Sarang

Chapter 17

I woke up the next day when I heard someone knocking in my door. I turned my back to the door before placing my pillow on my head to cover my ears but he was so persistent.

"Hoy, gising na! Kanina pa ako tapos magluto ng umagahan!" I heard Asher's voice before knocking again. I groaned in annoyance before getting up to open the door. I looked at him badly as soon as I opened the door but he just smiled at me before hovering over my clothes. He blinked a few times before averting his gaze.

"Grabe, alam kong bagong gising ka pero sana inayos mo muna sarili mo bago humarap sa akin," he said as he wiped her face using his hand. "Ano pang ginagawa mo? Magbihis ka na!" he commanded me before slightly pushing me.

I unconcisously scanned my clothes and when I realized what he said I let out a soft curse before I slammed the door shut. "What the f**k! This was your fault! If you hadn't aggressively knocked..." I can't finish what I'm saying because of the embarrassment I felt.

"Sorry. Hintayin ka nalang namin sa baba," I heard him say but I did not answer. For Pete's sake, I was just wearing my nighties without my undergarments! I immediately looked in the mirror if it was obvious that I wasn't wearing a bra. I let out a series of curse when I saw how I looked. What a embarassing moment to start my day!

I hurried into the bathroom to take a bath. I tried to forget what happened earlier but it got stuck in my head now. Damn. I pulled my hair a few times before finally coming down to go to the dining area.

I cleared my throat and tried my best to act naturally. I saw them sitting there while waiting for me. They looked up at me at the same time so I went straight to the refrigerator to get some water to drink.

"Let's eat," I told them. I could feel Asher's gaze on me but I didn't look at him. What is he looking at? Is he trying to tease me?

I slightly stepped on his foot when he still didn't take his eyes off me so he groaned. Aeris immediately look at him because of that.

"What's wrong?" she curiously asks him.

"Nothing. Just eat, here," I told her before giving her more food. Good thing she didn't ask again. We continued eating without still looking at Asher. "I'll wash the dishes," I said .

"Ako na," he argued. I nodded before facing Aeris again.

"You can watch on the tv. There's a lot of snacks over there. You can have some," I told her. She nodded before excusing herself. Asher walked closer to me so I hurriedly go away but he immediately grabs my hand and force me to look at him.

"Sorry kanina, huwag ka ng mahiya," he said softly. "Wala akong nakita."

I just glared at him. I don't believe him. I saw him surveying my whole body earlier!

"I won't tease you, promise," he said before raising his other hand but I didn't say anything. I just lower my gaze. "Hindi nga, wala talaga akong nakita, promise," he repeat his words. When I still didn't answer, he touched my chin then tried to lift it before he trying to meet my eyes.

"Sorry, huwag mo ng isipin 'yon. Ang ganda mo nga kanina eh, kaya sa mukha mo lang ako tumingin," he tried to make me smile and forget what happened earlier. "Hindi naman kita aasarin... pansinin mo na ako," he said softly.

"It was so embarrassing," I honestly told him. His hand was still on my chin so I couldn't look away. "You probably saw my..." I stop talking when I remembered how I looked earlier.

"Wala nga, wala akong nakita," he said gently. He smiled at me and was about to speak again when we heard someone cough a little. We both looked at Aeris who was now looking at us.

"Sorry, I'll just get food," she apologized but her eyes remained on us. I quickly removed Asher's hand from my chin before walking closer to him.

"Sure! You can get everything. Are you still hungry?" I asked her.

She instantly shook her head. "No, I just want to eat something while watching. I'm going to the living room now," she said. I saw her simply look at Asher before finally turning away. Asher is now washing the dishes so I lazily sit down again before using my phone.

"I badly want this bag but some annoying human being stopped me from doing it," I said and intentionally let him hear it. Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw him look at me. "My limited edition bag," I said sadly. He walked closer to me and without saying a word snatched my phone to look at it.

"Phone snatcher," I glared at him before I grab my phone. I heard a doorbell so I quickly stood up to see who it was. "Ako na," I told her when she was about to stand up. I hurried straight to the gate to open it. I saw a girl in her 40s I think standing there. She instantly raised a brow when she saw me.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting any visitors today so mind if I ask who you are?" I asked her, trying to be nice but this auntie just gave me an annoying laugh.

"Dito ba nakatira si Maggie?"

"No. You went to the wrong house," I immediately said and was about to close the gate but she quickly stopped it.

"Ang sabi sa akin ng kaibigan niya ay dito siya nakatira. Iharap mo sa akin ngayon din ang batang 'yon kung ayaw mong mag-eskandalo ako rito!" she threatened me. My brows just furrowed after hearing that.

"Then make a scene. I don't care," I told her.

"Aba talaga namang---"

"Ako ba hanap mo?" I heard Aeris' voice. She looked at the old woman.

"Oo. Akala mo ba hindi kita mahahanap? Kung magsinungaling pa itong babaeng 'to akala mo kung si---"

"Don't talk to her," Aeris gritted her teeth. "I'm the only one who knows you here so you can only talk to me."

"Aba? At ikaw pa ang matapang? Sino ba 'to? Bago mong peperahan?"

"Excuse me?" I raised my brow at her. "You're here in front of MY HOUSE and I hope you DO NOT talk in front of me like that," I said with emphasis.

"I'll talk to her alone," she told but I stopped her.

"No. Talk to her in front of me," I said before glaring at the woman in front of us. "What do you need?"

"Pera! Nandito ako dahil sa pera! Maniningil ako sa utang ng babaeng 'to na matagal na niyang hindi binabayaran!" she shouted. I got shocked because of what she said and saw Aeris firmly closed her eyes.

"What's happening here?" Asher asked me but I ignored him.

"Nagbigay naman ako ng bayad kahapon at sinabi ko sa 'yong lilipat ako ng titirhan, ah? Binigay ko naman sa 'yo ang number ko kaya bakit pumunta ka pa rito?" Aeris asked her in annoyance.

"How much?" I asked her.

"You don't have to know. I'll settle this matter---"

"Sampung libro," she is now smirking.

"Anong sampung libo? Nag-abot nga ako ng pera sa 'yo hindi ba?"

"Kailangan mong bayaran ang pamasahe ko papunta rito!"

"Sino ba nagsabing puntahan mo ako rito?" Aeris fired back.

I sighed before getting my phone. "Give me your account number," I seriously told her. I saw how the resistance passed on Aeris' face while Asher held my hand to stop me from doing something.

"I should be the one paying---"

"Account number," I repeat myself, ignoring Aeris. "If money is the issue, let's settle it with money," I said. "Sasabihin mo ba o baka gusto mo pang hulaan ko ang account number mo?" Mataray na tanong ko. She immediately give me her account number.

"Sent. Maybe you need more money to go home?" I sarcastically asked her. When she did not speak, I turned my back on her. "Close the gate. Let's go inside," I told them. I even saw Aeris' dog barking but I ignored it.

"I'll pay you next week," she said.

"I believe that it's better to live a life with money than to be chased around by money," I uttered before looking at her. "How much money do you owe her?"

She bit her lower lip. "Around 15,000 pesos."

"What did you do with the money?"

She look at me. "Para saan pa? I used that to live," she said. "Kailangan ko ng pera para sa sarili ko."

"For what? You told me you're staying at your friend's house."

"Oo pero hindi lang naman ang tirahan ko ang ginagastusan ko."

"You should've asked for my help."

"Bakit ko gagawin 'yon?" she seriously said. "Bakit ako hihingi ng tulong sa 'yo?"

I looked at her in disbelief. "I am your sister."

"Oo pero hindi ko kailangan lumapit at humingi ng tulong sa taong naging dahilan kung bakit nasira ang pamily---"

"Damn it, don't give me that I am the reason why our family f****d up bullshit. Enough with that damn excuse. I already explained myself to you!" I shouted. She was taken aback because of my sudden burst. Asher also stood up to hold my hand and calm me down.

"I'm sorry," she said before looking away. "I just don't want to show up because until now, I was still nothing. I want to prove something to you."

"That's why you chose to try killing him?" I asked her while pointing at Asher.

"No! I told you I just did it because I was jealous because you can protect him!"

"That's enough. Calm down," Asher said before pulling me to sit down. "Mag-usap kayo ng mahinahon. Hindi niyo kailangang magsigawan," he added.

"I'm sorry," I said. "I just can't still believe that you're alive and still holding a grudge towards every one... including me."

"It's not like that. I just... want to have my own company just like yours," she said while biting her lips. "Gusto kong kapag nagkita na ulit tayo at malaman mong buhay pa rin ako kagaya mo ay kaya na akong ipagmayabang sa 'yo. Sorry, I realized everything that I did. Hindi dapat kita sinisisi sa nangyari dahil sa ating lahat ikaw ang pinakanasaktan at naipit. I chose to be mad at you at mapigilan ko ang sarili ko sa paglapit ko sa 'yo."

"Aeris..."

"I tried my best to do something to fulfill my dream but watching you from a far became my habit. At noong nakita kong lagi mo na siyang nakakasama ay mas lalo lang kitang sinubaybayan. I really thought he was your boyfriend. Mas lalo akong nakaramdam ng selos noong nakita ko kung paano mo siya iligtas. That's when I decided to kill him dahil ayokong may nagagawang kang protektahang iba."

"You don't have to explain yourself to me anymore," I said softly.

"Only to find out that I wasn't only the one who wants him dead."

I immediately looked at her again when she said that. "What do you mean?"

"He's still in danger kahit na wala akong ginagawa. Hindi lang ako 'yong... nagtangkang pumatay sa kaniya. Nauunahan pa ako kaya madalas na palpak ang plano ko. Noong gabing nagkita tayo... doon lang talaga nangyari ang plano ko."

I didn't speak. Asher squeezed my hand slightly before leaning forward to whisper something. "It's okay. I won't let myself be in danger."

"No, I guess you will still be in danger," Aeris said, probably heard what he said. "They're too eager to kill you."

"That's enough. Napunta na sa akin ang topic niyo," he laugh a bit.

"How dare you laugh at this kind of situation? Did you hear what she said?" I asked in annoyance.

"I know, don't worry," he said softly before smiling. "Tama na 'to, masyado mo ng pinag-aalala ang Ate mo. Akyat ka na muna, usap lang kami," he told her. Aeris politely nodded before going upstairs

"Stop smiling," I said before pulling my hand out from his grip.

"I will stay away from danger," he said. "I will, I promise."

"Aren't you scared that you might die?"

"Why would I? I know you'll protect me. I trust you. I'm sure you won't let that happen," he reaches for my hand and holds it again. "Let's protect each other, hmmm? I won't die. We have a deal."

"How about calling off the deal?" I suggested.

"Ayoko," he immediately said. "Ilang beses mo ng sinabi 'yan, Sia. Hindi at hindi pa rin ang makukuha mong sagot mula sa akin."

I sighed before leaning my back on the sofa. Rose is right, he's really in danger because of me... and I can't tell him about that. I don't want to say that because of me and the deal it all happens because I want to continue what we talked about... that we will meet every day until the deal is over.

"Can I use my wish card?" he suddenly asked me. I lazily nodded.

"I know I'm in danger because of the deal we had," he told me. I could not speak because of shock. "Look after me with all your heart, not just out of responsibility," he smoothly intertwined our hands before looking at me sweetly. "That's my wish."