O L I V I A   V A L E Z

I prefer the moon over the sun, but I always appreciate the mighty sun. However, no tendrils of mist had appeared by now. The windows showed little but a bright early-summer day, with the sunshine almost blinding. My mouth stretched a little wider as I yawn. I tilted my head more to see the peaking sun above the sky. A smile crept into my lips as I savored the heat of the sun. 

The chirping of the birds and the low cold whistle of the wind made me sleepy again. The trees swayed along the breezed of the five AM wind. I should savor the cool air right now, and later it will just be a hellfire all afternoon. Philippines summertime was like living in the sun. 

Nag-unat ako at muling humikab. Nagbihis ako ng pang jogging attire. As much as I feel dull and unsatisfied with my summer vacation, I don't want to be unfit. I gasped audibly when I opened my door, and Mr. Mate's morning face greeted me. Mukha rin itong na tigilan nang mapagtantong kaharap lamang ng kwarto ko ang kaniya. This is a nightmare. 

His sun-bleached hazel, disheveled hair made him look more Godly. Namumungay pa ang mga mata nito na kaniyang kinukuskos pa. Nabitin sa ere ang kaniayng paghikab nang makita akong natigilan nang makita siya. Slowly a lazy grin made its way to his lips.

"Good morning, Kiddo." 

Mr. Mates's raspy morning voice made my throat dry. Hindi ko namalayang napalunok na pala ako ng aking laway. He looked sideways as he scratched his nape and stretched it side to side, making his bones cracked a little. My eyes followed his every moved shamelessly.

"Uh, no good morning too?"

Natauhan naman ako dahil sa sinabi niya, kaya agad akong napakurap nang madaming beses. I licked my lips, and I saw how his eyes followed my tongue. Mr. Mate blinked and looked away.

"Why are you taking the room across mine?" I didn't mean to say that, but it just slipped away.

He combed his unruly hair and let his hands rest on his head, "Well, in case you had a horrible nightmare and would like someone to read you a story and make you feel better." he said mockingly.

Agad akong nagtimpi at itinikom ang bibig. Masyado pang maaga para mainis. 

I just smiled at him and said, "Good morning, Mr. Mate. Have a nice day."

Good, Oly. That's the prim and proper you. 

I went to our kitchen with a satisfied smile to drink lukewarm water first before starting my morning jog. Before I even took a step downstairs, I heard him murmur something that made my ears twitch from annoyance.

"She sounded like a robot. I'm not surprised if she'll grow up as an old maid." 

Agad na bumaba ang aking labi mula sa pagkakangiti dahil sa 'king narinig. Umagang-umaga ay naiinis na agad ako. It only takes one person to ruin my morning, and I hope he won't ruin my whole day. I can't let that happen. Don't let that man shake you, Olivia. You are better than this. 

Pinilit ko ang aking sarili na ganahan sa pag-jo-jogging, kahit na paulit-ulit kong naririnig ang sinabi ng matandang 'yon sa 'kin. Dumagdag pa sa pagkairita ko ang painit na painit na sinag ng araw. Kung kanina ay natutuwa pa ko ngayon ay hindi na. Huminto muna ako mula sa pagtakbo, at inilagay ang aking kamay sa 'king tuhod habang humihinga nang malalim. Tumayo ako at inilagay ang kamay ko sa aking baywang, at binuksan ang dala kong bottled water. Pagkaubos ko ay pagalit kong niyupi ang bottled water at buong pwersang itinapon 'yon. 

"Fuck!" I cursed with all my anger and annoyance. 

Mas maganda kasi 'yung inilalabas ang emosyon para mabilis maka-move on. Ang kunot ng aking noo, at ang pagkayuyukom ng aking palad ay agad na nawala nang may dumaang trabahador. Ngumiti ako rito nang pagkatamis-tamis at binati ito ng magandang umaga na akala mo ay hindi ako nagwala kani-kanina lang. 

"Good morning din po, Ma'am. Parang gumanda agad ang umaga ko nang kayo ang unang  nakasalubong ko." pambobola sa 'kin ni Manong. 

Hindi ko alam kung hardinero ba ito o taga linis ng garahe namin; nonetheless, I still greet everyone here. 

"Kayo talaga, Manong. Ingat po sa pagtratrabaho." 

Agad akong nagpatuloy muli sa pagtakbo pagkatapos ko 'yong sabihin. Manong doesn't mind that I ended the conversation immediately. Pag masama ang mood ko ay medyo nahihirapan akong  itaas ang perpekto kong maskara sa harap ng mga tao. Kaya mas mabuting paikliin ko agad ang aming interaksyon bago lumabas ang pangit kong ugali. 

Habang tumatakbo ay paulit-ulit kong isinisigaw sa 'king utak ang mga katagang 'prim and proper'. Iyon ang nagtulak sa 'kin para maka sampung laps bago ko napagpasyahang tumigil. 

Laking pasalamat ko nang hindi ko makasabay sa pagkain ang kaibigan ni Dad. Mukhang maaga na silang umalis para sa mga trabaho nila, pero 'yon ang akala ko. After freshening up, and ate my breakfast.  I saw Mr. Mate with smoke emitting above his head as his reddish lips hit more smoke from his cigarette. I never find a person attractive when they smoke. I find it dugyot. But it was a different case with Atlas Mate. 

His hair was now on a low ponytail with some loose strands in front. He was wearing gray sweat pants and a rolled-up white V-neck shirt. Naka patagilid na sandal siya sa veranda habang nakatingin sa malayo, at patuloy na naninigarilyo. He took a hit and lowered his cigarette, then he looked up and blew the smoke slowly. My eyes were fixated on him. It followed his lips every time his lips would touch the tip of the cigarette and when his adam's apple went up and down after he blew the smoke. 

It was like an addicting movie. 'Yung bang kahit ilang beses mong panoorin, kahit makabisado mo ang bawat sceen, at hangang makabisado mo ang mga dialogue ng bawat character ay hindi ka magsasawa. 

Napapitlag ako nang biglang dumapo sa 'kin ang tingin ni Atlas Mate. Bigla kong nahigit ang aking hininga at alam kong nahalata n'ya 'yon. He was looking at my chest part, where my collar bone was shown exaggeratedly because I was holding my breath. Muli siyang nagpakawala ng usok bago niya ito pinudpod sa railing nang hindi tinatanggal sa 'kin ang tingin. 

Prim and proper.

Muling paalala ko sa 'king sarili. 

"T-That's..." I hated how I stuttered, so I fake coughed before continuing, "With all due respect, smoking is prohibited here, Mr. Mate." taas noong sabi ko.

His devilish smirk showed up, and his eyes glinted with amusement. Tuluyan niyang binitawan ang pagkahahawak sa puspos na sigarilyo at  dahan-dahang lumapit. I gulped every time he took a step forward. I wanted to take a step back, but my pride won't let me. I stood perfectly straight on my ground even though my legs were shaking slightly. He was like a king who would put a suitable punishment for a lowly traitor of his land. 

Dahil sa tangkad nito ay yumuko si Mr. Mate nang kaunti para matapatan ang aking mukha. He tilted his head slightly, and he put his index finger on his lip. He looked deeply at me while still playing with his lower lip. He smells minty mixed with a cigarette. It was intoxicating. Nanunuot sa 'king ilong ang kaniyang amoy and I liked it. Shit.

"I didn't know that there are such rules here." his voice shade darkly and quietly. 

"Y-Yes."

He chuckled lowly, "Who made such rules, Young lady?" I hated how his 'young lady' sounded like an insult than a formality. 

I composed myself, and I proudly said, "Me." 

"You." He stood straightly and looked sideways, giving me a perfect view of his fine jawline. "Am I... going to be imprisoned by you?" he's now looking at me intently.

I had all the energy to answer him, but I rather not. I tend to break my facade in front of this man. I gave him my sweetest and fakest smile I could give him.

"Please, be mindful of my rules here." 

"Your eyes were giving me a vitriol, Kiddo."

I ignored his words, and I even politely bowed my head a little bit before turning my back at him. His eyes were still burning a hole into my back when I turned around, and then he laughed darkly and loudly. I just rolled my eyes and didn't bother to give him a reply. I strode through the archway of the hallway and into my bedroom. I could felt his gaze at me, assessing my every step on the threshold. Even when I was in front of my door, gripping the doorknob and twisting it. I could still feel his stare. 

I heave a sigh and knock on my father's office door. Gabi na at narinig ko ang mga nagmamadaling yapak ng mga katulong kanina para salubungi si Dad. Kaya sigurado akong nakauwi na siya mula sa trabaho. Hindi na muli ako lumabas kanina ng aking silid, dahil hindi pa rin ako maka-move on sa naging interaksyon namin ni Mr. Mate. Kahit nang magtanghalian na ay nagpadala na lamang ako ng pagkain sa 'king kwarto para lang maiwasan siya. 

I was prim and proper but quite rude. I need to do better.

Nagpalinga-linga ako habang hinihintay na papasukin ako ni Dad. Mamaya ay bigla na lamang lumabas si Mr. Mate sa kwartong tinutuluyan niya at magtagpo na naman kami. Masyado na siyang namumuro, umaga pa lang kaya ayoko muna siyang makita muli. Agad akong pumasok nang marinig ko ang pahintulot mula kay Dad na p'wede na akong pumasok. 

Tumayo ito mula sa pagkauupo sa kaniyang swivel chair at lumapit sa 'kin. Hinalikan niya ako sa noo at binati ng magandang gabi. Nang makabalik na si Dad sa kaniyang pwesto, ay umupo na rin ako harapan niya. At agad na sinabi ang pakay ko sa gabing ito.

"Dad, can you please hire me a violin instructor?" pinagsiklop ko ang aming mga kamay habang nakatingin kay Dad.

"Darling, you didn't need to say please. You know I would do it gladly." 

"Thanks, Dad." Tumayo ako at niyakap siya at hinalikan sa pisngi, na siyang ikinangit ni ni Dad.

"Why did you decided to learn how to play a violin?"

I feel sad and lonely without my friends, tapos lagi pang busy si Dad. Kung makihahalubilo naman ako sa mga trabahador at katulong, ay makaaabala lamang ako sa mga gawain nila. Kung lagi ko ring i-cha-chat at tatawagan si Liberty at Prim ay magiging abala rin ako sa kanila. Liberty is trying to adjust and start a life in New York. Paano 'yon mapapadali kung iistorbuhin ko siya lagi? Si Prim naman ay minsan bawal gumamit ng cellphone niya dahil sa kapasawayan nito. I need to do with my life, and it should be productive. 

I pouted and said, "I'm too bored. Ayaw mo naman akong pauwiin sa province. One of my best friends went to New York, and the other one was grounded. I wanted to have fun this summer and something productive." 

"Your Tito Atlas is still available for a week. You could ask him to accompany you and do something fun as I find you a suitable instructor."

Why the fuck my mind think of a different kind of fun?

You dirty little naughty mind! Not that kind of fun.

Well, would it really be fun?

~TBC~

Since malabong makapag-update ako next week dahil midterms ko na, nagyon na lang ako nag-update!

Feel free to share your thoughts, and keep safe everyone!

Love lots. :>>