Sleep In Paradise

Chapter 2

Mabilis lang 'yong lesson namin, kaya nandito na kami sa baba nagla-lunch. Sa may bench pa rin sa ilalim ng puno.

"Hey guys. Suggest kayo if ano maganda gawin tomorrow," Yuki said, smiling.

"Matulog?" suggests Ni Drake. Puro talaga 'to kalokohan tsk.

"Not that! I mean, like, hang out? Are you guys free? Noya? Gwyneth?" tumango si Noya pero nag iisip pa 'ko kung sasama ako. Pag nag aaya kasi 'tong si Yuki lagi may inuman. Pero hindi naman ako pinapagalitan nina Daddy basta wag ko raw kakalimutan ang mga school works ko.

"I don't think if pwede ako tomorrow."

"Why!? Weekends lang tayo nagkakaroon ng time together. Let's enjoy it, geez. Besides, isasama naman natin si Drake, eh."

"As if sasama ako, hahaha," said Drake.

"Could you be serious even just one time, Anthony Drake? I hate it!"

"Pag sumama bebe ko. Sasama ako."

"Hey! Gwy. Oh, come on... Minsan lang 'to. You still have plenty of time for your schoolwork," she insists. Ok, wala akong magagawa. Never pa kong tumanggi dito. Ayaw na ayaw nito, 'yong tinatanggihan s'ya dahil kung sakali, pati sa gabi guguluhin ka mapapayag ka lang.

"It's just 'Yes. Don't you dare to refuse it, Gwy. I told you." She's glaring at me right now!

"Oo na. Sino ba naman ako para tanggihan ang Yuki Hirai Takahashi." I exaggerated her surname. "Basta libre mo hah!"

"Of course! Kelan pa 'ko nag aya ta's kayo nag bayad!?" Yuki smirked, which made me sighed heavily. She took a pat on my shoulder and closed her lunch box.

"Fix your stuff. We're going."

"Wait lang. Nirereview ko pa 'yong English natin."

"You're good enough in English, Gwy, and besides, first quarter pa lang. Don't take it seriously.""

"You have a tendency to meddle in other people's lives, huh?" Noya asked. Ayaw n! Ya talagang nangengealam! Tong si Yuki, kaya madalas mapagalitan. Pero ang kyut nilang dalawa, haha.

"Hey! It's not that I'm meddling! I am just about to say, Take a little rest. She's spending her eternity doing those things. I don't do meddling, duh."

"That's not exactly what you said."

"It was! Kind of..."

Wala na 'kong nagawa kundi ligpitin ko nalang ang mga gamit ko dahil nag aaway na naman ang dalawa! They constantly fight every single damn day!

"Tara na! Bago pa kayo magsapakan d'yan." nagyaya na ko dahil mukhang nandidilim na 'yong paningin ni Noya kay Yuki.

By the way, magkapatid po sila. Nishinoya Takahashi and Yuki Hirai Takahashi. Both of them were half Japanese and half Pinoy. Their father was Japanese, whereas their mother was Filipina.

Sobrang close, 'yang dalawa. Though they quarrel often, madali naman magkabati.

Umakyat na kami sa room namin at nagsiupuan sa kani-kan'yang seats.

Afterwards, kakatapos lang ng second sub namin ngayon, so we're now waiting for our last sub lecturer, which is supposed to be heard.

Magkakalahating oras na pero wala pa rin 'yong lecturer; thus, medyo maingay na ulet 'tong room namin tsk.

"Oh my god. Waiting is so tiring, pala." Yuki is now complaining out of fraud. Alam kong naiinis na s'ya. Ako nga rin eh, pero.

"Do you think dadating pa 'yong lecturer natin?"

"I don't think so," she shrugged. "But why the hell she'd not inform us that she's not going for fuck's sake? The whole section was waiting for her."

Up until our last's sub's time was over. Wala pa ring dumating na lecturer or someone na p'wede man lang mag inform sa'min. Kung sakali lang edi nakauwi na 'ko. Nakapag study pa sana ako. Hayss.

Lumabas na kami ng room. Padabog s'yang naglalakad hanggang sa pagbaba sa hagdan dahilan ng pagingay nito. Yung hagdan kase ay gawa sa bakal, pero hindi naman kinakalawang. It was green, which matches the whole building.

"I hate it! Inindian tayo ng asshole na yon!" sigaw ni Yuki habang sinisipa 'yong bato na natatapakan n'ya.

"Hey! Wuzzup!?" bungad sa'min ni Drake. Kasama nya si Noya na naka T-shirt nalang at school pants. Nasa balikat n'ya 'yong uniform n'ya na medyo madumi na.

"Bad mood?" turo ni Drake kay Yuki na naka simangot.

"As always, naman eh," I shrugged. No lies. Laging wala sa mood 'tong si Yuki. Kadalasan dahil d'yan sa kapatid n'ya.

"Bakit na naman?"

"Isang oras kaming naghintay sa lecturer namin. Sana nag inform sya samin eh. Di sana naka uwi na ko. Nadagdagan pa sana yung oras ko sa pag study."

"Bakit daw di dumating?"

"I hate your questions, Anthony! Didn't you hear, huh!? Wala ngang nag inform samin eh. Damn! I detest her!"

"Woah. Isang beses lang kinasusuklaman mo na? You didn't even hear what just happened. We don't know what happened, so don't say anything bad about her. Maybe there's an emergency or something important," Noya lectured us.

"But still, she should inform one of us or one of her fellow lecturers despite her damn... whatever!" hindi na tinapos ni yuki yung sasabihan nya nang samaan sya ng tingin ni Noya.

Drake was about to laugh, but Noya turned his glare on him.

We headed to the parking lot while the two were still arguing. We bid our goodbyes, and then the two proceed to leave.

I was now with Drake again. Sabi nya kasi kagabi, sa bahay raw s'ya namin kakain. I was honestly glad that he was a bit close with my mom. Although, sa daddy ko, they kind of out of closure. Wala kasi lagi si Daddy sa bahay whenever Drake visited our home.

He drove all the way from school to our home, as we're planning to. As we arrived, Drake just parked his car beside the gutter and followed me from behind.

"Ma! Dad! Babies! We're home!!" I yelled as soon as I entered the main door.

Liningon ko si Drake na mahinang naglalakad sa maliit na veranda namin. He was probably looking for my dad, if he's around. This guy was still scared of my dad.

"Who're we?"" Mama asks curiously. They seemed to be wondering who I was referring to. She went out of the kitchen wearing her apron and gloves, obviously just from cooking.

"I brought Anthony here, Ma. Diba sabi mo kagabi; do you want him to join our dinner?"

"Ay, oo! Oh my god. Good thing I prepared food. I was actually expecting you to be here tonight," Mom said, smiling, whereas Anthony just gave her an awkward smile.

"Ate!" My siblings ran towards me, except Kevin.

"Uyy! 'Musta! Long time no see!" Drake said while messing Kevin's hair.

"Wag mo nga guluhin buhok ko! Bawas pogi pag magulo ang buhok."

"Hala! Di ko alam pogi ka pala pre. HAHAHA!" Kevin took a fake laugh and smacked Drake's arm. He deserves that, hahaha.

I went upstairs to change my clothes. I wore my blue pajamas and sleep jacket. I went downstairs and saw the two in the living room teasing each other. They became close since I and Drake have been together. They got close right away. They look cute.

I was about to go to the kitchen when the main door suddenly opened. There I saw Daddy wearing his pair of slacks, a shirt, and some specs on it. He didn't wear it. It was hanging on his shirt.

"Dad, I thought it was your day off."

"Yeah, but my manager called me erlier, so I hesitated to go. I told her that I had important things to do for an excuse, but I still ended up going there."

"Are you okay, Dad?" I worriedly asked. Lagi nalang kasi s'ya nasa trabaho. Halos nga hindi na namin, s'ya makita sa isang araw. Nalulungkot ako pag-wala s'ya sa bahay.

"Oo naman. Why wouldn't I? I am always okay, Gwyneth. Nothing to worry about me," he assures, caressing my hair. We head to the living room to see Drake and Kevin playing online games.

You have been slain!

"Bobo mo naman. Biro ni Drake kay Kevin.

"Aughm!" Daddy took a fake cough, which made him almost fall from the couch.

"Hello po. G-good eve po," Drake said, stuttering. He's stuttering!! Here he is again! Lagi nalang s'yang gan'yan pag kaharap n'ya si Daddy!

"Good evening. I haven't seen you visiting here, Anthony."

"O-oo nga po eh. Busy sa school, hehe. Parang nahihiyang tugon n'ya. Napahawak pa s'ya sa batok n'ya habang pekeng tumatawa.

"Hm. Much good to hear na mas nabi-busy kayo sa school instead of other things."

"O-oo nga po eh hehe."

Pagka akyat ni Daddy ay saktong pagtawag samin ni Mama. I head to the dining room and urge Drake to follow. Nag alangan pa nga s'ya kasi nandito raw at makakasabay namin si Daddy. Pinilit ko s'ya at halos kaladkarin ko pa papuntang dining.

He sat beside me. Sa harap naman nya si dad. Besides him, there is Mama. My sisters were on my other side while Kevin sat beside Drake.

We just talked about something silly, like school, and Daddy also asked Drake about his relationship with me while eating.

Mabilis kong tinapos ang pagkain ko purposely because I can feel Drake's nervousness. He looks fragile in front of my dad.

I went upstairs after we ate. Si Drake naman ay lumabas muna para ipasok 'yong motor n'ya sa garage namin. Then he went upstairs after. He didn't hesitate to get inside my room anymore, because matagal na man na s'yang pumapasok dito.

"Uuwi ka pa? Dito ka nalang matulog, wala namang pasok bukas."

"Oo. Pinasok ko na 'yong motor ko."

"Yun! You really love me, talaga!"

"S-sige. B-basta hindi ako lalabas bukas pag nanjan pa Daddy mo ha!"

"Haha, ok, fine. Whatever." I rolled my eyes and went inside the bathroom. I took a shower and brushed my teeth after.

I did my nightly skincare, and as I went out of the bathroom, Drake wasn't around.

Where the hell is that guy?

I went to my study room, but he's nowhere to be found.

"Sige, Mom. Bye." I startled as he suddenly appeared at my back.

"Where the hell have you been!?"

"B-bakit? Kinausap ko lang si Mommy. Nagpaalam lang ako na dito ako matutulog."

"I haven't seen you everywhere. S'an ka pag nagsususuot?"

"D'on." turo n'ya sa walk-in closet ko.

"Ba't naman d'yan mo pa naisipang mag take ng calls?"

"'Dami mong tanong Gwy. Kung 'di pa 'ko pumasok d'on di ko pa malalaman na nasa 'yo pala jersey ko." I gave him an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, hehe. I-ibabalik ko nalang!"

"Wag na! Sa 'yo na 'yon. Tulog na tayo."

"Mag s-study pa k-"

"Bukas na 'yan. Sabay tayo."

"We? Sureness??"

"Ayaw mo? Uuwi na lang ako."

"Ashuuu. Sige na nga."

He slept beside me all night. We do cuddles but do not make love. We're too young to do that.

The next day, I woke up around 8 a.m. Drake was still sleeping, so I didn't bother him anymore. I went downstairs to make breakfast.

"Good morning," he greeted me while his eyes were closed. He yawned and glanced at me, carrying a tray with two mugs of coffee and a meal on it.

"Good morning! Breakfast?"

"Toothbrush lang ako." inaantok na sagot nya. He had a toothbrush here. I bought it purposefully the day he started sleeping here.

I put the tray on my coffee table and sat on its chair. I waited for, I think, 2 minutes. That long! He probably does his morning skincare. Pero 'yong skincare essentials ko 'yong ginagamit n'ya.

Eventually, he went out and hugged me from the back. I can feel him breathing on my neck. He smells fresh, too.

"Wala akong damit," he whispered, still hugging me.

"Hiram ka sa 'kin haha."

"Uuwi ako." I felt a little sorrow hearing those words. Pag nakakasama ko kasi s'ya buong magdamag, parang ayaw ko na s'yang mahiwalay sa 'kin.

"Mamaya na. Sabay na tayo. Diba may lakad tayo nila Yuki?"

"Sige."

We ate breakfast, and I prepared for heading out. I just wore a blue denim skirt and a stripe blouse on top. I get my brown purse out of my cabinet and put some necessary things in it.

"Ma!" Magapapaalam na muna ako before ako umalis. It's Saturday, and Daddy is possibly already on duty. Ang wierd nga eh, they still have work even on weekends.

"Oh? Gwyneth? May lakad ka?"

"Opo, hang out lang with friends. Apat lang naman kami ma."

"Si Anthony?"

"Lumabas na po," I said while fixing my shoelace. Drake was kind of eager to leave this house. Sobrang takot s'ya kay Dad.

"Ate!! You're leaving, ate?" Sofia asked me.

"Yes, baby, pero uuwi rin si Ate. Behave, huh. Don't make Mama stressed. Do you want Mama to be stressed?"

"No way! Mama would hurt her head," she said, pouting. I nodded and gave her a peck on the cheek.

"Bye. Ma!"

"Sige. Ingat!"

"Thanks, Ma. I love you!"

Patakbo akong lumabas ng gate at sumakay na ng motor ni Drake after I closed the gate.

Hindi naman malayo 'yong bahay n'ya sa'min, thus, nakarating kami agad.

He immediately took a bath while I was in his room, chatting with Yuki. She's telling me the location.

His parents weren't around, so I went straight here to his room.

Nang matapos na s'yang maligo, sinabi ko sa kan'ya 'yong location na sinabi ni Yuki. Alam naman daw n'ya.

Mabilis s'yang nagbihis at lumabas na kami. He talked to their maid, who probably told him something.

We headed to their garage, and he went inside his car. It was his. His dad bought it for him on his 18th birthday. Sakto raw kasi para may license na s'ya.

He started the engine and began to drive it. I was kind of sleepy, so I leaned on the window shield and slept. Madalas pa 'kong magising pag humihinto s'ya.

"Medyo malayo pa tayo. Matulog ka pa." Tugon n'ya habang nakatingin sa 'kin.

I leaned again on the windshield. Nauntog pa 'ko nang madaanan n'ya 'yong rock road. He held my head, gesturing for me to lean into him.

"Don't hesitate to lean on me. Take a nap. Do it oftentime. I don't want you to get sick," he said, placing his one hand on my head. He kissed the top of his head, and he continued driving.