Song: Where You Belong- Kari Kimmel

Feelings

The girl now turns her head towards Axel. Bahagya niya akong itinuro.

"Sino siya?" Tanong nito.

I pursed my lips. Damn! If this is his girlfriend or... wife, I would rather go home! Baka kung ano pa ang isipin nito at baka makasira pa ako ng relasyon!

I am innocent! I have no idea about Axel's relationship. At isa pa, dineny niya sa akin noon na wala siyang girlfriend o asawa. Kaya hindi ko kasalanan kung masisira man ang relasyon nila.

Fuck! Why am I thinking too much?

"We better go back inside now." Sabi ni Axel. Sumunod naman ako sakanya.

Narinig ko naman ang patuloy na pagtatanong noong Patty sakanya tungkol sa akin. Axel remained quiet until we got back inside their house again.

"Aria, this is Patty. Patty... this is Aria." Pakilala ni Axel sa amin.

Doon lang ako nagkalakas ng loob na harapin iyong babae. Sa halip na mapanghusgang tingin ang igawad niya sa akin. Nabigla ako nang makita kong namimilog na ang kanyang mga mata.

"Oh my god! Ang anak ng... Ang anak ng presidente!" halos pasigaw niyang sinabi.

Axel immediately scolded her about being so loud. She bit her lip and apologized.

"Hi, I'm Aria. Nice to meet you." Sabi ko sabay lahad ng aking kamay.

Hindi malaman ni Patty ang unang gagawin. Nagulat siya nang makita akong naglahad ako ng kamay. Bago niya tanggapin iyon ay nagpunas muna siya ng kanyang palad gamit ang kanyang damit.

"A-Ay, Ma'am... Patricia po. Pero Patty nalang. Nice to meet you rin po!" anito at tsaka nahihiyang ngumiti.

"Ikaw naman! Hindi mo sinabi na dadalhin mo dito ang anak ng presidente. Edi sana nakapag-ayos man lang ako! Nakakahiya!" Patty hissed at Axel. Napailing nalang ito nang dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Patty is a childhood friend. Madalas siya dito at minsan tinutulungan niya si Lola sa tindahan."

I sighed in relief. Gosh! Akala ko talaga in a relationship 'tong si Axel!

Napansin ko namang bahagyang napakunot ng noo ang dalawa nang dahil sa pag bugtong ng hininga ko. Ngumiti nalang ako para hindi mahalata.

"Ma'am... naku! Dati nakikita ko lang kayo madalas sa TV tapos ngayon nandito ka! Sa harap ko pa! Jusko! Ang ganda niyo ho pala talaga sa personal."

Nahihiya akong tumawa. Ganito pala ang pakiramdam kapag tinuturing ka na parang artista ng isang tao. Though it's a bit overwhelming, but it's awkward at the same time dahil pakiramdam mo ang taas taas ng tingin nila sa'yo kahit na hindi naman kailangan.

"Axel, halika nga at picturan mo kami!" utos niya sabay iniabot sa kaibigan ang kanyang cellphone. "Ma'am... okay lang po ba magpapicture ako?"

"Oo naman! Walang problema."

Patty squealed in excitement. Lumapit siya sa akin at tumabi. Nakita ko namang napairap nalang sa kawalan si Axel nang dahil sa inuutos ng kaibigan.

Ngumiti ako sa camera. Axel clicked once then he handed back the phone to his friend now.

"Hala siya! Di man lang nagsabi na magcclick na! Mag warning ka naman!" reklamo ni Patty. "Wait lang! Wait lang! Di ko angle 'to. Ma'am, palit po muna tayo pwesto."

Tumabi ako at binigyan siya ng daan upang makapagpalit kami ng pwesto. Sabay kaming ngumiti muli sa camera.

We both heard Axel cursed under his breath. "Arte!"

"Tse!"

Kahit na nakangiti sa camera ay bumabagabag naman sa akin ang pagiging malapit ni Axel at Patty sa isa't isa. They seem to know each other since they were babies! Mukhang kilalang-kilala at sobrang lapit nila sa isa't isa.

Patty went back to him once Axel finishes taking pictures of us. Naupo naman ako sa sofa at pinagmasdan silang dalawa.

"Ano ba 'yan! Blurred pa 'yung iba! Umayos ka naman!" biro ni Patty. Inirapan niya ang kaibigan.

"Aarte ka pa. Pasalamat ka nga picturan ka pa."

Patty made face and mocked Axel. Nanatili lang akong nakatingin sakanila habang nag-aasaran sila.

At dahil rin siguro sa paninitig ko ay kaya napabaling ng tingin si Axel sa akin. He raised a brow.

"Are you bored now? Do you want to go to your atelier?" medyo nagaalalang tinanong ni Axel.

"No, I'm fine! I still want to stay. Don't worry about me." I smiled to reassure him.

I glanced at Patty who stopped looking at her phone for a while. Her mouth is parted a little while she's watching us.

Nang makitang nakatingin ako sakanya ay mabilis siyang napangiti at ibinalik nalang muli ang mga mata sa kanyang telepono.

"Oh, Patty? Ano pang ginagawa mo diyan? Halika rito at tulungan mo si Landon sa paghahain at mamaya maya ay manananghalian na tayo." Anyaya sakanya ni Lola Guada.

Patty laughed awkwardly and glanced at us.

"Sige po, La. Nagpapicture lang po ako kay Ma'am."

"Ay ikaw talagang bata ka!" natatawa na sinabi ni Lola Guada.

Patty immediately went towards her direction. Si Lola Guada naman ay nagtungo sa amin. She smiled at me.

"Hija, pupwede ka nang mamili ng gusto mong ulam doon sa labas. Sana kumakain ka ng mga ulam na nakahain doon."

"Anything is fine for me, po. Don't worry."

"Hindi, La. Papatikimin ko muna. I'll let her taste everything so she can decide on what to eat." Sabat ni Axel.

I pouted. As if naman maarte at pihikan ako sa pagkain. But oh well, gusto ko rin naman iyong naiisip niya. At least I'll get a free taste of everything!

At isa pa... baka dito rin ako makakuha ng bagong ipapaluto sa palasyo. Nakakasawa na rin kasi minsan iyong mga niluluto doon. Paulit-ulit nalang.

"O sige, hijo. Samahan mo na siya ulit doon para makapili na siya. At etong sila Landon ay pipili na rin ang mga 'yan mamaya."

Sinuot ko namang muli ang cap. Nauuna si Axel maglakad sa akin at nang matunton na niya ang kanilang tindahan ay agad niyang sinabihan si Ate Irma na kukuha na siya ng ulam.

The one responsible for serving the food is still clueless about me being here. Siguro iniisip niya lang na isa akong kaibigan ni Axel. Well, that's what I wanted to happen.

Axel grab a spoon and immediately opened the lid of the pan. He motioned me to come closer, so I did.

"What's that?" I asked. Pinanood ko naman siya habang kumukuha ng kakaunting piraso at nilagay ito sa maliit na lalagyanan.

"Pininyahang manok." He answered simply.

I nod my head. I continued watching him as he brings the spoon to his lips. Hinipan niya ang mainit na sabaw. Iminuwestra niya naman ang kutsara sa bibig ko nang hindi na gaanong mainit ang sabaw nito.

I was actually planning to pull the spoon away from his hand but he is not letting go. I figured that maybe he wanted me to sip on it while he's still holding the spoon.

Hindi nalang ako nagsalita. Aarte pa ba ako?! This is such a sweet gesture! Akalain mo hinipan na niya ang sabaw para sa akin tapos ngayon gusto niya pa akong subuan!

Gosh! Who would let a chance like this to slip away? Obviously, not me!

When I got to taste it, my eyes widened a little.

"Ohh... I like this one."

"Unang ulam pa lang 'yan gusto mo na agad." He said with a little smile on his lips.

"Well, it's delicious. It's my first time tasting this one. Am I missing out?"

"Yeah, a lot."

Mas lalo pa atang namilog ang mga mata ko nang makita kong sumubo rin siya sa parehong kutsara. He nods his head as if he's agreeing with my remark.

Whoa! I can't believe I just had an indirect kiss with him. Ganito na ba talaga kapag hopeless romantic? Parang lahat nalang binibigyan ng meaning?

Nagpatuloy naman kami sa ginagawa. The same scenario happened though. Hihipan niya muna ang ulam bago niya ito imuwestra sa akin.

And again... he's going to taste the food using the same spoon. At dahil nga masyado akong focused sa nangyayari, nabilang ko na rin kung ilang beses niyang ginawa iyon.

Axel and I shared a total of three indirect kisses! May iilan pang ulam kaming hindi natitikman so there's a bigger chance that we're going to share more!

Hindi ako mahilig makipagshare ng kahit ano sa ibang tao. I am very conservative when it comes to the things I use.

But this one... is an exemption! Kahit ilang beses niyang paulit-ulit gawin 'to. Hindi ako magrereklamo.

Wait. What was that again, Aria? Naririnig mo ba ang sinasabi mo? Did that actually came from you?

Nang dahil sa mga naiisip ay hindi ko napansin na nakalahad na palang muli ang kanyang kamay sa akin. I tasted the food again.

"I like this one, too."

"Do you really like everything, Aria? Or you're just saying it because you don't want to hurt my grandmother's feelings?"

I creased my forehead at him.

"I am telling the truth, Axel! Hindi ko na kasalanan pa kung bakit masarap magluto ang lola mo kaya nagugustohan ko ang lahat. Come on, I wanna taste the remaining food so I can choose what to eat now." I demanded.

Hindi ka naman excited sa pang-lima niyong indirect kiss noh, Aria?

"You mean you're going to choose everything because you like them all."

"Pwede ba 'yun? Kaso baka malugi kayo, e. Pinapakain niyo na nga lang ako ng libre-"

"It's up to you. I really don't mind."

"Or... I can just pay for it. Gusto ko rin sanang mag-uwi."

Mukhang hindi niya inaasahan na sasabihin ko iyon. Maybe he wasn't expecting that a person like me who's exposed to luxury, fine dining, and such will want to take home a normal food.

"Nakakasawa na kasi ang mga ulam sa palasyo kaya..." I added.

"Okay. I'll take care of it. What do you want?"

I pouted. "There are still other two remaining foods that I haven't tasted."

Wala siyang nagawa kaya inulit niyang muli ang kanina niya pang ginagawa. I smirked as I watch him.

Dahil rin doon ay hindi ko namalayan na pinapanood na pala kami ni Patty. Mabilis akong lumayo kay Axel matapos niyang isubo sa akin ang ulam. Napatingin rim si Axel sa gawi niya. He ate the remaining food left on the spoon for me.

"Kukuha na rin kayo ng inyo?" tanong ni Axel sakanya. Patty only nod her head. "Ano iyong gusto nila? Isasabay ko na."

"Hindi na, Axel. Ako na. Pasok mo nalang 'yang mga napili na ni Ma'am." She said. "Kung m-may napili na s-siya."

Tumango lang din si Axel at tsaka ako tinanong sa gusto kong kunin na ulam. Hindi naman ako makasagot ng maayos because Patty's stares are bothering me a little.

I don't know if the look that she's giving me is a jealousy look or she just looks at people like this normally. I don't want to judge people whom I just met for the first time.

I told Axel what I wanted to eat for today. Dalawa iyong pinili ko para marami-rami rin kaming mapapahatiang ulam ngayon.

Nagpaalam naman muna si Axel kay Patty bago kami tuluyang pumasok muli ng kanilang bahay.

Kasalukuyang pinupulbosan ni Lola Guada ang mga batang apo. Mahahalata mo talaga na alagang-alaga sila ng kanilang Lola. Their hair was combed neatly at mukhang presko na presko sila ngayon dahil sila ay bagong ligo.

"Halina at tayo'y kumain. Nakakuha na ba si Patty ng mga ulam?" tanong ni Lola Guada nang mapansing inilapag na ni Axel ang mga napili kong ulam.

"Kumukuha na po, La." Sagot ni Axel.

"Oh mga bata pumwesto na kayo at tayo'y kakain na." Tinawag ni Lola ang mga bata. Nagunahan naman ang mga iyon sa lamesa at tiningnan ang mga ulam.

Hindi ko napigilan na mapangiti.

"Akin 'to!" turo ni Atticus sa isa sa mga ulam na pinili ko.

"Ay sus! Sa ate mo 'yan." Si Lola Guada.

"Okay lang po! Pupwede kang kumuha dito." Sabi ko sabay nginitian ang bata. Nagagalak siyang ngumiti pabalik.

Walang nagawa si Lola Guada at napakamot nalang ng ulo. Mamaya-maya ay dumating na si Patty dala ang isang tray na naglalaman ng mga ulam na kinuha niya.

Naupo siya sa tabi ni Landon, katapat lamang namin ni Axel. Tipid niya akong nginitian at tsaka inilubay ang tingin.

"Pasensya ka na, hija, at ganito lang ang nakayanan naming ihanda ngayon. Hindi kasi sinabi ni Axel na bibisita ka, kaya hindi rin kami nakapaghanda. Nakakahiya tuloy."

"Okay lang po talaga sa akin 'to, Lola. Hindi rin naman po ako nag-eexpect masyado dahil hindi rin naman po planado ang pagbisita ko ngayong araw."

"Magpapapancit sana ako kung sinabi lang ni Axel, e."

"Hay naku, La! Okay nga 'to, e. Nasurprise tayo sa bisita! Big time! Feeling ko tuloy sobrang privileged ko na!" natatawang sinabi ni Landon. Napansin ko namang napailing nalang ang kanyang kapatid.

"O siya! Tayo'y kumain na. Masamang pinaghihintay ang grasya."

After we prayed, we immediately started eating. They talk in between meals at minsan nagkakatuwaan pa dahil nagbibiruan sila. I can't help but smile as I adore their family.

Hindi ganitong hapag ang nakasanayan ko, pero ganito ang hinahangad ko. Iyong kahit sa pagkain lang ay masaya parin. Hindi kagaya sa amin na tahimik lang at walang imikan.

Nang sumapit ang hapon ay doon na namin napagdesisyonan na umalis. Muntikan ko pa ngang makalimutan na may appointment nga pala ako sa isang client! Masyado kasi akong natutuwa dito at nakalimutan ko na ang responsibilidad ko.

I just opened my own atelier and I can't believe that I'm already ditching my responsibilities. Kung hindi pa tumawag si Kuya Sven na papunta siya, wala na talaga akong planong umalis.

"Salamat sa pag-bisita, hija. Sa uulitin." Nakangiting sinabi ni Lola Guada. I smiled widely.

Can you actually believe that Axel's family is ready to welcome me anytime? The joy that this feeling is giving me is unexplainable.

"This is definitely not going to be the last time I'll come here, Lola. Thank you so much for your kindness and hospitality po. Pasensya na po at nabigla kayo sa pagbisita ko."

"Wala iyon. Gaya nga ng sabi ni Landon, big time ang bisita namin." Ngumiti akong muli at tsaka siya niyakap upang magpaalam na.

Lumapit ako kay Landon at nagpaalam na rin. Masaya niya akong niyakap pabalik.

"Ah, grabe! Di ko po akalain na makakayakap ako ng isang kagaya mo!"

Natawa ako ng dahil doon. Landon is just so excited about everything. That's one of the things that I've found out when I talked to him a while ago.

Nagpaalam na rin ako sa mga bata. Nagagalak nila akong niyakap at sinabihan na bumalik ako dito.

"Sige at sa susunod dadalhan ko na kayo ng pasalubong." Pangako ko. Nagtatatalon sila sa tuwa at tsaka yumakap muli sa akin.

Napapikit nalang ako habang yakap sila.

Tumayo ako at tsaka huling dinaluhan si Patty. I smiled at her. I offered her a hug. She awkwardly return the hug.

"I'm really glad to meet you, Patty." Sabi ko.

Nahihiya siyang ngumiti. "Hala! Grabe, Ma'am, mas nagagalak nga po akong nakausap at nakasama kita kahit saglit. Hindi ko akalain."

"I'll see you again."

"I-I'll see you, too, a-again, Ma'am!"

Nginitian ko sila at kumaway na upang magpaalam. Axel made me wear the cap again.

Kumaway akong muli at napansin na nakatuon lang ang mga mata ni Patty kay Axel. Nang mapansing nakatingin ako sakanya ay kumaway nalang siya pabalik at umaktong hindi ko siya nakita.

I turn to Axel who seems to be unaware of Patty's stare. My mouth parted when I realized something.

Patty like Axel... more so, loves him!

Kaya siguro ganoon nalang rin ang tingin niya kanina nang maabutan niya kami ni Axel habang kumukuha ng mga ulam.

But does Axel know about her feelings?

Hindi ko nalang inisip pang muli iyon. It's none of my business after all. I shouldn't meddle with their life.

Pinatunog ni Axel ang sasakyan at tsaka ako pinagbuksan ng pinto. Before I enter, I turned to him. He's still holding the door for me. He raised a brow.

"Thank you for allowing me to come here."

He bowed his head a little and smiled.

"It's my pleasure, Ma'am."

I glared at him. Ngayon niya nalang ulit ako tinawag ng ganyan. A ghost smile appeared on his lips. Mukhang nang-aasar pa ang isang 'to.

Bago pa ako tuluyang mapangiti ay pumasok na ako ng sasakyan. He closed the door at tsaka umikot. When he got inside the car, he immediately started the engine and drove away.

Buti nalang at mabilis ang byahe at nakarating agad kami sa atelier. I sighed in relief when I found out that my client still isn't here.

Kuya Sven provided me a secretary that would notify me about everything. Ang sabi niya ay may mga nag-iinquire na, habang ang iba ay kuryosong tinitingnan ang aking mga designs.

I changed into a more presentable clothes. May inayos naman akong paper works sa aking office habang si Axel ay nanatiling nakatayo sa pinto at nagbabantay.

I was then notified that my client has arrived so I closed all the folders and went outside my office to welcome that client.

Nakasunod naman agad sa akin si Axel. My client is roaming her eyes around the atelier and when she saw me, she immediately removed her sunglasses.

I smiled. I offered my hand to her.

"Ariadne,"

My client is a famous actress so it was no surprise when she introduced herself to me.

"Thania."

"Nice to meet you."

Iginiya ko naman siya patungo sa isang round table upang doon pag-usapan ang magiging disenyo ng gown niya.

Apparently, she will be attending a ball three weeks from now. The ball's theme was during the 20th century. It wasn't hard for me to think of a design that would fit her preference because I've always liked designing clothes from the old centuries.

We hang out for a while until Kuya Sven arrived which I've come to find out that they know each other!

Ganoon na ata ka sociable si Kuya Sven para pati malalaking artista ay kilala rin siya! They met at a party and they instantly became friends. Being a party animal has its perks huh, Kuya Sven?

Nang oras na para magpaalam si Thania ay agad ko namang ipinakita sa mga dressmaker ang design na nagawa ko. Humanap ako ng tela na mayroon dito na babagay para sa gagawing disenyo. I also assigned some beads that would be used for the completion of this dress.

After that, I ate dinner with Kuya Sven. We were out in a restaurant and I asked both of our bodyguards to join us on our table but they declined. Kaya ngayon nakapwesto sila sa di kalayuang table sa amin.

Even if people noticed me, they didn't do anything to mob me unlike what happened in the morning. Sobrang energized siguro ng mga tao kanina.

Kuya Sven and I talked for a while until our orders arrived. I asked him how Kuya Isias is.

"I think he's seeing someone."

Umangat ang kilay ko nang dahil doon. A busy man like Kuya Isias definitely has no time to see someone. Kaya nakakagulat itong binabalita ni Kuya Sven sa akin.

"Really?"

"Yeah, he's always out. Always on the phone. Alam mo naman ang mga galaw kapag may kinikita diba?"

"You're too fast to conclude! Baka naman kliyente lang."

He rolled his eyes at me as if what I just told him is unbelievable.

"Aria, I've been there and I perfectly know when a guy is in love."

This time I was the one who rolled an eye. Sa dami ba naman ng nakafling niya, alam na alam niya na talaga ang galawan ng isang lalaki.

"Just be happy for him. At least hindi na puro trabaho ang nasa isip niya." I said.

"But I want to know who that girl is!"

"Gosh! Can't you just wait? I'm sure Kuya Isias will tell you about her. Masyado ka namang excited."

Ngumuso siya at umiling.

Inggit lang ata ang isang 'to dahil may kinikitang babae itong si Kuya Isias. Hindi kagaya niya na sobrang indenial pa sa feelings niya!

Kuya Sven and I only parted ways when he received a call from his father. Mukhang may importante silang pag-uusapan kaya pinauwi siya agad.

I sigh heavily when I realized that my happiest day just ended. Kung pwede lang sana hindi matapos ang araw na 'to...

Pagbalik ko ng palasyo ay inaasahan ko nang sasalubungin ako ng magulang ko para pagalitan ako. Pero iba ang nangyari. They went to me out of concern. Nakakagulat na pati si Daddy ay hindi magawang magalit sa akin.

I turned off my phone so I really have no idea how many times they called me.

"Saan ka nagpunta, Aria? You could've called! Sobrang nag-alala kami para sa'yo!" Ani Mommy.

I pursed my lips and explained everything. Humingi rin ako ng tawad sakanila.

Axel notified my parents immediately when he found me. Sinabi niya rin pala sakanila kung saan kami nanggaling kaya kahit papano naibsan ang pag-alala ng magulang ko sa akin.

Instead of lecturing me about it, they just let me rest! Which was quite surprising to be honest.

Before I open the door, I turn to Axel who still followed me towards my room. I smiled a little a him.

Nanatili naman siyang nakatingin sa akin na tila ba hinihintay ang susunod kong gagawin.

"I just want to thank you for today. I had fun with your family. And... thank you for the warm hospitality."

He bowed his head a little. "It's a pleasure, Ma'am."

I raised a brow. So, he's back to calling me Ma'am again huh? Tuwing nasa labas lang ba kami tsaka niya ako tatawagin sa pangalan ko? Kung ganoon, lagi nalang pala akong lalabas.

"You won't get tired of calling me Ma'am huh?" I asked with a smirk on my lips.

He scoffs a little and looked away. He pursed his lips until a ghost smile appeared on his lips. I can't help but admire how he looks so good with his normal clothes. I admire how he doesn't care about how he looks.

I sometimes wonder if he knows how good looking he is. It seems like he's unaware of it sometimes. Hindi niya lang alam na tuwing nasa labas kami, maraming babae ang napapalingon sa gawi niya. I know that because I always pay attention to him.

I love how he takes this job seriously. Like he's willing to sacrifice everything just to protect me. He could've just let me explore and do nothing while I was being mobbed. Pero nakuha niya pa talagang hanapin at puntahan ako kahit na alam niyang hindi araw ng trabaho niya ngayon.

If things are only simple... I could've easily chosen a guy like him. But I know there's only one Axel Ocampo in this world so it would be hard for me to find a guy like him.

Nawala lang ang lahat ng nasa isip ko nang nagsalita siya.

"Good night and rest well."

"You, too..." I couldn't help but smile this time. "Good night, Axel."

Wala na akong pakialam pa kung mukha akong tanga sa kakangiti sakanya ngayon. I just... this is the very first time that I felt this way and it was so weird!

Tumalikod na siya sa akin at tsaka nagtungo sa hagdan. I bit my lip and watched as he disappeared.

This time, I knew exactly what I was feeling... Kuya Sven was right. I am attracted to him that it quickly led to the point where I already feel something for him.