I'm Yours to Keep

Chapter 37

At the gates, my parents and Miguel waved at me as soon as they saw us. Napangiti ako agad at nilingon si Gerard sa tabi ko bago kami naglakad patungo sa direksyon nila.

"Care!" Mom hugged me tight habang nakipag-kamay naman si Gerard kila Dad at Miguel. "I missed you! Sobrang nag-alala ako dahil hindi ka man lang umuwi. Even Christmas!"

I smiled at her at hinaplos ang braso niya. "A little time for myself is actually good."

"A little time? That's one year!"

Dad caressed Mom's shoulder and smiled. "Kadarating lang ng anak mo, Carol."

Mom sighed and went to Gerard to give him a hug kaya lumapit naman si Miguel para yakapin din ako. "Muntik na 'kong sumunod kung hindi ka lang madalas mag-Face Time."

I chuckled and patted his shoulder. "Miss mo masyado ang ate mo?"

Umismid siya habang nangingiti at pinisil ang ilong ko. Dad smiled at me and inched closer to kiss me on my head. "Your physique improved. Did you work out a lot?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako sa kaniya. "A little."

Dumiretso kami sa isang restaurant para kumain. Susunod daw sina Hannah at Xander na ihahatid ng driver patungo rito. Malayo pa sila sa 'kin pero nang matanaw ako, nagmadali silang maglakad. "Hi, Ate!"

Niyakap ako ni Hannah kaya hinaplos ko ang buhok niya. "Wow, did you learn to braid your hair?"

Tumango siya at umikot para ipakita ang dress niya. "I saw my own dress too!"

Napanganga ako agad at marahang umiling sa pagkamangha. "You are so talented." Nilingon ko naman si Xander na nakaupo na at nakatingin sa 'kin. "How are you, Xander?"

Ngumiti siya at itinuro ang braso kong nakikita dahil nakasuot ako ng halter top. "I want to have muscles too."

We all chuckled as I realized that he's fond of a good physique. "Eat something healthy and we'll do some exercise, alright?"

Ngumiti siya nang malawak at itinuro si Gerard. "Can he be my partner?"

Gerard chuckled pero sumabat si Miguel. "You don't want me?"

Mabilis na umiling si Xander at itinuro si Gerard kaya nagtawanan ulit kami. Lunch was pretty fun dahil kahit madalas kaming mag-Face Time, marami pa rin kaming hindi napag-uusapan na ngayon lang namin nakwento.

I enjoyed their stories, but I was guilty na hindi totoo ang ibang kwento ko. Especially on the part that I'm a sand art instructor. Since KMA knew what I told my parents, nagdesisyon silang ito na rin ang gawin kong cover hangga't wala pang naibibigay na bago. Habang nasa Italy, nag-apply na ako sa isang sand art school dito para interview na lang ang gagawin pagdating ko.

Ngayon pa lang pupunta si Gerard sa Zambales para sa assignment niya dahil niloko lang pala ako noong isang araw para hindi ko maisip na may balak siyang pumunta sa Italy kinabukasan. He had to stay in Zambales for a week kaya mag-isa akong pupunta sa HQ. Going there wasn't the normal travel anyway.

Sa kwarto ko, nakalapag na roon ang isang brown envelope na agad kong binuksan. It's a burner phone. Gerard told me that I'll receive one today, so I read the instructions on the text messages. For a newcomer, they gave me a route that no one else had used. This way, KMA prevents the assassination of newcomers, because some blow their covers even before they get to start their first assignment.

I took a bus in Mandaluyong and got off at PHILCOA. It was supposed to be a few mile walks, so I didn't mind the heat and sultry wind. Habang naglakad ako sa University Avenue, tumunog na ang burner phone na dala ko kaya kumaliwa ako at nilakad ang gilid ng daan na may mga puno.