Chapter 04

The first few weeks of being a freshman student was bearable. Naga-adjust pa rin kami sa new environment but thankfully, we managed.

"Lian!" lumingon ako sa direksyon kung saan narinig ko ang boses ni Sawyer. She was running towards me. "Lian! I have something to tell!"

I almost shrieked when she almost slipped on the floor. We were on the first floor of the building kung saan tiled ang sahig ng quadrangle. I saw some students from the senior high department laugh at her clumsiness pero parang wala lang iyon sa kaniya.

"Bakit ka ba tumatakbo? Alam mo namang medyo madulas ang sahig dito!"

Sawyer laughed. "That makes running more exciting!"

"Ano nga pala sasabihin mo?" tanong ko nang papalabas na kami sa likuran ng building. Pupunta kasi ako sa canteen para bumili ng makakain para sa tanghalian.

She grinned. "Birthday kasi ng kuya ko ngayon and he told me I can invite my friends to the party so I want you to come with me to my house!"

I was surprised when she said friends. She really see me as her friend. But enough about that. Did she say birthday?

Nginitian ko siya and was about to speak nang pinigilan niya ang bibig ko sa pagbukas gamit ang index finger niya.

"If you're thinking about declining, huwag ka nang mag-abalang magsalita. I don't take 'no' as an answer, my love."

Sawyer kissed my cheeks at nagpaalam para puntahan ang kuya niya na nasa Indigo building. Sabi pa niya na huwag akong tumakas dahil kayang-kaya ng kuya niya na kontrolin ang school guards and prevent me from going out. Napailing nalang ako sa sinabi niya. His brother must have power in this school. Maybe a student council member?

I ate my lunch at the canteen at nag-attend ng klase as usual. True to her words, Sawyer didn't let me go out of the building. Nakita kong tinitingnan ng school guard ang mga ID ng mga estudyanteng lumalabas sa building, binigay niya siguro ang pangalan ko.

Nasa second floor ako ngayon at dinudungaw ang mga taong naglalalakad sa quadrangle. Hinihintay ko si Greg na matapos ang klase niya na nasa fifth floor pa rin. Si Sawyer naman ay umalis para puntahan ang kuya niya na nasa Student Council office.

Busy ako sa pagbibilang ng mga taong lumalabas sa building nang may bigla akong narinig na pamilyar na boses.

"Look who we have here."

Hinarap ko ang boses na iyon at agad akong nabwisit nang natanto ko kung sino iyon. Out of all people, bakit siya pa ang nakakausap ko ngayon? I really hate him and his presence.

"Bakit ka nandito?"

Napataas ang kilay niya at mahinang tumawa, iyong nakakainsulto.

"Lili, this is a school and I'm a student. Get it?"

"SML?"

I saw his forehead crease. "What?"

"Share mo lang?" sabi ko at tinalikuran siya. Hahanapin ko nalang si Sawyer. I can't bear another second with that goddamned brute!

Mabilis akong naglakad patungo sa student council office at nakita ko si Sawyer na nasa harapan ng pintuan. She was leaning on the wall with her phone on her hand.

"Sawyer," tawag ko sa kaniya.

Inangat ni Sawyer ang kaniyang ulo at bumaling sa direksyon ko. She smiled at me and was about to walk towards me nang huminto siya at tumingin sa likuran ko.

"Kairos!"

Napakunot ang noo ko. Kairos?

Bumaling ako sa likod ko. There, the brute was standing not that far behind me with his one hand on his pocket. Kita kong niyakap ito ni Sawyer kaya napataas ako ng kilay. Based on the gesture, they know each other?

Don't tell me... they're lovers?

"Akala ko next week pa ang balik mo galing sa Canada? Kumusta sina Nana at Nono roon?"

Oh, he was abroad and it's school season! What a pabaya!

Ginulo ni Kairos ang buhok ni Sawyer at ngumiti na siyang ikinatigil ko. His smile was different. It's genuine and pure unlike the ones he give me na puro kayabangan.

"I can't miss Isaiah's birthday party, Saw. Baka ma-ban na ako sa compound," aniya. "Alam mo namang obsessed ang kuya mo sa akin kasi walang jowa."

Nagtawanan silang dalawa.

I figured na parang naging decoration lang ako rito kaya dahan-dahan akong umatras. Tumalikod ako at maglalakad na sana nang tinawag ako ni Sawyer. Pinikit ko ang mata ko at bumuntonghininga bago pa humarap sa kanila.

My eyes immediately met the brute's dark eyes. His stare makes me want to run away and go home, nanginginig ako. Thankfully, I managed to cut off the staring session at bumaling kay Sawyer.

"Sawyer, kailangan ko na talagang puntahan si Greg. Baka hinahanap na ako n'on—"

"Actually, he's on his way here!" she happily told me. Inangat niya ang cellphone niya at ipinakita sa akin ang conversation nila sa Messenger. "Nagpaalam ako sa kaniya na isasama kita sa bahay kasi birthday ni Kuya tas sabi niya na sasama siya so..."

What the heck?

"Miss!"

Speaking of the devil...

I turned around and immediately sent Gregory imaginary daggers towards him. He raised both of his hands, as if he's surrendering.

"What? Bakit? Wala akong ginagawang masama, Miss!"

Umalis si Sawyer sa tabi ko at naglakad patungo kay Greg para bigyan ng yakap. Nagchikahan pa sila kaya narito lang ako sa kinatatayuan ko habang ramdam na ramdam ko ang presensya niya sa likod ko. Hindi ko nalang iyon pinansin at sinunod ang ginawa ni Sawyer kanina, ang sumandal sa pader at mag-cellphone.

Mayamaya pa lang ay bumukas na ang pintuan at niluwa nito ang isang napakagwapong nilalang. He had that lean body and a not so white but not dark skin. The color of his eyes was dark brown at matangos ang ilong niya. What made him look so handsome was because of his man bun.

Yes, his hair is long.

"Kuya!" Sawyer exclaimed and gave the man bun person a tight hug. "Happy birthday!"

Oh, he must be Sawyer's older brother.

Tumawa naman si man bun person at ginulo ang buhok ni Sawyer. Bumaling siya sa direksyon namin at his eyes bore into my back.

"Kairos, man!" he exclaimed and they did a man hug. "Akala ko hindi ka na makakaabot sa birthday ko."

"Nope, ayokong ma-ban sa sarili kong bahay."

Nagtawanan sila at sabay na tumingin sa akin. I gulped out of nervousness. Sinong hindi manenerbyos na dalawang gwapong nilalang ang nakatingin sa akin? Though I hate the brute but I admit he's got the looks.

Pero hindi ko iyon sasabihin sa kaniya.

"Ah," I smiled awkwardly at the man bun person. "Hello po. Happy birthday."

The man bun smiled. "Thank you. You must be Ms. Lilianna Vera?"

Tumango ako. "Ako nga."

"Pagpasensyahan mo na ang kapatid ko, ah. Hindi ka tuloy nakauwi at nakatakas," tumawa siya. "She has many friends but this is her first time inviting one so pinaunlakan ko ang hiling niya."

Sawyer giggled. "Iba talaga 'pag kapatid mo ang student council president!"

Bahagyang namilog ang mata ko. This man bun is not just a student council member, but the president himself!

"Oh no, it's okay," sagot ko kay Isaiah, who turned out to be this school's college department's student council president.

"I'm Isaiah."

Nilahad niya ang kaniyang kamay na tinanggap ko naman agad. Sumingit na rin si Gregory na kanina pa nakikinig at nakipag-shake hands na rin kay Isaiah.

"So, tara na sa bahay," Isaiah said at nauna nang maglakad patungo sa parking lot ng school. Susunod na sana si Gregory pero pinigilan ko siya gamit ang braso niya para mahuli kami sa kanila.

"Miss? Virgin pa 'ko," he joked.

Hinampas ko siya sa braso. "Bakit ka pumayag? Alam mo namang bawal akong pumunta sa ibang lugar aside sa bahay at school!"

Gregory's eyes became serious and gentle. He held me on my shoulder.

"Lilianna," he called my name and smiled at me gently. "Sometimes it's fun to break the rules."

After he said those words, he dragged me out of the building at dumiretso sa parking lot. Hindi naman kalakihan ang parking lot kaya agad naming nahanap sina Sawyer, she was standing beside their SUV and was waiting for me. Nang nakita niya ako ay nawala ang pag-alala sa mukha niya at napalitan ng galak.

"Akala ko talaga tinakasan mo na ako! Magtatampo talaga ako, Lian!"

Mahina akong tumawa. "Hindi naman na ako makakatakas, eh."

"Talaga!" she giggled. "Tara, sakay na."

Naunang pumasok si Sawyer sa passenger seat ng SUV. Binuksan naman ni Greg ang car door sa likod. "Ladies first, Miss."

At dahil isang malaking gentleman si Greg ay wala talaga akong choice kundi ang maunang pumasok. Hanggang bewang ko palang ang nasa loob nang nakita ko ang pagmumukha ni Kairos. I rolled my eyes when he smirked at me at padabog na umupo sa tabi niya. Sumunod naman si Gregory at tumabi sa akin.

"Let's go!" ani Sawyer sa harap.

The trip to their house was smooth, Isaiah was a smooth driver kaya hindi ako nakaramdam ng hilo. Their house was still inside Minglanilla kaya ganoon kalayo galing sa school. Lumiko ito sa gilid ng isang building, mayroong gate roon at sa ibabaw ng gate ay ang may nakalagay na kataga.

Compound Ferrolino in Old English font.

Automatic na bumukas ang gate nang natapos si Isaiah makipag-usap sa isang intercom. Ilang segundo pang pagmamaneho bago ako nakakita ng dalawang magagandang bahay at may patio na nakakonekta sa dalawa. I saw some people arranging decorations so I figured doon ang venue ng party.

One thing to describe the view in front of me, sumptuous. The two houses were Mediterranean but modern. The first house has two storeys while the other one also has two storeys but with a rooftop.

"Welcome to our humble abode," ani Isaiah nang nakababa na kami sa sasakyan. Papunta kami sa bahay na walang rooftop nang napansin kong sa ibang bahay pumunta si Kairos.

"Sawyer," tawag ko sa kaibigan. "Why is he going over there? Dito ang bahay niyo diba?"

Tumingin si Sawyer sa tinuro ko at kalaunan ay tumawa like I said some good joke.

"Why are you laughing?"

Ilang segundo ang lumipas bago huminto si Sawyer sa pagtawa. "Lian! That's where Kairos live!"

"Huh?"

"Kairos is my cousin."

Then a memory flashed before me.

"Kairos Leonel Abella-Ferrolino."

Napatampal ako ng noo na siyang ikinabigla ni Sawyer. How could I goddamn forget?!

He's a Ferrolino for sweetness' sake! Kaya pala pamilyar ang apilyedo ni Sawyer! Because I met that damn brute already.

"Why did you hit yourself?"

"I thought that brute—I mean that man is your boyfriend."

Binigyan ako ni Sawyer ng nandidiring mukha na siyang ikinatawa ko. "Mandiri ka nga, Lian!"

Umakyat kami sa ikalawang palapag ng bahay nina Sawyer at pinapasok niya rin ako sa kwarto niya habang si Greg naman ay sumama kay Isaiah para siguro tumulong sa mga preparations. Ganiyan talaga si Greg, matulungin.

At first glance of Sawyer's room, I expected it to be somehow fancy but it was actually the opposite. The walls were painted in shades of pink at wala gaanong gamit sa loob. Hindi rin ganoon kalaki ang espasyo ng kwarto niya.

"Welcome to my safe haven, Lian. You can look around the room 'cause I'm gonna take a half bath."

"Okay."

Gaya ng sinabi ni Sawyer nilibot ko ang paningin sa loob ng kwarto niya. It's not as big as my room but I prefer her room. Matapos kong inikot ang paningin ko ay napansin kong may isa pang pintuan na hindi ko pa binuksan. Akala ko ay papunta iyon sa balcony niya kung meron man pero ganoon nalang ang pamimilog ng mata ko nang bumungad sa akin ang malaking walk-in closet na puno ng mga damit sa gilid at may counter sa may gitna.

Kaya pala maliit ng ang espasyo ng kwarto niya dahil halos kalahati ay closet niya. Though surprised, I still went inside Sawyer's closet at tiningnan ang mga damit niyang naka-hanger sa magkabilang gilid, most of the dresses were formal and has neutral colors on the left side whereas bright colors were placed on the other side. Adjacent to the dresses was a shelf full of her shoe collections. May kaunting mga designer bags din siya. The counter on the center were full of accessories, makeup kits and other whatnots.

Grabe, papasa na 'to bilang walk-in closet ni Heart Evangelista. I'm impressed.

Napalingon ako sa likod ko nang narinig ko ang boses ni Sawyer. She smiled when she saw me and proceeded to choose her clothes of choice. Aalis na sana ako pero pinigilan niya ako. Aniya'y kailangan ko rin daw magbihis kasi mga dagkong tae ang dadating mamaya sa birthday party ni Isaiah.

I figured it was a formal party so hinayaan ko nalang si Sawyer na bihisan ako. I almost cried when I saw Sawyer ruin her dresses' arrangement at pinasukat sa akin. Her closet was now a mess!

"You must look good, Lian! Hindi natin alam baka may ma-hook ka sa isa sa mga relatives ko!" she giggled.

I rolled my eyes but was laughing. Tumawa ako kasi alam kong imposible iyon.

In the end, I settled with a velvet midnight black wrap dress na pinaresan ng gray block heel sandals habang nakalugay lang ang buhok ko. Sawyer, on the other hand, wore a nude-colored bodycon dress and it really fit her well! Pinaresan niya ito ng puting toe-closed platform heels. She did her hair a fishtail na medyo messy na siyang bagay sa kaniya.

This girl really knows fashion.

Nilagyan din ni Sawyer ang mukha ko ng kaunting makeup at ganoon din sa kaniya. Pagkatapos n'on ay bumaba na kami para pumunta sa malaki nilang patio in between the two houses.

"Miss!" napalingon ako sa banda kung saan ko narinig ang boses ni Gregory at halos lumuwa ang mata ko sa nakita.

Greg in a white dress shirt and a black jeans na pinaresan niya ng puting sneakers.

"Greg?" I stared at him in awe. "Ikaw ba iyan?"

Ngumisi siya. "Ako lang naman 'to, Miss."

Narinig ko ang impit na tili ni Sawyer kaya napatawa nalang ako. Crush niya rin ata si Gregory gaya ni Zoey.

Speaking of Zoey, magpinsan din ba sila ni Sawyer? But Zoey's surname isn't Ferrolino, though. Or baka sa mother side lang ng brute na iyon sila magpinsan.

So that makes Sawyer and Zoey not cousins.

Pumwesto kaming tatlo sa pinakaharap na table at sinimulang lantakan ang appetizers na inihain ng hired caterer ng pamilya Ferrolino.

Nasa kagitnaan kami ng pagtawa nang biglang may tumabi sa akin. Nilingon ko iyon at agad nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ko nang nakilala ko kung sino iyon.

"Kairos," tawag ni Sawyer. "You look good! This is your first time to dress properly in a party. Usually, you'd just wear casual clothes and mind your business in the corner."

"This party piqued my interest," Kairos said while he was staring at my face. Na-conscious naman kaya bumaling ako sa ibang direksiyon.

I heard him chuckle. "Cute," he said and drank a little bit of water.

✓