Chapter 24

"Ayaw mo talagang sumama?" Aaric nudged me again by the elbow as he peered on the book that I am reading. A lollipop hung lazily on his mouth.

Umiling ulit ako. "Hindi naman ako nagpaalam kay Mama."

Sage glanced at me. He's wearing a pair of ripped jeans today and sported a rugged pair of black converse. Black is really his color. Kahit na simpleng black v-neck shirt lang ang kaniyang suot ay talagang kapansin-pansin siya kahit sa malayo. His hair is a bit longer. Hindi pa niya ito pinapuputulan kahit na panay ang paalala sa kaniya ng iilan sa aming mga propesor.

"We're going to drive you back here." aniya sa baritonong boses. I also noticed the black ear piercing situated on his left ear lobe. Sa tingin ko ay bago pa ito dahil bahagyang namumula ang kaniyang tainga. And I have never seen it before until now.

"Sige na Mallory, sama ka na sa amin. It's a 4-hour drive to Davao and being with Jasmine and Sage is so damn awkward!" reklamo ni Aaric. "For sure, kapag hindi ako magsasalita mamaya ay babalutin lang kami ng nakakabaliw na katahimikan."

Tipid kong nginitian si Aaric habang hinihila ang isa sa aking mga notebook mula sa loob ng bag. "And what would I do there? Hug Jasmine and bid her goodbye?" I kidded.

"I know you're not exactly a fan of her but we could at least rid of the awkwardness in the air." Depensa naman ni Aaric.

"Do not force her, Aaric." ani Sage. Titig na titig siya sa akin. "And besides, I really don't want Jasmine to be near you. Baka kung anu-ano na naman ang sabihin niya sa iyo."

Biglang pumasok sa aking isipan ang huling pag-uusap naming dalawa ni Jasmine sa talon. She cried angrily before she left. Ilang minuto pa ang nakakalipas at dumating na sina Aaric at Sage. Buti nalang at hindi nila napansin ang bahagyang pamamasa ng aking mga mata dahil sa pag-iyak. But Sage keeps on glancing at me. Alam kong gusto niyang magtanong kung mayroon bang problema pero pinipigilan niya lamang ang kaniyang sarili.

"Just... tell her to have a safe trip." Nasabi ko na lamang. They are her designated drivers to Davao for her flight this evening. Ang gusto lang ni Aaric ay sumama ako sa kanila para may makausap siya sa biyahe but I know it's going to be awkward for the four of us to be together inside a small vehicle for four long hours. Kaya naman huwag na lamang.

"And besides, I'm going to buy some gifts for my mother today..." wika ko sa kanila. "Kaya hindi talaga ako puwede."

Aaric groaned out loud and keeps on muttering "We're doomed, we're doomed..." to his cousin who just glared at him. Ilang beses pa akong pinilit ni Aaric bago niya napagtantong wala talaga akong balak na sumama sa kanila. Sage asked me if I'm going to be fine here, dahil may isang klase pa ako mamayang hapon at hindi pa niya ako maaaring ihatid sa bahay.

"It's okay, Sage. May gagawin din naman ako mamaya." wika ko saka kinawayan ko sila. "Mag-iingat kayong dalawa ni Aaric!"

Sage nodded at me before he hesitantly followed Aaric. Sinundan ko sila ng tingin bago ko ibinalik ang aking atensiyon sa librong binabasa. I stayed under the shade of mango tree before I proceeded to my next class.

---

Habang namimili ako ng maaring iregalo kay Mama ay biglang pumasok sa isipan ko si Sage. It's December already. Malapit nang magpasko. If he's going to spend his Christmas here, might as well give him something right?

But really, what can you give a boy who almost have everything? Nahihiya naman akong bigyan siya ng kung anong gamit dahil alam kong mga branded lahat ng kaniyang damit at mamahalin. I can't even afford to buy a nice dress of my own.

Our little town is filled with the joyous spirit of the upcoming holidays. Lanterns and Christmas lights are everywhere in sight. I even spotted a newly-opened coffee shop with an adorable gingerbread man in front of red wooden door. Christmas carols filled my ears and children singing out of tune songs in exchange of some coins are increasing in number.

Palipat-lipat ako sa maliliit na tindahan upang maghanap ng puwedeng mairegalo sa kanilang dalawa. Para kay Mama dahil birthday niya ngayong araw at para naman kay Sage ngayong darating na Pasko.

In the end, I bought a red shawl for my mother and proceeded to the ingredients of the cake that I'm going to bake later on. Wala pa rin akong makitang puwedeng maibigay kay Sage kaya ipinagpaliban ko na muna. My mother attended a conference today and she won't be home until 9 in the evening. I still have plenty of hours to prepare her birthday celebration.

Nang makarating ako sa bahay ay kaagad kong binuksan ang naka-lock na pintuan at inilagay ang mga ipinamili sa aming kawayang upuan. My heart ached as I caught glimpse of my ruined baby grand piano. When Uncle Marco decided to destroy it, we tried to hire a technician and see if it still could be saved. Puwede nga itong maayos pero sobrang mahal din naman at wala pa kaming sapat na pera para dito.

I ignored the nagging feeling instead and proceeded on baking. I was still preparing the ingredients when someone knocked at the door. Pulling my hair into a messy bun, I ran towards the door and threw it open only to find Sage standing in front of me. Namilog ang mga mata ko pagkakita ko sa kaniya.

"Teka, anong ginagawa mo dito?" nagtataka kong tanong sa kaniya.

"I'm back." He shrugged and stepped inside the house like he owned it. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin. The muscles on his back reflexes as he untied his shoes and was left with his black socks. Itinabi niya ito sa pintuan at binalingan ako. Saka siya nag-angat ng kilay. "You cooking something? Great apron, by the way."

I glanced down at my strawberry-printed apron and blushed furiously. Tatanggalin ko na sana ito ngunit pinigilan ni Sage ang aking mga kamay sa paghawak sa tali. "Don't. You really look cute on it."

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at dire-diretso ang punta sa kusina para hindi na niya mapansin ang labis na pamumula ng aking mukha. I cleared my throat, hoping it would send away the awkwardness.

"Bakit ang aga mo nga pala ngayon? Dapat ay wala ka pa nang dalawang oras." wika ko habang nagmi-mix ng itlog at harina sa isang malaking bowl.

Sage's heavy footsteps trailed after me. Hindi ko maiwasang hindi manigas nang maramdaman ko ang kaniyang presensiya sa aking likuran.

"I drove faster than usual." wika niya. "What can I do to help?"

Sinipat ko siya ng tingin. Talaga bang marunong sa kusina ang lalaking ito? They have several maids to do the kitchen work for them so I assume he knows next to nothing when it comes to kitchen.

"Marunong kang magluto?"

Napakamot siya sa ulo at bahagyang humalakhak. "I can still try, you know."

Napailing na lamang ako sabay abot sa kaniya ng spatula. "Ikaw nalang ang mag-mix. I'll start with the syrup."

"Okay, cool."

"Naihatid niyo na ba si Jasmine sa airport?" tanong ko habang hinahanap sa grocery bag ang dapat na gamitin para sa syrup.

"Yes."

"Oh. How is she? Hindi ba siya nagtaka na sobrang bilis ninyong makarating sa Davao at makabalik kaagad?"

"She's fine." Tipid niyang sagot.

"Eh bakit-"

"Mallory..." pagputol niya sa aking sasabihin. He stopped mixing the egg and flour to look at me. Tumuwid kaagad ako ng tayo. "Jasmine is not here anymore. Please stop talking about her. I didn't visit your house to sit down and talk about my ex-girlfriend."

Ibinaba ko ang aking tingin at kinagat ang aking pang-ibabang labi. "Okay..." mahina kong sagot.

"I just don't want to ruin the mood, Mal. There's a reason why I came as fast as I could. Hindi si Jasmine ang gusto kong makasama ngayon..."

Tumango-tango ako. Nagpatuloy na si Sage sa pagmi-mix. Matapos ang ilang minuto ay tumikhim siya na umagaw sa aking atensiyon.

"Wouldn't you ask me of the person I am referring I'd rather be with right now?"

Nagtaas ako ng kilay sa kaniyang sinabi. "Sino?"

"Ikaw." Diretso niyang sagot. Muntik ko nang mabitawan ang chocolate syrup sa kaniyang sinabi.

"S-Sage naman!" I clutched my chest to ease my erratic heartbeat and expelled a heavy breath. "Huwag ka namang nanggugulat."

"What? Were you surprised?" prente pa rin siyang naghahalo ng itlog at harina. He furrowed his eyebrows in concentration before he stole a quick glance at me. "Well, if isn't it obvious to you Mal, ikaw ang gusto kong makasama. Do you understand?"

I chewed my bottom lips. Hindi ko alam ang isasagot sa kaniya kaya tumahimik na lamang ako. Naupo ako sa lamesa at nagfocus na lamang sa aking inihahanda. Matapos ang ilang minuto ay sinilip ko si Sage. Patuloy lamang siya sa kaniyang ginagawa.

I pulled myself up from my seat and peered at his work from behind. "Hindi ka pa ba tapos diyan?" pang-uusisa ko.

"Just a little more..." he answered distractedly.

"Okay."

"And don't get too close to me."

"Huh?" kumunot ang noo ko sa kaniyang sinabi.

"Don't get too closer to me, Mal..."

I suddenly felt conscious and stepped away from him. "B-Bakit?"

"Because I am really tempted to kiss you right now and if you come closer..." he trailed off. A lazy smile appeared on his lips as he glanced at me. "I wouldn't know what will happen."

Tumalikod ako at hindi napakali. Sage and his words! It's making me crazy. Hindi na ako nakakasagot nang maayos sa mga pinagsasabi niya. He must think I'm retarded. I can't act like a modern teenage girl who can flirt back with no problem at all. I know he's flirting with me through his words but I didn't have any idea of its effects until now.

Buti nalang talaga ay dumating si Mama habang mukha akong tanga na nakatalikod kay Sage. She cocked an eyebrow when she saw Sage standing in our kitchen.

"Good evening po, Ma'am." Magalang niyang bati kay Mama.

"You two are alone here?" may himig ng galit ang kaniyang tono.

Umiling kaagad ako at nag-isip ng kapani-paniwalang rason. "Hindi po-"

"Yes Ma'am." Diretsong sagot ni Sage. "But it's not Mallory's fault. Hindi niya alam na bibisita ako ngayong gabi. And please don't worry. I respect your daughter. Wala akong gagawing hindi niyo magugustuhan kahit na kami lang dalawa ang narito."

My mother studied him for a few moments before she gave a single nod. "Very well then..." ibinaling niya ang kaniyang tingin sa akin. "What are you doing, Mallory?"

"Ah... naisip ko lang po na ipag-bake kayo ng cake, Mama, kasi birthday niyo po ngayon."

She smiled at me. "Thank you, sweetie."

"Tumulong din po si Sage."

Nag-angat siya ng kilay kay Sage na nasa likuran ko. "I can see that."

"Happy birthday, Ma'am." ani Sage.

Tumango si Mama at inilapag ang kaniyang bag sa lamesa. Pumunta siya sa kaniyang kwarto para magbihis. We finished the cake in less than an hour. Sage helped me to prepare the table. Sakto namang pagkatapos naming kumain ay handa na ang cake. Kaswal na nakipag-usap si Sage sa aming dalawa ni Mama habang kumakain kami. I also gave her my present after we're done eating.

"Why don't you do the dishes, Sage?" ani Mama. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa kaniyang sinabi. "It seems like you are trying to impress me tonight. Might as well make the most out of it, eh?"

"Ma!" saway ko.

"Of course. Doing the dishes is my... favorite." ani Sage.

"Talaga?" tinaasan ulit siya ni Mama ng kilay. Napailing na lamang ako.

"I'll just help you with the dishes..." wika ko sabay tayo at ligpit sa aming pinagkainan. Nagpaalam si Mama na maliligo na muna. Tinabihan ako ni Sage. We were both facing the sink as I started washing the dishes. Siya ang taga-abot sa akin ng maruruming pinggan.

"I'm sorry about my mother..." simula ko. "She just wanted to test your sincerity."

"It's okay..." he said, passing me an empty glass. "Whatever she wants me to do... it's always worth it, Mal..."

Nagnakaw ako sa kaniya ng tingin at napailing na lamang. "My mother is the only woman who can make a Monterio wash the dishes." I kidded.

"Yeah, you're right." Sage agreed. Bigla nitong inagaw ang foaming dish soap mula sa akin. "Let me try it..." wika niya.

I chuckled. "Suit yourself, Sage."

He furrowed his eyebrows once again as he started doing the rest of the dishes. Nagtatawanan kaming dalawa ni Sage sa kusina nang marinig ko ang mga yapak ni Mama papunta sa amin. Nilingon ko siya. She's staring at the two of us. And in the briefest second, I thought I saw approval in her eyes that made me really happy that night.