Wala na si Phoenix paggising ko. Sabi ni Lola Nanding ay may meeting nanaman daw. Nagulat nalang ako ng makita si Maria sa sala pagbaba ko. "Halika na?" "Saan?" "Namiss ka ulit nila Mae-mae, Jay, at Rap-rap." Ngumiti sya. "Pero kain ka muna, hihintayin nalang kita." At umalis na sya. Napabunting hininga nalang ako at nagbihis na. Here we go again. Katulad nung isang araw, pumunta kami sa bahay ng mga bata at naglaro. This time, hindi ako masyadong nagahanan. Magulo pa rin ang isip ko kay Phoenixat sa mga sinabi nya sakin kagabi. Hindi ako mapakali. "Ayos ka lang ba?" Tanong ni Maria ng makita ang ekspresyon ko. Tumango lang ako at iniwasan na sya para hindi sya makatanong pa. Ang tagal ng oras dahil bawat segundo ay mabigat para sakin kaya laking pasalamat ko ng maghapon na at kailangan na naming umuwi. Hinatid na namin ang mga bata at naglakad na kami ni Maria patungo sa bahay. "Sereia?" Maria looked at me cautiously. "Yes?" I forced myself to look at her, still not in the
Mayroong gaganaping reunion sina Phoenix ngayon kaya buong weekend ay wala sya dito sa bahay. Maaga syang nagising at kumatok sa pintuan ko. Pinagbuksan ko naman sya. "Hindi ka talaga sasama?" Ilang ulit na tanong nya sakin habang hinahanda ang kanyang mga gamit sa backpack nya nakasabit na sa likod nya. "Hindi. Nakakahiya talaga, Phoenix. Mag-enjoy ka nalang dun. Atsaka walang makakasama si Aling Nanding dito." Pagrarason ko pa. "Sumama kana, Sereia. Ayos lang ako dito. Andyan naman ang mga kaibigan ko sa kapitbahay." Sabi pa ni lola Nanding galing sa kusina. Phoenixsmirked at me, mouthing me a "you have no choice." I tried to think for a moment. "Sige na, Sereia. Lahat sila dun may lovelife. Kawawa naman akong walang jowa." "Tapos? Kasalanan ko bang hindi ka marunong humanap ng girlfriend mo? Aba't dadamayin mo pa ako jan ah." Natatawa kong sabi. "Mamimiss kita kung di ka kasama." He said, his eyes like a puppy. "Sa tingin mo mapapayag mo ko nyan?" I tested him. "Oo." He co
Nasuka si Ruth at to the rescue naman si Ian. Nag excuse sila at sinabing magpapahinga. Nagpahinga na rin kami ng sandali sa room namin na nireserve ni Zef. One room for us girls and one room dor the boys. at nag island hopping. Hindi nakasama sina Ruth at Ian dahil masama pa rin daw pakiramdam ni Ruth. Nalaman kong doktor pala itong si Ian kaya kung makaalaga sa asawa, wagas. Preparing fo the island hopping, I looked for something to wear and saw my swimsuit. It was my favorite two piece so I wore it. "Matagal ka pa ba jan Sereria? Maiiwan na nila tayo?" Narinig kong sabi ni Phoenixsa pinto. Nang matapos na akong makapaghanda, binuksan ko na ang pinto. "Let's go." Pagkalabas na pagkalabas ko, nakita ko ang mukha ni Phoenixnakaawang ang bibig. "Inaakit mo ba ako?" Tanong nya. I look at him in fake disgust."No." "Kung hindi, naakit na ako eh. Cover your body, Sereia. Para sa kinabukasan ko." He said, not looking at me. Awe, that's cute. "Wow, as if naman hindi ka nakakita ng mga
It started into a light joke until Viper and Grant got into a fight. Viper stood up and walked out. All of us looked at her and back at Grant. It's like they were used to it. "Lagi ba itong nangyayari?" I asked Phoenix. "Yeah... ganyan talaga sila. Una mag-aaway tapo kinabukasan parang walang nangyari." "Ito nanaman ba ang pag-aawayan natin?" I heard them. "Nope. Hindi lang yan. Kanina pa ako nagtitimpi. You were flirting with Sereia just this lunch." "That was a joke-" "A joke? Respeto naman, Grant. Ilang beses mo na akong niloko pero andito pa rin ako at nag tatangatangahan. Akala ko ba nagbago kana para sakin?" "Yes. I'm trying, love." "Then why do I don't see you changing yourself for me?" Tears were on her eyes. "Do you still love me?" "I do. I still do. Hindi naman kota lolokohin ulit, babe. I was just trying to welcome her but I didn't notice you were hurt. I'm sorry it won't happen again." "At nagustuhan mo pa ang luto nya?" "Ito rin ba isyu sa iyo? Naapreciate ko la
After swimming, bumalik kami sa mga kwarto namin, me pulling Phoenix beside. "Anong binabalak mo mokong?" Tanong ko pa ng wala na ang iba. "Mag proproprose si Lane kay Elara mamaya." Napasigaw ako sa saya pero tinakpan ni Phoenixang bibig ko. "Ingay mo. Sana di ko nalang sinabi. Surprise to ah." "Game ako jan. Ano? May matutulong ba ako?" "No. You just need to act." Sabi ni Phoenixay sila na daw bahala sa lahat. I just have to keep the girls busy while the boys prepare everything and act as if I know nothing. Kaya heto ako ngayon na parang clown nagpapatawa sa kanila. When dinnertime came, Phoenixtexted me na okay na daw. "Elara, may problema ako.." "Ano yun?" "Pwedeng sa lbas tayo mag-usap? Gusto kong lumanghap ng sariwang hangin." She agreed and we went out. Pumunta kami sa backyard kung saan maraming puno at may duyan pa, chilling place daw to ni Zef. May mga fairy lights pa, pati blanket na nakalatag at mga unan, may maliit na mesa sa gitna at may mga pagkain rin....et
When we arrived, Phoenix hadn’t said anything as he entered his room and closed it. Nagpahinga na rin ako sa aking kwarto at nagising ng makita si Lola Nanding ng may dalang paper bags on her hands. “Oh, pumunta po kayong mag-isa sa palengke, Lola Nanding?” She nodded but put her fingers on her lips to silence me. "Shh, tahimik lang magigising mo si Phoenix. Bumili kasi ako ng regalo nya.” She said, glancing at Phoenix’s room. I wrinkled my nose and blinked, "Regalo po? Para saan?" She gasped, “Oh, nakalimutan kong sabihin sa iyo, birthday nya pala bukas." My mouth fell wide open. "Nakabili ka na ba ng regalo nya?" She asked and shook my head in answer. Sighing, Lola Nanding motioned me to dress up dahil sasamahan nya akong bumili sa mall. When we arrived there, I opted for the easiest choice, a wristwatch. Kailangan rin kasi namin makauwi kaagad para hindi mahalata ni Phoenix. Lola Nanding even told me to hide the gifts and magkunwaring hindi ko alam ang kanyang birthday.
His bare chest was now visible, and I saw how the water droplets trail from his sharp jaw to his chest and down to his abs.“What are you looking at, princess?” I swallowed. “A-anong ginagawa mo?”“What else? Tinatanggal ko ang tshirt ko para di magkasakit.” I nodded, dropping my gaze to the ground. What is this temptation! I feel strange. I stole a glance and saw him folding his shirt and gripped it tightly to let the droplets fall. He then wiped the water from his body and shook his hair. Nakita nya akong nakatingin and he smirked. “You should remove your clothes too.” He suggested.“Ano?”He shrugged, “What else? Matagal pa atang huminto ang ulan, princess. And I see that you got a bit wet.”I snorted at him, “I’m fine.”“If you say so.” Once finished in his business, he settled himself on the ground and sat beside me. “So, anong gagawin natin ngayon? Stuck in this place because of the rain, it feels like a scene from the movie.” He started to speak as he played around with hi
When we were finished doing our business, a farmer came into the nipa hut as the rain also stopped from falling. Good thing that na nakapagbihis na ako so we walked towards the car hand in hand. It's a good thing that a car mechanic happened to pass by and he helped to fix Phoenix’s car. Now on the way home,tahimik lang si Phoenix. We acted as if nothing happened but the red marks on Phoenix’s neck were evident and the smile on his face was plastered the whole ride. He kept on taking a glance at me, and while his other hand was on the steering wheel, his other hand was on mine. He clutched my hand and he kissed it. He never dared to bring what happened and I’m thankful for that. I’m afraid that I would burst into embarrassment if he did. Well, it all went well right? **** I hadn’t had the chance to talk with Phoenix the next day as he stayed in his room the whole day. I wore a hoodie to hide a hickey from my body. Good thing that Lola Nanding didn’t notice something s