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Kanina pa hindi mapakali si Naia. Nasa guest room nanaman siya ng pamamahay ng mga Montecillo—the very same one she and Jarvis shared that... that night. And it haunts her.

Just like George, she cheated. Ang kaibahan lang nila eh mas malala 'yung ginawa niya. Dalawang tao ang maaapektuhan kung malaman iyon ng iba. Si Inno na fiancé niya at si George na girlfriend ni Jarvis.

The only consolation she has is the fact na walang maalala si Jarvis. And Dos, mukhang wala itong balak sabihin kay George ang alam dahil kung talaga gusto nito sirain ang relasyon ng babae sa pinsan ay sana'y sinabi na nito dito ang nangyari sa kanila at ng kasintahan nito. She'd instantly break-up with him. Pero mukhang hindi kaya saktan ni Dos ang babae. Mukhang mahal nga nito si Georgina.

Pero bakit hindi nito masabi iyon sa babae? From what she heard, sinaktan daw nito ang puso ng babae. He broke her heart. Paano? Bakit?

Sinabunutan niya ang sarili't ginulo-gulo ang sariling buhok. Her head hurts from all these thinking. And the guilt. Dapat ba ay sabihin niya na lang ang katotohanan dito? But it wasn't entirely Jarvis' fault. It was hers' too. Siya yung nasa tamang pagiisip pero nagpadala siya dito at sa init ng katawan. Maybe she should at least tell Inno. Magkaibigan na sila at magiging asawa niya na ito. She should at least be honest with him and come clean about it. Deserve niyang malaman ang totoo.

She rolled to her side at inabot ang telepono. Umaga na siguro sa Amerika kaya pwede na siya itong kausapin.

Pero pa'ko kung magalit ito? Baka makaapekto iyon sa deal nila sa pamilya niya. Inno mumight back out and that would mean they'll lose control over their company.

Understanding naman si Inno, right? Okay naman siya kausap and straightforward. Maybe he can forgive her with this one?

Natigil ang kanyang pagmumuni-muni nang biglang may kumatok sa kanyang pinto.

"Naia?"

Agad siyang bumangon sa pagkakahiga at napatingin sa pintuan. It was Jarvis. Ano ba ang kailangan nito? The last time he knocked and she answered the door, may nangyaring hindi pwede sa kanilang dalawa. Dapat niya bang pagbuksan ito ngayon? Hindi naman nakinom ang lalaki so... it's safe, right?

Muli, kumatok ito.

She didn't want to be rude kaya she went on her way to open the door for him. Bumungad sa kanya ang nakangiting pigura nito holding a tray with a slice of cheesecake and some tea.

Nanlaki ang kanyang mata.

"Cheesecake!" hindi niya napigilan ang sariling mapahiyaw. Natawa naman ng kaunti si Jarvis as he walked inside her new room.

"Tita Saturn said to bring you some ginger and mint tea. The cheesecake on the other hand, was something I added," paliwanag nito sabay lapag ng tray sa maliit na table malapit sa kanyang higaan.

"Akala ko ba sabi mo hindi healthy ang cheesecake?" she said folding her arms.

"As lunch or dinner. Not as a midnight snack," pagtatama nito as he gave her a wink.

Napangiti siya and sat in front of the small table—on the carpet, and dug in.

"Mmm!"

Funny how a simple thing such as cheesecake can make her feel really happy. She wasn't thinking about anything else aside for the sweet snack in front of her. Medyo naco-conscious siya sa titig nito pero nadidistract naman siya ng kinakain. In just a matter of a minute, ubos niya na agad ang isang slice.

"Hinay-hinay lang," natatawang sambit nito. "Walang aagaw ng cheesecake mo."

She pouted. "Are you saying matakaw ako?"

"I didn't—"

"Don't worry, babayaran ko yung cheesecake."

"Naia, I didn't say that—"

"But you insinuated it!" Tumaas ang kanyang boses kaya nagulat ito. Maging siya'y nagulat sa nagawa. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout."

Naramdaman niya ang pagtubig ng kanyang mga mata.

"Naia—"

And there it was she cried. For some reason, walang tigil ang pagbuhos ng kanyang luha over something as petty as that. Ang weird niya. Hindi niya maintindihan ang sarili. Jarvis gave her the cheesecake and she's being a bitch. Ang sama niya.

"I-I'm really sorry. I don't know what's gotten into me."

Jarvis scooted closer and hugged her. He also felt his lips brush against her forehead. He was trying co calm her down as she continued to cry. Amoy na amoy niya nanaman ang perfume nito. Ang bango-bango 'non. Kung pwede lang eh gusto niyang kunin ang T-shirt nito't itabi sa pagtulog.

"Naia, I didn't say that," ani ng lalaki. "Ang cute mo nga kumain. I'm just concerned na baka mabilaukan ka sa bilis mo kumain. If you want more, I have a whole cake sa baba."

She immediately pushed him away and stared at him wide-eyed.

"There's more?" she said. Feeling niya'y naglalaway siya over that damned cake. "Pwede pa ako humingi?"

"Yeah pero isang slice lang, okay? Baka sumakit nanaman kasi yung tiyan mo't magdududuwal ko bukas. So I think two slices are enough, okay?"

Ngumiti siya ng magkaluwag at tumango ng pasunod-sunod. Jarvis chuckled as gently pinched her cheek bago tumayo at kinuha ang kanyang pinagkainan.

"I'll be back in a minute," paalam nito to which she answered with a nod.

Tuwang tuwa ang kanyang puso. Yes she was upset for lashing out on him pero napalitan agad iyon ng saya when he said he was okay. She was really weird today. Kahit nung mga nakaraang araw din. Siguro talaga dahil sa stress kua nagiging masyado siyang emotional.

Nabigla siya nang biglang may ulong sumilip sa kanyang silid.

"Naia?"

Nanlaki ang kanyang mata.

"George?"

"Oh my God! Totoo nga!" The girl bursted in her room and immediately sat down beside her. So much for her alone time with Jarvis. "Tita Saturn told me na dito ka na mag-i-istay. Akala ko nagjo-joke lang siya. It's true pala."

Alanganing napangiti siya. Hindi niya rin kasi alam kung pano sasagutin ang sinabi ng babae. Pero bakit nandito ito? Not that she's complaining or anything pero... disoras na ng gabi.

"If you're wondering why I'm here, it's because I had to deliver some designs to Tita Saturn," sagot nito as if George was reading her mind.

"Designs?"

"For the renovations," patuloy nito. "Ako kasi yung kinuhang interior designer ni Tita to design the extension house of the mansion. Do you wanna see?"

Tumango siya't ngumiti. Napakagaan kausap ng babae. She may look a bit intimidating at first pero kapag nakausap mo na ito, she's somewhat the opposite.

Kaya nga siguro hindi niya magawang mainis sa babae even after what she saw the night of her Bridal Shower. She was sweet at napakabait. Kahit alam nitong ex niya si Jarvis, hindi siya nito tinatarayan like how other would've had.

"Wow," komento niya as soon as she saw her portfolio. "These are amazing, George! No wonder ikaw ang kinuha ni Tita Saturn. These interiors are simple yet sophisticated. It feels really homey, too."

"Thank you," sagot nito sabay ngiti. "But the credit's not entirely mine. Nilalapat ko lang naman 'yung gusto ng clients ko. I do give suggestions here and there but I make sure yung gusto pa rin nila ang magpeprevail."

Looking closely at her, pansin niya ang kaunting pamumula ng mata nito. Medyo namamaga din ang mga iyon pero mukhang okay naman ito.

Tama. She called Jarvis earlier crying. Did she tell him? O may ibang dahilan kung bakit ito mukhang umiyak ng grabe?

"Kapag magpapaayos ako nung condo ko, pwede ikaw na lang ang mag-interior?"

"I'd love to!" sagot agad nito. She was smiling so brightly she wanted to pinch her cheeks. Pero hindi sila ga'non pa ka-close kaya baka magalit ito. "Let me guess, white and lilac palette?"

Tumango agad siya. "Pa'no mo nalaman?"

"You look like the simple and elegant kind," she said flipping another page. "This one. I think it'll suit you and your soon-to-be husband. Kung gusto niyo ipa-redesign ang kwarto niyo."

Soon to be husband. Si Inno.

"It's perfect since Jarv—"

"George?"

Sabay silang napatingin ng babae sa may pinto. Jarvis was holding a plate of cheesecake when he entered the room. Mukhang gulat na gulat ito nang makita ang babae.

"Hey, Jarvis," mahinang sambit nito. "Dinaan ko lang yung final render nung design for Tita Saturn. I've heard from her na dito na pala magsstay si Naia so I thought of dropping by."

"It's late. Sino magddrive sa'yo pauwi?"

"Dala ko yung car ko," sagot nito agad. "I really just came over to drop off the plans. Paalis na din ako. I just wanted to catch up with Naia here."

"Naku George, gabing-gabi na. Why don't you stay over?" offer niya. Ay teka. Hindi niya pala bahay 'to. "Um... we can share the room. Malaki naman yung bed."

Ngumiti ito. Genuinely.

"Thank you sa offer Naia but I have to go home," anito. "I have to feed my dogs."

"Ga'nun ba? Sayang naman..."

Nagulat siya ng lumapit ito at niyakap siya.

"Don't worry, Naia," sambit nito. "We'll have a proper sleepover next time. Pero, how about a lunch date with me? Tomorrow?"

"Sure," she said smiling. Bagaman medyo weird, she obliged. Gusto niya din naman kasi ang babae. "I'll see you tomorrow noon."

Then napadako ang tingin nito sa dalang pagkain ni Jarvis.

"Cheesecake?" Then bumaling ito sa may table. "With ginger and mint tea? I wasn't informed na there's a tea party palang ganap."

"Midnight snack lang," natatawang sagot ni Jarvis. "Second slice na nga 'to ni Naia."

"Hey! Wag mo naman akong binubuko!" aniya sabay hampas ng magaan sa braso nito. "I swear, I'm just craving. Hindi ako matakaw."

Tumawa ito. "Don't worry, Naia. No judgement here. Nakakaubos nga ako ng isang buong cake in one sitting eh."

"You should see her kapag stressed din siya," ani Jarvis. "She orders almost everything off the menu."

"Stressed nga 'di ba?" Bumaling ito muli sa kanya. "Anyways, I'll be going ahead."

Then tumingin ito kay Jarvis.

"Alagaan mo si Naia. I'll punch you sa face talaga kita kapag narinig kong magreklamo 'yan."

Tumatawang tumango ang lalaki bago ito bumeso dito. Then George hugged her too. Maya-maya pa'y sila nanaman lamang ni Jarvis ang naiwan sa silid.

"She's really nice," hindi niya napigilang sambit as she watched George walk down the hallway.

"She is," nakangiting sagot naman ni Jarvis. Hindi niya mapigilan ang kirot na biglang naramdaman.

Nagkwentuhan pa sila ni Jarvis hanggang sa namalayan na lamang nila na maga-alas dose na pala.

"You should go ahead and rest," anito. "Ako na bahala magtabi nitong mga pinagkainan."

"Ako na, Jarvis," aniya. "Ako lang naman 'yung kumain. Nakakahiya."

"You're our guest, Naia. Natural lang na pagsilbihan kita."

So he's being nice because she was their guest. Konti na lang talaga't mamamanhid na siya sa unti-unting pagtusok ng kung ano sa puso niya.

"Okay—"

Umatake nanaman ang pagiging clumsy niya. Bigla siyang naslide sa carpet and was expecting to hit the floor. Pero mabilis ang reflexes ni Jarvis at nahapit agad siya nito sa kanyang baywang—preventing her fall.

Their faces were only inches apart. Rinig na rinig niya ang malakas na pagkabog ng kanyang puso. Suddenly, she couldn't breathe right. She felt claustrophobic.

"Well this is something."

Agad silang pumiglas sa isa't isa and saw a smirking Dos by the door.

"D-Dos," aniya. "W-What are you doing here?"

"Naiwan daw nung babae yung portfolio niya," anito pointing at the black folder on the floor. "Kayo? Anong gingawa niyo?"

"I-I slipped," dahilan niya agad. "Jarvis uh... Jarvis caught me just in time."

Mas lumapad ang ngisi nito. "I see."

But before Dos could get the portfolio ay inunahan ito ni Jarvis.

"I'll just hand this over to her. No need to bother yourself with it," seryosong sambit nito.

"She texted me about it," giit naman nito. "Shouldn't I bring this to her? Mukhang busy ka pa naman."

Naguluhan siya sa biglang pag-iba ng atmosphere between the two.

"Umm... ano. Ako na lang magbibigay kay George," singit niya sa dalawa earning a raised eyebrow from both men. Inagaw niya ang folder mula kay Jarvis. "Magkikita naman kami bukas so ako na lang ang magbabalik nito. I'll also just message her about it."

Dos just scoffed and raised both his arms before leaving the room. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. The tension between Dos and Jarvis was really... scary. At dati pa man ay takot na siya kay Dos.

Pero teka. Bakit sila ga'non? May nangyari ba? Why the sudden animosity? Was it because...

Napasinghap siya. Alam ba ni Jarvis ang naganap between the two? Nalaman ba nito ang tungkol sa nakita niya nung gabi ng bridal shower? Narinig niya ang pagbuntong-hininga ni Jarvis.

"I'll see you around, Naia. Good night."

Nagulat siya sa bigla nitong ginawa. He kissed her forehead tenderly and his thumb gently trailed her cheeks.

"Sweet dreams."

Naiwan siyang tulala sa silid. Makakatulog pa ba siya after ng ginawa nito?

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