Sarang

Chapter 11

"Drink plenty of water so you won't feel dry," he told me when we got inside the house. He went to the kitchen and came back with a glass of water. After I drank that, I went straight to my room to take a shower. I left the door open so he would know it was okay for him to enter.

When I came out of the bathroom, I found him looking at the framed pictures. I didn't speak and just let him do it.

"Ikaw 'to?" he asked while pointing at a small frame. It was my picture when I was still a kid.

"Yes. My Dad took that photo," I answered him while drying my hair.

"Ikaw ulit 'to?" he asked again while laughing. He took the frame and showed it to me. "Ang pangit mo! Ang dungis dungis ng mukha mo!" he said, obviously teasing me. "Ito pa, para kang nawawalang bata! Ang liit liit mo, pwedeng pwede kang ibulsa!"

I just rolled my eyes because of what he is saying. I had a lot of pictures when I was a kid because my dad love taking photos. I looked at him when he suddenly became silent. I saw him looking at the pictures in the last part... where my family picture is. I let go of my towel and walked closer to him.

"Kamukha nga niya," he said while pointing at Marc's picture.

"I told you," I said. He looked next at Aeris' picture. "She's my younger sister," I told him but he looks confused. "Why?"

"I think I saw her somewhere but I can't remember where and when," he replied. I bit my lower lip because of what I heard but I tried to ignore it. I don't want to hope. "This is my mother, this one is my father," I told him while pointing at our picture. It was taken when I was still their child.

"My dad loves taking photos, obviously. He always has his camera with him wherever he goes," I opened the cabinet and took dad's old camera. I really tried to find a way for it to still work even though it was too old. "So when our house burned down, this is all I thought of saving because our memories are here."

"It must be really hard for you," he told me. "Sobrang close mo siguro sa papa mo 'no?" he asked. He must have noticed that I was always with Dad in the pictures.

"I'm a Daddy's girl," I answered. I hid the pain I felt with a smile when I remembered what happened to my family again. He seemed to notice that right away so he left and then looked at my other belongings.

"Ang laki laki ng bahay mo, kwarto mo palang sobra na. Wala ka ba talagang kasama rito?"

"I live with Rose sometimes," I said. "And I'm... just hoping. Maybe if there will be a chance that we will all be together again, they have a house to live in."

-----

Third Person's POV

Nakatingin lamang ang binata sa mukha ng babae na kasalukuyan ng mahimbing ang tulog. Pagkatapos nilang magkwentuhan sa kung anu-anong mga bagay ay nakatulog na ito. Tanging ang ilaw lamang sa lamp shade ang nagbibigay ng liwanag sa kwarto niya dahilan kung bakit siya nagkaroon ng pagkakataon na titigan ang napakagandang mukha ng dalaga. Muling bumuntong-hininga ang lalaki bago paulit-ulit na umiling, mukhang nalilito na ito sa nararamdaman.

Sa kabilang dako naman ay nakatingin lamang si Rose sa kanilang dalawa. Panatag ang loob niya sa binata sa tuwing nakikita niya si Sia na nakangiti rito at nalalabas niya ang tunay na nararamdaman niya. Ngunit hindi pa rin mawala ang pag-aalala niya sa maaaring pagdaaan ng dalawa.

Tatayo na sana si Asher para umalis na nang biglang gumalaw si Sia. "Mommy... Daddy..." Mahinang sabi nito. Nagulat nalang si Asher ng unti-unting tumulo ang luha sa mga mata nito kahit nakapikit ang mga mata niya.

"H-hey." Kinakabahang lumapit si Asher sa dalaga. Agad niyang hinawakan ang kamay ni Sia saka pinunasan ang mga luha nito. "Ssshhh, it's okay, it's okay. Don't cry," sabi niya habang tinatapik ang balikat nito.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry for letting you all die there. Please, come back. I will do everything so it won't happen again. Aeris... Mac... sorry, forgive Ate for letting you die at a young age."

Tumayo si Asher at agad na binuksan ang ilaw ng kwarto ni Sia. Naalala niya ang sinabi nito noong natulog siya sa condo niya na hindi nga pala ito natutulog ng hindi nakapatay ang ilaw. Ngayon, naiintindihan na niya kung bakit.

"Matulog ka na, huwag ka ng umiyak," patuloy lang na sabi ni Asher habang tinatapik si Sia na patuloy din sa pag-iyak. Napapanaginipan nito ang nangyari sa pamilya niya na madalas niyang kalabanin tuwing natutulog siya. "Nandito na ako, huwag ka ng matakot."

-----

The next morning, I woke up early. I wondered why I was having trouble breathing and felt like something was on my stomach. I moved and when I look up, my eyes widened when I saw Asher. He is sleeping peacefully as he hugged me while his other arm served as my pillow.

I didn't move immediately and just stared at his face. From his thick eyebrows, his long eyelashes, his pointed nose, and his red lips. Everything on him is perfect. I stopped looking at him when he moved slightly.

I slowly removed his hug from me but before I could finally stand up, he woke up already. Our eyes met immediately so I could not speak. "Good morning," he greeted huskily. I didn't speak. I just stared at him.

"Humihinga ka pa ba?" he joked so I got up immediately. I heard him chuckles because getting up and stretch a bit. Wait, did we just... slept together? In one room, one bed, and under one blanket?!

"Why did you sleep here?" I asked him. Oh my God, I can imagine my Dad frowning because I slept with a guy in my room!

"I was about to go when you, uh, suddenly cry while saying something. Hindi kita maiwan, eh."

"I cried?" I asked him again. "What did I say? s**t," I said before pulling my own hair. "I'm sorry. This is the reason why I can't sleep while the light is on," I explained.

"It's okay. You should take a bath now. Let's eat breakfast in my Restaurant. I'll wait for you in the car," he said before going out. I quickly got up and went to the bathroom to take a shower as he said. I just wore a feather print wrap dress partnered with my heels. I also got my red Gucci bag before going out.

I saw him stretching while heating the car's engine. When he saw me, he immediately surveyed his eyes on my body. "Kakain lang tayo, ah? Bakit bihis na bihis ka?" he asked me, still confused.

"It's because we're eating at your Restaurant, duh? And also, you will go shopping with me today," I said while smiling before getting into his car. We went to his condo for a while so he could take a bath.

Let me describe him once again. He is tall. Even though I am tall, I am only up to his shoulder every time we are together. Laglag ang itim na buhok niya and he also has bangs na kapag puinupushback niya, it's just going back to its place. His eyes are deep. He has an aura that everyone wants because of his smile. His lips were thin and red and also has a fair skin.

"Okay lang ba ang suot ko?" he asked me. He's wearing a black polo inside overlaid with a black bomber jacket and black jeans.

"That looks great," I compliment him. He smiled at me before we finally left.

"Good morning!" he greeted the staff as we entered. There are no customers yet because they just opened and it's too early.

"Good morning, Sir Asher. Good morning, Ma'am." The girl at the counter greeted us first.

"Oh? Buti nakapasok ka! Akala ko pa naman mangangailangan ako ng pansamantalang papalit sa 'yo kasi nabalitaan kong break na kayo no'ng panget na 'yon," he said to the woman best in the kitchen, obviously teasing her.

"Hala, grabe ka naman sa panget, sir. Pero oo nga! Pangit naman talaga 'yon. Pangit na nga tapos manloloko pa!" A man who was currently lowering the chairs on the table joined their conversation. Asher laughed even more because of him.

"Nagpaloko ka sa panget, Hannah?"

The woman frowned at them but immediately smiled when she saw me looking at her.

"Buti nalang si Sir, pogi na loyal pa! Sir, baka naman payagan mo 'kong umuwi ng maaga mamaya kasi birthday no'ng girlfriend ko!"

"Sus! Pinupuri mo lang talaga ako kapag may kailangan ka. May pera ka ba? Hintayin mo 'ko, ako na bahala sa bulaklak na ibibigay mo sa kaniya. Basta huwag mo ring lolokohin, ha?" I immediately look at Asher when he said that.

"Oo naman, boss! Idol kaya kita, mahal na mahal ko kaya 'yon kahit laging tinotoyo!"

"Oh, Mashi huwag mo ng ilabas 'yan. Paubos na rin 'yan, kainin niyo nalang mamaya bago kayo umuwi!" Asher suddenly said to the woman who is currently displaying breads for this morning.

"Po? Eh ito po madalas hinahanap ng mga customer, Sir. Tsaka meron pa po 'yong binigay mong meryenda namin kahapon!" she replied to him.

"Hindi, basta huwag na!" he repeats himself before finally looking at me. "Sorry, ganito talaga kami tuwing umaga. Upo ka na," he helps me sit down.

"Sus, si Boss umagang-umagang may pahila na ng upuan kay, Ma'am. Hello Ma'am! Swerte mo na diyan kay Boss Asher, huwag na huwag niyo po akong kakalimutan sa kasal niyo."

"Siraulo," Asher said to him. I just smiled at him.

"How old are they?" I asked him. They all look so young.

"Ah, mga high school at college student pa ang mga 'yan. Part-time, kailangan nila ng pera eh," he answered. I couldn't help but smile at him. He's so pure and soft-hearted. Unlike others, he treats his staff like friends and doesn't make them feel like he should be treated like this because he's the boss.

"Dito ka lang muna ha, magluluto lang ako," he said to me. I just nodded and took out my phone so that I would not be bored while waiting for him.

"Hot choco po, Ma'am." The boy earlier approached me and gave me my hot choco. "Ako nga po pala si Vince. Nice to meet you po!" He would have offered me his hand but he immediately took it back and just smiled at me.

"Sia," I said and offered my hand.

"Hala, okay lang bang hawakan ko ang kamay niyo?" he asked hesitantly.

"Of course. Why not?" I'm not that friendly but because of Asher, I will try. He looked around before accepting my hand but that was only for a moment.

"Hoy, hule! Nakuhanan ko ng picture 'yon! Ipapakita ko 'to kay boss ngayon din!" Mashi suddenly said which made Vince's eyes widened.

"Ano? Gago, delete mo!" he shouted and tried to grab Mashi's phone. It's really good that I'm here because otherwise, they will be embarrassed by other customers.

"Bread po," Hannah place the bread in front of me.

"Thank you. Hannah, right?" I smiled at her.

"Opo. Enjoy po!" she said shyly.

After a few minutes, Vince and Mashi stopped scrambling over the phone when Asher hit them.

"Aray ko, boss!" they both said.

"Tama na 'yan, pagbuhulin ko kayo diyan." Asher told them before walking over to me carrying the food.

"Boss, si Vince umi-score kay Ma'am kanina! Hinawakan pa kamay, may pruweba ako!"

"Hoy, tarantado! Boss, hindi! Nakipagkilala lang ako, diba Ma'am?"

Asher just laughed at those two. "Ayan, kumain ka nga marami," he told me but before I started eating, I took a photo of the food first.

"What?" I asked him when I saw him staring at me.

"Why do girls only ever take photos of food?" he curiously asked.

I just smiled at him before answering. "I'm saving memories like my Dad."

There were already customers coming so everyone was busy and Asher also had to help in serving. Yeah right, his Restaurant is famous after all. I just quietly ate while watching what Asher is doing. He is always smiling while also talking to the customer. He just loves making friends with everyone.

The newly arrived two customers caught my attention. I just stared at them as they ordered until sitting down. They were just talking seriously while simply looking around. Asher gave their order with his usual smile plastered on his face.

The two men looked at each other when they saw Asher who is now trying to start a conversation with them. When Asher was about to leave, the other man grabbed his hand, stopping him while asking something.

I frowned when I saw a man trying to get something in his pocket. My eyes immediately widened when I saw that small knife. I looked at Asher who was busy talking to the other man so he didn't notice it.

When he was going to stab Asher, I moved quickly and threw him the knife I was holding that I used earlier for bread. He shouted out in pain when the knife hit his hand. The other people were shocked as they check on him while Asher immediately looked at me.

When the other man tried to approach Asher and was about to stab him too, I immediately flew the chair and hit him on the head. The customer shouted because of what happened. I just look seriously at those two as they writhe in pain. Asher was unable to approach me because he still had to help those two.

"Why does he have to help them even though he was almost stabbed because of them?" I asked myself annoyed as I watched him trying to treat the man's wound while waiting for the ambulance. When the two were already in the ambulance, he finally approached me.

"What was that? Did they... tried to kill me?" he asked me but I didn't answer. "Hoo!" he let out a deep sigh.

"Asher," I called his name. "The world is full of bad people. You must strengthen your defense."