"Wow, you're eating. That's new." Nagulat siya nang marinig ang baritonong tinig ni Atticus, nang lingunin niya ito ay malawak ang pagkakangisi nito sakanya habang tinutungo ang double door fridge.

"Stop grinning, nudnik." Irap niya dito bago ipagpatuloy ang ginagawang pagkain. "When did you arrive?"

"Before sunrise." He shrugged and started drinking the beer straight from the can. "I missed you for two weeks, Gift. Did you miss me?"

"It's too early for beer, Atticus." Puna niya dito. "And no, I didn't. I was actually thankful you're not around."

She heard him faked an ouch. Well, she's being honest. It's two weeks since her last encounter with Travis and in that past two weeks she did nothing but imprison herself inside her room. Halos maubos na rin niya ang stock ni Atticus sa unit nito and she's even planning to go to the nearest grocery store for their needs. But now that Atticus is back, she's sure he'll take care of it.

"Come on, Gift. At eight in the morning you should be proud, that I'm already a hero for saving a beer trapped in a can." Humahalakhak nitong sagot.

"What a dipstick." She shook her head a little. "Blanche is back, have you seen her na?"

"Not yet, but I heard it from Lexus." Naupo ito sa upuang katapat niya. "Nag-date daw kasi sila ni Thiago noong isang araw."

"You're not affected, are you?" Pananantya niya.

"I'm not." Humalakhak ito. "Si Blanche, papasang member ng AMO yon eh."

Tumango-tango naman siya at nag-patuloy sa pagkain, ito nama'y tila aliw na aliw na panuorin siya. Nakapangalumbaba pa ito habang nakamasid sakanya.

"Atticus, what's with your eerie act?" Hindi niya makapagpigil na tanong.

Sumipol naman ito bago sumandal sa upuan ng hindi inaalis ang tingin sakanya maging ang pagkakangisi sa labi nitong tila nakapaskil na doon. "Oh, nothing. I just miss seeing your face and I feel like I'm really gonna miss seeing you around..."

She faked a sweet smile. "Oh, a crackpot that you are."

Malakas itong humalakhak bago sumimsim ng beer. "I'm not kidding, Gift. I'm serious."

Hindi na niya inintindi pa ang mga pinagsasabi ni Atticus kahit pa nawiwirduhan din siya sa ikinikilos nito. Why every time she looks at him, she'll catch him watching her. Not only that, he's grinning like a kook.

The whole afternoon, she stayed behind the door of her room and watched movies on Netflix. After two movies she fell asleep and soon as she opened her eyes her mind is weirdly screaming for another good sleep. Which is very odd, it feels like no matter how long she sleeps in a day wont be enough for her satisfaction.

Ayaw man niyang bumangon at lisanin ang kama ay wala siyang mapagpipilian. Hunger is consuming her, she's so hungry she can eat a horse.

Nang makalabas ng silid ay nadatnan niya si Atticus na may kausap sa cellphone nito. Eavesdropping isn't her thing but she didn't mean to hear a glimpse of their conversation anyway.

"Basta Alexus, ayusin mo yang trabaho mo. Husayan mo. Alam kong yang bata mo gigil na, itong sakin nalang ang gigigilin natin." He even chuckled as if what he said is something really funny. "Oo, ako na ang bahala. This will work. Oo nakausap ko na si Aquish, oo pati sila Thiago. Yeah, yeah-"

He stopped when she accidentally made a little noise stepping at the maple flooring. Agad itong bumaling sakanya, Atticus did a great job hiding his shock to see her there because he grinned again.

Inirapan niya ito at nagpatuloy sa pagtungo sa kusina. She opened the double door fridge and checked what's in there to eat.

Twitching her lips, she's eyeing the food like a lion eyeing a caribou. Or a vulture willing to eat anything.

Nagsisimula na siyang kumain ng sandwich na may palamang chicken spread nang pumasok si Atticus sa komedor. Maluwag na maluwag ang pagkakangisi nito sakanya.

"I'm really very glad that you're eating." Para bang manghang mangha ito na kumakain siya.

Inirapan niya ito at inabala na lamang ang sarili sa pagkain. Umupo ito sa katabi niyang stool, he started making another piece of sandwich.

"Bukas na ang birthday ni Tita Agatha, we're invited remember? Ipinaaalala ko lang." Sabi nito. "Mag-tatampo iyon kung hindi tayo pupunta."

Tumango naman siya at nilunok muna ang kinakain bago mag-salita. "Ask your secretary to buy her a birthday present, I'm not in the mood to go out."

Iyon ang naging sagot niya kahit pa naliligalig ng ideya na maaaring makita niya si Travis bukas, pero tama naman si Atticus siguradong magtatampo sakanila ang ina nito. Marahil ay sasaglit na lamang sila doon at hindi na mag-tatagal.

"Why don't you personally see your dad's secretary? Mrs. Simpson? Ang alam ko alahera iyon hindi ba?" Inilagay nito sa walang lamang plato niya ang pinalamanan nitong tinapay. "Eat more."

Kinain niya ang huling kagat ng kaniyang hawak bago muling damputin ang nilagay nito sa plato niya, ngumisi naman ito na tila ba tuwang tuwa na kumakain na naman siya.

"Or if you really don't want to go outside, I can phone her and ask her to come here with her brochure." Suhestiyon nito, he stood up for a glass of water.

"That idea is way better." Tumaatangong pagsangayon niya dito.

Bumalik ito sakanyang tabi at inilagay ang baso ng tubig sakanyang harapan. "Tatawagan ko siya mamaya, hindi naman siguro niya mapapahindian if I'll invite her for dinner."

"Speaking of dinner, Atticus!" Excited niya itong binalingan bago uminom ng tubig at muling nag-salita. "I want a buttered shrimp later!"

"Whoa, you're requesting a food while eating a sandwich..." He started nodding, giving her a look of amusement. "Sure, shrimp you shall have."

"Make another sandwich, Atticus." Inirapan niya ito at itinuloy ang pagkain. "Stop staring at me like I'm a goose in a peacock field."

He didn't uttered an answer but he mouthed 'OK' leaving her eyes, he started making her another sandwich with a synchronized smile on his lips.

After making her another sandwich, Atticus excused himself to make calls. Siya nama'y masayang kumain ng kumain matapos ay bumalik sakanyang silid.

It was near seven o'clock when Atticus knocked on her door to tell her that the dinner is ready and Mr. Simpson already arrived.

She fixed herself and went out of the room. On the round dining table, there's Atticus and Mrs. Simpson having a nice chitchat.

Agad na tumayo si Atticus nang makita siyang papasok, sanhi ng pag-baling din sakanya ni Mrs. Simpson, the old woman greeted her with a warm smile.

Atticus pulled a chair for her as if he's a chivalry of modern times. Naupo siya doon, ito rin ay bumalik sa kinauupuan nito.

His smiles becomes a grin that wins a sneer from her.

"Good evening, Tita Esther." Bati niya sa ginang.

"Good evening, Gift. I've never seen you in awhile." May bahid na kalungkutan ang tinig nito. "Ang akala ko'y pumaibang bansa ka'ng muli."

"I'm just a little busy these past few days." Tipid niyang sagot. "Let's eat?"

"Oh, of course!"

Tahimik sila sa gitna ng hapag-kainan, which is good because she wants to concentrate more on the food she's eating.

She's eating like a hungry lion. Even she was surprised with her appetite, thinking that she already had a couple of sandwiches for snack not too long ago. But then, who cares? She's hungry and she feels like eating!

When they're all full and done, Atticus volunteered to do the chores. Well, ito naman ang laging gumagawa noon dahil wala naman itong maaasahan sakanya.

She shrugged her shoulders and stood up, inviting Mrs. Simpson at the living room to discuss about the jewelries.

"That's a quartz watch in rose gold color. It's also available in silver and gold." Paliwanag nito sa tinitignan niyang relo sa brochure na nasa kanyang kandungan.

Tumango siya, the watch looks classy and fashionable but she doesn't think it will fit Agatha Cavallero's elegance. So she continued flying the pages.

A gold cuff watch caught her attention. She immediately imagined how good it will complement Agatha Cavallero's porcelain skin. It's just a simple thick gold band, with a little dark red rectangular shaped hand clock in the middle.

"I want this one, Tita Esther." She said in an excited tone.

"Okay." Natawa naman ito sa sigla niya. "Bukas ng umaga ay mai-dedeliver itong kaagad dito."

Tumango-tango naman siya. "So how will I proceed to payment?"

"No worries, hija. Atticus said he'll pay for it." Nakangiting iniligpit nito ang brochure.

"No way!" Binalingan niya ng matalim na tingin si Atticus na humahakbang papalapit sakanila, umangat naman ang dalawang kilay nito sakanya. "That's my gift, I'll pay. Atticus, you go buy another one for Tita Agatha!"

"Okay, can you chill?" Natatawang naupo ito sa pang-isahang sofa. Kinuha nito mula kay Mrs. Simpson ang brochure at nag-simulang tumingin-tingin roon. "This is beautiful, ito nalang. I'll take this one."

Napairap naman siya dito, alam niyang tinatamad lang itong mag-hanap. She knows he could find something better than the ones he chose.

"What?" Natatawang sabi ni Atticus, he was about to say something when the cordless phone rang.

She watched him stood up after excusing himself to get the call and took the telephone somewhere.

"Boys will always be boys, Gift." Humalakhak si Mrs. Simpson. "This isn't their thing. I bet, Mrs. Cavallero will be showered by jewels in her birthday. Why Engineer Travis got her a set of fine jewels too, nakakatawa nga'ng hindi na ito nag-abalang tignan pa at ako nalang daw ang pumili."

Hindi siya umimik, ni ngumiti. She doesn't want the mention of his name anyway.

"Though I admire Travis, his parents must've been really proud of him." Halata ang pag-hangang nangingibabaw sa tinig nito. "Nag-mo-mop at vacuum pa man lang iyan noon sa bawat palapag ay alam ko ng napakalayo ng mararating ni-"

"Wait, what?" Her eyes widened in disbelief as if she's hearing something stupid.

Tumango-tango ito habang maganda ang pagkakangiti. "Travis is one of the humblest person I've known. Despite of his luxurious upbringing, having all his whims and caprices in a snap, he was never a bossy type of boss. He's always chill and very considerate, most especially to people in lower level jobs. That's probably because he experienced what they're experiencing first hand when he worked at the maintenance department of BV Associates as a janitor."

"Janitor?!" Her eyes almost went out of place.

"Yes, three years ago he was hired as a company janitor." Natawa ito sakanyang naging reaksyon. "He's the only janitor arriving at the building in his Koenigsegg Agera, too flashy that can beat the wheels of our stockholders."

Sa dami ng sinabi nito ay isang ideya lang ang rumolyo sakanyang isipan. Travis worked for their company three years ago as a maintenance.

"Ni hindi yan nakakaringgan ng reklamo kahit pa buong mag-hapon niyang pakintabin ang marmol na sahig ay palagay ko'y hindi kikibot ang batang iyon." The woman gave out a genuine smile. "Kaya naman nang maka-graduate at mag-top sa board exam ay agad siyang naging enhinyero sa firm. He deserves his title not because he's academically wise but because of his attitude. And in the business, a good attitude is a must have. Though I still wonder why he still works at Vito when he'll be ruling the Cavallero's businesses soon as his dad retires. Or maybe, he just didn't want to be a shadow of his father's success and wanted to be on his own."

Buong gabi ay halos hindi siya patulugin ng kakaisip niya sa lahat ng kaniyang nalaman. Her mind is trapped in a fog unable to escape. Ayaw niyang isipin si Travis ngunit tila ba namamahay na ito doon at tila rin wala itong balak na umalis.

The next day, she's failing not to think about him. He said he loves her. He said that it will always be her. But then he lied and she finds it so hard to trust any of his words again.

"Gift, nakatulog ka ba ng maayos?"

She gave an absent minded nod as an answer to Atticus' question.

Napansin naman siguro nitong hindi niya gustong makipag-usap kaya tahimik lamang itong nag-patuloy sa pag-mamaneho.

They're on their way to the Cavallero's at aminin man niya o hindi, something unknown is crippling her heart at the thought that she'll see him again.

She leaned her head at the tinted window and look outside. The weather isn't heated as it normally was. Sirimiri covers the whole town.

In the middle of their travel, Atticus received a phone call. Though it caught her attention, she didn't bulge.

"What's up?" Bungad nito sa kung sinumang tumawag. "Oh, that's good. Feed his mind the knowledge. No, we're not deceiving him. In fact, we're helping him. Trust me, Lex this will work."

Ipinagsawalang bahala na niya ang usapan ng mga ito lalo pa nang malamang si Alexus ang kausap nito. Wala siyang pakialam kay Alexus, not that she hates him but she doesn't like him either.

Alexus is a victim of love's bad effect to people. However, there's always this widely used saying kung gusto may paraan, pag ayaw madaming dahilan if he really doesn't like to be tied with Ashley, he'll struggle free. Well he did, but it's not enough. Mahal ni Alexus si Rosas, oo. Pero palagay niya'y hindi iyon naging sapat para sa dalawa. Because if you really love the person, nothing can come between.

Natauhan na lamang siya sa lawig ng paglalakbay ng kaniyang isipan nang ihimpil ni Atticus ang sasakyan sa malaking mansyon ng mga Cavallero. Sabay silang bumaba ng sasakyan.

Atticus held her waist and guided her inside, marami ng tao ang naroon para sa lunch celebration ng kaarawan ni Mrs. Cavallero, ang sabi ni Atticus ay maagang selebrasyon din daw ito ng kaarawan ni Travis dahil tutulak daw ito ng London sa isang linggo para sa kung anumang kadahilanan.

"Good to see you here, Gift!" Masayang sinalubong siya ng magkabilang halik sa pisngi ng eleganteng ginang. "Atticus..."

"Happy birthday, Tita." She said.

"You're looking young, Tita. Happy birthday." Bola ni Atticus dito na nagpahagikgik sa ginang, inabot nito ang paperbag na naglalaman ng kanilang regalo. "Here's for you, lovely."

"Thank you, young man." Kinuha nito iyon at iniabot sa malapit na kasambahay. "Iakyat mo sa silid ko, Mildred."

Iginala niya ang tingin sa paligid, nakita niya ang ilan sakanyang mga kaibigan na naka-upo sa di kalayuang lamesa. Naroon si Rosas, na hindi naman kalakihan ang tyan. Kalong kalong nito ang anak na babaeng si Graham Bell.

"Atticus, naroon sa game room sina Travis. Hihiramin ko muna si Gift, if you don't mind." Nakangiting hinigit ng ginang ang kaniyang braso, nang lingunin niya si Atticus ay nakangiti lamang ito sakanya bago tunguhin ang game room.

Dinala siya ng ginang sa lanai kung saan naroon ang isang napakahabang lamesa. Naroon ang mangilan-ngilang bisita nito.

"This is my sister, Dra. Minerva Ortega. She's an old maid." Humalakhak ito kasabay ng tawanan ng mga bisita sa hapag. "And that's my brother Xavier Ortega and his wife Janice. I believe you know their son, Jaxon."

Tumango siya at tipid na ngumiti sa mga ipinakilala ng ginang na sumukli din sakanya ng pagpapakilala.

"That's my sister in law, Therese and her husband Danilo Zobel de Ayala at alam kong kilala mo ang anak nilang si Blanche. She's actually here, nakita ko kaninang nakikipag-laro ng billiards kanila Thiago." Nailing ito at natawa. "She's a tomboy."

"That's fine, so long that she wont be an old maid." Natatawang sabi ni Xavier Ortega na mapang-asar pang binalingan ang kapatid na si Minerva.

"I'm rich, I need no husband to share my money with." Masungit nitong tugon bago sumimsim ng wine sa kopita.

"And everyone, this is Gift." Ngumiti ito sakanya bago muling balingan ang lahat.

"Travis' girlfriend?" Tanong ni Therese Zobel de Ayala.

"How I wish..." Lalong tumamis ang ngiti ng ginang. "Maupo ka, Gift. Kumain ka na, sandali lang at hahanapin ko ang aking asawa. Where is he anyway?"

"He's at the bar with some of his business associates, sinusubukan yata ang mga pasalubong na wines ni Blanche." Danilo answered with a low chuckle.

"Oh, okay. I rather not disturb him." Ngumiti na naman ang ginamg sakanya at naupo sa tabi niya. "Let's eat, Gift. What do you want?"

Natigilan siya habang pinapanuod itong asikasuhin siya sa hapag. Ito pa ang siyang mismong nag-lagay ng kanin sakanyang pinggan.

"Travis told me that you like buttered shrimp, ako ang nag-luto nito kanina. I hope you like it." Masayang inilagay nito ang ulam sakanyang plato. "Gusto mo bang ipag-balat kita?"

"H-hindi na po." Nahihiya siyang umiling.

Nanatili itong nakamasid sakanya. Longing and loneliness is visible in the woman's eyes. "I'm sorry, I just missed my daughter."

"Why? Where's Ashley?" Kumunot ang kaniyang noo.

"She's in Vancouver, busy with her studies." Muli itong ngumiti. "Kain ka na, damihan mo ang kain you should gain weight, palaga'y ko'y mas na gaganda ka pa."

Seeing how caring and loving Travis' mom is made her wonder, kung nabuhay ba ang kaniyang ina will she be able to experience such things with her?

Is she also as sweet and as loving?

Before her thoughts trigger her emotions, she shrugged it off. Tahimik lamang siyang kumain, ito nama'y naging maasikaso sakanya na tila ba siya lamang ang bisita nito.

Matapos kumain ay nag-paalam ito sakanyang pupuntahan ang asawa upang alamin kung nagugutom ba ito, siya man ay nag-paalam din dito na mauuna na sila ni Atticus. She made up an excuse, kahit ang totoo'y hindi niya lang gusto na makita si Travis.

Pero mukhang wala siyang mapag-pipilian pa, dahil nang tunguhin niya ang game room kung saan naroon ang mga ito para tawagin si Atticus ay tila bumagsak sakanya ang langit.

Pinilit niya g pigilin ang pag-gapang ng inis sakanyang sistema and tried it so hard to pull her mask down when she saw Travis sharing the couch with Atticus, while having a woman on his lap! Damn him!

Nag-tama kaagad ang kanilang mga mata, inirapan niya ito. He told her he loves her?! Then why the fuck- alright, he's Travis Cavallero anyway. He's nothing but a gonzo womanizer!

"Atticus, let's go." She said in a stoic manner.

She caught everyone's attention, napalingon siya sa isang bahagi ng silid at nakita roon si Shanna na nakatayo sa tabi ng anak nitong si Ram.

Seeing Ram immediately lightened her mood. She beamed and went near them.

"Oh, andito pala kayo." Sabi niya kay Shanna bago yukuin si Ram. "Hi baby."

Kinarga niya ito sakanyang braso bago nanggigigil na pinisil ang pisngi nito. Imbes naman na umaray ay bumungisngis pa ang batang lalaki kaya lalong nabuhayan ang kaniyang loob.

"Aalis na kayo?" Tanong ni Shanna sakanya.

"Oo eh, may pupuntahan pa kami ni Atticus." Muli niyang nilingon si Atticus na inisang tungga na ang bote ng beer. "Halika na."

"Oh halikan na daw!" It was Aquish who's always cuckoo that made all the bonkers laugh insanely.

Tumayo si Atticus at nag-lakad papalapit sakanya. Bumaba ang kamay nito sa likurang bulsa ng pantalong suot niya. He's even grinning as he looked at her, maya maya pa'y nakuha na nito ang susi ng sasakyan.

"Antayin nalang kita sa labas, babe." He bent down and kissed her cheek.

"Tatamis ng mga tropa ko, puta." That's another annoying Aquish remark.

Atticus just chuckled, walking away as he threw his middle finger in the air.

"Bye bye na, Ram Ram!" Muli niyang binalingan si Ram at hinalikan sa pisngi. "Pupunta ako sainyo next week ha? Play tayo."

"Sige po, dala ka ng maraming chicken nuggets ha?" Masayang sagot nito sakanya.

"Oo naman. Shanna, wag mong dine-deprive sa chicken nuggets itong cute na batang to!" Masungit niyang nilingon si Shanna.

"Dinedeprive pa ba yan, eh halos magmukha na nga yang nuggets!" Natawa ito.

"Oh, sige na mauuna na ko." Ibinaba niya na si Ram atsaka humalik sa pisngi ng kaibigan, nagpaalam na din siya kay Cholo at sa iba pa.

Minabuti niya talagang wag mabalingan ng tingin si Travis, lalo pa't alam niyang matatalim ang tingin na ibinibigay nito sakanya.

Palabas na sana siya nang marinig ang baritonong tinig nito.

"Hoy." Huminto siya ng bahagya ngunit hindi niya nagawang lumingon. "Bakit aalis ka na? Wala ka pa ngang birthday gift sakin."

The nerve of this guy!

"Tsaka na siguro, kapag death day na ang ise-celebrate sayo." Leaving an impudent statement, she stormed out of the room.