Ngiti

I sat upright. "What time is it?"

He looked at his wristwatch. "1:00"

"Kanina ka pa nakarating?"

"Akala ko alas dos ka pa makakarating?"

"Binilisan ko mag drive. May namiss kasi ako." He said and I ignored his banats.

"Ba't di mo ako ginising?"

"Hindi kasi ako sinisimangutan ng tulog na Sereia. Sobrang inosente pa at peaceful tingnan."

I rolled my eyes.

He finished peeling off the mangoes and placed it on a plate, preparing a bagoong sauce. "Kumakain ka ba ng bagoong?" He asked.

"Oo naman. Bakit?"

"Nothing. Here." He offered it to me but stopped.

"Nakakain kana ba ng tanghalian?"

"Wala pa."

"Sasakit tyan mo dito. Kain ka muna. Wait here, kukuhaan kita." He stood up before I could answer. Since I don't have the energy to object, I just let him. After a minute, he showed up with a tray on his hand, food on it. Paksiw na galunggong with sinigang na hipon, with matching pineapple juice. He placed it carefully on the table.

"Thanks." I thanked him silently. He just smiled and silently sat beside me, eating mangoes.

Pagkatapos naming kumain, hinugasan ko ang plato. "Sama ka sakin?" Phoenixasked.

"Saan?" I asked, drying my hands with a towel when I finished washing the plates.

"Di ba sabi ko sayo ipupunta kita ulit sa sakahan?"

"Sige. Wait for me." Mabilis akong nag ayos. Naligo ng mabilis at sinuot ang black shirt and pants, with boots and hat. Iniwan ko na rin ang glasses ko.

Phoenixeyed me up and down, raisinf hi eyebrows. "Oh? Kala ko magdress ka ulit?"

I shook my head. "Di na. I learned my lesson."

"Good. That's my princess." He dragged my hands and we left the house.

Since it's time for merienda, he was holding the same two bowls on his hands, one bowl on each hand. Kinuha ko ang isa sa kamay nya para di sya mahirapan. "Tulungan na kita."

He didn't argue but instead he said, "Salamat." Naglakad na kami at dinaanan lang si Brownie na ngayon ay nakatago sa mangga na puno.

"Di tayo sasakay sa kalabaw?" I asked.

Tiningnan nya ako ng masama. "Bakit gusto mo ulit? Pagkatapos ng laitin mo si Brownie ko?"

I sighed...I admit, I was being a bitch yesterday. I was just testing him..."Sorry kahapon. Nanibago lang ako."

He scoffed. "Diba sa inyo tong lupain na to dati? Bakit ka naman manibago?"

"Kasi tuwing bakasyon lang ako nakakapunta. At kapag nandito naman, hindi ako pinapayagan na umalis sa malayo at walang kasmaa. I never rode a carabao before. First time ko lang yun makasakay."

Napatahimik nalang sya. Akala ko hindi na sya magsasalita pa ulit ng may nakita sya sa paa ko. "Ano yan?"

Oh no. I've been hiding it for years now. I had concealed it carefully now at konti lang ang makita dahil nakajeans ako. How did he knew? "Sugat ko yan nung nahulog ako sa manggahan." I answered honestly. He just nodded his head understandingly.

I can't help but stare at Phoenix. He's been acting so strangely. Dahil ba ito sa shades ko kagabi? He's been very kind...and so different from what I had expected. Kala ko ay mangungulit sya sa buong stay ko rito pero no...myabe ako lang talaga yung may kasalanan kasi I judge too fast. He's different from our first encounter. I can't help but feel like he's not so bad after all...that my stay here would be good at hindi ako magsisisi.

"Anong i*******m name mo?" He changed the topic.

I look at him. "May i*******m ka?"

"Oo naman. Psh, kala mo wlaang i*******m ang mga probinsyano?"

"Oo." I admitted.

"Mali ka. I graduated from Ateneo de Davao."

"Alam ko. Engineering."

"Ah bat alam mo?"

"Sinabi sakin ni Lola Nanding."

Napatahimik sya.

"Pero 28 kana ah. Tanda mo na." I teased.

He pouted. "Bakit? Ikaw?"

"25."

Tamang tama ay nakadating na rin kami sa palayan. Katulad ng kahapon, pinakain ulit ni Phoenixsila ng merienda at nagpahinga ng konti ang mga magsasaka. Nang mabusog ay bumalik ulit sa pagtatrabaho.

"One two three, smile." Nabigla ako ng may nagflash sa mata ko. I look at Phoenixwho was grinning while holding his phone.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib sa gulat. "Ano yan Phoenix?"

"Uhm, di ba halata? Pinipicturan kita."

"Bakit?" Ano namang pinag-iisip ng mokong na ito?

"Kasi sabi mo gusto mo magpapicture kahapon diba? Edi ngayon nalang."

"Hoy wag! Sa sunod nalang ulit. Wala ako nakaayos ng bihis!" Dapat pala nag dress nalang ako ulit. Hmp.

He chuckled. "Maganda ka naman sa damit na yan ah. Di mo na kailangan mag gown."

"Basta ayoko!" I turn around so he can't take pictures with my face.

"Sige na please."

"Dun ka na nga." I shooed him away. Natatawang umalis nalang ang mokong ng may tumawag sa kanya.

"Phoenix!"

"Oy Maria!"

I turned around and saw them hugging. Ganyan ba talaga sa araw araw na pagkikita nila? Ganyan ba nila kamiss ang isa't isa? Nakakairita!