While watching the delight on the attorney's eyes, I secretly giggled. We are here in the park right now, we didn't continue our meal at a restaurant because the Thai food branch is still far away. He insisted on continuing in but I refused—Wala naman siyang magawa dahilan para matuwa ako. He's so marupok.

"Say ahh." Nakangiting sabi ko at sinubo sa kanya ang isang tapsilog. Tapa at itlong na may kasamang fried rice. Nabili namin kanina doon sa isang fast food chain na nadaanan namin. Ngumanga naman siya kaya mahina akong natawa.

Napatango 'tango siya. Nilalasahan ang pagkain. "This one is good."

"You think so?" I said and blew up as well.

"Yeah." I heard him say, we are now sitting in a chair huddled at a round table. It is made of stone, our seat has tiles which makes us both comfortable.

"Well, what can I say? I'm awesome." He laughed.

"Too much confidence." He mumbled as he stared at me. I just shrugged and sniffed, took the apple I bought earlier and bit it.

"Nagsasabi lang totoo kuya." His eyebrow arched in what I said. Hindi niya talaga gusto kapag tinatawag ko siyang 'kuya'.

"Why do you keep calling me that?" He even tsked, irritated.

"What?"

"Stop acting like you don't know."  Napailing ako saka nag-iwas ng tingin, maski ako hindi ko din alam. Gusto ko lang siyang makitang mairita, 'yung mabago manlang ang ekspresyon niya. He's always serious, minsan lang kung ngumiti. Parang dala niya ang lahat ng problema sa mundo.

"Nothing, parang gusto lang talaga kitang tawaging 'kuya." Nakangusong sabi ko at hindi siya nakakibo.

I looked at our place, we were next to a large tree. I think it gives us fresh air so even with the sun we don’t get hot. It also protects us from the heat of the sun, covering us from it. I looked at him as he calmed down. His eyebrows met, his jaw tightening. He looked angry, I looked at what he looked at. Mga batang naglalaro, ayaw niya ba ng maingay? Kung ganun magkaiba nanaman kami. I took the educational course because I wanted to be a teacher in grade school.

I love kids so much, you know why? Because they can't lie, they are innocent and they don't know how world revolves in real life. If I had to choose, I would prefer them to stay that way. They are the only ones who can be called innocent in the world. Yes, they can't be innocent at all. There are children who lie, but I know it's mandatory.

"Are you listening to me?!" I was taken aback when I heard the attorney's almost growl.

"Huh?" I whispered softly.

He closes her eyes emphatically. "Really? Hazel?"

"What? What are you saying?" Confused, I asked him. I even got to look at him. His face is dark, did I do something wrong? He shook his head and tsked.

"Nothing." He said, making me frown. I'm sure he said something earlier or asked. From his expression, you will know. Palihim akong napabuntong hininga, mukhang badtrip siya ngayon.

Unlike earlier, we ended the meal in a quiet way. He did not say a word and only nodded whenever I spoke. I felt like he wasn’t in the mood right now so I didn’t say a word either. I quietly put in the trash the tupperware we had eaten earlier. I caught her steady sigh, deep in thought, and seemingly inexplicable feeling.

I can't help but ask. "You alright?"

"Yes, let's go." He said, stood up and turned his back on me.

I took a deep breath and followed him, chasing. I called him but he didn't look back. I tsked then sped up the run but unexpectedly a child ran in front of me. Natapilok ako dahil mas pinili kong ibangga ang sarili ko sa gilid, hindi ko naman inaasahan na may bato roon.

"Damn." Mahinang daing ko. Tinignan ko 'yung bata, mabuti at hindi siya napahamak. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag.

"Sorry po." Narinig kong sabi niya.

"Ayos lang ako, but next time please be careful okay?" Nakangiting sabi ko sa kanya.

Kumurap 'kurap siya at masunuring tumango. "Thank you po, sorry again."

Tinawag na siya nung yaya niya 'yata kaya napipilitan siyang umalis at nagpaalam sa akin. I was bitten so hard on my lower lip and was held tightly to the grass. I took the strength to stand but it hurt even more.

"Shit!" I cried out loud, I lost my balance just fine and someone was supporting me.

"T-Thank you—attorney?!" Nagugulat na sabi ko, he tsked saka marahan akong itinayo.

"What happened to you?" He asked, still guiding me. I rose slightly to hold his shoulder. I was stunned when he grabbed my arm and twisted it around his neck so that my hand landed on the other shoulder.

I was automatically sidelined causing the two of us to set aside. I felt his arm wrap around my waist so I tightened my grip on his shoulder. He supported me until we got to his car. The back is open so he opened it and made me sit there.

Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi ng tanggalin niya ang suot kong sandals sa natapilok kong paa. Marahan niyang iginalaw 'yun dahilan para mapaigtad ako. Nakakagulat naman siya, naramdamam ko ang pagmasahe niya roon ng bahagya. Hanggang sa maramdaman ko na lang na nawala na 'yung sakit ng kaunti.

"Bakit kase hindi ka nag-iingat?! Paano nalang kung mas malala pa diyan ang nangyare sa'yo! Damn it." Napayuko ako, galit siya.

"Sorry.." Mahinang bulong ko, sapat para makaabot sa pandinig niya.

He tsked at hindi na nagsalita pa. Natahimik siya kaya nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya. Nakatayo siya at sa park nakatingin. Salubong ang kilay at nagtatagis ang bagang, parang nagpipigil na hindi mo maintindihan. Napabuntong hininga ako, naramdaman ko naman ang pagtingin niya.

Nagtama ang mata naming dalawa. His nautical-blue eyes were clear, pero makikita mo doon ang pandidilim. Napakurap 'kurap ako at sa pagmulat ng mga mata ko ay nagtama muli ang mga mata namin.

"Are you okay?" He asked gently, the expression on his face changed. I breathed a sigh of relief, this was the Louie I had met.

"Ahm, I'm fine." I felt him sitting next to me, I looked at him.

He sighed. "I'm sorry."

"Why were you in such a hurry earlier?" Frowning, I said.

"It's nothing." I could do nothing but nod, I leaned on his shoulder.

"Are you still angry?" Masuyong tanong ko, naglalambing. Naramdaman ko na natigilan siya sa ginawa ko ngunit hindi na nagreklamo pa. Huminga ako ng malalim saka pinakiramdaman siya, panay ang buntong hininga niya.

"Sorry na, 'wag ka ng magalit." Pang-uuto ko pa, mahina siyang natawa.

"Yieee tumamatawa na siya, bati na ba tayo?" Nakangiting sabi ko.

"Fine. But I want to ask you something." He said, making me frown.

Sumeryoso ako dahil mukha siyang seryoso siya, tinanggal ko ang pagkakasandal sa kanya. Umayos ako ng upo at tumikhim. Lumingon sa kanya na kasalukuyang nakatingin na sa akin. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at sinabing 'ano 'yun'. Tinitigan niya muna ako bago magsalita.

"What do you really think of me?" My forehead furrowed, he sighed when he saw my reaction.

"You keep calling me 'kuya' and I don't like it." He said, emphasize the second word.

"W-Why?" Halos pabulong na sabi ko.

"I don't know. Just don't called me like that, ayaw kong maging kuya lang ang tingin mo sa'kin." He said, more like commanding me.

"O-Okay?" Tanong ko, kinamot ang kilay saka tinignan siya.

"Really Hazel?" Hindi makapaniwalang sabi niya.

Napanguso ako. "Ahm, 'yan lang ba ang dahilan kung bakit ka nagagalit?"

Nanlaki ang mata niya, umiwas ng tingin, at tumikhim. "Of course not."

"A huh." Nanunuksong sabi ko.

He tsked at sinamaan ako ng tingin. "Shut up."

Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi para pigilan ang kumakawalang tawa. Hindi pa rin siya makatingin sa akin at salubong na salubong ang kilay niya. Napailing ako at inayos nalang ang sleeves niya na bumaba, napatingin siya roon. Hindi ko siya pinansin ay may ngiti lang na inayos 'yun gaya ng pagkaka-ayos niya.

"Done, why do you always fix that?"

"I just want to." He said.

"How about you? Why do you always have a limitations when it comes to food?"

My forehead furrowed, laughing softly. "What do you mean?"

"I am observing you, event thought you're not really full. You'll stop eating right away."

"I'm on my diet I guess?" Pagdadahilan ko.

Tinignan niya lang ako. "Stop lying will you?"

"Incapable." I just said.

"Fine, if you don't want to tell me. It's okay, just don't be too much. Control it." He said seriously.

I smiled. "Yes attorney!"

"Crazy." He mumbled.

I just laughed at him, we talked a lot more. About the ones we don’t want and want, and I can only say one thing. We are far from each other, we are only the same almost once in a blue moon. But even so, I’m glad.

Sabay din naming pinanood ang paglubog ng araw, tamang tama ang pwesto namin. May ngiti sa labi niya, at ganun din ako. Nakakapanibago ang ganitong pakiramdam. Na kahit ganito lang ka-simple ang ginawa namin ay tila nakaramdam ako ng kakontentuhan at tunay na kapayapaan.

"Did you know how makes sunsets so beautiful?" I asked softly.

"Well, according to basic atmospheric science, the essence of a beautiful sunset is held in the cloud layer, specifically the clouds at the upper and lower levels.." I heard him said.

"The brilliant colors reflected in the clouds take on the red and orange hues of the setting sun, reflecting the colors back to the ground. Amazing isn't?" Lingon ko sa kanya.

Natigilan ako, ganun din siya. Nagkabanggan ang ilong naming dalaewa, halos singlaki nalang ng hinliliit ko ang pagitan namin. Unti unting bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Nagtama ang mata naming dalawa. Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi, napatingin siya roon. Mahinang napamura at umiwas ng tingin.

"Y-Yeah." Mahinang sagot niya. Natawa ako at napailing, napahawak sa puso ko at hinarap siya.

"Ang lakas ng tibok ng puso ko."

Nagitla siya. "I-Ikaw din?"

Masunurin akong tumango saka hinawakan ang malaki niyang kamay, itinapat sa puso ko. Marahan niya namang pinakiramdaman 'yun habang nakatingin sa mga mata ko. Napangiti ako at nagsalita.

"Ang lakas diba?"

"Hmm.." He hummed as he softly smiled at me.

I stared at his expression, it was fun to think that it was so pleasant. I smiled and touched his cheek, the smallness of my hand seemed to be perfect on his face. Napatingin ako sa kamay niya na humawak sa kamay kong nakahawak sa pisnge niya.

"Ang gwapo mo." Nakangiting sabi ko.

"Maganda ka naman."

Napanguso ako. "Anong connect?"

"Bagay tayo." He said. Umiwas ako ng tingin at napapikit, mukhang namumula ang mukha ko. Natawa siya sa naging reaksyon ko kaya binaklas ko ang kamay ko na hawak niya.

"Cheesy." I mumbled.

"Kinilig ka naman." Narinig kong sabi niya pa! My eyes widened and eventually blushed.

"Attorney!"

"What?"

"Too much confidence." I hissed at him.

"Just being honest." He said. we looked at each other and later laughed at the same time. I will never forget this day, I hope we are always like this.

I shook my head and waved at him after he delivered me home. I saw his simple smile in the windshield. I even gave him a flying kiss so he was shaken. I gasped as he disappeared from my sight.

I bit my lower lip so hard then entered the house, I caught up with my sister who was busy pressing her laptop. Si mommy ganda naman ay mukhang nasa kusina nanaman, I sat down in front of my sister. I put my things aside and smiled sweetly at her. I have a good night today.

"What the heck? Why are you smiling at me like that?" Disgusted, she said more.

I drank water then ignored what she said.  Magbabangayan at magbabangayan lang kami. Hanggang sa walang tumigil at magpatalo. Hinarap ko siya at nginitian.

"Gwapo si Attorney Nachez, hindi na ako nagtaka kung bakit ikaw na mismo ang nanliligaw."

Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin. "Hazel!"

Natawa ako at nagpaalam na sa kanya, she looked really pissed. Oh, how I love seeing her expression like that. What a perfect night.