When Day 32 Starts...

Chapter 7 - Reservations

"I'm so glad your dad agreed that I can have you on weekends."

"Yeah." Mukhang habang tumatagal, mas nagiging lenient si tatay. He's not only allowing Kent free access to anywhere in the house except my bedroom, he also allowed me to be with Kent every weekends. As in no restrictions. He even said I could sleep over.

I don't like it when my father's this loose with me. Alam kong hindi pa sya masyadong nagtitiwala kay Kent. So what dibs? My theory is that my father's testing both of us. How long before we give in to numerous temptations? Only... hindi alam ni tatay na matagal na kaming nagpadala sa tukso.

At alam kong maraming beses pa iyong mauulit kung hindi ako mag-iingat. And then what's next? Siguro kapag nabuntis ako, ini-expect ni tatay na hindi ako pananagutan ni Kent. At kapag nangyari 'yon, there's the ever-responsible Toby, ready to father my child.

They will force us to get married and I will be forever tied to him. And what of Kent? Kent will be forgotten. He won't even offer him another chance.

Isang malakas na pitik sa noo ang nakapagpatigil sa malalim kong mag-iisip.

"Your mind's somewhere again."

"Sorry."

He cupped my face and planted a soft kiss on my forehead—which he rarely does! Napatitig na lang ako sa kanya. If I didn't know what's causing this change, I'd be head over heels freaked out. Kent's not a subtle guy. He makes sure you know he's there. He makes sure you feel what he wants you to feel. He's not the guy who plants soft kisses on the forehead.

But then again, I didn't know him before he became every lady's man. Maybe he's like this with Kiele. Maybe he's a real gentleman with her.

Kahit hindi na sila, hindi ko maiwasang magselos. Ganito rin kaya ang pakiramdam ng asawa ni Kiele?

"Tell me what you're thinking," he said.

"Kiele," pag-amin ko.

Kumunot ang noo nya. "What about her?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako. "Napadaan lang sya sa utak ko. Don't mind me."

"Jazz, you can always tell me the truth. You know you don't have to lie."

"I'm not lying."

"Why are you looking at the floor then?"

Ibinalik ko ang tingin ko sa kanya. "Hindi ka naglampaso 'no? Naaalikabukan ang paa ko." Good one, Jazz! Pero totoo naman. Nagagaspangan ang paa ko sa sahig. Tiles pa naman tapos hindi nya nilalampaso.

He rolled his eyes. "Bukas pa maglilinis si yaya."

"Bakit mag-aantay ka pa ng yaya? Ako na ang maglilinis."

He stopped me when I was about to get the things from the laundry area. "I didn't bring you here to clean my house."

"Then why did y—oh." Nagtanong pa talaga ako? Hindi pa ba obvious sa simula pa lang? Why would he bring me here out of all the places we could go? Well, should I take comfort with the fact that he didn't really change that much? "'Yon na naman ang nasa isip mo?"

Hinapit nya ako sa bewang. "It's hard to think of anything else when you're around."

"Can't we do something else?"

He seemed to ponder at the thought for a bit. Then, he pulled me to the kitchen. Great, I guess cooking's a better option.

"We can do it in the kitchen!" he announced enthusiastically.

I gaped at him. "Really?"

Tumango sya. "Yes," he said then he gave me a huge smile like he just solved a huge mystery puzzle.