Wynnona's POV

I found myself doing the same thing I've done two days ago. Nakatayo ako sa harapan ng unit ni Yamato na may tinatagong kaba sa dibdib.

Hawak hawak ko ang tupperware na naglalaman kahapon ng cookies. Kung titingnan mukha kaming good samaritan na magkapitbahay. The thought made me giggle.

Naisip kong walang mangyayari kung hindi ako kikilos, kaya lakas loob akong nag-doorbell. Inilabas ko ang malaking ngiti ko, ngunit agad din iyong napawi nang magpakita ang isang hindi pamilyar na mukha ng babae sa akin. Ayaw kong magmukhang rude, kung kaya't pinilit ko pa ring bumati.

Nakataas ang kilay ng babae at tiningnan ako mula ulo hanggang paa. Nainsulto ako roon, dahil hindi naman niya iyon dapat gawin sa akin, lalo pa't kagigising ko lang at nakapantulog pa. Ni hindi ko nga siya kilala. Ano nga bang ginagawa ng babaeng tulad niya sa condo ni Yamato?

Kinilatis ko din ang hitsura niya. Her black hair is long, her rounded eyes became smaller because of the makeup she put. Her eye brows are a bit hidden by her see-through bangs. Her nose is small, and her lips looks small too but became thick because of red lipstick. She's wearing tan makeup to look more exotic, but I really think she has a fair skin and cute facial features. Is she even a Filipina?

She's wearing a white crop top turtleneck, maong shorts, black leather jacket, and black lace up ankle boots. Her hair is tied into bun. In all fairness, her fashion sense looks like a bomb.

"Hi," I greeted nicely.

"Who are you?" I was a bit shocked when she acted rudely in front of me.

"I-Uhm..." I don't even know if I should just go back later.

Tinaas niya ang kilay habang nakapamewang. Hinihintay niya ang sagot ko.

"Yumi, who's that?" Parehong nalipat ang atensyon namin kay Yamato. Nang makalapit lalo, napatigil siya sa pagpupunas ng buhok.

Bagong ligo siya at naglalaban ang amoy ng kanyang shampoo at pabango. Major turn on.

Tulad ng babaeng nasa harapan ko na tinawag niyang Yumi, siya ay naka-panlakad. Nakasuot siya ng vintage korean style black oversized hoodie, ripped jeans, and sneakers. Wow! Ganito pala fashion style ni Yamato 'pag malamig ang panahon?

He looks so cool.

"Hey," sabay naming bati.

Even though he's already here, I still feel awkward because of that girl's stare on me.

Mukha rin kasing aalis na sila ng bahay. Bago pa ako makaabala sa kanila, iprenisenta ko na ang tupperware.

"Ibabalik ko lang sana 'tong tupperware," he smiled and took it from me. "Hindi ako nakapagpasalamat sa'yo kahapon. Thanks for the cookies."

"I'm glad you liked them."

I said goodbye and about to leave but the girl stopped me.

"You still haven't answered my question. Who are you?" Pataray na tanong ng babae. May regla ba siya?

"She's Wynnona," inunahan ako ni Yamato na sumagot.

Nagtaka ako dahil noong una ay walang reaksyon si Yumi, ngunit pagkalipas ng ilang segundo ay napa 'o' ang kanyang labi.

"She's Wynnona? But, but..."

Gusto ko sanang tanungin kung sino rin siya ngunit mas minabuti ko nang umalis. Baka kasi makaabala pa ako sa 'date' nila.

Hindi ko tuloy nasabi kay Yamato ang tungkol sa practice namin. Wala pa kasi kaming solid na plano para sa mangyayaring performance. On-the-spot naman iyon, pero alam naming lahat kaming magkakaklase ay maghahanda para doon.

Buong umaga tuloy akong bad trip sa kaiisip kung sino iyong babaeng iyon at kung saan sila nagpunta. Ang daya naman ng future ko, hindi niya man lang ipaalam ang mga bagay bagay sa akin.

Nagpasya akong magtungo sa lobby upang maghintay para sa kanya. Pa-VIP din siya ha, in fairness. Nang hindi makahintay, tinawagan ko na lamang si Marie. Baka kasi mapraning pa ako kahihintay sa kanya.

"Hello, Marie?" nakasimangot na tanong ko. Tunog bata pa tuloy ako.

"O, Wyn, napatawag ka? What's the matter? Do you need anything?"

"May bago ba si Yamato?" I didn't even know where that came from. Basta ang alam ko nagseselos ako doon sa babaeng kasama niya ngayon.

"What? Bakit mo naman natanong? May kinikita ba siyang babae?"

Napaisip ako sa sinabi niya. Mas lalo tuloy akong nagkaroon ng hinala na nagkikita nga si Yamato at iyong si Yumi.

"H-Hindi ko alam," mas lalo tuloy tumulis ang nguso ko.

"Hmm, someone's jealous," I heard her chuckle from the other line. Naiimagine ko na rin iyong nakakaasar niyang ngiti.

I admit it. I'm jealous and complaining, not because I like him but because of their relationship. I must be the one who goes out with him.

"Gusto mo bang mag-espiya ako kay Yamato?" Hindi ko sigurado kung seryoso ba siya o nang-aasar pa rin.

"Nah. I'll ask him personally," I sighed. "If I can..."

"Yeah, you'd better do that. Kaysa naman may gawin ka na namang bagay na hindi niya magugustuhan," I agree with what she said.

After the phone call, I decided to text Yamato. It may seem like I'm desperate, but I'm just actually hoping for the best. Kung sa instagram ko siya ime-message, hindi ko pa rin sigurado kung mababasa niya iyon agad, lalo pa't maiiwan pa iyon sa message requests niya. Mukha rin siyang hindi gaanong gumagamit ng instagram eh.

To: Future ko

Hey, I think we should prepare for the upcoming performance task? Can we meet today?

Gusto ko sanang iacknowledge siya bilang future ko kaso baka magulantang, baka hindi pa sumipot. Okay na 'yung hindi niya malalamang Future ko ang naka-save na pangalan niya sa contacts ko.

After sending my message, I just went back to my unit and waited for his response. Minutes passed and I received a message from him saying that we'll be talking later. He added he will just knock on my door. Buti na lang magkapitbahay kami.

I stopped reading a novel when someone knocked on my door. Pagbukas ko ng pinto, saka ko lang naalala na magkikita pala kami ngayon ni Yamato. Nakasuot lamang ako ng white oversized shirt na tumatakip sa black dolphin shorts ko. I tied my hair in a mesy bun. Well, sobrang messy na ngayon dahil sa paghiga.

I'm not ready, mukha akong gurang!

Hindi na siya nakapanlakad. Kung tutuusin kagaya ko na rin siya na nakasuot ng pambahay, pero bakit ganoon? Ang unfair kasi ang fresh niya pa rin!

"Oh... uhm..." I didn't know what to say anymore.

"We're going to talk first, right?" he asked and I just nodded.

"Can we talk here in your place? Or you want mi--?"

"ONIISAN!!!" Our conversation is interrupted by a high-pitched voice coming from the girl standing in front of Yamato's unit.

I looked at Yamato's reaction and saw that his brows furrowed. "What?" He also can't find out what that girl is trying to tell.

"There's a cockroach in my room..." from raging, she turned her voice into smaller tone with a hint of acting.

"There will be no cockroach in your room, Yumi," Yamato said.

"There is! Why don't you try see it? Come on!" Lumapit siya sa amin at hinala si Yamato pabalik sa unit niya.

Yamato told me that he'll come back. On the other hand, I saw the girl looked at me and smirked.

It's clear that she's just acting, but what the hell was that for?

I went back to my unit and fixed my hair. Nilugay ko na lamang iyon. Inayos ko na rin ang unit ko dahil mas gugustuhin ko din naman na dito na lang kami mag-usap at hindi doon sa unit niya. Baka kung ano pang gawin sa akin noong Yumi na 'yon.

Hindi ko man kilala 'yung babaeng iyon, nakakuha na ako ng hinala kanina na pareho silang Hapon. Wala na siyang makeup kanina at kitang kita ang tunay niyang complexion. Isa pa tinawag niya si Yamato ng.... ano nga ulit 'yon? Ah basta Japanese way of addressing.

After just a few minutes, someone rang the doorbell again. I immediately  opened the door and saw Yamato standing there. Looking kinda stressed.

"I'm sorry for the wai--"

"YAMATO! I'm hungry!" Instead of stepping inside of my unit, Yamato quickly bid me a goodbye, and talked to Yumi.

I went back inside again. As I'm going to sit on the couch, I heard another doorbell ring. I opened it and saw Yamato.

But just like before, we again heard a loud voice coming from a girl. Argh! This girl really is getting in my nerves!

"Hey, nii-san! Your dog is so irritating--"

"No. You are," Yamato cut the girl's whines.

I saw Yumi pouted because she she knows she couldn't pull Yamato back at his unit again.

"I also hope she'll bite you," Tumalikod ito sa babae at pumasok na sa unit ko.

Ngumiti siya sa akin na may halong hiya sa nangyari.

"I'm sorry about.. my sister."

My face is about to lit up because of the confirmation that Yumi is just his sister, but I know I shouldn't be so obvious.

"It's okay..." I lied.

Of course nairita din ako sa kanya kanina! Who wouldn't? Parang pinaglalayo niya kami ng kuya niya. Bakit? May alam ba siya nangyari sa amin five years ago? With that attitude I think so.

We decided to talk to my balcony. It was silent and awkward at first, because we're trying hard to have a proper conversation.

"Hindi ako sanay na tahimik ka."

I was taken aback when I heard him say that.

"What do you mean? Masyado ba akong madaldal noon?" Nahiya tuloy ako lalo.

"Hmm siguro?" What kind of answer is that? "Siguro sa akin oo."

From looking at the view from my unit, ibinaling niya sa akin ang tingin niya.

"You're not loud when you're with people you're not comfortable with," he pointed out.

"And I also thought that you're the type of a cold silent man, not trying to give a damn in giving his own opinions."

"If I'm not going to voice out my thoughts, I'll mess myself up."

I nodded to his response. Matalino din pala siya, in fairness.

"You really wouldn't say anything?" He looked at me again with his brows arched. I didn't know he's waiting for me to talk.

"What should I say, then?"

"Anything. I just don't want to be awkward with you," he looked away.

It seems like we are in the same boat.

"So you miss the old me? What part of it?" I said teasingly.

"Did I say that?" I saw him smirked then looked away. I chuckled by his acts.

"Anong part nga?"

Akala ko hindi niya sasagutin ang tanong ko, ngunit tumitig siya sa akin bago magsalita.

"'Yung pagiging makulit mo?" pag-amin niya bigla.

Inaamin ko... I didn't see that coming. Gosh, my cheeks are heating. Hindi naman dapat ganoon ka-big deal 'yung sinabi niya eh. Siguro 'yung titig niya 'yung nakapagpa-blush sa akin.

Tama 'yun nga.

"So, gusto mong magbalik 'yung makulit na Wynnona? Hmm," Inilagay ko ang hintuturo ko sa sentido ko, habang ang nakasandal ang mga braso sa railings ng balcony. "Gusto mong marinig 'yung realization ko?"

"Realization? What?" he curiously asked.

"Walang mababad-trip ha?" sabi ko sa kanya na dahilan ng mas lalong pagka-curious niya.

"Ang pangalan ko ay nagsisimula sa W, at sa iyon naman ay Y..."

"So?" tanong niya. Halatang nabitin.

"Tapos ang pangalan naman ni Xyris ay nagsisimula sa X," He again arched his brows. "Sa tingin ko... Siya talaga ang pumipigil sa pagmamahalan natin sa isa't isa, kasi nga sa alphabet ang magkakatabi ay W, X, at Y. Kung wala siya sa gitna, edi malaya tayong magkalapit."

I even winked at him, tanda na joke 'yung sinabi ko, pero hindi nagbago ang reaksyon niya. Never kong naging tantyado ang timpla niya, kaya hindi ko alam kung tuluyan na itong na-bad trip sa akin.

"Hey, I'm sorry kung--"

"So, mahal mo ako?"

I blinked thrice dahil hindi ako makapaniwala sa sinabi niya. Ang pamumula at pag-iinit ng pisngi ko kanina ay dumoble rin. Samantalang, hindi man lang siya nagbago ng reaksyon.

"Wh-What?!" I asked, confused.

"Sabi mo kanina, hadlang siya sa pagmamahalan natin," hindi ko ma-process ang sinabi niya noong una, pero na-gets ko pa rin na galing pala iyon sa sinabi ko.

"I don't love you though," unti unti namang nawala ang kaninang mabilis na tibok ng puso ko nang sabihin niya iyon.

"I-I know. Saka duhh, joke lang naman kasi 'yun. 'Wag mong seryosohin. Hehe," I tried to sound cool and not affected. Sana nga naging effective.

"Let's proceed on the performance task," sabi ko nang mapansing nagiging awkward na naman kami sa isa't isa.

Bakit ko nga ba kasi sinabi 'yang tungkol sa pagmamahalan na 'yan. Pahamak.

"Sheen's not the type of teacher that will make her students' life easy," I can agree with what he said.

Noong una nga, akala ko ayaw niya sa akin. Akala ko pahihirapan niya ng sobra ang buhay ko, but no, isa siya sa mga naging essential sa pagbabago ko.

"Nag-aagree ka ba sa usapan ng mga kaklase natin noong birthday ni Pinks?" He looked up, thinking about what I said.

Noong birthday party kasi ni Pinky, I heard them talk about the possibility that the topic's first letter may start with the letter that's assigned to us.

"Hmm," he looked up more, and I can't help but to stare at his Adam's apple as it slowly moves.

Wow, I never thought an Adam's apple's movement could be that sexy....

"If it's letter B," bumalik ako sa katauhan nang lumingon siya sa akin. "what do you think that topic will be?"

I deeply thought of something relevant with our letter.

"It could be beauty?"

"Or beautiful..."  I looked at him and saw him staring at me.

I don't want us to be awkward again so I looked away. My gosh. How can those dull eyes look so hot?

"H-How about... b-brain?" I cleared my throat before going back to the topic.

"Brain or Heart?" Why does every guess he says makes me think of a romantic topic?

"Body Building?" I know this could be out of a topic, but

"Bulalo?" he suddenly said.

Where the freak did that come out?

"Uhh, beef brocolli?" Since he thought of a food, I can't help but to think one, too.

"Beefsteak"

"Bacon"

"Beer"

I stopped enumarating foods that start with letter b.

"Beer? Why beer?" I asked while my brows are furrowed.

"Syempre hindi naman dapat puro pagkain lang. 'Pag nabulunan walang panulak?" tanong niya sa akin at hindi ko maiwasang pag-isipan iyon.

Makalipas ang ilang segundong katahimikan, nagkatitigan kami at parehong natawa sa kababawan ng pinagsasasabi namin. He even mocked when I did the 'thinking pose' that I did awhile ago.

Pero in fairness, kahit na mababaw kung titingnan, masaya ako dahil masaya kami.

The next thing we know, I invited him to have a lunch with me. Well, it's just a delivered pizza, but still I can say that he enjoyed his meal with me.

"Why is your sister so good in speaking english?" I asked him since he kept on saying sorry about the attitude of her sister.

He also told me that his sister really knows about what happened five years ago. She even hated me even though today's the first time she ever saw my face.

"She studied in America," he responded casually.

"Oh, I thought inaral niya noong inaral mo din... noong... manliligaw ka palang kay Xyris."

His lips rose a bit, and he let out a soft chuckle.

"Practice tayo bukas?" Tanong ko sa kanya para maiba ang usapan. Mukha kasing wala na siyang isasagot sa huli kong sinabi.

"Yeah, definitely. Where do you want?" he asked while looking at me. Hindi tuloy ako makaisip ng maayos. Feeling ko... nakakahiyang paghintayin siya.

"I-I actually don't know," I smiled awkwardly, playing my hair. "I just want a place that's hidden... somewhere na walang makakanood."

"You don't want someone to see your talent in public?"

"T-Talent? You mean in acting? Err, I'm still not good. Nakakahiya lang sa manonood."

"No. You're good," I looked at him due to what he just said. He's not looking at me. He's busy putting hot sauce on his slice. "In your performance, you shine."

My eyes widened upon remembering about something.

"What did you say?" I asked again, hiding my feelings.

He parted his lips meaning he would say it again. I remained patient like a kid waiting for her parent's surprise gift.

"That you sh-shine?"

I bit my inner cheeks to hide my smile.

"So.... that twitter post..." I'm still looking at him, and when I told about the post he immediately looked at me.  "is that for me?" I asked without any hesitation.

Instead of answering it, I heard him cleared his throat before looking away. He reached for another slice of pizza and put it in my plate.

"Do you want hot sauce?" he asked without looking at me.

"I want," ...you.

I know he wouldn't answer it kaya pinabayaan ko na lang. I just let the thought wander around my head. At dahil nandito pa siya, mamaya na lang ako kikiligin.

Pagkatapos naming kumain, nagpasya si Yamato na umuwi na. Baka raw kasi kung ano pang gawin ng spoiled niyang kapatid.

Nang ihatid ko siya sa labas ng pintuan, hindi namin inaasahang mayroong isang babaeng naka-krus ang magkapatong na braso sa dibdib at nakasandal sa pintuan ng unit ni Yamato.

"You dated too long," she looked at her phone and said something again. "You were there for two hours, four minutes, thirty-two seconds, and fifty five mini seconds." she rudely said.

"What do you really need on my brother?"

Bago pa man makasagot si Yamato, inunahan ko na siya.

"I and your brother..."

I flashed my evil smirk.

I'm sorry, Yam. I never asked you but...

"...are getting married."

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A/N: Hope you Enjoy reading po! Votes and comments are highly appreciated ♥ God bless y'all!