Nang maubos ang kape, naubos na rin ang pag-uusapan namin ni Grayson. Gusto ko sanang magtanong tungkol sa anak niya pero natatakot akong baka sensitive topic 'yon sa kan'ya. Saka na lang siguro, kapag naramdaman kong okay lang sa kan'ya na pag-usapan.

I'm just curious kasi, gusto ko rin ng anak pero ayaw pa ni Enzo so I am regularly taking birth control pills. It would've been so great kung nagkaroon kami ng anak. Kahit siguro maghiwalay kami, hindi ko mararamdaman masiyado ang pag-iisa.

"Saan mo gustong pumunta bukas?" tanong niya.

I shrugged. "Wala akong itinerary."

I didn't make one since I'll be here for a month. Maraming oras para puntahan lahat ng gusto kong puntahan. And I have money to do that.

He chuckled. "You only have three days here pero wala kang plano?"

I slightly chuckled. "Basta. Go with the flow na lang siguro."

Tumango siya bago humarap sa akin. "Akong bahala. I'll make you an itinerary para mas ma-enjoy mo yung pamamasyal. Para masulit mo ang three days mo."

I laughed. "Bakit ba concern na concern ka sa three days ko? 'Wag kang mag-alala, I can make my three days lasts, kahit ako lang mag-isa."

He slightly pouted. "What if it won't last?"

I smiled. "It will."

He slightly shook his head. "Just answer the question. What if it won't last?"

Napanguso ako kasabay ng pag-iwas ng tingin dahil sa tanong niya. Hindi ko alam kung bakit nagtatanong siya nang ganito—maybe he's really concern with me as a tourist in his place. Ewan ko. Hindi ko na alam.

I smiled a little. "Eh 'di uuwi pa rin."

Itinupi niya ang kaliwang binti bago ipinatong sa couch para humarap sa aking mabuti. Napalunok ako sa hindi malamang dahilan. Napahawak ako sa bathrobe na suot ko kasabay ng pagtikhim. I suddenly felt my face heated. What the hell?

"Uuwi ka rin pala agad, eh. Eh 'di seize the moment, Summer. Make those three days here your best days of your summer. I will help you."

Mabagal kong ibinalik ang tingin sa kan'ya. "Pumayag na ako no'ng unang nagtanong ka, 'di ba?" I chuckled.

He smiled. "Feeling ko kasi, nagbabago ang isip mo. Summer, I won't harm you. I won't ask you to trust me but what I'm sure of is I won't harm or hurt you. I just want you to enjoy the place and make your three days the bestest days you'll ever have."

I chuckled again. "Okay, then. But . . . I want to do you a favor after those three days."

"Hmm, hindi naman kailangan."

I shook my head. "Accept this offer or I won't accept your offer to me."

He laughed, looking down as he scratched his head. Ibinalik na niya ulit ang tingin sa akin. "Okay, then."

I smiled. "Okay, so what favor do you want me to do for you after this?"

He held his chin, looking up like he was thinking hard. "Hmmm . . ."

"Hmmm?" I giggled.

He looked at me. "Stay longer if I succeed."

Wow.

Ang dali naman.

If he only knew that I'll stay here for a month, baka iba ang hiniling niya.

"Try natin iba? What if magkusa ako?"

He chuckled. "Then, I have nothing to ask for more."

I frowned. "Dali na!"

He chuckled before scratching his head. Muli siyang natahimik kasabay ng pagtingin sa kawalan dahil sa pag-iisip. "Hmmm . . ."

"Make it harder."

Makalipas ang ilang segundo, lumingon siya sa akin. "Give me time to think about it. I don't really have anything in mind."

I chuckled, slightly nodding. "Okay, sure! Ikaw ang bahala. Just tell me when you think about something."

He nodded and we wrapped it up. Nagpaalam na siyang babalik sa room niya na hindi rin naman kalayuan sa akin.

"I'll come here early tomorrow."

I nodded. "Okay, ikaw ang bahala. Kaso baka tulog pa ako."

"Set an alarm, then?" he suggested. "Kung hindi naman . . . can we exchange numbers? I'll call you to wake you up."

I almost smirked. That was smooth, huh? Men are really something. I know that he won't do all these things if he doesn't find me attractive. And the fact na umabot kami sa puntong ito, it all confirmed it.

"Hmm . . . okay, then."

Kinuha ko ang cellphone sa side table. As I opened my phone, Enzo and I's picture on the lockscreen welcomed my eyes. Damn, why am I still using our photos together as my home screen and lockscreen photo? Wala na kami, pero sa lahat ng bagay, may bakas si Enzo.

I gulped before unlocking it. Iniabot ko 'yon sa kan'ya para i-type niya do'n ang number niya.

"Dial ko na lang number ko para mabilis," he said.

I nodded. "Sure."

When his phone rang beside his camera, he ended the call and gave my phone back.

"Malapit lang ang room ko rito. I'll come tomorrow after I bought some clothes."

Kinuha niya ang cellphone at in-unlock 'yon. He doesn't have anything on his lockscreen and homescreen. Default lang ang lahat. I watched him save my number with my second name—Summer.

Nobody has called me by that name for ages. Hindi ko alam kung bakit gustong-gusto ni Grayson ang pangalan na 'yon. Hearing it makes me think that I smelled like the sun.

Hmp!

"I'll go ahead. Sleep tight. Good night," he said as I opened the door for him.

"Okay. Thanks for today. Good night."

He nodded as he left with his camera, phone and his wet clothes but now are slightly dried because he hung it outside.

As I sat on the edge of the bed, nakita ko ang hair blower na nasa dresser. Why didn't I suggest that? Mas madali sanang natuyo ang underwear niya. How does it feel to wear shorts without undies inside?

I chuckled as I felt my face heated with what's on my mind right now. Ibinagsak ko na ang katawan sa higaan at ipinikit ang mga mata.

Damn, I feel so tired. Bakit ngayon ko lang naramdaman ang lahat ng pagod?

***

Kinabukasan, I was woken up by a loud ringing of my phone! Fuck this shit, gusto ko pang matulog!

Masama ang loob kong kinuha ang cellphone sa tabi ko lang mismo. Kaya naman pala ang lakas ng sounds. Nasa tabi ko lang pala at halos nakatutok sa tainga ko ang speaker! I checked the screen and saw that an unregistered number is calling.

Napaisip ako kung sino ito. May pinagbigyan ba ako ng number ko? It's been so long since an unregistered number called me, huh? Napalingon ako sa couch at nakitang may dalawang coffee mug doon na hindi ko nailigpit kagabi!

Oo nga pala, si Grayson!

I answered the call as I get up on the bed. Shit, hindi rin pala ako nakapagbihis! Nakasuot pa rin ako ng bathrobe at medyo naaalis na 'yon sa katawan ko!

"Hello . . ." I said on the other line.

"Hey, I'm near your room."

Napatingin ako sa buong katawan ko. Para akong pinagsamantalahan! Gaano ba ako kalikot matulog?! Hindi na naman siguro mapakali ang katawan ko dahil nga nag-inom na naman ako kagabi. This has been my problem with drinking! Malikot akong matulog kapag nakakainom!

Bumaba ako mula sa higaan at sinuot ang tsinelas habang nakatapat ang cellphone sa tainga. "Okay, wait."

"I'm here."

Holy shit.

Napalingon ako sa pintuan. The door and the wall were all glass with a thick curtain kaya naman madaling makita kung sisilipin ko siya ro'n. Sumilip ako sa maliit na space ng kurtina at nakita na nakatayo na siya sa harap ng pinto; bago na rin ang mga damit na suot. Nakahawak sa cellphone ang isang kamay habang nakatapat ito sa kanang tainga at nakasabit pa rin sa batok ang strap ng camera.

Tumingin ako sa salamin sa dresser at inayos ang bathrobe ko. "Wait a minute."

He chuckled. "Okay, okay."

Pinatay ko na ang tawag at nagpalit ng damit. I wore a black spaghetti strap top and white maong shorts. I let my hair down since I don't want to make him wait any longer.

Fuck, hindi pa ako nagtu-toothbrush! Bahala na nga!

Pumunta na ako sa pintuan at pinagbuksan si Grayson ng pinto. He welcomed me with a smile. "Good morning, Summer."

I smiled. "Good morning, Grayson. Wait lang, toothbrush lang. Upo ka muna."

He laughed before nodding.

Mabilis kong tinungo ang bathroom para maghilamos at mag-toothbrush. Hiyang-hiya ako dahil sa naging akto ko. For some reason, naging conscious ako bigla sa itsura ko when I started checking him out in that small space between the thick curtains. He looked so good in his casual clothes today. A black V-neck shirt and checkered shorts really suit him so well! Mas g'wapo siya ngayon kaysa kahapon.

Damn, why am I thinking about this?

Nang matapos mag-toothbrush at maghilamos, lumabas ako ng bathroom at dumiretso sa dresser. I would like to apply a little amount of makeup sana but he's waiting for me. Light amount of lipstick na lang.

"Are you hungry?" I asked as I looked at him through the mirror. He's sitting on the couch, using his camera.

"Hmm, hindi naman. I'm alright. Ikaw?"

Pinakiramdaman ko ang sarili ko kung nagugutom na ba ako o hindi pa. I don't feel anything. Hindi ako gutom pero hindi rin naman ako busog. Besides, it's already 8:30 in the morning. Wala pa akong kinakain simula kagabi, except sa dinner na hindi ko rin naman naubos.

"I'm not really hungry but we can grab our breakfast already."

Tumango siya at tahimik na naghintay sa akin.