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06

Author: thatsdarcey
last update Huling Na-update: 2025-08-31 08:04:20

Before, I was curious why asking for labels to the people they like is something hard to get.

When it's easy to give someone clarity, assurance and security.

But now, I realize when you've already in a complicated situation. It's hard to ask to label the relationship.

Especially that you have different status in life. Status took a big part of a role in the relationship, really.

It's hard to ask questions, clarity, assurance, and security when it is something that can be given easily without hesitation.

We arrived after a few hours in the two-story tiny house in a modern design. With black color exterior and glasswall that complements the style.

We entered inside the staycation house, inside the house surrounded by wood furniture which complements the overall vibe of the place.

Everyone was busy chatting with each other.The food was already on the side of the dining table. Everyone stops doing their business when they look in our direction.

We were twelve in the room, seven guys including Sam and five girls including me. The girls smiled at me and that' s what I did to them. They signed me up to go to their place at the dining table. I looked at Sam asking for permission to go there. Hoping that he would get me.

"I will introduce you to them." he said and walked towards the girls. "This is Gelyn, Naya, Abi and Gia." on the other part of the table are the boys. "Steven, Cole, Hugo, Rafael, Marco. Andres and the birthday boy Emilio."

"Aguinaldo."

"The traitor." everyone said in chorus.

"Damn you guys, what a nice gift for my birthday." Emilio blurted. "Since everyone's here, greet me with a happy birthday before I let you eat."

"Wow, such a torture." Marco said, the tan guy that has long hair.

As Emilio requested, we sang a song for him. The longest version of the happy birthday song that we had sung. He made a wish before he blew on his chocolate cake before we were able to eat.

"Ang tagal magwish, hope it won't come true." Hugo the narrow eyes and fair skin, the shortest among the guys here joked he received a lightly hit on head from Emilio.

"What do you want to eat? I pick it up for you–"

"Kahit ako na Sam,"

In the end he helped me scoop the food that I liked to eat. I didn't pick up much since I don't usually eat a lot at night.

"Do you like desserts?" he asked and scooped one brownie for him. He signed me if I'd like some too but I shook my head.

"I'd like the pudding over there." I request and point the pudding in a small tower tray.

"So Danica right? Parang, I met you before." Naya initiated the conversation. She looked like she just came out from the magazine, a model type of girl, long legged and tan skin. She looked even better because of her almond eyes, high cheek bone and strong jawline that complements everything about her facial features.

"Naya, that was your conversation starter?" Emilio bluffed.

"Shut up sinaunang tao."

"It's his birthday Naya, pagbigyan mo na." Sam on my side even defended Emilio.

"But anyway, Danica. Nice meeting you. Hoping we could still see you after this."

"Oo naman, 'di ba bro?" Hugo was looking at Sam for assurance. I chuckled.

"Bakit naman?" Tanong ko, posibleng dahil hindi na ako kakausapin ni Sam sa susunod na mga araw.

"Because later, for sure we will make a mess. We will talk about shit and do some shits too. Especially Sam." Abi said. She has short hair and narrow eyes. Fair skin and slightly small too.

I looked at Sam.

"Among us, I am the collected one." Sam proudly said, I scoffed.

"Even Danica, disagree brother." Cole, the guy beside him who has narrow eyes and fair skin too. He was the tallest among the boys here.

After we ate, Steven opened a bottle of Dom Perignon champagne and fill our glasses and cheered.

"Happy birthday to our sinaunang tao." Steven the guy who has a tan and short hair, with almond eyes. Emilio raised his middle finger on him. Everyone chuckled.

"Let's not get drunk tonight because we have some work to do. To do more business and birthdays with you all." Hugo

"To do more business." Everyone said in chorus except for me.

Everyone was already drunk after a few shots. The party ended at ten in the evening. On my side, Sam kinda wants to sleep. The boys put their head on the corners of the table to sleep while the girls were busy preparing to sleep. Everything has been cleaned up by Emilio's house caretaker.

"Danica, go wash yourself na. Hayaan mo diyan si Sam." aniya ni Naya.

"Uh... uh we will go back to Manila, I have work tomorrow." I looked at Sam's situation right now. I'm sure he was barely able to see the road. "Maybe we can move back to Manila later at twelve a.m."

"Are you sure?" Gia asked the girl who is long and silky, she has fair skin and chubby cheeks too and I just nodded.

"Yep, go ahead, you guys sleep now, it's half past eleven already."

I help the caretaker to clean the place to avoid boredom.

"May coffee po ba kayo ma'am?" tanong ko sa caretaker pagkatapos naming maglinis.

"Oo iha, gusto mo ba?"

"Opo sana."

Iginiya niya ako sa kitchen area at gumaya ng coffee sa espresso machine.Ibinigay niya sa akin at mahinang inihip iyon para maibsan ng init.

"Gaano na kayo katagal ni Mr. Samuel." gulat akong napatingin sa kay manang.

"Nako, wala po kaming relasyon."

"Ah akala ko ikaw yung girlfriend niya. May nagugustuhan na daw kasi siya."

"Talaga po? Palagi ba siya dito?" umiling siya.

"Sa condo ni Sir Emilio, sa taguig. Doon din siya tumitira kapag lagi siyang nasa office ng kompaniya niya." kwento pa nito.

Kay Emilo pala siya tumitira akala ko taga Taguig talaga siya.

"Saan po ba siya nakatira?" gulat na napatingin sa akin ang manang.

"Sa Valenzuela, sa magulang niya doon." napatango ako.

Napapunta si Sam sa gawi namin, halos malamya pa ang kaniyang mata at kagagaling lang sa gising.

"I thought you left already." aniya at sumimaim sa kape ko.

"Gusto mo?" Turo ko sa kape

"No, I'm okay with just a few sips." He said and lightly massaged his head. "Do you want to move back now to Manila?"

"Ah.. kaya mo na ba? I can book a taxi if you want to stay here. I still have to work at seven in the morning." He nodded and thought of something.

"I will go with you then, I'll just leave my car here."

"Sure ka? Okay lang naman sa akin–"

"I'm not okay to let you leave alone at this time, Danica." He seems firm about it. "I just had a few shots, don't worry. Finish your coffee, we will leave in ten minutes."

Umalis na siya ng kitchen. Naiwan kami ni manang tulala sa kaniya.

"Sure ba na walang kayo?" Umiling ako sa tanomg ni mamang.

"Opo, wala po talaga." Saad ko, mukhang hindi naman siya maniniwala sa kung anong paliwanag ko.

"Sabi mo eh."

Nagpaalam na kami sa mga kaibigan niya, nakakahiya at ginising pa namin sila para lang magpaalam. Nakapagbook na rin si Sam ng taxi ng sasakyan namin.

"I feel like you still want to stay longer here, Sam–"

"I'll stay there, if you want to stay there." He answered.

"What if I don't, what if I left at four p.m. would you think the same?" He stilled. He's trying to cope up with the answer.

"Still the same."

Now, I was the one speechless, trying to cope up with answers too.

"Okay," tumatangong saad ko. "Nasa baba na ata ang taxi. Tara na."

"Gusto na kita, Nics." Napahinto ako sa paglalakad. "I kept denying myself, but I just left the way it is."

"Let's talk about it next time. You seem drunk, are you even okay?"

"Okay," wala sa sariling tumatango pa siya. "I want a kiss, Nics. Baby please?" I gave him a kiss for him to shut up. "I want it french."

Talagang may specific request pa talaga siya. Hindi ko na siya pinansin at inalalayan ko siya sa pagbaba. Pati pagpasok sa sasakyan ay inalalayan ko pa siyang makaupo.

Ibinababa kami ng taxi sa condo isang mansion sa bahay. Nang magdoorbell ako ay bumungad sa akin ang katulong nila.

"Hala jusmiyo, marimar maria tabang nga kalag." aniya nito ng makita si Sam.

Inilalayan niya kami sa pagpasok ng bahay. Nanlula ako sa laki nito, sa garahe palang ay lima na ata ang nakaparada na sasakyan ron, ang salamin ang nagsilbing pader ng bahay dahilan para makita ko ang loob.

Dumeretso kami sa isang kwarto doon, white ang kulay ng kaniyang silid. Sa kaniyang L-shape table ay naroon ang kaniyang computer, laptop at ipad.

"Girlfriend ka ba ni sir Sam?" Tanong ng kanilang katulong. Umiling ako at ngumiti.

"Hindi po, katrabaho po."

Nang maihiga namin siya sa kaniyang kama ay tumagilid ito ng higa. Tinanggal ko na rin abg kaniyang sandals para makumutan.

"Uuwi na po ako." Saad ko sa katulong nila.

"Nako, malalim na ang gabi. Wala ng masasakyan. Ipahatid kita kay manong Bert—"

"Nako, nakakahiya naman po–"

"Sige na, itatawag ko si manong Bert, paniguradong magtatanong din si sir Sam kung sino naghatid."

Wala na akong nagawa at pumayag na lang sa gusto. Isinakay niya ako sa honda civic na nakaparada kanina sa labas. Mukhang kagigising lang ni manong bert.

"Pasensya na po kayo at nagising pa ata kayo." Saad ko, tumawa lang siya.

"Nako, buti at ginising nga ako ni Gina at baka mapagalitan din ako." Aniya ni manong Bert.

Naging mabilis ang byahe dahil madaling araw na. Medyo pagod pa ang aking diwa ng gumising kinabukasan. Trabaho ulit, trabaho nanaman.

Naabutan ko si papa na nagkakape, himala at nauna siyang gumising kaysa kay mama.

"Sino yung kahapon?"

Sa tono palang ng pagtatanong niya ay may halo na itong pagdududa.

"Si Sam pa, hindi ba ng-usap na kayo–"

"Oo nga, ang tanong ko ay ano mo siya?" napanguso ako.

"Kaibigan lang, katulad kay Benj." sagot ko.

"Kaibigan? Eh todo ka nga kung manamit kahapon." pag-aasar niy at sumimsim sa kaniyang kape. "Mukhang maayos na bata pero mag-ingat ka pa rin." bilin niya.

"Hay na ko papa." napapailing kong saad.

Pagkalabas ko ng bahay ay may nadatnan akong kotse sa labas. Ibinaba niya ang bintana ng kotse at natanaw ko si Sam sa loob. Mabilis akong pumunta sa gawi niya.

"Anong ganap mo? Ang aga ah." pang-aasar ko. Nakita kong napahilot siya sa kaniyang sintido.

"I just wanted to fetch you." maikiling sagot. Binuksan ko na ang pintuan at umupo ro'n.

"Thanks, mal-late na rin ako. ten minutes lang grace period namin."

"Wow you still complain huh? Normally, other companies have a five minute grace period."

Napanguso ako, edi sorry kung hindi ako punctual person.

"Ganoon ba sainyo?" tanong ko, tumango lang siya. "Hindi mo pa sinasagot yung tanong ko."

Napatingin siya sa akin at sinumulan ng paandarin ang kaniyang kotse.

"What?" he asked while his eyes were on the road.

"Anong ganap mo bakit ka naghintay sa labas ng bahay namin?" pag-uulit ko sa tanong ko kanina. "Imposibleng trip mo lang akong ihatid? Eh parehas lang tayo ng oras ng itinulog."

"What did I tell you last night?"

Napaisip ako, wala naman siyang masyadong nabanggit na kakaiba kahapon. Kung meroon man ay alam ko nman na hindi iyon seryoso.

"Wala–"

Naputol ang sinabi ko ng may maalala. Napatingin siya sa akin at ngumisi.

Hindi imposible, charot lang yun. Lasing siya, wala siya sa wastong pag-iisip na sinabi niyang gusto niya ako.

But a person tends to be honest when drunk.

Is he?

Does Samuel really have feelings for me? Did he really like me?

"I'm simply courting you, if that's what you wanted you to think about."

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