Aira was more than bewildered when she saw the road leading to their car shop.

"Alam mo kung saan ang car shop namin?" she asked after few minutes of contemplating. Pareho na kasi silang natahimik kanina. Ayder only glanced at her, but didn't say any word.

She held her chest. Paano kung ito pala ang gagawa ng masama sa kanya at hindi sina Reigan? She swallowed hard and calmed herself. She has to be alert. Pasimple siyang sumulyap sa binata. He doesn't look like someone who can do nasty thinggs. Oh well, looks can be deceiving.

She was startled when Ayder faked a cough. Napakurap pa siya. Saka lang niya napansin na nakahimpil na ang sasakyan nito nang mapasulyap siya rito. She looked outside only to see her dad talking to someone at the entrance of their car shop. Napalunok siya nang madako ang tingin ng daddy niya sa nakahimpil na sasakyan ni Ayder. Hindi niya sigurado kung lalabas ba siya o hihintayin ang ama na makapasok para hindi nito makita ang paglabas niya mula sa kotse ng binata. Her dad would surely bombard her with questions when he sees her with a man.

Before she could even say a word, Ayder already went out. Ipinagbukas siya nito ng pintuan. Wala na siyang nagawa kundi lumabas ng sasakyan. She knew her dad was looking at them.

"Thank you," she said timidly. Ayder nodded before closing the car door behind her. Hindi niya alam kung ano pa ang sasabihin kaya naglakad na lamang siya papunta sa ama. She greeted her dad. Wala na ang kausap nito kanina. He gave her a questioning look. Magpapaliwanag sana siya nang biglang magsalita si Ayder. She didn't know he followed her.

"Good afternoon, Sir, I am Ayder Filan," he said. Iniabot naman ng ama niya ang kamay para makipag-handshake pero sa halip na makipagkamay ay nagmano ang binata sa ama. She was a bit amazed by what he did. Kahit ang ama niya ay nangiti nang bahagya ngunit sumeryoso rin nang tumingin na ang binata.

"Na-flat po kasi ang dalawang gulong ng sasakyan ni AiAi sa school parking area kaya ako nagboluntaryong ihatid siya," paliwanag nito.

"I am not sure if it was deliberately done, but if you want to make sure, we can have it investigated," magalang nitong pahayag.

Napatingala siya sa binata. Did he call her by her childhood name or she heard him wrong? Except Allie, wala nang ibang tumatawag sa kanya ng ganoon.

"Thank you, sige kami na ang bahala," tugon naman ng daddy niya.

"Are you Aira's boyfriend?" he added skeptically. She wanted to protest but she lost for words. Napasulyap siya kay Ayder na napangiti sa tanong ng ama niya. His dimple appeared making him more attractive. He shook his head before speaking.

"Do not worry, sir. I will ask for her hand from you before that ever happens," magalang nitong wika. Her hearbeats raced for a moment, but she realized it may just his respectful way to say they are not a pair. She felt suddenly awkward.

"Good," her dad said with a nod.

"Sige po, mauna na ako," paalam nito.

"AiAi, una na ako," baling nito sa kanya. Tinanguan naman niya ito. She had to swallow to keep her heartbeats stable. He called her AiAi and it puzzled her again.

Pinagmasdan niya ito habang pabalik sa kotse. Her heart skipped a beat when he glanced and wave with a shy smile before entering his car.

"Nanliligaw sa 'yo? Gusto mo?"

Napatingin siya sa ama nang marinig itong magsalita.

"Dad!" she grunted in protest. Tumawa naman ito nang mahina. Nang makahuma ay saka siya nito niyayang pumasok sa shop at tinanong kung ano talaga ang nangyari.

*****

She wasn't able to sleep that night. Kaya naman kinabukasan ay nagkandakumahog siya sa paliligo. Hindi na nga siya bumaba para mag-breakfast bago nagbihis ng pang-eskuwelang damit.

Naulinigan niyang may kausap ang mga magulang sa sala habang pababa siya ng hagdan pero hindi niya pinansin. She was busy checking her bag to make sure she had everything she needed for school.

"Mom, Dad, alis na po ako," sambit niya habang tinitingnan ang oras sa wristwatch. Hindi na niya hinintay na magsalita ang mga ito o tinapunan man lang ng tingin dahil sa pagmamadali.

Paglabas sa garahe ay saka lang niya naalalang nasa carshop pa pala ang sasakyan niya. She immediately turned around only to see her parents chuckling.

"May naiwan ka sa loob," natatawang sambit ng ama niya. Kumunot ang noo niya.

"Itong sundo mo," he said with a chuckle. Siya namang paglabas ni Ayder mula sa likuran nito. Ito ba ang kausap ng parents niya kanina sa sala? She swallowed hard looking at Ayder from head to toe. Naka-simpleng pantalon lang ito at polo shirt pero hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit mukha itong kagalang-galang at elegante tingnan. Maybe it has something to do with his stance. Mukha itong fresh na fresh.

"Sige po, mauna na kami," paalam ni Ayder sa mga magulang niya. She was unable to react.

"Send my regards to your grandfather," sambit ng ama niya. Ang ina ay tumango lang.

"Sige po," tango naman ni Ayder bago naglakad papunta sa tabi niya. Hindi siya makapagsalita o makatanggi man lang. Her parents seem fine with Ayder bringing her to school. Magaling kumilatis ng tao ang ama niya. He can sense people's intent by simply talking to them. Kaya magaling ito sa business deals. He was able to grow their carshop and carpooling business.

Sumabay siya kay Ayder nang maglakad ito palabas.

"I was on my way to school when I remembered what happened to your car yesterday kaya dinaanan na kita," sambit nito.

Dinaanan? Ang alam niya sa Forbes ang bahay ng mga ito. She heard it once when Allie stalked his social media accounts. Masyadong out of way iyon sa kanila o baka hindi lang nito inilalagay doon ang totoong address.

"You didn't have to bother yourself. May spare car naman kami. 'Yong sa ate ko, hindi nagagamit. I can use it anytime." She didn't know where those words came from and where she took the courage to speak amidst the fast beating of her heart. Napatigil si Ayder sa paglalakad. Their eyes met when she looked at him. Bigla pang sumikdo ang puso niya. There is something in his stare that is intimidating.

"Okay," he only said with a nod. Humakbang ito papunta sa direksyon ng gate nila. Akala niya ay iiwan siya nito pero nakaisang hakbang palang ay lumingon na sa kanya.

"Let's go, mali-late ka na sa unang klase mo," saad nito. Natigilan siya. Saka lang kasi nag-sink in sa kanya na alam nito kung saan siya nakatira. Plus, he even knew her class schedule? How?

"Paano mo nalaman ang bahay namin?" tanong niya pagpasok sa kotse nito.

Ayder stared at her with a knowing smile, but didn't say any word.

"Hey! I am asking," she nudged. Her forehead creased. Ayder only shook his head and continued driving.

"Why are you doing this?" muli niyang tanong. Sumulyap ito sa direksyon niya. He was about to say something, but heaved a sigh instead.

Hindi na ito nagsalita pa kaya pareho na silang natahimik hanggang sa makarating sa school.

"Salamat sa paghatid kahapon at ngayon pero sana huwag mo na ulit akong susunduin lalo na sa bahay," lakas loob niyang sambit. Ayder stared at her. She looked down when she felt awkward under his eyes.

"I understand," he whispered after a minute. Napasulyap siya rito. Hindi nakaligtas sa paningin niya ang pagguhit ng lungkot sa mukha nito.

Hindi niya alam kung bakit parang may kumirot sa puso niya. She felt guilty but she tried to shrug it off and walk out of his car.

She was able to catch up with her first subject. Sakto pang may unit quiz sila. Kaya naman nakaramdam na naman siya ng guilt. If it wasn't because of Ayder, she would've been late. She closed her eyes and tried to relax her mind.

Natapos ang dalawang magkasunod na klase niya hindi na muling naalala pa ang binata.

She was seated at a table on the corner of the school canteen waiting for her next class when Reigan appeared out of nowhere. Kasama na naman nito ang tatlong lalaki kahapon. Hindi siya nakaramdam ng kaba dahil hindi nawawalan ng tao ang loob ng canteen. Maraming estudyante ang madalas nakatambay rin habang naghihintay ng susunod na klase. Their canteen resembles like a mall food court. May mga food stalls ng sikat na restaurants at food chains na nakapalibot. Sa gitna ang mga tables. The entire place is air-conditioned and well-maintained. Maya't-maya ang mga maintenance personnel na nagliligpit at naglilinis sa paligid.

"Sana kasi sinabi mo noong una palang na boyfriend mo ang Filan na 'yon, hindi na sana kita kinulit," sambit nito. She wanted to disagree with him, but she decided not to. Mas mabuti iyon para hindi na siya nito kulitin pa. However, she felt awkward and tensed when he examined her from head to toe.

Napapiksi siya nang bigla nitong hawakan ang braso niya.

"Oops! Tinitingnan ko lang kung may pasa," natatawa nitong sambit at hindi binitawan ang braso niya. Nagtawanan din ang mga kasamahan nito. She felt a bit terrified because of his touch. Bakit naman siya magkakapasa? What is so funny about it?

"Get away from her!"

Pare-pareho silang napatingin kay Ayder na papalapit sa kinaroroonan nila. Reigan slowly released her arm.

Itinaas nito ang dalawang kamay saka umatras at walang kaabog-abog na naglakad paalis sa kinaroroonan niya.

"Hey, are you okay?" tanong ni Ayder nang makalapit. He sat on the chair opposite her and held her hand. Bumilis tuloy ang pagtibok ng puso niya. Napatitig siya sa kamay nito nang matagal habang kinakalma ang pagsikdo ng puso. Nang makahuma ay saka niya dahan-dahang binawi ang kamay.

"I'm okay," she said awkwardly. She averted her gaze only to see some of her schoolmates looking at their direction. May ilang nag-iba ng tingin pagsulyap niya. Ibinalik na lamang niya ang atensyon sa kaharap.

"Was he harrassing you?" salubong ang kilay nitong tanong. Umiling siya.

"Why was he holding your arm?" he asked doubtfully.

"May tiningnan lang siya," tugon niya saka huminga ng malalim.

"With your consent?" muli nitong tanong. Napalunok siya bago tumango nang marahan. He seemed to be interoogating her and she felt uneasy.

"Why did you look sa terrified, then?" giit pa rin nito. Hindi siya nakapagsalita. Ayder's forehead creased.

"You know what? Sasamahan na lang kita. Baka mamaya may binabalak pa ang lalaking 'yon sa 'yo na masama," sunod-sunod nitong pahayag. Napakunot ang noo niya sa narinig. What does he mean "sasamahan"? Who is he?Ayaw niyang mag-assume pero halatang-halata naman niya ang ikinikilos nito.

"The last time I check, I have no boyfriend," sambit niya nang hindi na alam kung paano sagutin ang pahayag nito.

"Well you might want to check it again because somebody is acting like a boyfriend now with or without your approval," he said seriously as he stared at her straight in the eyes. Her jaw literally dropped. What the heck is that supposed to mean?