I stared at the laptop he lent me. I constantly clicked the minimize button and then the maximize button of the Photoshop application. I think it's been thirty minutes since ginawa ko 'to. "Gosh, Marcus! No need to do that! I'm fine by my own--" "You clearly aren't. What would happen if I didn't get there in time? Huh?" "Ano naman? It's... it's none of your business! Besides, I know that it is just my dad behind this. I'm his daughter. He won't hurt me." Or not. Probably my stepmom. Eager to dispose of me ata. "Dad? No parent would want that--okay, I understand." Gosh! Ibinaba ko muna yung laptop sa coffee table at nahiga sa sofa. Bagal talaga magloading. Kainis naalala ko pa yung awkward scene na yun. Habang nakatagilid a higa nako sa sofa at nakaharap sa laptop na nasa table, I'm trying my best to click around. WHAT THE HELL? Not responding daw... Argh, struggles of being an editor. My eyes widened at the sight. Bigla kasing may figure na humarang sa screen na kaharap ko. He leveled his face to mine. Naka-crouch siya sa floor while enclosing my space with his arms. He's not really touching me, yung sofa lang but excuse me? What the hell is happening? Neither of us made noise. Nakatingin lang kami sa mata ng isa't-isa. Patagalan ba? Ako talo dito... his ocean blue eyes are always overwhelming... overpowering. Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko. My heart can't sit quietly too... "When somebody came and do this to you, reacting that way will get you killed," he said as he stood up and looked down on me. What? Naupo ako ng maayos at tiningala siya. "W-what the hell was that just now?" I asked. Hindi ba 'to nakakaramdam ng awkwardness? I mean, I just told him off kahapon pagkauwi namin. I'm a mess. He brought me back here without any word. Nung nakapagsettle down lang kami. Why would he even do that? I've heard his story... madadamay lang siya sa'kin. He has his matters too. This guy's innocent kahit naiinis ako sa kaniya. He helped me a lot of times already. "Stand up," he demanded. "Busy ako. Ginagawa ko yung inassign mong work and didn't you say na kailangan na--" "Stand up," he repeated. May kabang bumalot sa dibdib ko. Bakit ba kasi hindi niya muna iexplain gagawin? Lumayo siya sa akin paatras at nandun siya sa wide area ng living room. What does he want? Lumapit ako sa kaniya. "Anong mayroon?" I asked. He reached for my shoulders and turned me back from him. "Do you know what this is?" he asked. I HAVE NO IDEA GOSH. Hindi na lang sabihin eh. Nang hindi ako sumagot ay bigla na lang niya akong niyakap sa waist ko. Pero ang firm. WHAT IS THIS? "What are you doing?" I managed to blurt out. I am starting to feel hot... Argh. "Fight back," he answered as he held both my wrists with his other hand. How can he? I tried squirming my way out but it didn't work. He didn't even budge at all! I felt his warm breath against my nape. "Tsk," he uttered as he let go of me. I faced him. "Marcus? Ano bang problem? I mean, why... what-- h-hey!" I shouted. Naglalakad naman siya palapit sa akin. What the hell is his deal? Nakatitig lang siya sa akin while closing the distance between us. "Don't come near me now! Ah!" He grabbed my arm and before I know it, nakaenclose na yung arm niya sa leeg ko. "Hey!" I shouted while tapping his arm. "Fight back, Daliah." He whispered to my ear. Gosh! Our bodies are too close! Ano bang gusto niyang patunayan sa ginagawa niyang 'to? "I don't want to. Let me go, gosh." I uttered. I'm trying my best here, my heart! Cooperate, please! I feel so hot right now! He did let me go. I quickly walked away from him to face him. "You don't know the basic self-defense... I'm trying to teach you now." he casually said. What? Self-defense? Why is he trying to do this again? I can handle myself. Saka ang awkward naman ng way ng pagtuturo niya. Hindi man lang ako ininform. "I don't need it," I answered while walking back to the sofa. "It's clear that you will be easily get by anyone. I'm just trying to help--" "I don't need it anymore. I mean, thanks for helping me in the past but as I said yesterday, it's only from my dad." I cut into his words. He needs to believe me na okay lang. "You are my responsibility right now, Daliah." Ah? Obligado na ba siya? Gosh, sorry ah. I glared into his eyes. I can't even last not feeling hot whenever my eyes meet his. "Don't worry, I will be out of your place. Two weeks na lang naman." Ako magiging obligated dito 'pag tumulong pa siya. I don't want to drag anyone into my mess. "Then follow my word within the remaining weeks, Daliah." he answered. Follow his word? Who does he think he is? "I can think for myself." I snapped back. "Follow me. As the owner of this place, that's an order." He said as he walked back to his room. What? Bakit ba kasi hindi muna ako nagpagawa ng contract?! Deal lang gosh. I can't say no to that... Argh! I sat down on the sofa feeling my racing heartbeat. Ang init pa! I looked at the laptop and hindi pa rin ito umookay. The hell? Ang dami nang nangyari, not responding pa rin? Argh! Goodness! I prepared my clothes and went to the bathroom. Why is it so hot? Habang nasa shower ay bigla na lang naging black ang paligid. "Ah! Omg! Ah!" I screamed. Brownout ba? The hell! Kinapa ko yung harapan ko para ma-off yung shower. Gosh! Where is it?! "Where the hell is that knob?!" I screamed. I can't take a bath without a freaking light! Napatigil ako nang marinig kong bumukas yung pinto. Yung may key na ginamit. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "H-hey! Huwag kang lalapit!" I shouted. Bakit ba siya nandito? "Don't scream then," he answered. I heard the closing of the door. I sighed in relief. What was he thinking? Just because place niya 'to? Gosh! "Ah! What the hell?!" I screamed once more. HE JUST-- WHY IS HE STILL IN HERE? Hinawi niya yung curtain na tanging nakatakip sa akin. Thank goodness, it's pitch black in here. I'm pretty sure I heard the shower curtain get pushed tho! "Don't shout," pagkasabi niya nun ay tumigil na yung tubig sa pagtama sa akin. "...tsk." he continued. Nang marnig kong bumukas at sumara na ulit yung pintuan, my body felt heavier forcing me to crouch on the ground while holding my chest. Why... why does he do this? This guy never heard of 'personal space' or whatever? Kanina pa siya ah... and nung mga nakaraang araw. What does he want to imply by doing this? I don't even think he is that comfortable with me so why? I don't know him that much too. He does these weird things and I... Argh! Screw this! Tumayo na ako at nag-ayos. I changed into my clothes and walked out of the bathroom. Bumungad sa akin yung tahimk na living room. Ha? Where is he? "I accept it now. I can't live like this... not when others..." his voice! I followed the sound and nandun siya sa balcony, talking on his phone. Lagi ko na lang naririnig mga usapan nito! There is someone in here too! Pahalagahan naman niya privacy niya. Yep. That's another question. Another "why"... But it's none of my concerns now... Bumalik na ako sa laptop at nang nakitang maayos na ito ay bumalik na ako sa work. After kong ayusin yung sa Photoshop, I emailed our finished documents dun sa mga sinabi niyang mga email. Para mas marami raw makaalam at in case na magustuhan ay may papayag. He needs money to coninue operating his business... his dream. I mean, it's heroic to do that and not the revenge thing his comrades were talking about... tapos two years nang nagra-run yung business nila, I know na dapat by that time, scalable na sila. Tsk, you don't know me. Sabi ko nga. I'm just here to take refuge because for some unknown reason possible that my dad cut off every means of our connection because of my stepmom. I can create a social media account but what for? He did send men to get me... but does he really want me? His daughter? Eh may sinasabi silang custody noon. What the hell does that even mean? Argh! All I know is that we both don't know each other's affairs... and bahala siya diyan. I just hope whatever the hell's happening to me right now, matapos na. I just want to go home with dad but I can't. I'm always an outsider. Sana, sana... I can get out of this place... alone. Ayokong may sabit ako. I need to close myself pa.