I look up to the dark sky. I sighed. Gosh, naiwan ko cam ko sa loob. Sayang. It is as if the dark sky with its shimmering stars is talking to me. "Beautiful..." I mumbled. Napatingin ako sa phone ko at tinry na icapture iyon. Nang tiningnan ko na yung picture ay napangiti na lamang ako. "Gosh!" Sigaw ko nang maramdaman kong may kumagat sa binti ko. After kong i-tap yung legs ko, ibinalik ko yung tingin ko sa phone ko. My heart skipped a beat. A mixture of emotions washed over me. Now I'm looking at my family picture. Me and my dad. This was before akong pumunta dito sa New York. A year ago. That was the only time again na pinansin ako ni dad. Puro lang siya work... because of that woman. Ever since na pumasok siya sa family, nalayo na sa akin si dad. Excited akong umuwi kasi ngayon lang ako makakapag vacation ulit tapos mukhang hindi pa matutuloy. I'm not exactly close to my family even though it's just the three of us. There comes my dad, and my mom. Step-mom. For the second time, I sighed. I just want to scream right now but of course, it's embarrassing. Maya-maya pa'y may naamoy akong masarap... smells spicy... what is it? Canton? Nilingon ko ang pinanggalingan ng amoy at napatayo ako sa nakita ko. Nang magtama ang mga mata namin ay bumalik na lang ako sa pwesto ko kanina. I felt that he sat on my right. I glared at him. He hands me the bowl from which the smell earlier came from. I looked at it. Smells good... No! May kasalanan pa siya! I just looked at it. And he's looking at me. Those eyes... why do they have to be like that? "H-hey..." Kinuha niya yung kamay ko at ipinahawak sa akin yung bowl ng canton. I smelled it... Mmmm... "Eat it. You haven't eaten the food this morning." he said. I looked at him again. Okay. I swirled my fork and ate the food. It tastes spicy and I like the fact that it is not dry. Hindi ko na siya pinansin at kumain lang nang kumain. I can feel his stares though... "What?" I asked him. He just smirked. I rolled my eyes, "This is... not bad. It's my first time eating this though... how did you cook it? You must've spent a lot of time here..." "You-- this one? I pity you." He replied while looking at me as if I missed something so big in my life. Why? This canton is different from those that I ate before. "Psh." "Saka, anong sinabi mo? More time? What do you mean? That's instant canton! Pakulo ka lang ng tubig! Tsk." Ha? I stopped eating and looked at it. WHAT. My family never ate this though. Atleast me... Ilang minuto pa ay tahimik kami parehas. Somehow, this feels... nice? Kahit naiinis pa rin ako sa kaniya. "Sorry." I looked up to him. His eyes are digging into mine. Again. I feel like I'm in another world whenever I look at those eyes. "About earlier. I know that it is not a valid reason but, it's just that I am a graduating student. So things are kinda rough." So what? "We're the same, don't assume like I'm not having a hard time in school." I snapped. "Yes. I know..." he trailed. "So? What do you study? Wait, judging by the looks of your room, you are some kind of... argh. Basta sa paggawa, ganoon." I forgot the term. He raised his eyebrow at me. "Engineering. Medical Engineering." Okay. Great. I just nodded at him. "Wait, ano yung mga papers na nakita kong nakakalat sa living room kanina?" I asked. May pa business permit pa. "Ah. Those are business papers. I'm trying to start a business. Speaking of that, I just got fired up with things and such. Again, sorry." Paliwanag niya. "Okay." "So... I assume everything's fine with you now." Gosh. Ganoon na lang? "But, sinong mga kasama mo sa business? You looked stressed too much. Mag-isa ka ba?" I'm just curious since grabe din siya makasigaw last night. "Oh... my mi-- mates, school mates." he answered. "Oh... what do you do then?" I swear, just curious! "Just..." he trailed off. "Hmm?" "...business." he continued. I rolled my eyes. "Tsk. Obviously related to my degree." he stated. "Bakit? Pwede namang iba ah? Gosh..." "By the way, have you contacted--" "None. Wala pa ring sumasagot. I don't know what happened." I cut him off. Agaran kong sinubo yung fork na may canton. Napatingin ako sa nalaglag na part. Ooops... White pa naman... Thank goodness and oily lang yung canton. Nung iniangat ko 'to with my fork at inilagay sa bowl, oil lang naiwan nito sa poloshirt na suot ko. "Tsk. Don't you know how to eat? Saka, paanong ngayon ka lang nakakain niyan?" He asked. "Sorry ha. I live in a mansion that does not serve instant food. Tapos nung pumunta ako rito, I used to live in a luxurious condo that serves my breakfast up to dinner." I replied. Kala mo ha. "What? There's such thing? Sounds like a hotel for me..." He said while acting like I'm just making up stories. EXCUSE YOU. "Pake mo ba. I'm just here because I'm not receiving anything now. I can't pay." He just nodded. "Come on," he said while standing up. "Don't act as if you didn't shout at me. I don't follow comma-- ah!" hinila niya ang braso ko patayo at naglakad na kami papasok ng building. "You always do this. I hate you." I said. "There's a box that was delivered here a while ago. Go check it. Sayo nakapangalan." Omg. Ang bilis ha... Pumunta ako sa may foyer niya at may nakitang isang box dun. There you are! "Hey! Help me out!" I shouted. Lumapit siya sa akin. Tiningnan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa. "What are you doing?" I asked him. His eyes finally met mine. "Strip that off." he said as he looked at what I'm wearing. Tiningnan ko rin ang suot ko and... "W-wait! I don't do that! Bakit ang rough mo naman... not just because..." banggit ko habang nakacross sa upper body ko. Tumayo ako at hindi makatingin sa kaniya. I feel hot gosh. "Huh?" He asked while squinting his eyes. "Whatever you say, I won't do it. We had a deal... I guess automatic na yun na no sexual activities." I stated. "So... no." I added. "What the hell? I'm just telling you to give me back my clothes! Ngayon ko lang napansin na sa'kin yan. Then yung jeans ko... what have you done? Mukha kang nakapajama," he said. Okay? "You don't care." "Change into something." he said. Lumuhod ako sa harapan ng box at tumingin sa kaniya, "Give me a knife first. Nandito ang damit ko." He reached his pocket and handed me a multitool something. Does he always carry this around? "Amin na," he said nang hablutin sa akin iyon. Inayos niya iyon at inilabas yung knife na para dun sa box. Pinausog niya ako at siya ang nagbukas ng box. "What's this? Kanino galing?" he asked. You don't need to know. Haha. I digged into the box. Yes! Kala niya ha... I went for my clothes na nasa ilalalim nung textbooks at iba pang mga gamit sa school na binanggit ko. Tumayo na ako nang makita siyang maglakad palayo. "Wait! I'll just get changed then pausog nitong box sa living area?" Lumingon siya sa akin, "Give me my clothes first." "Yes, I will--" "And wash it. You must remember that you didn't ask for my permission when you got those. That's the least the you can do." He cut off. Ha? How... "'Di ako marunong 'no! Gosh! Kahit washing machine na lang. Do you have it?" I asked. He turned his body to me. "Yes. But you can't use it. Kaunti lang naman yan. Save electricity." After saying those words ay naglakad na siya papuntang room niya. "Hey!" sigaw ko pa pero sinara na lang niya yung pinto. Damot nito! How am I supposed to do it? Naglakad na ako across the living room. Malinis na ulit ito 'di tulad kanina. Okay. I need to change. After changing my clothes, nilinga ko ang loob ng cr. Just like what people do in TV... I grabbed a small basin and filled it with water. Nilapag ko yun sa sink. Then... wala akong makitang soap na panglaba kaya ang ginamit ko na lang ay yung soap na nasa banyo. Bahala siya diyan. Inuna ko yung polo shirt. "Pagkakaalala ko, nilulublob lang yun tapos kusot..." I mumbled to myself. Ayun nga ginawa ko pero ilang minuto pa lang ay pinagpapawisan na ako. Gosh! Ang hirap pala nito? "Omg!" Sigaw ko nang marinig yung phone ko na nagring. People these days... hilig manggulat. I washed my hands first then pinunasan iyon ng towel. Gosh. Naalala ko kanina. Damit ko lang pinangpunas ko sa akin. Bakit ko pa kasi hinagis yung luggage ko? Argh. "Hello?" I asked. "I cancelled the allowance you asked for. You're not getting it." the familiar voice said. Mr. Ty? Argh, I hate that we are... nevermind! Gosh, ano na naman 'to? "Okay? Don't forget about what we--" "I knew it, already." Ha? Don't tell me... "What?" I still asked kahit alam ko. Yung SNS accounts ko, nakita na niya? No! This can't be. Why? Parang kaninang umaga lang, pinag-usapan namin 'to ah? "You can't threaten me anymore. So fix your grades or else... you know what will happen." he said. I clenched my fist. Sinipa ko rin yung basin dahilan para tumapon yung tubig. I don't care. "Good heavens, someone ticked me about your lies. Sorry to hear about your loss of contact with your VERY OWN family. He probably did it for a reason," he added while laughing out loud. I can feel the heat building up inside me. "Who the hell is that? Huh?!" I can't stop to raise my voice. Kung sino ka man... "Ooops, Ms. Ty. This is not just someone you are talking to... might as well fix your attitude now before it's too late..." Pinatay ko ang tawag at inilapag ang phone. "Argh! Why?! Ito na lang eh! What do I do now?!" Padabog kong hinarap ang sarili sa salamin. Why can't he help me na lang?! What do I expect... he's just like everyone. My dad's my only family. Napatingin ulit ako sa phone ko na nagvibrate. A message popped out. I will not get the box I sent you back. Now you have a good... REALLY GOOD reason to use it. Study well, Ms. Ty! Med school is no joke. Good day. You can't do this to me!v