Chapter 7

MAINIT ang araw nang bumaba si Isobel mula sa kwarto. Naka-white sundress siya, handa na para sa isa pang araw sa probinsya. Paglabas niya sa sala, naroon si Leandro, may kausap sa telepono.

“Yes, cousin… yes, just come over. You’re family,” sabi nito, sabay lingon kay Isobel at ngiti.

“Who’s that?” tanong ni Isobel.

“My cousin from the US. Just arrived sa Manila yesterday. Nag-text siya na dadaan daw siya dito for a few days.”

“Oh, nice. First time mo siyang makita ulit?”

“Yeah. It’s been… what, eight years? Last time, nasa college pa siya,” sagot ni Leandro habang binabalik ang phone sa bulsa.

Bandang tanghali, isang itim na SUV ang pumarada sa harap ng bahay. Mula rito bumaba ang isang matangkad na lalaki, moreno, naka-sunglasses, at halatang sanay sa city life.

“Hey, bro!” malakas na bati ni Brandon sabay yakap kay Leandro. “Man, you got bigger!”

“You too,” sagot ni Leandro, medyo tawa pero may halong gulat sa laki ng pagbabago ng pinsan.

“This must be… Isobel?” sabi ni Brandon, ngayon ay nakatingin kay Isobel na nakatayo sa gilid.

“Yes,” sagot ni Isobel, may kaunting kaba pero ngumiti. “Hi.”

Brandon offered his hand, pero imbes na simpleng handshake, medyo humawak siya nang matagal at warm. “Nice to finally meet you. I’ve heard a lot.”

“Good things, I hope,” biro ni Isobel.

“Mostly,” sagot ni Brandon na may ngiti, dahilan para mapataas ng kaunti ang kilay ni Leandro.

Nang maghapon naman. Sa loob ng bahay, mabilis na nagka-bonding sina Brandon at Isobel. Nag-uusap sila tungkol sa buhay sa US, mga paboritong lugar, at kung paano magkaiba ang kultura dito at doon.

“I swear, Bel, you would love the food trucks sa LA,” sabi ni Brandon habang nagkukwento.

“Really? I’ve always wanted to try street tacos there,” sagot ni Isobel, halatang tuwang-tuwa.

Sa gilid naman ay tahimik lang si Leandro habang nakaupo sa armrest ng sofa. Hindi siya sumasali masyado sa usapan, at paminsan-minsan ay tumitingin sa relo.

“Leo, you okay?” tanong ni Isobel, napansin ang pagiging tahimik nito.

“Yeah. Just thinking about… stuff,” sagot niya sabay tayo at halos padabog na isinara ang sliding door papuntang kusina. Palihim na natatawa na lang si Isobel sa inasta nito.

Pagdating ng hapunan, magkatabi sa mesa sina Isobel at Brandon. Si Leandro ay nasa tapat nila, abala sa pagkuha ng ulam pero halata ang bigat ng bawat paglagay ng plato.

“So, Bel, tell me more about your work in the city,” tanong ni Brandon habang naghahain si Leandro.

Isobel looked excited na para bang may trabaho talaga siya. Eh ang totoo nasa college pa lang siya, graduating na din naman. “Well, it’s not that glamorous, but I love it. I get to meet people, work on creative projects—”

Biglang bumagsak nang kaunti ang kutsara ni Leandro sa mesa, dahilan para mapatingin silang dalawa.

“Sorry. Slipped,” sabi nito, pero hindi tumingin sa kanila.

Tinaasan ni Isobel ang kilay si Leandro na inirapan siya. Muli siyang natawa. Alam kasi niya kung bakit ito nagkakaganon.

Matapos kumain, nagyaya si Brandon na maglakad-lakad sa paligid ng bahay. Sumama si Isobel, at si Leandro ay naiwan sandali para magligpit.

Pagbalik niya sa sala, nakita niyang magkasalubong ang mga mata ni Brandon at Isobel habang tumatawa sila sa isang biro.

“Bel, can I talk to you for a sec?” sabi ni Leandro, halos utos ang tono.

Nagulat si Isobel pero tumayo at sumunod sa veranda. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Just… don’t stay out too long, baka lamigin ka,” sagot ni Leandro, pero halatang may diin sa boses.

Kinagabihan, habang nasa guest room si Brandon, nagkukulong si Leandro sa kwarto nilang dalawa ni Isobel.

“You’re quiet,” puna ni Isobel habang nag-aayos ng kumot.

“I’m fine,” sagot ni Leandro, pero halatang iritado. “He just talks too much.”

“Who, Brandon?”

“Yeah. And he’s… too friendly.”

Ngumiti si Isobel, parang alam na ang pinanggagalingan ng tono nito. “Are you… jealous?”

“No,” mabilis na sagot ni Leandro, pero lumingon siya sa pinto at padabog na isinara ito bago bumalik sa kama.

“Hindi pala ah? Tingnan natin kung hindi ka pa aamin,” natatawang bulong ni Isobel.

Kinabukasan, habang nag-aalmusal, parehong magkatabi ulit sina Brandon at Isobel. This time, si Leandro ay abala sa cellphone pero kitang-kita sa gilid ng mata ang pagtingin sa kanila.

“Bel, you should visit me in the US sometime,” sabi ni Brandon, casual lang.

Bago pa makasagot si Isobel, sumabat si Leandro, “She’s not going anywhere without me.”

Brandon laughed, thinking it was a joke, pero alam ni Isobel na may bigat sa tono ni Leandro.

Pagkatapos ng breakfast, habang nagliligpit, hindi sinasadyang bumagsak ang cupboard door nang malakas dahil isinara ni Leandro nang padabog.

“Leo,” mahinang sabi ni Isobel.

“Sorry. It’s loose,” mabilis nitong palusot, pero halata na mas malakas kaysa kailangan ang pagdidiin niya sa pagsara. Kaunti na lang ay masisira na anga mga gamit doon sa bahay. Wala ang tao doon dahil may importanteng pinuntahan kaya tatlo lang sila doon. Hindi din kasi sumama si Brandon sa kadahilanang hindi niya alam.

That night, habang tahimik na nakahiga, nagsalita si Isobel.

“You know, you’re cute when you’re jealous.”

“I told you, I’m not jealous,” sagot ni Leandro, pero nakapikit lang. Pinipilit talaga nitong hindi ito nagseselos, gayong nakikita naman sa mga galaw nito.

“Sure,” sagot ni Isobel na nakangiti at humilig sa dibdib nito. “But just so you know… I like it. Means you care.”

Bumukas ang mata ni Leandro at tiningnan siya. “I care too much.”

Hinaplos ni Isobel ang pisngi nito. “Good. Because so do I.”

At sa gabing iyon, kahit wala siyang diretsong pag-amin, alam ni Isobel na ramdam ni Leandro ang kaunting takot na baka maagaw siya—at iyon ay dahil mahal na mahal siya nito.

HINDI siya sanay na may ibang lalaking nakatingin kay Isobel nang gano’n. Kahit pinsan niya pa si Brandon, hindi niya maalis yung pagkasakal sa dibdib niya kaninang nakita niya silang nagtatawanan. Alam niya, mabait ito. Alam niya rin, wala itong  masamang balak—pero hindi iyon nakakapigil sa kumukulong selos sa loob niya.

Pagdating nito kahapon, okay lang. He hugged him, like the old times. Pero nang makita niya kung paano ito tumingin kay Isobel, parang may kumurot sa kanya. It wasn’t just a polite smile—may spark sa mata nito, and he hated that he noticed.

“Bro, your girlfriend is amazing,” sabi ni Brandon kanina habang nasa sala.

He forced a smile. “Yeah, she is.”

Pero sa isip niya, gusto niyang idagdag: And she’s mine.

Habang nag-uusap anga mga ito tungkol sa LA, sa mga lugar na napuntahan ni Brandon, tahimik lang siyang nakaupo sa gilid. Hindi dahil wala siyang maikuwento, pero dahil bawat tawa ni Isobel sa mga biro ng pinsan niya ay parang kutsilyo sa tenga niya.

Then she leaned closer to him to see a picture on his phone. Too close, bulong ng utak niya. He stood up at dumeretso sa kusina, halos isarado niya nang malakas ang sliding door.

Dinner was worse. Magkatabi ang mga ito, at siya, nasa tapat lang, watching every little move. Brandon would serve her food before he could. Brandon would make her laugh. And she… she didn’t seem to notice how Leandro jaw was clenching.

Nang aksidente niyang mabagsak yung kutsara, tumingin pareho ang mga ito.

“Sorry. Slipped,” sabi niya, pero hindi niya binawi ang tingin sa plato niya.

Slipped, his ass. Ang totoo, gusto niya lang ma-interrupt yung conversation ng dalawa.

After dinner, Brandon invited her for a walk. Without Leandro.

“No,” he told it to himself, “It’s fine. They’re just catching up.”

Pero hindi pa sila nakakalayo, tinawag na niya si Isobel. “Bel, can I talk to you for a sec?”

Naglakad naman ito pabalik, may halong tanong sa mata. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” sagot niya, pero ang totoo, gusto niyang sabihing Stay with him. Instead, he added, “Don’t stay out too long, baka lamigin ka.”

She nodded, pero umalis ulit. Naiwan siyang nakatingin sa kanilang dalawa, hoping na hindi siya magtagal sa tabi ng pinsan niya.

That night, nakahiga sila pero hindi siya makatulog.

“You’re quiet,” sabi ni Isobel.

“I’m fine,” sagot niya, pero talagang iritado siya. “He just talks too much.”

“Who, Brandon?”

“Yeah. And he’s… too friendly.”

She smiled, like she knew something. “Are you… jealous?”

“No.”

Pero the truth was screaming inside him: Yes. Yes, I am.

Pagising niya, naroon ulit si Brandon, talking to her in the kitchen. She was laughing while making coffee, and he was leaning on the counter like he owned the place.

“Bel, you should visit me in the US sometime,” sabi ng pinsan niya.

“She’s not going anywhere without me,” putol niya.

He laughed. She smiled awkwardly. And him? He just stared him down.

After breakfast, habang nag-aayos siya ng plato, nakita niya silang magkasama sa sala, still talking. He shut the cupboard harder than he meant to—no, harder than necessary.

“Leo,” sabi ni Isobel softly.

“Sorry. It’s loose.”

Pero alam niya sa tono niya, hindi iyon tungkol sa cupboard. Nagsalubong ang kilay niya. Itapon kaya niya ulit si Brando sa US?

That night, nakahiga silang pareho ni Isobel at tahimik lang.

“You know, you’re cute when you’re jealous,” sabi niya bigla.

“I told you, I’m not jealous.”

“Sure,” she said, resting her head on his chest. “But just so you know… I like it. Means you care.”

He looked down at her. “I care too much.”

And he meant it. More than she probably realized.

He kept thinking, bakit ba ganito? Hindi niya naman ito pag-aari, pero sa bawat tingin ng ibang lalaki, lalo na kung pinsan niya pa, parang may parte ng utak niya na nagsasabing Protect her. Keep her close. Don’t let go.

He know it’s irrational. He know she loves him. But love isn’t always rational. And jealousy… it’s a fire you can’t always put out.

So he decided, bukas, He will make sure she spends more time with him than with Brando. Not by force. Not by confrontation. But by showing her—and Brando—that she’s happiest when she’s with him.

Even if Leandro have to close a few more doors harder than usual.

From the moment he woke up, alam niya na ang plano niya: today, she’s mine. Walang Brandon, walang extra third wheel sa usapan nila.

Pagbaba niya sa sala, nakita niya agad si Isobel, nakaupo sa sofa, hair slightly messy from sleep, still gorgeous. Brandon wasn’t there yet—thank God.

“Morning,” bati niya, walking straight to her at hinalikan siya sa pisngi bago pa siya makapagsalita.

“Morning,” she replied, smiling. “You’re in a good mood.”

“I am. Because I have plans for us today.”

Agad siyang dumeretso sa kusina para ipagluto ito. Sumunod naman sa kanya si Isobel.

“I’ll make breakfast,” he told her, already pulling pans from the cupboard.

“Wow, you? Cooking?”

“Don’t sound so surprised.”

She laughed, and that laugh—it was him this morning, not Brandon’s. He cooked her favorite—garlic fried rice, longganisa, sunny-side up eggs. While plating, nilagyan niya ng maliit na strawberry sa gilid ng pinggan nito.

“What’s this? Hotel service?” she teased.

“For you? Always.”

And as she took her first bite, He leaned on the counter, just watching her. While she was still eating, ay nagsalita na siya.

“After breakfast, get ready. I’m taking you out.”

“Where?”

“Secret.”

“Leandro…”

“No arguments. Just you and me, okay?” He held her gaze, making sure she understood that this wasn’t up for negotiation.

She tilted her head, smiling. “Fine. Just us.”

Exactly.

By the time they stepped out, nakita niya si Brandon sa may veranda, just scrolling on his phone.

“Hey, where you guys headed?” tanong nito.

“Town,” sagot niya casually, opening the passenger door for Isobel.

“Want me to come?”

“No need,” He answered too quickly. “We’ll be back later.”

Before he could say anything else, Leandro closed her door and got in the driver’s seat. He didn’t miss the curious look on his face—but Leandro didn’t care.

While driving, inabot niya ang kamay ni Isobel para hawakan. She looked at him, puzzled to what he did.

“Wala lang,” he said. “Just making sure you’re still here with me.”

“I’m literally in your car,” she teased, alam na nito ang pagiging ganon ni Leandro.

“Doesn’t matter. I want more than literal.”

She squeezed his hand back, and that was enough to melt the tension in his chest.

Halfway, they stopped sa isang maliit na kapehan sa tabi ng highway. Rustic wood interiors, open windows with mountain air flowing in.

“This place is nice,” she said.

“Thought you’d like it. Plus, walang makakagulo sa atin dito.”

While waiting for our coffee, he reached over the table and brushed a stray strand of hair from her face.

“Leandro…” she whispered, kita niya ang pamumula ng pisngi nito halatang nahihiya at kinikilig.

“What?”

“You’re staring.”

“Can’t help it. You’re mine.”

“Hmm… am I?” she teased.

Leandro leaned forward, locking eyes with her. “Do you even have to ask?”

And there, sa gitna ng café, he kissed her. Not rushed, not too slow—just enough for her to feel that he meant every bit of it.

After coffee, he drove her to a secluded lake he used to visit as a kid. Walang tao, just the sound of water and the wind in the trees. Iba yon sa mga talon at ilog na pinagliguan nila noon.

“Leandro… this is beautiful,” she said, stepping closer to the edge.

“Not as beautiful as you,” he murmured from behind her.

She laughed, but he knew she felt the weight of his words. Leandro wrapped his arms around her waist, resting her chin on her shoulder.

“You’re really sweet today,” she said.

“Maybe I’m always sweet. You just notice it more now.”

“Because of Brandon?”

He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he tightened his hold on her. “Because I don’t want to waste a single moment with you.”

Umupo sila sa patag na bato malapit sa tubig, nakatanggal ang sapatos, nakababad ang mga paa sa malamig na lawa. Nakaakbay siya dito, gumuguhit ng maliliit na bilog sa balat niya.

“Leo…”

“Hmm?”

“Why do I feel like you’re trying to claim me today?”

“Because I am,” he said honestly. “I don’t care if it’s obvious. I want you to know, and I want everyone else to know, that you’re with me.”

She smiled softly and leaned her head against his shoulder. “You don’t have to worry.”

“I know. But still… I like reminding myself.”

Nang pauwi sila, napansin niya ang panay sulyap ni Isobel sa kanya, smiling for no reason.

Finally, he asked, “What?”

“Nothing. Just… you.”

“What about me?”

“You’re acting like a boyfriend.”

“Good. Because that’s exactly what I am.”

Muli niyang kinuha ang kamay ng dalaga, not letting go until they reached the house.

Pagpasok nila, si Brandon ay nasa sala pa rin. He looked up from his phone, eyes darting between them.

“Had fun?” tanong nito.

“Yeah,” he said, dropping the keys on the table and pulling Isobel closer by the waist. “Best day I’ve had in a while.”

She blushed. Brandon looked away. He knew he got the message. And maybe, just maybe, that was the point.