Sarang

Chapter 16

"Is everything fine?" Rose asked me while sipping her coffee.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked her back.

"Tell you what?"

"You met my sister before I did," I said before looking at her. "Do you have no idea about her or are you just pretending that you know nothing?"

"She's being protected by my sister. You know I can't meddle with someone else property."

"Don't say that as if my sister is a lot. She is no one's property," I quite angrily said.

"I don't know, okay? My sister planned this."

"I'm not buying that. Deity knows everything," I answered with my disbelieving voice.

"Can't you speak in Tagalog?"

"Can't you just leave?" I fired back. I glared at her before I turned my attention back to the movie I was watching. I don't even know why she's here. All of a sudden she emerges from nowhere.

"Anong plano mo? Anong gagawin mo?"

"What else? I'm planning to adopt them both. I'll give them the life they missed for the past years. The life they wish they had," I seriously said while my gaze is still on the tv. When I finished what I was eating, I got up before slightly adjusting my clothes.

"Where are you going?" she asked me.

"Shopping. I'm living my life to the fullest," I smirked at her before waving my hand. "Clean this mess when you leave. Bye!"

I hurried straight to the skyway because that's really where I'm going. I just put my two hands in my pocket while watching what is happening in front of me now.

"Huwag kayong lalapit! Ihuhulog ko ang batang 'to!" The woman threatened while pointing the knife she was holding at the police.

"Ma'am, kumalma po kayo. Kung ano man po ang problema niyo, nandito po kami para ayusin. Wala po kinalaman ang bata, huminahon po kayo," he said gently to her as he tries as he tried to go near them.

"Hindi! Kasalanan ng batang ito! Kung hindi sana siya nagsumbong sa ginawa ko ay hindi ako iiwan ng Tatay niya! Kung mamamatay man lang din ako ngayon ay isasama ko na ang batang 'to!" she desperately shouted. She's totally a complete mess.

"Nandito na ako." I heard Asher's voice from behind. I looked at him for a moment before looking back to the front. I texted him earlier because I know he can help me today. "Anong nangyayari?" he asked curiously while trying to take a peek.

"Can you see that boy she was holding?" I asked him while pointing at the boy who is now shaking in fear. "You'll catch him," I told him. "You will catch him so go down now."

"Ano? Paano kapag hindi ko nasalo?" he asked nervously.

"Then think of a way so you can catch him. Go down now, we don't have time!" I command him. Even though he wanted to refuse my command, he hurriedly ran downstairs.

"Huwag kang lalapit sabi! Huwag niyo akong pigilan sa gagawin ko!" she shouted again.

I counted with my fingers. As I close my hand with my last finger, I walked closer to their place. I was humming when I finally reached where Mr. Police Officer is standing.

"Excuse me, Manang I don't know your first name," I called her, trying to get her attention and I did. I smiled big at her which made her brows furrowed.

"Sino kang baliw ka? Huwag kang lalapit, sasaksakin kita!" she threatened and tried to stab me with her knife but I did not even flinch. I heard people gasped when they saw that. She tried to stab me again but I did not even close my eyes. I remained a smile on my face.

"Miss, lumayo ka na kung hindi masasaktan ka lang!"

Instead of listening, I took one more step closer to her so she barely stepped back.

"Huwag ka sabing lalapit, itutulak ko ang batang 'to!" her face was already red as she shouts at me.

"Eh, 'di, itulak mo," I told her before smirking. "Go, you want to kill him, right? Itulak mo."

"Miss, ano ba?! Hindi ka nakakatulog!" he angrily said but he's not doing anything!

"Hindi mo ba ako narinig? Sabi ko ihulog mo," I repeated myself. I saw her gulped because of that so I finally step to go near her. I simply peeked at Asher below and saw that he was already waiting.

"L-lumayo ka!" she stuttered.

"Itulak mo siya bago ko gawin 'yon sa 'yo," I seriously told her.

"Miss huwag kang---"

"Don't tell me what to do if you're just there standing and doing nothing but tell her nonsense words!" I shouted at him irritably before turning my gaze back to the woman. "Mamili ka, itutulak mo ang bata o ako ang gagawa pero mamamatay ka?"

I closed my eyes for a moment and when I looked straight into her eyes, I knew what will happen next. She began to cry out loud before she let go of the knife she was holding. The boy quickly escaped from the woman's hold on him before running away. I saw him hugging an old woman who's now crying. I closed my eyes and when I opened it, I'm already next to Asher

"It's done."

He jumped in shock when he suddenly heard my voice. His eyes widened before looking at me. "Ano ba?! Alam kong kaya mong maglaho nalang tapos magpapakita pero huwag mo naman akong ginugulat! Alam mo bang kinakabahan pa ako dahil baka hindi ko masalo 'yong bata?!"

I just laughed while watching him trying to calm himself.

"Why are you nervous? Do you really think that I will let that boy fall?" I asked him. He was completely stunned and couldn't believe what I said. He looks like he was scammed with a big amount of money because of his face. "Let's go," I told him before starting to walk.

"Anong sabi mo? So, wala ka palang plano, bakit mo pa ako pinapunta rito? Bakit mo pa ako inutusang bumaba at saluhin 'yong bata?" he asked me as he tried to keep up with me. Darn, my feet hurts because of my damn heels. I picked the wrong size!

"That was just my plan B, okay? Aren't you happy that you didn't have to catch the boy?"

"Masaya. Ang saya ko nga, eh!" he sarcastically said before rolling his eyes. I just tapped his shoulder before getting in his car. "Saan tayo pupunta, boss?"

"In my house," I answered lazily. I just closed my eyes while we were on our way home.

"Dito na tayo, boss," he told me after parking in front of my house.

"Stop calling me that," I said irritably. "It's annoying."

"Okay, boss," he laughed after that so I hit him hard on his arm. When we arrived at the living room, Rose was already gone, the clutter I left earlier is also gone. "Wala ka ng gagawin, babe?"

"What?" I instantly looked at him when I heard what he said. "What did you say?"

"Sabi ko, wala ka na bang gagawin, babe?"

"Babe? Babe mo mukha mo!" I shouted before throwing a pillow right to his face. He laughed so loud because of that.

"Ano nga, babe?" he asked, teasingly.

"Stop!" I told him. "Stop or else I will not talk to you until next week!" I threatened him. He became like a puppy who suddenly closes his mouth before sitting up straight, hugging the pillow I threw at him earlier. Padabog kong kinuha 'yong remote so I can watch again.

After a few minutes, I heard the doorbell ring. "Open it," I ordered him. He quickly stood up to follow what I said. My eyes are just focused on the tv, trying to understand the movie I was watching.

"Who was that?" I asked when I saw him entered again. When he did not answer I looked at him. He is just looking at me as if he wanted to say something. "What---"

I heard the door close and after a few seconds, my eyes widened to see who it was. It was Aeris holding her luggage. I quickly stood up and was ready to approach her when my gaze landed on another one he was carrying. A dog!

I cleared my throat before simply covering my nose. I was about to say something when her dog suddenly jumped off and approached me! For Pete's sake, ang laki no'ng aso! I panicked when it jumped on me and started licking my face.

"Kerby!" Aeris shouted in panic. She immediately approached me before taking away the dog from me.

I started coughing because of that. After a few minutes, I felt my nose and my eyes became itchy. I also started to have difficulty breathing. Asher seems to have noticed right away because he quickly approached me.

"Are you okay?" he asked me worriedly.

"I can't... I c-can't b-breathe," nahihirapang sabi ko.

"Oh my God, she's allergic to dogs!" she said, starting to panic. "Her meds, go look for it! I'm sure she have one!" she shouted. I saw her putting the dog in his cage before going outside. When she returned, she asked me where my room is. Asher was trying to support me, he didn't even know what to do.

"I found it!" she declared before coming near us. She handed me my medicine with her trembling hands. I was wheezing as I hold Asher's hand. I am now sitting on the floor.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know you're still allergic to dogs," she said while trembling. I tried to reach out for his hand before smiling.

"It's okay," I assured her. I can feel the redness and the rasher on my face down to my neck. "I'm fine," I told her again when I saw tears forming in her eyes. I tried to stand up and Asher quickly helped me to sit on the sofa.

"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry," she said repeatedly.

"Hey, it's fine," I told her again before smiling sweetly. "Can I ask why are you here? Why didn't you informed me that you're visiting so I can prepare something for you."

"I, uh, I'm not staying," she bit her lower lip. "I'm here for your, uhm, offer to live in your house," she said shyly.

"Really?" I asked in shock. "That's great. I will prepare your---"

"No, it's fine!" she suddenly said. "I mean, I can do it. Just tell me where my room will be," she said before looking away.

"Second floor. 'Yong kwarto sa pinadulo," I answered. She slowly nodded her head before getting her luggage to go upstairs. I took a deep breath before tightening my grip on Asher's hand.

"I didn't know you were allergic to dogs. I'll take note of that," he told me. "How are you feeling? Feeling better now? Do you need something?" he asked softly. I shook my head. We just sat there until I felt better.

"Are you okay now?" he asked me when I let go of his hand. I nodded at him before trying to stand up. I told him that I will just check on Aeris.

I knocked three times before opening the door. I saw her fixing her clothes on the bed. "Is your room okay for you?" I asked her, I didn't mind entering because I don't want to disturb her. "If you need something, just tell me."

"The room was... fine. Masaydo lang malaki but it was fine," she answered before surveying me. "Are you, uh, okay now?"

"Yes. I'll prepare for dinner so fix your things now," I said before closing the door. I stared at her door for a moment before going downstairs. Everything feels surreal.

Asher prepared dinner for us so I just sat there looking at my phone. I tried to help him because this is the first time Aeris and I will eat together again but he just made me sit down.

"What are you doing?" he inquired before looking at my phone. He placed his face near my shoulder which made my eyes widened. I look at him and saw how her brow furrowed. "Huwag mong sabihin bibilhin mo 'yan?" He asked while pointing at the bag on my phone.

"Why? I want this," I told her before looking back on my phone. He moved away from me and sat next to me so I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Parang kailan lang no'ng nakita kitang bumili ng bag, ah? Tapos bibili ka nanaman? Aanhin mo 'yan? Hindi mo naman magagamit palagi 'yan!" he told me.

"Why? It's so nice!" I defended the bag on him.

"Oo tapos mahal!" he replied.

"Stop nagging. I'm using my own money to satisfy myself. Luxury bags are my lifeline! I can't live without buying a new one every day!" I shouted at him.

"Isang beses mo lang naman magagamit. Magtipid ka kaya ng pera? Puro ka gastos," he said. I was about to shout again when I heard Aeris' voice.

"Are you guys fighting?" she asked as she looked at the two of us.

"No. This is how we talk," I reasoned out. "Are you hungry? Let's eat!" I said. I helped Asher to prepare food. Aeris was just quiet until we started eating. I keep on glaring at Asher and so he is. We probably look like a fool because of what we are doing.

"Are you guys together?"

Asher and I both looked at her when she asked that. "No," I immediately said. I saw her surprised when she heard that.

"Really? I thought he was your... boyfriend."

"No. We were just strangers who have to do with each other's business," I explained. I felt that she didn't buy my reason but she just nodded.

"Okay, stranger," Asher whispered in my ears so I glared at him. Aeris didn't ask after that. She also volunteers to wash the dishes but I just can't say no to her so I let her.

"Stranger pala, ha. May stranger bang alam ang pangalan ng isa't-isa?" Asher was whispering something and it was obvious that he's making me hear those! "May stranger bang nilulutuan ng pagkain?"

"Stop it," I said. He continued whispering something but I didn't bother to listen.

"After I met you, not a day has gone by peacefully. How long has it been since we met? I'm tired as if it's been years," I uttered and acted like I was really tired.

"Ano? Anong pagod? Ikaw pa talaga ang may ganang magsabi niyan!" he said before standing.

"So you're tired of me?" I asked in shock. "Then go away!"

"Do you really want me to leave?" he asked. My forehead creased because of that but I didn't look at him. "Totoo? Hindi na magbabago ang isip mo? Aalis na ako," he told me. I didn't give him a glance and didn't bother to stop him from leaving. "Ang sama ng ugali mo! Nakakapikon ka na, ha!" he was sulking before going back to the couch.

"Uhm," I look at Aeris when I heard her voice. "I'm going upstairs now. Good night," she said. I smiled at her and simply before looking back on Asher.

"You want me to say the truth?" I asked him. He nodded and also tried to come near me. "Don't go anywhere and stick beside me."