Episode 13

Good night

[I'm at home already. Ikaw?]

Fifteen minutes after Valentine drove his car away from the restaurant, he called me right away. Tinatanong niya kung nakaawi na 'ko dahil nag-alala raw siya na hindi niya ko hinatid. Sus. Para saan?

"Yes, don't worry. Ikaw ba?" He sighed in relief when he heard my answer.

[Yeah... Good night...] We said our goodbyes before I ended the call. Agad-agad akong humiga sa malambot kong kama na parang pagod na pagod sa mundo. I stretched my arms and legs to ease my body and cracked my neck right and left. This is relaxing!

This day has been really tiring! Starting from my visit to my parent's graves to our dinner in Mallari restaurant with my friends and Val. Speaking of the cemetery... Shit naman, Hyacinth!

I quickly covered my face with a throw pillow because of shame. Naalala ko na naman ang kahihiyan na ginawa ko kanina—sa harap pa ni Val! I shouted with no voice while punching the air with my crumpled fist. I need to let out this frustrating feeling.

"Ang bobo mo, Hyacinth Villaflor!" pagalit ko sa sarili ko.

I remembered the I-thought-he-kissed-me scenario earlier. Am I really just daydreaming back there? But... but I'm a hundred percent sure that his soft lips met mine though.

I touched my lips while looking at the mirror in front of me. Reminiscing the shameful incident wherein I accused him of stealing my first kiss—in which he said was all made up on my extreme imaginations.

Hindi ba talaga niya ako hinalikan?

I smacked my temple because of the insane question that ran through my head. "Ano ba? Napaka-ilusyonada mo self!" Paulit-ulit ko na namang sinabunutan 'yung buhok ko dahil hindi talaga mawala sa isip ko 'yung kahihiyan ko sa sarili ko.

When I got tired hurting and cursing myself, I didn't know that I immediately doze off to sleep. My eyes became heavy and the next thing I knew I was dreaming of a past memory again.

"Hyacinth sweetie! Ready ka na ba? We're here!"

Mommy was retouching her make-up inside the car while Daddy was parking it in front of a mansion that I don't know. I fixed my little sling bag and placed my cooking toys inside it. I glanced at the window and got amazed at how enormous the mansion is.

"Ang ganda naman po ng house, mommy!" I said with sparkling eyes that was full of excitement and thrill. Who are we visiting anyways?

I quickly unbuckled my seat belt to get out of our car. Mom was shouting at me to be careful that I might hurt myself but I didn't listen to her. The moment I've exited the vehicle, my eyes widened in shock and my jaw almost dropped at the look of the mansion.

Unlike ours, that looks like a Spanish antique mansion, this has a spice of modern architecture. It is also a three-storey house like us but the topmost floor is a rooftop. Tumingala pa ako at tinaas ang kamay, nagbabakasakaling makita ko ang taas nito kahit maliit lang ako.

"Hya, come na. They're waiting for us." Mommy said then held my hand. Daddy was just behind us, smiling while watching how I reacted at my first visit here.

We entered the gray metal double doors of the mansion. Our shoes made sounds on the marble-tiled floor so the maids quickly noticed our presence. I was too amazed to even ought a word when someone asked what beverage I wanted to drink.

"U-uh... water po, ate." I smiled at them and they nodded. Tumingala naman ako para ikutin ang paningin sa buong bahay.

Their ceiling was as high up to the second floor. I could see a dazzling golden chandelier hanging at the middle of the whole guest area.

"Wow, Mommy! Ang ganda rito. Dito na ba tayo titira?" tanong ko pero napatigil na lang sa pag-iikot ng tingin nang may narinig kaming nagsalita na babae at lalaki.

"Villaflors!" The men and women greeted us. They looked like of the same age with my parents but they were wearing fancy dresses and shirts that made them look a lot younger.

"I missed you, Cynthia!" masayang bati ng babae sabay yakap kay Mommy. I looked at her with furrowed eyebrows, trying to recognize who she was.

"'Wag niyo po i-embrace si Mommy. Si Daddy lang pwede." I rolled my eyes at her the reason why the adults just laughed at my reaction. Have I said something funny?

"Naku, ang cute-cute mo. Is this your eight year-old daughter?" The woman went to me and pinched my cheeks. Parang nalawlaw na ang pisngi ko kakapisil niya na tila nanggigigil sa tuwa.

"Shtop pwinchwing mwi." Hindi ko na masabi ang tamang salita dahil nakahawak pa rin siya sa matataba kong pisngi.

After they have formally greeted each other, like they were friends for a long time now, the hosts invited us to sit inside their living room. For the nth time today, I covered my mouth with my hand because of amazement.

"Ang ganda ng Playstation at Wii nila Daddy!" Tumakbo ako papalapit ro'n at lumuhod para tingnan ang bawat Ps4 CD. They have Street Fighter, Minecraft, Mafia, Diablo, The Last of Us and so many more! I always loved these action games for an unknown reason.

"Hyacinth, don't touch that!" saway sa'kin ni Mommy sabay hila sa'kin para mapaupo sa six-seater grey couch nila. That's when I noticed the whole modern design of the mansion has motifs of grey, black and white. Sa guest area kanina ay may malalaki ring bintana na umaabot hanggang second floor na black stained glass.

"So... What brings you here?" the man asked us with a genuine smile on his face. He looked like a nice man.

"Alam niyo naman kasi na kayo lang ang maaasahan namin. Can you let Hyacinth stay here for a while? Hindi ko kasi mahagilap si Ellythia lately. Busy sa anak nila ni Randy na si Ryleigh," Mommy explained.

My forehead creased at her explanation. Doon ko nalaman na kaya pala kami nandito kasi iiwan na nila ako. Bakit nila ako iiwan sa hindi ko kilala?

"Daddy, you don't love me anymore? Mommy why are letting me be adopted to these people? Hindi ko po sila kilala," I said almost tearing up. My nose started to become cloggy and my eyes welling up with tears.

Tumawa na lang sila sa hindi malamang dahilan at ipinaliwanag sa'kin na may business meeting lang daw ang mga magulang ko sa ibang bansa. They said that they will contact me as they'll just go to New York for a week. Hindi ko man maintindihan ay tumango-tango na lang ako.

"Oh! Before I forgot! Hindi ko pa pala napapakilala sa inyo ang baby boys ko!" Napapalakpak pa ang ginang bago bumulong sa isang katulong na may tawagin na kung sino sa taas.

I was busy wandering my eyes around the living room when the door opened. A boy who was wearing a white shirt and grey shorts entered the living room. He was in big smiles the moment he saw us. Our eyes met for a bit but I quickly avoided my gaze because I got shy.

"Bakit niyo 'ko pinapatawag Mom, Dad?" The boy kissed his parent's cheeks joyfully. His voice was hinted with happiness and excitement. Lalo na nang mapadpad ang ngiti niya sa'kin.

"Who's this cute little girl?"

Tumingala naman ako para samaan siya ng tingin. Little? I'm eight now! He looked like two years or three years older than me but that doesn't make me little. "Anong little ka riyan?" pang-tataray ko sa kanya pero tinawanan niya lang ako.

"By the way, I'm..."

Hindi niya na napakilala ang sarili niya when my eyes opened and realized something. It was all just a dream.

I felt dizziness and headache as if the world was spinning when I got out of bed. I look like a drunk woman right now when I groggily walked towards the switch of the lights in my room. Ano na naman 'yung napaniginipan ko?

My dream got cut at the part where a small boy was about to introduce himself. Kaninong bahay 'yung pinuntahan namin? Am I too young that time that I can't remember a thing? Or is it because of an accident that they said I've gone through?

Instead of thinking about my dream, or maybe a product of my imagination again, I suddenly remembered the unknown person that texted me last night while I was outside the restaurant. I'm quite sure that there's someone watching me at the other side of the street.

I shrugged my thoughts off to relieve my headache. Ang sakit na naman ng ulo ko dahil sa pesteng panaginip na 'yan.

Two busy weeks have passed and our final draft for our thesis in Bio Chem was about to be submitted. Valentine and I haven't even had a chance to talk about the incident at the cemetery because of our hectic schedules.

Aside from being seatmates during our class, our only meet-up was every Saturday after my Psychology class. I was currently fixing my things today because he said that he'll fetch me for our meet-up.

Tapos na ang Psych class ko at nakita ko siyang kanina pa naghihintay sa labas. Almost all the sights of every girl that has passed by was given to him. Somebody even turned her head twice to confirm how my partner resembled a manly feature.

"Kuya, grab po?" salubong ko kay Val na biglang lumiwanag ang mukha nang makita niya ako.

He was wearing a light blue button-down polo shirt partnered with maong pants and white sneakers. His hair looks neatly put to the side with his modern quaff haircut. With his firm stance, manly body and his scent, he could really pass to be a model.

"Your things," he said while getting my books and my tote bag. I told him that I'll be the one carrying my bag. Hindi naman na siya nakipag-away ro'n.

I was still unfamiliar of this kind of treatment of his. He was a lot more carefree now than the first time we met. Maybe he got comfortable with my presence with the last weeks we've been together.

We've decided to talk about our thesis draft at a café inside SM North because all of the other mall's cafés were full. We've had no other choice.

After discussing some final points and remarks given by our professor, we wrapped up the meeting so we can both give a rest to our stressful brains now.

"So... una na 'ko?" sabi ko habang nililigpit ang Macbook ko at iba pang gamit. He said that he'll drive me home and I had no other choice because I didn't brought my car.

We were strolling down the whole mall to relieve our stress while walking towards the parking lot. I was busy wandering my eyes at the windows of every clothing store when one arcade caught my eye.

"Val! Laro tayo sa timezone! Bilis na!"

Hila-hila ko lang siya dahil ayaw niya raw at masyadong pambata. College na raw kami at dapat hindi na nakikipag-agawan pa sa prizes sa mga pambatang laruan.

"Ang KJ mo naman! Libre ko nga eh! Bilis na, pleaseee." I pleaded while sticking my two palms as if I was praying to the gods to grant my wish. He was just staring at me before heaving a sigh.

"Only five games," he said that made me jump out of joy. I hugged him immediately, the reason why he froze in shock of my unexpected action.

"Yey! Thank you!" Humiwalay na ako sa pagkakayakap dahil yakap lang naman 'yun. Pero nahiya pa rin ako kahit lagi ko namang ginagawa 'yun kina Simon at Sky.

Valentine just shook his head because of my childish excitement when we got our timezone cards. We played a lot of arcade games including basketball, bowling, claw machine and a lot more.

Napagod kami kakatawa at asaran sa isa't-isa. Magaling siya sa arcade games na parang bihasa na siya sa paglalaro roon. I didn't know that he can play basketball. But he sucks at getting toys from the claw machine.

"Weak mo naman pala," I teased him that's why he stared darkly at me. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay para kunwaring tinatarayan bago igalaw ang controller at makuha ang flower na stuffed toy.

"See? That was easy Val. You are a sucker." Tinawanan ko siya dahil napanguso siya sa pang-aasar ko. I never knew that this unexpressive man can be this adorable.

"Let's go. Masyado na tayong pinagtitinginan." Hinawakan niya nang mahigpit ang kamay ko para makalabas na kami sa timezone pero nahagip ng paningin ko ang photo booth sa gilid.

"Last na! Pa-picture naman tayo para may remembrance tayo as thesis partners," I joyfully suggested that made him roll his eyes a bit. "We will not be just thesis partners soon, Elara," hirit niya pero 'di ko siya maintindihan kaya binalewala ko na lang.

We went to the small photo booth machine to take a picture of the two of us. I almost forgot that we never had the chance to take a picture together even since we became thesis partners.

I sat on the left side of the small couch while he was on my right. The booth was too small for the two of us so we had to squeeze ourselves together. Naramdaman kong umakbay pa si Val sa'kin para magkasya kami.

I joyfully got some props from the baskets. There were clown hats, big aviators, mustaches, headbands, and sayings on a cardboard. I got a cute flower headband to match my name Hyacinth while I got a headband with a cute heart on top of it for Valentine.

"What? I'm not wearing that," he said with furrowed eyebrows while staring directly at me. I did my puppy eyes technique to persuade him so he just sighed heavily.

"Akin na nga." Napapalakpak ako sa tuwa nang pinagbigyan niya ang request ko. He was too damn cute! He didn't look like a part of some serious group right now with his cuteness.

"Smile in 3, 2, 1!" I gave my biggest smile in front of the camera. Inulit pa namin 'yon ng ilang beses at iba-ibang wacky poses rin ang ginawa ko. While Val has the same small and impatient smile with him.

"Let's go, Elara. I'll drive you home." Tumango na lang ako sa kanya habang hawak pa rin ang pictures naming dalawa.

True enough, he drove me to the mansion and I glanced at my wrist watch, "It's already 7 pm," I mumbled. The sky was dark already and I could see the bright moon and stars on the night sky.

Mabilis lang kaming nakarating at hindi ko pa rin makakalimutan na isang beses na siyang nakapasok dito nang bisitahin niya ako nung nilagnat ako.

I bit my lower lip when he opened the car door on my side. I was like a pretty princess who was guided by her knight-in-shining-armor out of the carriage.

Nang makababa na ako ay hinarap ko siya para makapagpaalam na at makapagpasalamat. "Thank you for today. I enjoyed it," I said with a genuine smile. He also smiled at my reaction that made my heart skip a beat for a moment.

Nagulat na lang ako nang bigla niya akong lapitan ng sobrang lapit na halos magdikit na ang tungki ng mga ilong namin. I could feel his hot breath with a mix of mint and manly scent on my face.

He stared at me with his always perfect brown orbs before he leaned closer to me to kiss my cheeks as a sign of a farewell. I just stood there, shocked and fazed by the sudden move he'd done.

"Now that's a kiss. I'll go now." He quickly marched towards the driver seat of his Porsche to go home now.

I was still standing in front of the doorway of our mansion, couldn't mutter even a single word. My heart was beating loudly right now and my knees are weakening and trembling.

Is that really a kiss or I'm just daydreaming again?

Bumusina na siya para magpaalam at hindi ko man lang makaway ang mga kamay ko dahil hanggang ngayon ay tulala pa rin sa biglaang paghalik niya sa pisngi ko kasabay na ng huling sinabi niya sa'kin.

"I'll allow you to dream of me tonight. Good night, Elara." He smiled before closing his car window to bid his goodbye.

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#ACM13

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