Stay here, baby

She sighed. "Matigas talaga yang ulo ng apo ko eh, pasensya apo. Ano na balak mo ngayon?"

"I guess I need to leave nalang po. Pero hindi ako susuko. Babalik at babalik po ako hanggang sa mapapayag sya. Salamat nalang, Lola Nanding." I was about to leave when she stopped me.

"Aalis kana?"

"Opo. Bakit po?"

"Nakapagtanggalian kana ba? Malayo pa ang bahay nyo rito, ilang oras pa."

"It's okay, kakain nalang po ako sa daan."

"Ano ka bang bata ka. Dito ka nalang kumain. Pinagluto kita." She really talks to me like I'm her lost granddaughter...

Nakita nya ang aking reaksyon. "Patawad, apo. Naalagaan kasi talaga kita nung bata ka. Ang cute mo dati. Ngayon gumanda na at sumeksi pa." Pinisili pisil pa nya ang pisngi ko. I smiled. "Salamat po." I suddenly see my own lola in her.

Pinapunta na nya ako ulit sa hapagkainan at kuman kami.

"Phoenix!" She called out. Nang walang sumagot, tiningnan nya ako. "Nakita mo ba si Phoenix?"

I shook my head no, "Wala po. After po namin magkausap, hindi ko na po sya nakita."

"Nasaan kaya yung batang yun. Hay nako hayaan na nga natin."

Mas maganda pa nga na wala yun. Naiinis ako sa lalaking yun!

Nang matapos kami kumain, nag aya namang manood ng tv si Lola Nanding. Napag-alaman kong may tindahan pala sya sa likod lang.

Nang maghapon na, inaya nya naman akong magmeryenda. Parang di nya na ako pinapaalis. And me being me, I find it hard to refuse. Hindi ako makahindi lalo na't ganyan ang pagtrato sakin.

"Namiss lang kita, iha." Rason pa nito nung oras ng aming pagmeryenda.

I look at everything, the walls, the hard wood, and the interior of the house, it was still the same. But the vases, paintings, and some flowers were new. It feels like I'm going back it time as memories flooded me.

Time passed by at hindi ko na namalayan ng mag gabi na. I look at my wristwatch, 6:30. I cursed under my breath. Pano ako makakauwi nito? Gabi na! Delikado panaman sa daan....pero I promised mom. Napamura ulit ako.

"Lola Nanding?" I called out. I saw her in the kitchen, cooking. I cleared my throat. "Gabi na po. Kailangan ko ng umuwi-"

"Hala gabi na pala? Pasensya na. Sereia. Gusto kasi kitang makama. Tutal gabi na, pwede ka namang matulog dito samin. Bukas ka nalang umuwi. Atsaka umuulan eh."

"Umuulan?" I went to check the windows. Umuulan nga!

I sighed in defeat. "Okay po. I'll stay for the night."

"Yehey!" Aling Nanding celebrated.

I can't help but smile. She's really that happy? Ano bang ginawa ko noon at ganyan reaksyon nya sakin? It made my heart warm.

Nag dinner kami. Wala pa rin si Phoenix.

"Sige, dito ka nalang matulog." Lola Nanding pointed a room when we ascended the stairs. From what I can remember, ang mansyon na to ay may apat na kwarto. I entered the room and sighed. This is a guest room when it was still ours. Minsan lang ito matulugan kaya dito ako tumatambay dati paminsan minsan.

Wala pala akong dalang damit! I only have my kikay kit with me inside my shoulder bag...and I need to shower.

Ten minutes later, there was a knock on the door. It was Lola nanding, handing me a towel, t shirt and shorts.

"Pinahiram ko ng damit si Phoenixsa anak ng kaibigan ko, babae yun wag ka mag-alala."

Phoenix? So that's why wala sya? "Salamat po." I thanked her.

Bumaba ako para makaligo na dahil sa baba pa ang banyo rito. As I showered, I can't help but overthink everything. Tama ba na nagstay ako? Buti nalang Sabado ngayon at may time pa ako makauwi bukas para magtrabaho sa Lunes... On the other note...mabuti na rin siguro ito para may time pa akong mapersuade ang lalaking yun.

When I was finished showering, I went back to my room and layed on the bed. Napagod ako pero ang mata ko ay buhay pa rin. Ilang minuto ang nakalipas, hindi pa tin ako makatulog. Tumayo ako at pumunta sa kwarto ko noon, kung saan nasa kabila lang ng kwarto ko ngayon na guest room. The door was a bit opened. I bit my lip in nervousness. Sino kaya ang natutulog dito? Sana si Lola Nanding lang dahil kung hindi...lagot ako. Slowly, I opened it. I sighed in relief. Walang tao. I entered it and left the door open. I walked towards the beside table, and to the bed...ang mga disenyo pa rin ay pareho ng dati...walang nagbago.

"Anong ginagawa mo sa kwarto ko?!"

I jumped at the sound. I turn around and see Phoenix. His hair was dripping wet, mukhang bago pang ligo. He was wearing a black shirt and blue shorts, ibang iba sa kanina sa labas na humahablot ng damo at madumi. Now that he's clean, I could smell his scent, his strong perfume. It was a clean airy scent. He has dark brown eyes and thin lips. Matangos ang ilong nito at makakapal ang kilay. Thick lashes and sharp jaw. Matipuno ang katawan at matangkad. Hindi ito maputi, he has tanned skin. He glared at me.

"S-sorry. May naalala lang ako rito. Sige alis na ako."

Akma na sana akong aalis papunta sa pintuan ng mabilis nya itong isinara. He smiled. "Do you still want me to sell this land to you?"

I gulped. "Yeah." Why am I nervous? Sereia Isolde should not be nervous!

"You won't give up?"

"No." I firmly said.

He smirked. "Then may naisip akong plano."

"Ano yun?"

He sealed me in a cage as his hand was beside my head, my back pressing the wall. My breath hitched. "Kailangan mong ipakita sakin na gusto mo talaga itong lupain na to. Show it to me that you can manage it. Dun ko lang ibibigay sayo ito."

Napakunot noo ako. "Ibibigay?"

"Oo. Ibibigay. Walang bayad. Pero...may kapalit."

"A-ano?"

"Stay here, baby."

Wait, what? What does he mean by that?

I don't even want to know...goodness!