"Clementine, gising na. Nasa tapat na tayo ng bahay mo."

I slowly opened my eyes to look around and saw that I wasn't dreaming. Kinusot ko ang aking mga mata bago lumabas ng kotse to get my stuff.

I fiddled with my keys to open the gate at narinig ko naman agad ang bukas ng pintuan namin and it was Silas's cousin. She helped us get our things at noong pumasok ako sa loob wala si Daddy sa sala. Usually at this time, he's watching basketball on TV.

Pero naamoy ko na mayroong nag-luluto sa kusina kaya agad kong hinubad ang aking sapatos para puntahan si Daddy doon. When I reached the kitchen, he was singing while he was cooking as if wala siyang problemang hinaharap ngayon. I wanted to cry, and break down.

It hurts to see him like this. Masaya siya pero alam kong pagod na siya. Naramdaman ko ang presensya ni Silas sa aking tabi at agad niya naman ako nilapit sa kaniyang katawan para pakalmahin.

Alam niya kasi kapag malapit nang tumulo ang luha ko. Gusto ko sana gulatin Dad pero baka mabigla siya, atakihin sa puso kaya hinintay ko na lang siyang lumingon sa gawi ko.

After five minutes, he finally turned towards me at natigilan naman siya. He stared at me for a few minutes to see if I was really standing six feet away from him. I smiled before walking towards him to give him a hug.

Agad naman niya pinulupot ang kaniyang kamay sa akin. "Anak, bakit ka nandito? I thought you won't be back for the next two weeks pa?"

"Jireh called me... He told me that your condition is getting worse. I was worried, kaya ito ako ngayon. Kasama ko pa rin pala si Silas," I told him before looking at the person behind us. Lumapit naman ito kay Daddy at nag-mano.

"Good afternoon po, Tito. Would it be okay if I stay here for a few days?" Tanong agad nito at tinitigan muna siya ni Dadd bago ngumiti at tumango.

"Oo naman hijo!" Payag naman agad si Daddy at umiling iling naman ako. "Upo na kayo sa hapag kainan at kumain na tayo ng lunch. Alam ko naman na pagod kayo galing flight," sambit niya sa amin kaya sumunod kami sa kaniya.

While we were eating, kinukwento ko ang lahat ng nangyari sa akin for the past month. Dad was just listening to me while I was telling him how I jumped off a cliff, swam with sharks, explored cities, and tried foods with Silas. I even told him na kinwento ko kay Silas 'yong incident na nangyari sa akin noong bata ako.

"Ano naman reaksyon mo, Silas?" Tanong ni Daddy.

"Nako Tito, bata pa lang si Clementine gusto na agad sumama sa crush niya! Buti na lang talaga ako ngayon ang gusto ni Clemen dahil gusto niyo naman po ako para sa anak niyo 'di ba?" He straightforwardly said and my Dad just laughed pero siniko ko naman siya.

"Oo naman! Mabait na bata ka, Silas. Hindi na nga ako magugulat kapag nakipag-sex na sa iyo anak ko e—"

Parehas naman kaming nabulunan ni Silas sa sinabi niya. Inabutan naman ako ni Silas ng tubig bago siya uminom para naman hindi ako mahirapan.

"Anong sex Daddy? Ang bata bata ko pa para marinig 'yan!" Sambit ko sa kaniya at natawa naman ito.

"Bente kwatro ka na, Clementine! Malapit ka na nag bente singko. Malapit na ako mamatay at kailangan ko makita ang apo ko kahit sa ultrasound man lang," sabi niya sa akin habang ngumunguya at inilingan ko na lang siya. Noong tiningnan ko si Silas ay nagpipigil siya ng tawa.

"Pero alam mo 'nak. Hindi ka na dapat nag-abala pang pumunta rito just to check up on me. I'm doing fine. Dapat pinagpatuloy mo ang pag-una sa sarili mo."

"Dad, hindi ko magagawang mag enjoy kapag alam kong nahihirapan ka naman dito," seryoso kong usal at hindi naman na niya ako sinagot.

I told my father that I'll take him to a good doctor tomorrow to see if there is an alternative medicine for what he's taking right now. Hindi naman na umangal ito sa akin dahil wala na siyang magagawa.

I came up to my room and put my clean clothes in my closet and placed the dirty ones in the washing machine. I asked Silas's cousin if she could be the one to hang up the wet clothes for me, and she was kind enough to also do Silas's.

I took a quick shower before going to my room to dry my hair. After that, humiga agad ako sa kama ko and Silas came in with a pillow and a blanket.

"Can I sleep here? I don't like to sleep on the sofa downstairs," he asked nicely and I smiled before tapping the bed. He was surprised at first but walked inside to sit down on my bed.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

I nodded, "Yeah. Matutulog lang naman tayo. It's not like we're gonna fuck," I chuckled and he smiled before laying beside me.

Nakatingin lang kami parehas sa kisame. He wrapped the comforter around our bodies before I closed my eyes. Pero hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit hindi ako makatulog. Naka-ilang ikot at iba na ako ng posisyon ngunit ayaw talaga!

"Can you stop moving? I'm trying to sleep, Clementine," Silas groaned and I looked at him before rolling my eyes.

"Hindi nga ako makatulog e!" I shouted. He turned to my direction at nagulat ako noong hinila niya ako palapit sa kaniya. "A-ano gagawin mo?" Nauutal kong sambit sa kaniya pero nilagay niya lang ang kaniyang daliri sa aking labi.

"Shh. Close your eyes and try to fall asleep. We're gonna cuddle, is that fine with you?" He asked for consent at hindi naman ako nakasagot agad dahil nabigla ako sa sinabi niya. "Do you want to be the big spoon or little spoon?" He asked with a chuckle at inilingan ko naman siya.

"Is this even going to be necessary?" I raised an eyebrow and he nodded.

"It'll help you fall asleep, I promise. I won't secretly fuck you while you're sleeping, don't worry. We're not in a porn set," he laughed at huminga ako nang malalim bago ko siya talikuran and scooted over closer to him. He immediately wrapped his arms around my waist, making me tense up.

Bigla naman niya hinimas ito which made me feel something tingling down between my legs. What the fuck? This was a first!

"Relax, Clemen. Sleep," he told me so I officially closed my eyes and the next thing I knew, I heard knocking on the door.

"Clementine! Silas! Wake up for breakfast."

Binuksan ko ang aking mga mata at pagkatingin ko ay nakayakap pa rin sa akin si Silas. I wasn't dreaming! And I swear, I can feel something bulging on my butt.

"Silas, wake up," I whispered and turned to him. It took me a few minutes before getting him up from bed. Agad naman siya nag-cr para umihi so that his member would calm down daw. Weird.

We ate breakfast before showering to get ready to go to the doctor. Silas said that he had already called his Tita and told her that we were already on our way. Sobrang haba ng tulog naming dalawa kaya may energy kami.

"Well, the test results clearly indicate that your sickness is already getting worse and worse everyday. The medication that was prescribed to you is working but barely. I really think that you should get an operation," sambit ng Doktor sa amin.

"Huwag na po, Doc. Sabi po kasi ng isa ko pong doktor na kapag inoperahan ako ay temporary lang ang iyon. Na mamamatay pa rin ako pagka-lipas ng ilang taon," sagot ni Daddy at agad umiling ang doktor.

"Well, you could get an operation in Seattle. They offer better service, and I know that they are competent in surgery that could solve your medical problem. We're talking about a permanent solution. I can recommend you to one of their best surgeons..." Suggestion nito sa amin at agad ako tumingin sa sahig. It's going to cost me more or less than 200k!

"Silas, can you ask your mother to recommend them to one of her friends? Magaling na surgeon 'yong kaibigan niya 'di ba? Or ask your Dad to contact his sister, Lucianna is also a great surgeon," the doctor told Silas, and I saw how he shifted his seat uncomfortably. He really doesn't like talking about family but I was shocked by his response.

"Sure, Tita. I'll try and contact them po," pilit dln siyang ngumiti bago tumingin sa aking gawi.

After the check up, kumain kami sa labas. "I can take care of the flight tickets papunta sa Seattle. I'll contact my cousin there and ask if they could tell her Mom to schedule the operation ASAP. I'll also contact someone from the US Embassy to get you two a visa and—"

"Silas, hindi na mo 'yan kailangang gawin," I cut him off.

"Ha? Bakit?" Naguguluhang tanong nito.

"Hindi kami papayag na gumastos ka ng gano'n kalaking halaga. Saka okay naman si Daddy ngayon, gumagana pa naman daw 'yong medisina e," I answered.

"Saka hijo, bakit ka naman ganiyan ka-willing para bayaran ang medical needs ko? Girlfriend mo na ba si Clementine?" Tanong nito at agad naman napakamot sa ulo si Silas bago umiling.

"Hindi pa po, Tito," sagot ni Tito at tinaasan ko siya ng kilay dahil ang taas naman ng confidence niyang magiging girlfriend niya ako in the near future. His phone rang so he excused himself. After ten minutes, bumalik si Silas to tell us something.

"So my sister is coming home po, and she already booked a villa at Tagaytay for us to stay in. Sabi niya po na isama ko raw kayo ni Clementine. A few relatives and close friends of mine would come. Are you guys okay with that?" Tanong ni Silas at tumango naman ako agad bago lumingon kay Daddy. It took him a few seconds before nodding.

"Kailan ba 'yan?" Tanong ni Daddy.

"In two days po."

"Oh tara na't umuwi na tayo. Mag-impake ka na, Clementine!" Dad said before eating quickly at natawa naman ako bago umiling.

Pagbalik sa bahay ay nag impake lang ako ng kaunti. Dadalhin ko 'yong isang maliit na maleta ko saka backpack.

Silas left to go buy some snacks to bring dahil road-trip ang mangyayari sa amin. Ang lapag raw ni Sienne rito sa Pinas ay 5:30, at sigurado akong makaka-labas siya ng airport ng mga 6pm just to get her checked in luggage.

After that, diretso na kami papuntang Tagaytay. Dalawang van ang gagamitin namin, at si Silas ang magmamaneho noong isa. On our van, there would be his friends and cousin at doon sa kabila naman ay ang mga oldies at kasama roon si Daddy at ang nurse niya.

"Anak?"

Pumasok sa loob ng kuwarto ko si Daddy at tinigil ko ang pagtutupi ng damit. He sat down right next to me before forcing out a smile.

"Clemen, gusto ko lang sabihin sa iyo na sorry dahil hindi talaga natin magagawa 'yong operasyon. Gustuhin ko man pero hindi ko rin magagawang gawin iyon dahil mahal ito. Alam kong sasabihin mo na hindi problema ang pera at magagawa natin iyon ng paraan pero ayaw kitang makitang itigil ang pag-aaral mo para sa akin."

I pursed my lips, "Okay lang, Dad. Naiintindihan ko. Kaya magsisikap ako sa pag-aaral ko para naman hindi sayang ang sakripisyo mo."

The day came and we were already waiting outside the airport. Bawal daw kasi pumasok kaya dito na kami outside the arrivals area. Medyo natagalan ang kapatid ni Silas pero noong nakita ko ang isang babaeng medyo natangkad na may blonde highlights that looked exactly like him, I knew it was her.

Agad naman ito yumakap sa mga pinsan nito at kaibigan bago lumingon sa akin. Sinuri niya muna ako bago siya magkaroon ng realization. "You must be Ate Clementine! Hi!" She gave me a quick hug before smiling. "Kuya Silas told me so much about you. You're prettier in person," she said and I blushed.

"Thank you..."

Naglakad na kami papunta sa van and Sienne was talking to me tungkol sa kaniyang kapatid. She was telling me how annoying he was and that I should be backing away from him. I was just laughing the entire time.

When we were about to go inside the van and sit next to each other, Silas called me. "Clementine. Sit here," he said as he started the engine of the van.

"Kuya, patabihin mo naman sa akin si Ate Clementine! I still need to tell her a lot of things pa," angal ni Sienne. Hindi naman ito pinansin ni Silas pero nagtama ang tingin namin sa salamin, and I saw that he was serious. I rolled my eyes before standing up to go to the passenger seat.

It didn't take long until we arrived at the villa. It was a big one! At tanaw na tanaw namin ang taal volcano. "Ang ganda, Silas! Look oh," I pointed at the view before looking at him at nakita kong nakatitig lang siya sa akin.

I just smiled at him, and I saw how his mouth formed a crease too. He was about to walk towards me when one of his cousins called him, "Silas! Tulungan mo raw sila Mom mag-ayos ng gamit sa loob."

Pumasok sa loob si Silas habang ako naman ay naiwan, hawak ang kaniyang cell phone. Umupo ako sa damo habang nilalanghap ang simoy ng malamig na hangin. Mayroon ding pool dito sa backyard, gusto ko lumubog kaso baka malamig 'yong tubig.

"Ate Clementine," tawag sa akin noong kapatid ni Silas. Tinabihan naman niya ako at napansin kong may kasama pala siya. Maybe one of her friends?

"Alam mo, this was the first time I saw my brother like this. Ibang iba na siya e. Gano'n ba talaga ang impact mo sa kaniya?" Sienne chuckled and I just shrugged my shoulders. "May problema po ba, Ate?"

Umiling ako before looking at her, "I don't know. I just can't help but think, what if he's doing this right now, kasi ako lang ang available? Na ako ang una niyang nagustuhan pero kapag lumayo na siya babalik na siya sa dating siya. Maraming babae, walang gusto sa buhay... Sienne, less than a month na lang ang mayroon sa amin e."

Natawa naman siya sa akin, "Ate... Maniwala po kayo sa akin. Kuya looks at you differently. When he looked at the girls back from our home town, it was just pure lust! Then there's you. He looks at you genuinely... With pure intentions. I can even tell na ayaw niyang makipag-sex sa iyo e."

"Is that a bad thing?" I asked and he shook her head.

"No, Ate. It means that sex isn't in the picture yet. That it can wait, ikaw muna at ang kasiyahan mo siguro ang priority niya," she smiled. Agad ko naman siya niyakap at nag-thank you. She assured me.

After a few minutes, pumasok na kami sa loob at nagulat ako noong topless si Silas habang nagluluto. "Kadiri naman, Silas. Put on a shirt," I said as a joke at nilingon naman niya ako bago ayain magluto kasama siya.

"'Wag mo naman sunugin! Sa 'yo ko papakain 'yan," banta niya sa akin noong nakalimutan kong baliktarin 'yong pancake. After cooking, we ate first before changing clothes to go to skyranch. Malapit na ito mag-sara pero hahabol kami. /

Halos tatlo lang ang nasakyan namin pero buti na lang nag-enjoy ako. Iba 'yong saya pala kapag may kasama kang marami. I also feel at ease because his cousins like me for Silas.

"Silas, bro, uwi na raw tayo sabi nila Tita," sambit noong isa niyang pinsan. Nakita ko namang umiling si Silas.

"Mauna na kayo, sunod na lang kami," sagot nito.

"Bakit hindi pa tayo sumabay sa kanila?" I asked him and he just held my hand as we walked towards the ferris wheel. He got us tickets bago kami pumunta roon sa entrance.

"I want alone time with you."

Noong sumakay na kami, at first I was very anxious kasi paano kung bumagsak 'tong sinasakyan namin? O 'di kaya tumigil ito habang nasa tuktok kami?

"Are you seriously scared of a ferris wheel when you've done much more extreme things than this?" Sakrastikong saad nito sa akin kaya umupo na lang ako sa harap niya, trying to calm myself down.

I couldn't help but notice the tension between Silas and me as we went higher and higher in the Ferris wheel. My heart skipped a beat and my cheeks flushed red every time I caught his stare. I tried to divert myself by staring out the window, but my thoughts kept returning to Silas and the way he was looking at me.

"Titigan mo lang ba ako ng ganiyan? It looks like you want to eat me," I chuckled. He didn't answer. Instead, he just licked his bottom lip before holding my hand and pulled me to sit on his lap.

"I want to kiss you. Can I kiss you?" Wala sa sariling tumango ako sa kaniya. Silas leaned in and kissed me, and all the tension and anticipation finally gave way to raw desire. In that moment, nothing else mattered except for the feel of his lips on mine and the electricity that we were feeling between us. As the Ferris wheel gently swayed back and forth, I lost myself in the moment, feeling more alive than ever before.

Noong bumaba na ang ferris wheel, diretso uwi naman na kami roon sa villa.

"Silas, kumain na 'yong mga oldies ng dinner. Plano namin kumain mamayang madaling araw ng bulalo, are you two down?" Andrew asked at tumango naman ako bago lumingon kay Silas. He also gave him a small nod before we walked up to our room.

Tumambay kami parehas sa may balcony to take in the gorgeous view. Well, halos matakpan na ng fog 'yong Taal pero okay lang, bumabawi naman 'yong mga tala na numiningning ngayon.

"Silas! Clementine! Swimming tayo, hindi malamig 'yong tubig." Napunta naman ang atensyon namin sa baba kung saan naroon pala ang mga pinsan at kaibigan niya. They were all in their swimsuits at mukhang masarap nga mag tampisaw saglit sa tubig.

"Gusto mo ba?" I asked him.

"Ikaw? What do you want to do?" He asked back.

"Panoorin na lang natin sila lumangoy sa baba," I answered. "May bukas pa naman para mag-swimming." Tumango siya sa akin bago kunin ang aking kamay at hinila patungo sa baba. We watched them for a few hours at nag-plano na rin sila kung ano ang gagawin bukas.

We're going to have a picnic at picnic grove sa hapon dahil kailangan namin ng oras para matulog. Kasi gusto pa nila mag-bonfire after eating e. E 'di aabutin kami ng kung anong oras no'n?

I was already on the verge of falling asleep while watching them kaya nagulat ako noong sinandal ni Silas ang ulo ko sa kaniyang balikat. "Sleep," he whispered. "Gisingin kita kapag kakain na tayo."

When I woke up, nasa kotse na kami ni Silas. Nasa passenger seat na naman ako as usual. Paano kaya ako ni Silas dinala rito? E ang taas pa naman ng van na ito!

When we arrived at the restaurant, kaunti na lang ang tao roon. While we were eating, they were talking about their family's businesses. Hindi naman ako maka-relate roon dahil wala namang business ang aming pamilya.

"Clementine, inom ka? Beer lang," inabutuan ako ni Jared ng isang bote ng san miguel. Ang pangit pa naman ng lasa ng original. I looked at Silas at mukhang naintindihan niya naman 'yong tingin ko at tumango naman siya.

I only drank a fourth of the bottle before giving it to Silas. Hindi ko rin naubos 'yong pagkain ko kaya binigay ko rin iyon kay Silas. Wala naman siyang choice so he just ate the food silently.

"Nako, Silas... Delikado ka na! Inuubos mo na tirang pagkain ni Clementine. Halatang magiging under ka kapag naging kayo," one of his cousins commented and they chuckled.

Silas scoffed, "Ako? Under?" Tumingin naman siya sa aking gawi kaya sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Ano naman kung under? Cute kaya!" Sambit niya bago bumuntong hininga at sumandal sa kaniyang upuan.

Natawa na lang ang mga pinsan niya sa kaniya bago umiling.

We ordered take out para matikman mamaya ng mga magulang namin ito. Masarap kasi siya!

"Silas, when are you planning to settle and get married?"

Nasa backyard na kami ulit, nasa harap ng bonfire. Ang titibay nga ng mga pinsan ni Silas! It's almost four in the morning and yet they have so much energy! Ganito ba talaga kapag mayayaman? Hindi sila mukhang pagod sa buhay lagi, jusko.

"Probably at the age of twenty eight I'll get married. By then I'll have my own house, a wife with a kid," sagot nito.

"Ikaw, Clementine?"

"Kapag may pera na," I chuckled.

Kung ano ano pa ang pinag-usapan nila hanggang sa mapunta sa akin ang hot seat. "Silas likes you, right?" Tanong ni Sarah sa akin at agad naman nag-init ang aking mga pisngi bago tumango.

"May chance ba siya sa iyo?"

Ano ba namang tanong iyan? E hinahalikan na nga ako noong tarantado e! Sino'ng mawawalan ng chance kapag nahahalikan mo 'yong tao?

Ngumiti ako, "Oo naman. Bakit hindi?"