Eva

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I couldn't hide my smile. It's like I'm floating with the clouds, feeling so damn beautiful in this instance.

Hindi rin maalis ang mga mata ko sa bracelet na suot ko ngayon. Napakaganda nito.

"Timing ang gift mo. Malapit na ang birthday ko."

Nakatitig pa din ang mga mata ko nito. Kalalabas lang ni Sebastian sa banyo. Maayos na siya at naayos ko na rin ang damit niya. Isinuot niya ito.

"I love my name on it. Thank you!" I beamed as I showed it again. "Bagay ba?"

Talagang hindi ako hihinto. Nananaginip pa rin ako hanggang ngayon.

It's a thick gold bracelet bangle type. It has a few diamonds around where the lock part. It's heavy, and I bet it cost a lot.

Pero sa usaping pera, ay parang baliwala lang yata ito kay Sebastian. Mas malaki yata ang binayad niya sa dalawang linggong reservations ko at pati na ang membership niya sa Rampage.

I wonder if he will stop going there now that he has me. Probably.

Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakaupo at tinulungan na ayusin ang kurbata niya. He smells so good as usual, and handsome as ever. Malinis na malinis ang mukha. Nag shave siya. At kahit pa umabot kami hanggang madaling araw sa kabaliwan namin, ay hindi halata ang walang tulog na mga mata niya.

"You have school today, right?"

"Oo...may trabaho rin ako sa coffee shop."

"Are you gonna be busy today? Will you call me?" I pouted, acting clingy again.

"I will see. I will call you if I have time. If you don't hear anything from me. Then, I'm busy at work."

"Okay..." I nodded. Hindi ko na ipipilit ito dahil iba siya.

Sebastian prefers that I not be clingy. I believe it bothers him. He contrasts significantly with the boys I dated in my teens and is nothing like my foolish ex!

Siguro, ito ang ugali ni Sebastian na mas gusto ko. 

He doesn't control me. Instead, he allows me my freedom and choices. He never inquires about my plans for the day, yet he consistently checks in to see if I'm alright. He may not be very expressive when it comes to his feelings, but he is thoughtful and often surprises me when we're together.

Para akong reyna sa tuwing kasama ko siya. Wala akong problema. Wala akong inaalala.

"I will miss you..." I murmured after finishing his tie. Tilting my head, I glanced at his face, and he chuckled softly.

"By the way, are you available this coming Saturday?"

Napakurap ako.

Sa Sabado? Shocks, si Vansel.

"Uhm, I can't...I have something on Saturday." Nalukot ang mukha ko. Gustong-gusto kong isagot na available ako, pero nangako na ako kay Vansel. Tutuparin ko iyon, at tatapatin ko na rin ang batang iyon. Alam kong may gusto siya sa akin at nararamdaman ko ito.

"Bakit? Ano ba ang meron sa Sabado mo?" I was curious.

"Family dinner."

"Oh..." my mouth fell.

"But it's alright. I will introduce you to my son some other time," he winked at that.

"Okay..." Bumagsak na ang balikat ko. Okay lang. May ibang araw pa naman para rito.

"I have to go. You have fun." Humalik na siya sa noo ko at saka lumabas na.

Tulala lang akong tinitigan siya hanggang sa nagsara ang pinto at nawala na siya rito. Napabuntong-hininga ako, at ramdam agad ang tahimik na paligid.

I feel empty again without him. I just don't want him to go because I want to spend more time with him—a whole day with him. I know it sounds greedy, but that's how I truly feel about him.

"You look so blooming, Eva? May nangyayari ba?" si Emelda. Bumaba ang mga mata niya sa bracelet ko.

Maraming customer ngayon at pareho kaming abala, pero iba ang araw na ito. Inspired na inspired ako.

"Kailangan ba ng inspiration para maging blooming? Hindi ba puwede na sadyang blooming lang talaga tayo!" reklamo ko. Dinaan ko na lang sa biri.

"Hindi! Kasi hindi ka naman ganoon!" Namaywang siya habang binibigay ang order ng customer niyang nakalinya. Tumingin siyang saglit sa akin.

"I honestly noticed this on you a few weeks ago. Akala ko maglulupasay ka sa lungkot dahil hindi na nagpupupunta rito ang crush mo na si Mr. Grayson. Pero iba eh...Your aura seems so positive and your eyes are in love."

Humalakhak ako. Napalakas pa tuloy at panatingin ang iilang customer na nakalinya sa banda ko.

"Talaga? In love ako sa tingin mo?" Uminit ang pisngi ko.

Wala akong sasabihin, at hindi ko sasabihin ang tungkol sa nangyayari sa buhay ko ngayon. Ayaw ko muna na malaman ito kahit ng bestfriend kong si Amye. Wala akong pagsasabihan ng sekreto!

"Yes, and look at that bracelet of yours. That's. . .expensive! Utang 'yan ano? Hulugan ba? Ilang taon?" Nakababa na naman ang mga mata niya.

"Ito?" Inangat ko ito at pinakita sa kanya ng maayos.

She touch and inspection it around my wrist. "Oi, pinagawan mo ng initial? Ang ganda? At itong diamond, totoo ba 'to? Hindi puwet ng baso?" Nagtagpo ang kilay niya.

"Totoo ano! Hindi 'to pwet ng baso, Emelda!" Binawi ko na ang kamay ko, at nagpatuloy na sa pag gawa ng kape.

"Huwag mo masyadong suotin iyan. Lalo na kung maglalakad ka sa labas. Maraming holdaper, Eva. Mukhang five years to pay pa naman iyang bracelet mo." Ngumuso siya at nagpatuloy na.

"Oo. Alam ko naman. Kaya tinakpan ko talaga ito ng panyo sa tuwing lumalabas ako, at dito ko lang tinatangal at sa kampus."

"Dapat lang! Mag iingat ka. Makakabayad na yata iyan ng isang taon sobra pa sa kurso mo ano?"

"Siguro...hindi ko alam eh."

"Gusto mo ipatingin natin sa pawnshop sa kabilang banda?" Kuminang ang mga mata niya.

Nakakatukso, pero..."Huwag na! Baka mabenta ko pa."

Natawa agad siya.

***

Sebastian

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The work was hectic. The engineers were almost done with what I asked for the designs, and I am finalizing it now.

"Aren't you tired of designing skyscrapers, Seb?" 

My brows creased as I looked at Luciano. He seems a different person today. Somehow a little bit disorientated. Madalas naman ay namamangha siya sa kakayanan ko at iba't-ibang proyekto. Pero ngayon, mukhang wala siya sa sarili. 

 "And aren't you tired of being a proffesor, Mr. Valerio?" Ibinalik ko ang tanong sa kanya. 

"Oh, uhm. . . " He shook his head and drank his coffee. 

"I'm not. This is my profession, and I will never get tired of it," he smirked. "Darn it. I don't know what I was talking about. I must be stressed," his shoulders sagged.

"You must be. You look like shit, bro," I slightly laughed.

"Fucking shit, alright. It's driving me insane. I need her out of my effing system." He dipped his head halfway, feeling lost.

"May gagawin ka ba mamayang gabi? Bar hopping tayo?" Bahagya siyang ngumisi.

"I can't. I have a dinner tonight with my son and his girlfriend." 

Luciano paused, looking shocked at me. "What? He is introducing his girlfriend to you at his age?" He raked his hair. 

"Yup!" I gritted my teeth. "I know he is still young and only nineteen. But he needs to learn," I gritted my teeth. 

"That's insane, Seb." Luciano laughed. 

"And also, it only means one thing. . .you are getting old." He laughed again. It seems like he is enjoying this.

Damn him.

"And you think you are not getting old, too?" I mischievously smirked. 

"Oh well, at least I'm not as old as you." Lumakas lalo ang tawa niya. Ang sarap tuloy suntukin sa mukha. 

"So, did you bought some extra for him?" Pilyo niya akong tinitigan.

"I did." I nodded.

"Good. That's how we teach our young. Be a Boy Scout! Always ready!" Itinaas niya ang kamay sa noo at natawa akong wala sa plano.

"Get lost, Luciano, and go fuck the woman you want. You look pathetic today." I shook my head. 

He inhaled deeply and stood up. "I will! You will see. . . all right, have fun tonight! Arrivederci, Sebastian Grayson!" He bends halfway, looking silly at this. 

Sabay na kaming lumabas sa Cafe Haus. Walang golf session ngayon dahil magiging abala ako. Wala pa rin si Garet at mukhang magtatagol iyon sa probinsya nila, and Luciano was a little off too with something. 

EVERYTHING is almost ready. The food is still cooking, and the maids are preparing well for tonight's simple dinner. 

Detalyado ang lahat ng gusto ko at naka-set ang magarbong lamesa na gagamitin namin sa harden. It's not all the time that my son gets home for this. Madalas siya nanatili sa dormitory dahil sa distansya ng bahay ko sa unibersidad niya. 

It's a one-hour drive, and he still hasn't learned to drive. He has a personal driver, but most days, he prefers to take a ride for a visit. 

I looked at the pictures of him on frame on the top of the organ piano. May litrato rito ng ina niyang si Martha at ako. I never have my regrets of racing him as my own. He has our blood and I love him to pieces. 

"Yaya, don't give Ruby prawns, please. Bawal sa aso. Hindi maganda sa balat nila."

"Opo, Sir." At umalis na siya. Nakasunod si Ruby at panay ang galaw ng buntot. 

Bumaba na ang anak ko mula sa kwarto niya sa ikalawang palapag. Pinaayos ko ito sa katulong kanina. Aalis muna siya para sunduin ang girlfriend niya pabalik rito. 

"I'm going, Dad."

"Okay," I smiled casually. He looks mature already, and I did not notice that.

"Are you excited?" I teased, resting my hand on his shoulder. 

"Now, listen to me. Ayaw ko muna na mag kaapo, okay? So, if you will invite her to go upstairs to your bedroom later, please use protection."

"Dad," he slightly laughed. 

"Just don't ask too many questions from her, okay? And please leave us alone."

"I will. I promise." I raised my right hand. "Just pretend that I'm not around, okay?" I laughed at that. 

Sabay na kaming naglakad palabas ng mansyon at naghihintay na ang driver sa kanya. 

"It seems like it is going to rain tonight," I said as I looked at the gloomy dark clouds above.

"It's alright, Dad. We will be here before the rain drops." 

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c.m. louden

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