DALE FYRON'S POV

I groaned when I heard the loud sound of my alarm clock. The light of the sun hit my face that made me open my eyes. Then, I remembered that I forgot to close the curtains of the sliding door before I slept last night. Ugh. Good thing it's Saturday and all I can do is to rest for the whole day. Or maybe have a date with Cheska if she's free today. I smiled on my idea and get my phone above the table to call her.

[ Hey, goodmorning. Did you sleep early last night ]

I smiled when I heard her lovely voice." Hmm.  Goodmorning. I can't help but to think of you for the whole night."

[ So cheesy. You just wake up, did you? Eat your breakfast, its already 7:30 ]

She always made me smile whatever she does." Yeah, I'll eat now. I just call you to say goodmorning. You free today?." I asked in the other line.

[ Uhm.... I don't have something to do. Why? ]

" Can we go out? I mean, let's have a date. Is it okay?." I bit my lower lip and waited for her answer. It's been a long time since I asked her for a date. Nung una pang naging kami.

[ Of course. Wait, I'll take a bath first. Just text me if your ready. Don't fetch me here, I want to go there by myself. I missed your brothers ]

My brow frowned." It's unfair. Don't you miss me?!." She laughed so hard.

[ C'mon Fyron, you're jealous with that?! I missed you too. I'll be there later. Text nalang kita. Love you ]

" Hmmm. Love you too." I ended the call with a smile on my face. Matagal kong hinintay na marinig ulit sa kanya ang mga salitang 'yun. And finally, I heard it again.

When I go downstairs, I heard their loud laugh coming from the dining room. Did they eat already without waiting for me? How rude. I immediately went inside and I saw them holding different kinds of kitchen utensils. What are they doing?! The kitchen was in a mess.

" What do you think you're doing?." I asked in confusion. They all looked at me and and put their utensils down. Shael was holding a spoon, Cohen was holding a bowl, Raizer was holding a laddle, Akken was holding a rotary eggbeater, and Katria was holding blender.

" Oh, kuya. Ang tagal mo namang gumising nauna na tuloy kaming kumain sa'yo. Ate Kat prepared a food for you in the table, I swear it's really delicious. Ginataang manok." Akken smiled and gave me a thumbs up.

Napatingin ako sa mesa at may nakahanda na ngang pagkain." I woke up late and I called Cheska before going downstairs." I sat on the chair and started eating the food that Katria prepared for me.

" Ah, may lakad ba kayo ngayon? It's weekend so you guys should go out and have a date." I looked at Shael who's busy playing the spoon he was holding earlier.

I nodded in respond." Yeah. I asked her and she agreed. She'll go here because she wants to see you guys and after that we'll leave."

" Ate, tikman mo. Is the mixture okay? Hindi ko alam kung anong lasa nito." Raizer scratched his head, probably shy.

" Akin na nga." Tinikman ni Kat yung minimix niya at tumango."Oo, okay na 'to. Cake lang naman ang gagawin natin tapos may mga toppings pa naman. Dapat sakto lang ang pagka-matamis." she added.

" Patikim nga." Cohen grabbed the mixing bowl on her hand that's why he received a hard punch on his shoulders." Akala ko nag-iba ang panlasa mo dahil may regla ka. Okay lang pala."

" Shunga ka ba?! Ano namang konek dun?! Anong akala mo sa'kin buntis?!." She rolled her eyes and get back to her work.

I was just eating silently while watching them helping each other in baking just one cake. Mainit ang ulo ni Kat kaya madali siyang mainis kapag may konting mali silang nagawa. When they're finally done, she placed the mixed ingredients in the oven and waited for the alarm. I ate fast because I need to take a bath before Cheska arrives.

" I'll just take a bath. Just open the door whenever Cheska arrives." I said and went on my room.

After some minutes, I'm already done and started to pick clothes that I would wear. I just ended choosing a V-gray tshirt and a light brown shorts with a pair of Solar Blaze shoes. I comb my hair using my hand and then suddenly Cheska's text popped up on my phones screen.

To : Fyron

I just arrived. I'm in your living room with your brothers.

From : MaryCheska

Bumaba agad ako nang mabasa ko ang text niya. When she saw me, she immediately greeted me with a kiss on my cheeks. I grabbed her for a tight hug and I just realized that they were looking on us but immediately looked away. Katria wasn't there, maybe she's on her room doing something.

" You done? Can we go?."

I smiled and nodded." Yeah. Wait for me outside, I'll just talk to them."

" Anong oras ka uuwi, kuya?." Akken asked.

" Maybe 3:00 in the afternoon. Just take care of the mansion, help your babysitter because I know she's tired. I'll be right back." I answered and went outside, didn't even bother to hear their comments.

I was about to enter my car when I noticed Kat on the balcony of her room. She's taking a photo or something on her phone and looking around. When she saw me, she suddenly went back inside of her room and not even taking a glance on me just for once. Is she still mad at me or what? I shook my head and finally get on my car so that we could go.

We didn't open any topic until we arrived in the mall. I'm not that good in communicating others so I couldn't think for a topic. She just keep quiet and scrolling on her phone, sometimes she'll ask me for some things and I'll just answer it directly. She's used on the way I talk since we've met so it's not a problem at all. Our relationship back then wasn't private so everyone knows it. Some people said that we don't really look like in a relationship because we're not that sweet on each other. We don't have any endearments or callsigns to each other, just our names. Simply because it's just corny.

" Where do you want to go first?." I asked her.

She smiled happily and pointed the ice cream parlor." I want to eat chocolate ice-cream, Fyron. Want some?."

Hindi pa man ako nakakasagot ay hinila niya na ako sa loob. There we're many people watching us when we entered. Some were kids with their families and some were teenagers like us. The girl counter recognized me that's why she put her phone down and stood straight.

" What do you want, sir?." she asked, not minding Cheska in front of me that made me pissed.

" I'm with this girl in front of me so better look after her instead of me." I answered seriously.

" O-Oh... I'm sorry sir." She bowed her head a little for respect.

" One chocolate ice-cream and one cookies and cream." Cheska ordered. She already knew what's my favorite that's why she didn't ask me.

We went to a boutique right after eating ice-cream. She picked different styles of clothes, like what's the trend right now. She even let me smell those expensive perfumes and ask me if it's flower scented. She really loves flowers. I volunteered to carry her things while she's busy wandering around to look for another things. I just let her because shopping is her hobby. Marami naman siyang mga gamit pero gusto niyang magpadami ng collections sa mga bagay-bagay. When she felt hungry, I brought her to the McDonald's because it's her favorite. She ordered so many foods for us and good thing I was hungry so we ate it all.

" What if lang ha.... What if weren't meant to each other? What would you do?." She sat beside me when she felt tired on playing arcades.

Nabigla ako sa tanong niya kaya napalingon ako sa kanya." What kind of question is that, Ches? Of course, I won't agree. We love each other and no one could stop that."

She chuckled." Yes, we love each other but we don't really know what would happen next. Sabi ni daddy kagabi, papauwiin niya na kami ni Ivan sa America pagkatapos ng first semester. I don't exactly know what to do."

" I'll fight for you, for us. Your father separated us once and it won't happen again. Let's fight for each other. Hmmm?." I hold her hand and squeezed it to make her feel comfortable.

She just nodded." Yeah. But what if all of this was just an infatuation? That we don't really love each other and we just missed our presence."

" What are you saying? I didn't love someone else instead of you unless you're already inlove with someone..... just like Ivan." I let out a sigh.

" Yeah. I admit that I like him. Who wouldn't be? He an ideal guy for me and he also helped me in everything. But you're the one I love, it's different from what I'm feeling for him." she explained.

" I also like someone." She wasn't shocked and just smiled." But it doesn't matter right now. I have you and I don't need someone else." I gulped when I couldn't explain my emotion. Seems like I was nervous or what. Ugh.

" It's Katria, isn't she?." She laughed a little."Siya lang naman ang babaeng malapit sa inyo. And you two are close so I just got a hint that maybe it's her. Hindi naman ako nagkamali, diba?." she added.

" Why is that you're happy? Aren't you jealous? Eventhough we barely talk with each other, still we lived in the same house." My brows frowned.

She shook her head." Why would I? I trusted you the most. Not unless you'll fall for her."

" No, I won't. You're enough for me."

" Oh c'mon, Fyron. I'm not forcing you to be with me if ever that you'll love someone else. Hindi ako marunong magalit lalo na sa'yo, alam mo 'yan." She tilted her head, probably irritated.

" Why are you forcing me to be with her? I don't love her in the first place. Let's drop this topic." reklamo ko naman. Why is she like that?!

" Okay, okay. Sorry, don't be mad."

I lied on the sofa in the living room when I finally arrived home. It's so tiring but worth it. After the chitchat that we had, she decided to buy food for Ivan before she decided to go home. I dropped her on their house and she invited me inside but I refused. It's not that I don't want to see them together but because I was really tired and I might get asleep there. I opened my eyes when I felt like someone is staring at me. Agad naman nanlaki ang mata ko ng makita si Katria sa harapan ko na seryoso ang tingin. What happened to her?! She's scary.

" W-What do you need?." Fuck. Why am I stuttering?!

" Oh, tubig. Pagod ka yata." She handed me a glass of water and I didn't know why my hands were shaking when I accepted it. Hindi ako sanay sa inaasta niya ngayon.

" Thanks."

She sat on the single sofa, away from me. Why would she sat beside me?! Hindi ako makakahinga ng maayos at nakakailang lang kapag nangyari 'yun. Seems like she doesn't care on her surroundings and kept on reading a wattpad book entitled , 'Taste Of Sky' by ventrecanard. I bet she borrowed it on the library. I sit properly and put the pillow on my lap. I lean on the headboard to relax myself and closed my eyes again. I'm lazy to go up on my room because we kept on walking all around the Mall earlier.

" Uy! Nandito kana pala kuya." Napaigtad ako ng marinig ang boses ni Akken na papalapit kaya nawala ang antok ko.

" Ate." Raizer called Kat that's why he got her attention." We're done hanging the clothes outside. It's really hot." he added.

Did she just ask them to hang clothes outside? Probably, yeah. Hindi siya pwedeng magbilad sa ilalim ng init ng araw dahil baka mahimatay siya. The two of them were really sweating while Shael and Cohen were nowhere to be found. Where are they?

" Magbihis na kayo para makapagpahinga na. Gagawa lang ako ng snacks." she answered and stood up to go in the kitchen.

I just ignored them and tried to sleep again but in just a few minutes, I've heard the loud footsteps at my back. Seems like they're running. I opened my eyes again because of irritation and turned around. There I saw Shael and Cohen who were very wet. The floor was so slippery because of the water droplets from their clothes. Holly fuck! They're acting like a kid.

" What do you think you're doing, huh?!." I raised my brow and they both looked at me.

" Katria told us to water the plants because she couldn't. She said that the plants might die if she'll be the one to water it. May dalaw kase siya at totoo raw ang sabi-sabi na 'yun." Colt answered.

" Kakarating mo lang, kuya?." Shael asked me.

" Yeah. Change your clothes first, the floor was in a mess right now. Faster." Just like I've said, they ran upstairs like they were in a racing. Napailing nalang ako at bumalik sa pagkakaupo sa sofa.

I immediately turned around... again, when I heard a little footsteps. I saw Katria walking towards the wet floor without noticing it. I panicked and ran towards her and when she noticed that I'm running her eyebrow raised. She probably thinks that I'm crazy because I'm running without a reason. She was about to take a step when she noticed the wet floor but it's too late because she already stepped on it. I grabbed her waist and turned around so that her head wouldn't hit the ground. Okay na sana kaso ako pala yung nakatapak ng basang sahig kaya ako yung na-slide at bumagsak nga kaming dalawa sa sahig. I felt her light weight above me and also the uh.... muffins on my face that was going to be our snacks. I didn't feel any hard thing on my head but instead, a soft thing. Hindi ko binuksan ang mata ko dahil sa mga muffin sa mukha ko. I touched the soft thing underneath my head and I suddenly opened my eyes when I realized what is it... It's her hands...

" Bwisit! Ang sakit!." She winced that made me back in reality. I slowly guided her to sit on the floor. I was about to hold her hand to see if it has bruises but she immediately put it away. I let out a sigh and hold her waist to reach her hand and she couldn't do anything when I saw it. Namumula na ang kamay niya dahil sa pagkakaipit nung bumagsak kami.

" Stupid. I protected you so that you won't hit the ground but you did put your hand on my head. Look what happened." I scolded her.

She just rolled her eyes." I didn't ask you to do that. At isa pa, kung yang ulo mo ang nauntog sa sahig baka mapraning ka lang."

She's really a philosopher, huh?!

" So what if I did that?! Tatanga-tanga ka kase kaya hindi mo nakitang basa yung sahig." I also rolled my eyes. I'm not really pissed, I'm the one who's pissing her off.

" Ah tanga?!." She pinched my waist that made me shout. Damn it. Her nails were so sharp." Akala mo naman superhero, tsk."

" Why don't you just thank me for what I did?! I saved." I smirked.

" Lol. I did save you too so it's fair." kontra niya pa.

" Ano?! Hindi talaga kayo titigil dyan?! Wala talaga kayong balak tumayo sa basang sahig?!." We both turned our gaze on Cohen when he suddenly talked. All of them were standing on the wall, watching us with crossed arms.

" At kayo?! Wala rin kayong balak tulungan ako rito?! Sa pagkakaalam ko naman kayo ang may dahilan kung bakit basa 'tong sahig diba?!." Kate hissed that made Shael and Cohen shut up and come closer to help her. Akken and Raizer followed while holding a mop and a towel.

I placed my reviewers in the table because we're going to have a quiz tomorrow. It's Sunday and we just got from the church like we usually do. Cheska won't come because she's making her project on her other subject so I also have time to review for our quiz. They decided that we'll review together here in the living room. We're all here except for Kat who's making our snacks. Natigilan naman ako ng maalala yung nangyari kahapon. Ugh. How could I forgot that scene if it suddenly popped up on my mind?! This is making me crazy.

When Kat arrived, she put the cookies together with the juice. She sat between Akken and Raizer then get the wattpad book beside her. Tsk. Wala ba siyang dapat ireview na lesson o gawing assignment?! I always found her reading a book that doesn't involve on her lessons. Is she that confident because she could easily cope up on her subjects?! While all of us here are trying our best to do our tasks. Shael was in the other side, solving in his notebook and there's a calculator beside him. Cohen was squatting in the floor and doing something on the automobile that he's holding. Raizer was murmuring and crumpled the paper, probably trying to write an essay or thesis. Akken was staring at the two glasses in front of him that has a water on the other and milk on the other, doing an observation I guess?

" Can you hand me the stapler, Katria?." I asked, still reading my testpapers.

" Pakibigay nga sa kanya, Cohen."

My brows frowned when I heard her answer. Bakit niya pa inutusan si Cohen kung kaya niya namang ibigay sa'kin 'yun ng diretso?! He didn't say anything and handed me the stapler before going back to her work. I shook my head and used it on my testpapers so that it wouldn't separate.

" Kat, can you get me a ballpen upstairs? I forgot to bring it here." I asked her again. I need to underline some important words that I should remember.

" Ano ba 'yan?! Pumunta ka dito tapos hindi ka nagdala ng ballpen, manghiram ka kaya dyan sa mga kapatid mo baka may extra sila. May binabasa pa ako rito." she hissed.

I raised my eyebrow and looked at Raizer because he's the only one who's holding a ballpen. He was about to hand me his extra when I motioned him not to that's why he hide it under his papers." He doesn't have some. Go and get me, I need it right now."

Padabog naman siyang tumayo at umakyat. I'm sure she's pissed. I'm enjoying what I'm doing right now.

" Why did you do that? Pinagt-tripan mo ba siya, kuya?." Raizer asked.

" Kanina pa siya hindi pinapansin ni Katria kaya baka nagpapapansin siya. Right kuya?." I rolled my eyes on Cohen when he said that.

Tsk. I'm not an attention seeker.

" Okay lang 'yan, kuya. Papansinin karin nun mamaya. Konting tiis lang." Akken interrupted while doing his thesis.

" Pansinin mo rin kase siya minsan, kuya. Don't just focus your attention on Cheska. Baka kase... alam mona." Shawn shrugged his shoulders.

I pretended that I didn't know what are they talking about. Nalilito parin ako sa sinabi nilang pansinin ko raw siya eh siya lang naman ang hindi namamansin sa'kin. We're just ignoring each other. I came back to reality when someone throwed a pencil case right on my face. Inis akong tumingin sa kanya at sinamaan siya ng tingin. Why did she did that?! Fuck it. It hurts.

" What's your problem, huh?!."

She just rolled her eyes." 'Wag mona akong uutusan pa kapag nagbasa na ako. Tatadyakan talaga kita." she glared at me.

" At sino namang gusto mong utusan ko?! Yung pusa, ha?!." They all looked at me with a shocked expression.

" Wala naman tayong pusa, ah." She raised her brow that made all of them burst out laughing.

I pursed my lips because of embarrassment. Why did I say it?! She's right. We don't have a fucking cat for goodness sake.

" Palpak ka talaga kuya. Pfffttt." I glared on Shael when he suddenly laughed.

After what happened earlier, I didn't bother to go downstairs and just stayed on my room and continued reading my testpapers. I felt like I was really embarrassed that time. Ako nga sa sarili ko hindi alam kung anong ginagawa ko. I'm always pissed whenever she's ignoring me and will find a way to talk with her. What's wrong with me?! I'm not like this before. No matter how hard I try to focus on my studies, I still couldn't get it. Damn it. I just rested on my bed and cooled my mind.

I woke up when I suddenly felt hungry. I immediately went to the kitchen and get a plate of rice and bacon in the ref. Napaigtad ako ng bigla kong makita si Katria na nakasandal sa pader. H-How did she get there?! Good thing I didn't drop the plate because of shock.

" Akala ko hindi kana kakain." she said, still standing in her place.

" Do you care?." I looked at her and she just raised her eyebrow and looked away.

" Why would I?! And if I am, I'm just doing my job as your babysitter. Tinatanong ako palagi ng mommy niyo kung kumain na kayo kaya kailangan kong siguraduhin 'yun."

I just nodded and started eating. Eventhough I like her, it doesn't make sense. First, I already have a girlfriend. Second, she doesn't like me too. And third, she's just going to be our babysitter, nothing more, nothing less. She get a fresh milk and opened it before leaving me in the kitchen without saying anything. Bigla nalang siyang susulpot tapos bigla ring aalis. She didn't even bid goodbye or say goodnight like she did before. I swear, something's wrong with her since she came back to school. After acquaintance party.... I guess? Or I'm just the one who noticed it.

" Hey, Fyron." Tinapik ni Cheska ang kamay ko kaya napabalik ako sa realidad." You seem like you're thinking something. Is there something wrong?." she asked.

I just shook my head and smiled."No, nothing. C'mon, let's have a lunch." I hold her hand and went to the cafeteria.

The line was too long when we get there but I told her to find a table and I'll be the one to order food. Like I usually do, I didn't bother to line up like what they're doing. I just order directly to the counter and they immediately gave it to me.

" I just noticed, you didn't got a perfect score in our quiz earlier. Naninibago lang ako, dati kase palagi ka naman perfect kahit ano pa ang sagutan mo. Didn't you review our lessons?."

I let out a sigh." It's not like that. I tried but nothing came up on my mind. A sort kind of mental block." And it's not only that, I'm thinking of something.... someone.... Ugh.. I hate to admit it but everytime I'm with Cheska, all I could remember is Katria. Feels like Inwas cheating on her. I couldn't even answer her properly because I wasn't listening to her in the first place.

" O-Oh.... Okay. Let's review together next time. I'll teach you if you can't get it. Ako na munang magtuturo sa'yo ngayon." She laughed that made me smile, a real smile.

I should stop this freaking feelings of mine. It's not right. I have a girlfriend and all I have to think is her. No one else. Si Katria, babysitter lang namin siya at hanggang dun nalang 'yun. I'll just treat her as a friend from now on.

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