Apart but Chained

chapter forty-two (part 1)

"Ate, uy... Ate!"

I groaned when I felt someone shaking my arm. I buried my face on my soft pillow and hugged it tightly to sleep more but the nudging on my arm intensified.

"Gising muna! Ang KJ naman, e."

I shifted on my position and propped myself up to sit, glaring at my sister.

"Ano ba, Tash? Magpatulog ka naman. Alas dose na, oh," turo ko sa alarm clock sa bedside table ko. My forehead creased when I noticed that she was holding her phone and it was directed to me. "Pini-picturan mo ba ako? Seryoso, ano'ng trip mo?"

"Pinakapangit-pangit mo muna?" nanunuksong abi niya. "'Di kita pini-picturan, 'no. Vini-video kita! Say hi to the camera, Ate kong bugnutin."

"Ano? Ano'ng—" I didn't finish what I was saying because Magnus suddenly came inside my room holding a round cake with a lit candle.

"Happy birthday to you..." he sang while slowly walking toward me. My hands quickly grabbed my comforter and lifted it up until my shoulder, covering my chest because I wasn't wearing a bra. "Blow the candle, baby."

I bit my lower lip while he sat beside me. I shyly blew the candle. "T-thank you."

He smiled and leaned over, placing a soft kiss on my cheek. "Always. Happy birthday again." He kissed my nose. "I love you."

"Na ol!" sabi ni Tash. "Oh, picture muna."

We turned to her and laughed before we fixed ourselves up and posed for a picture-taking. Magnus transferred the cake on my hands before wrapping his hand on my waist.

When we were done, he took the cake from my hands and stood up. "Let's go outside. I prepared something for you."

"Ahm... U-una ka na," nahihiyang sabi ko. "Magba-banyo lang ako."

"Hintayin na kita tapos sabay na tayo. Come on, stand up, baby." He reached his hand out but I shook my head and heard Tash's loud laugh.

"Kuya, mauna ka na sa labas," sabi niya habang tawang-tawa pa rin. "Magsusuot lang ng bra 'yan. Kala mo naman talaga may tatakpan, e."

Both Magnus and I blushed from her revelation. How could she say that in front of him?

"S-sige. Labas na 'ko," namumula at nahihiyang sabi ni Magnus. He looked so shy while going out of my room.

"Ikaw, nakakahiya ka talaga!" bulyaw ko kay Tash at sinamaan siya ng tingin. "Hindi dapat sinasabi 'yung mga gano'n sa harap ng ibang tao."

"Ate, nasa 21st Century na tayo. Open-minded na 'yung mga tao. Ikaw na lang ata pa-virgin sa Pinas."

"Bibig mo, ah." Tumayo ako at mahinang tinampal siya sa braso. "Lumabas ka na nga."