"Bakit ka nandito?"

Hindi pa ako nakakapagbihis nang makarinig ng katok. I was wearing nothing on top, but I immediately go to the door, assuming that the knock was urgent. Napataas ang kilay ko nang makita si Dillion sa labas ng unit ko.

Siya ang naghatid sa'kin kagabi dahil nalasing ata ako. I actually thought, him and Shane had a thing that's why. I just shook my head, remembering how embarrassing my state last night is.

"To check on you?" He surveyed my body but immediately looked away. His face screams amusement and I can't help but to roll my eyes.

"Pasok." Iniwan kong bukas ang pinto ko para pumasok siya. Agad naman akong nagtungo sa kuwarto para magdamit. "Hindi pa ako nakakapaglinis." Matiyaga ka na lang sa kalat.

"It's fine," dinig kong sigaw niya mula sa labas. Dinalian ko na lang ang pagbihis at naabutan siyang naka-upo sa single sofa. "How was your head? It probably hurt."

"Ayos na. Uminom na rin naman ako ng maraming tubig, like what your note states." Pumunta naman ako sa kusina para ipaghanda siya ng makakain. Nakakahiya naman.

"Good." I rolled my eyes and continue what I am doing. Nang matapos, agad ko itong binitbit papunta sa kaniya. Pasalampak akong umupo sa sofa saka hinimas ang noo ko.

"Ano nga ulit ginagawa mo dito?" I asked again.

"Uh, do you have work today?" I looked at him with what he said. It's obviously Sunday so, where did he get that question? "Oh, right. I was thinking if you're free today? I'm actually looking for a companion in, uhm, roaming around? Just some kind of hang outs, you know."

"You don't have friends?" I said in a bored tone. Narinig ko lang ang pagtawa niya. "Whatever. What time?"

"I don't know. You decide." I rolled my eyes again because of what he said.

"Okay. I decide to just stay here in my unit the whole---,"

"Before lunch!" Natawa ako nang bigla siyang sumagot. Napatingin ako sa orasan at nakitang alas diyes na ng umaga. Tahimik lang siyang pinagmamasdan ako habang ako naman ay nakatingin lang sa harap.

Ilang sandali pa ay nagpaalam na ako na magbibihis na. Nakabihis na rin naman siya bago pumunta dito kaya mabilis lang kaming umalis. Parang pinagplanuhan niya na nga ang lahat, 'e. Pati ata sagot ko, inaasahan niya na din. Dapat pala tumanggi ako.

Napapailing na sinundan ko siya nang makalabas kami ng elevator. Bored din naman ako, at walang gagawin maghapon. Mas okay na 'to.

"Where are we going?" He glance at me when I asked him. A little smile was formed in his lips before looking back at highway. Ako naman ay tahimik lang na nakaupo sa tabi niya.

"Orchard road." My eyes widen with what he said.

Orchard road is one the most visited places in Singapore. I've been there many times, but lately, I don't have much time. Balak ko sanang bumalik doon sa pasko pero mukhang mapapaaga. Napangisi ako sa isiping 'yun.

Nakangiti tuloy ako buong biyahe. Dillion would often tease me because, he said, I look like a kid who's going to Jollibee and play to the playground. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin. I was too busy thinking of what to do there, for me to even entertain him.

It was already noon when we reached the place. Ang init pa at nagpapasalamat akong nakapagdala ako ng shades. I was just wearing my baby blue polo and a white maong shorts. Pinadaanan ko ng daliri ang buhok ko na medyo ginugulo ng hangin. Dillion is wearing a white shirt, on the other hand, and a black pants. May suot din siyang shades, and I can say that he's good with it, paired with his black watch. He looks simple, but luxurious.

I avoided his gaze when he glanced at me. Nagpanggap akong nililibot ng tingin ang sa paligid. I can see people having fun with their own. Since Singapore was a cosmopolitan country, I can see many races, like black, Westerns, and Asians.

"Let's go?" He didn't wait for my answer and started walking. I can see him playing the keys on his finger. I looked away and roamed my eyes again. I looked short beside him, though, I am tall compared to anyone. Baka dahil na rin mataas ang rubber shoes na gamit niya. But even without it, he was taller than me. "You want to eat first? I am actually hungry."

"Bahala ka." I put my hands inside the pocket of my short and let him lead the way. Hindi pa naman ako gan'on kagutom dahil kumain ako bago siya dumating.

Ilang sandali pa kaming naglakad bago niya ako niyayang pumasok sa isang building. If I am not mistaken, this is the Somerset Mall. This was the most popular one stop shop in the Orchard Road. This was actually the first time I entered here, but I heard a lot about this. Like, there are varieties of international young fashion. There are also plenty of places to eat. I roamed my eyes around with awe.

"The food court is on the top floor. Come on." Hindi ko na inintindi ang sinasabi niya at basta na lang sumunod kung saan siya pupunta. Para akong malulula sa paligid. It is like those malls we have in Manila, but this has something that made it iconic. I just can't figure out what is it.

I looked at him when he held my hand. I blink multiple times, feeling the electricity that flows in my vein. Agad ko naman itong binawi at tinago sa bulsa ko. He looked at me with shock, but looked away immediately.

"Baka kasi maligaw ka. You're too distracted," he reasoned out. I didn't talk until we reached the top floor. Nilibot ko ulit ang paningin ko sa paligid, and I was astonished with the view. "There. That spot is pretty quiet. Better."

Like what he said, we go to the farther part of the food park. There were four people there, having a good conversation. Sa tabi lang nila kami umupo. Dillion told me to just wait here while he's ordering our food. I let him do what he wants. After all, it was his plan.

"Hi, can you take a picture of us?" I looked at the guy who's obviously talking to me. I nod my head. Tumabi naman siya sa isang lalaki at pinalibot ang braso sa leeg nito. I assume that they are couple. Their gestures made me believe that.

"You guys are good pair." I smiled a little when I give the camera. Both of them chuckled.

"Thanks. Pretty hard, but yeah, we can still hold onto this relationship." The other guy told me. "Anyways, thank you. You two look good, too."

"Whom?" I asked. Umiling lang siya saka mahinang tumawa.

I just shrugged my shoulders and didn't ask more. I checked my phone, and I don't know why ended up in the gallery. It's just pictures of the places I've been here in Singapore. But one photo caught my attention.

It was us...years when we were still together. We're both smiling in the picture, while his hand are pinching my cheeks. I can see the happiness in our eyes on this photo. The most genuine smile I've ever flashed.

I gulped the lump on my throat, and hid my phone when he came back. He was smiling as he placed the food on our table. I watched him do that, which made him look at me. Unti-unting nawala ang ngiti niya, pero agad niya din 'yung binalik. Hindi nga lang sing-sigla ng kanina.

"It's Laksa. I also get some, uh...Otah. They are better when served together." He gestured the foods in front of me.

Laksa is pretty popular in Singapore but still didn't taste one. It is made with flat noodles, prawns, and cockles. The soup is probably a coconut soup, based on what I heard. While the Otah, or the fish cake in Singapore, looks delicious on the banana leaves. Kahit na hindi ako nagugutom, pakiramdam ko, kaya kong ubusin ang nakahain ngayon.

"Thanks." I closed my eyes then started to eat the food. I even burned my tongue because it's still hot! How dumb am I for not realizing it?

"Careful. Ihipan mo muna bago mo kainin." He sounds mad, but I don't care. It wasn't my fault that it's hot, after all. "Fish cake is good. Try it."

We stayed there for half an hour. Hindi ko nga alam kung paano niya natatagalan na kausapin ako samantalang tango at iling lang ang isasagot ko. O kung meron man, maikli lang. Sabagay, he was so used of this.

What the fuck? Why am I bringing up past things?

"Ilang araw na lang rin, matatapos na 'yung ginagawa namin diyan sa tapat ng building niyo." I looked at him with what he said.

"Really? That was fast." I said, nodding a little.

"Well, yeah, it was not a big project anyways, so we're able to finish it early," he said while playing with the sticks on the bowl. Hindi pa ako tapos kumain, at hinihintay niya na lang ako.

"What will be your next project?" I asked him.

"Probably a bigger project than this." He chuckled which made me chuckle too.

Pagkatapos naming manatili sa Somerset Mall, agad na din kaming lumabas para maghanap pa ng ibang shop. Instead of using his car, he suggested for us to just walk around. Wala naman akong magagawa, at sa tingin ko'y mas mage-enjoy ako kapag naglakad lang kami. I can at least wander my eyes around.

5 minutes of walking then we reached the Orchard Central, the tallest shopping mall on the area. We stopped here to look around. I wasn't expecting Dillion to actually buy some designer brand's items, but I let him. Ako naman ay pumunta sa men's perfume para magtingin. I don't often use perfume but I think, my perfume is already at its limit.

"This sweater suits you."

Napatingin ako sa kaniya nang magsalita siya. He's holding a plain blue sweater. Well, I can say that it's really good, but I don't have cash with me. If I know na gusto niya pala bumili ng mga designer items, sana nagdala ako ng pera.

"I'll buy it," he said. I shrugged my shoulder. "You're looking for perfumes? Here, its scent is better."

"Hmm?" I get what he is pointing. Inamoy ko lang ang sprayer no'n pero wala akong maamoy. Narinig ko naman ang pagtawa ni Dillion saka inagaw sa'kin ang pabango. He held my wrist and spray it there. Dahan-dahan ko itong nilapit sa ilong ko at tama nga siya, mas maayos ang amoy nito. Hindi gan'on katapang. "Okay na 'to."

"Is that all you're going to take?" He was hesitant to ask me that but I still nod my head. Wala naman na akong ibang kailangan pang bilihin. Siningit ko lang 'tong pabango. "Oh, okay. Let's...let's pay for it, then. Wait, I'll just get mine."

Ngee Ann City was actually better than the Orchard Central when it terms to creativity. Kaya naman si Dillion, nagtitingin na naman ng mga designer items. Napailing na lang ako at dumeretso sa book store. What if I buy some ballpen? New ballpens weren't bad at all.

Nakaupo lang ako habang hinihintay si Dillion matapos magsukat ng mga sapatos. He's so expensive. But at least, he's using his own money. He really went far, I can see that. He's more confident compared before. He seems so carefree.

"What do you think of this shoe?" Muli akong tumingin sa kaniya nang tumayo siya sa harap. I really don't know anything about fashion sense but he looks so good with those shoes. Para siyang model.

"It's good." Tumango lang ako. Nilakad niya naman 'yun at nang makuntento, hinubad niya't binayaran na kaagad.

There are more to explore in the Orchard Road, actually. Those historical galleries and oldest malls. Those buildings which has great architecture. We both explored those until we got tired and found ourselves in Robinson's & Co. Department store, located in The Centrepoint. That was the oldest department store of Singapore.

Nadaanan namin ang ION Orchard. The futuristic beacon design of the building never failed to amaze me. The architect of this building for sure earned a lot. ION Orchard is the most glamorous shopping complex in Singapore. From its glass, marble and steel structures, luxurious shoppers will loved it. Its spot is at the end of the Orchard Road, which means, we already explored the road.

"Nakakapagod."

I rested myself on the backrest of the driver's seat. Naramdaman ko namang umupo sa katabi kong upuan si Dillion. Ang dami niyang paper bags sa likod ng sasakyan. Dior, Adidas, Celine, Chanel. There are varieties of them.

"Water?" I thanked him when he handed me a bottle water. Gabi na nang matapos kaming mamasyal. It was fun, but yeah, tiring.

"You're a mad buyer," I chuckled.

"They are all good, it's not my fault." I rolled my eyes with his reason.

"You should learn how to manage your expenses. Anyways, it's your decision." I played with my tongue. "Ihatid mo na ako."

"Sure." He nodded his head and drove me home.

I smiled when I am already on my bed. I still can't believe that I actually roamed the whole Orchard Road. Iniwan pa ni Dillion ang ilang pinamili niya dito sa'kin, pero hinayaan ko na lang.

Napatingin ako sa phone ko nang tumunog ito. A small smile flashed on my lips with what I read.

From: Lincoln
goodnight! i hope u enjoyed geez

~* xxx *~

A/N: haha, Callan, tourist guide sa chapter na 'to