"WE need to talk, what do you think Kairi?" agad na suggestion ni kuya nang maka-alis si Firth. He was smiling, but it appeared caustic to me.

"You think so Kuya? 'yan din ang iniisp ko kaya lang pagod ako ngayon how about next week?" I said using my sweet voice.

"You're using that charm again, eh? Don't you think that this isn't fair?" kuya was almost sulking about it kaya napahalakhak ako.

Kinuha niya ang mga gamit ko para iakyat sa ikatlong palapag.

"Then, I guess we'll just talk about it some other time then, sleep after you eat, okay?" he then kissed my forehead as he moves upward again.

I was just checking and roaming around my socials when my phone rang at rumehistro ro'n ang pangalan ni Firth kaya nabitawan ko ito, agad ko rin namang pinulot at umubo ng bahagya.

"Hi! Nakauwi ka na or nasa byahe ka pa?" paunang tanong ko rito.

"I'm sorry I didn't talk to you properly, I was afraid that I might trigger again, are you okay right now though?"

"It's okay you're not at fault naman e, I was the one who shared it with you in the first place you did not force me to say anything." I said softly at ibinaba na ang mukha ko tinignan ang paa na nilalaro.

"Can I video call you? for I know that you are already looking down." he sounded playful on the other line kaya na tawa rin ako. He really knows me well na.

"There you go I finally saw your face again. Hindi na ata ako masasanay na hindi nakikita ang mukha mo lalo na kapag pwede naman talagang makita." He flirted, isang lalaki na akala ko seryoso pero malandi naman pala.

"Oo nga pala anong balak mo sa three months? Do you have a place in mind?" he looks interested kung ano man ang sasabihin ko. He doesn't seem to care kahit na hindi siya makakapag flight.

"You really want to accompany me? Are okay kahit na hindi ka pa makapag flight?" I asked, worried that this might affect his record.

"Well . . . kung ikaw ang makaksama ko for three months I will obligue pero kapag hindi mag re-resign na lang ako. Priorities you know. Priorities." His eyes were glistening as he said his last lines making me laugh heartily.

"Well, wala naman akong gustong gawin maybe I'll just stay at my rest house binili ko 'yon noong pag graduate ko."

"Hmm . . . saan? Batangas? Bataan?" he's already guessing.

"I prefer Palawan. When it comes to lakes and beaches, Palawan has a lot to offer, which I truly like. Would you like to come? Maybe I'll remain for two weeks or longer just to explore pumupunta lang ako ro'n kapag masyado akong maraming iniisip."

"I would love to! then? Ano pa gusto mong gawin? Outside the country?" he said now getting out of his car. He said he will stay at their house along with his parents and sister since mas malapit raw 'yon kaysa sa condo niya.

"Now that you mentioned that I want to go to Korea nasa list ko siya kahit noon pa man tapos Spain and Seattle, but you know we can't stay there for a short period kaya baka sa Korea na lang muna sa susunod na 'yong iba." Naka puntunta na ako sa Korea ang problema ay hindi ko ito masyadong na ikot.

"Maybe next time we can go to those places but for now we should arrange a vacation to South Korea, right?" He was wiggling his brows playfully and came to a halt when someone coughed as if he was trying to be noticed.

"May lakad ka ata anak." isang baritong boses and narinig ko.

"Dad, uh . . ." Firth didn't know what to say and he sounds nervous, so I secretly laughed. I am also like that!

"C'mon para ka namang teenager na nagtatago sa magulang mo e gusto ka na nga namin palayasin para makapag-asawa ka na. Girlfriend mo? Pakilala mo naman ako malay mo mas mapogian pa siya sa akin kaysa sa 'yo. Ang pangit mo pa naman mana ka sa mommy mo na asawa ko."

"Hello po, Sir!" I greeted laughing, I didn't even feel nervous or awkward maybe because I heard what he says to Firth.

Nagulat naman ako dahil bigla itong lumitaw sa screen ko habang si Firth sinisigawan ang ama niya na ibalik sa kaniya ang cellphone nakasimangot pa.

"'Wag mo pansinin 'yang anak ko inggit lang 'yan sa akin kasi mas pogi ako." Firth's father said playfully making me laugh. "Call me tito or dad na lang mukha pa namang mahal ka na ng anak ko. Anong nagustuhan mo sa kaniya?" direktang tanong nito.

"Tito, Good morning po hindi pa 'ho ako girlfriend ng anak niyo nililigawan pa lang po." Sabi ko na ikinalaki ng mata nito.

"The horror! Firth halika nga rito." Sabi nito at ibinaba ang cellphone pero ang video call ay naka on pa rin kaya ang nakikita ko ay ang chandelier lang nila. "Hindi kita pinalaking mahina. Tignan mo ako tatlong buwan lang nakuha ko na agad 'yong oo ng lolo at lola mo kaya binigay na nila sa akin 'yong mommy mo. Ang hina mo naman! Hindi na talaga kita anak." Sermon nito kaya pinipigilan ko ang pagtawa dahil halatang disappointed talaga ito sa anak dahil hindi pa ako girlfriend.

"Dad naman hindi naman ako gaya niyo na halos sa bahay na nila mommy natutulog kaya walang nagawa sina lolo at lola kundi pumayag na lang." Firth seems to be so done with his father.

"Hija! Narinig mo ganiyan lagi sa akin si Firth kaya dapat hindi mo siya sagutin pero dapat sagutin mo pa rin siya para hindi na 'yan pupunta rito." Makulit na sabi nito sa akin. I laughed, pinasadahan ko pa ang buhok ko at makahulugang ngumiti.

"Sige po tito, I will." I said casually yet playful na ikinaliwanag ng mukha nito.

"You hear it son? May balak siyang sagutin ka buti nalang talaga narito ako diba? Magpasalamat ka sa tatay mo."

"Thank you, pa." sarkastikong balik ni Firth.

"Hon?" another voice entered na sa palagay ko ay mommy niya dahil nakita ko kung paano lumambot ang mukha ng tatay niya.

"Here hon! Give me some loving," malambing na pagtawag nito.

"Who's that?" kalmado na ang boses nito hindi katulad noong una na napakalambing ibinaling rin nito ang tingin sa akin nangingilid ang luha pero may galit na ikinabigla ko.

Hala! bakit siya maiiyak? hindi ko naman kukuhanin 'yong anak niya e!

"Firth kuhanin mo na nga 'tong telepono mo sa akin!" sabi nito at ibinalibag lang 'yon sa sofa hindi na inintay pa na makalapit si Firth. "Hon, hey, that's the woman of Firth he's courting her, okay? She's our future daughter-in-law isn't it good?" Firth father's voice was so soft unlike kanina na mapagbiro ito at careless ngayon naman ay may halong pag-iingat.

"Really? You're not tricking me old man, don't you?"

"Of course, you are the only girl, the only woman in my life. Well, there's Sophia but she's my baby so yeah."

"Mom kanina sabi ni dad pangit ka at sa 'yo daw ako nag mana." Firth interfere na nakabusangot pa rin hanggang ngayon.

"Talaga ba Frederick George Andrade? Masaya ka sa ganon?" masungitnitong sabi na nakapagbungisngis sa akin ng mahina.

"Hindi ko naman sinabi 'yon eh! Sinungaling ka na Firth tatay mo ako parang wala tayong pinagsamahan ah! Ako 'to Firth tatay mo." pag-alma ng tatay niya nag ngayon ay kakikitaan ng takot ang boses.

"Idadamay mo pa talaga si Firth ikaw na matanda ka, dahil diyan dito ka matutulog kung ayaw mo mag hotel ka at mangbabae bahala ka sa buhay mo." sabi nito bago ko narinig ang mga yapak nila at ang tatay niya na nakikiusap.

"Are you eating?" tanong ni Firth at bumuntong hininga looking apologetic at me.

"Kakain pa lang and no need to apologize, it's okay your father was cute." I said then giggled na ikinagitla ng noo nito.

"Tch. Matanda na siya may asawa na at anak at ako 'yon panigurado pwede ka sa 'kin." pagbibida nito sa sarili niya at iniiwas ang tingin pero ang tainga ay namumula naman.

"Sige sa 'yo na lang ako." banat ko pabalik.

Ngumuso siya para itago ang ngiti. "Huwag mo nga ako mabiro ng ganiyan pag ako talaga nag pa-party. Tch. Kumain ka na tapos mag pahinga mamaya tayo mag-usap tungkol sa Korea at Palawan natin."

"Ayaw mo magsabay tayo? You should eat also. Galing tayo sa byahe at paniguradong pagod ka pero kailangan mo pa rin kumain."

"Okay, I'll prepare it don't end the call, okay? I'll bring you with me." I just nodded, he put his phone on the countertop ako naman ay nag paalam na magpapalit.

Pag baba ko ay nakahain na ro'n ang pagkain ko na ikinangiti ko.

"What's your breakfast?"

"Nagpaluto ako ng sweet and sour." I smiled cutely at him at pumalungbaba dahil hindi pa rin siya tapos mag luto.

"Hay . . . you are being cute again at the same time beautiful." He said problematic sapo-sapo pa nito ang sentido making me giggle.

"You're being oa!"

"It's true, you're charming and gorgeous when you look at me compassionately, eh? That is unjust! How did you manage to tame me so easily? Hey! Don't laugh at me at bakit hindi ka pa kumakain luto na ang pagkain mo ah,"

"I'm waiting for you to finished cooking para sabay tayong kumain." I stated, blushing.

"Kumain ka na, you go first lalamig 'yong pagkain mo."

"Sabay na tayo." I insisted, tinignan ko ito namumula na ang tainga at ang mata ay kumikinang.

"Okay, then I should make this fast right?" he inquired.

"No, take your time baka pumangit ang lasa kapag minadali mo. I'll wait." ani ko kaya nag focus na siya sa pagluluto.

I'm continuing to watch the k-drama 'tomorrow', in which there is RM management who rescues or prevents individuals from attempting suicide. It's a little emotional for me, but I like it because it demonstrates that even if individuals want to commit suicide, they're only waiting for someone to come and save them. They, too, want to be heard; they want someone to help them. They are unable to forget the events of the past that have twisted their minds and damaged their lives. They're simply waiting for someone to give them a reason to keep going.

"Love, let's eat na?" I just nodded and turned off my tablet I also removed my specs. "Should we plan na ba about our Korea and Palawan or mamaya na lang?"

"Maybe we can talk about it now like kung ano 'yong gusto nating gawin. I will take a note." I said opening my tab again at sinuot ulit ang specs habang si Firth naman ay inilabas ang isa niyang cellphone

We want this trip to be fun and exciting. This will be our first trip without involving our choice of work.CLAIREJXSM | 🍁🍁🍁