Chapter 10
Problems

"Excuse me, tapos niyo na ba akong turukan?" biglang pagsingit ni Prince sa usapan.

Imbis na papasok ako sa CR, pinaglabanan ko na lang ng tingin ang babae sa akin. I don’t know her but...she’s kinda weird. Kilala niya ako pero hindi ko siya kilala.

"Oh, yes. You can rest now," the nurse commanded to Prince.

He nodded and looked at the police woman. "Why are you here Amor? Are you done in your job? I mean...'yong kasong hinahawakan mo?" Prince asked her.

The girl sighed and took a deep breath. "I finally found the murder. She's hiding in someone's wall. A wall that is not easily to wreck," she said and chose to stare at me. Prince eyes averted to the girl and looked at me.

It was not me...for sure. I had no idea what she was talking about. It's her business, not mine. So, she must have to focus on it rather than battling with me with her deadly stares.

"Oh? Really? That's good then," Prince said in a relief tone.

"I think...she's going to pray starting today. She will be prisoned soon once we confirmed the murder." At last, sa akin pa rin ang tingin niya.

"We'll have to go, Prince. Uhm...Lev, we'll head outside," paalam sa akin ni Amari, 'yong nurse ni Prince.

Tanging tango lang ang naging tugon ko sa kaniya bago pa man siya hinila ni Amor. Tiningnan ko silang lumabas na sa kwarto. Napansin kong nakatanaw sa malayo si Prince kaya sinubukan kong hulihin ang mga titig niya.

"Good bye, Prince..."Amor waved at him at masama naman ang tingin niya sa 'kin.

Ano kayang problema ng babaeng 'yon? Sarap niyang ihampas sa pader, ah?

Hindi kumibo si Prince at humugot ito ng hangin bago ngumiti sa 'kin.

"Thank you for staying here with me, Lev. I'm really thankful today," he said. "Huwag mo nang intindihin si Amor. Ganiyan lang talaga siya sa mga hindi niya kilala, e."

"Don't say sorry to me, Prince. I just don't get her point why she was staring at me like I was the murder she was referring to," pagsumbong ko sa kaniya. It is better for him to know my thoughts.

"I know you. You're not the girl she was referring to," he said, making sure that it was not me.

I just smiled and looked away from his eyes. I just can't move on from Amor's words. Parang ako kasi ang tinutukoy niya dahil sa pantitig niya pa lang, parang ako na agad ang naging subject no'n.

I heaved a sigh without noticing that Prince was watching at me. His smile faded when he found me silently standing beside him.

"Will you just stand here and...staring away from me?" he laughed hysterically.

Hinampas ko siya sa balikat. "Ano ka ba?" I made a smile. "I just looked away. Alangan naman kung sa 'yo ako titingin, 'di ba?"

"Dapat lang, 'no!" nagniningning ang mga mata habang sinasambit 'yon.

I pouted and cross my hands over my chest. Nakatayo ako sa harap niya dahil balak ko sanang pumunta sa kusina. Masyado lang akong nababagabag sa nangyari kanina sa 'min ni Amor. She looked at me like I've made a scene on her whole life.

"Gutom ako. Puwede mo ba akong lutuan?" pagputol niya sa katahimikang namayani sa aming dalawa.

I raised my brows and said, "Okay, wait lang..."

Dali-dali naman akong lumabas ng kuwarto niya matapos sabihin 'yon. May mga maid naman siya pero ako talaga ang inutusan niya. Ayos lang 'yon. I chose to stay with him in just one month to take care of him. Matapos nito, aalis naman ako.

I forgot to ask him what he wants me to cook.  Kaya ang resulta, nandito ako sa kusina at umiikot-ikot lang. I should have ask him first before going here!

"Ma'am, kayo po ba si Levina?" tanong ng isang babae na nasa harapan ko.

I nodded my head. "Yes, I am. Do you know what the favorite dish of Prince? Inutusan niya akong lutuan, e, " I asked her while wearing the red apron.

Her eyes widen in shocked. "Ma'am, ako po ang inatasang magluto rito. Pero kung gusto niyo po, tutulungan na lang kita," aniya.

Ngumiti siya sa 'kin. Tumango naman ako at inihanda ang sarili para magluto. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang lulutuin namin. Basta na lang akong naghugas ng lulutuan namin at hiniwa ang mga ingredients sa harapan namin. I peel the potato, carrot and slice it. Nasa harapan ko na ang lulutuin namin. At ayon sa tumulong sa 'kin, sinigang na manok raw ang lulutuin namin.

I finally made to cook for Prince. May sinusunod lang naman akong procedures para maluto ko 'yon.

"I am Yumi," aniya at naglahad ng kamay sa akin. Ngumiti pa siya sa 'kin kaya kahit paaano, hindi naman ako nahihiya sa kaniya.

Parang ilang araw lang na bumalik ang alaala ko pero... sobrang thankful ako. Somehow, I met a person like Yumi, who is good to me and an understanding man like Prince, who offered me to pay him for taken caring of me in the hospital.

Bumalik ako sa ulirat ng kulbitin ni Yumi ang aking braso. Napaupo na ako sa mesa ngunit natulala pa pala. Hindi ko 'yon namalayan dahil sa sobrang pag-iisip ko. Ngumiti lang ako sa kaniya at hindi ko na alam kung nagsasalita ba siya dahil wala sa kaniya ang aking atensyon.

It's not my intention of living like this elegant house. Lalong-lalo na 'yong mga kagamitan nila, kumikintab dahil sa ganda nito at halatang mayaman ang may-ari. Sandoval's family is a the most wealthiest family inside the whole Caribbean City. They were respected and everyone will salute them due to their wealth and power.

Hindi naman sila 'yong tipong masasamang tao sa siyudad. Because if we say wealth and power, others will say that they are doing something against their opponent to be hailed as the richest. Sa katunayan, mas kinagigiliwan sila dahil naiiba sila sa ibang mayayaman. They're not rude and violent but...helpful.

"Sky, ikaw na ang maghahatid ng pagkain niya?" Yumi asked me, while she was holding a bowl of kimchi. I don't know where she bought it but when I opened my eyes, I just found her holding it.

I can't deny that she is that kind of girl who didn't stare long to anyone. I like her for being patient. Kanina pa ako natulala pero hindi niya ako niyugyog.

"Sige, ate Yumi," I said and prepared all Prince's meal.

Dali-dali akong pumasok sa kwarto niya dala ang pagkaing paborito niya raw. It tooks just an hour while preparing it but I like what I am doing. Somehow, I learned something new from this house.

I was about to knock but the door suddenly opened. Bumungad kaagad sa akin si Prince na nakangiti. He's eyes dropped on the food I was carrying.

"That smells good," he complimented. "But...sre you the one who cook it for me?"

I bursts a laugh. "Bakit? Paano kung hindi?"

"Mas masarap kasi kapag crush ko 'yong nagluluto niyan," aniya bago pa man dinampot ang dala ko.

Hinigpitan ko ang paghawak no'n dahil balak kong dalhin na lang sa mesa malapit sa higaan niya.

"Don't tease me, okay? I'm not used to it."

Nilagpasan ko siya at dumako sa table. Doon ko na nilapag ang pagkain niya at hinubad ang apron. Prince turned his gaze to me and draw a smile on his face. Muntik pa akong ma-out balance dahil madulas ang sahig ng kwarto niya.

"Sino ba ang pinalinis mo rito?" I asked him, pointing the floor.

He chuckled. "Ayan ka na naman. Ako! Malamang naman kung...ikaw?" he said, while raising his brows. He crosses his hands over his chest, and feeling satisfied to my expression this time.

I just ignored him. I sat on the chair beside his bed. Gusto kong iligaw ang isipan ko sa kung saan para lang maiwasan ko ang matitigan si Prince. It's been many years since we have known each other, I used to be Prince's friends until he confess his feelings to me, everything changed suddenly.

Nang humawak ako sa mesa niya, may nahulog ro'n. Damputin ko na sana ngunit nahuli ni Prince ang aking mga kamay. This time, I saw how he looks to me that deep. His hazel eyes caught mine. Hindi ako nakagalaw dahil sa sobrang kaba. I avert my gaze from him and dropped my eyes on the things fell.

"Is this...me?" I asked him, when I clearly see the picture even it's frame is too small.

He laughed and put the frame behind the flower vase. He took a glimpse on the food before turning his eyes to me.

"Am I... handsome?" he asked me, obviously, he want to tease me again. His eyes didn't moved a bit from me but I kept fighting for it. I stare at him like what he did.

"No," I said.

"N-No...n-no way! I am handsome that's why you stare at me like that, Levina Sky." He took the spoon and had taste the kimchi.

"I'm not staring at you because I found out that you are handsome—"

"'Kita mo, inamin na."

"I didn't mean that. Let me finish my words first, okay?" I said and sat beside him.

"Ano? Go ahead, think it twice or more and tell yourself that I am obviously handsome." He was not casting a glimpse on me but I found how he laughed because I was annoyed.

"Ang hangin mo Prince. You're just rich but not handsome." I rolled my eyes and turned my gaze outside his room.

Kitang-kita ko ang mga punong kahoy sa tapat ng kuwarto niya. May mga ibon pang dumapo sa sanga ro'n. Humugot ako ng hininga at muling naalala kung paano ako pinaglaruan ng aking mga magulang, kung paano sinaktan ng aking Tito Valir at kung...paano ako nilaruan ng tadhana. I used to moved away from Prince eyes but now, I just found out myself drowning on his arms. I can't even denied how he treat me. It feels good while staying on his home, but...I am void who doesn't deserve this home. I am vain and useless.

"Levina? Bakit parang ang lungkot 'ata ng mundo mo. Do you have any problem?" he asked and put his spoon on the plate. He looked at me seriously that anytime, I might melt by his stares.

"There's millions of questions, but...that question is already answerable," I said while grinning. Alam ko naman na nakikinig lang siya sa akin kaya muli akong tumalikod sa kaniya at humarap ulit sa labas.

"Tinatanong kita. I don't have time for nonsense talks," he said, calmly.

"I don't have time also for answering a question which is already answerable—"

"How can I help you if keep hiding something to me? Is there anything else bombarded in your mind?" Muli siyang sumubo ng pagkain sa bunganga niya.

"All people has a problem. And it was obvious that we are all facing a problems. Whether it is just a little or huge, you must face it your own," I said and licked my lower lip. Humarap ako sa kaniya para makita ang reaksyon niya.

He smiled. "We also need someone to be with. You're right. Since we were kid, we already had a problem. That's why I want to sail with you because I want someone to be with my sail everyday."