I woke up with the sound of the waves crawling gently to the shore. Two huge wooden hinged windows were open, letting in the onshore breeze. It gives me a view of what paradise outside has to offer.

I couldn't resist the urge to go near the window, so I crawled off the soft sheets over the huge bed. Barefooted on the wooden floor, I stalked towards the window and had let the air take my hair everywhere. I made a soft chuckling sound though it didn't beat the music made by the ocean waves.

The windswept vicinity is empty, must be a private property. I can't help but admire the beauty under the sun. The dreamy sea was its own master. The beach was moon-glow gold. I can't remember when was the last time I wake up in a morning as beautiful as this.

Thought hit me, I turned my gaze back to the whole room finished with woods. I wasn't supposed to be here, I can't remember I had my feet climb the stairs to get my ass up here. The last thing I had in my head was when I'm sitting on the couch watching Oxygen dozed off to sleep serenely. He must be the one to carry me up here, well I couldn't think of anyone else. Since we came here, I had seen no one. So I doubt if someone is with us. Not a help, a caretaker or the likes.

I stepped around the room and I smiled, I loved how my feet touches the smooth and clean wood of the flooring. Aside from the queen-sized wooden four-poster bed in the middle of the room, covered with white sheets and the two wooden table on both sides where two custom half shade lamp sits, nothing else was there. No frames and stuff, I have made a conclusion in my head that Oxygen isn't a fan of picture frames. I remember him telling me that photography was his frustration, he loves photos but then frame is another thing.

I walked up to where I suppose was the bathroom, I pushed the door open and unlike the bedroom, it was marble floor. I like how the place seems simple but classy.

God is great to have given me water coming out from the faucet, I was silently praying that there is as I got in. Half of me was expecting a sick pipe, well on his fuck-flat, if you need water you have to ask.

There's a wall cabinet made from oak, I opened it and saw stuff I was expecting to see. Unused towels and robe neatly fold. Then on top layer, there's a toothbrush and toothpaste with unbranded soap. I'm very specific to things I use in my skin, I can't go to any soap available, I have my trusted brands and I need to talk things over with Oxygen. But the toothpaste looks fine, I have once tried that out when Zander's supplies run out and it was late for me to realize.

For now, water will do. I washed my face with water and brushed my teeth. I want to take a shower but I have to find my things first, also my essentials. These were the same clothes I had from yesterday, it's eeeeew that I had them on for twenty four hours now but who cares, I have to see Oxygen and ask for my things. Besides, it's just him I need to face, no need to be dolled up. He's not Ethan.

I saw the slippers I used yesterday properly stuck in one corner, I put that on and headed out. Even the staircase was made of fine woods, the house is all a mixture of brown and white. Totally something that suits a beach.

Smell of something I don't fancy meets my nose, I went to where its heading, I had to pass the other half of the room that serves as a dining area. The kitchen. It has a huge refrigerator in one corner and a small island counter in the middle, with lots of wooden cabinet. Then there's the oven and the stove. In front of the stove is the one I'm looking for and the one responsible for that smell of... I couldn't find the perfect word to fit in how bad it smells.

I was slightly lost from the smell, seeing his naked athletic back. Oxygen has a good built, insanely beautiful to be exact and I'm not the one to deny it. He looked like a man who had picked up heavy objects and put them down, and then done that again a few billion times. With the alcohol habit he has, shame to all the guys that sits in pub. His body is toned.

I wonder if Oxygen will stay here with me, I mean he sure have things to do. Like work.

Moving my gaze down to his ass, made me smile. Six feet what inches man with a muscly and firm not misshapen butt, it looks swaying with a simple movement of his hips every time he needs to do something with the pan.

"Mag-aalmusal ka ba o nabusog na kita?"

Oxygen's voice followed by his laughter shoots me from checking him out even before I realized that I was checking him out! He didn't give me enough time to haul back an answer, he's quick to turn around and look at me.

His eyes moved up and down my stand. Obviously checking me out in the morning and didn't even try to make it discreet.

My eyes went straight to his chiseled chest exposed, down to his washboard torso. Counts eight, perhaps. He's a sight! But no, I'm not agreeing to my own idea. I lift up my gaze back to his eyes.

"Busog na busog na mata mo, baby girl, ah" grinning like a Cheshire cat with a gleam of mischief in his eyes. "Pero hindi tayo nakakain kagabi, kaya kailangan mo parin kumain."

What he said made me flush, I don't like it that Oxygen is making me act this way! Stupid asshole. I looked at the pan he's holding and I remembered the fuck of smell that welcomed me down here. "You sure it's a food?"

"Gago, grabe naman 'to sa tuyo" he raised the pan and checked the food that looks like a fish. I haven't seen one like that. "Hindi lang siya 'gorgeous' pero isda pa rin 'to, pagkain pa rin."

"It doesn't smell like food! Mabaho!" I grimaced, even fanning my hand over my nose.

"Nakikiamoy ka na nga lang, nagrereklamo ka pa." Tumawa siyang muli habang inilalagay iyon sa puting plato na nakahanda sa counter. "Maka-mabaho ka, wala ka pa ngang ligo."

Embarrassed, I shot him a glare. "How am I supposed to take shower without me having my things?!"

"Gigil na naman siya, oh." Bitbit ang plato ay tinungo niya ang kabilang bahagi ng silid, sinundan ko naman iyon.

"Where are my things, Oxygen?" I asked.

"Upo ka muna at kumain ka, pagkatapos mo mag-hugas ng plato, ibibigay ko sayo 'yong mga gamit mo-"

"Maghugas ng what?!" Namamangha kong sigaw.

"Plato sabi ko, hindi what." He shrugged, setting the table.

"I know what you said, dumbass! I was just making sure I heard it right." I stepped near him and held his arm to make him face me, in the process, his board shorts hit my legs, it's slightly damp. "You're asking me to wash the dishes, is that it?"

"Oo." Niyuko niya ako ng tingin. I'm not short with my five feet nine stand, but he's taller, way taller.

"I won't wash the dirty dishes. In your dreams, Oxygen. In your fucking dreams!" Never in my entire life had I washed the dishes and I will never let that happen. No, not my pampered hands and manicured nails!

"Lah, e paano 'yan? Edi hindi ka maliligo? No hugas, no damit, no ligo. Equals, yuck Gabbana. Yuck with a y?" He faked a sympathetic smile.

"Damn you, Oxygen! Akin na yung mga gamit ko! You can't control me here! I won't do your orders. I'm not your hired help!" I screamed at him.

"Oh, no, Gabgab. Hindi kita kinakatulong, tuwirin mo nga 'yang utak mo. Nasisiguro ko na hindi ka bobo kaya wag kang umarteng bobo." Seryoso niyang sabi. "Dito, dalawa tayong nakatira. Para mabuhay, dalawa tayong kikilos. Ako, hindi mo rin ako bayarang kung-ano, ha? Ngayon, kailangan natin kumain para matawid 'tong araw na 'to. Alam ko na sa hilatsa ng kamay mo, hindi ka marunong mag-luto. Kaya dahil ako ang nag-luto, ikaw ang maghuhugas. Sounds fair?"

I was moved by what he said. It was fair alright, but for someone like me who knows nothing about those things, it wasn't!

He pulled a chair and motioned it to me. "Hindi ka kumain kagabi, kaya kakain ka ngayon."

"Hindi ako marunong mag-hugas ng plates. I haven't done it ever!" I told him that.

"There's always a first time." He said in a tone that tells me that I was left with no choice. "Tuturuan kita."

"Wala ka bang hired help-"

"May nakita ka ba?" Pilosopo na ikiniling pa niya ang kaniyang ulo, napairap ako. "Hindi ba wala? Maupo ka na."

Padabog akong naupo sa silya na hinila niya, na siya namang nag-dulot ng isang matagumpay na ngiti sakanyang mga labi. Okay, now I was left with no choice but to agree.

Oxygen then sat on the opposite side. I scanned the meals he prepared on the table, a bowl of fried rice, two eggs, chopped tomatoes and the fish that doesn't look like a fish. Then there's a pitcher of water and he's considerate to put an ice on my glass.

"May kape sa coffee maker, help yourself if you want a cup." He said, sipping from his own coffee.

I rolled my eyes, I don't feel like having a sip.

He started eating. I did, too. A small amount of rice and the egg and tomatoes will do. Just need to ignore the stinky smell of that whatever it was called.

"Masarap 'tong tuyo, Gabgab" sabi niya.

"I don't care"

Leave it to Oxygen, he won't stop until I'm out and annoyed. "Subukan mo, tikman mo lang. Masarap pa 'to sayo."

"I'm not a food, I'm not masarap, dickhead!" I took a spoon partly filled with rice and egg.

Napatingin ako kay Oxygen nang ipagpatuloy niya ang kaniyang pagkain. Only then I realized that he's eating with his bare hand. And he seems to enjoy it. I have never tried eating with my bare hand, what's the use of utensils then?

"Gusto mo 'no? Pabebe ka pa." Sabi niya nang mahuli akong pinapanuod siya, kumuha siya ng kanin mula sakanyang plato at sinamahan iyon ng kapirasong tuyo at kamatis. Then he extended his arms on me, the table isn't that huge and his arms goes forever so expect it that he'll have the food reached my mouth with no sweat. "O, sige na. Isa lang."

"Ayoko nga!"

"Sige, kapag hindi mo 'to kinain pati yung malansang kawali isasama ko sa hugasan mo." Pananakot niya.

I shot him a glare. "Ayoko nga! The stinky smell might stay in my mouth-"

"O, anong problema? Ako lang naman makakaamoy sayo, ah? Conscious ka? Crush mo ko?" Ngumisi na naman siya.

"Yuck-" naitikom ko ang aking bibig nang mas ilapit niya iyon sakin. "I so hate you!"

"Say 'aaah' baby girl..." nakakaloko pa siyang humalakhak. "Pinaghirapan ko 'tong iprito hindi mo man lang titikman, magkaroon ka naman ng feelings oy. Medyo maging appreciative at grateful ka naman sa mga nakahain sayo. Magagalit sayo si Lord nyan, ge ka."

Just to shut him up, I opened my mouth to take in the food. Carefully avoiding his fingers to touch my lips, but I didn't succeed, the tips of it got a slight contact over the skin of my lips.

"Sarap diba?"

Hindi ko na siya pinansin, halos hindi ko naman iyon nilasahan. I immediately swallowed it and finished a glass of water. He shook his head and grinned as he watch me.

"Nga pala, kung gusto mong lumabas sa beach, pwede naman. The area is safe and secured. I've kept this one private to myself, so I assure you no one can invade your privacy here." He said. "Kapag may kakailanganin ka mamaya, nasa kwarto sa tapat ng sayo lang ako. I have to do some shits, they got me loaded with works even if I'm away."

Oh, so that answers my earlier question. He can work things with his laptop. Figures. I didn't give any comment on that, I just continued eating.

"If you know and if you love to surf, I left my surfboard outside near the tree. I used it this morning."

Can I ask him to stop speaking in English? I'm not liking that I fancy his diction. "You had a dip?"

"A few strokes." Sagot niya bago muling sumubo at nginuya niya muna iyon bago dugtungan ang sinabi. "Kagabi ko sana balak, bago matulog. Kaso inaantok talaga ako. Nagising ako, tulog ka na. Kaya inakyat na kita sa taas, tinuloy ko nalang din yung tulog ko at ngayon nalang ginawa yung plano ko."

Tumango ako. Expect Oxygen to give you detailed information with your question.

After breakfast, we both headed to the sink with the plates we used. I don't want to do this but I want to have my things back and this Oxygen isn't making things easy for me. Damn him.

He opened the faucet and instruct me how to do things. "Lahat ng dumi, ihiwalay mo. Wag mo ihulog kasi baka mag-bara iyong lababo, ikaw din mas kadiri 'yon."

"Don't you have gloves?" I ducked my head and grimaced.

"Arte, hindi naman ibang tao kumain dyan. Tayong dalawa lang naman." Sabi niya. "Tapos hugasan mo gamit syempre yung tubig. Tapos ito, nakakita ka naman na siguro ng dishwashing liquid at sponge?"

"I'm not stupid, Oxygen" I hissed, keeping all the dirt on one side of the sink.

"Sasabunan mo lang ng ayos, tapos babanlawan ng mabuti." Lumayo siya. "Sandali, kukuha ako ng dish towel para tuyuin mo pagkatapos."

Hindi ko na siya nilingon, my heart is silently crying as I watched my hand. "Oh God, I'm so sorry pretty nails."

"Boohoo..." Oxygen made an annoying crying sound from behind. "Poor pretty nails, baby girl needs to grow up sometimes."

"Stop, Oxygen. You're not funny." I warned, I started to clean the plates with the sponge and dishwashing soap.

Hindi na umimik pa si Oxygen hanggang sa matapos ako, nanatili lamang siyang nanunuod sakin. And it takes forever for me to finish this. Good Lord, dishwashers should get more recognition that they're getting. It wasn't easy. It made the skin of my palm wrinkled looking like eew!

Oxygen took the plates and dried it with the dish towel he got.

"Dishwashers should be called heroes." I'm speaking the truth, I did just a few and I'm exhausted. How much more with those people who works in restaurants and had to wash loads of it? "The next time I see our hired help who wash the dishes for us, I'll give her an extra credit."

"Good. Lesson one, appreciate the people in your life." He smirked. "My baby girl still have a lot of things to learn."