"Alright, it's like this..."

I looked at him, trying to get rid of the two epic situations that had just happened. I gather all my courage to tell him what's bothering me. Umupo naman siya sa harap ko.

"Well, we'll be together in this house for a week. Can we make some house rules?" I beseech.

"Like?" Masusi niya akong tiningnan.

"Like not going around undressed," I suggested. I paused for a moment to wait for him to agree.

"Why? Isn't this project all about knowing our natural way of living? That's how I live. I took a shower, of course, and I'll go to my room undressed to get dressed," he explained.

"It's different now because I am here. I mean, yeah, you're in your house roaming around topless because it is your house. I can understand that, but look at me. I am here," giit ko habang itinuturo ang sarili.

"Yes, you're here. What are you trying to point out?" tanong niya na para bang wala talagang alam sa ipinupunto ko. Muli ay napabuntong-hininga ako. Hindi niya ba talaga alam na baka mamatay na ako sa susunod na makita ko siyang nakahubad? I mean, nag-aalala lang ako dahil baka kung anong magawa ko. I mean, no! I am worried because I am a woman. Isa akong marupok na sisidlan. I don't want everything to go unplanned. Or am I just overreacting?

"I'm a woman; you're a man. We're trying to prevent something from happening." I complained.

"And what's that?" I closed my eyes. I couldn't believe that he was still not getting my point. Is he for real, or is he just messing with me?

"Are you for real?" I asked out of annoyance. "Inaasar mo ba ako?" I'm about to give up explaining my side.

He laughed. "Sorry, sorry, okay. I'll be serious. Go ahead, continue."

"I mean, don't just come out of the comfort room like I am not here. I exist. Be more careful," I emphasized.

"What do you mean?" I rolled my eyes, and he just laughed like that. So he's just trying to make fun of me, huh?

"What's so funny, Jhon Rey?" My eyebrows met. He is really annoying me.

"Nothing, I just find you cute."

I gasped. And left with no words to say.

"So a compliment can shut you up. I'll take note of that," he nods while smiling as if he discovered something to write about in our project.

I don't know if I will feel flattered because he's trying to make fun of me. I took a deep breath and shook my head. How do I get through a week with him?

"I surrender. Just do whatever you want," sambit ko pero muli niya lang akong tinawanan.

"I'm just messing with you. I get what you said. Alright, I'll be more careful for your sake," he noted. Little did I know, I was smiling like an idiot.

"How about you? Do you have a complaint?" tanong ko naman.

"None at all. Just be yourself here. Feel at home," saad niya bago tiningnan ang mga pagkaing binili ko. "Did you buy all of these?" he asked while taking the dumplings I bought. He looked at it and munched.

"Yeah, mukhang masarap kaya binili ko na rin. Hindi ko naman alam ang gusto mo kaya binili ko lahat," I responded, habang inilalapag sa ibabaw ng lamesa ang ramen, shrimp fried rice, gyoza, tempura, yasai itame, pork cutlets, chicken katsu, and maki.

"Malalaman mo rin ang gusto ko paglaon. Aren't we here to know more about each other?"

I nodded. "And to pass on that subject. We have to face this ridiculous project for us to graduate," I added as I started to eat my fried rice and bites of tempura.

"It's not that bad, I guess. You get to know more about a person. That's interesting."

Nagsimula na rin siyang kumain. I'm glad because the food we ordered was delicious. On the other hand, my mood has lifted.

"Do you like Japanese food?" I ask, trying to find something in common between us. I can use that so we can work out this project.

"Sort of. How about you?"

"I like these foods," I smiled and continued eating.

"I see. What do you want to drink?" He stood up and approached the refrigerator. "This is all I can offer."

I was surprised to see canned beer in his refrigerator. "I guess I'll just have water."

"No saying 'no' on our first day." He laughed as he took two beers. He opened one and handed it to me. "Cheers to our first day of living together."

"Cheers." I drank a little. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pinigilan kong mapangiti dahil sa sinabi niya. Ipinagpatuloy ko na lang ang pagkain ko at ganoon din naman ang ginawa niya. A moment of silence enveloped the two of us. Ang tanging naririnig lang ay ang mga pag-ungol namin habang nasasarapan sa mga pagkain. Nagkakatinginan na lang kami at parehong tumatango-tango habang nanlalaki ang mga mata. Swear, we enjoyed the food together. Napapasayaw na nga lang ako.

"Sheen..." I was surprised when he called me by my name. If he only knew what effect he brings when he does that, he shouldn't be doing that again. Honestly.

Tiningnan ko siya.

"Sorry for what happened earlier. I shouldn't do that," he sincerely apologized pertaining to the incident we were mostly embarrassed to remember. "I was just worried about you."

I smiled a little. "I understand. Can we forget about what happened? It really embarrasses me."

"Sure. Honestly, you're right. I'm a man, and you're a woman. That's why I told you to always lock the door."

Napailing ako. "Kaso may susi ka naman, kaya nabuksan mo rin."

I was really careless to sleep in the tub when I was not in my own home. That was the most epic moment that I never imagined would happen on our first day.

"But now I know. I'll be more careful since you're here. Just don't stay too long in the bathroom. I get worried since you're at my place. You're my responsibility."

My heart pounds when he says that. It was as if he really meant it the way I wanted it to. But that's not the case; I'm just daydreaming.

"I guess I'll be used to it since you've seen almost all the shame in my life," I murmured.

"Shame?"

"Yes, lalo na 'yong kanina sa school. I said in front of our classmates that we were dating. I am really sorry about that. I just wanted my ex-boyfriend to stop bothering me, and I automatically thought that was the best thing to do to get rid of him."

I feel like, in a few moments, I will sink into my seat. That is clearly one of the most embarrassing moments of my life. Claiming that we're together when we barely know each other since we just met.

He smiled. "I never protest about that because it's alright." What he said astounded me.

"You can use me, Sheen. Use me every time you need an excuse to escape. Use me."

*****

I couldn't sleep.

I am here on Jhon Rey's bed. I was spinning around, trying my best to sleep, but I couldn't.

My mind is like an open universe. A lot of things are going on. Maybe because it's my first night here, I am still in the process of getting comfortable.

"You can use me, Sheen. Use me."

Paulit-ulit sa isip ko ang sinabi ni Jhon Rey sa akin. Hindi ko maiwasang isipin ang tungkol doon. How can a man let himself be used for something ridiculous?

I sneaked up on him at the door and saw him sleeping on the couch. My forehead twitched when I noticed he was bent from the cold. Of course, he'll feel really cold because he's half-naked. I shook my head. I thought we agreed about this thing. It seems like I'm the one who'll make some adjustments in this matter.

So I took a blanket from his drawer and properly laid it on his body.

I was stunned when I noticed his whole face. I felt my heart beat fast enough to stop me from breathing.

Especially now that I watch him near like this. His face was very peaceful when he was asleep. His thick eyebrows, long eyelashes, attractive nose bridge, and thin lips. I can't help but think about how lucky someone can be to have his heart. He's kind, and it seems like he's smart too. He's funny, but a little disrespectful and annoying. I want to know him more; I admit that, because I can feel something inside me that naturally wants to be with him. Something magical that I can't explain. The moment I saw him enter the room for the first time, I knew my world would revolve around him.

But it is wrong for me to stay here, especially since our worlds are born in rivalry.

I'll just finish this project, and whatever punishment my father gives me, I'll just accept it wholeheartedly.

Napakurap ako nang sandaling iminulat ni Jhon Rey ang mga mata niya. It was automatically looking at me as if it were bound to be there. Our gazes met for a moment, reading each other's thoughts. We're so close to each other. And I like it this way. Some force is pulling me towards him. I'm about to be drowned in those hypnotizing eyes. My heart is beating like crazy.

"I told you to be careful and get clothes on," I warned, and a glance at his lips makes it seem like he was waiting for me to reach for them.

"I'm curious about what you will do if I resist," he whispered, which sent a tantalizing feeling deep down my core.

"I might feel embarrassed after this," sagot ko habang tumitingin sa kaniyang mga labing inaakit akong kunin ang mga iyon.

"Who's stopping you?"

I closed my eyes, but before I reached for him, he grabbed my nape and reached for my lips instead. The universe in my mind disappears in a grand explosion. My heart is beating like it was meant to find its owner now.

His delicate lips touched mine, and it was electrifying. I feel like our lips were meant to unite. Nakakalunod, kung hindi pa siguro ako mauubusan ng hininga ay hindi niya ako tatantanan. Did he feel the same?

He parted ways, and we were both looking at each other, trying to gauge if what we did should be recognized and continued.

But my heart was about to burst, so I immediately went to the dining area to drink water. I glanced at him and tried to calm my heart. I feel his gaze on me.

Nagpatuloy lang ako sa pag-inom ng tubig, habang pumupuno sa dibdib ang kaba. Why do I feel something like this when he's around? At bakit kahit anong inom ko ng tubig ay natutuyuan ako ng lalamunan?

I rushed into my room and covered myself under the blanket.

What the hell did I do?