Fierce

Chapter 3

Early

"Mom, we're home!" masayang pagsigaw ni Ida nang makarating na kami at makapasok sa loob ng kanilang bahay.

Tita was half running when she came to us from their garden. She kissed the cheek of her daughter before she gave me a hug.

"Our dinner will be served in the garden," Tita told us. "Mauna na kayo doong dalawa. Nandoon na rin ang daddy mo, Ida. I'll call your kuya sa room niya, then we'll start our dinner.” Nilingon naman ako ni Tita at nginitian. "As always, Blair... feel at home, okay?" she sweetly said.

I nodded and gave her a smile before she went upstairs.

Ida quickly grabbed my arm and led me to their garden where I saw Tito reading a magazine.

"Good evening, dad," bati ni Ida sa kanyang daddy at hinalikan din ito sa pisngi.

I smiled at him. "Good evening po, Tito."

Tito smiled at me and Ida caught his attention when she peeked at what he was reading.

"What's this article about, dad?" kuryosong tanong ni Ida.

"It's about your brother's successful tour. Your mother told me to read it," Tito answered.

Ida snorted and rolled her eyes. She sat down and I immediately sat beside her—which is my usual place every breakfast, lunch or dinner with her family.

"It'll be more interesting if it's a gossip about his secret girlfriend," she said.

I bit my lower lip and clasped both of my hands uncomfortable with the topic that Ida brought up.

"That's interesting too, Ida."

I immediately looked at Isaiah, whose deep eyes were darted at his sister, like he was ready to start an argument with her.

"The only problem is that I don't have a girlfriend to have a secret one."

"Okay! Sabi mo, eh..." Ida shrugged her shoulders. You could tell that she wasn’t fully convinced.

Isaiah took a deep sigh before he directed his stare towards me and the sides of his lips raised to form a smile.

Trying not to be disrespectful, I answered his smile with a sly one before I looked away, uncomfortable with the exchange of smiles we did.

"Not so obvious..." I heard Ida sarcastically comment while staring at her phone.

Bahagya kong sinipa ang binti niyaa upang manahimik siya at hindi na lang magsalita.

"Hey.” His husky talking voice trying to greet me casually almost gave me an eargasm. "It's been a while.”

"Yes... Two months?" I tried to count the months that he was gone because of his European tour.

He smiled widely. "Two months." He nodded. "So, how's school in those two months that I'm gone?"

"Buti pa si Blair tinatanong mo kung kumusta, samantalang ako..." Ida sounded like she was hurt. “Hay…”

Tito laughed. "Hayaan mo na ang kuya mo, Ida," sabi nito kay Ida. "Ngayon na nga lang ulit makakaporma kay Blair after two months, eh."

I could feel my cheeks heating up. I was sure that I was blushing pretty red. It was exactly one of the reasons why I was considering not to accept Tita's invitation for dinner. Alam kong iinisin niya kaming dalawa ni Isaiah.

Isaiah had been courting me since I was in high school while he was in college. They weren’t an established band at that time, but he often went to have gigs with his band members at bars. He met me because of Ida, of course.

It was the time when Ida and I were partners for our music project. We were assigned to make a song about Christmas using a guitar and a beatbox.

I could still remember that moment. I was playing the guitar while singing some parts of the lyrics that we finished making when he suddenly barged in. His eyes straightly and directly looked at me before telling me that my voice is beautiful and after that... he quickly closed the door.

He's the first boy who complimented my voice because he's also the first boy who got to listen to me singing.

"Sorry, tinawagan ako ng kumare ko. Magsho-shopping kami bukas," paumanhin ni Tita nang makarating siya sa hapagkainan.

Umupo siya sa tabi ni Isaiah at kinindatan niya ako nang makitang magkatapat kami ng panganay niya. Napangiti na lang ako at napailing sa ginawa ni Tita. Kinagat ko ang aking ibabang labi dahil sa hiya.

We started dinner with a prayer. I was about to get my food when Isaiah beat me to it. He got me all of the dishes that were served but he made sure that I got plenty of my favorite entree.

"Is that enough or you want more?" tanong niya sa akin.

I shook my head. "Okay na. Thank you."

"You're welcome." He smiled and got food for himself.

Naramdaman ko naman ang paghilig sa akin ni Ida. "Hinay-hinay naman. Nasasamid ako sa inyo ni Kuya," bulong niya.

I glared at her, while she just chuckled and continued eating. I tried my best not to look at Isaiah while we were eating even though I could feel him staring at me for almost the whole time. Fortunately, I actually did a pretty good job. I survived eating dinner without looking much at him.

"Thanks for the dinner po, Tita," nakangiti kong pasasalamat matapos naming kumain ng dinner. "Uuwi na po ako."

Nakita kong napatingin sa akin si Isaiah ng nagpaalam ako habang nag-uusap sila ng daddy niya.

"Oh... You're going home? You won't sleep here?" malungkot na sabi ni Tita habang tinutulungan ang mga katulong sa pagligpit ng mga pinagkainan.

"Hindi po, eh. May pasok pa po kasi bukas."

"I thought you're going to spend a night here..." she said. "Did you bring a car?"

"Hindi po... Si Ida po kasi ang nagdala ng sasakyan sa pag-alis namin kanina," sagot ko. "Magtataxi na lang po ako. Madami naman pong dumadaan sa labas ng subdivision or I can just grab-a-car po. Magrereview pa po si Ida, eh."

"Aww... Mahal mo talaga ako, bestfriend," malambing niyang sabi at saka ako niyakap.

Natawa naman si Tita pero halata sa kaniyang nag-aalala pa rin siya para sa akin.

"I'll drive her home."

This time, I wasn't able to control myself and I looked at him instantly when I heard him volunteered to drive me home.

Tumayo siya sa kanyang kinauupuan. "Let me just get my keys," he stated bago siya pumasok sa loob ng bahay.

"Problem solved!" masayang sabi ni Tita't pumalakpak pa.

Sabay-sabay na kaming pumasok sa loob ng bahay at sakto namang pababa na si Isaiah sa hagdan with the keys on his right hand.

"Kuya, paki-ingatan ang bestfriend ko okay? Mag-aaral na ako." Mabilis na tinalikuran ni Ida si Isaiah.

Ida kissed me on my cheek as a farewell bago siya umakyat papunta sa kwarto niya.

Muli naman akong nagpaalam kila Tito at Tita na ininis pa ako ng ilan pang beses bago ako pinakawalan. Tahimik lang kaming dalawa ni Isaiah palabas ng bahay nila. He opened the door in the passenger seat for me bago siya umikot papunta sa driver's seat.

He started to drive at ni isa ay walang nagsasalita sa aming dalawa. Kahit nakalabas na kami ng subdivision ay wala paring umiimik.

"You became more beautiful," sabi niya na nagpabasag sa katahimikan naming dalawa. "How unfair... two months lang akong nawala pero ganyan na ang ginanda mo."

Napayuko naman ako at bahagyang nahiya sa kanyang sinabi. "What a Casanova line, Isaiah," pabirong sabi ko na lang upang mabawasan ang kahihiyan na nararamdaman.

He chuckled. "You know me, Blair..." sabi niya. "I never played around with my words, especially when it's for you."

"And you also know me, Isaiah..." sabi ko. "You know that I don't just accept compliments, especially when it comes from you."

Bahagya siyang ngumuso. "That's bad, then..." Iling niya. "Ibig sabihin, kapag sa iba'y mas may chance na tatanggapin mo? Hindi ata ako makakapayag no’n, Ms. Alcoberes."

"Problema mo na 'yon," sabi ko na lang at tumingin sa labas ng bintana sa aking upang pakawalan ang pinipigilan kong ngiti.

He turned on the radio and their song, Smile, was playing. I know that it's their song... Alam na alam ko ang boses niya lalo na kapag kumakanta siya. It's so warm—and at the same time cold—that makes me shiver all the time.

"We're going to have an encore concert here," bigla niyang sabi at muli akong napatingin sa kanya. "That's the last concert of our first tour. It will happen next, next week. I'll be busy starting the day after tomorrow for the preparation."

While slightly pursing my lips, I nodded. "Then, use the whole day tomorrow to rest."

"I will." He nodded. "But can I fetch you from school... or puwede ring ihatid kita sa school ninyo?"

Mabilis akong tumanggi sa kanyang alok. "Baka may makakita pa sa atin, Isaiah. Lalo na sa 'yo."

He’s not just an ordinary person. He's an artist; a showbiz personality; a star. He couldn't be seen with someone like me. It would cause chaos.

"I won't get out of my car. I'll stay inside and be a good boy waiting for you," he compromised.

"If you're really a good boy, then do me a favor," sabi ko at natanaw na ang bahay namin. "Stay inside your room or your house. I'll just try to visit you some time, okay?"

He stopped his Mustang in front of our house and looked at me. "Promise?" He raised his pinky finger.

I chuckled and swore to our pinky promise. "I promise."

He smiled and gently ruffled my hair. "Goodnight. I'll text you when I get home."

Tumango naman ako at ngumiti bago tuluyang lumabas nang kanyang Mustang. Kinawayan ko siya hanggang sa tuluyan siyang makaalis at mawala sa aking tingin.

Bahagyang bumagal ang paglalakad ko papasok ng aming bahay dahil may naririnig akong ingay sa loob ng aming bahay. Naningkit ang aking mga mata at nagpantig ang aking mga tainga. I heard a familiar voice which made me race inside the house.

Napatigil ako at bahagyang napaawang ang aking bibig nang makita ko sina mommy at daddy sa sala na kausap ang mga katulong.

"Mom... Dad..." I trailed off.

My mom looked at me and smiled. She walked towards me and gave me a tight hug.

"How's my daughter?" malambing niyang tanong sa akin at saka inayos ang nakalugay kong buhok na nagulo dahil sa pagkakayakap niya. "I missed you."

"I-I'm fine po..."

Hindi ako makapaniwalang nakauwi na sila ni daddy. Ang akala ko ay sa araw bago ang death anniversary ni lolo sila dadating. However, we were still a week away, but they were already home. They didn’t even inform me about it.

"Blair Nicole," Daddy called me.

Nilingon ko si Daddy at lumapit sa kanya upang yumakap at humalik sa kanyang pisngi.

What's with my parents? Why are they home so early?