The taste and feel of the wind feel as if I'm flying. The rain is drizzling right now yet I feel warm. I looked at my hands holding on his shoulders. I looked around only to be greeted by the beautifully chaotic composition of the buildings... Kinapa ko yung sling bag ko with my right hand. My heart skipped a beat kaya napadiin yung hawak ng isa kong kamay sa kaniya. Huh? Nasaan na yung... yeah. I forgot. "Just hold on to me!" he shouted. His voice being eaten by his helmet and the growling wind. Nang makarating na kami sa building, agad siyang bumaba ng motorcycle. The warm feeling is gone. I just stayed there, looking down on the seat. Itinukod ko yung paa ko para hindi ako mahulog. I also hold unto the motorcycle seat. He's always doing this. How can I pay him at least? How many times pa? What is it that he need from me? Nakakaguilty na kasi... "Come on now," his authoritative voice enveloped me even though we are in an open area. The helmet I'm wearing shields me from it. I didn't budge. I can hear his footsteps nearing me. Ayan na. What am I gonna say? Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang maramdaman ko yung mga kamay niya... it is rough against my skin. I stared at him as he put away my helmet. "What now? Come on." he commanded. "Why are you doing this?" I asked him. I looked into his eyes just to be sure I can capture whatever he's hiding there. Unlike before... it is not really blank. He leaned closer to me, making me hold unto my seat. Gosh. What's his deal? Hindi siya nagsalita at tumitig lang sa akin. Ah. I know. "Responsibility, ha? Bakit? Hindi ka naman nirerequire ha? I'm perfectly fine with myself! I will do my part here and then be go--" "You can't just tell someone to not be responsible about things, Daliah. Especially, you are staying in my place--" "I'm not a thing," I replied. "That's not the point." I looked down again. What do I do? Stay here with him and let him know everything about me? What will this man whom I can see such beautiful ocean blue eyes become after it? After knowing and then regretting how messy of a situation I really am? Tapos parang nadadamay ko pa siya... what happened to you Daliah? "Let's head inside now. You are going to catch a cold." There. He's doing it! Again! I'm not his friend... nor his lover. I'm just here, seeking refuge. Gosh! "Only... only if you promise," I mumbled. My heart starts to race. What am I saying? Omg Daliah. I can see in my peripheral vision from my left that he's still standing and leaning closer to me. I sighed. "...stop doing things like this. Kaya ko ang sarili ko so--" "Let's stay like this then." he cut into my words. What? I looked at him. He is looking through my soul again. What does he mean about that? He is silently tearing into my eyes. Anong mayroon sa kaniya? I can't believe he's really doing it. Hindi ba siya nangangawit? I can feel my butt hurting so bumaba na ako ng motorcycle . He stands up properly. I glared into his eyes and marched to the building. What is he trying to prove? Nang nasa loob na ako ng apartment niya ay naupo ako sa couch. Napatayo ako. Gosh! Basa nga pala ako! I quickly changed into my clothes. "There's a bathroom, just so you know." his voice! Bakit ang bilis naman niya? Agad akong tumakbo papuntang likod ng sofa. Sa tabi nung box ng mga gamit ko. "I didn't see a thing. Fix the table I'm going to cook now," he commanded again. I rolled my eyes. Nang nakapagpalit ako ng pantaas ay tumakbo ako papuntang bathroom with my other clothes. I forgot that my underwear got wet too! Argh! After fixing myself, I am greeted by a familiar smell as I walk out of the bathroom. What is it? Sinigang?! With my quick pace, I walked to see him in the kitchen. His back is facing me. He doesn't wear apron or something. Isn't he scared of getting dirty?! I mean, napakaarte niya right? Argh nevermind! Inayos ko na yung table. The plates, the utensils and the cups... they're good now. I walked to the couch. My eye caught the black thing on it with my slingbag. Omg! Kinuha ko yung jacket niya at isinampay. Then, I crouced on the ground para mailapag ko yung mga gamit ko na nasa loob ng sling bag ko. Thank goodness it is not a cheap one kaya hindi naman basang-basa yung iba. Isinampay ko rin yung bag ko. Napatingin ako sa nagkalat na pieces ng camera ko, now on the ground. I sighed. Sorry, dad. I picked it up, together with my other things, and placed them inside the box of my stuff. Nasa pinakailalim ko tinago yun. So my other stuff goes on top. I will just fix it kapag nakabalik na ako sa Ph. "Daliah, come on now," he calls out. Naglakad na ako papunta sa may table. Every night had been like this ever since. He is always sitting across me. Then after eating silently, we will do the tasks. "I want to see your progress in school," he said without looking at me. Now, this is a first. Bakit pala niya gustong makita? "Let's just eat. Ayokong pinaguusapan yan pag kumakain no," I replied. "Hmm? One month?" what? He's using the deal against me?! Tumayo ako kaagad at nagmartsiya papuntang living area. This guy! Argh! Ipinakita ko sa kaniya yung ibang mga quiz namin. Now he's being a parent to me. Gosh! "Finish that up. We're going to study," he commands while looking at my papers. ACTING ALL PARENT-Y NOW! This is going to be a long night. I turned around. Ang hirap matulog dito sa couch, gosh. Nang dahil pinuyat niya ako kagabi to study, for some reason, I can't sleep anymore after waking up. What time is it? I reached out for my phone on the coffee table. The hell? Seven pa lang! My feet are facing towards the balcony and his room. Nakaulo ako may main door. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. I immediately reached out for the blanket. My eyes! Ibinaba ko ng konti yung blanket. I just wanna confirm if it's-- gosh! The same scenario na naman! He is standing there by the balcony, pinupunasan yung katawan niya while drinking from his bottled water. He walked to the kitchen. How can he walk around like that?! Half freaking naked! Now I can't really sleep! Mamaya pa ang pasok eh! Nagtalukbong na lang ako. I scrolled through my phone. "Don't just scroll through your phone. Help me out," I flinched after hearing his voice. He can see me? I looked at my phone. Argh. I forgot to turn down the brightness! Padabog kong inalis yung blanket at tumayo. I yawn while walking towards the table. I sighed. Lumapit ako sa may side niya para abutin yung mga plates and cups from the cabinet. I looked at him. Oh? He's now wearing a gray t-shirt. Gosh, Daliah. Inilapag ko na sa table yung mga kinuha ko. Then I reached for the spoons. Ayan. I sat down. He is now putting the food on our plate. What? Bacon and eggs? Omg! I missed this! Reaching out for my spoon and fork, I immersed myself in the food. I even put a slice of bread on my mouth. I looked at him while munching my food. He is now pouring water in my cup. Bakit water? "Alam mo, mas masarap 'pag juice. Lagi na lang water, wala ka bang powdered juice? Lagay natin." I said after managing to gulp the water in my cup. "It is unhealthy," he replied while looking at his food. I rolled my eyes. Arte. Gosh! Saan pala niya nakukuha 'to? I mean, I only know that he does the start up thing on the side. He's still a student din... tapos may brand new pa siyang motorcycle? "May work ka pa ba? Aside from this side start up? I mean, paano ka nakakaraos? You said you're a student too..." I asked. He drank from his cup. "I work freelance on the side. Bakit?" Tanong lang naman. Anong kind kaya? I suddenly saw his prototypes inside his room in my mind. Ah. Dami namang perks 'pag enginnering! I just finished up eating and stood up. Naglakad na ako papuntang couch. "By the way, I got to talk to some investors. Hopefully they agree. Forgot to tell you yesterday since you were busy in your tantrums," I heard him from the kitchen. What tantrums?! Gosh! Siya na nga nakabasag nung camera ko! Kapal. "Okay yan para mabayaran mo na ako. Gosh, need my moolah!" I shouted. Nang makarating kami ng school, bumaba ako ng motorcycle agad. "I will go to some stores later pala," to buy juice. Akin lang yun. Puro water nasa place niya. "No," he replied while fixing himself on his motorcycle. I rolled my eyes. Tinalikuran ko na siya. Saglit lang naman. Tapos malapit lang yung store, nakikita ko na nga ngayon eh. Just beside our freaking campus-- GOSH... the familiar cold metallic feeling came back. I stopped walking. "We'll buy it together. Wait for me here. Don't go anywhere," I heard his voice from behind. Now it is eaten by his motorcycle's noise. My heart... it is racing the hell again! Pero somehow... I felt... secured. Nang matapos ang lectures at tests namin I feel so heavy. Argh! Pinuyat kasi ako eh! Pero I seemed to breeze through the test kanina kaya okay. Habang naglalakad ako sa hallway, something caught my attention. The familiar varnished black wooden door of his office. Uncle... I see... nandun yung secretary niya sa may waiting seats. So nandiyan na siya? "Daliah! Where are you going?" Oh, it's Alyssa. "Office. I need to fix things," I replied. "That looks serious. See you at the locker room later!" she shouted while walking away from me. Alright. Here it is. "Do you have an appointment with the chairman?" "He's my uncle and I need to talk to him." Hindi gumalaw yung secretary niya. Ayaw mo ha? Umatras ako mula sa kaniya. I cleared my throat. "Uncle! I need to--" Agad na lumapit sa akin yung secretary. I squirmed from her to get to the door. Everytime I get to touch it, I slam my fist on it. Maya-maya pa ay bumukas yung door. Kailangan pang may mag-scandal dito. "What is it, Ms. Ty?" he is now standing in front of us. I pushed the secretary away from me. "I need answers," I replied. Tinalikuran niya ako at pumasok siya sa room. i followed him and closed the door. "You shouldn't be doing that around my--" "What is really happening, uncle? Last time, there were men coming after me. Are they really from him? From you? One pointed his freaking gun on me!" I shouted. I pant after spouting those words. He sat on his chair. Nangalumbaba siya sa desk niya. I can feel the heat building up in my body. "What do I need to do in here? Why do I need to stay here?" I asked. "It is an order from your dad. Request, if that's what you prefer." I rolled my eyes. "Request to what? Then there's custody and everything! I can't understand a thing!" Tumayo siya at hinapas yung table niya, "If you can't understand, just follow! It is simple! Stay here for the meantime just like what your dad said!" I stared at him, looking for words. Simple? Gosh, hindi kasi siya yung nandito. I'm confused as hell! Kung... kung wala si Marcus... I will not be here... they want me to stay in here but I'm also chased around? By their men? Ang gulo! "Is there even a choice?" I mumbled while looking down. "There isn't. That's why you should just do it. It's fairly simple. Stay here and make your dad proud by studying! Nevermind what those men told you that day, you won't even understand. Probably..." bulong niya sa sarili. What the hell? "Then... then make me understand! Why is it that you will have these kinds of men? Running around ready to... to kill. I was there... the gun... it was by my side..." "I don't know Daliah. These orders are from your dad... your parents. The gun that you are talking about, don't place your blame on my men like that--" So they are from him. "Blame? You think, uncle, I'm only blaming this thing that actually happened to me? Way to go, uncle. Thanks anyways," I rolled my eyes again and marched out of his office. Why is it my fault? Why do I need to follow without understanding? Dad! You're the only one who can explain this to me... Pagod na ako! Bakit ganito? Padabog kong binuksan ang locker ko. "What happened Daliah?" Alyssa again. I rummaged through my locker. Nagkalat mga book ko rito. Narinig kong huminga na lamang ng malalim si Alyssa nang hindi ko siya sagutin. "Daliah, I believe this is yours," Alyssa whispered. Ha? Bakit siya bumubulong? Isinara ko yung locker ko. There she is, holding an envelope? A pink one... "That's not mine," I replied. I turned my back on her. "Wait! It fell from your locker! I'm gonna give this to my parents and let the world know about you and whoever the guy this letter came from," I faced her. What? "What is that?" I grabbed the pink envelope from her hand. "I didn't open it. Seems like a love letter to me though. If you want to know who the guy is, my parents have a broadcasting s--" "Nevermind." "Okay, just call me if you change your mind!" she taps me while laughing and walking away. The hell? Tiningnan ko yung pink na envelope. Inilapit ko sa akin. Omg. Scented pa! Who would give such a thing to me? I sighed. After what happened earlier... somehow, the same warmth came back to me. I wonder who the guy is. My heart... it feels warm.