* * *

Margareth mastered the art of being unafraid of anything. Be it guns and drops of blood and everything in between. That, of course, will be tested when she meets Lucas– the boy she had to take under her roof to protect. It's not about living under the same ceiling with a guy that scares Margareth but she's anxious about the idea that - out of the two them - she knows, that she needed to guard herself around him more than he does.

Damn it, why does he have to be such a good boy...

* * *

"Well, what are you waiting for? Ako ba ang pagbubuhatin mo ng mga gamit mo?"

Lumaki ang mga mata niya at nagmadaling kunin ang mga bagahe niya sa likod ng Jeep Wrangler ko. Madali naman siyang sumunod sa akin at hinintay ang susunod kong iuutos. Napatingin ako sa isang maleta at isang hand carry na bag na hawak hawak niya. Totoo pala talaga ang kasabihang: Men packs less than women.

I hope he doesn't expect me to go shopping with him when he runs out of clothes... I hate shopping.

Tumaas ang kilay ko at nagsimula nang buksan ang gate. "May ideya ka ba kung hanggang kailan ka titira sa akin?" I tried to sound casual, really I did. It's not my fault that I sound like I'm doing this against my will– because it's the truth.

The truth will set you free. Yeah, right.

My house is not extravagant. It's only a one-floor plan but it was just the way I like it. My Uncle had it customized and so does my Jeep. It was convenient since wala naman akong kasama and I only get to work for myself. Wala akong katulong because I feel like there's no need for that. I've been independent since I was sixteen years old and I've learned how to live without having to ask for anyone's help.

"I hope you know how to cook." I eyed him warily nang nilibot ng mga mata niya ang kabuuan ng bahay ko. Nang magsalita ako ay napatingin siya sakin. "Wala akong butler, maid, driver or cook. Nag-iisa lang ako dito sa bahay kaya't ako lang din ang gumagawa ng mga gawaing bahay."

Napakunot ang noo ko sa tangkad niya. Parang ilang inches na lang mauuntog na siya sa pintuan ko. Damn. Nilagay ko ang mga susi ko sa lalagyan ng mga keys.

"Remove your shoes. There's a spare house slipper at the rack behind the door. Wear it. Ayokong naka-shoes ka na naggagala sa bahay ko. As I've said, I only clean for myself so I expect you to also do it for yourself. I'm not cleaning a damn dirt that didn't come from me."

Tumango naman siya at inilapag ang mga gamit. Agad na tinanggal ang sapatos at pumunta sa racks, nilagay ang kanyang sapatos at sinunod nga ang utos ko. Not bad. At least, he knows who's the boss.

I bit my lip. It's a good thing, right Margareth? That he does everything that he's told? Pinilig ko ang ulo ko sa mga iniisip ko. Where the hell did that thought even came from?

Bumalik siya sa pwesto niya at kinuhang muli ang kanyang mga gamit. Tumayo agad ito at tinignan ako. Naghihintay ulit ng iuutos ko.

"Follow me."

Narinig ko ang mga yabag niya at ramdam na ramdam ko ang muling pagikot ng kanyang mga mata sa bawat silid na lakaran namin.

"I only have two bedrooms." Sabi ko nang makarating kami sa hallway. "This door on the right is mine and this room adjacent to this will be yours." Turo ko sa mga pintuan. "The last door you see at the end is the bathroom. I only have one."

I let him take it all in and went back to where we walked from. I turned right and I heard him follow me. I went to the kitchen. Inuhaw ako. Pumunta ako sa ref and drank straight from the water bottle. I rarely ever use a cup. But come to think of it, I should apply kitchen etiquettes now. I groaned, inwardly.

You don't just drink straight from a bottle dahil hindi lang ikaw iinom dito. That would be impolite. I can actually hear my mom scolding me.

Well, he can just buy his own goddamn water bottle then.

Umikot ako at tumingin ulit sa kanya. Nakatayo lang siya sa bukana ng kitchen and not doing anything. Bitbit bitbit pa din niya ang kanyang mga bagahe. I frowned.

"Those are my house rules. Wala pa kong ibang maisip. I will from time to time so you better listen to me, always. I don't really like repeating myself."

Naaalibadbaran ako sa mga bagahe niya. Ako ang nangangalay sa itsura niya.

"Pwede bang pumunta ka muna sa room mo at ilagay yang mga gamit mo."

Agad na naman siyang tumango at umalis. Umiiling-iling ako. God, what have I gotten myself into? I stood and went to the cabinet.

Wala naman akong masyadong ginawa ngayong araw na 'to kundi ang briefing at meeting sa opisina. It wasn't a usual day for me. Mas sanay ang katawan ko sa bakbakan. The thrill that my job makes me feel is what I live for so believe me when I say that this particular assignment irks me to death. Pero ba't ganun? Mas ramdam ako ang pagod ngayon kahit wala namang nakakapagod sa ginawa namin.

Na-drain ata ang lahat ng energy ko sa mga nangyari. Siguro ngayon ko lang talaga naramdaman ang ibigsabihin ng pagod dahil alam ng katawan kong makakamtan na rin niya ang pahingang matagal na niyang gusto. At masyado lang ako madaming iniisip para isiping pagod ako. My thoughts are making me hungry.

Fuck, I want baked mac.

Sad to say, I ran out of pouched baked mac but I have the ingredients to really make a cooked one pero tinatamad ako. I groaned. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na may kakayahan pala akong tamarin. I'm starting to rethink the reason for my leave. This is just going to make me do shit that is unproductive. I hate to think I have nothing else to do but nothing.

Nakaka-frustrate. I glared at the ingredients hoping to scare it and make it do the cooking all by itself. But I'm no genie. Ugh, having one would be so convenient right now. I have an old teacup though. If I rub it...

Narinig ko ang pagtikhim ni Benjamin. I don't want to call him by his name. His name gives me shivers, not the good kinds. And I don't fucking know why. It only added to the list of the things I hate about him.

Hinarap ko siya at humalukipkip. Tinaas ko ang kilay ko. "Do you know how to bake macaroni and cheese?"

And for the first time today, he smiled at me.

Well, rubbing a teacup sounds ridiculous anyways.

And don't fucking smile at me.

I don't like it.