The dinner ended in awkward atmosphere. After I volunteer to wash the dishes, I instantly rush towards our room and pursue Shey to go home with me tomorrow yet she's too persistent to stay.
"Gusto ko pang makasama sina Nanay. Sa susunod na araw nalang siguro ako uuwi, Ate.""Sigurado ka ba talaga diyan, Shey? Pwede naman tayong magsabay bukas para may dalawang araw ka pa bago matapos ang semestral break mo."Umiling lang si Shey sa akin bago ibinalik ang atensiyon sa cellphone na hawak niya. Bumuntonghininga ako at nagsimula nang mag-impake ng gamit para sa pag-alis bukas.Itinabi ko sa isang sulok ang mga gamit na ibinigay nina Lola at Lolo. Aanuhin ko naman ang Fendi bag na ito? Hindi naman ako mahilig mag-show off sa mga tao kaya hinding-hindi ko ito magagamit.I spend my night packing my things while talking to Rafus over the phone. I agreed to his suggestion that he'll fetch me up tomorrow at ten, so when morning came, I've searched"Hoy, ang gwapo naman ng naghatid sa'yo! Boyfriend?" Nakangiting bungad ni Jean nang makapasok ako ng room. Hindi ako sumagot at ngitian lamang siya. Umupo ako sa tabi niya habang siya naman ay sundot nang sundot sa tagiliran ko."You're too secretive, Aranza. Spill the tea!" Jean annoyingly said then pulled my hair in a jokingly manner."Wala akong tsaa," tanging sagot ko na ikinaasim ng mukha niya."Ayaw pa kumpirmahin! Madalas ko kaya kayong makitang magkasama kahit saan!"Mahina akong natawa at hinarap siya. "What do you think the real score between us?"Kumunot ang noo ni Jean at bahagyang napanguso. "Of course, kay Rafus palaging perfect, tapos sa'yo passing score!"Napangiwi ako sa sinabi niya at siya naman napahalakhak. Bahagya akong napairap sa kaniya. "Nakakaperfect score naman ako Jean!""Of course I know that! But your score either ranges from forty five to fifty, so the mean is a passing score on e
"Surprise?" His husky voice dominates from behind.I turn around to meet his intense and dark eyes with glint of affection and satisfaction. My tears slowly falling from my eyes as the whole surrounding lights up. The trees are surrounded by LED and fairy lights from its trunk to its branches.Rafus closed the distance between us and wiped my tears away using his thumb and sweetly hushing me so I could stop crying but I couldn't."Happy first monthsary, baby..." He huskily said and leaned towards to kiss the top of my head.I froze, literally dazed by what he just said. I thought that I'm the one only who remembered it! I wrapped my arms around his neck and weeped again on his chest."I thought you forgot!" I punched his chest."Oh, is that the reason why you treated me ill earlier?""It's because I thought you forgotten our day! I've been waiting for you since early in the morning but you didn't greet me!""How could I forgot about this? It's our special date, and it's been programme
"Geez, get a room Cattaneo! Daig mo pa si Hatryx sa public display of affection!" Fraise hissed."Bobo mo naman, Kuya. Wala tayo sa public at property naman nila 'to." Rojas bashed and even tapped his older brother's shoulder to tease him."Shut up, bastard." Fraise cussed and punched Rojas on the shoulder.Nagsimula silang magbangayan at natatawa kaming nanonood ni Rafus sa kanila. The clock strikes at two and I decided to go home. Rafus wants me to spend the night here but I know my limitations. I even saw the strong disagreement on Mrs. Dela Rue's face.Nakarating ako ng bahay at agad na dumiretso sa kwarto. Shey's spending her Christmas vacation in Iloilo, so technically I'm all alone here. I don't know how long did I force Rafus to go home because if I didn't, he'll surely spend a night here.Matapos kong magpalit ng damit ay patamad akong humiga sa kama. My eyes pinned on the ceiling, remembering what Mrs. Sierra Dela Rue said to me earlier."Let's be frank here, hija. I don't s
"Mang-aagaw ka Aranza! You don't deserve Rafus! Gold digger and fucking bitch!"Hinigpitan ni Rafus ang pagkahawak sa kamay ko. Nag-angat ako ng tingin at bahagyang ngumiti sa kaniya."I'm okay baby. Both of us know the truth anyway," I assure him.Rafus seems unconvinced of what I've said yet he nodded eventually to drop the topic. Hinila niya ako sa mga booths at nakalimutan ko na parang bula ang nangyari kanina sa corridor."Baby, please? Isang beses lang naman..." I pleaded while doing a puppy eyes.Pinilipit ko siyang magsuot ng bunny ears na headband. I've successfully put some barrettes on his hair earlier and he looks so damn cute because his lips are slightly protrude and red."Come on baby, just for several shots! Para pareho tayo ng headband dali na, ayaw mo pa no'n, malalaman ng ibang estudyante dito na maggirlfriend-boyfriend tayo, at wala ka nang kaagaw sa akin. Sabi mo threathened ka sa mga pumoporma sa akin noong
"You feel so confident about yourself? Dadating ang panahon na babalik at babalik siya sa akin Slaine. You're just his pastime, so enjoy now then cry later." She sneered at me."Oh, I'm just a pastime? Then why did he introduced me legally to his parents when I'm just some sort of pastime? Why did he let me call his father Tito Stefano?" I uttered while brows furrowed.My only intention was to tease her but I didn't know she took my words in another level. She's damn livid and about to attack me but she manage to stop herself. She tiptoed to level her lips on my ear. She then slowly pat my shoulder before whispering words and leave me standing. "You're still clueless about their family affairs though. You may be the girlfriend but I know things you don't."Aurora's words lingers in my mind the next days. I have tried discarding that thought but it keeps on replaying at the back of my mind. What family affairs is she talking about? Rafus' family s
"I didn't know your Senior Ball will extend until today," I tried not to be sarcastic yet failed.Tumahimik sa likuran kaya lumingon ako. Nakita ko si Shey na nasa maayos na pananamit at estado."Shey... you should have at least inform me of your whereabouts so I won't worry a lot. I'm your guardian and you're my responsibility," I uttered in calm and moderate tone of voice.Tumayo ako para harapin siya at kahit na napansin ko ang galit sa mata niya, ipinagsawalang bahala ko iyon."Do I have to remind you over and over again that we only have each other right now? I don't even know the root of this petty conflict between us! You always do it your way... not minding that it'll not just affect me and our relationship, but also your life!""Ano ba ang ikinagagalit mo, Ate?! Kung hindi ako umuwi kagabi, edi sorry! Pasensiya! Pasensiya kung mas gugustuhin ko pang makasama ang mga kaibigan ko kesa ang makasama ka!" Sigaw niya at marahas na inil
"Can my blockmates tag along? We'll pay on our own food, is it okay?" Rafus asked Jean."Sure! Iyon lang ba? Kahit pa buong blockmates mo pa ang maki-tag along sa amin, wala problema!"Hindi ko alam kung sarkastiko na ba ang pagkasabi ni Jean no'n pero nagtipa si Rafus sa cellphone at lumipas ang ilang minuto ay natatanaw namin ang papalapit niyang mga blockmates."Galit ka ba sa akin?" Tanong ko sa kaniya habang ang mga kasama namin ay abala sa pag-uusap kung saang lugar kami kakain."I'm not," he said then breath heavily. "I'm just annoyed at your friend for resting his arm over your shoulders.""Ah you're jealous," I nodded as I concluded something."I'm just threatened seeing you with someone else while smiling," he lowly said and looked away. I saw how his ears and neck reddened, making me bark a laughter."Slaine, tara na! Sa pizza parlor daw tayo!" Naagaw ang atensyon dahil sa pagsigaw ni Jean."Sige, sus
Sumasayaw sa ritmo ng hangin ang mga palay at mukhang malapit na itong anihin dahil sa hitik na bunga at kulay ginto nito. I could clearly see from here that the farmers working under the Cattaneo's are harvesting the mangoes with two different variety... the indian mangoes and the carabao mangoes."My family also owns mango plantation in Guimaras. I'll take you there someday," Rafus softly said as he noticed me watching the farmers.Lumingon ako sa kaniya, "Magagalit ka ba kung sasabihin ko sa'yo na hindi ako nagulat?"He chuckled genuinely before shaking his head. Bumilis ng kaunti ang sinasakyan namin at maraming tanim pa akong nakita dito sa farm nila. I'm really enjoying this and I can't stop taking pictures of the crops and taking pictures with Rafus. On a second thought, what I'm seeing right now is making me hesitant to leave Antique once I graduate in college.I saw a vintage-looking gazebo situated near the stream and just a five meter d