Under the Starlight

9

Another week came at stress  na ulit kami sa school.  We barely talked about what happened noong weekend sa beach. Masyado kasi kaming busy para pag-usapan pa iyon.

Pagsapit namin ng fourth year ay masa naging abala kami sa pag-aaral. Dumadalaw si Sancho pero hindi ganun nagtatagal. Nagdadala lang siya ng regalo tapos kaunting kwentuhan then he will leave again. 

Para akong naiiwanan kapag umaalis siya. Inaamin ko na hinahanap ko yung presensya niya. 

"Fourth year na tayo pero hindi niyo pa rin kayang linisin yang sarili niyong lugar?" sigaw ni Chari sa buong klase. 

We fell silent kahit si Kuya Seb. We were laughing kasi at the back pagkatapos naming gawin yung design para sa booth namin sa school fair. 

"Kanina ko pa kayo sinasabihan na maglinis pero tawa kayo nang tawa diyan! Yang gitara kanina pa pinababalik sa faculty, hindi niyo pa rin dinadala doon! Ano ba?!"  sigaw pa ulit ni Chari. 

Kuya Seb stood up at naging seryoso na rin yung face niya. Namumula na kasi si Chari sa galit, we actually didn't know why. Usually hindi siya ganito magalit. She's too calm and joins the class kapag nag-gigitara. 

"Ilang beses na Agustin!  Ilang beses na tayong sinasabihan! Kailangan bang mapahiya pa ako sa faculty, sa harap ng principal dahil lang sa atin ha? Tapos may nabalitaan pa akong nagpuslit ng alak dito sa room! Ano ba?! Isip-bata ba kayo?!" She's really mad and furious. 

Napatingin ako sa mga kausap na kaklase. Someone brought a liquor inside the classroom? Hindi ko alam iyon. 

"Huwag mo silang subukan na ipagtanggol, Seb. May isang hindi nakikisama dito!" 

Nagkatinginan kaming lahat. Our eyes drifted immediately to Natasha, she's smirking while her brows were all up. 

"Grabe talaga inggit mo sa akin noh, Natasha? Pati grades ko gusto mong ipahamak? Ganun ka ba kasugapa ah? Gusto mo si Sebastian? Sige kunin mo na!" Sigaw niya. 

Lahat kami ay napatigil lalo na noong tumayo si Natasha. I really hate that girl kahit last year pa.

 "Ikaw ang nagdala?" tanong ng isang classmate namin. 

"Wala namang class today. Bakit hindi na lang tayo uminom?" She said as if it was really nice to say. 

"Are you thinking ba? You're going to drink an alcohol in our school? Seriously?" I asked her.

She shrugged off her shoulder. "Yeah. Why not? Tsaka Chari, you are our class president. You can defend us, right?" She said. 

"Bobo ka ba?" Allen asked her. 

Isang blackboard eraser ang lumilipad na tumama sa braso ni Natasha. Napatingin kami sa pinanggalingan nun. It was Chari. 

"Kaya ko kayong ipagtanggol pero hinding-hindi ko pagtatakpan ang ginawa mo!" sigaw ni Chari dito. 

"Di ba you are smart?  Bakit hindi mo gawan ng paraan na ma-solve ang issue na ito?" sagot ni Natasha kay Chari.

"Grabe? May utak ka ba? Kasi kung wala mag-do-donate ako kahit ng one-fourth ng utak na mayroon ako para magamit mo. Mukha kasing kinain na ng inggit yang utak mo!" sigaw ni Chari ulit dito. 

I never saw her mad at all. She has the longest patience among us pati na rin sa buong class. Kaya kahit nag-aaway na minsan ay siya ang pinaka-chill sa lahat. 

This one definitely get her mad kaya ganito siya kagalit. 

"Oh! You have Sebastian! Surely, he will defend you." sagot pa nito. 

"Hoy, Natasha! Tumigil ka na nga! Bobo ka na nga wala pang magandang lumalabas sa bibig mo!" sigaw ng kaklase namin para matigil na yung sigawan nila. 

We were attracting attentions from the passerby. "Yan at least lumabas sa bunganga mo na si Sebastian talaga ang pakay mo! Sige...kunin mo na. Iyong-iyo na siya!" Tinulak pa ni Chari si Kuya Seb papunta kay Natasha.

I can see the serious mad face of Kuya Seb. He didn't like what was happening right now. 

"Oo! You always knew that I liked him but you're always there! What was happening to you is your karma!" sigaw ni Natasha. 

"Wow! Sorry ah. Kaibigan ko kasi yang si Sebastian! At kasalanan ko ba na hindi ka gusto ng taong pinagpapakamatayan mo? Well, hindi ko na problema iyon!" sagot ni Chari dito.

Our classroom turned chaotic sa ginawang pagsagot pa ni Natasha kay Chari. Everyone's blaming Natasha dahil sa de-merit na ma-re-receive ni Chari since she's our class president.  She badly needed those merits pa naman para sa hinahabol niyang scholarship for college. 

The awkward silence filled our room dahil sa nangyari. After that incident, Chari was serious for the next couple of days. Si Kuya Seb lang ang nakakalapit sa kanya. Kahit ako or kami ni Mica ay hindi namin siya magawang lapitan. 

She has a very strong aura that scared us. 

Dire-diretso rin kapag lumabas si Chari sa classroom. Ginagawa naman niya yung responsibility niya pero she's too serious talaga. 

"What are you doing here?" tanong ko kay Sancho pagkakita sa kanya. 

He's standing outside our house. 

"I'm going to stay with you!" Maligayang sabi niya sa akin. 

"Stay with me? Why?" Nagtatakang tanong ko sa kanya. 

"Coz' you are alone. Mabuti nga at nandito ako sa Trinidad ng sinabi ni Tita Lena na hindi sila makauuwi ni Tito Leo." diretsong sabi niya sa akin. 

He event went inside our house na parang lagi siyang nandoon talaga pero once pa lang naman. 

"Sandali! You can't be here! Leave, now!" I told him. 

He turned to me with serious eyes. "Wala kang kasama ngayon sa bahay, Olivia," He said to me. 

Wala? Anong tawag niya sa mga kasambahay namin? Ghosts? 

"I have kasama here!" And besides I don't want him here. 

Yes, wala ang parents ko ngayon also Kuya Leon. They're in Manila para i-check yung condo unit na binili nila for Kuya. They want me to join them din  pero I declined dahil nag-aaral ako. Exam week pa naman namin. 

"Mas mabuting may lalaki kang kasama dito," he added. 

I shook my head. "I can perfectly take care of myself. Thank you for worrying about, but, no, you can leave now." 

"Walang titingin sa iyo ngayon, Olivia. What's wrong kung ako ang kasama mo? I'm your fiancée right?" He said to me.

"Oh! Jeez! Cut the crap, Sancho. It's only  the two of us. No need to pretend. No one's looking at us." I told him. Hindi ba siya kinikilabutan sa sinabi niya sa akin?

He looked around before shrugging off his shoulder. "Kahit magreklamo ka. I will stay with you today." He winked afterwards sabay pasok sa kusina. 

Ngayon ko lang napansin ang hawak niyang paper bag. Agad akong sumunod sa kanya. "What are you going to do?" tanong ko sa kanya. 

Hindi siya sumagot at dire-diretso lang sa isang pinto papunta sa kitchen mismo. Our house servers who were there were all stunned pagkakita kay Sancho at sa akin. 

"Good morning po. Fiancee po ako ni Olivia, pinabantayan po siya sa akin ngayon ni Tita Lena. Ayos lang po ba na makigulo ako sa kusina?" magalang na tanong niya sa mga iyon.

P...po?" The maids asked before looking at me. 

I gave them a nod kaya nag-uunahan silang lumabas ng kusina papunta sa quarters nila. At least they can rest early dahil mayroong willing maging yaya ko for today. 

Sancho looked at me before putting the paper bags on top of kitchen counter. "Roast chicken for today. You want?" tanong niya sa akin. 

"Why are you here nga pala? Di ba dapat nasa inyo ka? Walang kasama si Lola Esmeng---"

"Hinatid ko siya sa Oliveros para bisitahin si Tita Jenny. Doon muna raw siya for the weekend kaya nandito ako ngayon," paliwanag niya sa akin. 

"You have an opt to stay at home. Why would you even come here in the first place?" tanong ko sa kanya. 

If I were him, I would go back home and stay there. 

He sighed before tapping the marmol tile of the counter top. "How many times should I answer you? Pumunta ako dito dahil wala kang kasama at kailangan mo ako dito." He said to me. 

I rolled my eyes again. "I don't need you nga. You can go back na to your house and I won't even mind it at all.  You can leave me in peace." I told him. 

Hindi niya ako pinansin at sinimulang hiwain ang pagkain na nilalabas niya sa loob ng paper bag. Why would he insist himself here ba?

"Hindi ako nagugutom kaya stop cooking na." mataray na sabi ko sa kanya. 

"Yeah, right." He replied to me. 

The nerve of this man talaga! Really! 

Hindi naman niya need na ipagluto ako ng pagkain. He has no reason para gawin iyon lalo na at malaki na rin naman ako. If he's doing this just because we are pretending to be in good terms. Well he should stop by now.  We don't need to raise the expectation of the people around us. 

Sumandal ako sa kitchen counter habang nag-slice siya ng mga ingredients that he stuffed inside the whole chicken. He really has a skill when it comes to cooking. Napakagaling niya maghiwa at gumawa ng kung ano. 

"Why are you putting too many carrots inside?" tanong ko sa kanya. He even put long leaves inside! Ano bang ginagawa niya?

"Manood ka na lang. Titikman mo naman ito mamaya," he told me. 

He's right naman kaya lang seriously? There's so much inside the chicken. The flavor will definitely ruin or enhance the chicken itself. 

Nag-stay na lang ako sa kitchen habang ginagawa pa niya ang ibang dishes. Ang dami namin para lang sa amin. Ilang kasambahay lang din naman ang kasama ko sa bahay then hindi rin naman ako heavy eater. 

"That's too many. Mauubos ba yan tonight?" I asked him. 

He turned to me while tossing the noodles he's making. "Hanggang bukas? Pwede pa yan hanggang breakfast." 

I nodded. We usually re-heat the leftover naman kaya it's fine to me. 

Nakalimutan ko naman na kailangan ko pa rin mag-aral dahil nanonood ako sa kanya. Mamaya na lang siguro dahil may time pa naman ako para mag-aral later. I don't need to rush everything in my brain. 

After niya mag-cook ay kumain na rin kaming dalawa. We didn't used the main dining table instead dito na lang sa small table sa loob ng kitchen. Hindi naman din siya nag-reklamo ng sinabi ko iyon. 

"Mas okay sa akin kasi malapit lang yung mga iluto ko tsaka para mahugasan na rin kaagad. Ayokong itambak yung hugasan." He told me. 

I understand dahil nakita ko rin naman na neat freak siya when it comes to cooking. He wants everything to be clean. 

"What are your exams for Monday?" tanong niya sa akin while we were eating. 

Napaisip ako sa sinabi niya. Masyado kasi akong nag-enjoy sa version niya ng Aglia e oglio pasta. In fairness, I have tasted different kind of noodles. His version could be listed in one of my type.

"Filipino, English, and Math," sagot ko sa kanya. I swirl a spoonful of pasta, while doing that ay he's watching me carefully. 

I rolled my eyes while he's watching me hanggang sa malunon ko yung noodles. 

"You really like noodles?" tanong niya sa akin. 

I nodded. "When I was still in Spain, I only want to eat noodles. I bet you that I have had tasted at least hundred versions of different cook for pasta." sagot ko sa kanya pagkainom ko. 

He nodded slowly. Tapos na siyang kumain pero he's still sitting there and trying to start a conversation with me. Hindi naman bad kaya lang it felt so new na we are so peaceful like this. 

"How's Spain?" he asked again. 

"You have never been in Spain?" tanong ko naman sa kanya. 

He shook his head as an answer. My mouth formed an 'o' on his answer. Well, not everyone has a privilege to go to any country. 

I pouted my lips before answering him. Hindi naman ako ganun na nakakalabas sa bahay kaya hindi ko rin masagot yung tanong niya kaagad. It was Kuya Leon who supply me stories about Spain.  Homeschooled ako before moving here in the Philippines. 

"I never had a chance to leave the house before. Super rare lang akong lumabas unless I need to pay a visit sa neurologist ko. But going out just because it was a fun and free day? No." I even shook my head as an additional answer. 

He didn't say any word yet. Nakatingin lang siya sa akin na parang iniintidi kung tama ba yung nangyari sa akin. 

"How are you feeling anyway? Does it still hurting?" He pointed the top his head. 

I shook my head as an answer, "None at all. May head aches pero sobrang tolerable na siya. Siguro mataas na yung pain tolerance ko kaya it's fine to me na lang," 

"Kaya mo bang mag-review? Baka masyado kang ma-stress at sumakit ang ulo mo."  He added. 

I chuckled, "Kaya ko na. That was actually a simple task. Hindi naman siya bad for me basta no strenuous activity and everything will go smoothly for me." I answered to him. 

He nodded slowly again while looking at me pa rin. 

"Ikaw? What are you going to do here? Don't tell me na you're gouing to sleep here?" tanong ko sa kanya. 

"How did you know that?" tanong niya sa akin. 

My brows furrowed sa sinabi niya sa akin. "Know what?" 

"That I'm going to sleep here?"

"What?!" The fork that I dropped created a loud clang of noise sa table.  "You're joking, right?" I asked him. 

He shook his head as an aswer to me. "Sabi ni Tita Lena na samahan daw kita dito sa inyo. Hindi naman ako matutulog sa kwarto mo. Sanay na ako sa sofa matulog tsaka may gagawin pa akong editing sa documentation ko. So...I might won't be able to sleep at all," Mahaba niyang sabi sa akin. 

My eyes squinted while looking at him. "You're lying. Mommy won't allow any man to sleep here," sabi ko pa sa kanya. 

He leaned back on his seat sabay labas ng phone niya sa bulsa niya.  May pinindot siyang kung ano at pinabasa sa akin ang naging conversation nila ni Mommy. 

My eyes widen sa mga sinasabi ni Mommy sa kanya. I snatched his phone way from him para mahawakan ko iyon. 

From: Tita Lena Vilaformosa

Ikaw na muna bahala sa bunso namin ah. Sorry talaga at ikaw pa ang naabala namin. Nag-wo-worry lang kami ng Daddy at Kuya niya. Hindi lang kami makauwi kasi may diretso na rin sana kaming gagawin dito sa Manila. Kaya kung okay lang? Kahit i-check mo lang sya hanggang dinner and then you're good to go kung hindi ka busy.

To: Tita Lena Vilaformosa

Don't worry, Tita. Kaya ko naman pong samahan si Liv hanggang bukas. Ako na pong bahala sa fiancee ko para hindi na po kayo mag-alala.

From: Tita Lena Vilaformosa

She's quite a pain in the ass pero she's kind naman. You just have to know her even more. I hope you could get to know more of each other. We have a guest room sa house. You can stay there kapag nag-aaral si Liv. She usually stay up late kapag exam week niya. 

To: Tita Lena Vilaformosa

No worries po, Tita. Ako na po ang bahala sa kanya. You can trust me.

I gave him a deadly stare after that. "Go home na lang. I'm perfectly fine here---"

"Unfortunately, I can't leave here unless dumating ang mga magulang at kapatid mo. Will you keep them worried? Huwag matigas ang ulo, Olivia. Wala akong gagawing masama sa'yo." He said to me. 

I raised my brow to him. "Wait...are you even expecting na iniisip kong may gagawin ka sa akin? Dude, I'm not scared at all." sabi ko pa sa kanya. 

He tilt his head before standing up at kinuha ang mga plates namin. "Ako na maghuhugas dito. Mag-aral ka na lang." sabi niya sa akin. 

Iyon nga ang ginawa ko. I didn't help him at all. Plan ko pa naman na ako na ang mag-wash ng dishes dahil baka napagod siya sa pagluto pero he made me mad. I took my phone and called Mommy. 

["Baby! Why?']  She asked to me. 

The background was quite noisy. Hindi ko alam kung nasaan sila or anong ginagawa nila sa Manila. The noise died after a while mukhang lumayo si Mommy sa noise. 

["I'm sorry.  Kumakain kasi kami sa restaurant...Anyway, why did you call, anak? Is something wrong?"]  she added. 

I sighed as answer.  This is not the right time to become a brat. Ayoko naman na isipin pa nila ako dahil malaki na rin naman ako para intindihin pa nila. "Wala po. I just missed you." I answered. 

Kaya ko naman sigurong mabuhay hanggang tomorrow kahit nandito sa house si Sancho. 

["Aw! That's so sweet of you, anak. Don't worry at maaga kaming uuwi ng mga Daddy at Kuya mo tomorrow. You study lang ah?"] she answered. 

I nodded as if nakikita niya ako. "You continue eating na po. No need to call me na po. S...Sancho's here naman to took care of me. I might study until midnight po." sagot ko sa kanya. 

I heard the sigh of relief from Mommy. They really like Sancho and I know na they have a big trust in him kaya they let him stay with me for tonight. Maybe, I should hold onto that trust as well?

["Yeah, he texted me nga. Be good to him, anak. I love you. I'll see you tomorrow."] she said to me. 

"I love you too, Mom. Please send my regards to Dad and Kuya Leon." I told her. 

We ended the phone call. Night na rin naman kaya impossible na uuwi talaga sila kahit ipilit ko pa. Tsaka hindi na rin naman ako bata para magsabi sa kanila ng ganung bagay. I walked towards the door and locked it na lang pati na yung window namin. 

Trinidad is a safe place naman pero an additional safety won't hurt the place naman siguro. 

"Ako na sana ang nagsara niyan." 

I almost jump sa nagsalita sa likuran ko. Sancho was standing behind me, a few meters away from me, wiping his wet hand sa t-shirt niya. I feel bad for him. Inaalila ko naman siya. 

"Y...you can use the guest room para makapag-rest ka. Clean naman iyon tsaka may aircon para hindi mainit. I'll be staying in my room and going to study until midnight. I don't want any noise while I'm studying. So please, be quiet as much as possible." I told him. 

Well, excuse ko lang na tahimik. I just don't want to think na nandito rin siya sa house namin. 

He nodded na parang hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi ko sa kanya. "And where is the guest room?" tanong niya sa akin. Lumapit pa siya sa sofa at dinampot ag duffel bag na dala pala niya. 

Hindi ko na talaga napansin yung mga dinala niya sa loob ng bahay kanina. It was his fault talaga. 

"Beside my room. Follow me." I told him bago naunang maglakad at lagpasan siya. 

I can sense him na he's following din naman. I stop in front of my bedroom. I pointed the room beside my bedroom. 

"That's our guest room. If you still need anything, you can ask the maids. There's a bathroom na rin inside kaya no need to go out. May clean towel and spare necessities diyan." sabi ko pa sa kanya. 

Mommy made sure kasi na may mga malinis na gamit sa guest room para in case na may biglaan kaming visitors ay magagamit nila kaagad ang room without worrying about anything. 

Sancho turned to me and smiled. "Thank you,  Liv." He said before patting the top of my head again tsaka pumasok sa loob ng room. 

And just like the usual. My heart beats quite different this time. Am I nervous or what? Hindi ko na rin alam talaga.