mo ini-expect na mangyayari. But it's still weird.

Lumabas ako ng banyo at dumiritso sa dining room. Naabutan kong nag hihiwa si Mom ng mga ingredients sa niluluto nya.

Hmm...smells good.

“What are you cooking?” I asked Mom while watching her chopped the vegetables.

“Caldereta. Bibigyan ko yung bagong lipat sa kabila because they help you and I really appreciate that,” she answered.

“I'll give it to them. Mag ti-thank you na din ako.”

Ngumiti lang si Mom sa akin at ipinagpatuloy na ang ginagawa. I went to the living room to watch an anime. I'm watching Horimiya. Miyamura looks handsome, Hori is so lucky. I wish I can have boyfriend like him too.

Humiga ako sa sofa at ipinapatuloy ang panonood. I'm in the episode where they are in Miyamura's friend. They're eating candies. Cutie.

Miyamura suddenly kissed Hori. And as they kissed, I can't help but to touch my lips. Ano kayang feeling nang may humahalik sayo sa labi—

—suddenly, I feel like someone already kissed me. It's weird. Pakiramdam ko talaga may humalik na sa akin.

Damn. Nababaliw na yata ako.

“Scarlet, I'm already done. Pwede mo na ito ihatid sa kanila. Don't forget to thank them, okay?”

Pinatay ako agad ng TV at tumayo. I comb my hair and put a little bit of liptint at nag spray ng pabango.

Kinuha ko agad ang paper bag kung saan nakalagay ang caldereta. I immediately went to their condo unit and clicked the door bell twice.

Hindi naman nag tagal ay bumukas din ang pinto. It's—what's his name again?

“Hi, uhm...pinapa-bigay ni Mommy,” I told the tall guy.

He looked at me. Hindi nya inaalis ang tingin nya sa akin and I also don't want to look away from him.

For some reasons, napatingin ako sa labi nya. They look so soft and kissable. Oh my god! Pinagnanasaan ko ba ang lalaking 'to? Sa harap nya pa talaga? This is so embarassing!

“Thanks,” he spoked up.

“Thank you din sa pag tulong sa akin. Sorry sa abala,” I told him with a smile.

“Okay,” maikli nyang tugon bago sinira ang pinto.

Cool.

Napa-hampas ako ng noo dahil sa embarrassment. Babalik na sana ako sa unit ko when he called me again.

“Scarlet.”

I turned around.

“Do you want to kiss again?”

What?!

Did he just—

“Nevermind.”

I can feel that my face is burning and turning into red. Gosh! How can he asked that without even hesitating?

Pumasok ako sa loob ng unit ko at dumiritso sa kusina para kumuha ng tubig. I really need a cold water right now.

“Scarlet, are you okay?” Mom asked.

“Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine.”

“By the way, I have to go. Your Dad is bringing some headache again.”

I rolled my eyes, “why are letting him to bring different woman in our house?” I asked because of frustration.

“That's why I'm going home para paalisin ang babae—

“—ganun mo ba kamahal si Dad at hindi mo kayang makipag-divorce?” I asked her but she only gave me genuine smile.

“You'll understand once you fell inlove too, Scarlet.”

I do believe in love. I really do. And if I fell inlove, I want it be an ordinary one. It's just me and my love. Private and lowkey. Just us. Just pure love and contentment. But in Mom's case, it's just a one-sided love. Dad doesn't care kung gaano na ba nasasaktan si Mom pati kaming mga anak nya.

“I have to go now. I love you. Alagaan mo ang sarili mo, okay?”

“Bye, I love you too.”

Sinundan ko na lang ng tingin si Mom hanggang sa maka-labas sya ng unit. Tumingin ako sa wall-clock to check what time is it. It's already 11:27 in the morning.

Nag sandok ako ng kanin at ulam para kumain. Mom is good cook kaya madami akong nakain.

It's saturday today so I decided to go to a public library. I took a quick bath. White na T-shirt at pants ang isinuot ko. I also brought a bag with some notebooks and pen. I just love studying, that's all

Nag tricycle ako papunta doon. Nag hanap agad ako ng mauupuan at inilapag ang bag ko. Linabas ko ang and notebook at ballpen ko.

I searched for the books that I need. It's just all about algebra and human anatomy. Nag hanap din ako ng books for my physics lessons.

I started reading and taking down notes that can help me with my lesson this monday. Who knows? Baka biglang magpa-quiz ang professors namin. They love surprising their students with quizes anyways. It's better to be prepared.

'Meow'

I heard a soft voice of cat under my table. Tinignan ko ito agad and I saw a white cat. Pets are not allowed here in the library so bakit may pusa dito?

“Hey, kitty. Why are you here? You're not allowed here,” I said to the cat as if naman maiintindihan nya ako.

'Meow'

Biglang tumalon ang pusa sa lap ko at humiga. I tried pushing it away pero ayaw lumayo sa akin. Kinakabahan ako dahil baka may makakita at isipin na ako ang may-ari ng pusa.

“Please, just go away baka mapagalitan ako,” I whispered to the cat but it didn't listen.

I just sighed and let the cat take a nap in my lap. Napapatingin ako sa paligid ko dahil baka may makapansin at isumbong ako sa librarian. Goodness!

After I finished studying, ibinalik ko agad sa bookshelves ang mga kinuha kong libro. I was about to leave when I notice that the cat is still following me. Ayokong isipin na akin itong pusa kaya ipinasok ko na lang ito sa bag ko para hindi makita pag labas ko.

Nang maka-labas ako, inilabas ko ang pusa at nilapag sa kalsada. Mabalahibo ang pusa at medyo intimidating yung dating. Mukhang may breed yata. Never pa ako nakakita ng pusang kalye na ganito kaganda.

“Huwag ka nang susunod sa akin, okay?” saad ko.

Umupo naman ang pusa sa sahig kaya hinayaan ko na ito. I decided to eat dessert kaya pumasok ako sa isang malapit na cafe.

“Ma’am, naiwan nyo po yung pusa nyo sa labas,” the waitress suddenly approached me, “allowed naman po ang pets inside as long as trained po sila on how to behave.”

Napa-kamot ako ng ulo at napalingon sa pusa na sumusunod sa akin. I can't do anything about the cat so I just let it follow me.

Cool. A date with a cat.

Umupo ito sa harap ko. I ordered a slice of strawberry cake and a strawberry flavored milktea with pearls. At nang dumating na ang order ko, there is also a cat food. Free daw ito para sa mga costumers na kasama ang pet.

“Eat your food and behave, alright?” saad ko sa pusa.

Payapa akong kumakain ng cake ko nang mapansin kong naka-titig lang sa akin ang pusa. I noticed that it didn't eat it's food. The cat just keep starring at me. Hindi nya naman siguro binabalak na atakihin ako di’ba?

I continued eating hanggang sa matapos ako. Hindi pa din nito binabawasan ang pagkain nya. I just sighed and went back home. I checked if the cat is still following me pero wala na ito. Maybe it went back home too.

LUCAS’ POINT OF VIEW

I took a quick bath and wear a plain white shirt and jeans. I also brushed my teeth and check if I already have my money with me.

“Where are you going?” Finn asked while watching a movie in the living room.

“Louis,” I answered.

“Okay.”

Binuksan ko ang pinto at nakita ko si Scarlet na kakadadaan lang. She didn't notice me. Saan kaya sya pupunta? Why am I wondering anyway?

Sumakay sya ng elevator pababa. I rode the other elevator too at ipinag-patuloy ang pag sunod sa kaniya. Wait—why am I following her, anyway?

Afraid of being caught, I transformed into cat to follow her. She won't recognize me in this form anyway. I just want to follow her for some reasons.

I saw her went to the library kaya pumasok din ako. The librarian didn't notice me so it's fine. Wait—are cats allowed here in the library? No, maybe.

I hid under the table of where she is sitting, 'meow'

“Hey, kitty. Why are you here? You're not allowed here,” pabulong nyang saad sa akin.

I jumped to his lap without hesitation. Woah. It's comfortable here. I feel like I'm safe in here. Would it be more comfortable in human form? I wondering now.

After she finished reading some complicated books inilagay nya ako sa bag nya. I bet she's afraid to get caught. Natutuwa ako sa nangyayari. I find her cute for being worried.

Inilapag nya ako sa kalsada, “huwag kang susunod sa akin.”

How rude of her to put me here in a road. Umupo na lang ako at hinayaan syang mag lakad. After some minutes, sinundad ko ulit sya hanggang sa maka-pasok kami sa isang cafe.

The waitress gave me a cat food. Do I look like a cat who eats cat foods? I don't even know how it taste like. Looks gross.

“Eat you food and behave, alright?” she told me before started eating.

For some reasons, I feel like I just want to watch her eat. Her cake is strawberry and the milktea as well. Does she likes strawberry flavored food? I'll keep that in mind.

She looks so cute while eating. Gusto ko g tanggalin yung icing ng cake na dumidikit sa gilid ng labi nya.

Everything around us became blurry. Sya lang ang malinaw sa mga mata ko. Sya lang ang nakikita ko. Sya lang ang gusto kong panoorin habang kumakain. Sounds corny, right?

Am I starting to like her? But why? Is it because of the kiss or is it because she's the one who cured me? I don't know. I just want to stare at her right now.

She's pretty.

After nya kumain, lumabas na sya ng cafe. I decided to still follow her when I saw Louis in cat form. And he is with Valentine. Goodness, last time I checked, Valentine is flirting with Ethan and now she's after Louis?

Tinignan ko muna si Scarlet bago nilapitan ang dalawa. I called the two and told them to go to the bar and I also told them to transform in human form.

Dumiritso ako sa bar na pag mamay-ari ni Ethan at nag bihis. Dumiritso ako sa counter at naabutan kong nag aayos si Zach at Ethan nang maga bote sa shelves.

My butlers are rich.

Pumunta din si Louis at Valentine sa counter habang naka-kapit si Valentine sa bisig ni Louis.

“Are you okay with this?” I asked Ethan.

“Young master, Valentine is not my type.”

“Hey!” Valentine exclaimed, “you enjoyed kissing me, asshole!”

“No, I didn’t.”

“Then why did you enter you tongue?”

“I'm just teaching you how to kiss with tongue. You're a horrible kisser. Buti napag-tyagaan mo yan, Louis—

“—Lucas, fire him!” Valentines shouted in frustration. I just can't with people.

Ethan is the oldest in here, he is my personal butler. Then second is Zach, Ethan's younger brother and Valentine's butler. Valentine is my sister, by the way but we have different mother. Babaero kasi tatay ko. Louis is Finn's younger brother but they're not that close because of personal reasons.

Hindi nag tagal ay binuksan na din nila ang bar. Dumami agad ang tao and everyone started to party. I'm gonna spend my whole night in here.