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MACKENNA

"MACKENNA! SCOUT'S HERE!"

Nakahiga pa ako sa kama at busy sa pag-scroll sa Facebook nang marinig ko ang pag sigaw ni Freya. My heart automatically starts beating fast just by hearing his name.

"Shit!" I muttered to myself before forcing myself to get up.

I quickly checked the time on the wall clock. It's only 7 o'clock. Ang aga pa! Ni hindi pa nga ako nakakapag-toothbrush at suklay ng buhok.

"Come in. Do you want anything to drink? Water? Coffee?" Freya said to Scout. Maliit lang 'tong apartment kaya rinig ko ang usapan nila sa labas. Kaya hindi ko rin masisisi si Freya na makinig sa usapan namin ni Scout kahapon dahil manipis lang 'tong mga pader sa apartment ko.

"Water is fine. Thank you." Scout replied.

It's been ten minutes since Freya yelled that Scout is here, and yet I'm still inside my bedroom. Sobrang ihing-ihi na rin ako, pero 'yung bathroom ay nasa labas at kailangan kong lumabas ng kuwarto ko para makaihi. I feel like my bladder is going to burst any second now.

I have no choice but to change clothes instead and brush my hair so I look more decent. I took a deep breath before slowly opening my bedroom's door. Mula sa puwesto ko ay kitang-kita ko agad si Scout na nakaupo sa couch. He's talking to Freya, and I took that chance to quickly go to the bathroom.

Nakahinga ako nang maluwag pagkatapos kong umihi. And then I brushed my teeth and put a little bit of lip tint on my lips and cheeks so I didn't look as pale.

"Are you ready to see your father again?" I whisper as I caress my tummy. Wala pa rin akong baby bump, so you really can't tell that I'm pregnant, but I still like to caress my tummy.

"Good morning." I said when I finally came out of the bathroom and made my way to the living room, where Freya and Scout were sitting.

Scout is wearing a black shirt that hugs perfectly his muscular arms and chest, khaki pants, and brown cordovan shoes. He looks so... hot.

If only Freya could hear my thoughts right now, I'm sure she'd be ecstatic that I called Scout a hottie.

"Finally you're here! We've been waiting for you." Freya said.

"No, it's okay. Take all the time that you need." Sabi naman ni Scout na nakangiti. Tipid lang din akong ngumiti pabalik sakaniya at saka ako naupo sa tabi ni Freya. Nakita ko rin 'yung nakahandang tubig at left over pizza sa centre table.

"So..." Pagbasag ni Freya sa katahimikan. "What's the plan for today?"

"What plan?" kinunotan ko ng noo si Frey.

"I don't know. Maybe Scout has a plan for you two. You know. A date maybe?" She wiggles her eyebrows at me before shifting her eyes from me to Scout.

"Of course I have a plan! From A to Z," masayang sagot agad ni Scout.

Freya clapped her hands in excitement after hearing what Scout has said. "Ohhh... I love it! Not just Plan A or Plan B. You have a plan up to Z." her eyes are twinkling. "Love a man with a plan, right Kens?" Freya added and nudges my arms a little bit.

I couldn't respond to what Freya just said. Love a man with a plan, hmmm...

I wouldn't deny that I've started to like Scout since we've met. He's fun to be with. Walang minuto, o kahit segundo na mabo-bored ka kapag kasama mo siya. He always knows the right word to say. He's nice and witty. He can be a little bit of a jerk sometimes, but I know deep inside that he has a good heart. And I am open to getting to know him more.

Freya excused herself when she got a phone call, leaving me and Scout alone.

"Mackena may sasabihin ako sa'yo," sabi ni Scout nang marinig naming bumukas at sarado 'yung pintuan sa front door. "H'wag kang magagalit ha,"

Bigla akong kinabahan sa sinabi ni Scout. Ang seryoso pa naman nang pagkakasabi niya. Mas dumoble lalo 'yung bilis nang pagtibok ng puso ko.

"What is it?"

"Ano kasi..." he said, scratching the back of his neck nervously. "Mabait naman 'yung kaibigan mong si Freya." Dahan-dahang kumunot 'yung noo ko. I don't know where Scout is going with this and I'm really curious. Doesn't he like Freya? Mukhang magkasundo naman silang dalawa kanina base sa pag-uusap nila. Mas mukha pa ngang matagal na silang magkakilala dahil sa dami nilang pinag-usapan.

"Ayaw mo si Freya?" I said it in Tagalog. Just in case, na marinig ni Freya. I don't want to hurt her feelings because I know that she's already fond of Scout.

"Hindi! Wala akong sinabing hindi ko gusto si Freya. Ang bait nga niya sa'kin e. Ano lang kasi..."

"Ano nga?"

"Ano kasi feeling ko dudugo na 'yung ilong ko kaka-english. Hindi na kinakaya ng brain cells ko makipag-usap sakaniya. Mahigit isang oras na kasi ako nag-i-english nang diretso e natatakot ako baka bigla nalang akong bumulagta dito sa harapan niyo."

I bit my lower lip, trying to suppress my laughter, but I couldn't. Malakas akong tumawa dahil sa sinabi niya. Hindi pa rin siya nagbabago.

"Medyo nag-expect kasi ako nung sinabi niyang half-pinay siya, pero 'yun nga lang hindi pala siya nakakaintindi o marunong magsalita ng Tagalog."

Halos maiyak na ako sa katatawa dahil sa sinasabi ni Scout. Akala ko pa naman kung anong sasabihin niya dahil sobrang seryoso ng mukha niya.

"Are you for real?" I'm still laughing. Pinunasan ko 'yung luha sa mata ko. Ngayon lang ulit ako tumawa nang ganito. Iba rin kasi talaga 'tong si Scout e.

"Oo nga. Akala naman nito nagbibiro ako. Peksman! Tara na? Alis na tayo bago pa bumalik si Freya." Pagmamakaawa niya. Para siyang bata.

"Baka naman nagdadahilan ka lang para yayain ako lumabas?" Tinaasan ko siya ng isang kilay nang medyo mahimasmasan ako.

The sides of his lips rose. "You know I will ask you out on a date regardless. Hindi ko na kailangang gumamit ng ibang tao para magdahilan."

"Can you give me 10 minutes to take a shower?"

"Is that a yes that you want to go on a date with me?" He grins at me. I was about to leave after rolling my eyes at him when he grabbed my wrist. With only a light touch from him, tingling sensations rush through my body.

Napalunok ako. Unable to move with the grip on his hand.

Inirapan ko siya ng isang beses pa, "Whatever." Sabi ko bago pilit kumawala sa pagkakahawak niya sa'kin at naglakad papasok ng kuwarto. Narinig kong natawa lang si Scout dahil sa inakto ko.

"Your dad is crazy." I whisper, smiling while gently caressing my tummy.

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Nagsabi ako kay Freya na aalis lang kami sandali ni Scout pagkatapos kong maligo. Ni hindi na nga siya nagtanong kung saan kami pupunta at halos ipagtulakan na rin niya kami ni Scout palabas.

But I still can't help but feel guilty for leaving her alone. She spends money and time to visit me here in Brooklyn, and I just left her alone in my apartment. Maybe I should text Ryder and ask if he can accompany Freya today. Today is Monday naman at mamaya pa magbubukas ang The Hudson. I just quickly sent a message to Ryder and told him about Freya and hopefully he's available today.

"Why did you even go here in Brooklyn if you're having a hard speaking in English? Hindi ka ba na-inform na English ang first language nila dito?" biro ko kay Scout pagkalabas namin ng apartment.

"Kakayanin ko lahat para sa'yo." He said with a wink and I faked gagged on his response.

"Grabe ilang buwan lang tayo hindi nagkita ganyan kana sa'kin. Para namang wala tayong pinagsamahan niyan,"

"Ay meron ba?" biro ko ulit tapos tumigil siya sa paglalakad at sinimangutan ako na parang bata.

Natawa ako dahil sa reaksyon niya. Parang bata talaga.

"I'm just kidding, okay?"

"Pero ako hindi ako nagbibiro na kakayanin ko para sa'yo." Ang bilis magbago ng facial expression ni Scout. Just a while ago he was being sulky like a child, and now his face is serious again, and I almost want to fall for his act.

Dinala ako ni Scout sa Brooklyn bridge. I've been living here in Brooklyn for months, and I've only been here once. Maybe it's because I've been too preoccupied with my job and trying so hard to make a living. Lalo pa ngayon na magkakaanak na ako. I need to be financially stable bago ako manganak.

"Hindi ba masarap?"

"I-I'm sorry." I said. Hindi ko namalayan na kanina pa pala ako nakatulala at hindi ko pa nagagalaw 'yung pagkain na in-order ko. After namin maglakad-lakad ay pumunta kami dito sa isang malapit na restaurant para mag-lunch.

I forced a smile. "No, masarap naman." Sagot ko.

"Hindi ka pa nga nakakaisang subo pano mo nalamang masarap?"

"Pilosopo..."

"Joke lang." he chuckles, "Pinapatawa lang kita. Kanina pa kasi nakakunot ang noo mo at malalim ang iniisip."

"Sorry boring 'tong plano ko today. Promise mas gagalingan ko pa sa pag-google ng mga pwedeng gawin at puntahan natin."

"No, Scout. I should be the one apologizing to you. It's not your fault. Marami lang talaga akong iniisip ngayon."

"Dahil ba sa kapatid mo?"

I sighed heavily. Right, I almost forgot, there's Sav too, which I'm still worried about. She's on her third trimester, and it's more crucial to her now to keep her baby a secret from Foster. And it's been a few days since the last time I visited her. I just hope that she's doing fine.

"I actually found my sister, and we're actually okay now." I forced a smile. Scout doesn't need to know about the mountain of problems which I'm dealing right now.

"Hala totoo? I'm so happy for you, Mackenna!" nagulat ako nang biglang tumayo si Scout mula sa kinauupuan niya at saka ako nilapitan para yakapin. I am taken aback from his sudden action.

"Thank you," I stutter. Ramdam ko 'yung sincerity sa tono ng boses niya.

"Sorry," sabi niya nang ma-realize niya 'yung biglang pagyakap niya sa'kin. Napakamot siya sa batok niya gaya nang palagi niyang ginagawa kapag kinakabahan siya. "Masyado lang akong nadala ng emosyon ko. Pero masaya talaga ako na nahanap mo na 'yung kapatid mo, Mackenna."

Bumalik na si Scout sa upuan niya. "You might not remember it. Pero 'yung gabing magkakilala tayo, kitang-kita ko sa mukha mo 'yung lungkot habang kinikwento mo sa'kin 'yung nangyari sainyong magkapatid. Kaya sobrang saya ko lang talaga na marinig na okay na ulit kayong dalawa."

"I may not know the entire story about your family, but I want you to know that I am always here whenever you need someone to talk to or to listen to you."

I can't believe that he still remembers that. Alam kong lasing kaming dalawa nung gabing 'yun kaya hindi ko inaasahan na natatandaan pa rin niya hanggang ngayon 'yung mga sinabi ko tungkol samin ni Sav. I know I got so emotional back then because I was drunk and I was so sad and alone, and he is the only one that I can talk to.

I smile at him. "I really appreciate that, Scout. Thank you." I placed my hand on top of his, which was sitting on the table, and gently squeezed it.

Scout can be a jerk at times, but I know he is always nice to me and would never deliberately hurt me. He even saved my sister once, even without him knowing who she is.

And I really hope he stays true to his words and won't leave me even after finding out about our baby.

W H A T Y A S E Y