A.N.D.

Chapter 9

Napamulat ako ng mga mata nang maramdaman kong parang may yumapos sakin nang mahigpit.

"Hi," Edwardo greeted me. "Good morning, Lilian."

I gave him a sweet smile and closed my eyes, savoring the moment. Minsan lang mangyari yung ganito samin. Waking up and the first thing we'll see is each other's face.

Mas hinigpitan niya pa yung yakap sa akin at sinabing, "I could get used to this." I sigh.

After a few more seconds, I finally opened my eyes and saw that Jayvee is still looking at me intently. With his stare, I feel like I am the most beautiful woman on Earth. It's as if I am the only thing that matters in his life. Yung mga tingin na pinaparating ang sobra sobrang pagmamahal.

Sa sobrang intense ng tingin niya ay hindi ko napigilang magbaba ng tingin at sumubsob na lang sa leeg niya.

Tangina. Hindi ko napigilan.

I started to cry.

Jayvee hushes me, "Why are you crying?" Malambing niyang tanong habang hinahaplos ang buhok ko.

"N-nothing," I stutter, starting to calm myself.

Gago ka kasi, Edwardo. Feeling ko talaga napaka-ganda ko ngayon. Feeling ko pwede na akong sumali sa Ms. Universe. I mean, how could a stare like that sends a very overwhelming feeling to me?

Nang napakalma ko na yung sarili ko at tapos na akong magdrama, nagyaya na akong lumabas ng kwarto niya at bumaba. Ayaw pa nga ni Edwardo na bumangon, humiga na lang daw kami at mag-cuddle buong araw. Syempre, hindi naman ako pumayag because it's his day today.

This is his first birthday that we're together and in a month, it's mine naman. And of course, I will do any thing para madagdagan pa yung mga birthdays na magkasama kami.

"Kakatukin na sana namin kayo kung hindi pa kayo bumaba," sabi ni tita Cassey pagdating namin sa dining room nila.

"Ayan, tita," turo ko kay Edwardo, umupo ako sa tabi niya. "Kulang na lang kaladkarin ko para bumangon sa kama niya." Reklamo ko.

"Oh, dear." Bumaling siya kay Edwardo. "Jayvee Edward, wag mo na kaming pahirapan ng ama mo." Edwardo just rolled his eyes.

Pahirapan? Why naman kaya?

Itatanong ko na sana kay tita Cassey kung anong ibig niyang sabihin nang may narinig akong nagsalita.

"No, Steffanie. That's final." Tito Ian firmly said to Steff na nakabuntot sa kanya. I think they're having an arguement.

"But dad-" tito Ian glared at her. Napatigil naman si Steff sa pagsasalita, pati na rin sa paglalakad. Habang si tito Ian ay dire-diretsong umupo sa pinaka-head ng table.

"Baby, c'mon. Eat na tayo ng breakfast." Malambing na tawag ni tita kay Steff. Gumalaw naman na si Steff at umupo sa tabi ng mommy niya. But she's looking down.

I released the breath I didn't realized I was holding when Jayvee reached for my hand.

Ian Stevenson's stare is one hell of a fucking nightmare. Nakakatakot.

"Cassandra," Holy shit! Tito Ian just called tita by her whole name. Nakakapanibago. Palagi na lang kasing si tita ang almighty at si tito ang sunud-sunuran. Kaya nga master/slave sila. "Tell your daughter that I let her be physically trained to protect herself and not to join a fucking gang." Oh. That's why.

"You heard the King." Tita told Steffie.

King?

"K-kasi naman, m-mom," mangangatwiran pa sana si Steff nang pigilan siya ng kuya niya.