"Open the gate, Xia."

I nervously nod at Mama. She is at the kitchen, cooking something, when the bell rang. I know that it's him kaya mas lalo lang akong kinabahan. 

I opened the gate and I saw him. Mukhang nag-commute lang ito papunta dito but still, he looks fine. Na-conscious naman ako sa sarili ko.

Mukha pa siyang nagulat nang makita ako saka napatingin sa likuran ko. He smiled nervously at me.

"Pasok." I said and turn my back on him. Naramdaman ko naman ang pagsunod niya hanggang sa masabayan niya ako.

"Is Mayor here?" He asked, not stopping his eyes from roaming around. Halata sa boses niya na naiilang siya.

"No. He's at the central plaza." Nakapasok na kami sa bahay at naabutan ko si Mama na naka-upo sa couch, hinihintay malamang kami while having her tea.

I felt Blake stiffed for a moment so I composed myself, trying my best not to laugh at his misery.

"G-Good morning, M-Ma'am." He formally said. My brow shot up. Ma'am? Teacher mo?

Mas lalo ko lang naramdaman ang pagkailang ni Blake nang i-scan siya ni Mama. Kung siya naiilang, ako, kinakabahan.

"Hijo...sit down." She put her tea on the mini table and pointed the couch. Inalalayan muna ako ni Blake na maupo saka siya tumabi sa akin. He cleared his throat. We both can't look at my mother. It's as if we've done something bad! I heard my mother's chuckle. "So...you're Xia's friend who's name is...?"

"Blake. Blake po." He attentively answered. He glanced at me with a questioning look. I gulp. Yeah, I didn't introduce him as my boyfriend because I was afraid of what reaction my parents are going to show, especially my father.

"Blake..." She nods.

"Blake Carter po." He cleared. Tumango-tango naman si Mama. I can't read her expression. She doesn't look mad neither happy. "Is she mad?" He asked me when my mother is not watching us.

"I don't know." Napatuwid ako ng upo nang muli siyang bumaling sa amin.

"So, how are you with your studies? My daughter is an honor student so I don't want any distraction in her studies." I gasped by what she said. Really? Distraction agad?

"Don't worry, Ma'am, I...uh, will never be a distraction to her." He smiled. "And uh...about my studies, maayos naman po."

Silence filled our space. It's the silence that sends awkwardness in every part of me including the tiniest part of my cell. I just can't formulate a word to say. And I think, Blake can't too because he is just answering my mother's question.

"Kumain ka na ba?" Mama asked him again, hindi na siguro nakatiis sa katahimikan. "You should eat. We should eat." Before we could even say a word, she left us in the sala and go to kitchen. I sighed in relief. Tahimik pa rin kaming dalawa sa sala, parehong lumilipad sa kung saan ang pag-iisip.

"I...I am sorry..." Alam kong napalingon siya sa akin nang bigla akong magsalita pero pinanatili kong nasa baba ang paningin. "I...wasn't able to introduce you as my boyfriend. It's just, I am afraid of their reaction, especially my father." I explained. He tap my back as if assuring me that it is okay.

"You don't have to introduce me as your boyfriend. It's okay. Wala pa rin naman akong napapatunayan sa kanila kaya sa ngayon, okay ng ganito muna." I looked at him and smiled. "But I'm sorry too. I already introduced you as my girlfriend." I managed to roll my eyes even though the inner me began to have chaos.

"Whatever, Blake." I heard him chuckled because of what I said. Even his chuckle affect me! Man, I really fall hard for this boy.

"Xia, have your friend here." Niyaya ko na siya sa kusina. He's a bit comfortable now but he didn't leave my side. He just stayed beside me all the time. "Are you allergic with shrimps?" My mother asked.

"Opo." Blake smiled apologetically. "Maybe, I'll just have sinigang na baboy na lang po." He said and waited for me to finish getting mine.

We started the meal. Sanay na akong tahimik kumain sa bahay kagaya ni Mama. Mukhang gan'on rin naman si Blake. Napakalinis din nito kumain at walang kanin na nalalaglag sa plato niya. Kahit nga sa pagkain sa lunch time namin sa school, siya ang pinakamalinis kumain sa aming anim, followed by Harry.

"So, Blake, what strand are you in when you're already in senior high?" Pinunasan ni Mama ng tissue ang bibig niya saka sumimsim sa juice niya. Napatigil naman sa pagkain si Blake para sumagot habang ako, nagpatuloy lang.

"Humanities and Social Science, po." He answered politely. Wow. He wants HUMSS. "I am planning to take Legal Management in my college."

"Hmmm...I see." My mother looked amaze because his goals are all set. That made me insecure.

Me? I can do anything, really. But I don't know what I want. Kahit isang taon na lang magse-Senior na, hindi ko pa rin alam kung anong strand ang kukunin ko. I am stock between Humanities and Social Science and STEM. Maybe I should try GAS? But that will be too tiring.

"I am looking forward to see you in the court, then." My mother smiled. "But not as your client, of course." They both chuckled. "Neither rivalries."

I think they will get along. Wow, again! First, he made my mom amaze and now, he made her feel comfortable. I am jealous now, as a girlfriend and a daughter.

Xia, that's so childish! Eww.

Nagpaalam ako saglit na aakyat muna ng kwarto at may kukuhanin lang. Wala naman talaga akong kukuhanin. Titingnan ko lang kung presentable pa rin ba ako. Naka baby blue polka dots na dress lang naman ako na hanggang tuhod ang haba. Naka-half pony tail lang ang buhok ko. Naka-ayos din naman ang salamin ko. Okay naman ang lahat, nagdagdag lang ako ng kaunting powder.

Nang makabalik ako, nakita ko silang may seryosong pinag-uusapan pero nang makita ako ni Blake, their conversation was halted. He smiled at me when I reached him. Hindi na ako nag-abala na tanungin kung tungkol saan 'yun since alam ko namang hindi nila sasabihin.

The launch is already finished. My mother let us stay in the sala because she said that she needs to rest. I wonder where Ben is. Is he in his room again? He's always there.

"Anong...anong pinag-usapan niyo ni Mama?" Tanong ko habang pinaglalaruan ang buhok niya. Nakahiga lang siya sa hita ko ngayon at nakapikit, dinadama ang kamay ko na naglalaro sa buhok niya. He smiled as if he remembered their conversation making me more curious.

"Kiss muna." I jokingly slapped him which makes him chuckled. "Nothing. I just ask things about you." He sighed and open his eyes and it met mine.

"Like?" I still didn't stop.

"Like your favorite movies, your favorite color, something about you." He said calmly. "Though, I already know the answers in some of my question but I just don't want to have dull moments with your mom."

"You already know the answers to the questions about me? Stalker ka 'no?" We laughed at my remarks.

"No. I don't know how. I just memorized it unknowingly. Like, your favorite color is anything that has shade of blue. Your favorite food is spaghetti. You like reading books, fictitious or not." Pinikit niyang muli ang mata.

"Nakakatakot ka naman." I joked. "You know about me yet I still know nothing about you." I said making him smile.

"My favorite color is gray. My favorite food is kakanin. Any kakanin will do. I love watching moon. I love listening to music." Sinabi niya 'yung mga simpleng bagay tungkol sa kanya. "What do you want to know more?"

"Nothing." I said. I want to know him more but I don't want him to introduce his self to me. I want to know him all by myself. Like how he knows me even I didn't introduce myself. "Gusto mo ng umuwi?"

"Pinapalayas mo na ba ako?" He chuckled. "Why? Are you doing anything? I can help you." Bumangon pa ito.

"May project akong gagawin. I can do it alone since it's just an easy task." Tumayo na ako kaya tumayo din siya.

"I will still help you. I want to help. But if I can't, I'll just shut up and stay behind you." He pleaded. So, I guess I have no other choice but to bring him with me in my room. I just nod at him.

Wala namang espesyal sa room ko. 'Yung comforter ko ay kulay ocean blue samantalang kulay white naman ang mga unan. Pale blue ang pinili kong kulay ng haligi hindi tulad ng kay Ben na dirty white. Kinuha ko lang ang sketch ko ng gagawin kong miniature building pati mga materials na gagamitin ko habang siya naman ay naglilibot sa kwarto ko. Agad nanlaki ang mata ko nang makita ang drawing ko na nakalagay lang sa sahig kaya dali-dali ko itong tinago sa ilalim ng kama.

"Ang presko ng kwarto mo. You have a good taste in picking colors." Patuloy lang siya sa paglilibot sa kwarto ko habang ako naman ay naggugupit na ng illustration board. "What are you doing?" Umupo ito sa harap ko saka kinuha ang sketch ko.

"Miniature building. Project namin sa Arts, Architecture." I said. Nakakainis talaga 'yung Mapeh! Mas marami pang activities at project kesa sa major subject. "Kayo ba? Walang ganyan?" I asked.

"None. The teacher just tasked to present a PowerPoint presentation about architecture." He said, not taking his eyes off on my drawing.

"Bakit? May mali ba?" Inagaw ko sa kanya ang sketch ko at tiningnan ito. Wala naman akong makitang mali, ah! Narinig ko naman ang pagtawa nito.

"No. I just realize that you have talent in arts and crafts." May tinuro pa siya sa akin. 'Yun 'yung snowman na gawa sa scratch paper ko. Pinaglaruan ko lang naman 'yun. "And look at that." Tumayo pa ito saka kinuha ng drawing ko na nasa ilalim ng kama. "This is good. I love your art-style." He smiled at me and I again, I feel the rapid heartbeat.

"Hindi naman maganda 'yan..." I sighed and focus again in my work.

"Hey, don't say that. Be proud of your creation. This is good. Anyone who will see this will surely be amaze." Tumabi ito sa akin at humilig sa balikat ko. "You can do anything. You are very creative. I can see that you have a brighter future at ngayon pa lang, proud na ako sa'yo."