🌷

Hindi makatingin ng diretso si Naia kay Jarvis. Kasalukuyan silang nasa kusina as he prepared tea for her. Si Seven naman ay sumama sa kanila't nakasalumbaba sa may kitchen island habang nakatingin sa kanya.

Jarvis responded to her kiss like he usually does. Bagaman nagulat ay agad itong nakabawi na siya ding paglalim ng halik na kanilang pinagsaluhan. It was a little over a minute before Seven interrupted them when he cleared his throat.

"Um, as much as I am pro-NaRvis, nasa paligid lang po si Tita Saturn and she could see you two doing... um... that. Sigurado akong hindi 'non maaappreciate ang live show niyo the way I would and the rest of your shippers."

Inulan niya ng samu't saring mura ang sarili. Like seriously. Ano nanamang kagagahan ang pinaggagagawa niya? Lately ay para bang pabugso-bugso lagi ang kanyang damdamin. One minute she's fine and of sane mind, the next she's full of rage and doing all sort of shit that could seriously damage her and her family's reputation.

But all in all, she didn't regret it. Gaga na kung gaga pero... she has had it. She wanted to do it so she did. Buti na nga lang at nagamit niya 'yung "I was upset" card to explain what she did. Nang sabihin niya iyon at humingi ng paumanhin, agad nitong naintindihan iyon and said not to worry about it. Maging si Seven din ay nagsabing okay lang daw at naiintindihan niya.

"Here," ani Jarvis as he placed two cups of tea in front of them. "Chamomile to help calm your nerves. Helps with stress and anxiety as well."

Tumango siya and took a quick sip. But the moment the drink touched her tongue, naibuga niya iyon at agad na tinungo ang kitchen sink. May masama nanaman ba siyang kinain kaninang umaga? She really should stop eating those cheesecakes.

"Naia, are you okay?" Nagaalalang tanong ni Jarvis sa kanya as she cleaned herself up. "Nagsusuka ka din kagabi. Nagpa-check ka na ba?"

Umiling siya. "I'm fine. Nasosobrahan lang talaga ako sa cheesecakes lately and I think it's time to stop. 'Yun lang kasi talaga yung feel ko kainin lately."

"Ate, do you want some candies?" tanong naman ni Seven who also looked worried. "Pampatanggal aftertaste. I think meron ako sa room. Teka kukunin ko lang."

"Thank you," matipid niyang sagot habang inaalalayan siya ni Jarvis pabalik sa may kitchen counter. Seven quickly ran out of the room para kunin ang inalok na candies.

"You should really get yourself checked. Baka dala 'yan ng stress and—" Tiningnan niya ng masama ang lalaki. He was at it again. "—okay fine. I'm sorry. It's just, nag-aalala lang kami sa'yo. Pa'no kung it's something serious na pala? Prevention is better than cure, Naia."

"The last time I checked, you're not my father, Jarvis. So please, stop," asik niya dito. "I've told you, didn't I? Okay ako. Nasobrahan lang ako sa katakawan these past few days kaya ganito. Nabibigla lang talaga yung tiyan ko."

"Are you sure?"

Tumango siya. "One hundred percent. Thank you."

Again, he smiled. Litaw na litaw nanaman ang dimples nito kaya hindi niya napigilan ang sariling sundutin iyon earning a soft chuckle from him.

"You love doing that, huh?"

"Hmm?" Napatingin siya dito at agad binawi ang kamay. Oo nga pala. Hindi pala sila. "Sorry."

"It's fine," he said leaning in a bit. "Do what makes you happy, Naia. Walang kaso sa'kin 'yon."

Napangiti siya. She missed this. Yung mga simpleng paglandi ni Jarvis. Hindi niya alam kung bakit pero, sobrang attractive nito para sa kanya ngayon. His eyes were sparkling and his smile looked really adorable. Yung dimples niya pa...

God! It should be illegal to be this good-looking!

Napahawak siya sa bangs nito. Kailangan niya kasing idistract ang sarili from his deep brown eyes. Napaka-rupok kasi ngayon ng puso niya kapag involved ito and she had no idea why. He suddenly ticked the loose strands of her hair behind her ear. Naramdaman niya ang paginit ng kanyang mga pisngi.

Alam niya pala. Alam niya ang rason kung bakit ang rupok niya pagdating dito. Mahal niya kasi. Walang nagbago. She tried but it never changed.

"Naia I—"

Biglang tumunog ang telepono nitong nakapatong sa may island. It was George. Hindi ito sinasagot ng lalaki. Nanatili itong nakatingin sa kanya't nilalaro ang kanyang buhok.

"Um... H-hindi mo ba sasagutin?" tanong niya dito. Napatingin ito sa telepono bago napabuntong-hininga.

Inabot nito ang aparato't sinagot ang tawag.

"Rhi? Wait. Why are you—" Bumaling ito sa kanya saglit. "Um, okay lang ba if I..."

Tumango siya agad bilang tugon. Why was he even asking for her permission?

"Rhi, calm down. Tell me..."

Hindi niya na gaanong marinig ang sinasabi nito as he went out of the kitchen. Napabuntong-hininga siya.

Totoo nga pala that reality would always slap you in the face para matauhan ka. Jarvis has a girlfriend. Si George. Was she calling because of what had happened the other night? Sa pagkakakilala niya naman sa babae. She looked like she'd the type of person na honest and trustworthy. Did she call him to come clean? Tinawagan ba nito ang lalaki para ipaalam ang nagawa?

But it was Dos' fault. Ito ang humalik sa babae. Though George kissed him back...

Ang gulo. Ang gulo-gulo talaga. Will they break up?

She felt something in her chest lighten a bit.

Agad niyang pinagalitan ang sarili. Mali ang nararamdaman niyang 'yon. It was selfish. It was wrong. And it wouldn't matter. Magbreak man si Jarvis at George, it wouldn't matter. Ikakasal siya sa kapatid nito. And it's too late to back down from everything.

"I wasn't informed that we have a guest."

Her head snapped towards the entrance as soon as she heard the voice.

"M-Miss Montecillo," aniya and immediately stood up.

Saturn Montecillo stood regal in her casual sundress. Hindi mo aakalaing tiyahin ito nina Jarvis dahil mukha pa itong bata.

She had the same silky white skin as Dos and Inno. Almond shaped eyes like Seven and its brown color was the same as Yvo's. Kahit hindi ito nag-asawa ay nasisiguro niyang maraming nag-offer dito. She was beautiful and the epitome of elegance.

"Akala ko ba we're past the formalities, Danaia," anito as she casually sat next to her. "Call me 'tita'. Since magiging asawa ka na din naman ng pamangkin ko."

"T-Tita," pagtatama niya. The woman smiled—not the warm type but it was close. Mukhang mahihirapan siya maging malapit sa babae. "I'm sorry for barging in unannounced."

"Don't be," anito. "Magiging parte ka na ng pamilya namin in a few days. You can come any time you want. Tutal, you'll be living here after the wedding."

"P-Po?"

"Surely you didn't think na kakalas kayo, Naia," sambit nito. "The Montecillos are known for being a tight-knit family. Hindi umalis dito ang mga kapatid ko when they got married so ga'non din ang mga pamangkin ko. Malaki ang bahay na ito for everyone to live comfortably. But in time we'll be renovating and expanding the lot for future generations to come."

Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng kung ano sa kanyang lalamunan. Future generations? Getting married is one thing but having kids? Hindi niya pa alam kung kaya niya. And with Inno? Mukhang matagal pa bago niya iyon kayanin.

"But don't worry," ani ng babae. "We're not pressuring you to bear a child just yet. Alam kong malaking bagay na ang malaman na ikakasal ka sa taong hindi mo naman mahal. Ano pa kaya iyong malaman na kailangan mo siyang bigyan ng tagapagmana."

Isang alanganing ngiti lamang ang kanyang naisagot dito. Bigla kasi siyang nahilo sa sinabi nito.

"Ate Naia sorry natagalan—tita?"

Napatingin sila pareho ni Tita Saturn kay Seven na may dala-dalang transparent jar. Puno iyon ng samu't saring candies at kung anu-ano pa.

"Severino," ani ng babae. "Ano 'yang dala mo? Are those sweets?"

Nanlaki agad ang mata ng lalaki at itinago iyon sa likuran niya.

"Ah... ano po... um..." Walng pasabing kumaripas ito ng takbo paalis ng silid.

Saturn Montecillo rolled her eyes before chuckling. Bumaling ito sa kanya.

"They sometimes forget that they're old enough to eat sweets without me getting angry at them," anito. It was the first time she saw the lady smile like that. Iyong bukal sa loob at hindi mukhang controlled. "Nakakalimutan nila na higit bente na sila kaya patago sila kumain ng junk food sa kwarto nila. These kids. Parang kelan lang eh tumatakbo pa sila dito sa manyson ng walang salawal. Now one of them is about to get married. Ang bilis lang talaga ng panahon."

"River told me before na kayo daw po ang nagpalaki sa kanilang magpipinsan," she said in an attempt to start a conversation with the woman.

"Yes, I did," sagot agad nito.

"They grew up to be fine men, Tita."

"That they are but all of them are a total pain," natatawang saad nito. "Thankfully, they won't be my problem anymore. Kayo namang magiging asawa ng mga pamangkin ko ang sasakit ang ulo dahil sa kanila."

Napangiti siya.

"But I assure you, all those headaches would be worth it," patuloy nito. "Those boys, kahit gaano pa sila kapasaway, you won't regret loving them. And once they say they love you, they won't stop letting you feel that they do. They will shower you with all the love they can give—in their own weird ways."

Hindi niya napigilang sumang-ayon dito. Alam niya iyon. While being with Jarvis before, ramdam na ramdam niya ang pagmamahal ng lalaki. And the way he took care of her was everything a girl could ever ask for. Wala man siyang ibang form of comparison but, alam niyang ang pagmamahal ng isang Montecillo ay walang katulad.

Maya-maya pa'y muling bumalik sa kitchen si Seven—natatakpan ng isang kamay ang mukha, at nilapag sa harap niya ang lalagyan bago tumakbo muli palabas. She couldn't help but laugh.

"He just wanted to help," paliwanag niya in Seven's place. "I threw up kaya nag-offer siya nitong candies to get rid of the after taste."

"Threw up?" tanong agad nito.

Tumango siya. "I've been throwing up lately. Siguro po dahil sa stress sa trabaho at sa kakakain ko po ng kung anu-ano. But I'm fine naman na po."

But Tita Saturn didn't look convinced.

"You should get yourself checked, Naia. Baka kung ano na 'yan," anito. Now she knows where Jarvis gets it. "Sa wedding ka ba na-i-istress?"

Agad siyang umiling. "The wedding's okay na po. Yoon's doing really good in organizing it. Halos wala na nga po akong naitulong eh."

"Then, is it with San Agustin?"

Tumango siya. "I'm stepping in temporarily in place of my grandfather. Si Dad naman po ay under observation pa rin po ng board hanggang hindi pa po nakakapagdesisyon ang board."

"I see," the woman said as she folded her arms. "Where are you currently staying, Naia? Sa mansyon niyo ba? Sino ang kasama mo doon?"

"Yes po. Uno's keeping me company from time to time pero I'm mostly alone. Sa Antipolo na po kasi nagsstay si Papa with Tita Dina and Tito Alfie lives in his office na po. Tita Cathy's on her missionary work naman while Third is living on his own sa condo niya."

"If that's the case, why don't you stay with us here?" suhestiyon nito na ikinagulat niya. "You'll be married with my nephew in a few days kaya walang problema kung dito ka titira. And don't worry. Hindi kayo sa iisang kwarto matutulog ni Inno. You'll stay in one of the guest rooms for the mean time."

Hindi niya alam ang isasagot sa sinabi nito. She was too shocked to even form coherent words. And it seems like hindi tumatanggap ng 'hindi' ang babaeng Montecillo.

"Malungkot mag-isa, Naia," dugtong nito. "Ipapahanda ko na ang magiging kwarto mo dito. I'll ask one of the boys to help you with your things—"

And as if things couldn't get worse, saktong bumalik sa kusina si Jarvis.

"—tamang-tama. Jarvis hijo, be a dear and help Naia with her things. Simula ngayon ay dito na titira sa atin si Naia."

"Po?!"

"Yes. Now go. Bako pa dumilim. Mahirap maabutan ng gabi sa daan."

Nagkatinginan sila ni Jarvis.

What the heck?!

🌷