"I'm fine. Ayos lang sakin. Dito lang ako." Parang napagod na rin ako, physically and mentally na makita si Maria na kahapon buong araw syang nasa paningin ko. I can't deal with her today. I can't. Pumunta ako sa duyan, sa likod lang ng bahay at doon tumambay. Hindi ko na namalayan na nakatulog ako dito at nagising nalang sa matinding hapdi ng sikat ng araw. Napakainit talaga sa Pinas buti nalang ay mahangin dito sa bukid. I stood up and frown when I saw Phoenixholding Brownie. Parang pinipilit ni Phoenixna ipatayo si Brownie pero hindi ito sumusunod. Phoenixhas this worried expression on his face. "Anong ginagawa mo Phoenix?" He glanced at me and frowned. "Si Brownie kasi, walang gana." "Walang gana? Kailan pa?" "Kanina pa umaga. Akala ko wala lang kasi nakakalakad pa sya kanina umaga pero ngayon, hindi na sya tumatayo. At parang nahihirapang huminga." Phoenixsighed. "Pano na to? May sakit ba sya? Ipupunta ko nalang sya sa veterinarian mamaya baka lumala pa ang sakit nya." He

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

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

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.

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