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Caden stood abruptly. The camera of his phone started shaking as I saw him pull on some hoodies, a car key, and turn the lamp shade off as he went out of his room.
Isinusuot niya na ang damit habang naglalakad pababa sa kanilang bahay.
"Blue?" may biglang tumawag sa kanya nang makababa sa sala.
"Mom," medyo gulat ang tinig niya at nakita ko sa camera ang pagkatigil niyang maglakad patungong pinto.
"You're leaving? Gabi na anak..." She sounded worried.
Kung kanina ay excited ako, ngayon naman ay medyo nahimasmasan. Shit. I almost forgot he was living with his parents.
"Uh... I'm..."
"'Yang modelo ba 'yan? Your brother mentioned it." Medyo natawa ang ina niya.
Caden chuckled a bit too.
"Hindi ka raw tipo?" Mas narinig ko ang pang-aasar sa tinig niya.
"I'm... pursuing her. And she's on the phone right now."
Oh damn it. Nagkunwari agad akong tulog. Her mother chuckled.
"Oh! Is this her?"
"Yup," si Caden na medyo proud ang tinig.
"Natutulog na... Didisturbohin mo pa ba? Mahiya ka sa parents kung magdodoorbell ka pa roon. Makakadisturbo ka..." The soft voice of her mother kicked the heat I was feeling as it was replaced by longingness.
I curled up on my bed without opening my eyes. Gusto kong patayin ang tawag ngunit gusto ko ring marinig lalo ang tinig ng Mommy niya.
"I'm sorry, Ma. Bibilhan ko lang ng food. Uuwi rin agad ako," said Caden.
"But she's already sleeping!" humahabol ang tinig niya.
"I promise I'll be back. Love you!" si Caden na mukhang nagmamadali na.
"Ikaw talaga. Huwag nang magdrive kung nakainom ha. Hindi kana masusundo ni Red, " ang lumiliit na tinig ng kayang Mommy.
I slowly opened my eyes and saw him enter the car. Noong tiningnan niya ang camera, medyo natawa ata siya sa kalokohan niya.
"Huwag na... Diyan ka nalang. Nakakahiya sa Mommy mo," agap ko habang pinapaandar niya na iyon.
"It wasn't an alibi. I'll really buy you food." There's a finality in his voice.
Hindi agad ako nakaimik habang iniisip ang tinig ng kanyang Mommy. It reminds me of Mom's voice when she's talking to me.
Tumayo na rin ako habang papunta na siya. Kumuha lang ako ng hoodie sa walk-in at isang puting nike ang naisip isuot at tanging indoor slippers ko.
Kung kanina ay nasa tuktok pa ang pagnanasa, ngayong nahimasmasan na, mas gusto kong magpahangin na lamang.
"So... do you like city lights? I have an overlooking place we can visit right now. Doon kana rin kumain," si Caden nang sunduin na ako.
Bigla kong naalala ang sinabi ni Airelle sa akin. I don't have specific favorites or anything that is worth looking back on or posting on social media as a memory.
At ngayong tinatanong ako ni Caden, wala rin akong maisagot doon.
"Let's go there so you can see it. If you like it, then... we'll come back again," anyaya niya.
Just like how he decided about the food because he doesn't know anything about my favorite. That if I told him I liked it, he would take note of it.
We went to Makati since he wanted to show me the overlooking view of city lights. I know how it looks since it wasn't the first time I've seen one. Ngunit dahil din parang pursigido siya, hinayaan ko na rin.
