CHAPTER 29
Territorial
Ang masarap kong tulog ay naudlot dahil sa sunod-sunod na pagtunog ng aking cellphone. Pikit mata ko pang inabot ang cellphone sa bedside table at inis na pinatay ang tawag.
It is still early in the morning! Kung sino man ang tumawag sa akin sa ganitong oras ng walang matinong rason ay makakatikim talaga ng sapak sa akin kapag nagkita kami!
Pagkatapos kong patayin ang tawag ay pikit mata ko ring ibinalik ito. Pero hindi pa nga nag-iisang minute nang pinatay ko ito ay tumunog na naman!
“Ahh! Nakakainis naman! Sasapakin ko talaga ang kung sino mang kulto ang tumawag sa akin at inistorbo ang tulog ko!” I annoyingly said to myself.
Inis na inis akong bumangon at kinamot ang ulo ko. Padabog kong kinuha ang cellphone kong walang sawa sa pagtunog at sinagot ito ng hindi alam kung sino ang tumawag sa akin.
“Makakatikim ka talaga ng sapak sa akin kapag wala kang matinong rason para tawagan ako ng ganitong oras!” galit kong bungad sa taong tumawag sa akin.
Nagiging beast mode ako kapag iniistorbo ang masarap kong tulog!
Isa sa pinakaayaw ko talaga ay ‘yong iistorbohin ang maganda kong tulog lalo na kung walang matinong rason para gisingin ako. Dahil hindi ko talaga pinapansin ang taong sumira sa tulog ko. Renaissa knows that very well kasi siya ay nakatikim din ng ganyan sa akin.
Gisingin ba na naman ako para lang maibahagi niya ‘yong kilig na nararamdaman niya kasi nag heart react ‘yong crush niya sa profile picture niya no’ng highschool. Kaya nakatikim siya ng sapak sa akin at buong araw ko siyang hindi pinansin.
“Really? You’ll punch me because I ruined your beauty sleep?” a husky voice on the other line wake up my system. Ang inis na naramdaman ko kanina ay napalitan ng pagkahiya nang malaman ko kung kanino nangaling ang boses sa kabilang linya.
To confirm it ay tinignan ko ang caller id and just what I expected it was him! Napatampal ako sa aking noo nang maalala ko mga pinagsasabi ko sa kaniya kanina!
Really, Henzy? Kahit kailangan talaga ang tanga-tanga mo no?
I cleared my throat and fixed my hair even though he can’t see me. Siyempre kahit tawag lang ito ay dapat maayos ka pa rin tignan no! Iisipin ko na lang na kaharap ko siya kahit ang totoo ay sa cellphone lang naman talaga.
“Reeve! Ikaw pala ‘yan, why did you call so early in the morning!” medyo na iilang kong ani sa kaniya.
He laughed at my remarks, “Yes, my queen. It’s me… I am outside of your apartment, waiting for you to open the door, but you said you’ll punch me, so I will just take my leave.”
Wala pang mas ikinabilis sa isang segundo akong bumaba at dumeretso sa pintoan para pagbuksan siya. Hawak-hawak ang cellphone ay nagmamadali akong buksan ito.
Smiles were automatically formed on my lips as the sight I am seeing gave happiness to my heart. Reeve was leaning on his car while his hand was on his phone, and the other one was inside his shorts pocket. As soon as he saw me standing in front of the door, he quickly ended the call and walked towards me.
He was just wearing his usual outfit, yet the way he carries himself looks like he models the clothes he’s wearing. My eyes were fixated on him, and I didn’t notice that he was now in front of me.
Ang paghalik niya sa aking noo ang nagpabalik sa akin sa katinuan. “I miss you,” pambungad niya agad sa akin.
I encircled my hands around his waist and looked up at him. Ang aking mga ngiti ay mas lalong lumapad nang marinig mula sa kaniya ang mga salitang ‘yon.
“Nagkita lang tayo kahapon, miss mo na agad ako,” I smirked at sinudot-sundot ang tagiliran niya.
“I miss you everyday,” namamaos niyang sabi. I hugged him tightly for a minute before we went inside. Sinasanay ko na ang sarili ko sa pagiging vocal ni Reeve sa kaniyang nararamdaman.
He is the kind of man that is vocal about what his heart speaks. Kaya nakakagulat siya minsan dahil bigla-bigla na lang siya magsasabi ng mga matatamis na salita kahit na nasa harapan pa siya ng maraming tao. Far from Reeve that I used to know.
He doesn’t care about what people will think of him. What matters to him is he expressed the thoughts inside of his heart. And with that, I am falling deeper to him.
“Bakit mo pa ako tinawagan eh may susi ka naman para makapasok dito,” I told him and sat on dining. He was now wearing his apron, preparing to cook for our food.
Dahil araw-araw siyang pumupunta dito sa apartment ko para lang paghandaan ako ng breakfast ay nasanay na ako. Nasanay na akong may Reeve na bubungad sa akin tuwing umaga at may kasama sa hapag na kumain.
“I want to hear your morning voice. It just didn’t occur into my mind that you’re now willing to punch someone just because your sleep was ruined,” he joked.
“I
I watched him cutting the onions and garlic and put them in the frying pan. Ang tunog ng mga sangkap na nilagay niya ay umaalingawngaw sa buong apartment. Ang mabangong amoy nito ay sinakop ang aking ilong.
“It was because my phone keeps on ringing that ruined my good sleep! I really hate it when someone destroyed my sleep, especially if there’s no valid reason for it,” I defended, “kaya makakatikim talaga sa akin ng sapak ang taong sumira sa maganda kong tulog,” I continued.
“Then why you didn’t punch me?” he grinned and raised his brow.
“It was…. Because—” hindi ko matuloy-tuloy ang dapat na sasabihin ko kasi walang lumalabas sa bibig.
“Favoritism ka ha,” he teased.
“Nagulat lang ako kasi hindi ko inakala na ikaw pala ang tumawag sa akin, no! ‘Wag kang feeling, tse!” I reasoned out. I am lost for words, and I don’t know what to say cause what he said was somewhat true.
The moment I heard his husky voice earlier, the irritation I had was magically vanished like he was the spell that woke me up from my thoughts.
“Okay, sabi mo eh,” sabi niya pero halata pa rin na hindi siya nakumbinsi sa rason ko. He would like me to spill the truth in front of him, and I would never ever do that.
Nakakahiya kaya. Ano na lang sasabihin ni Renaissa kapag nalaman niyang hindi ko ginawa kay Reeve ang ginawa ko sa kaniya no’n. She would surely nag at me. Wala pa man ay naririnig ko na ang reklamo niya sa aking isipan.
“What did you cook?” I diverted the topic. My eyes were fixed on the way he handles the pan.
“It a surprise. Go freshen up after that, we will eat together.”
Doon ko lang naalala na hindi pa pala ako nakaligo at kahit toothbrush man lang ay hindi ko magawa dahil sa pagmamadali kanina. I quickly ran into my room and went inside the bathroom.
After I showered, I did my simple skincare routine. I need to buy again the new set of this product kasi papaubos na pala ‘to. After that, I decided to wear simple clothes pero hindi ko akalain na kahit sa pagpili ng simpleng damit ay nahirapan ako!
Hindi naman ako ganito no’n ha?! I always pick what I feel would suit me, but today was different! I am having a hard time picking up my clothes!
Napatingin ako sa pinto nang biglang kumatok si Reeve. “Neve, are you done?”
“Not yet! Just wait downstairs, I am still putting my clothes on!” I shouted enough for him to hear it.
In the end, I just chose to grab the beige cargo pant and a white sleeveless crop top that shows my curved and exposed my waist. I looked at the mirror for the final touch and bit my lips when I saw the way I dress. I looked like I was going to a mall to shop! Hindi pambahay ang datingan ng suot ko.
Hindi naman niya siguro mapapansin ang suot ko, ano? And if did he really noticed, I will just reason out that it was my usual pambahay clothes?
I sprayed a perfume and went downstairs. Nahuli ko siyang inaayos ang mga kubyertos sa lamesa. Nakatalikod siya sa akin kaya hindi niya ako napansin, I am just silently watching him doing it.
Reeve is a good cooked. I wonder when did he learn how to cook? Kasi ako kahit anong gawin ko hindi talaga ako para sa kusina unless otherwise, they want to eat burned foods.
I slowly walked towards him enough for him not to hear my footsteps. Nang makalapit na sa kaniya ay bigla ko siyang niyakap. He suddenly stopped and was about to face me, but I held my grip tightly.
“You’re done,” he said.
“Yup,” tipid kong sagot
“Then let’s eat.” Inihiwalay niya ang magkawak kong kamay at hinarap ako. He eyed me closely. His forehead creased when his eyes went down to the clothes I am wearing. It took him a minute before he finally looked at me again.
“Do you have any plans today?” he implored.
Umiling ako at umupo na. His stares were making me awkward for a moment. Tama na nga ba at mapapansin niya ang suot ko eh. Pero hindi na siya nagtanong pa at umupo na rin.
We prayed first before eating. Napaawang na naman ako nang makita ang mga putaheng niluto niya. Pero ang tanging pamilyar lang sa akin ay ang adobong manok. The rest is I don’t know what kind of foods it is.
“Reeve, I have told you many times not to cook too much especially if tayong dalawa lang naman ang kakain,” I warned him again.
I am much more cautious when it comes to food. Ayoko ng may natitira sa pagkain kasi sayang lang. Everytime that there was some leftover food, tapos hindi nauubos at itatapon lang ay nasasayangan ako. Kasi maraming mga tao ang nagugutom at hinihiling na sana makakain ng ganiyang klaseng mga putahe. They were not privileged to have this kind of life. They need to strive hard for them to eat foods three times a day.
Kaya ayaw na ayaw ko na napaparami ang luto lalo na kung hindi naman gano’n karami ang papakainin mo. And I warned Reeve about this pero hindi pa rin ata nadala. The last time that he cooked for me ay pinapunta ko dito ang mga kaibigan ko para ipaubos sa kanila ang niluto niya.
I don’t like to waste food cause I always think of those people who are not privileged to eat what I eat.
“Sinong nagsabi na tayong dalawa lang ang kakain?” he raised his brow at me.
“May kasama ka?”
“Nope… we will give it to the street children in the plaza later,” he announced.
“Woah! Really?!” excited kong ani.
“Yes, I purposely cooked this so we can share what we eat with them, so don’t worry about it anymore, okay? We aren’t going to waste our food.” I feel at ease when he told me that, and excitement crept to me.
Matagal na akong hindi nakapagbigay ng mga pagkain sa kanila dahil na rin sa busy ako and now that I have a time ay mapapakain ulit namin sila!
“Thank you!”
After we ate, I initiated to wash the dishes. Himala nga at pumayag siya na ako ang maghugas ng mga plato ngayon. He never let me wash the dishes! Siya palagi ang sumasalo sa lahat. He literally treats me like a queen, yet today is an exemption. This is my house so I should obey my own rules.
While washing the dishes, hindi ko maiwasang maisip ang pamilya ni Reeve. Kung kasama ba niya dito sa pinas o nasa ibang bansa pa rin ba sila. I’ve been aching to ask this question to him pero pinipigilan ko. I remember last time when I mention his parents, his mood turned sour.
I don’t know if he’s on good terms with his parents or not. He didn’t mention it to me either. Hinihintay ko lang na kusa niyang sasabihin kasi sabi niya sa akin no’ng nakaraan he needs some time.
“What are you thinking?” Patapos na ako sa paghuhugas nang pumunta dito si Reeve sa sink.
“Wala… just a random thought,” I answered him.
He hummed and locked his hands to my waist, “What is it?” he whispered.
“I want to know you,” I stated.
“Hmmm… what do you want to know about me?”
Pagkatapos kong banlawan ang panghuling hugasin tinanggal ko ang kapit niya sa aking bewang at pumunta sa salas. Umupo ako sa pang-isahang sofa at bumuntong hininga. Sumunod naman agad si Reeve sa akin dito at umupo katapat ko.
“I want to know about your simple information in life. Aside from your name and where you came from, I want to know where are your parents are here or not?” I voiced out, “is it too much to ask?” mahina kong tanong sa huli.
I wasn’t looking at him when I asked those questions; I was looking at the ground and played with my fingers. Afraid that he might misunderstand me. Baka isipin niyang pinapakialaman ko ang buhay niya.
A moment of silence enveloped us in these four corners of the room. Ang tanging naririnig ko lang na tunog ay ang tunog sa aking puso. Was it too much to ask? I understand if he doesn’t want to open up with me. It is still his choice.
Umangat ako nang tingin. Nakatapatong ang mga siko niya sa kaniyang mga binti at magkadikit ang mga kamay nito. Hindi ko mawari kung ano ang ibig sabihin ng mga tingin niya sa akin. It was a mixture of soft and intense, his body looks calm, yet his eyes says otherwise. I can’t figure it out, and to be honest, it was my first time seeing this kind of stare at him.
“You don’t have to force yourself if you aren’t ready to tell me… I can wait,” I assured him.
Humogot siya ng hininga at prenteng sinandal ang likuran sa sofa. “No, kailangan mong malaman ang tungkol sa akin. Kahit ‘yong pangalan man lang nila,” he faintly smiled.
“My parents aren’t here. They are still in New York. Ako lang ang mag-isang umuwi dito sa pinas because I want to continue my studies here, and ever since I got here ay hindi ko alam ang ganap sa kanila do’n. My mother is an architect, while my father is an engineer. They own a firm that spreads globally. Pero mas nakafocus sila sa New York kasi do’n ang main branch nila.”
“You really are rich,” I stated.
“It’s not mine. It’s my parent’s money, so basically, I am not rich,” he humbly stated.
“Pa humble ka pa ah…” I teased.
“It’s not my own money, Neve… you can call me rich when I am producing my own money soon. They are still the one who supports me financially,” he thoroughly explained to me.
Well, he’s right, though. It’s not our own money. We were still under our parent’s care. Kasi nasa kanila pa rin nanggaling ang pera para sa pag-aaral namin. Kaya, I also disagree if someone would tell me that I am rich.
“Binibiro lang kita, ito naman,” I told him.
“Btw, do you have a sibling, or you’re an only child?” I wonder if he has a brother or sister. Kung meron man ano kayang klaseng kuya si Reeve? I bet he’s a caring one, sa akin pa lang nga grabe na makaalaga paano pa kaya kapag may kapatid siya?
“I have a sister. She’s in New York.” His eyes sparkled when he mentioned his sister.
“Ayy… sayang, akala ko pa naman kasama mo. I wanna meet her.”
“You will meet her soon, Neve.”
“Mabuti at pinayagan ka sa field ng medicine? Your parents aren’t that strict, unlike your cousin?”
He cleared his throat. “I have my own decisions. I am not a puppet for them to control me. Whether they like it or not, all they have to do is to respect my choice. I chose this field because this is where my heart takes me. This is where I found my road, and that includes you.”
“Well, you’re right. You need to choose where your heart would be delighted because, in the end, your happiness will matter the most. Select the path where you think will bring you joy and satisfaction,” I shared.
“You never failed to amaze me, Neve.
May sasabihin pa sana ako kaso biglang tumunog ang cellphone niya. He answered it in front of me.
“Yes, I will. Gonna bring her later,” sabi niya sa kausap niya.
Hindi siya lumayo sa akin kaya naririnig ko ang mga sinasabi niya. I was just listening to them the whole time they were talking.
“Bye! You’re disturbing us!” He immediately ended the call.
“I’m sorry, it was Rod Andrew. Remember him?”
I nodded, “Your bestfriend.”
“Yes… he knows that I am courting you, so he wants me to bring you later.”
Takang tinignan ko siya. “Bring later? Asan?”
“It’s Rod Andrew’s birthday, and he invited us to come later. Sa bar gaganapin ang celebration niya.”
“Naalalala niya pa pala ako,” mangha kong wika sa kaniya.
“Yup,” he simply stated.
“Si Andrew lang ba ang kaibigan mo dito?”
Inilingan niya ako binalik ang hawak na cellphone sa bulsa. “Nope. I Actually have three friends. You’re going to meet them later ‘cause I am planning to introduce you to them,”
“You should have told me! So I can bring them gifts!” pagpapanic ko. Hindi ko gustong pumunta ng walang dala na kahit ano sa kanila lalo na sa kaibigan niyang may birthday. I should prepae a gift!
“Tsk… you don’t need to give them gifts. They aren’t’ t kids anymore to received presents,” medyo inis niyang sabi.
“It’s my first time seeing them, of course, I have to give them a gift.”
He threw me a dagger look as his forehead creases, and it seems he I did something wrong. “Why do you have to give them a gift? Are you their girlfriend?” he hissed.
“Why? Is it bad to give them gifts?” I innocently asked him.
Ang mukha niya ay mas lalo pa naging mapait sa aking sinabi sa kaniya. He stood up and went to me. He slowly leaned his head to me with his dangerous look. Pero hindi ako nagpatinag at nakipagtitigan din sa kaniya.
What’s wrong with buying them a gift anyway?
“So thoughtful of you, Neve.” Ang malamig niyang boses ay bumalot sa aking tainga.
“Of course! Bakit ba ganiyan ang reaction mo?”
“You really don’t get it, don’t you? Or are you just pretending not to get it?” he smirked, still leaning on me.
“Ten in the evening. I’m going to fetch you here later,” he dangerously whispered.
Hindi na ako nagdalawang isip pa at pumayag na agad. I also want to know his friends other than Andrew. I have no idea that he also has some friends here in the Philippines. The thought of meeting them earlier thrill me.
It was lunch when we decided to give some leftovers foods in the street children near the plaza. Hindi pa nakuntento si Reeve at nagluto ulit ng ibang putahe. We packed them into styro meal packages and personally gave them.
My heart warms when I saw their happy faces as they received our simple action towards them. I miss giving free foods to them, and it’s a good thing that Reeve was here.
Nandito ulit ‘yong mga batang pinakain namin ni Reeve no’n sa Jollibee.
“Thank you ate, Henzy at kuya Reeve,” masayang wika nila. Other’s mouths were full as they expressed their gratitude to us.
“Pakabusog kayo, huh,” wika ni Reeve.
They all nodded in chorus and continue eating their food. My heart really aches for them. They should have been in the school learning and not here in the street finding foods at their age.
“You have soft spots for those kids,” he spoke on our way home.
“My heart aches for them. If only I could adopt them, I will.”
“Ang iba r’yan sa kanila ay ulila na ang iba naman ay hinayaan lang ng mga magulang nila gano’n at ginagawang bread winner ng pamilya. They are just kids, yet they are already facing the cruelty of the world.”
“Because life has never been fair to anyone. Everyone has their own difficulties and victory, different timelines, and suffering. Those children might be the hope of the world soon. We’ll never know because life rotates unexpectedly,” he expressed.
“As long as they are alive, there is always hope in everything,” he continued.
Tinignan ko siya ng may ngiti sa aking labi. Those words he stated were right.
There is always hope in everything. That word is a powerful one. It gives a feeling that everyone should continue living and fight no matter how the world throws a dagger at you and gives you a sense of giving up as long as that word is alive; it helps anyone fight for their lives.
Hope is for everyone. Kaya ang anomang kahirapan ang nararanasan ng mga bata na ‘yon hanggang hindi sila nawawalan ng pag-asa sa buhay ay may mararating sila. Reeve was right. Life rotates unexpectedly those kids might be the hope of the world.
Nakarating na kami sa tapat ng apartment ng bigla niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko. He planted a soft kiss on it after that he held it tighly.
“Why are you kissing the back of my palms,” I laughed.
“I still can’t kiss your lips. For now, I can only kiss your forehead and palm,” mahina niyang wika.
“Let’s go inside,” pang-aaya ko. Dahil mukhang malulusaw na ako sa kilig na nararamdaman ko ngayon.
“Wait,” he stopped me.
“Don’t give them gifts later. You’re making me jealous, Neve.”
Hindi ko mapigilang matawa sa sinabi niya. Si Reeve? Nagseselos? Kaya pala naging masama ang timpa ng mood niya kanina.
“Wala namang dapat ika-selos sa pagbibigay ng regalo ha,” natatawang angal ko.
“I am territorial when it comes to you, Neve.”