"SERA,"

"Yes, Kuya?"

He gave me a skeptical look and said, "Tell me as soon as possible if Cash did something stupid to you, okay?" I bit my lower lip to stop myself from laughing. Mukhang seryoso talaga si Kuya.

I thought when Arlo told me na walang tiwala si Kuya Baker kay Cash e biro lang niya 'yun pero mukhang totoo atang walang tiwala si Kuya kay Cash dahil simula kahapon pa niya ako pinagsasabihan.

"I'm serious, Serenity." Kuya said, again. Sobrang seryoso talaga nang mukha niya. Medyo nakakatakot siyang tignan. Kung hindi ko lang kilala 'tong si Kuya Baker, baka naihi na ako sa takot dahil sa pagtitig niya.

I nodded, "Yes po," but deep inside, gusto ko na talagang tumawa dahil ang OA ni Kuya. Pero sabagay, baka talagang magawa akong pabalikin ni Kuya sa LA kapag nalaman niya 'yung nangyari samin ni Cash.

It's Monday and usually maagang umaalis si Kuya para pumasok, pero 9 AM na at nandito pa rin siya sa condo dahil hinahantay niya si Cash na dumating.

Kausap ko kahapon si Cash. Agad siyang tumawag sa'kin after siyang tawagan ni Kuya para sabihin na siya ang mag-gala sa'kin sa Manila. Tawang-tawa ako sa boses niya dahil halatang kinabahan siya dahil sa pag tawag ni Kuya. Akala siguro niya nalaman ni Kuya 'yung tungkol saming dalawa.

Maya-maya lang at dumating na rin si Cash. Kaninang 8 AM pa ako naka-ayos. I wore a salmon pink skater dress and sneakers. Baka kasi sumakit ulit 'yung paa ko, kaya hindi ako nagsuot ng high heels ngayon. Hindi pa naman gentleman 'tong si Cash, hindi gaya ni Arlo.

Si Kuya Baker ang nag bukas ng pinto at nagtanguan lang silang dalawa. I don't get how they became friends, really. They're both weird.

"Hi," bati ko kay Cash. I gave him a small smile, dahil baka makahalata si Kuya na magkakilala na kami.

He smiled at me, "Hi," bati niya.

Nagtititigan kami ni Cash habang si Kuya naman ang sama talaga nang tingin kay Cash. Seriously, nagdududa na ako kung magkaibigan ba talaga silang dalawa!

Pinakilala ako ni Kuya kay Cash. Nag shake hands pa kaming dalawa para talagang kunyari ngayon lang kami nagkakilalang dalawa. Tahimik lang si Cash at parang hindi siya makatingin kay Kuya nang diretso. Guilty siguro siya.

"Aren't you leaving yet, Kuya? Baka ma-late ka," sabi ko kasi kanina pa niya binibigyan nang death glare si Cash.

Kuya looked at me and then he looked at Cash again. Kuya said to Cash before he left: "Make sure you bring her back without a scratch."

Pag alis ni Kuya ay agad akong tumawa nang malakas. Si Cash naman nakatingin lang sa'kin na parang akal niya nababaliw na ako.

"Sorry..." I said while wiping the tears from my eyes from too much laughing.

"You should've seen your face! Takot ka talaga kay Kuya, no?"

He just glared at me because I couldn't stop myself from laughing. "I'm not scared of Baker."

"Really ba? Then why do you look so pale kanina?" pang-aasar ko pa.

"I am not!"

"Yes, you are." pagpilit ko, pero sinamaan lang niya ako nang tingin.

"Let's go." sabi niya at tumayo na siya at naglakad palabas ng unit ni Kuya. Sinundan ko siya hanggang makasakay kami ng elevator.

"Saan tayo pupunta? Wala ka bang pasok ngayon? Monday ngayon a," sunod-sunod na tanong ko sakaniya pagdating namin ng lobby at naglalakad na kami palabas ng building.

Napag-usapan namin 'yung tungkol sa mga rules namin. We can ask each other a question as long na hindi 'to personal. Puwede kaming mag tanong sa isa't isa ng mga questions like we're friends. Tutal magkaibigan sila ni Kuya Baker tapos pinsan ako ni Kuya. We've decided to at least become friends to show them why it's not weird to see us together.

He gave me a shrug, "I took a day off. I needed it anyway." sagot niya.

My lips parted when we stopped in front of a white Nissan GT-R, also known as Godzilla. Wow, this guy really is rich.

Sumakay na kami sa loob ng sasakyan niya at in fairness malinis siya sa sasakyan niya kumpara sa condo niya. I inhaled his scent as soon as I got inside. Parang nakadikit na 'yung amoy niya sa loob ng sasakyan niya. Napalingon ako sa pwesto niya and I instantly remembered what I did to him when we were inside his Hellcat back in LA.

I could feel my face heating up because of what I was thinking. It's too early for that! 9 AM palang. We could do that later. Maybe?

I bit my lower lip to stop myself from grinning. Cash was looking at me weirdly.

"What?" I asked him. He won't stop staring at me.

"Why are you so red, and please, stop biting your lips," he said, and I automatically bit my lower lip.

"Why? Gusto mo ba ikaw lang ang kakagat sa labi ko?" I said while grinning at him. I bit my lower lip again just to tease him.

Narinig ko 'yung malakas na pag buntong hininga niya.

"Serenity..."

"Cash..."

Napipikon na yata siya sa'kin dahil napasuklay siya sa buhok niya. Did I already say that he looks so freaking hot when he does that? Like, really... Parang gusto ko nalang siyang asarin palagi para ulitin lang niya 'yung pag suklay sa buhok niya.

"Let's go to Ocean Park." sabi ko nalang dahil baka bigla akong pababain nito.

We were both quiet until we reached the Manila Ocean Park. At dahil hindi naman weekend ngayon kaya konti lang ang tao. Cash bought our tickets because he insisted, kaya hindi na ako nagpatalo. May pera naman ako dahil nagpapadala si Mama sa'kin pero mapilit si Cash kaya hinayaan ko nalang siya.

There were a few couples and families, but hindi talaga crowded kaya nae-enjoy ko talagang puntahan at tignan 'yung iba't ibang isda sa aquarium.

I miss LA.

I miss my mom.

Madalas sa beach kami nagpupunta ng mga kaibigan ko. Don kami tumatambay habang nagpapa-tan. Sobrang puti ko kasi, kaya palagi rin akong sumasama sakanila sa beach para magkakulay naman 'yung maputla kong balat.

Sinusundan lang ako ni Cash kung saan ako nagpupunta. Sawa na siguro siya dito, kaya parang ako lang 'yung nage-enjoy saming dalawa. Tumigil ako sa tapat ng isang aquarium na puno ng jellyfish.

I just stared at the beautiful jellyfish, admiring them. Cash stood right beside me while looking at the jellyfish too.

"Do you want us to stop?" I asked. I saw in my peripheral vision that he glanced at me because of my sudden question.

"We can stop if you're not comfortable doing this—" I said, but he quickly cut me off.

"What? "No!!" sagot niya. Nakatingin pa rin siya sa'kin habang nakatingin lang ako nang diretso sa mga jellyfish na malayang lumalangoy.

I smiled a little. "Really ba? Then why do you have that look as if you're committing a crime because you're with me?" I said and turned my head to look at him.

Kanina pa kasi siya tahimik na parang ang lalim nang iniisip niya. I tried not to ask, but I can't do this with him if he's not comfortable. Hindi ko naman siya pipilitin kung iniisip niya si Kuya. I know that they've been friends for years, and I will understand if he wants us to stop. We can really just be friends, and I can find another guy to fool around with.

"I-I was just thinking of some ways of continuing "this" with you..." sabi niya habang tinuturo niya kaming dalawa. "without hurting you in the end."

Tuluyan na akong humarap sakaniya at saka siya nginitian. I'm quite amused that he's worried about me.

"Cash Evander..." I trailed and gave him an amusing look, "I made sure that you could never hurt me the moment I kissed you. Don't worry too much about me, I can handle myself. Just think of yourself... you might be the one getting hurt in the end." I said before winking at him. I tapped his shoulder before I left him with his lips partly open.

Akala ba niya hahayaan kong masaktan ako ulit? I've been there and done that. And I've learned my lesson...

I won't let anyone have the power to hurt me again. Natuto na ako...

After that mini conversation I had with Cash e mabuti naman at hindi na siya ulit nag-isip pa. Nagsasalita na ulit siya at ngayon ko lang napansin na ang daldal pala niya! Mukhang tahimik lang siya kapag may malalim siyang iniisip dahil nagulat ako na mas mukhang nage-enjoy pa siya sa'kin ngayon.

"Tara sa sea lion show!" aya ko sakaniya at patakbo akong nagpunta kung saan ginaganap 'yung sea lion show dito sa Ocean Park.

"Bilisan mo nga Cash! You have long legs gamitin mo naman!" I yelled at him, dahil ang layo ko na sakaniya. Nakita ko siyang napailing habang natatawa bago tumakbo papunta sa'kin.

At dahil walang masyadong nanonood kaya nasa pinaka harap kami ni Cash naupo. Ayaw pa nga niyang sa harap kami dahil daw baka mabasa kami ng tubig. Kasalanan ko bang ganyan ang suot niya?

He's wearing a dark blue button-down long sleeve and khaki chino pants, na parang papasok siya sa office... But I won't deny that he looks sexy in his office attire, but I prefer him wearing nothing at all, if you'll ask me again.

I took a lot of pictures habang nanonood ng sea lion show. Nakaka-amaze sila! Plano kong inggitin si Curtis mamaya at ise-send ko sakaniya 'tong mga video na kinuha ko. I subtly glanced at Cash and I saw him smiling while watching the sea lions doing tricks kaya when the staff asked for some volunteers, agad kong kinuha 'yung kamay ni Cash at tinaas.

"Serenity!" he yelled and glared at me because I volunteered him myself.

"Go na! Once in a lifetime lang 'to!" sabi ko sakaniya at pilit siyang pinapatayo sa upuan niya dahil hinahantay na siya nung staff na lumapit para mabigyan siya ng kiss nung dalawang sea lion.

Walang nagawa si Cash dahil nakatingin sakaniya lahat at hinahantay siya. "You'll pay for this." inis na sabi niya habang nakatingin sa'kin nang masama. Tawang tawa ako habang nakaupo siya sa pagitan ng dalawang sea lion.

He looks really scared that I'm tearing up because I'm laughing too hard. I took a video of him before the staff signaled the two sea lions and they both kissed Cash simultaneously on the cheeks.

Pagbalik ni Cash sa pwesto ko ay nakita kong basa 'yung damit niya dahil sa pag-splash ng tubig kanina. He looked like he was ready to murder someone, and I just smiled widely at him.

Wala naman akong dalang towel, kaya hanggang matapos 'yung show ay basang basa si Cash. Tumahimik nalang ako at in-enjoy 'yung mga sea lions dahil baka bigla akong sakalin ni Cash dahil mukhang napipikon na talaga siya sa'kin dahil sa ginawa ko.

Pagbalik namin sa sasakyan niya ay binuksan niya 'yung likod ng sasakyan niya at nakita kong kumuha siya doon ng isang shirt sa isang bag. Ready naman pala siya, e!

"Sorry... Didn't you enjoy the sea lions kissing you?" I bit my lower lip after I said that. Hindi ko na siya hinantay pang sumagot at pumasok na ako sa loob ng sasakyan niya dahil ang sama ulit nang tingin niya sa'kin.

Sumakay na rin si Cash sa loob ng driver's side at saka in-unbutton isa isa 'yung butones ng suot niya. I looked away from him, kahit na na-te-tempt akong tignan 'yung katawan niya. Seriously, why does he have a perfect face and a perfect body? It's so unfair lang!

"I'm done." rinig kong sabi niya kaya agad akong lumingon sakaniya, pero nagulat ako nang nakatapat 'yung mukha niya sa mukha ko pag lingon ko.

He quickly cupped my face and kissed me full on the lips. Hindi ko na nagawang isarado 'yung mata ko dahil sa bilis nang pangyayari.

"That's your payment for volunteering me," he said after he kissed me.

W H A T Y A S E Y