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"Tagaytay? I... I'm not sure, Jarvis. Baka may makakita saatin..." nagaalangang sagot ni Naia nang ayain siya ng lalaki lumabas kasama ng mga pinsan nito. Birthday da kasi ni Inno at magse-celebrate sila doon. "It's still not safe and we still have three months of school left..."

"Sa isang private villa tayo mags-stay," paliwanag nito. "Wala ring basta-bastang nakakapasok sa subdivision doon kaya I'm positive we'll be safe there. Matagal ko na rin kasing gusto magbakasyon kasama ka and I'd like to formally introduce you to my family."

The mere mention of his "family" suddenly made her anxious. Meet the parents? Hindi pa ata siya handa sa ga'non.

"I don't know, Jarvis..." nagaalangan niyang sambit. "Baka ma-awkward lang ako 'don."

"You've already met my cousins, Babe. Si Dos na lang ang hindi. You'd fit right in," pagkumbinsi nito. "And I think isasama ni River si Arika so may kakilala ka doon. Baka nga madun rin si Kendall at Uno as plus ones nung kambal."

"But your parents—"

"Are not not going," putol nito sa kanya. "Nasa Amerika si dad at mom. Baka mag-video call sila but they won't be there physically. As for my aunts and uncles, nasa ibang bansa rin sila. So it'll just be us."

Saglit siyang nag-isip. "Are you sure na pupunta si Arika?"

"She's seeing my brother. I'm sure dadalhin siya ni River doon. At baka ipakilala na rin," agad na sagot nito. Then he hugged her. "Please, baby? I promise you'll enjoy our vacation. Plus wala kang dapat ipag-alala. Di naman tayo lalabas ng kwarto—aray!"

Pinandilatan niya ang kasintahan. "Ikaw talaga kahit kelan eh ang harot mo!"

"Sa'yo lang naman," anito habang hinihimas ang pinagkurutan niya dito. "So, what do you say? Will you come with me?"

May ibang choice pa ba siya kung ganitong ginagamitan na siya ng payakap at pa-puppy dog eyes? Siyempre wala. Marupok siya eh.

"Okay fine. I'll go with you—"

"Thank you, babe!" Muli ay niyakap siya nito's inikot-ikot. "The villa's great. There's a clear view of Taal sa may garden. Bring your swimsuit. Barbecue party by the pool ang gusto ni Kuya."

Bagaman kinakabahan, hindi niya maiwasang maging excited. It's been a long time since magbakasyon siya kaya chance niya na ring makapagpahinga bago ang finals.

The week went by so fast at namalayan na lamang niya ang sariling naghihintay sa Starbucks sa baba ng condominium building na tinutuluyan. She was seating outside malapit sa daanan.

Jarvis went earlier to Tagaytay with Seven, Box and Kendall. Susunduin daw siya at si Uno ni Inno para hindi ga'non kahalaya. But Uno was kidnapped by Yvo kaya ang ending ay mag-isa siya ngayong naghihintay sa pagdating ng lalaki.

From: Vis
He's on his way. Traffic lang daw.

To: Vis
Yup. He texted kanina. He's just a block away daw. Stop texting and concentrate in driving ☺️

From: Vis
Seven's on the wheel. Silang na kami so I let the kid do the driving. Can't wait to see you...

Hindi niya napigilan ang pagngiti. And just before she could send her reply, isang sasakyan ang huminto sa kanyang harapan.

Halos lahat ng tao ay napatingin dito. It was a black Audi R8 but hindi ang sasakyan ang tiningnan ng lahat. It was the man who just came out of it.

Inno was wearing a plain pink shirt and some white pants. Simple lang iyon pero madating as he paired it off with some Gucci sneakers and sunglasses. Lahat ng babae—occasionally some boys too, eh napapatingin dito. You could hear the swooning nang tanggalin nito sa kanyang harapan ang aviators nito.

"All set?" he asked. "Ikaw lang? Akala ko kasama natin yung date ni Seven?"

"She was forcibly taken by your youngest," sagot niya as she gave him a friendly hug. "Oo nga pala. Happy Birthday!"

"Bukas pa pero, thank you."

"I didn't know what to get you kaya sa susunod na lang 'yung gift mo." Kinuha nito mula sa kanyang kamay ang dalang luggage bag. "It's hard to figure out what to give someone who has everything."

"On the contrary, I have the perfect gift in mind at ikaw lang ang makakabigay sa'kin," he said bago ito kumindat at pinagbuksan siya ng pinto.

Confused, sinundan niya lang ng tingin ang lalaki as he made his way to the driver's seat.

"Relax, Naia," sambit after she heard his seatbelt clicked. "I don't like the idea of sharing you with my brother. What I want is your friend. Si Arabella. Susunduin natin siya ngayon and your job, my dear brothers' beautiful girlfriend, is to convince her to come."

"What? Why?"

"I don't have a date," kibit-balikat nitong sambit. "And I think magiging convenient kung siya ang isasama ko since you're friends with her. At kung tama ang sinumbong nung mga bunso, River's girl is also your friend."

Naningkit ang kanyang mga mata at pinagmasdan ito ng maigi and he was grinning like an idiot. Napataas ang kilay niya dito.

"You know you can just tell me you like her. Hindi mo kailangang magdahilan ng ganyan," she said. Isang ngisi lang ang sinagot nito sa kanya. Totally unaffected by what she just said.

"Yeah. I like teasing her," saad nito. "And she likes Dos. She'd be thrilled to see him later."

"Masokista ka ba? Birthday mo tapos iaalay mo sa iba 'yung babaeng gusto mo," komento niya as he drove. It doesn't take a genius to know this guy likes her friend. Ilang beses pa lang sila nagkikita at ito lagi ang bukambibig ng lalaki. "Sa pinsan mo pa."

Ngumiti lang ito—his eyes still on the road. Clearly he's gonna dodge the question.

"So, Naia. Nasaan ngayon ang kaibigan mong hindi marunong humalik?"

Isang malalim na buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan niya habang nakamasid sa kanyang paligid. Kararating pa lang nila sa rest house pero parang wala na agad siyang energy for the rest of the day. Hindi pa kumpleto ang mga Montecillo pero ang gulo-gulo na agad.

River, Arika and Dos were all stuck in traffic kaya mga isa hanggang dalawang oras pa bago makararating ang mga ito.

"Gusto mo umakyat muna sa kwarto?" tanong nito sa kanya as he leaned closer to her. "Feeling ko na-stress ka sa biyahe with my brother and your friend."

"Very," sagot niya sabay pilit ngumiti. "Na-tempt pa nga akong tumalon palabas ng sasakyan kanina."

Buong biyahe nila ay walang ibang ginawa si Yoon at Inno kundi ang mag-sagutan. At tulad ng sabi ng lalaki kanina, he really did enjoy teasing her best friend.

Jarvis pulled her close and kissed the top of her head. "My poor baby."

"Tirik na tirik pa ang araw naglalandian na kayo sa harapan ko. Hustisya!" bulalas ni Uno na bigla na lamang umupo sa harapan nila. Kasunod nito si Seven na umupo sa tabi ng babae.

"Pwedeng-pwede naman natin sila gayahin, Dora," ani ng lalaki sabay lagay ng braso sa backrest ng kinauupuan nito. "All you need to do is ask."

"Isang hug nga Severino," ani ng babae sabay buka ng mga braso nito. But before Seven could even go to her cousin, hinatak ito papalayo ni Yvo.

"Huwag ka diyan. Di naliligo 'yan," ani ng bunso habang hinihila ang nakatatandang pinsan. "Marami akong kilala na mas sexy at maganda pa kesa diyan kay Dora."

"Gago ka talaga Giovanno!" hiyaw ng kanyang pinsan sabay tapos ng suot na tsinelas dito.

And the chaos started again. Sabay sila ni Jarvis napabuntong-hininga.

"I'd like to take you on that offer now," aniya sabay tayo. Tumayo din agad si Jarvis at hinwakan ang kanyang kamay habang papasok ng villa.

The place was huge. Mas malaki pa ata iyon sa mansyon nila. It had a grand staircase in the middle that added to the grandiose appeal of the whole house. Well lit din ito dahil sa mga napakalaking bintana.

"Hindi ba kita pwedeng kumbinsihin na sa kwarto ko na lang mag-stay mamayang gabi?" tanong nito habang umaakyat sila ng hagdan. "Hindi na ako sanay ng walang katabi matulog."

"Tabihan mo si Kuya Inno," biro niya. "Minsan lang kami makapag-slumber party nina Yoon. Too bad kasi wala si Synn."

"You should've invited her. Para kumpleto kayo."

"I was gonna ask pero timing rin na may out of the country vacation siya with her family," sagot niya.

"That's too bad."

Pagkabukas nito ng pinto ay bumungad sa kanya ang isang napakalaking silid. And there were tons of books. Kung hindi dahil sa kama ay iisipin niyang pumasok sila sa isang library.

"This is your room?" tanong niya dito habang iginagala ang mga mata sa paligid. "Wow. Hindi ka naman palabasa, eh 'no?"

"I just enjoy reading." Naramdaman niya ang mga braso nitong pumaikot sa kanyang likod. "You know what else I enjoy? Hmm?"

Humigpit ang yakap nito sa kanya as he nuzzled her neck from the back. This guy, really.

"Stop that," aniya. "Birthday ng kuya mo and everyone's downstairs."

"I'll be very quiet," hirit pa nito as he rained kissed on her neck down to her exposed shoulders.

"Jarvis—"

He didn't let her finish as she turned to face him. Agad nitong sinakop ang kanyang mga labi. And as always, tinugon niya iyon ng buong puso. Her arms automatically wrapped around his neck as he lifted her towards the bed. Hindi na siya nanlaban pagkat gusto niya rin ang nangyayari.

As they break away from each other, Jarvis gently cupped her face and gently trailed his thumb on her cheeks. Their gazes locked towards each other and she drowned in those deep brown eyes again.

The thing she loved most about Jarvis wasn't his appearance. Neither was his addictive kisses nor his ardent touch. It was him. Jarvis. Sa bawat tinging ibinabato nito sa kanya, pakiramdam niya'y siya lamang ang taong nakikita nito. Like she was the only person worthy of his attention.

"I love you," anito sabay kintal ng halik sa kanyang pisngi. "I love you so much, baby."

"I lo—"

"Naia—ay bold!"

Sabay silang napatingin ni Jarvis sa may pinto. It was Yoon—who instantly covered her eyes as she turned away. Nakasunod dito sina Arika, Uno at Kendall.

"Ate tanghaling tapat! May deadline ba kayong hinahabol?" pangaasar pa ni Uno na ikinatawa ng iba pang mga babae. She buried her face into Jarvis' chest. The guy was also laughing.

"Let's go for a swim while the guys prepare for the party, Ate Naia," ani naman ni Kendall. "You and Kuya Jarvis have all night. Amin ka muna ngayon."

"Yup! Malamig naman yung pool kaya for sure eh mababawasan 'yang init ng katawan mo—"

"Hoy!"

Nagsitawanan ang mga ito nang bigla siyang tumayo para sabunutan ang kaibigang si Arika. Pero mabilis itong nakatakbo papalayo. Siyempre hindi siya papatalo kaya't hinabol niya ito.

She clearly heard Jarvis and the girls' laughter as she ran after Arika. Nadaanan pa nga nila ang mga lalaki na mukhang litong-lito sa mga kaganapan.

When she finally caught up with Arika ay nasa loob na sila ng shared room nilang tatlo nina Yoon. Pumasok din sa silid na iyon sina Uno at Kendall dala ang kanilang mga bagahe.

"Malaki naman 'tong kwarto for the five of us," anito. "Dito na lang kami para hindi kami mukhang others."

"Let's wear our swimsuits na!" excited na sambit ni Kendall. "Gusto ko na talaga mag-swim since we got here. The infinity pool is so inviting!"

Hindi niya rin maikaila ang excitement na nararamdaman. Not because of the pool but of Jarvis' possible reaction.

Nang sabihin kasi nitong may pool sa villa ay agad niyang kinunsulta ang pinsang si Uno on what to wear. Dinemonyo siya ng pinsan in getting a Traingl while neoprene bikini with black lining. Medyo revealing iyon for her taste but Uno can be very convincing.

"Wow, Ate Naia. That bikini looks really good on you!" ani Kendall who was wearing an off-shoulder two-piece baby pink swimsuit.

"Sana all, sexy," ani Yoon na naka-yellow two-piece na ang pang-ibaba ay high-waisted. "Sana all keri ang pa-puson ni madam."

"Sana all keri magpakita ng madaming skin," ani naman no Arika na naka-red ruffle trim one-piece na medyo may plunging neckline.

"Makapagreklamo kayo akala niyo ampapanget ng katawan niyo," asik naman ni Uno. She was wearing a strapless two-piece swimsuit in black. "Kung hindi lang kayo taken baka pinatos ko na kayo."

Nagkatinginan bigla sina Yoon at Arika. Mukhang nabigla ang mga ito sa sinabi ng babae.

"She's just kidding," bawi bigla ni Kendall. "She's straight as an arrow but loose in the head. Wag niyo na lang po siyang pansinin."

"Hehe. Na-culture shock pa kayo, mga Ate? Sorry. Joke lang 'yon," dagdag naman ng pinsan niya. "Anyways, tara na sa baba. I want to see Kuya Jarvis be all protective and stuff. Panigurado may comforter nang hinanda 'yon sa baba."

Kaya naman pala ga'nong design ang pinili nito. She wanted to see a reaction from Jarvis. Hindi niya napigilan ang pagtawa.

"Ken, pa-ready ng documentation. Mukhang magiging masaya ang hapon na'tin."

Oddly, she's curious of Jarvis' reaction as well.

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