My heart will always be your second home.

-Fix my Heart by SayWeCanFly

--

Lena wore her cardigan for a reason. She wanted to cover her scars. Alam naman niyang hindi bagay 'yong itim na cardigan sa suot niyang damit. The blackness of the cardigan was a harsh contrast to the softness and femininity of the dress. Without it, she felt like she was thrown out of her comfort zone.

But Cyrus told her that she didn't need to hide. And it was somehow freeing, like she can show his family everything without them getting repulsed.

Pagdating nila sa bahay ng parents ni Cyrus, sinalubong sila ng mommy nito sa gate pa lang. His mom hugged her and kissed her cheek before pulling her by the hand to the dining area. Naabutan nilang nagsi-set ng hapag-kainan sina Cadence at Clem. Ang daddy naman ni Cyrus ang nagsasandok ng pagkain.

Cadence and Clem stopped what they're doing to welcome her. Ang daddy naman ni Cyrus ay pinalapit siya at hinalikan sa pisngi bago ibinigay ang hawak nitong serving dish.

"Pakilagay sa table. Salamat," nakangiti nitong sabi.

Walang katulong sina Cyrus sa bahay kaya ang mga ito mismo ang nag-asikaso ng dinner. They made her help as well, so she immediately felt like a part of the family. She was actually glad that she's not just sitting like an idiot while waiting for the table to be set.

Sabay-sabay silang naupo pagkatapos. And everyone's attention was suddenly onto her. Cyrus's mother took a piece of the roasted chicken and put it on her plate. Si Clem naman ang naglagay ng kanin.

"Give her some vegetables," utos ng daddy ni Cyrus.

She was about to tell him no when Cadence stood up and dumped the cooked spinach on her plate. She gave Cyrus a pleading look, hoping he'll take the leaves from her plate.

"Sorry. I can't help you with it," he said. "Kapag sa bahay ka namin kakain, required kang kumain ng gulay."

"Don't worry, Ate, you'll soon get used to it," Cadence told her with a meaningful smile.

Dahil nahihiya naman siyang isantabi ang gulay, wala siyang choice kundi kainin iyon. Masarap naman iyon. Hindi lang talaga siya sanay kumain ng gulay. Pero inubos niya ang laman ng pinggan dahil ayaw niyang magtampo ang nagluto.

Nobody talked about her scars. Kaya maging siya, unti-unti na ring nawala ang pagka-conscious na kita ang mga iyon. They almost became sort of ordinary, na parang parte na lang ng balat niya. Nalibang din siya sa pakikipagkwentuhan kaya hindi niya namalayang dumadaldal na pala siya.

When the dinner ended, they continued the conversation in the living room. Tapos ay naglaro sila ng Monopoly. It was a fun night; she wished it wouldn't end so soon. Pero ganoon talaga kapag nag-i-enjoy ka, ang bilis ng oras.

"Dito ka ulit mag-dinner bukas," Cyrus's mom told her.

She readily agreed. Tinanong pa siya ng daddy ni Cyrus kung ano ang gusto niyang kainin, para makapaghanda ito. Then they asked her to bring some mango graham cake for dessert.

Hanggang sa byahe ay hindi matanggal ang ngiti niya. When Cyrus asked her how the dinner was, she recalled it like he wasn't there. But he listened to her blabbers with interest. Mukhang natutuwa itong natuwa siya sa dinner.

"Ang saya sa inyo," sabi niya rito.

"Thanks. Kung gusto mo, do'n na lang tayo mag-dinner palagi."

"Nakakahiya naman kung nando'n ako araw-araw."

Umiling ito. "My mom would love that, actually."

She smiled. "I like your mom a lot. She reminds me of my own mother."

"Yeah, I see the similarities," he agreed.

"Teka, pa'no 'yong dadalhin kong dessert? Wala akong ingredients sa bahay!"

"Just give me a list and I'll buy them for you."

She nodded. "Okay. Bibigyan na lang kita ng pambili."

"Huwag na." She was about to argue when he added, "Just seeing you happy is enough payment for me."

--

Nang makarating sila sa bahay niya ay nakita nila si Bailey na naghihintay sa labas. Kapag ginagabi siya ng uwi, kusang bumabalik si Bailey sa harap ng bahay niya para maghintay. Alam kasi nitong hindi siya makakatulog nang walang katabi. The neighbors also knew this, so they let him leave after feeding him.

"Gusto mo bang mag-kape muna?" tanong niya kay Cyrus nang mabuksan ang pinto.

"Baka hindi ako makatulog agad kapag nagkape pa 'ko."

"Hot chocolate?"

"I'm not in the mood for that, sorry."

"Juice? Tubig?" She was already running out of options. Ano pa ba ang pwede niyang ipainom dito?

"Do you want me to stay?" he asked with a smile.

She blushed at the question. Unable to muster an answer, she simply gave him a nod. "B-But it's okay if you don't want to. It's already late."

"Huwag mo nang bawiin. Okay na, e." When she looked up, his eyes were twinkling. Hinila siya nito sa loob. "Hot chocolate na lang, ha. Hindi kasi talaga ako makakatulog sa kape."

"Sabi mo ayaw mo ng hot choco," paalala niya.

"Gusto ko lang magpapilit sa 'yo," he said nonchalantly.

So they ended up watching a late-night show, with a mug of hot chocolate each. Bailey was quietly curled next to them. She was already a bit sleepy, but she suppressed a yawn because she didn't want him to leave yet. Natatakot siyang baka bukas, mag-iba na naman ang ihip ng hangin. Masyado kasi siyang unpredictable.

"Sa tanghali ko na lang dadalhin 'yong ingredients for the graham cake, okay? Let's have lunch tomorrow."

Tumango siya. "Magluluto ka?"

He shook his head. "I might not have enough time to cook. Unless gusto mong ikaw ang magluto, we'll have to buy some takeout."

"Okay lang namang ako ang magluto. Basta prito."

He chuckled. "Okay. Takeout then."

She slapped his arm. "Ang sama mo, ha."

Cyrus grinned and casually put his arm on her shoulder. "You're too cute for your own good," he said before kissing the top of her head.

She inhaled his scent. This guy is so unreal. Does he ever smell bad? She wanted to bury her head in his chest and just sleep. Kahit nakaupo siya sa pagtulog, alam nyang masarap pa ring matulog basta nakayakap ito sa kanya.

"Cyrus, will you do something for me?"

"Sure. What is it?"

Huminga siya nang malalim saka ito tiningala.

"Will you kiss me?"

Nagulat ito sa tanong niya. "Is that a trick question?" pabalik nitong tanong, nang makabawi.

"Seryoso."

"Why?"

Unti-unti siyang pinamulahan. Sana ay ginawa na lang nito. Mas nakakahiyang magpaliwanag. "Basta," sagot niya. Ayaw niyang sabihing dahil gusto niya. It's too embarrassing to admit.

"Okay," he readily answered. He gave her a peck on the lips, then backed away and asked, "Like that?"

She shook her head. "Like... l-like the last time... back at your house."

"Sure ka? Baka umiyak ka na naman," he teased.

Nagbaba siya ng tingin. "Huwag na nga lang," bulong niya.

"Wala nang bawian," sabi nito. Then he bent down and kissed her the way she wanted to be kissed. Naikuyom niya ang mga kamay sa collar ng suot nitong damit. Para siyang kumain ng siling labuyo pagkatapos. Pakiramdam niya'y umuusok ang mukha niya sa init.

But she didn't want to hide. So she just bent her head down and stared at his shirt while waiting for the beat of her heart to go back to its regular rhythm.

"Lena..." He tilted her chin up, but she looked down again.

"D-Don't look at me."

"Why not? You're beautiful," she heard him say.

Lalong nag-init ang mukha niya. Tuluyan na siyang sumubsob sa dibdib nito. It will probably take a while before she regains her composure again.

"I'm sorry. I'm hiding again, aren't I?" she asked a while later.

He kissed her hair and replied, "As long as you hide in my arms, I don't mind."