THE NEXT Day as their second day of being a couple, according to Ranger, na parang bata na nag aabang at nagbibilang ng araw na magkasama silang dalawa, as a couple. Hindi na siya makakalusot dahil siya mismo ang nangako.

Yesterday, halos mabaliw siya. Hindi niya alam na may tinatago palang ka sweet-an sa katawan ang boss niya, na boyfriend na niya ngayon, o baka sadyang kasama na ito sa pagiging malandi nito.

Sabay silang nag lunch, pagkatapos nila ito na ang nagligpit at naghugas ng pinggan na pinag gamitan nilang dalawa. He even kissed her forehead and let her rest for an hour or so, hindi talaga siya nito pinagalaw.

After that, he even massage her legs and back. Causing her to sleep. Pagkagising niya ay tapos na ang labahan sa laundry area at naka sampay na ang mga damit. Nagulat pa siya dahil sobrang ayos ng pagkaka sampay ng mga damit. Naka color coding pa ang mga ito.

He also informed him last night na aalis silang dalawa. Wala siyang ideya kung saan balak pumunta ni Ranger, kahit magtanong siya ay hindi naman nito sinasagot.

"Love?"

Lumingon siya kay Ranger na nakasilip sa pintuan ng kwarto niya at itinuro ang sarili.

Ranger chuckled. "Yes, ikaw ang tinatawag ko. Ikaw lang naman ang girlfriend ko." Natatawang sabi nito, halatang inaasar siya sa katangan niya.

So, may endearment na din itong naisip sa wakas? Sumakit ang ulo niya kagabi dahil maski siya ay tinatanong kung komportable ba daw siya sa gusto nitong endearment. She suggested baby, but he said it's too common. Hinayaan nalang niya.

"Ano 'yan?" Tanong niya nang may makita siyang dalawang paper bag na hawak nito sa kabilang kamay, habang ang isang kamay naman nito ay nasa loob ng bulsa ng suot nitong pantalon.

"Pwedeng pumasok?" He asked making her brows furrowed. Ano ang trip ng lalaki na 'to?

"Bahay mo 'to? Pwede kang pumasok sa kwarto ko kahit hindi ka magpaalam sa akin?" Hindi siguradong sagot niya kay Ranger.

Umiling si Ranger bago pumasok sa loob ng kwarto, he sat on the sofa near the door. Inilipat niya 'yon doon dahil naka harang kapag nanonood siya ng TV. Nasa paanan kasi ng kama niya ang orihinal na pwesto ng sofa na 'yon.

"That's invading your privacy, Angel. Did you also tell that old man the same thing?" Nakataas ang kilay na tanong nito. His face darkened as his eyes sharpened.

Angel gulped. "Galit ka?" She asked carefully.

And in a split of second, Ranger calmed down. Naging maaliwalas na ulit ang mukha nito at may maliit na ngisi sa labi.

"I'm sorry about that. Anyway, ihahatid ko lang talaga sayo 'tong damit. Pinabibigay ni Frances, asawa ng kaibigan ko. She said she wants to see you wearing that clothes, medyo maselan ang pagbubuntis niya kaya hindi kami makatanggi."

Inilapag ni Ranger ang dalawang paper bag sa ibabaw ng sofa bago ito tumayo. Lumapit ito sa kanya at hinalikan siya sa noo pagtapos ay lumabas na ito sa kwarto. He even closed the door at kung hindi siya pinaglalaruan ng pandinig niya, ini-lock din niya ito mula sa loob.

"Galit ba 'yon? Ang weird niya." Bulong niya sa sarili.

Confused with his actions, hindi mapakali si Angel kung ano ang nagawa niya para umakto ito ng ganoon. But she can't help to smile, for sure Ranger is counting this one as their first fight as a couple.

Pabagsak siyang umupo sa sofa at inilabas ang laman ng mga paper bags. Ang laman ng isa ay isang korean style na 2 inches sandals, beige ang kulay nito at parang naka tirintas ang design nito. The next one is a chiffon bodycon floral dress. May tali ito sa bandang dibdib.

Angel gulped. She never, not even once, wore this kind of clothes. Nang maalala niya na buntis pala ang nagbigay sa kanya at sa isipin na makikita niya ito sa pupuntahan nilang dalawa ni Ranger. She forced her self to wear the dress.

Mabilis lang siyang naligo but she made sure that she's all clean. Bihis na bihis na kanina si Ranger, or was it the usual clothes he's wearing? Nakakahiya naman kung paghihintayin niya ito.

Sinipat niya ang sarili sa human size na salamin na naka dikit lang sa closet door. Hapit na hapit sa kanya ang dress na suot, showing off how curve her body is, and as expected, litaw din ang cleavage niya. Her body is not petite and not even too fat. Nasa gitna lang.

Pinatuyo niya ang buhok gamit ang electric fan, and after that, she tied her hair into a messy ponytail. Naglaglag siya ng manipis na buhok. Then she licked her lips to make it look like she puts a gloss. Hindi siya naglalagay ng make up, kung wala naman okasyon. This is a date. Sigurado siya na huhulas lang ang make up na ilalagay niya sa mukha.

NAHILAMOS NI Ranger ang mukha nito paglabas ng kwarto ni Angel. His mouth knows no boundaries. He didn't meant to asked her like that, pero hindi na niya mababawi ang tanong. He's angry at himself for having a thought like that.

Ranger rolled his eyes, nang mapadaan siya hagdan and saw Castiel casually walking around. Nakapamulsa pa ito.

Angel is probably getting ready. Might as well entertain the unwanted visitor.

"What are you doing here, Castiel?" He casually asked and sat down on the stool, in his kitchen.

Castiel smiled at him, and after a seconds, nakarinig si Ranger ng nagwawalang mga alaga sa tiyan ni Castiel. Sarkastikong ngumisi si Ranger sa kaibigan.

"Mukha bang ipagluluto kita?" Sarkastikong tanong niya kay Castiel.

Castiel nodded his head. "You can cook, but not as good as Yves. And I am starving. Malayo pa ang restaurant ni Yves, and yours was too close to the location where I am working." He explained while making a hand gestures in front of him.

"Ayos ka din e no? Nilait lait mo luto ko, tapos nandito ka pa rin sa harapan ko?" Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay. Now, he regret entertaining this asshole.

"Feed me. Magrereklamo pa ako kay Light na palitan ang cook namin. That food was poisonous! Baka walang matira sa amin!" Castiel shivered and sticked out his tongue. Habang siya naman ay hindi makapaniwalang naka tingin lang sa lalaki.

Ranger sighed. "May sobra pa yata kaming ulam kagabi sa Ref. May tirang kanin sa Rice cooker, initin mo nalang yung ulam." He said. Itinukod niya ang siko sa lamesa, then he rested his chin on his knuckles.

"Kawawang Castiel, kakain ng tira tirang pagkain." Bulong ni Castiel, pero narinig pa rin naman niya.

Ngumisi siya sa kaibigan. "Bud, don't make it sound like I am feeding you how other people feed their dogs."

Castiel exaggeratedly gasped and looked at him with wide eyes. He just raised both of his brows at Castiel, na iniinit na ngayon ang ulam sa oven.

"Does it sounds like that?" Castiel asked.

He chuckled and nod his head to tease his friend. "Sort of, Bud."

"Pero tira tira naman talaga 'to." Reklamo pa nito sa kanya, habang nakaturo sa oven.

Ranger glared at Castiel. Ito na nga lang ang nakiki kain napaka arte pa.

"E kung ikaw tirahin ko?" He hissed.

Castiel playfully hugged his body and looked at him, he bat his eyes just like how sexy cartoon character does when they're seducing a man.

"Tirahin mo ako, Ranger." Malanding sagot nito sa kanya. Inipit pa nito ang boses para maging tunog babae. Ranger gulped and made a vomiting sound.

Pinulot niya ang nakitang basahan na nasa gilid at ibinato ito sa mukha ni Castiel na tumatawa dahil sa katarantaduhan na ginawa.

"Tarantado!" Malutong na mura niya dito.

Parang bata na binelatan siya ni Castiel. "Hindi kita isasali ulit sa group chat natin!"

Ranger forehead crease. And as of the moment he wanted to asked himself is this man in front of him, if Castiel was really the professional Engineer he met years ago.

"Hey, bakit niyo ako kinick sa GC?!" Pagalit na tanong niya kay Castiel na nagsasandok na ng kanin.

Castiel whistled. "Hindi ka kasi kapani paniwala. Bud, for years we know how you play with women. Ang dumi mo kaya." Parang bata na sagot nito sa kanya. Nakanguso pa ang mga labi nito.

"You made it sound like I am a fucking philanderer , Castiel." He said and glared at Castiel. Na mukhang walang paki alam sa kanya at tuloy tuloy na kumain.

"Bakit hindi ba?" Castiel asked and that question hit him. Of course, he was a philandering bastard. "Well, lahat naman tayo. Since we believed that we are just capable to lust. Mas malala ka nga lang sa amin. Hindi ka marunong gumamit ng protection." Castiel pointed the edge of the fork he's using at his face.

Ranger wanted to defend himself. But when he saw how Castiel looked at him like he was saying 'shut up and suck it up', nagpakawala nalang siya ng mahinang buntong hininga.

"Nasaan nga pala ang future wife mo?" Castiel asked.

Ranger smiled like a total lovesick fool. He likes what Castiel just said. For him to think that Angel is going to be his future wife, imbes na matakot siya at tumakbo na palayo, parang kinilig pa lahat ng pwedeng kiligin sa katawan niya.

"Did you just fucking blushed?!" Castiel gasped, muntik pa nitong maibuga sa kanya ang tubig na iniinom nito.

Ranger rolled his eyes. "So what? I was just thinking about Angel, being my wife and being the mother of my child."

"Planning to settle down? Ilang araw pa lang kayo ah? Siya ba? Gusto na?" Sunod sunod na tanong nito sa kanya.

"Is it bad to plan a future with her? Masyado kang panira ng pangarap! Ikaw ba walang balak?" He hissed.

Castiel shrugged as he picked up the plate he used. "Seeing our friends having their own family is too satisfying, and I want that for myself too. I was still looking for the genuine love they feel with their partners. Kapag nahanap ko na 'yung sa akin, itatali ko kaagad." He answered and chuckled.

"Ranger?"

Sabay na lumingon si Ranger at Castiel nang marinig nila ang mala anghel na boses ni Angel. Ranger jaw almost dropped when he saw how gorgeous Angel is, with the clothes she's wearing right now. Frances really have a good taste when it comes to clothes. He must give her a credit.

"Hi, my name is Castiel. One of his friend. Naki kain lang ako, aalis din ako agad." Castiel said.

"Angel." Maikling pakilala nito, she looks shy around Castiel.

"Kingina mo, Castiel. Umalis ka na." Madiin na utos niya sa kaibigan.

"Bud, I'm still washing the plate I used." Reklamo nito. "Pupunta ba kayo sa Pearl village? Kung nandoon si Laur paki sabi nalang na puntahan ako."

Nagpunas muna ito ng kamay bago tinapik ang balikat niya at nagmamadaling lumabas ng bahay niya.

"Tinakot mo yata." Angel softly chuckled.

Ranger shrugged. "Let's go?"

"Saan yung Pearl Village?" She asked with curiosity.

Ranger smirked at her and held her hand. Hindi niya ito sinagot. Instead, he pulled her towards the garage. Pinauna na niyang pinasakay ito sa Fortuner niya. While he locked the door house.

ANGEL WAS CURIOUS. Pinipigilan niya lang ang sarili na magtanong dahil sigurado na makakarating din naman sila, her jaw dropped when she saw how beautiful the Village is. Masyado itong malawak at ang gaganda ng bahay kahit may iilan na hindi kalakihan.

"We're going to walk, from here." Ranger said. Nauna itong lumabas sa sasakyan, Angel unbuckled her seatbelt and was about to open the door. Pero naunahan na siya ni Ranger na nakangiti ng maaliwalas sa kanya at nakalahad pa ang kamay.

Naiiling na inabot niya ang kamay nito. Ranger was quick to intertwined their hands. They're silently walking side by side, hanggang sa makarating sila sa harap ng malaking mansyon like house. Ang akala niya ay papasok sila sa loob ng bahay, but Ranger brought her in the backyard. Kung saan isang malaking pader lang ang sumalubong sa kanila.

"Anong meron dito?" She asked but Ranger didn't answer.

Instead, he walk towards a small plant and did something. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang may lumabas na swiping machine, Ranger on the other hand pulled a card in his wallet and swiped it.

Hinapit siya ni Ranger sa baywang at hinalikan ang gilid ng noo.

"This is me proving my love to you. Yes, you heard me right. I don't like you, Angel. I love you. There's a difference between the two."

Angel gasps when the wall split into two. Kasabay ng dahan dahan na pagbukas nito ay ang mabilis na tibok ng puso niya.

"If we bring a woman inside this small village of us, ibig sabihin noon seryoso na kami at kung sino man na babae ang ipinasok namin dito ang pakakasalan namin." Bulong ni Ranger sa kanya.

"Baby, you tamed the famous beast known as Ranger Aiken Sandoval. The moment you step inside, I am now devoting my whole life to you."

A/N:

Our two subjects cancelled our meeting, kaya may update ≥3≤ Tho, tambak ang activities.

☕ ikakape ko nalang ٩(●˙—˙●)۶