Chapter 3

"You deserve to be happy," saad n'ya kaya ngumiti lang ako sa kanya. I don't know what happiness she's talking about, I'm happy by the fact that I have them.

"You don't have to think about my happiness. I'm waiting for your happiness, Ivory."

I've always praying about her Happiness. I want her to get out of her dark world and explore the lightness in this world. I want her to be happy, I want her to be free. That's why I keep doing my best for her, I keep doing what's for the best.

Nakita ko paano siya pumapasok sa School ng may black eye at may pasa sa kahit anong balat niya. Noon pa man na bata siya ay lagi na siyang binubugbog  ng Nanay n'ya. How could they do it to her? Phoebe was very kind, smart, hardworking, so why? Why would they show Phoebe that she was Worthless when in fact she's not?

I'm so scared to lose her. Kaya t'wing umuuwi s'ya galing sa bahay nila natutulog ako katabi n'ya baka kasi gawin n'ya ang mga bagay na 'yon like. I don't want her to end up killing herself because of depression, I want her to feel that someone loves her, she's the most precious thing I have. Hindi man mapakita ng Pamilya n'ya iyon ay ako ang gagawa. Is she dissappear, I will too.

"Masaya naman ako, Minx. Sanay naman ako, wala ng mababago sa pamilyang 'yon." She smiled to me so I sighed. I tap her head gently, multiple times. "Gusto ko ikaw naman ang maging masaya."

"Maligo ka na, Ivory."

Niligpit ko ang mga gamit n'ya. Ang bag n'ya puno ng putik! Tinanggal ko ang mga gamit n'ya sa school sa bag at nilagay sa ibabaw ng mesa, bago iligay ang mga damit sa laundry, lalaban ko na lang s'ya kapag binaba nina Savannah at Olivia ang mga marurumi nilang damit.

Papahiramin ko na lang s'ya ng bag kong pink hindi ko naman ginagamit dahil bigay ni kuya at ayaw ko sa pink! Well dati oo kasi bata pa ako no'n pero ngayon hindi na. May extra uniform naman s'ya na binili ko. I feel like I am her Mother.

Buti at nalinis ko na ang kwarto ni Phoebe, Savannah at Olivia, makakapagpahinga na sila ng maayos without minding the dirt in their rooms. Sanay na ako sa mga gawaing bahay dahil hindi naman palagi ay aasa ako kina Mommy and Daddy.

Nagluto na rin ako ng pagkain ni Phoebe. I just cooked her sinigang sa baboy para mainit ang tiyan n'ya bago magpahinga mamaya.

"Ivory!" sigaw ko habang pinaghahain ko s'ya. Bumaba naman s'ya na bagong ligo. She's wearing a dolphin short and pink sando. Ngumiti ako ng tipid bago umupo, umupo naman s'ya sa harapan ko.

"Okay ka na ba?" 

"Oo naman, Minx. Ako pa ba?" she answered with a question so I shook my head. I pointed the food and she start eating without minding me. I open my phone and open the F******k as usual. As usual putok na putok ng notifications iyon pero pinagsawalang bahala ko muna at binuksan ang Messenger, only to see Patricio chats. Tinarayan ko na't lahat lahat ay chat pa rin ng chat?! Walang magandang mangyayari sa buhay ko kapag nakipag-close pa ako sa kanya.

Patricio Morgan:

Ayaw mo na akong pansinin!

Woy! Huy!

"Why is this person so stubborn!?" I shout without hesitation. Not knowing that Phoebe still there.

"Sino?" tanong ni Phoebe sa akin na mabilis kong sinagot dahil sa inis na nararamdaman ko sa kanya.

"Patricio Morgan. I don't even talk to him but he keep talking to me!" May sasabihin pa sana ako ng bigla kong makita ang panunuksong tingin ni Phoebe. Kinikilig ata ang gaga.

"'Wag mong sabihin tinamaan na ang mukhang Vampira sa 'yo?" She giggles so I scoff. She was teasing me, I know it!

"I don't know, okay?!"

"Why don't you try?" she asked with a giggle. Why she even wasting her time to tease me!?

"Stop it, Ivory!"

"Wala pa  naman akong sinasabi pa!" She was smirking because she knows that I don't like getting tease.

"You're teasing me!"

"I didn't, ah? You're just feeling it!" 

"Shut up, Ivory!" I hissed but she continue giggling to me. "Just eat!" 

"Gusto mo si Pat, no? ayiiiiee!" 

"What? No!" I denied. As If I will fall for that curly boy with green menacing eyes with those flirting smile. I couldn't help thinking about him, I know that he's handsome but I can't admit it to him. I rolled my eyes and start running towards to my room.

"Crush mo s'ya!" Pahabol na saad n'ya kaya padabog kong sinarado ang pinto. How dare her to tease me with that guy! Argh annoying!

Pumunta ako sa banyo at nag hilamos ng mukha. Pumunta ako sa vanity table at naglagay ng vaseline aloe fresh, my Mom bought it from Dubai. I smiled in the mirror trying to smile. I want to learn how to smile properly but why there's a creepy person in front of the mirror? Why my smile is creepy like I will do something bad!

After five minutes, I rinsed my face and put facial mask and laid down to the bed. I open my phone and Patricio chats is starting to get to me. Nag-picture ako ay nilagay 'yon sa story ko with caption 'Doing my skincare'

Meggay Minx:

Napaka-annoying and so stubborn!

Patricio is now typing...

Patricio Morgan:

Ang cute mo!

Anong konek ng cute sa makulit!? I'm not even cute person! I'm not a dog! This guy!

Meggay Minx:

What is connection of kulit and cute?

Patricio Morgan:

Because you're cute and I'm the makulit.

I sniffles a smile because of his chat but why I do smile!? No, Patricio is rubbing me or something!

Meggay Minx:

The 'Makulit' is true but I am not cute.

Patricio Morgan:

Se cresh me ne ake!?

What?! Why the fuck he's using pabebe convo now?! He's a man for fucking sake! This man will be death of me.

Meggay Minx:

I didn't say that.

Patricio morgan is typing...

I rolled my eyes and wait for his reply, when did I wait for someone to reply? 

Patricio Morgan:

Aww:((

Meggay Minx:

You look like a dog

Patricio Morgan:

Edi kakagatin kita rawr!

How dare this fucking vampire to say that!?

Meggay Minx:

You're so bastos.

Patricio Morgan:

Anong bastos ro'n? 'Di ba pag aso nanganggat?

Meggay Minx:

You're not fucking dog, You're a fucking vampire!

Patricio Morgan:

Edi kakagatin kita sa leeg kapag kasi sa aso sa binti or kamay ako sa leeg!

Meggay Minx:

Eww...

Patricio Morgan:                                                             Di nga? Mukha ba kong bampira?

I rolled my eyes and type a fast reply. This is the first time I got a long conversation with someone.

Meggay Minx:

Yeah, you look like one, but I didn't see any vampire because that's not true!

Patricio Morgan:

You're architect not attorney lol!

I rolled my eyes because of his damn chat! I think of a good back fire.

Meggay Minx:

You're engineer not a kinder garden student.

Patricio Morgan:

Did you just fire back?!

Meggay Minx:

Yeah🤘

Patricio Morgan:

Vc tayo oy gagi ang gwapo ko pa naman ngayon!

Meggay minx:

Who says you're handsome?

Patricio Morgan sent a photo.

Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinend n'ya. Kitang kita mo sa ngiti n'ya ang brace n'ya. He's topless! how dare him to show his abs to me?! Bagong ligo ata s'ya kaya napairap ako, I am not affected! Yeah, and pigs fly.

Patricio Morgan:

Wag mo masyadong titigan baka maging crush mo ako.

Meggay Minx:

I didnt even look on it for five minutes duh!

But I stare on it.

Patricio Morgan:

Vc na tayo pleaseee???

I rolled my damn eyes because of his stubborness.

Patricio Morgan:

Dali na kasi!

Meggay Minx:

Are you giving me orders?!

Patricio Morgan:

Request naman yon oy!

Meggay Minx:

What if ayoko?

Patricio Morgan:

I promise to treat you! ahmmm... ano ba peborit mo?

Meggay Minx:

That's favorite not damn peborit!

Patricio Morgan:

That's how handsome using words.

Meggay Minx:

Who says?

Patricio Morgan:

Ikaw.

Tinaasan ko ng kilay ang chat n'ya. If I see him right now, I might punch him so hard. I really hate this part of him.

Meggay Minx:

I didn't even say it.

Patricio Morgan set his nick name into vampire.

Napangiti ako dahil sa nickname. Why he's puting vampire in his nickname?

I rolled my eyes and call him, I don't know if I'm good looking now but it doesn't matter as long as I talk to him. 

Nakangite s'ya habang nakatitig sa akin sa Video call pero nakatingin lang ako ng blanko, not knowing what to talk.

"Yayamin tayo ngayon, ah? Naka facial mask pa!" Sigaw n'ya sa kabilang linya kaya tiningnan ko s'ya ng masama at tinanggal ang facial mask ko. Mahirap ng tigyawatin, eh.

Bumaba ako sa kama at dumiretso banyo. He just kept looking at me while smiling, Nag hilamos ako at nag tooth brush kahit nakavido call pa.

"Mas maganda ka pala, no? Kapag walang make up," saad n'ya sa gitna ng katahimikan na namutawi sa aming dalawa, kaya napatingin ako sa kanya habang nagpupunas ng mukha.

"I used powder and liptint, ahm, I think sometimes I put lip balm."

"You're beautiful the way you are," he said while just smiling, saying those words that will never affect me but I smile suddenly. Nakakahawa ang ngiti n'ya.

"Bola bola, huh?" I said and left the room while holding my phone. 

"Ivory!" I called her but I received no response, so I go to her room but she's not there! Bumaba ako sa sala pero wala rin s'ya even in the kitchen, where the hell she is?!

"Sino hinahanap mo?" he curiosly asked. He was looking at me intently so I try to shrugged off the bad gut that I was feeling right now.

"Si Phoebe."

Ewan pero nakaramdam ako ng kaba. It feels like they are keeping a secret from me or are they in some bad place?

"Baka bumili lang," nakangiteng saad n'ya kaya tumango ako, pinagsawalang bahala muna ang sa mga kaibigan ko at pinatong ang phone ko sa lamesa. Nagtimpla ng black coffee, I hate coffee with milk nagtatae ako!

"You like black coffee? Me too!" 

"Nagtatae ako sa may gatas na kape, you know."

"Amputcha, bulgaran na nagtatae ka ro'n, dapat in-english mo, kaderder ka!" He hissed so I rolled my eyes. Parang Tae lang, iniiyakan na?

"I'm being honest here!" 

"Well, hindi naman ako nagtatae," Diniin n'ya pa 'yung nagtatae. Kanina hindi naman din ako nagtae sa Cappucino, eh. "Basta ayoko lang sa may gatas na kape."

I rolled my eyes and sip to the coffee.I didn't look back at him again, afraid of seeing his damn smile.

"Let's have a date tomorrow, Meggay." 

"Why?"

"Nothing." He pouted with my question. Asking for a date and says nothing? I rolled my damn eyes again and continue drinking coffee.

"Where's located my heart?" He suddenly asked in the midst of silent, so my brows furrowed. Why would he asked such stupid question!? Bobo ba to!? Dumaan ng kinder garden, Elementary at high school pero hinde n'ya alam kung nasaan ang puso n'ya!?

"Nasa dibdib," maikling sagot ko. Nasaan pa ba ang puso kung 'di sa dibdib di 'ba?

"Maliii kaaaa!" 

"Nasaan?!" naiinis na saad ko at uminom uli ng kape. Nasaan ba kasi ang lintik na puso n'ya?

"Left or right?" he asked again.

"Left."

"Mali ka na naman!" asik n'ya kaya lalong nag salubong ang kilay ko. Kalma lang, Meggay, isip bata lang si Patricio.

"Eh, nasaan ba 'yang lintek mong puso!?" 

"It is in your heart," nakangising sagot n'ya kaya kumunot ang noo ko at ang daming pumapasok na mathematical sa utak ko. Eto na naman sa mga salita n'ya na hindi ko naman naiintindihan. Paano mapupunta ang puso n'ya sa akin? Magnanakaw na ba ako ng puso ngayon?

"Kelegen ke, pleaseeee." 

"Is this one of your jokes? Stop joking, it's not funny," seryosong saad ko. It's not even funny and I don't get him.

"It's not joke, pinagisipan ko 'yon, ah! Tapos hindi ka naman kikiligin?" Ngumuso s'ya at parang batang kinuhanan ng candy pero ang cute n'ya. Okay, Meggay cute na s'ya ngayon?

"Anong nakakakilig sa sinabi mo?" I said while looking at him. He's still pouting I love seeing him pouting.

"Sinearch ko pa 'yon sa g****e, amputcha!" He looked at disbelief like why I did not understand his jokes.

"Stop doing your corny jokes, Mr. Vampire." 

Bigla n'ya akong hindi pinansin."Yah, Mr. Vampire!" Sigaw ko pero nakanguso syang tinitigan ako. Kaya nag isip ako ng pwedeng sabihin sa kanya.

"Stay like that, ang cute mo."

"Sabi ko na eh bagay talaga tayo!" he suddenly said with cheerful tone so my brows furrowed. I can't believe with his mood swings!

"What?!"

"Sabi ko bagay tayo look. nacu-cutan ako kapag mataray ka tapos ikaw nacu-cutan kapag nakanguso ako gusto mo ngumuso na lang ako palagi?" 

"Argh, why you're being like that!?" I hissed to him and he's looking at me like teasing me?!

"Being alin?" 

I rolled my damn fucking eyes again and drink all the coffee in my mug. He was teasing me like Phoebe did! Speaking of Phoebe... Bakit hinde pa rin sila umuuwi? Lalo na si Phoebe?! Damn, 11:30 na, ah? Mag 12 am na saan ba sila nagpunta?

"Hoy! Woy binabae!" I looked at him at tinaasan s'ya ng kilay. Maka-babae naman 'to!

"What again!?"

"Dadalhin kita sa japanese garden malapit sa The Venice maraming ulap ro'n pag palubong ang araw," he said pero parang may lumiwanag sa akin dahil sa sinabi n'ya. I know what he's talking right now! It's about clouds!

"Talaga?"

"Favorite ko talaga ang mga ulap." nakangiweng saad n'ya, mukhang tinamad na s'yang ngumisi.

"Wait, papakita ko!" he said and stood up. Naglakad s'ya at pinakita sa akin ang room n'ya. May sunset na color sa ding ding at maraming ulap na naka paint, Pinatay n'ya ang ilaw at nag glow in the dark ang mga ulap na nakapaint sa ding ding n'ya kaya nakangite ako habang pinapanood yon.

"Me too, favorite ko 'yan! Pero saan ba yan nabibili?"

"Sa France." 

"Aww, I thought meron rin n'yan dito sa pilipinas. I was hoping to buy." 

"Ibibili kita pag pumunta ako ro'n! Sa november pupunta kami nina nanay ro'n."

Umupo s'ya sa kama n'ya habang nakatingin sa phone or sa akin. It confuse me, Patricio calling his mother Nanay instead of Mom or Mommy.

"Bakit nanay tawag mo?" I asked. He just smiled sweetly, like I said something good that remind him of something.

"Sabi ni Nanay, sabi naman ni Dad 'yon ang itawag dahil pilipina si Mama, so I'm half French!" He said proudly kaya napangite ako.

"You're proud having pilipina Nanay?" 

"Oo naman, 'no! Ang dami kong natutunan dito sa pilipinas! Natuto ako mag kamay kapag kumain ng tuyo at dilis, I  even eat hito!" Napangite ako sa pagiging proud n'ya bilang half pilipino.

"My dad is Japanese that makes me half japanese." I hummed so he smiled to me. Napapikit na lang ako ng mariin bago s'ya tingnan mabuti.

"Talaga? Si River din Half Japanese s'ya at si Caelum ay Half American, while Kyle is pure Pilipino!" He said wearing a big smile. Pangalan ng mga kaibigan n'ya 'to.

"Dati hindi ako sanay mag tagalog as in! Pero tingnan mo fluent na ako mag tagalog tapos ikaw english nang english!" he said disbelief so I rolled my eyes is so much annoyance.

"Dude, stop being like that!" 

"Pero kung hindi ako dito nakatira hinde kita makikilala," he said kaya napatigil ako at napatitig sa kanya.

"Bakit naman?" I asked. Ano naman ako sa buhay n'ya? Ngayon ko lang naman s'ya nakilala kaya hindi magiging malaki ang parte ko sa buhay n'ya.

"Kasi nga gusto kita, okay?!"

"What, sino?!"

"I told you that I like you! Every thing on you!" he said that confuse me. Why would people fall in love with the person they just met?

"Kakakilala lang natin, ah?" 

"Ilang taon ba kailangan bago magustuhan ang isang tao ganon ba 'yon?" he asked with serious tone. He was serious right now? It's not like I want him or something. It's Impossible to fall in love easily.

"So, let me court you until the day you will love me, Meggay."