CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

AFTER namin mag-mall ay umuwi na kami. He wants us to eat outside but I decline because I'm still full. He insisted to take me home so his sure I'm safe, pero tulad ng dati, sa labas lang siya ng subdivision at maglalakad ako pauwi.

"Dapat hindi mo na binili 'to kung wala pala 'yung sinasabi ko," turan ni Blue habang tinitingnan ang pinamili kong washi tapes sa kanya. Nandito kami sa common room, nakaupo si Blue sa harap ng study table niya at inaayos ang mga gamit niya do'n. I think she's finding a place to put her new washi tapes. I also buy her new pens and new notebooks for her journaling.

"Mom will be mad if she saw this new pens," natatawang sabi nito.

"Itago mo ng mabuti, but new pen holder. I saw new acrylic pen holder in shopee, you want to buy?" I asked.

I'm playing COD, minsan lang ako maglaro nito kaya sinusulit ko na.

"I needed extra place. My room is full of my things. I need to expand it so lahat sila kakasya," sabi niya at nilingon ako. "Let's renovate our room," yaya niya.

Tiningnan ko siya. If I will renovate my room I'm just going to waste some money because I'm not going to use it anymore. I will fly in New York after our graduation and that's five months from now, after finishing college I find my own place then I will work. So nah.

"I don't want to, kung gusto mo ikaw na lang," sagot ko saka naglaro ulit.

"Bakit? 'Di ba every year naman tayong nagpapa-renovate," malungkot ang tono niya.

"Dahil malapit na tayong mag-college. Hindi rin natin magagamit ang bagong room dahil aalis rin tayo dito. You wanted to study in Paris, France, right." She nodded, "Who will use our room if ever? No one. Sayang sa pera," ani ko pa.

She let out a sigh. "I understand. Hindi na ako magpapa-renovate. Ipapa-ayos ko na lang siguro 'tong space ko dito para magkaroon pa ako ng malaking space." Panay ang libot ng tingin ni Blue sa buong kwarto namin.

Nag-out na ako sa laro ko at binaba sa tabi ang gamit na gadget.

"You can use my space here too, pwede namang ipa-remove mo 'yung beds then add a drawers for your things." I suggest.

Her eyes twinkle, "Really?!" she sounds too excited.

"Yes," I said then Blue run to me for a hug.

"Thank you na talagaaaa!"

Gumanti ako ng yakap sa kanya at siniksik ang ulo ko sa leeg niya.

THIRD PERSON'S P.O.V.

I shuddered because of the heat of the weather that greeted me when I got off the plane. Why am I not used to the heat of the weather here?

I was dragging my suitcase as I exited NAIA Terminal One. I picked up my phone and tried to call my friend yet he didn't answer so I took a taxi and went to the hotel where I'm going to stay temporarily. I already miss my Ferrari. About four months or more before it is brought here to the Philippines.

When I arrived at the hotel I entered immediately, I first took my keycard at the information desk then walked to the elevator to my room. I'm here at the hotel until I can't find a condo to move to.

I exited the elevator as it opened to the floor where the bedroom was, then I walked to my bedroom. When I saw that, I immediately went inside and closed the door. I also doubled the door lock. I looked at the whole place, it was clean and the place was big. Of course, it's a five-star hotel, if their room is dirty and not nice, they won't be known like this.

I walked into the room and turned on the AC there. I set my suitcase aside and then took off my clothes. I sat down in the bed then I start texting my father that I'm already here in the Philippines then I throw my phone in the middle of the bed. I lay down on the bed and turned a blind eye, I could already feel the jet log because of the flight.

Before I drown in a deep sleep I was thinking about how I could get close to him. It's hard because he doesn't know me. Maybe later he will be afraid of me and ruin all the plans.

I woke up because of a series of rings coming from my cellphone. I punched the cellphone and answered it. I put it on my ear.

"¿Quién es?" I asked. (Sino 'to?)

"¿Dónde estás? lo siento, estaba haciendo algo antes, así que no respondí tu llamada," I heard my cousins voice in the other line. (nasaan ka? sorry may ginagawa ako kanina kaya hindi ko nasagot ang tawag mo.)

I pulled the cellphone away from my ear and looked at what the caller's name was. I moaned to see my cousin's name registered there.

"I'm here in my hotel room. I was sleeping then you call," My voice is like bedroom voice when I answered him.

"Okay. Text me your location I'll go there," he said.

"Hmm..." I ended the call then text him the address. When I'm done I go back to sleep.

"YOU need to wake up now, fucker. It's already seven in the evening!" I heard my cousin shouted angrily at me.

I open my eyes just to give him a death glare. "Fuck you!"

He roll his eyes at me. "I have my girl for that, fucker." He throw me a towel and pointed the bathroom door. "Go get shower. We're going to meet someone," he said.

"Who?" I asked then took the towel before I stand up.

He smiled wickedly. "Someone. So go!" I raised my middle finger to him before I went to bathroom. I take a cold shower.

When I'm done I came out of the bathroom with only my lower body covered. I went to my suitcase and picked it up. I got down on the bed then and got my new clothes. I just got dressed quickly.

I just threw the towel I used to the side as I dried my hair. I went out of the room and caught up with my cousin sitting in the living room.

"A dónde vamos ¿a quién ganaremos?" I asked. (saan ba tayo pupunta? sinong kikitain natin?)

"My friend. Didn't I told you start speaking in Tagalog," he said before standing up.

My cousin walked away, then I followed. I just shook my head at his stupidity. It's seven pm yet we're still going somewhere.

I looked at him badly then punched him in the arm. We left the room. Then I locked the door and walked to the elevator.

He pushed the down button, it open. We walked inside then pushed the first-floor button. Close the door.

"You know I don't know how to shake. I'm groaning," I told him, while looking at my reflection in front of me.

"How can you learn if you don't do it? From now on I'll shake when I talk to you so you can learn," he said and came out first when the elevator opened.

"I can't! I don't know!" disgusted I said to him.

"Yes, you can. Spanish and Tagalog are almost the same, there only a few words with different meanings you need to study," he replied.

"Okay. I'll try. Maybe you should find me a tutor to make it easier for me to speak Tagalog," I suggested we left the hotel.

It took the car key then opened the car. I got into the passenger seat.

We went to a subdivision and landed at the house I knew very well. I turned to him.

"What are we doing here?" I ask.

He smiled at me. "You'll thank me later too," he said.

Even wondering I still looked outside and almost landed on my seat because I saw him outside their house. In the garden to be exact. She's with her sister, they're laughing and here right now. I'm getting jealous. I also wanted to have a bond with her like that.

"She's really beautiful," I said softly.

"She is. She's also smart," added the person next to me.

"I wish i can be with her," I said in a low voice.

I heard him sigh. "You will, soon. We just need to do what the plan is," he said and I nod.

Seeing her happy makes me happy too. I still remember what I promised with my father. I will make them meet soon.

An idea pop up in my mind. I look back at him.

"Can you help me?"

He frowned. "Where?"

I looked at her for a long time before I looked out the window at exactly where she was.

"I wanted her to be close to me," I said. I touched the window as if I could already touch his cheek.

"How will you do that?" he asked me.

I smiled foolishly before looking at him. "You'll see, let's go," I said and sat up.

Even though I was wondering, Nathaniel still followed me.