Ceaseless

6

I waited for Darcel to come home to apologize pero mag-aalas dose na at wala pa siya. I'm in the living room listening to the clock ticked. I sighed. Inaantok na ako pero ayaw kong matulog na hindi nakakapag-sorry kay Darcel. Nilabanan ko ang antok ko pero di ako nagwagi.

"This is Peter," pakilala sa akin ni Tito. "Our new bodyguard. His just 3 years older than you, Munchkin." Dagdag niya.

"Hi I'm Peter," bati sa akin nung Peter at iginawad anag kanyang kamay. I won't deny that his too pretty to be a boy? Anyway, his attractive.

"Gia," tinanggap ko ang kamay niya. I smiled at him and he did the same thing. Hindi nagtagal naging close kami ni Peter. He teach me things I never thought existed. I was being too sheltered by my parents that I don't even know what tumbang preso is!

"Nice!" he cheered me and gave me a thumps up when I hit the can with a slipper.

"This is fun." Masaya kong sabi. Kukunin ko pa sana yung slippers ng tinawag ako ni Tito.

"Gia," tito's voice echoed. "why are you playing? You should be doing your assignments." Saway niya at napayuko naman si Peter. "At ano tong itinuturo mo sa pamangkin ko, Peter?" suplado niyang tanong.

"I'm sorry, Sir." Sabi niya. My uncle just hissed.

"Go back to your room, Gia." Tito commanded. Napatingin pa ako kay Peter para mag-sorry pero nginitian niya lang ako and mouthed that I should go.

Naiwan ko silang dalawa doon at pumasok na sa kwarto ko para gawin ang assignments ko for tomorrow. Naguilty ako dahil kasalanan ko naman kung bakit pinagalitan ni Tito si Peter. I pushed him to teach me how to play tumbang preso. I sighed and watched the time. It's already 12. It's Peter's shift near the poolside. Dahan-dahan akong lumabas ng kwarto para puntahan si Peter at manghingi ng sorry.

"Pssst." Tawag ko sa kanya at lumingon agad siya. Nagulat pa siya at pinagdilatan ako ng mata para bumalik na sa kwarto ko pero nagmatigas ako. I saw him groaned in frustration and hastily went up to me.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito? Late na. Dapat tulog ka na ngayon." Saway niya. I stood up straight with my hands on my back.

"I'm sorry for earlier." Guilty kong sabi at napaawang ang labi niya.

"Seriously? You came out late just to say sorry to me?" natatawa niyang tanong at napatango naman ako. Yes, I have a little crush on him. Siya lang yung nakakausap ko dito sa lahat ng bodyguards ni Tito at siya lang yung naging mabait sa akin aside din ni Tito kaya siguro madali ko siyang nagustohan. I still couldn't admit kasi bata pa ako.

"Hindi ako makatulog knowing that pinagalitan ka ni Tito dahil sa akin." Parang bata kong sabi at umiwas ng tingin sa kanya. His stares are melting me. I heard him chuckled kaya Napatingin ako sa kanya. "What?" mataray kong sabi. "Nag-sorry nako pero tatawanan mo lang ako? How rude." I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms on my chest pero mas natawa lang siya lalo. "Ano ba?!" naiirita kong sabi.

"Ang cute mo." He suddenly pinched my nose and messed with hair. "Apology accepted. Matulog ka na." sabi niya at tinalikuran ako. Bigla nalang uminit ang pisngi ko. Napatingin ako sa kanya at nakabalik na siya sa pwesto niya. He smiled at me and... winked?! Mas uminit yung pisngi ko kaya napatakbo ako sa kwarto ko. Patalon akong humiga sa kama ko. I calmed my heart. My crush for him is not little anymore.

"Gia," nagising ako ng may banayad na tumawag sa akin. "Why are you sleeping here?"

I rubbed my eyes and sat properly. "Darcel?" he smells like whiskey.

"Yes it's me. Ba't ka dito natulog?" tanong niya ulit.

"I was waiting for you." Bahagya siyang nagulat sa sagot ko. I looked at the clock and saw that it's already 2 in the morning. "You're home late." Malumanay kong sabi. "Did you eat already?"