Chapter 4

"Ayen…" I felt someone was tapping my cheek continuously. I groaned at sinubukang hawiin ang kamay na gumagambala sa'king pagtulog.

"Love, wake up,"

I tried to cover my face with the pillow but he tried to get me up by pulling my arms up however, his plan did not affect since I am heavy.

"Love, please! Get up!" I heard he said something but it is inaudible. I don't understand anything except wake up!

I am drained! I can't even open my eyes! Ayoko pa bumangon, pakiramdam ko ay

sobrang pagod ng katawan ko at hindi ko kayang tumayo mula sa pagkakahiga.

"LooooOooove! Come on! Get up, NOW!" He held my both shoulders and shook me.

Nagpapadyak ako dahil napakakulit nito. Ayaw akong tigilan at panay alog sa'kin!

I opened my eyes and the first thing I saw was Toby. He now gently patting my shoulder, trying to wake me up again. Napangiti si Toby nang makitang bahagyang dumilat na ako saka siya umayos ng upo sa may kama ko.

"Finally…Come on, bangon na d'yan!" Pinalo niya pa ang pwet ko kaya napadaing ako.

I sit up while gently scratching my eyes and yawning. I still feel the drowsiness, I am half awake. Kahit na naka-upo na ako ay ramdam ko pa rin ang bigat ng talukap ng mata ko dahil sa antok, gusto pa rin nitong pumikit at bumalik sa pagtulog.

I felt the weight of Toby sitting on the edge of my bed. "Goodmorning," he greeted. Toby tried to fix my hair. Siguro ay sobrang gulo nito dahil sinubukan hawiin ni Toby ang buhok ko paalis sa mukha ko.

I am still out of my consciousness and just stun, gazing at him. I tried to open my one eye widely to see him fully. He was wearing his uniform. Probably, preparing to go to his university but his hair is still damp and messy.

"Are you awake? Tulog ka pa ata." He said jokingly and flicked my forehead.

Hinawakan ko ang noo ko na pinitik niya gamit ang isa kong kamay saka ngumuso sa kan'ya.

"Inaantok pa 'ko…" I stated using my quivering voice. Humikab ako at ang nakakainis d'on ay nagtatakip nang ilong si Toby at bahagyang lumayo, umaaktong nababahuan sa hininga ko. "Pucha…"

I frowned and hit him hard. "You're acting like we didn't kiss each other every morning."

He laughed. "Wow, we did that?" He asked with amusement on his face. "Really? Weh? We actually did that? How come?" Nang-iinis na naman ito.

"Get out of my sight, Toby. Nagdidilim ang paningin ko sa'yo."

Nakakalokong tawa lamang ang iginanti sa'kin ni Toby, sinubukan pang hulihin ang kamay ko at panay sorry.

I rolled my eyes. I stood up, leaving him behind. I went straight to the bathroom to take a shower and also brush my teeth. Pagkalabas ko nang cr, wala na d'on si Toby so I decided to go to the kitchen and cook myself some breakfast. May pasok ako ngayon pero maaga pa naman. I still have enough time to fill my stomach.

Pagkalabas ko pa lang ng kwarto ay bumungad sa'kin ang amoy ng bawang na piniprito, d'on naabutan ko pa si Toby na busy sa may kusina, kumekembot-kembot pa habang nagluluto ng almusal.

I walked towards him and give him a back hug. "Wala ka bang pasok?" Tanong ko.

"Meron pero maaga pa naman," tugon nito. I noticed that he was wearing my yellow apron. It suits him, he looks adorable while wiggling his bum and humming. He seems in a good mood today.

Napakunot ako nang noo. "Magb-byahe ka pa. Malayo ang UST dito." Bakas ang pag-aalala sa'kin pero marahan lang tumawa si Toby.

"UST lang 'yon. Makakaabot naman ako kasi maaga pa kaya ipagluluto na muna kita. You are more important than my studies." He jest out and tapped my head.

"Aray! Ayen naman!" D***g niya nang kurutin ko ang tagiliran niya.

"Studies is more important than landi!"

Natawa ng malakas si Toby dahil sa sinabi ko. "So, are you calling this landi? Alright, then, we're both malandi."

"Stop! Ikaw lang maharot dito." Kahit ako ay napapatawa na.

"We are not in love, we're just malandi. Is that what you want, Ayen?" Tuloy pa niya. Muli ko siyang kinurot sa tagiliran kaya napaatras siya. Parehas pa rin kaming tumatawa sa kalokohan ng isa't-isa.

"Okay, I'm gonna stop now." Kinagat ni Toby ang ibabang labi upang pigilan na nito ang pagtawa. "I couldn't finish this if we're continue laughing." Sumeryoso na siya ngayon pero bahagya pa ring nakangiti.

Parehas na kaming nanahimik na dalawa. Si Toby ay naka focus sa niluluto. I back hugged him and bury my face on his back. "I love you," I said, muffled.

"Ha?" Perhaps, he didn't hear it clearly.

Inangat ko ang mukha ko at ngumuso. "I said, I love you." Ulit ko.

"I didn't hear it well…Can you repeat it again? Please?" Sinasadya na niya 'yon. Hindi naman gan'on kahina ang pagkakasabi ko upang hindi niya marinig sa ikalawang pagkakataon.

"No! Ayoko nga! Isang beses lang dapat 'yon!" Pagtanggi ko.

Toby just smiled and hit my forehead using his palm. Kahit pa nasa likod niya ako ay nagawa niyang abutin ang noo ko.

"Silly," mahinang wika niya.

Nabigla ako kay Toby ng tanggalin niya ang kamay ko na nakayakap sa kan'ya kaya napahakbang ako papalayo. When our eyes met, I scowled at him.

"You might burn yourself. Your hands is near on the pan." He explained. After that, he turned off the stove and faced me while his arms were widely open.

I look at him with question in my eyes.

"Hug? Don't you want it?" Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay and mouthed 'come on, it's limited'.

"Ayoko nga," pagpapanggap ko na nagtatampo.

"Are you sure? I mean, okay, if you say so," balak na sana niyang talikuran ko but I hugged him right away. I smeared my face on his chest para itago ang mukha kong kinikilig dahil sa mga actions niya. Ang aga-agang bumubungad sa'kin ng mga sweet gestures ni Toby.

I released Toby dahil kailangan na namin kumain. Kaagad akong pumwesto at umupo sa tapat ng countertop dahil mags-serve na ng almusal si Toby. Pagkaupo ko, he already started to place our breakfast one by one.

Nang maihanda na ni Toby ang almusal, he served me my plate and put some garlic fried rice, egg, and bacon on it. He even kissed the top of my head before positioning himself on his seat.

I begun to eat my breakfast while Toby's waiting for me to finish my food so we can leave soon.

Nagtaka naman ako kung bakit hindi ito kumakain. "Hindi ka mag-aalmusal?" Napasimangot ako nang umiling si Toby sa'kin.

"Anong hindi ka mag-aalmusal? Malayo ang byahe mo kaya kumain ka." Sita ko sa kan'ya. Kaagad akong sumandok ng pagkain mula sa plato ko saka itinapat ang kutsarang may kanin at ulam sa bibig ni Toby pero lumayo ang mukha niya at umiling sa'kin. Balak pa nga niyang itulak ang kamay ko pero tinitigan ko siya ng masama.

"Kumain ka…Dalian mo," nagbabanta ang tonong saad ko.

Wala nang nagawa si Toby kung hindi sumunod. Kaagad niyang sinubo ang kutsara na may pagkain at dahan-dahang ngumuya habang arko ang kilay na nakatitig sa'kin.

"You shouldn't let yourself go with an empty stomach. Baka madisgrasya ka pa sa daan dahil sa gutom, lalo na at nagd-drive ka." Sermon ko kay Toby. Parang wala lang naman ang sinasabi ko sa kan'ya. Patuloy lang ako sa pagsubo ng pagkain sa kan'ya na kinakain naman niya.

Pagkatapos namin kumain, kaagad kong nilagay sa sink ang plato ko. Hindi ko namalayan na sumunod sa likod ko si Toby at inaalok akong siya na ang maghugas. Syempre, tumanggi ako. Ang abusada ko naman kung hahayaan ko siyang maghugas kahit siya na ang nagluto. Para namang alila ko siya rito kung gan'on. Habang naghuhugas ako ng plato, si Toby naman ay nasa sala at tinitigan kung nadala niya ba ang mga dapat niyang dalhin ngayong araw.

"Love, where's your flask? I'll fill it for you." Alok niya, hinahanap ang lalagyanan ko ng tubig. "Oh, there it is." He stated after he found my hydro flask.

Pagkatapos maghugas, Inabot sa'kin ni Toby ang hydroflask ko na may laman ng tubig, kasama sa inabot niya ay ang bag ko na kaagad ko namang kinuha. Tinulungan pa 'ko nito na isuot ang bag sa'king balikat saka ako binigyan ng headpat.

Sabay kaming umalis ng condo. Toby offered to send me off dahil malapit lang naman daw ang university ko pero tumanggi ako, pwede naman akong maglakad o mag-jeep since malapit lang, kaya ko naman ang sarili ko at saka baka malate pa siya ng dahil sa'kin. Ang layo ng UST dito, mahigit ilang kilometro ang layo n'on!

"Ayen!" Sigaw ni Caitlyn habang hinahabol ako. Papaalis na sana ako dahil kailangan kong umuwi ng maaga dahil marami pa akong kailangang gawin, magluluto pa ako bago umuwi si Toby at magbabasa para sa memorization.

"What?" Tanong ko habang patuloy na naglalakad, nakasunod lamang siya sa'kin habang binibilisan ko ang paglakad ko. Pauwi na si Toby, baka walang maabutang pagkain 'yon.

She clung herself to my arm kaya napahinto ako. "Can you accompany me, please?" She is using her cute voice thinking that I would fall for her pagpapa-cute.

I looked at her and frowned when I noticed that she's wearing a little exaggerated makeup on her face and her hair was fixed. She looked prepared for something or a date. Her eyeliner is not yet even and her lipstick is not well applied. What happened to her?

How could I tell her that her makeup looks messy? Goodness! Lord is testing me!

"Accompany you? Where? Anong balak mong gawin, ha?" Sunod-sunod na tanong ko sabay kurot sa tagiliran niya.

"Kasi! Dali na! Samahan mo na 'ko. I promise, sandali lang tayo." She suddenly act like a child na parang nagt-tantrums sa'kin.

I smiled at her. "Okay, but promise me, we will be quick!" Tumango si Caitlyn at para bang bata na hinatak ako nito sa parking lot. Para akong sako na hinahatak-hatak lang ni Caitlyn.

I stop Caitlyn from dragging me. "Before we go, fix your makeup first. Honey, you look miserable…your makeup is messy!" Puna ko.

Caitlyn look at me cluelessly. "My makeup?" Pag-ulit niya. Tumango ako at hindi na nagsalita pang ulit dahil baka ma-offend ito. "Really? But I don't wear makeup."

Pinaningkitan ko ito ng mata. "Stop fooling me, Lady." Napatawa ako. "Your eyeliner is not evenly applied." Tinuro ko ang mata niya.

"Aw, my bad…I am not used to wear makeup 'cause you know? I am more likely on natural." She rolled her eyes heavenward.

"Okay," kunwaring walang pakialam na tugon ko.!

Tinago ko na lang ang tawa sa sarili. More likely on natural pero sa totoo lang, gamay niya ang pagma-makeup at halos araw-araw siyang nakasuot n'on. Kalokohan ng babaeng 'to. Putting makeup is not actually something to be ashamed of. Honestly, makeup helps to enhance one's beauty.

Caitlyn could have done anything but to repeat her makeup again.

"Argh! I really hate makeups! Goodness!" Rekalmo niya at nagpapadyak pa sa inis. "Ayen! Look at my eyes. Did I applied it even?" Nag-aalalang tanong sa'kin.

Maayos na 'yon, ewan ko kung ano pa ang nirereklamo niya pero pantay na ang makeup niya.

"Okay na, hindi na siya magulo."

"Really? Why does it seems that this eye…" turo niya sa kaliwang mata. "I put a lot of eyeshadow in this eye."

Laki ng problema ng babaeng 'to. Sabi nga ng pantay na, e. Hiningian pa ako ng opinyon tapos hindi rin pala pakikinggan.

Nagtagal pa kami d'on sa pwestong 'yon, nakatayo habang panay apply ng makeup si Caitlyn. Nangangawit na 'ko, gusto ko nang takbuhan ang babaeng 'to. Sabi ko sa kan'ya naghahadali ako pero and'yan siya, nagpapaka-stress kung pantay ba ang makeup niya.

"Done!" She exclaimed. "Let's go, Ayen," dali-dali niyang binalik ang mga makeup niya sa loob ng bag bago kumapit muli sa'kin at hinatak na ako paalis.

Nang makarating na kami sa parking lot, nagulat na lang ako nang biglang tumili si Caitlyn at pinaghahampas ako. I was too shock to do dodge nor protect myself from every blow Caitlyn giving me.

I-I felt my arm goes numb. Hindi ko maramdaman ang sarili kong baso kakahampas ni Caitlyn.

Nang tapos na si Caitlyn sa kakahampas sa'kin. Natanaw ko na tumakbo ito diretso sa lalake na nakasandal sa motor. Nakatalikod ito sa'min. Niyakap siya ni Caitlyn na sobrang saya nang makita ito. Mukha namang kaibigan ni Caitlyn 'yon dahil nag-uusap sila na para bang matagal na silang magkakilala.

Medyo lumapit ako sa kanila para hindi ako magmukhang alone. Tinanggal nung lalake ang suot niyang helmet at ginulo ang buhok.

"Do you wait ng matagal?" She cheerfully asked.

Ano raw? Do you wait ng matagal? Pucha, saan niya nakuha 'yon?

I tried to conceal my laughter. I bit my lower lip, trying so hard not to release any sound. Nagpanggap na lang ako na inililibot ang paningin, nililibang ang sarili upang malimutan 'yon.

The guy change its position at natanaw ko ang mukha nito. It was Caitlyn's date noon. Medyo may kalayuan sila sa'kin pero naiinis ako nang masulyapan ko pa lamang ang mukha nung lalake.

Caitlyn couldn't stop talking to him and didn't even recognize my presence. Magmumukha akong chismosa rito dahil medyo malapit ako sa kanila. Akalain ng ibang tao, nakikinig ako sa usapan nila at sobrang usisera ko.

Nakakaramdam na ako ng ngawit at pagkabagot. Should I leave? Wala na rin naman na akong gagawin dito. Ano bang iaambag ko rito?

I stretched my arms forward. Argh! I heard my bones cracked. Tumatanda na ata ako, lumulutong na mga buto ko.

I think the guy noticed me because he nodded slightly but I rolled my eyes on him instead. I saw him smirked and proceed on talking with Caitlyn.

Hindi ko na natiis kaya lumapit na ako kay Caitlyn at tinapik ang balikat niya. Hindi kasi niya ako mapapansin kung hindi ako magpaparamdam and she was too invested on giving the guy much attention.

"Caitlyn…" mahinang tawag ko. She was just giving me a 'whut' look while raising her both brows.

"Ayen," Tinapunan ko ito ng tingin at tinaasan ng kilay nang tawagin ako nito. Close ba tayo? Kung makatawag sa pangalan ko parang close kami, ah. Hindi ko pa rin nakalimutan 'yung pang-iistress na dinulot niya sa'kin.

"Ayen, right?" Alinlangan na tanong niya. Mukhang hindi pa sure kung tama ang banggit niya sa palayaw ko.

"Yes, why?" Maangas na tugon ko.

Napangiwi naman ito ng marinig ang paraan nang pagsagot ko sa kan'ya.

He took something in his pocket and instantly gave it to me. It was my phone! Oh, god, my phone!

Kaagad kong kinuha ang cellphone ko mula sa kamay niya at binuksan kung ayos lang 'yon. Okay naman ito dahil bumukas pa, low battery nga lang. Hindi man lang chinarge! Ilang araw 'to sa kan'ya hindi man lang nagmagandang loob!

I heard the man cleared his throat. "I think you forgot something." He looked at me, expecting something from me.

I rolled my eyes heavenward and sighed. "Thank you," I sneered.

He looked at me in disbelief and scoffed. "Like, wow, madam, thank you for being thankful. I'm blessed!" He sarcastically said. Hindi ko na lang siya inimik.

Kaagad kong inasikaso ang phone ko dahil nga lowbatt. Kinuha ko ang ang power bank sa bag ko para icharge ang phone. Baka mamaya ay may mga messages na nando'n.

"Uhm, guys? What happened?" Parehas napabaling ang tingin namin kat Caitlyn na nalilito.

"Oh, uhm, I left my phone somewhere sa bar and your boyfriend, nahanap niya." I explained. Caitlyn's lips formed an 'o'.

"Gaius," She drew closer to the man named Gaius. "Thank you for keeping my friend's phone. I owe you." She sweetly said while caressing Gaius' shoulder.

I couldn't stand watching them being touchy touchy to each other. Toby and I didn't do that thing, yuck!

"Well, you really owe me. " He said and laughed. "Pay me for a date, honey." He said with a smirk plastered on his face.

Tama ba 'yon? Nagharutan ba naman sa harap ko? Mga walang galang 'tong mga 'to.

I make a face. "Wow, salamat sa blessing, ha." Inis na bulong ko at ngumiwi.

Parang wala ako sa paligid nila at silang dalawa lang ang nag-uusap. Hindi na din ako pinansin ni Caitlyn dahil na kay Gaius ang atensyon nito. I saw Gaius pinched her cheeks were the reason why Caitlyn whined pagkatapos ay sinuotan na ni Gaius si Caitlyn ng helmet. Gaius also wears his own helmet saka sumakay sa motor.

"Let's go on a date today?" Yaya ni Gaius. Kaagad naman umangkas sa motor si Caitlyn at humawak nang mahigpit sa bewang ni Gaius.

I noticed that Gaius rides a Suzuki Hayabusa na kulay black at may orange lining. Pinanood ko kung paano paandarin ni Gaius ang motor at umalis silang pareho. Iniwan ako mag-isa.

I thought sasamahan ko si Caitlyn somewhere pero iniwan ako nito. I had no choice but to go home alone.

Pagkauwi ko sa condo, ako lang mag-isa. Ako lagi ang nauuna umuwi sa'min ni Toby since mas malayo ang university na pinapasukan niya while Ateneo is just a short distance from my condo building. I am also living around katipunan, so, as usual, everytime na umuuwi ako, kaagad akong nag-aasikaso ng gawaing bahay and tonight, I am planning to make sinigang na hipon for our dinner.

Habang kumililos ako sa kusina, hindi ko namalayan na naka-uwi na pala si Toby. Nagulat na lang ako ng makitang naka tayo na ito at nakasandal sa gilid ng ref, pinapanood ako magluto habang todo ang ngiti sa labi.

"Hi, love," bati niya. His eyes looked tired and some of the buttons of his uniform were open. Nawala unti-unti ang ngiti ni Toby ng maglakad ako papalapit sa kan'ya.

My brow creased seeing him like he's going through a big mess. "What happened to you? Your uniform," turo ko sa uniform niyang nakabukas at gusot-gusot. "Anong nangyari d'yan? 'yung buhok mo, sobrang gulo. Ano bang nangyari sa'yo?" Sunod-sunod na tanong ko dala ng pag-aalala.

But Toby refused to answer, instead, he came near me and hugged me tight. He placed his head on my shoulder and mumbling things that I couldn't even understand. I let him rest on my shoulder. I didn't move for a minute until he released me. He looked at me with a plain look, no sign of ecstatic Toby. I caressed his face that makes him close his eyes and felt the warm of my palm. He makes me feel worried. I want to know what happened on him but he's not ready to tell me the story.

"I'll go to my room, Love, I'm really tired." Paalam niya. I smiled at him and nodded as a response. I watched him entering his room. Siguro ay sobrang stressed niya lang. I let him rest for awhile at wala siyang balak guluhin. It is just unusual to him coming home and suddenly acting like that. Ilang linggo na siyang gan'yan kaya nakakabahala na talaga.

Pagkapasok ni Toby, tinapos ko na kaagad ang pagluluto para makapag hapunan na. But in the end, hindi kumain si Toby. He apologized to me but it was fine. I understand that he had a tough day kaya hindi ko na siya pinilit pa. Mamaya ko na lang siya dadalhan nang pagkain kapag medyo nakapagpahinga ba ito.

Dala-dala ko ang phone ko habang kinakalkal 'yon nang lumabas ako sa kwarto ko. I sat on the couch and open the T.V to watch some movies on N*****x.

I opened my phone's WiFi and the first notification popped on my phone was a message from my mommy. I read it immediately because it might be an emergency message.

But after I read it, it was just an invitation to their party. She was inviting us to Daddy's party. I don't know the main purpose or the special event that my parents suddenly threw a party in our house. Ano kayang meron? Wala akong idea kung ano ang ganap kung bakit may party sila. Bakit ko ba iniisip 'yon? Parang hindi naman ako sanay sa mga magulang ko. Even in a small and not so special thing they will throw a party para maipagmayabang na may pang-party sila. Nagpaparty nga noon kasi nabili ni Mommy 'yung limited edition na bag niya. E, pinagmayabang niya lang naman 'yon sa mga kaibigan niya.

Mommy even mentioned that I need to bring Toby with me. Probably, his parents were also there as well as his father; he was a prominent man, too. They owned the Psalm Real Estate Inc. Their company is named after Toby since he was an only child and to show how much they value their only son a lot.

I felt Toby's presence ng dumaan ito sa gilid ko saka umupo sa tabi ko. Pagkaupo niya, kaagad ko itong kinalabit at pinakita ang message ni mommy.

"They invited us," I said and showed him the screen of my phone. "Pupunta ba tayo?"

His forehead creased. "Do you want us to come?"

Sandali akong napatahimik. Kung ako ang tatanungin, hindi ko gusto pumunta pero alam kong pipilitin ako ni Mommy na dumalo kahit labag sa loob ko. Saka, nandoon din ang mga magulang ni Toby, for sure they were expecting their son to come. Ang tagal na kayang hindi nakita ni Toby ang mga magulang niya dahil sobrang busy nito. They didn't bother to interrupt Toby dahil alam ng mga magulang ni Toby na sobrang nagpupursigi ang anak nila sa pag-aaral at ayaw nila itong ma-distract.

"They were expecting us there…" mahinang tugon ko.

He raised his brows to me. "I am not asking if they were expecting us to be there or not. I am asking if you want to, because if you'd like to go, then, we will go." Diretsahang saad niya sa'kin.

Inantay ni Toby na sumagot ako. Napaisip ako kung dapat ba kaming pumunta. My parents will be mad at me if I don't show up.

"Punta tayo," I said uncertainly. Parang patanong pa ata ang pagkakasabi ko n'on.

Marahang napatawa si Toby. "My poor Ayen is confused." He held the back of my head at marahang inihilig sa dibdib niya. "You know that I hate when you are being uncomfortable in a circumstance." He said softly while caressing my hair.

"Ayokong pilitin mo ang sarili mo na pumunta. The reason why I am asking you is that I don't want you to be uneasy in front of your parents. I can't calm you down in case na biglang magbago ang atmosphere sa party na 'yon. If you are settle going to the party, then, I'll be with you," Wika ni Toby. Dahil sa sinabi ni Toby ay nakaramdam ako ng pagkapanatag dahil alam ko na kung may mangyayari mang hindi maganda, nandoon siya sa tabi ko.

I lean my head on his shoulder. "Okay lang siguro pumunta tayo. I'll be fine." I assured him and I slightly slapped him using my left hand. Napatawa naman siya ng mahina dahil sa ginawa ko. "Bukas na 'yung party. Makakauwi ka ba ng maaga o mauna na ako sa'yo?"

He sighed. I looked at him and I saw Toby brushed his hair up. I frowned. Hindi ko lang sinasabi sa kan'ya pero halos tuwing uuwi si Toby, lagi siyang mukhang sobrang pagod. Tinatanong ko siya kung bakit pero wala siyang maayos na sagot sa'kin. Nag-aalala na 'ko sa lagay niya. Baka pinapagod niya masyado ang sarili niya.

I stood up and sat on his lap, facing him. He doesn't seem to be bothered by my actions, instead, he held my waist and plastered a smirk on his face. I clung my arms on his neck and planted some kisses on his cheeks. I looked straight in his eyes when suddenly he let out a chuckle.

"Why are you doing this to me?" He asked and gave me a kiss on my lips then pulled my waist even closer.

I pointed to his face. "Look at yourself, you look worn out everytime na umuuwi ka. Ano ba kasing ginagawa mo?" Nag-aalalang tanong ko

He didn't utter nor respond to my question. He just shrugged his shoulders na halatang iniiwasan ang pagsagot sa tanong ko. Hinawi niya na lang patalikod ang buhok ko na nakalagay sa balikat ko. Gan'yan 'yan lagi, kung hindi sasagot, idadaan sa biro.

"I'm sorry for giving you such worry." He apologized and drew his face closer to give me a peck of kisses but I refused to accept it. I covered his mouth before it touched my lips and laughed.

"No kisses for you! You made me damn worried about you. That's a punishment!" I made an angry face to him and pouted my lips.

Toby licked and bit his lower lips. "What should I do to terminate the punishment, madam?" He asked using his husky voice.

I playfully traced his nose line to the tip of his nose using my index finger. "That's the rule, Love. You cannot disobey our rules."

He held my hand and gently bit my index finger that I used to trace his nose line. He abruptly kissed me. I looked at him with wide eyes then hit him on his arm.

"Stubborn!" Sigaw ko sa kan'ya habang hinahampas ang braso niya. Tinatawanan lang ako nito.

I stopped hitting him when I felt his hands tighten its grip on my waist. He drew his face close to my ear and whispered something.

"Wear something easy to take off tomorrow night." He said teasingly. I felt the heat of his breath. My face started to heat up and probably it is turning red as of the moment. After he moved his face away, he cracked up. Perhaps, he's laughing because of my reaction.

He pinched my cheeks. "Cute baby girl," He then lifted me and moved me from his side.

I pouted. "Ang sama ng ugali mo!" Sigaw ko. Awtomatikong inabot ng kamay ko ang cushion na nasa likod ko na kaagad kong hinampas kay Toby.

He protected himself using his hand. He parries my counter attacks by pushing me off the couch using his foot. I fell off the couch and looked at him in disbelief.

I stood up, still holding the cushion. Umamba akong hahampasin siya ulit kaya bigla itong tumayo. Tumatawa itong tumakbo papunta sa kwarto niya kaya hinabol ko siya pero nailock niya na ang pinto kaya hindi ko na naabutan si Toby.

I knocked on his door violently. "'Wag kang lalabas d'yan! Sinasabi ko sa'yo!" Pagbabanta ko sa kan'ya pero narinig ko lamang ito na tumawa.