🌺

Georgina ended up running late today because she stayed up late that night talking with Dos over the phone. But it was fine kasi she's too happy to even bother with her punishment from being late. Though she'd have to tell Dos next time that they shouldn't talk 'til three A.M. kasi baka dumami ang demerits niya.

School went well for her for the rest of the school year. Tinutulungan din siya ni Dos sa mga subjects na hindi niya gaanong kabisado during their free time and they'd also hang out during lunch time with Lia, Jarvis and River. It was kinda sad lang kasi hindi na nasundan ang sunset date nila since her dad changed her 6:30 curfew to 6 in the evening. But on the bright side, her dad agreed na ihatid-sundo siya ni Dos.

Everything was going smoothly for her during her sophomore year. Even Lia's since she was promoted to play for the inter-University play-offs kahit pa second-year pa lang siya. But not everyone had a good year because out of the blue, Addi dropped-out by the end of the year. None of them knew her reason but seems like she and her family migrated to the States.

"Parang kelan lang 'no?" Lia said making her turn to her. "We were here sitting and talking about our plans as sophomores tapos ngayon, two weeks na lang eh matatapos na ang school year. Natapunan mo pa nga 'non ng apple juice si Dos and called him an annoying pervert."

She couldn't help but chuckle as she recalled the start of the school year. Who would've known na 'yung taong naabala niya ang tulog pala ang magiging main source ng happiness niya for the year? Definitely not her.

"Well, he still is but he's a bit tolerable now," she answered grinning.

Her gaze fell back to the students sitting at the open field—particularly the black haired grumpy cat sitting in the front row. Today's one of those graduation rehearsals for the seniors under the scorching heat at nandon sila ni Lia watching from the bleachers. Dos didn't look pleased at all kaya hindi niya mapigilang matawa.

"Hindi ko alam kung maaawa ako kay Dos or what," she said chuckling. "He looks like he'd rather sleep than be there."

"Kahit naman ako, 'no," ani Lia. "Tirik na tirik yung araw o. Tustado na ata mga graduating. Sana naman kapag graduation na natin, sa loob tayo ng gymnasium. Sayang ng whitening soap ko."

She just smiled at Lia's statement. Hindi kasi maalis ang tingin niya kay Dos who looked so funny getting pissed at almost everyone around him. He's been fanning himself profusely while muttering some incoherent words which she thinks are curses. She rested her chin on her palms while her elbows are propped over her knees.

Litaw na litaw si Dos among the crowd. Part of it was because he's handsome so mapapatingin ka talaga sa kanya. But the thing that made him stand out the most was his pale complexion that made him look like he's glowing. Kaya nang mapatingin sa kanya ito, she smiled. Dos did the same and showed her his gummy smile.

"Ay ayon. Naglalandian nanaman po sila," Lia commented beside her. "Chill. May bukas pa."

"We're not naglalandian kaya!" she immediately denied as she turned to face her best friend. Her cheeks were already burning.

"O? Bakit namumula ka diyan?"

"It's mainit, duh."

"Iba ka talaga, G. Huli na pero di pa rin umaamin," Lia teased her even more. "Don't worry. I already get it. You're hopelessly in love with Dos. And so is he. Bakit kasi di pa kayo mag-boyfriend? Pareho lang naman."

"Kasi nga, it's bawal pa," she answered rolling her eyes. "Dad said to wait 'til my eighteenth birthday."

When her gaze fell back on to the open field, nagulat siya dahil wala na sa upuan niya si Dos. Hinanap niya agad ito but couldn't seem to find him. He wasn't with his cousins. Wala rin ito sa stage or sa may area ng teachers. Where is he—

"Looking for someone?"

Napasigaw siya at muntik na ring mahulog mula sa kinauupuan nang bigla na lamang nagpakita sa tabi niya ang hinahanap. Good thing Dos had fast reflexes kaya he was able to wrap his arm around her waist and catch her.

"And... that's my cue to leave," ani naman agad ni Lia who bolted up. "Ayoko maging third wheel niyong dalawa."

"Then go get yourself a guy din," she teased. Lia raised an eyebrow before letting out a scoff.

"Sorry, not my cup of tea." Lia went ahead leaving her and Dos alone by the bleachers.

"Why are you here?" she asked as Dos suddenly rested his head on her lap. "You have practice pa, o. Mapapagalitan ka nina Sir Romualdez."

"Inaantok ako. Huwag kang maingay."

Dos had his arms folded and he closed his eyes. This guy, really. His not even scared na mapagalitan ng mga teachers. And it's unfair din sa ibang students who're practicing out there in the field. Pero hindi niya maitatanggi that she like that he's here. Lately din kasi ay nagiging malungkot siya because him graduating meant that their time together is almost up.

The sun's rays hit Dos' face so she carefully lifted her hand to shield it.

Hanggang kailan na lang kaya sila magkakaron ng time tulad nito para sa isa't-isa. Surely Dos will be busy na since he'll be off to college. Siya naman will be busy 'coz she just won the elections as Secretary General for the student council aside from her PA Club. This year was too fast and she wanted it to slow down.

"I can hear you thinking," he suddenly said with his eyes still closed. Then he took her hand—the one shielding him from the harsh sun, and placed it on his chest. "Relax. We'll be fine."

She trusts Dos' words so she let the thoughts of uncertainty slide off. She knows they'll be fine.

🌺

"What? Like, right now?"

Nagising si George dahil sa sunod-sunod na pagtunog ng kanyang cellphone. It was already summer and Dos had already graduated a few weeks ago which she attended. Dos received tons of awards and she couldn't be prouder. He wasn't the valedictorian but he did receive all awards connected to service. And who knew he was good in Math pala? He received the Best in Mathematics award too!

After the ceremony, Dos immediately pulled her from the back and let her meet his parents. Tita Dorothy and Tito Rafael were really nice and even invited her sa bahay nila. But sadly, she couldn't come dahil bawal siya lumampas sa kanyang curfew even when school's over. Hindi niya tuloy na-meet yung iba pang pinsan nito and his little brother.

"Yes. I already asked permission from your dad," Dos said on the other line. "I'll pick you, Kendall and Red up in fifteen minutes."

"What?" ulit niya dahil hindi pa rumerehistro sa isip niya ang mga sinasabi nito. "Pick us up? Why?"

There was a long pause on the other line before she heard him heave a heavy sigh. "Just because. Now please get ready. I'll be there in a few."

The line went dead na and she didn't have time to decline. She didn't feel like going out din kasi pinuyat siya ni Dos. They talked for hours last night and parang wala lang 'yon epekto dito because he didn't sound sleepy at all over the line.

Nag-ready na siya and told Kendall and Red to get ready too. Siguro her dad agreed to Dos' invitation just so she can babysit her siblings with no objections. Kenny's fine to babysit but Red was a little handful. She hoped her little brother wouldn't be much of a pain.

"Where are we going ba, ate?" Kendall asked as she helped her sister tie the ribbon of her dress from behind. "Are we going to Kuya Dos' house? Will dad be okay with it?"

"I'm not sure," she answered. "Ang sabi niya lang is to get ready and bring you two with me. Daddy already said it was okay when I called kanina. Where's Red?"

"Here."

Nangunot ang noo niya nang makitang hindi pa nakabihis si Red at nakapambahay pa rin ito. In his hands was his gaming console and it seems like he wasn't planning on putting the thing down for the rest of the week.

"Why aren't you dressed yet? Your Kuya Dos will be here any minute," she said. She saw how Jared sighed and clicked something on his game before looking up at her.

"I'm not going, ate," he said. "My friend is coming over later."

"Friend?"

"Winter," he answered. "His bringing his new game and we're gonna play it here. I already told him to come yesterday so I can't just cancel on him. Plus, I won't have fun there 'coz you and Kuya Dos are old. Kendall's too much of a crybaby to even play with."

"Hey! I'm not a crybaby!"

"Did you just say I'm old?!"

Red didn't seem to be fazed and just plopped down the couch after resuming his game. Napabuntong-hininga na lang siya't bumaling sa kasambahay nila.

"Manang, kayo na po bahala kay Red and his friend," she said politely. "I'll just take Kenny with me and explain na lang kay Daddy. But he's not allowed po to go outside the house."

"Walang problema, ineng," ani ng kanilang kasambahay. "Ako na ang bahala diyan sa kapatid mo. Magiingat kayo ha. Tawagan niyo na lang ang telepono dito sa bahay kung sakaling may kailangan kayo."

"Opo. And text me na lang din po if there's an emergency here."

Maya-maya ay dumating na si Dos. Nagulat siya when she saw him getting out of the driver's seat and helping her with her stuff.

"You drive?" she asked without thinking.

"Of course," he answered. "I drive a motorcycle, don't I? What kind of question is that?"

Right. He turned 18 na pala last March so he got his student license replaced with a professional one. He opened the door for us and she was surprised when she saw a boy sitting in the backseat. Seeing how young the boy looked, siguro ay halos kaedaran lang din ito ni Kendall. Could he be Dos' younger brother?

"Hi!" magiliw na bati agad ni Kendall dito as she went inside the car to sit beside Dos' brother. "I'm Kendall. What's your name?"

"Box," the boy replied. "You're Ate George's sister?"

"Yup!" sagot naman agad ng kapatid niya making the boy's forehead crease.

"You two don't look alike."

"We don't?" nagtatakang tanong ni Ken. "You're the first one to say that. Maraming people nase-say na magkamukha us ni Ate George. Kayo din ni Kuya Dos. You don't look magkamukha."

"That's because we're cousins," anito. "Yvo is in the other car with my brother."

Box and Kendall's conversation went on even after they left their subdivision. Dos had his eyes on the road while she sat there quietly beside him. Where are they going kaya? From what his younger cousin said, there's another car. So ibig sabihin ba 'non, they're not going to their house?

"Tagaytay," he suddenly said. "That's where we're going."

Napatingin siya dito. "Tagaytay? Why? What's the occasion?"

"It's our youngest cousin's birthday," Box answered for his Kuya.

"Oh, I see," she said while nodding. "A boy?"

"Nope."

"Older?"

"Nope."

Her lips parted as she nodded before looking outside the window. Dos wasn't really the conversational type so she just didn't bother him as he concentrated in driving. Box and Kendall started to have their own world again at the back seat kaya hindi niya na lang namalayang nakaidlip na pala siya. She woke up hours later at nasa tapat na sila ng isang malaking bahay.

"We're here!" Box exclaimed as he got off the car. He helped Kendall get off too and pulled her towards the house.

Hinayaan na lang niya ang dalawa since the two looked like they've already created a bond in just a car ride to Tagaytay. She then turned to Dos who also got off the car and proceeded to get their stuff in the trunk.

"Wow," she mouthed as soon as she saw how big and beautiful the house is. The front entrance where their car was parked was surrounded by a beautiful landscape of flowers and trees. "This place is beautiful—"

"Tama ba itong nakikita ko? Hindi ako nag-iilusyon?" Her forehead creased as she turned towards whoever it was who spoke. "May dalang babae si Isidro?!"

Not too far from them stood a tall handsome guy grinning from ear to ear. Hindi niya napigilan ang pag-awang ng kanyang bibig at how good-looking the guy was. He looked like an angel with his soft features but at the same time transitioned into a prince with his well-defined jaw and pointed nose. Beside him was a familiar face to her—Jarvis. He waved at her.

"Hi George," he greeted. "Glad you could come. For sure our parents would be pleased to finally meet you."

"At totoong babae nga. Maganda pa," patuloy pa ring nagsasalita yung kasama ni Jarvis. "Hindi ka kaya kasuhan ng corruption of minor niyan? Buti na lang at mayaman tayo. Mapa-piyansahan ka nina Tita Dorothy."

"Inggit ka lang kay Dos, Inno, kasi may dala siyang babae tapos ikaw, wala," ani naman bigla ni River na lumabas mula sa bahay. Behind him was a boy na mukhang kaedad naman ni Box. Then the guy turned to her. "Hi George. Buti na lang talaga nakasama ka. Feeling ko matatanggal na tenga ko sa kakaulit-ulit ni Dos na miss ka na niya—"

Dos then suddenly pulled her away from the boys kaya hindi na naituloy ni River yung sinasabi nito.

"Wait!" pigil niya dito. "I haven't even said 'hi' to them—"

"Didn't you hear River?" bigla nitong sambit.

"Huh?" she asked in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Dos heaved a heavy sigh before looking straight into her eyes. His one hand cupped her cheek.

"I've missed you so much, Georgina," anito and held her hand. "Can I have you for myself first before I share you to the rest of my family?"

🌺

tangina. naririnig ko na
yung sirena ng pulis.