The End of Daylight

Deeper

—

"Oh my gosh. What the hell is she doing outside? That brat."

Punong puno ng pagtataka kong sambit habang tinitignan si Tamara. I glanced at Jieven and just like me, he was also looking at my little sister with confusion visible on his alluring face. He then looked at me when he felt me staring at him.

"She's your little sister, right?" He asked, sounding curious.

Tumango ako. "Don't come out. Whatever happens, don't come out okay?" I instructed him and was about to open the shotgun door when he grabbed my arm, making me stop from moving.

"Why?" I asked while looking directly to his eyes.

The side of his lips rose. Bigla kong naramdaman na nagsitayuan ang balahibo ko sa batok.

"Why are you so tensed? What will happen if I'll come out?" He asked with a wide smirk plastered on his face.

"Duh! Mahahagip ka sa cctv! Plus, Tamara will saw you! Isusumbong niya ako kay Daddy!" I exclaimed. He seems not affected at all though.

Bigla tuloy akong kinabahan dahil sa naisip ko. Dad will be mad as hell if he found out about this. No, it can't be. My dream, my dream oh no.

"Okay, okay, relax." He let go of me and laughed a little. He licked his bottom lip then nodded twice. "You can go now, I think your little sister is waiting for you." He pointed Tamara who is still looking at us, I don't know if she could see us. Jieven's car is tinted so I bet she couldn't.

Tumango ako at huminga ng malalim. "Yeah, thank you for the ride." Mabilis akong lumabas ng sasakyan niya. Mabuti naman at kaagad na rin niya itong pinaandar palayo pagkalabas ko.

My eyes settled at Tamara. She's pouting, looking disappointed when she saw me but she suddenly giggled when she saw the thing I'm holding. She approached me and snatched it away from my grip just like the usual times.

"Why are you outside? It's already late." Anas ko kahit 8:30 palang naman ata. Hindi niya naman alam ang oras so it's okay. She knows that if the sky is dark, it's already late.

"I'm waiting for Mommy." She pointed me out. "I thought you were Mommy." She pouted like a cry baby. Hindi niya hawak ang stuff toy niyang si Sofia ngayon kaya halatang nagmamadali siyang lumabas ng bahay.

I sighed in relief.

"Tamara, Mom is still in the company okay? Don't wait for her na. Where's your Nanny? Is Daddy already home?" Inabot ko ang kamay niya at inakay na siya papasok ng gate. Yakap niya sa isang kamay ang milkshake niya.

"Daddy not home." She shook her head countless of times. Napatingin ako sa garage dahil isang kotse lang ang nandoon. Our parents are still not home and we're used to it. We often see each other ever since then but I understand the situation.

Sumipsip muli siya sa milkshake niya hanggang sa nakapasok na kami sa loob ng bahay.

"Nanny! Look!" Tumakbo kaagad si Tamara sa sala kung nasaan ang Nanny niya at ipinagmayabang ang milkshake na binigay ko.

The next day, time flew so fast. We were not so busy since the examination just ended. Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo dahil balak kong bumili ng pineapple pie. It's already lunch time and I'm with my friends now, peacefully eating in the cafeteria while enjoying our food.

"Punta ka counter? Bilihan mo 'ko chips." Napatigil ako sa akmang paglalakad nang magsalita si Claudine.

I raised a brow and lowkey showed her my palm. "Pera." Shoot. It was like my word is a bomb, she was taken aback and smiled awkwardly.

"Ikaw muna, wala akong barya."

"Galawan mo ah." Pinitik ko ang tenga niya kaya napaigik siya. Actually, I don't have plans of asking her some money, I'm just teasing her if she'll give in but unfortunately, she didn't. Mukhang ako talaga ang balak niyang magbayad pero ayos lang din naman sa akin dahil kaibigan ko naman siya, actually kapatid na ang turing ko sa kanilang tatlo.

"Isa pong slice ng pineapple pie."

"Pineapple pie please."

Mabilis akong napatingin sa gilid ko. Nagkatinginan kami nang sabay kaming magsalita. My eyes widened in surprise when I saw her standing tall beside me. She shot up a brow and eyed me from head to toe, obviously checking me. She always does that I could say. Kapag magkikita kami ay lagi niya akong tinitignan mula ulo hanggang paa.

"Ay naku po, iisa nalang ang natitira sa pineapple pie!" Anas ng tindera sa amin na may halong pagkadismaya.

She looked away first but she did not talk. I looked away too because I feel so small beside her. She was so tall and she even managed to wear black shoes with heels.

"Just go get the pie." Natasja mumbled. I glanced at her, looking amused with what she said. Nakatingin lang siya sa mga paninda na nakadisplay malapit sa counter at hindi na muling nagsalita.

"No, kunin mo na. I'm okay with chips." I replied. Bago pa siya magprotesta ay tinawag ko na ang tindera at bumili ng chips ni Claudine. I saw her sighed and.. smirked.

"Ate, I'll go get the last pie." She then said while looking at me, I could feel it even though I'm not looking at her. Weird, she keep on staring at me. I'm starting to feel conscious.

"Thank you, Ate." Anas ko nang iabot sa akin ng tindera ang chips. Matapos ko iyong bayaran ay tumalikod na ako at handa ng umalis pero hinarang ako ni Natasja.

I refrain myself from arching a brow, I smiled sweetly instead. "Yes?"

She smiled, I don't know if it was fake or not but I just smiled too, a genuine one. "Thanks for giving me the pie." Aniya.

Well, she wasn't that rude. She knows how to thank someone. Akala ko puro pagtataray lang ang alam niyang gawin sa akin.

"There's no harm in giving. Enjoy your pie." Anas ko at nilampasan na siya. I know she was still staring at me until I reached our table, I could barely feel it. What's wrong with her? May dumi ba sa mukha ko? Sa likuran? What? Am I look weird?

"Oh." I harshly gave Claudine her chips. She eyed me, lowkey looking for the food she thought I'd bought for myself.

"Where's yours?" Her brows a but furrowed.

"Binigay ko sa iba." I shrugged and continued eating my meal.

"Ha? Kanino—"

"Walang lilingon." Anas ko sa kanilang dalawa ni Kendra pero matigas ang ulo nila, lumingon ang dalawang gaga.

"Walang lilingon eka eh!" I grabbed their hair so they failed to notice Natasja. I just let go of their hair when she went out of the cafeteria.

"Oh my! My precious hair clip!" Nalaglag ang hair clip ni Kendra dahil sa paghila ko sa buhok niya. Mabilis niyang pinulit iyon sa sahig at pinunasan. She looked like she's in the verge of crying.

"Ano ba 'yan! Lumingon lang sinabunutan na!" Claudine hissed in disbelief. She fixed her hair and I just smiled at them as my apology.

Pie is not a big deal though. 'Yun lang naman siguro ang pag-aagawan namin. Next time, I won't give in again.

We still have one hour vacant after lunch time so Claudine and I decided to study in the library to continue doing our report. Naglalakad na kami papalapit sa Business Admin Building ng may mapansin akong kakaiba sa gilid nito.

"Claudine, mauna ka na."

She stopped walking because of what I've said. She eyed me with her forehead creased. Confusion were visible on her beautiful face. "Bakit? May pupuntahan ka pa?"

I smiled and slightly pushed her away. "Just go, I'll follow afterwards. I forgot something important in my locker." I lied. I bit my bottom lip and forced myself to smile so she won't suspect me.

"La, weird." She just shrugged and walked away. Nagpasalamat nalang ako dahil hindi na siya nagtanong pa ng kung ano ano. Mabilis muli akong sumilip sa gilid ng Business Admin Building nang masiguro kong nakaalis na si Claudine. I gasped and covered my mouth instantly when I saw Jieven and Natasja there, talking and glaring at one another.

"Three months, Jieven Finlay! Three months!" I was shookt when Natasja yelled, obviously she was grumpy. Jieven was just looking at her though with his emotionless face.

Jieven Finlay? His second name is Finlay?

"Stop it." Jieven said in monotone.

I felt the shiver down my spine when I heard his voice. Freak, he was hell serious. This was the first time I saw him like this. Dark, serious and emtionless, well except from every time he plays volleyball.

"What? Pinalitan mo na ako kaagad? Are you that desperate?" Natasja's voice was full of rage.

Alam kong hindi nila ako nakikita sa pwesto ko dahil may halaman na nakaharang. I sighed in disbelief. Why the freak am I doing this? I'm clearly invading their privacy. This is bad. Hindi dapat ako nakikinig sa usapan nila lalo na't mukhang personal iyon.

I was about to leave when Natasja mentioned something that caught my attention.

"I saw you with her last night!"

I looked up. It hits me. It was like a dagger that hits my chest so bad that I couldn't even breathe. Freak, was she talking about me? Jieven was with me last night. Ako ba ang dahilan kung bakit niya inaaway si Jieven?

"Stop it, Natasja."

Even though I'm not looking at them, I could still feel the tension brought by Jieven. I bit my lower lip, I couldn't look, he was definitely mad as hell. I could sense it through his voice.

"What? You'll deny it to me?" Natasja furiously asked. "Magsisinungaling ka na naman?"

Hindi sumagot si Jieven. Silence, silence lingered between them.

"Answer me, Jieven! Are you dating her? You don't really know how to be considerate huh? Matapos mong gawin sa akin 'yon? Three months rule—"

"Natasja." He spoke in monotone. "Never question my actions. We're already done." He said with finality.

Mabilis akong tumakbo nang makarinig ako ng yapak papalayo. Kaagad akong pumasok sa isang kwarto na nadaanan ko para magtago dahil mukhang papasok si Jieven ng Building nila.

I sighed in relief when I saw him took the stairs. He's already gone.

"Uh, Miss?"

Napalingon ako kaagad nang may magsalita sa likuran ko. Dalawang lalaki na hindi panilyar sa akin ang bumungad sa mukha ko. Pareho silang matangkad kaya tumingala ako.

"Why?" I asked confusedly.

The man scratched the back of his head, thinking if he'll say it or not. "Nasa restroom ka kasi ng boys. Nakakailang kasing umihi kapag may babae—"

"What?" I exclaimed and looked around.

Nilibot ko ang paningin sa lugar. He's right. Nakatingin na sa akin ang ibang lalaki na nasa loob ng restroom. Their faces were a bit red. I looked away and made a peace sign.

"Gosh! I'm really sorry! Hindi ko napansin! I'm really sorry!" I ran as fast as I could. I am pretty sure my face was so red right now because of embarassment. My gosh. This is so embarrassing!

Days had passed. Nagsimula na ulit ang klase at dahil athlete ako ay tuwing umaga nalang ako nagbabantay kapag break time. Alyza considered the athlete-officer student like us. Napakaswerte ko talaga at siya ang President namin.

Jieven and I haven't talk for a while after that night. We still see each other because we're both athletes though and sometimes, we share little smiles. I don't even know why I feel uneasy kapag nandiyan na siya. Simula noong marinig at makita ko ang usapan nila ni Natasja ay nahihiya na akong magpakita sa kanya. I don't want to be included in their world. I'm not welcome and I don't want to come to. Ang hindi ko lang maintindihan ay kung bakit naiilang ako kay Jieven. I'm not like this to Joshua, this is really bad.

"Girls! 8 pm ha! We'll wait for you there kasi mauuna na kami ni Claudine. After your practice go there na okay?" Kendra smiled sweetly after instructing us.

"Kendra, pang ilan mo na 'yan? Nung isang araw pa 'yan, pinaalala mo na naman kahapon tapos inulit mo pa ngayon. Anong problema mo ha?" Maegan hissed.

"You're so epal na naman, Maegan! Just go there okay?" Kendra giggled while holding Claudine's arm. Her arms were encircled on Claudine's.

"Oo na! Oo na!" Inalis ni Maegan ang kamay kong nakahawak sa kanya dahil tinatawag na siya ng teamates niya. Mabilis siyang tumakbo papalapit sa kanila kaya ako na ang kumausap kila Kendra.

"We'll see you there." I tapped Kendra's shoulder. She nodded twice before walking away with Claudine.

Today is her birthday and she will celebrate it later with us.

Pagkatapos ng practice ay mabilis na kaming naligo at nagbihis ni Maegan. Kendra kept on calling us. Ilang beses nang sinabi ni Maegan na on the way na kami kahit hindi pa naman.

"Napaka-atat talaga nang babaeng 'yon." Maegan said with brows a bit furrowed. She just ended the call and immediately went to her locker to fix her things.

Matapos lang ang ilang sandali ay totoong on the way na kami. She was wearing a simple black ripped jeans, red tube and black leather jacket paired with her black ankle boots with heels.

"Remove your jacket. Ang ganda pa naman ng katawan mo." I suggested while we are walking towards the parking lot. Maegan brought her precious car, good thing she knew how to drive. Sila lang ni Kendra ang marunong magmaneho sa aming magkakaibigan.

"Mamaya nalang. Ayoko namang maglakad lang dito ng nakatube." Sagot niya.

"Sabagay." I shrugged.

I just wore a simple black leather skirt with a zipper on the side, light brown colored silk top and beige stilettos. I also fixed my hair in a half ponytail with some hair strands falling off on the side of my face.

Sobrang daming tao pagdating namin sa Sweet Haven. Dumiretso na kami kaagad sa VIP Table na pinareserve ni Kendra para sa amin. I looked at the table and the two bitch are already there, they were busy drinking when we came. My eyes widened when I saw the drinks placed above the table.

Black Label, Margarita, Mojito, Moscow Mule, Whiskey and Martini, there were also nachos and fries.

"Gago, magpapakamatay ba kayo? Akala ko ba birthday 'to?" Nanghihinang napaupo si Maegan sa tabi ni Kendra. Pabilog ang lamesa pero semi circle ang sofa na upuan. Nakaharap kami sa dancefloor kaya nakikita namin ang mga sumasayaw.

There were a lot of people dancing in the dancefloor and drinking with their friends. Majority of the people were teenagers having their good time here. Typical bar and I'm used to it.

"Duh! We should party tonight! Come on, cheers!" Kendra grabbed the glass of Martini and raised it in the air. I just shrugged and raised the glass of whiskey.

Maya maya pa ay tumayo na si Claudine. Inayos niya ang suot na puting short at binaba ang yellow na tube niya para lumabas ang cleavage. Binato ko siya ng fries sa inis.

"Stop it, para kang pornstar sa ginagawa mo." I made a disgusted face.

"This is my chance. It's time to shine." She marched in the dancefloor while dancing, ignoring what I've said. Kendra followed her after drinking the whiskey. I even saw her holding a bottle of Black Label.

Maegan already removed her jacket so her abs were showing. I really like her abs, I wish I have a body like her. Sakto lang kasi ang katawan ko. Hindi mapayat at hindi mataba.

"Oh." She gave me a piece of lemon after drinking my Margarita. I felt the bitterness and the oozing hot of the drink on my throat down to my chest.

Maegan laughed. "Huwag kang masyadong uminom. Ayokong mag-alaga ngayong gabi. Bahala kayong umuwi, sinasabi ko talaga."

"Si Claudine ang bawalan mo, hindi ako." I scoffed.

I know that I have a low alcohol tolerance so I don't have plans of getting drunk. Nasa bahay si Daddy ngayon, ayokong umuwi ng lasing. He will freak out as hell, baka palayasin ako bigla.

After a moment, Kendra came back while holding her head. She was obviously dizzy from dancing. She then let her body lay down in the sofa.  Napaungol siya ng tumama ang katawan sa malambot na upuan.

"Wasted!" Napafist bump si Maegan sa ere.

"Take care of her, hahanapin ko lang si Claudine." I instructed Maegan before standing up.

Dahan dahan akong naglakad. Nakakaramdam ako ng hilo pero nilabanan ko iyon. Sumingit ako sa dancefloor. May mangilan ngilan na kinakausap ako pero nginingitian ko nalang. Hindi ko naman sila kilala kaya wala akong balak kausapin sila.

I rolled my eyes when I saw Claudine sitting in a random table. She's holding a glass of whiskey while giggling and chitchatting with the guys in the table 8. I shook my head before walking towards her. She was surprised when I grabbed her arm.

"Let's go back." I said in finality.

"Oh! My friend!" She yelled, obviously drunk.

"Guys! This is Tammy! My friend! She's so beautiful isn't she? Look at her! She's free!" Humagikgik siya pagkatapos. Nanlaki ang mata ko dahil parang binubugaw niya ako— no, binugaw niya talaga ako.

"Stop it, let's go." Hinila ko na siya pabalik sa table namin kaya wala siyang nagawa. She lay down beside Kendra and massaged her head. I sat beside Maegan and drink some water to refresh my mind. I'm still dizzy though.

"Ang daming pagkain sa table 8 eh, hinila pa kasi ako ni Tammy." Claudine started to blame me. I raised a brow, she really had the guts to blame me huh?

"Anong table 8?" Curious na tinignan ni Maegan ang table na pinanggalingan namin. "Eh puro alak nga nasa lamesa nila, anong pagkain?"

"Gaga!" Claudine exclaimed. "'Yung mga boys mismo ang pagkain, boba ka talaga!" She added then boom, she collapsed.

I massaged my head. Sumasakit ang ulo ko dahil sa kanila at sa alak. Dapat pala hindi na ako uminom, the drinks are too strong to handle. I won't drink these kind of alcohol beverages again. Akala ko naman kasi light lang, mabigat pala 'yung iba.

"Hey, wasted. Drink this." I softly tapped Claudine's cheek to wake her up. Kendra was already sober so she went back on the dancefloor.

Oh my gosh. These two are so hard headed!

Pinainom ko ng tubig si Claudine. Nagulat nalang ako nang bigla niyang ituro si Maegan. "Hey! I saw Hero around! Di'ba siya first kiss mo?"

My eyes widened. "First kiss?!"

Bumalik si Kendra sa table namin. "First kiss? Who? What's happening?" She asked confusedly.

Just like me, Maegan looked so surprised, her lips parted in astonishment. She tried to open her mouth to defend herself but she refused to do so.

"Hindi! Ano! Huwag kayong makinig sa kanya! Lasing 'yan!" She accused her, obviously sounded nervous.

Claudine is always saying secrets she knew whenever she's drunk. Ito ang ayaw namin sa kanya kapag lasing siya. Kaya ngayon, hindi ko alam kung si Maegan o si Claudine ang paniniwalaan ko.

"What? I'm not drunk! But you! You were drunk when you kissed Hero! You told—"

Binato ni Maegan si Claudine ng ice cubes kaya nanlaki ang mata ko dahil muntik ng tumama iyon sa mukha ni Claudine.

"Oh kalma kalma!" I hissed.

"Hey bitch, you better explain to us!" Kendra crossed her arms over her chest, she's sober now.

"Sandali!" Maegan hissed in frustration. "It was an accident okay? Lasing ako 'non! Hindi ko alam ang ginagawa ko!"

"When?" I asked. Fudge. May ganito na palang nangyayari sa kanila ni Hero pero hindi man lang namin alam.

"Last year! Celebration with the team!" Maegan pointed me. "Wala ka 'non di'ba? Nagkasakit ka kasi kaya ako lang pumunta! 'Yon! 'Yun na, nalasing ako tapos—"

"Tapos what?" Kendra is so frustrated while waiting for Maegan's next words.

"Tapos 'yun na! Smack lang naman." She shrugged. Her face is a bit red, I don't know if she was blushing or it was because of the drinks.

"Girl! You looked so nadismaya, so gusto mo french kiss? Torrid kiss?"

"Kendra!" I warned her. Her mouth is such a bitch. She just laughed at me and then stand up to march towards the dancefloor again.

"Why didn't you tell me huh?"

Maegan's forehead creased. Claudine was already asleep beside me. She's freaking wasted. I shook my head in disbelief. Mukhang may aalagaan na naman ako ngayong gabi.

"Gusto mong ipagkalat ko 'yung paghalik ko kay Hero? Nakadrugs ka ba?"

"Gaga!" I grabbed her hair.

"You should have told me para naman alam ko."

"Sige next time kapag hinalikan ko ulit sabihin ko sa'yo."

"Langya." I massaged my forehead. Maegan is drunk, I know she's drunk, she's starting to get annoying.

After a minute, Maegan left me and joined Kendra in the dancefloor. Inabot ko ang Martini sa lamesa at nilagok iyon. Sakto namang napatingin ako sa second floor ng bar at nanlaki ang mata sa nakita ko.

And there I saw him. Standing while both of his arms were leaning on the railings. May hawak na isang baso ang kaliwang kamay niya. He was wearing a simple black shirt paired with black leather jacket and ripped black pants. He was also wearing a silver necklace and a silver watch. I even saw his ring in his right finger and piercing in his left ear. Umigting ang panga niya ng dumapo ang mga mata sa hawak kong baso.

I gulped unknowingly when I noticed him staring at me. He didn't even looked away when I caught him. He was just glaring at me with his brows a bit furrowed. I unconciously put down my shot glass, feeling guilty.

Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa alak pero natagpuan ko ang sarili kong naglalakad paakyat sa second floor. I walked towards his direction but before I could even reach him, he turned his back on me and went to the balcony.

Mabilis ko siyang sinundan. Malakas na hangin kaagad ang sumalubong sa akin. Hindi ko pa naman naitali ang buhok ko kaya nilipad ito at sumasayaw sa aliw ng hangin. Nilibot ko ang paningin sa paligid, walang tao maliban sa amin ni Jieven.

"You're also here pala." I smiled sweetly and stood beside him. He was looking at the ground floor, carefully watching the people entering and walking out while I am leaning on the railings and busy looking at him, secretly praising his gorgeousness in my mind.

"Night out." He simply answered. I saw him scratched the bridge of his nose, pursed his lips and glared at me. "Are you drunk?" He asked seriously afterwards, poker face.

Umiling iling ako. "No, I'm not."

"Why are you even here?" He stood up straight and faced me. I giggled and faced him too. The narrowed distance between us made me smell his manly menthol scent. He was also drinking but he didn't smell like alcohol. How could that be possible?

"You smell good." I mumbled unconciously.

His forehead creased. Oh my gosh. I don't even know what I'm saying. Mukhang tinatamaan na ako.

"Shit." He looked away and pursed his lips. I saw him swallowed hard before looking back at me. "You should go home with your friends. You're already drunk, Tammy." Ngayon naman ay lumambot ang boses niya habang kausap ako.

"The night is young and besides, it's Kendra's birthday, she won't allow us to go home early." Sagot ko at nagkibit balikat.

"Then should I drive you home?"

"No! No!" I waved my hands in the air. "No! Not like that!"

"Come on, let's go." He grabbed my hand and started to walk but he stopped midway when I raised my question.

"I saw you and Natasja last week, are you guys fighting about me?"

He was obviously stunned by my question. His grip on me softened until he let go my hand. Dahan dahan siyang lumingon at hinarap ako na mayroong seryosong mukha.

"So you saw us." That is more like a statement from him.

Tumango ako ng tipid. "You're fighting because of me right?"

He was just intently looking directly to my eyes, not even saying a single word or what. Mukhang pinag-iisipan niya kung magsasalita ba siya o hindi. His eyes were glistening in adoration. They were so dazzlingly pretty. Geez.

"Hey, answer me please." I feel dizzy, my head is spinning. But instead of answering, he took a step closer to me. Dalawang hakbang nalang ay magdidikit na ang katawan naming dalawa kaya nagsimulang kumabog ang dibdib ko sa kaba.

"We are." He replied in a deep tone.

"Ow too close." I was planning to smirked but it turns out to giggle. I pushed him slightly in his chest but he was too fast to catch my arm.

"Stop it." He said with finality.

"Why?" I smiled seductively.

"You're drunk." He said in monotone. Dumilim ang mukha niya at halatang nagpipigil. Why are you holding back Jieven? Let it go. Let it free.

"I'm not." Mabilis akong umiling.

"Jieven, I have a question." I pouted like a kid, thinking of something. He didn't respond so I continued. "I saw you and Natasja last week. Are you guys fighting about me?"

I heard him chuckled. "Tammy, you're obviously drunk."

"Am I?" I smiled.

I tried to look at him. He was just staring at me with a serious look as if he was memorizing every angle of my face. And then suddenly, his grip on my arm tightened. I was about to speak but he let go of me and looked away with his conscious eyes.

"Don't think about it. She's nothing, it was not that important." He answered after the long silence.

"It is important." May diing ani ko.

Muling nagtama ang paningin namin at halata ang pagkagulat sa mukha niya dahil sa sinabi ko.

"She got the wrong idea. We're not dating. You should have told her that because she had a point. She took it the wrong way." I explained.

He sighed and pursed his lips. "I don't care if she got the wrong idea, Tammy."

"Jieven!" I yelled. Why is he acting this way? Parang noon lang ay hindi niya ito makalimutan tapos ngayon wala na siyang pakielam?

He looked away. "I don't want to talk about her."

Bumuka ang labi ko para magsalita pero mabilis ko ring isinara nang makita ang mukha niya. He seems to feel uneasy about it. "Okay." I answered in defeat. Kung ayaw niyang pag-usapan, mas mabuti nalang na manahimik nalang ako.

Akala ko doon na matatapos ang usapan namin pero bigla siyang nagsalita.

"Do you trust me, Tammy?"

"W-what?" I swallowed hard when our gaze met. His eyes were questioning and at the same time, flickering with admiration. Bakit ganito ang mga tanungan niya? At ang tingin niya sa akin?

"Do you trust me?" He repeated.

I let out a heavy sigh before nodding. "Of course.." I bit my bottom lip. "I trust you."

I heard him sighed in relief and nodded. "That's enough for me." Halata ang kasiyahan sa boses niya kahit hindi naman siya nakangiti.

Muli siyang sumandal patalikod sa railings habang nakaharap naman ako sa kanya. Walang nagsasalita sa aming dalawa hanggang sa nakaisip ako ng pag-uusapan.

"Let's support each other in the upcoming Athletic Competition okay?"

The side of his lips rose. He fixed his hair using his hand and as usual, some of the strands fell down. It makes him look more charming.

"You don't have to say it." There's a hint of coldness in his voice.

I pouted. "Why? You won't support me?" Hindi ko napigilang malungkot. Okay. It's okay if he won't support me. Susuportahan ko pa rin siya kahit anong mangyari.

He let out a manly laugh. He then licked his lower lip and smiled at me. His next words lingered in my mind countless of times as my heart beats with it together.

"I'll probably support you whatever it takes so you don't need to ask for it, Tammy."

—