"Gazella, I'm so sorry!" Maiyak-iyak na salubong ni Sasha sa akin. Tinaas niya ang dalawang kamay at tinuro-turo ang mga kuko. "I cut them already. I will never ever ever ever grow my nails longer than they're supposed to be."

Patuloy siyang nangako ng kung ano-ano tungkol sa kaniyang mga kuko at panay naman ang pagtiyak ko sa kaniya na alam ko namang hindi niya sinasadya.

It turns out that she almost drowned before so despite her ability to swim really well, she still panics on accidents like what happened earlier.

"Did the doctors give you some treatment?" Aniya, nag-aalala pa rin. And yes, there were two doctors whom the yacht fetched at the coast to check on me. One was called by Sasha while the other was from Martell— both whom I'm really familiar with because they appear on medical related TV shows.

Tumango ako sa kaniyang tanong at kinuha ang mga ointments na nasa hoodie na pinahiram ni Martell.

Napatingin si Sasha sa suot ko. "Where'd you get your clothes? Hindi ko pa nabibigay ang bag mo ah!" Aniya at tinuro sa akin ang bag ko na nakapatong sa sunlounger.

"Pinahiram," maikli kong sagot at saka tumingin sa direksyon ni Martell na kinakausap ng kapatid at mga pinsan. Pagkagising na pagkagising ko kanina, siya ang unang tumambad sa akin at saka inimporma ako na dumating na ang mga doktor. Medyo nailang ako sa suot kong shirt at boxers niya at nahalata niya naman kaya nag-offer ulit ng hoodie.

Sasha's mouth curved into a smirk. But before she could even utter a word, we were called by the guys. They informed us that the foods were ready in courtesy of Martini.

"The food looks yummy," ani Olivia at mukhang takam na takam.

"So is the chef," sagot pabalik ni Sasha na ikinabulunan ko naman.

Narinig iyon ni Gabriello, isa sa mga pinsan ni Martell at saka ito humalakhak. Ipinakilala ako ni Martell kanina sa kaniyang mga pinsan at kapatid kahit pa kilala ko naman sila dahil sa kaka-stalk ko pero hindi niya iyon alam.

Natigil lang sa pagtawa si Gabriello nang napansing nakatingin si Olivia sa kaniya na agad namang nagpatay-malisya. Gabriello curiously looked at Olivia, tilting his head. It was the look that Martell always have on his face as well.

"Hey, miss Olivia, do you have a crush on me?" Diretsahang tanong ni Gabriello na ikinataas naman ng kilay ng kaibigan. Mahinang natawa si Sasha at mukhang may alam sa mga nangyayari.

"Aren't you my cousin's boyfriend?"

Kuryoso akong napatingin kay Olivia at nakinig. 

Oo na! Ako na ang chismosa.

The guys, on the other hand, looked intrigued, amused, and curious at the same time. They were all sporting the same look on their faces, parang hindi makapaniwala sa narinig. Si Sasha naman, nakangisi at umiiling-iling.

"Boyfriend?" Hindi makapaniwalang sambit ni Gabriello. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, parang may disgusto pa sa tono. "What did Zayla tell you? I thought she knows it was a one time—"

"Who's Zayla?" Litong tanong ni Olivia. The both of them were clearly not on the same page.

"Zayla?" Ani Gabriello at saka napatingin sa mga pinsan, mukhang hindi na rin sigurado. "Oh, my bad! It's Layla."

Nag-peace sign si Gabriello kay Olivia na hindi maipinta ang mukha. She opened her mouth to speak but no words came out so it was Sasha who spoke instead.

"Her cousin's name is Mabel, you playboy!"

Patuloy kaming kumain at iyon ang pinag-usapan. Hindi ko alam kung matatawa ba ako o ano.

"So, he's like the Don Juan of America?" Bulong ko kay Sasha at patagong tumingin kay Gabriello.

Umiling si Sasha at ngumisi, "Hindi lang siya, lahat sila! Magkaibang level nga lang at iba't-ibang klase."

Napa-oh naman ako sa narinig. So, pati si Martell?

Inilapit ulit ni Sasha ang mukha sa akin at bumulong, "Martell's not much of a flirt but his snobby demeanor gives off the vibe that he is and I don't even know how that is possible; Orion, on the other hand, he's a polite flirt. He's so polite and talks really smart that women think he's flirting but we're not really sure if he is or not. As for Martini... well, he's the playful one. Sweet-tongued but not serious at all. Combine all three and all other types of flirts and playboys, you get Gabriello."

"Shannon's gossiping again," ani Martini kaya napatingin kami ng kaibigan sa kaniya. Dahil doon, nagbangayan na ang dalawang kaibigan at sina Gabriello at Martini. Nakikitawa si Orion habang si Martell naman ay paminsan-minsang ngumingiti pero ilang beses ko na siyang nahuling sumusulyap sa akin.

The day progressed well and what was supposed to be a day-out with my friends turned into a bonding day with my future's cousins and brother.

And yes, "future" because I'm claiming it! Hindi ko nga lang alam kung anong klaseng future ba ang nakikita ko sa amin ni Martell. Basta may future!

@forrestmartell:

How are your wounds?

Hindi agad ako nakaisip ng matinong reply nang makita ang reply ni Martell sa Instagram story ko. Selfie iyon na kinuha ko noong kumakain kami ng agahan ng mga kaibigan, bago kami nag-pedal boating at bago ako nasugatan ni Sasha.

@urgurlGalaxy:

Doesn't look really nice but I think it's getting better. Thanks for asking.

Agad niyang na-seen ang message ko pero hindi kaagad nakapag-reply. Akala ko hindi na siya magre-reply pa ulit ngunit bago ko pa mapatay ang phone, nakatanggap ulit ako ng mensahe sa kaniya.

@forrestmartell:

That's good to hear. Are you going to the gym tomorrow?

Napangisi ako sa nabasa. Ba't siya nagtatanong, na-miss niya ba ako?

Nagdadalawang isip pa ako dahil sa sugat ko. Puno ng bandages ang mukha ko at hindi pa nga ako sigurado kung papasok ba ako sa paaralan bukas... Pero kung may Martell naman akong makikita, eh aba, keber lang!

Bago pa ako makapagtipa ng reply, nag-message siya ulit.

@forrestmartell:

You left your clothes. Just tell me when I could give these back to you.

My eyes widened on his message. The clothes he's pertaining are the ones I wore before I changed to his' which means my shorts, bralette, and undies are with him!

@urgurlGalaxy:

Oh my goshdhshdhdhdhsdohdoh

@forrestmartell:

The way you type really amuses me. Lol.

You are my type and you really amuse me chz not chz.

May pa-lol pa siya eh mukhang hindi naman siya natutuwa sa usapang 'to. Ang seryoso kasi basahin ng messages niya. Walang ni isang emoji tapos may tamang punctuation at capitalization pa!

@urgurlGalaxy:

I can't keep up with ur formality lalo na nung sinabi mong nandiyan ang mga damit ko

@forrestmartell:

Yeah, so? What's wrong if your clothes are with me? It's not like I stole them.

Hay, ano ba naman 'tong kausap ko!

@forrestmartell:

If it makes you feel better, I already washed them.

Oh my gosh! Paanong naging better 'yan!

Napailing-iling ako at parang mababaliw na sa naiisip. An image of him washing my clothes formed in my mind. There was nothing wrong with it actually.It's just that it's quite humiliating on my part given that my undergarments are with him as well. I don't know why I'm feeling this way but it's really embarrassing... I feel... I don't know... Exposed?

@urgurlGalaxy:

Paano mo nilabhan?

Please tell me you used the washing machine. Please tell me you used the washing machine. I repeated in my mind.

@forrestmartell:

I hand-washed them. I wasn't sure if they were washing machine-safe so just to be sure.

Oh my gosh! Nakahiya! Hindi ko maipaliwanag pero nakakahiya! I just can't imagine someone else washing my clothes for me. Let alone my undergarments! Let alone Martell!

The conversation didn't progress well. Hindi ko na alam kung mahihiya pa ba ako o ano dahil mukhang wala naman siyang pakialam na nilabhan niya ang mga damit ko. Dadalhin niya raw bukas ang mga damit ko rito at alam niya naman kung nasaan ang apartment ko dahil hinatid niya ako noong nakaraan.

Natulog akong magaan ang loob. Wala namang kaespe-espesyal sa usapan naming dalawa pero wala lang... magaan lang talaga ang loob ko. Hindi ko rin maipaliwanag pero basta ganun 'yon.

"You look like a mummy," pambungad ni Martell sa akin sabay lahad ng isang paper bag.

I gave a sarcastic laugh and made a face which he only mimicked.

"May bandages man ang mukha ko, maganda pa rin ako," proud kong sabi at nag-hair flip pa.

He smirked, there was a glint of something in his eyes that I couldn't quite name. He leaned on the doorframe with both hands on his pocket, giving off some boy-next-door vibes.

"I said you look like a mummy," he repeated. "I didn't say you're ugly."

Napakagat-labi ako sa narinig, hindi inasahan na ganoon ang isasagot niya.

"So you agree na maganda ako?" Tanong ko dahil makapal naman ang mukha ko.

"Does my opinion matter?" He asked back. He was once again sporting his usual curious face with matching tilted head.

"I'm fishing for compliments," sagot ko sabay kibit-balikat na ikinatawa niya naman.

He chuckled, "but yes, you are."

"Luh ano ba!" I said, waving a hand dismissively and playfully rolled my eyes while my other hand went to tuck my hair behind my ear.

He made a clicking sound and pointed a finger at me with a wink. "I gotchu, dude."

Napailing-iling ako at natawa sa narinig. I like his vibe and it seems to me that we are on the same wavelength which made me comfortable around him.

"I just realized, I shouldn't have touched your clothes. My cousins and sister used to leave their clothes there too and I always end up washing it for them... so yeah... nasanay lang... Sorry..." He gave me a peace sign and a cheeky smile.

Ugh, ang cute! Parang future baby ko!

"Why are you apologizing? There's nothing to be sorry about... It's just... I don't know... humiliating on my part that you, uh, you know, washed my clothes. It's weird," I shrugged.

"Why would it be humiliating?"

"Because duh? That's pretty self-explanatory," I said, rolling my eyes but half-laughing. "Anyways, I wasn't able to wash your hoodie and all the clothes you let me borrow yet."

"It's fine," aniya.

"I guess it's fine if I return the hoodie unwashed. But as for the, ahm... rest of them... I really think it would be appropriate if I wash them," sabi ko. "Or better yet, I'll buy you new ones."

He chuckled at my words and shook his head as if he found me amusing. "What's with you and clothes and laundry?"

"What?" I shrugged as a response. No one ever pointed that out to me but now that he did, I realized that I do have an exaggerated "fetish" with clothes and whom and how they're washed.

Kinuha ko ang hoodie at saka iyon tinupi. Iyon ang suot ko nitong mga nakaraang araw dahil napakakumportable niyon.

"It seems to me that you don't want to give it back," aniya, nakangisi. I didn't notice that my hesitance was obvious.

"It's so comfy," I said, lightly scratching my head while averting my eyes to the side. "I wanted to buy one for myself but it turns out that this one's limited edition."

He chuckled again and messed with my hair. "You can have it."

Lumiwanag ang mukha ko sa narinig. "Really?! Pwede pati yung shirt at saka flannel?

He let out a small laugh on my sudden enthusiasm. Sorry naman eh ang kumportable kasi ng mga damit niya!

"Take all you want. You can even have the boxers if you'd like," he added in a teasing tone.

"Hoy!" Iyon ang unang lumabas sa bibig ko dahil sa narinig. Hindi na kaagad ako nakapagsalita dahil sa pinaghalong gulat at kahihiyan.

I felt my cheeks burn and I couldn't think of what to say. Hindi ko inasahan ang ganoon mula sa kaniya kaya hindi ako nakapaghanda. Minsan nga lang siya nakikipagbiruan pero sobra-sobra naman kung makapagbiro at tukso!

"By the way, this is for you as well," aniya at saka binigay sa akin ang isa pang paper bag.

I thanked him and opened the paper bag, then saw almost a dozen of yogurts from different brands with different flavors!

"That's from Margarita," dagdag niya.

Tumango ako at pangiti-ngiting nilagay ang mga iyon sa ref at kumuha lang ng isa para tikman.

"Why do you like that? It's disguting," panimula niya nang nakabalik ako sa salas. Tatanungin ko pa sana siya kung anong gusto niyang kainin ngunit ininsulto niya ang paborito kong pagkain.

"Have you tried this?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"Nope..."

I rolled my eyes and sat beside him. Ayaw kong maki-share lalo na sa pagkain ngunit may kailangan akong patunayan.

"Here, try it," sabi ko sabay subo ng isang kutsara ng yogurt. Nag-aalinlangan pa siya pero hindi naman umangal.

"It's not that bad..." bulong niya kaya napangisi naman ako.

"See? Sabi na eh! Masarap kaya ang taste ko!" I said smugly and started eating. "Pag hindi mo pa natitikman, huwag mong husgahan."

Patuloy kaming nag-usap-usap hanggang sa may tumawag sa kaniya kaya nagpaalam na siya at umalis. Ako naman ay pinost sa Instagram story ang litrato ng mga yogurts at tinag si Margarita.

Mabilis itong nag-reply pero agad naman akong nalito.

@ladymarga:

OMG i have a lot here too!! Paano mo nalaman? 😳