CHAPTER 1

IT was midday, the worst time to arrive in the Philippines. As Demie came out of the plane, she felt the heat reflecting off the tarmac. Nagpapawis na si Demie bago pa man siya makarating sa arrivals lounge. Hila hila niya ang dalawang maleta niya, ginawa nalang niya ang dapat niyang gawin para makaalis na siya doon.

Hanggang sa makalabas na siya ng airport at naghintay sa isang tabi. Ayon sa kaniyang Tita Kareen ay may susundo raw sa kaniya. At ilang sandali nga lang ay may humintong itim na Ferrari 458 Italia sa harap ni Demie. Nagdadalawang isip pa siya kung iyon na ba ang sundo niya, at nakumpirma lang niya iyon ng bumaba ang side door window ng kotse.

As the window slowly rolls down, Demie then thought na hindi niya pala alam kung sino ang susundo sa kaniya. Could it be Alastair? But when she saw who is it, her mouth fell open. It was Alessandro. The oldest son of her Tita Kareen.

His striking blue eyes gazes to her black orbs. And Demie couldn't help herself but to linger her eyes examining his face. From his coal black hair that is comb over, down to the stubbles on his chin. And of course, she wouldn't skip his kissable lips. Oh how she wish she-

"Miss Argento?" Demie snapped out from stupor. Itinikom niya ang kaniyang bibig at ewan niya lang kung napansin ng lalaki ang pag-init ng kaniyang pisngi.

"A-ah yes, s-sorry," Demie stammered. She scolded herself for acting weird, hindi niya alam kung bakit nag kakaganyan siya.

"Alright, let me help you with your baggages," hindi na nagawang makareklamo ni Demie nang lumabas na si Alessandro sa kotse nito. And again, Demie was captivated by his physique as soon as Alessandro came in to her view. The man was on his corporate attire. Kaya medyo naaalinsangan din ito sa init ng panahon. But it won't stop Demie from checking him out.

Lumapit ito sa kaniya at kinuha ang dalawang maleta niya. At parang bato lang na nakamasid si Demie sa lalaki habang inilalagay nito sa back seat ang kaniyang dalawang maleta. They're not close just like she is to it's younger brother, Alastair.

"Let's go," imik ni Alessandro sa kaniya. "T-thank you…" Napanguso si Demie nang umikot na ito sa kabila para sumakay na. Hindi alam ni Demie kung bakit masyado siyang naaapektuhan sa lalaki, this is a first. 'Attraction?' Demie thought. Umiling-iling si Demie at pumasok na sa kotse.

Hanggang sa mapaandar na nito ang kotse ay walang nagsalita sa kanila. Nasa unahan lang ang tingin ni Demie. She wants to lay her eyes once again to this strikingly handsome man beside her. But she's worried that she'll find herself, gawking upon this man once again. But the silence is killing Demie.

"A-ah sorry if tita Kareen made you come here," Demie said, gulped. Napunta na naman kasi ang tingin niya sa lalaki na nasa daan lang ang tingin. The man was so good on his corporate attire. He looks so neat and… 'delicious' Demie thought. And that made her cheeks on fire.

"No, it's okay." Alessandro's deep voice made Demie jumped a little. 'Oh god…' Demie thought.    Huminto ang kotse ng mag stop ang traffic light. Alessandro leaned his left arm on the steering wheel, and Demie couldn't help but gasped as Alessandro's eyes met hers. Suddenly she felt hot even with the AC on, ibinalik niyang muli ang mata sa unahan. And she fan herself with her hand.

"Are you… hot?" Hindi alam ni Demie kung anong 'hot' kaya ang ibig sabihin ni Alessandro. But she just assumed the answer.

"A lil bit, maybe because of my blazer." Sagot ni Demie. Tuloy, bumaba ang tingin ni Alessandro sa suot niya. A baggy beige blazers with black tank top underneath and shorts. Her round breasts are pressing out against the thin material, and she starts fidgeting as his stare lingers in there.

"Yes I think so, you're certainly hot." Demie couldn't help but to lick her lips because of a sudden thirst. She saw his jaw tightened, and with a loud beep from a car behind them serve as a cold water poured at them.

Naging tahimik muli ang paligid hanggang sa pumasok sila sa isang sikat na private elite subdivision. Nagtatakang napatingin si Demie sa paligid, naisip niya na siguro ay lumipat na ng bahay ang kaniyang Tita Kareen. Hanggang sa huminto na sila sa isang two story mansion. And speaking of her tita, nakatanaw na ito sa kanila mula sa gate na napapalibutan na ng Christmas lights.

May isang katulong na siyang nagbukas sa entrance gate para makapasok ang kotse ni Alessandro. At huminto sila sa harap ng mansion

at akmang bababa na si Demie nang nauna nang lumabas si Alessandro at pinagbuksan siya nito ng pinto.

"T-thanks," Demie said, feeling her heart speed-racing. Lumabas na si Demie at agad siyang sinalubong ng kaniyang tita Kareen na agad sumunod sa kanila.

"Oh iha, ang laki mo na! It's been 5 years since you visited here." Sambit ng kaniyang tita, with a smile that is a mile wide. She also celebrated Christmas with them, a year after her parents died.

"Yes tita, thank you for inviting me again." Demie replied, sincerely. The woman laced her hands on Demie's waist and guided her inside. "Oh no worries, ano ka ba? You're always welcome to our home, Demie." The woman said, giggled.

They entered the house, and Demie was greeted by a well decorated living room. There's an L shape sectional sofa and a white Christmas tree stand on its end, and another two seater couch beside the Christmas tree. There are wreaths hanging on the window, socks on the Christmas tree. And Demie can also see the dining part from her view in living room.

"Wow," Demie cheered, ecstatic to see the Christmas decors. She heard her tita Kareen giggled and walk to the sofa and sat. "Is it beautiful?" Nakangiting ani ng babae. Akmang sasagot na si Demie nang may tumawag sa kaniya.

"Demie? Demie!" It was Alastair who just came down the stairs. Agad lumawak ang ngiti ni Demie pagkakita rito. Sinalubong siya nito ng mahigpit na yakap.

"Ano ba 'yan, Aly. Hindi na ako makahinga," biro ni Demie sa binata. Natatawa naman itong humiwalay sa kaniya at hinila siya para maupo sa sofa katabi ng nanay nito. "Ma, sino ang sumundo kay Demie? You should've just told me to fetch her." Alastair exclaimed. "Oh well, it's just that your brother is on the way here, kaya siya nalang ang pinasundo ko kay Demie."

"Oh kuya fetch you. Demie, look at you! You're as  gorgeous as ever, but it seems like you're more alluring than the last time I saw you." Alastair commented, while checking out Demie up and down. But a cough made him stopped— it was Alessandro.

"Ma, do you have any thing for me to do?" Bitbit nito ang dalawang bagahe ni Demie kaya agad siyang napatayo. "Oh my, sorry. Nakalimutan kong dalhin," Demie felt her cheeks burning. Naabala pa nga niya ito sa pagsundo sa kaniya, iniwan pa niya ang bagahe niya rito.

"Oh Sandro, ihatid mo nalang iyan sa magiging kwarto ni Demie. May kukunin pa pala kami ni Aly sa bahay," her mother said with excitement. At nararamdaman ni Sandro na parang may pinaplano ang Mama niya.

"What? Anong-" Kareen hushed her son Alastair and pulled his hand to go outside. Parang nae-excite habang humahagikhik pa itong nakatingin kay Demie at Sandro na nagtatakang nakatingin sa kanila.

Habang si Demie naman ay doon lang naisip na silang dalawa nalang ni Alessandro ang naiwan sa bahay o kaninong bahay ba ito, kaya naman kay sa ma-awkward tinanong nalang niya ito.

"K-kaninong bahay 'to?" Sandro started walking towards the l-shaped stairs, so she followed. Akala pa niya'y di siya sasagutin nito. "It's mine," but then he answered, briefly.

Napatango-tango naman si Demie at tahimik na sumunod na lamang dito. Mukha kasing ayaw nitong may kausap, kaya naman hindi na siya muling nang-usisa rito. Habang hila hila ni Sandro ang dalawang bagahe niya ay di mapigilan ni Demie na sulyapan ang kabuoan ng lalaki. Wala na itong suot na blazer at nakarolyo na ang sleeves ng polo nito. Nakatitig si Demie sa pang-upo nito na parang tinatawag siya na hampasin ito kaya napapalunok na napa-sign of the cross si Demie dahil kung ano-anu na ang naiisip niya simula nang makasalamuha niya ng malapitan ang lalaking ito. But this is a good sign for her, she needs this. Para mas madali niyang maisagawa ang plano niya.

Sa Italy rin nakatira ang mga magulang ni Alessandro dati, that made their family close. But not them, they're not close. Silang dalawa ni Alastair ang naging magkaibigan dati.

Napahinto sa paglakad si Demie nang huminto rin si Alessandro. Humarap ito sa kaniya at hindi kaagad nakahupa si Demie mula sa pagkakatitig sa pang upo nito, kaya naman napunta ang tingin niya sa nakaumbok na pagkakalaki ni Sandro.

"Jumbo…" Agad napatigil si Demie sa pagsasalita at napatingin kay Alessandro na ngayon ay madilim na nakatitig sa kaniya. There's some glint of emotions on his eyes that Demie can't read.

"Jumbo? What do you mean?" Sandro asked, furrowed brows. Agad tumikhim si Demie at pinaypayan ang sarili. "A-ano, kanta iyan! Hindi mo alam? Jumbo hotdog, kaya ko ba 'to- oh i mean kaya mo ba 'to?" Demie just want to disappear right infront of Alessandro. Kung ano ano na ang pinagsasabi niya. But thankfully at mukhang hindi na-gets ni Sandro ang ibig niyang sabihin.

"O-kay?" He responded, confusion is on his face. Binuksan nalang nito ang pinto na nasa harapan nila tsaka ito pumasok sa loob. Inilagay nito ang mga bagahe niya sa gilid at muling lumabas.

"You can now rest," sambit nito sa kaniya. Tinalikuran na siya nito at akmang papasok na siya sa kwarto ng may makalimutan siya.

"Thank you, kuya Alessandro!" May kalakasang sambit ni Demie sa lalaki na nagpatigil dito. Nilingon siya nito at may kung anong meron sa ekspresiyon nito. Para itong nasisiyahan sa isang bagay.

"Sandro, just call me Sandro. And you're very welcome," for the first time ay hindi monotone ang tono ng boses nito. There's a hint of playfulness in it, that made Demie wonder. But she just shrugged it off. Magpapahinga nalang muna siya, at para makatulong pa siya mamaya sa ano mang gawain.

And later, as the date struck at 25, there will be no turning back about her plans. Her birthday and Christmas day, is the day she will pop her cherry.