I woke up feeling recharged. I have slept like a baby, peacefully and soundly. I can't remember when was the last time I've slept this good. The scent of a Latin American coffee filled my nostrils, it made me open my eyes.

White coffered ceiling greeted me. I did a recap about what happened last night. I can clearly remember everything up until I fell asleep in Oxygen's arm while he's driving. I smiled remembering how he treated me last night, who would've thought that the ever crude tomcat had made me feel safe and comfortable when I'm all scared and helpless.

"Sleeping beauty is awake" said by the man responsible of my smile.

"Good morning," I greeted him as I pulled myself up into sitting position.

With a knotted frown on his forehead, he looked at me. A corner of his lips curved up in a smirk. "Someone woke up at the right side of the bed, e"

"You bet!" I smiled at him more because he deserves it. "I indeed had a good sleep."

"Oh," he didn't comment much about it instead he reached for the cup of coffee placed on a small table at the corner of the room and raised it. "Kape?"

"Please?" I reached out my hand for it.

"Mabait ka talaga ngayon, ah" tumatango-tango siyang humakbang palapit sakin upang iabot ang tasa ng kape na kaniyang hawak.

Only then I realized that he's wearing a pair of worn out jeans different from last night and a shabby shirt that seems to be one of his trademarks. The tattoo he had on his right shoulder down to half of his upper arm is a bit exposed through the cut off sleeves of his top. Making him look more savage in broad daylight.

"Where are we, Oxygen?" I asked, feeling the heat of the coffee right in my palm. I took a slow sip, simply roaming my eyes around.

I am certain that this isn't his fuck-flat. The room is fully furnished and looks a lot more like a house. Another thing is that, the bed is comfortably huge with the complete set of fine sheets.

"Bahay ng mga magulang ko," he said.

I gasped, my eyes widened.

"Bahay ng nanay ko, actually" he scratched his head like a boy, before he placed both of his hand to the side pockets of his jeans. "Two bedroom townhouse she owned before she had kids. Dito ako lumaki, pabebe kasi nanay ko. Medyo matagal din silang nag-inarte ng tatay ko. Lumaki ako na boyfriend lang ng nanay ko yung tatay ko. I was ten when they both decided to end the chase and settle down. Si Audrey at si Anja na nga ang flower girl nila. Kaya ayon, sampung taon na ko nung lumipat kami sa bahay ni papa, na bahay na ni mama ngayon."

I nodded my head, seems like the one he had isn't a typical family setup. But I'm not the one to judge things. Sipping my coffee, I turned to check the picture frame sitting above the bedside table, near the lampshade.

A picture of a couple, wearing matching white clothes. The man looked exactly like Oxygen. With those blue eyes and even his physique, the only difference is that the man has a blonde hair. The woman beside him is a beautiful brunette, she had a fine-boned feature that makes her look strong and elegant. She look so much like Oxygen's twin sister.

"Meet Exodus and Moana Marie De Salvo." He chuckled when he noticed that I was looking at his parents photograph.

"You look like your dad!"

"And acts like my mom." His laughter grew louder. "I get that a lot."

I haven't met his mom, so I can't agree or contest his statement. Then I remembered something, I snapped a look at him. "I have to call Zander!"

"Tapos na, tinawagan ko si Zander kagabi para sabihin na kasama kita. Sinabi ko rin sakanya lahat ng nangyari kahit alam kong napahapyawan na siya ni Ethan." Kwento niya bago maupo sa gilid ng kama. "Nag-aalala sayo si Kuya, baby girl. Tawagan mo pa rin mamaya."

"I will." I ignored how he mocked my relationship with Zander again. "Thank you. Anyway, how's Lance?"

"Okay na siya, sabi ko naman sayo hindi siya papabayaan ni Ethan at Rance-"

"Who are those people? Why do they need Lance? What are they after at?" Sunod-sunod kong tanong.

"Mas mabuti ng wala kang alam, Gabgab." Nakita ko ang pag-silay ng munting ngiti sakanyang mga labi bago siya tumayo. "Hayaan mo nalang sila gawin mga gawain nila, ikaw, behave ka lang."

Hindi na ako nag-pumilit pa, Oxygen is right. Sometimes it's better not to know things because knowing them means dealing with them. I stayed silent, finishing the cup of coffee given to me.

"May damit dyan, kay Audrey lahat 'yan." Tinuro niya ang isang paperbag sa lamesa. "Nasa Solidad kasi si Titanium. Si Audrey ang nag-dala niyan dito kanina. Siya tinawagan ko kasi alam kong hindi 'yon magsusumbong kay mama. Kung si Anja, malamang hello palang nasasabi ko alam na agad ni mama."

"May I see?" I said.

He shrugged and walked towards the table. Matapos ay binalikan niya ko at iniabot iyon sakin.

"Thank you." Ibinalik ko sakanya ang tasa, kinuha naman niya iyon.

I opened the brownbag and saw a pair of slippers, underwear, concert shirt and a jean shorts. Not bad. This will do. Nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Oxygen, he's looking down at me.

"Tell her I said thanks." I smiled. "I think I should take a shower now so I can change."

Tumango naman siya, he pointed my bag at the bedside table. "Tawagan mo yung Kuya mo, ha? Ayun yung cr, na-check ko na kanina, lahat ng kakailanganin mo nandyan."

I supposed this was the master's bedroom and was his parents' room. The place seems well maintained, he's right, all that I'll be needing is in the bathroom, although not everything that I want in my bath was there. But nonetheless, this will do.

Good thing there's a blower, I can get my hair dry. Muli kong naalala na tatawagan ko nga pala si Zander. Kaya naman bago ko pa muling makalimutan ay ginawa ko na. Two rings and he's up.

"Zander, I'm okay" iyon kaagad ang binungad ko sakanya.

I heard him took a long sigh. "Good, I'm not telling mom any of this. She'll worry-"

"And I don't want you tell her, anyway. I'm already fine, she doesn't have to know." I said. "Nag-aayos lang ako, mag-papahatid na rin ako kay Oxygen pauwi. Or I can just get a cab, nakakaabala na rin ako sakanya masyado-"

"About that, Gabby" he cut me off. "I'm not home, I have to do something. I'll be gone for days and you'll be left alone."

"Oh, that's okay, Zander. I can take care of myself-"

"No, I already talked to Oxygen last night. Much as I hate him being around you, I know he can keep you safe. And we had a deal that I'll lash his throat out if he ever touch you." Zander sounded murderously serious. "You'll be staying with him until I get back."

"Zander, hindi na kailangan!" Protesta ko. I don't want to be Oxygen's excess baggage, I am not his responsibility and I don't want to be one. "Kaya ko na ang sarili ko. Remember, I was eighteen when I moved out of our house and lived in my own apartment at New York. I do-"

"Yeah, but after what happened last night, I don't think I can trust you with yourself." Pinal niyang sabi. "You choose, it's either you go back to states or you'll stay with Oxygen until I'm back."

"Zander! He doesn't need to babysit me!" I hissed.

"Oh, he won't. You're not a baby girl anymore, are you?" Tuya niya na siyang nagpaikot ng aking mga mata. "I have to go now, Gabby. Daanan niyo nalang dito ang mga gamit mo. I'll call you from time to time, so that I'll know if I have to end a De Salvo's life."

"You're impossible!"

"Even the impossible says I'm possible, sweetheart." That's it, before I could even utter my protest, Zander is already gone.

Alright, Zander has a point. I'm emotionally unstable to be left alone for indefinite time. Lalo pa ngayon na muli na naman akong binibisita ng bangungot na pilit kong tinatakbuhan. But then, Oxygen has his own life. I don't want him to feel responsible for my sake. Ilang gabi ko na siyang naabala and for sure magiging abala lang rin talaga ako kung sakanya ako ibibilin ni Zander. Maybe I can talk things over with him and tell him that he can just ignore Zander's favor.

I let my hair down and fall over my shoulders. Carrying my things, I went out of the room to look for Oxygen. Hindi naman ako nahirapan na makita siya. He's at the front porch, about to lit up his cigarette.

I never liked the smell of smoke, I never tried to taste it. Mom said that dad used to be a smoker but when Zander was born, he stopped. Because mom doesn't like him smoking. Well, it's for his own good.

Not that I'm judging smokers, but for me only a fool would put his lips at the end of a burning fire.

He put the cigarette between his lips, he's looking straight at me as he light up the smoke, inhaling lightly while holding the flame of his lighter at the tip. He then placed it back to the pocket of his jeans, squinting his eyes as he began giving it a few strong and long slow draws then slowly blow the smoke out of his mouth and nose without breaking our contact.

It hit me. Did I just watch him smoke? Fuck. I should be disgusted. But am I?

"Natawagan mo na si Zander?" Iyon ang kaniyang tanong bago muling humithit ng sigarilyo.

Marahang tango ang ginawa ko, nanatiling nakasunod ang tingin ko sakanyang kamay na may hawak ng sigarilyo. Okay, Gabby, stop. This man is gross.

"Gusto mo?" Tumatawang inalok niya sakin ang hawak niyang stick ng sigarilyo.

I rolled my eyes and faked my disgust. "You're eeeeew, Oxygen!"

"With five e and a single w, I know that now." He continued chuckling. "Okay ka na ba? Ubusin ko lang 'to alis na tayo, kala ko kasi matatagalan ka pa kaya nag-yosi muna ako."

"I'm done, but yeah sure finish it first." Medyo nailang ako nang mapansin na mas pinakatitigan niya ako. I crossed my arms on my chest and leaned a the door frame. "About what Zander told you, you don't have to do that, Oxygen. I can manage. I'll take care of myself-"

"How exactly, Gabgab?" He mocked.

Okay, I was move by his question. "I- basta, ako na bahala sa sarili ko. If you've already said your words with Zander then we can just pretend that I'm under your care and I can live my days alone-"

"Gabbana, hindi nga ko sinungaling. Kulit ng bungo mo, 'noh?" Maaskad na naman siyang umiling bago ngumisi. "Patigilin nga luha mo 'di mo magawa, alagaan pa kaya sarili mo?"

Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero bigla na naman bumalik lahat ng inis ko sakanya. Maybe because deep inside me I know I will never win this conversation over him. Naiinis ko siyang tinalikuran atsaka tinungo ang kaniyang nakaparadang sasakyan.

Malakas siyang humalakhak, he fished off the key of his car from his jeans to click the doors open.

"Bilisan mo!" Sigaw ko.

"Relax ka lang dyan, baby girl. Wag masyadong high blood." Mapanukso parin niyang sabi.

Hindi ko na siya nilingon at mabilis akong pumasok sa loob ng kaniyang sasakyan, banging the door close. Nakahalukipkip ko siyang pinanuod na tapusin ang kaniyang paninigarilyo. And he's as if taking all the time in the world. Nakalingon din siya sakin habang ginagawa iyon, naroon parin ang nakakainis niyang ngisi.

Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mga mata, ngunit mas napangisi lamang siya. Now that he's annoying me with his grin, I could say that he looks more like his mom.

Hindi ko na nabilang kung ilang irap ang napakawalan ko bago siya matapos at mag-lakad patungo sa sasakyan. I was quick to pull out the sanitizer I had in my bag and gave it to him. Humalakhak na naman siya bago iyon tanggapin at mag-lagay sa kamay. Hindi parin ako nakuntento, I took my perfume out and sprayed some in the air.

"Arte talaga nito," ngumingisi niyang sabi bago mag-simulang patakbuhin ang sasakyan.

Nang makuntento ako ay ibinalik ko na iyong muli saking bag at sumandal sa upuan. "Daanan natin sa bahay ni Zander ang mga gamit ko-"

"Ipina-empake na ni Zander iyong mga kakailanganin mo, pinakuha ko na iyon. Para hindi na natin daanan, out of the way rin naman." Sabi niya.

"What?!" I snarled, annoyed. "Zander asked someone to touch my things?! How dare him?!"

Kumibit ang kaniyang mga balikat. "Medyo mahaba ang byahe, may tubig sa likod. Mamaya pag may nadaanan tayong matinong kainan, kakain tayo. Alam ko namang maselan 'yang sikmura mong alagang Louis Vuitton, Prada, at Dolce and Gabbana o kung ano pa, kaya mamaya na tayo kakain. Gutom ka na ba?"

Imbes na sumagot sakanyang tanong ay kinunutan ko siya ng noo. "Wait, saan ba tayo pupunta? What mahabang byahe? Why? Where are you taking me?"

"Camarines Sur."

Agad na nanlaki ang aking mga mata, napaahon ako mula saking pagkakasandal bago siya marahas na lingunin. "Camarines what?!"

"Bingi lang? Paulit-ulit?" Sarkastiko niyang sabi bago ako saglit na lingunin. "Caramoan, Camarines Sur."

"What the fuck?!" I hissed, shaking my head in disbelief. "That's too far!"

"Sinabi ko bang malapit? Kaya nga mahabang byahe di ba? Edi sana sinabi ko mabilis lang kung too near. Gabgab, maganda ka pero tanga ka." Patuloy niyang pamimilosopo.

"Oxygen, why are you taking me away? Did Zander know this?"

"Hoy, hoy, babae!" Nilingon niya na ako ng tuluyan bago huminto ang sasakyan dahil sa traffic light. "Wag ka naman masyadong gandang ganda sa sarili mo, hindi kita kinikidnap ha. Wag kang mangarap dyan. Alam 'to ng kapatid mo kasi siya mismo ang nagsabi na doon kita dalhin."

"And why would Zander ask you to do that?" Hindi ko pa rin makapaniwalang sabi, this time, my arms akimbo.

He inched closer to me, I want to move away but I was stoned in shock. He's too close. Ilang sandali niya akong tinitigan bago ako impit na mapaaray nang pitikin niya ang tungki ng aking ilong.

"Oxygen!" Nanggigigil kong inabot ang kaniyang buhok atsaka siya sinabunutan.

"Aray! Putangina!" Tumatawa niyang sigaw. "Gabgab, teka, go na! Matiticketan tayo nito. Teka lang! Taympers!"

Hindi ko iyon binitawan. I'm so irritated and since he's getting physical I'm gonna get physical too!

"Sandali lang!" Mahigpit niyang hinawakan ang aking kamay at inalis iyon sakanyang buhok upang makapagmaneho na siya ng ayos. "Teka."

Binabawi ko sakanya ang aking kamay ngunit hindi niya iyon pinapakawalan. "Bitaw!"

"Ayoko, mananabunot ka. Sandali lang baka mabangga tayo, wag ka muna makulit."

"Wow, ako pa ang makulit?! Nakakahiya naman sayo, Oxygen!" Buong lakas kong hinila ang aking kamay mula sakanya hanggang sa mabawi ko iyon.

Siya naman ay sinipat ang kaniyang sarili sa harap ng salamin at bahagyang inayos ang nagulong buhok. "Grabe, lupit mo. Anong klaseng kuko meron ka?"

Nilingon ko siya at doon ko nakita na bahagyang dumudugo ang gilid ng kaniyang tenga. Nadaanan marahil iyon ng aking kuko kanina nang sabunutan ko siya. Agad naman akong tinamaan ng konsensya.

I unbuckled my seat belt to get closer to him. "Oh my God, I'm sorry! Ang kulit kulit mo kasi!"

Inalis ko ang kaniyang kamay na dumadama sa bahaging iyon at pinadaanan iyon ng aking hintuturo. Naramdaman ko ang pagbaba ng kaniyang kamay saking braso. Keeping me steady because I didn't have my belt on.

"Where's the tissue from last night?" I asked him.

Ininguso niya ang compartment ng dashboard habang ang mga mata ay tutok sa pagmamaneho. Mabilis kong kinuha roon ang tissue. Pinunasan ko ang dumudugong bahagi, alam kong mahapdi iyon. So I gently blew it.

He turned his head and I startled, the tip of our nose gently touched. My heartbeat races in shock. He's looking at me with those intense blue eyes.

Awkwardly, I moved back to my seat. He let go of my arms and turned his eyes back on the road. I bit my lower lip hardly and cleared my throat, I know I need to say something.

"I'm sorry." I said in a small voice.

"Okay lang. I like it rough."