Sometimes I run
Sometimes I hide
Sometimes I'm scared of you
But all I really want is to hold you tight
Treat you right, be with you day and night
Baby, all I need is time

-Sometimes by Britney Spears

--

Nangako si Lena sa sarili na babawi siya kay Cyrus. She will make him feel that it's worth continuing the deal. As to why she wanted to do it, she wasn't really sure. But she was sure of one thing: she doesn't want to let him go.

Siguro ay sanay na siyang palagi itong naroon para sa kanya. Nasanay na siya sa pag-aalaga nito. Maybe that's why she feels so attached. Nobody takes care of her like Cyrus does. It was a selfish reason, she knew that. Kaya nga gusto niyang bumawi kahit papaano.

Since she sucks at kitchen duties, she decided not to try to cook for him. Baka saktan lang ito ng tiyan at lalo pang sumama ang loob sa kanya. Bumili na lamang siya ng pagkaing madaling i-assemble. She's an expert in making mango graham cakes. She had a little fun marbling the top with cream and nutella.

Cyrus wasn't much of a sweet tooth but she's sure he'll appreciate it. Martin told her so. Sabi nito, appreciative daw ang mga lalaki kahit gaano man kalaki o kaliit ang effort ng mga babae.

When the cake was chilled enough, she headed to the office to surprise Cyrus. Everyone eyed the mango graham cake with hunger.

"Aba, dumadalas yata ang dalaw mo?" nakangiting tanong ni Martin.

"Ang swerte talaga ni Cyrus," sabi ng isa. "Sana ako rin, may girlfriend."

"Can we get a slice, Lena?" tanong naman ng isa pang nandoon. "Hindi naman ubos ni Cyrus 'yan, e."

Another one leaned in to take a closer look at the cake. It's true. She doubts that Cyrus could eat it alone. Isang malaking glass tray kasi ang nilagyan niya ng graham cake.

Martin gently pushed the one who leaned in away from her. "O, safe distance, p're. Gusto mong ma-power saw ng boyfriend nyan?"

"Testing lang," sagot ng lalaki sa gilid niya. Ipinatong nito ang kamay sa balikat niya habang ang isa naman ay tumawag kay Cyrus sa ibaba. Apparently, he's there again, working on the folding table. Maya-maya ay kasama na itong umakyat noong tumawag dito. Mukhang effective ang pambibwisit dito ng mga kasama. He looked like he was about to murder the guy beside her.

Agad inalis ng lalaki ang kamay sa pagkakaakbay sa kanya at natatawa itong tumakbo palabas ng building.

The crowd around her dispersed and immediately went back to work. Cyrus took the tray from her hands and carried it with one hand while the other took hers and led her downstairs.

"What are you doing here?" he asked as they're climbing down the stairs.

"Paying you a visit," she answered.

"Did you make this?" He gestured at the graham cake.

"Yep."

Ipinatong nito ang tray sa lamesa. "It looks good."

He removed the plastic wrap and dipped his index finger on the cream. Then he put it on his mouth. She found it... hot.

Heto na naman siya, nagugulo ang sistema dahil kay Cyrus. She tried to think of something else. She'd surely blush if she let that thought linger in her head.

"Okay lang ba ang lasa? Hindi ko kasi tinikman."

Tumango ito bilang sagot. "I'll get some spoon. Dito ka lang. Don't talk to anyone."

Tiningnan niya ang ginagawa nito habang hinihintay itong bumalik. There's a huge paper on the table with drawings ang measurements. It was labeled #4, which she assumed was the number of attempts he did in making the furniture.

Cyrus returned with two forks and a plate.

"Dadalhan ko sina mama. Hindi ko ubos 'to," sabi nito sa kanya.

Agad niyang tinikman ang ginawang graham cake. Nakahinga siya nang maluwag nang matikmang hindi ito sobrang tamis. The mangoes and went well with the nutella she spread in between the layers. Mabuti na lamang at manipis lang ang pagkakalagay niya.

"Do you intend to come here everyday?" tanong nito habang kumakain.

"Bakit? Ayaw mo?"

"Oo," walang kaabog-abog nitong sagot. "Maloko kasi 'yong mga kasama ko. Mahilig mang-asar."

"Ano naman ang kinalaman ko do'n?"

He looked at her then shook his head. "Never mind."

"Bawal na ba 'kong pumunta rito?"

"I'd rather come to you," was his answer.

--

The next day, Lena spent the whole afternoon at home. Simula nang matapos niya iyong pinagagawa ni Julie, wala na ulit siyang ginagawa. She'll be paid by the end of the week. Until then, tiis muna siya sa mga pagkaing bigay ng parents at lola niya. Kailangan din munang maghintay ng Totoro bed na gusting-gusto niyang bilhin.

She wanted to call Cyrus, but he's probably busy so she decided against it.

Nahiga siyang muli sa kama. Sumunod si Bailey at pumwesto sa ulunan niya tapos ay ipinatong nito ang ulo sa ulo niya.

"Do you want to go for a walk?" she asked her dog. "Kaso mainit."

Bailey whimpered.

"Tulog na lang tayo?"

But she couldn't sleep. Ang haba ng tulog niya. Maaga siyang natulog kagabi at medyo tanghali na ring gumising kanina. She got up and walked to the living room, with Bailey tagging along.

Binuksan niya ang TV at nanuod. Sakto naman na rerun ng dating teleserye ni Lacey sa isang cable channel.

Pang-Primetime na si Lacey ngayon. She started from being a supporting character to having her own afternoon TV series and now, this. Proud na proud siya sa kapatid. Her acting skills improved immensely. Dati ay pang-teeny bopper lamang ang roles nito. Now, she can take on more serious and challenging roles. It was all thanks to Martin. If he didn't put his foot down and told Lacey's manager that she doesn't need to be in a love team to do well in the industry, then Lacey wouldn't be this successful.

Of course, Martin was also jealous of the guy kaya pinilit nitong huwag nang ipareha si Lacey doon.

Her TV-watching was interrupted by the ringing of her phone. She quickly got up and got the phone from the bedside table. She was kinda bummed when she saw that Martin's the one calling.

"Hi," bati niya.

"Uy, Lena! Hinahanap ka ng mga empleyado ko. Pupunta ka ba ngayon dito?"

"Hindi," sagot niya. "Huwag na raw akong pumunta dyan sabi nya."

"Huh? Why not?"

She shrugged. "Mga alaskador daw kasi kayo. I don't know how that concerns me."

"I do, but I'm not gonna tell you," he said with a chuckle. "Sige na. Baka mahuli na naman akong tinatawagan ka. Magagalit na naman 'yon."

"Okay."

Halos katatapos pa lamang ng pag-uusap nila ni Martin nang tumunog ulit ang phone niya. It's Cyrus, this time.

"Hey, are you busy later?" he asked.

"No. Why?"

"Dinner tayo mamaya sa bahay."

"Sa bahay mo?" The last time she was there, something wonderful and something embarrassing happened. It might happen again and it's too soon for that.

"Sa bahay nina Mama."

"Ha? Ngayong araw na? Sure ka?"

"Yeah. Ayaw mo ba? Nakabili na si Mama ng lulutuin kanina, e. Sabihin ko raw sa 'yo para hindi ka tumanggi."

She bit her lip. She already met his family and they're all so nice, but she doesn't do sit down dinners kung saan siya 'yong bisita. She might do something embarrassing again.

"Lena? Hello?"

"Uhm... ano..."

"Hindi naman sila nangangagat. There's no need to be afraid," tuloy-tuloy nitong sabi. "Pumayag ka na."

"Kasi-"

"Please?"

She sighed. "Okay," napipilitan niyang sagot. "But I might do something stupid."

"Like what?"

"I don't know. Nabobobo ako minsan when I get uncomfortable."

Tumawa ito. "Don't worry. They're already warned."

--

Lena wanted to wear something nice, but her closet didn't cooperate. Hinalungkat na niya itong mabuti but all she has were jeans and black dresses. She instantly called Lacey to borrow some clothes. Si Ramona ang nakausap niya dahil nasa photoshoot daw si Lacey.

Hahanapan daw siya nito ng damit at ipadadala nito sa driver ni Lacey.

Almost an hour after the call, the driver came with several dresses. Pinadagdagan daw ng kapatid niya ang ipinadalang damit para may pamimilian siya. But she immediately knew what she'd want to wear.

It's a champagne-colored dress with an A-line satin shirt and lace-covered bodice. It was cap-sleeved with a high neckline tapos ay may peep hole sa likod na pinagdugtong ng butones sa may batok.

She quickly dried her hair and put the dress on. Mabuti na lamang at naisipan niyang maligo kaagad kanina. She's sure that she'll take a lot of time preparing herself for this dinner. For one, hindi siya naka-jeans lang. She's wearing a freaking dress!

And she plans on wearing a little makeup as well. Pero dahil hindi siya marunong ng matinong makeup, tinawagan niya ang kapatid na si Kenna. Kenna gave her a step-by-step procedure on how to apply simple makeup with her limited resources.

Mukha naman siyang matino kaya ayos na rin.

When Cyrus came to pick her up, hiniling niya na sana ay ayos lamang dito ang hitsura niya. If it's okay for him, then it will probably be okay for his family.

He changed one thing though. He removed her cardigan.

With her arms bare, kitang-kita ang mga peklat sa may pulso niya. He touched the scars and smiled. "It's okay. You don't need to hide," he said.

Those two sentences meant everything.