"Where are we going?" I asked as we walked to his car. "I thought may pupuntahan ka at gusto mong samahan kita?" nagtatakang tanong nya at tinaasan ako ng kilay. "oh, that was uhm, a lie.." I answered at nagbaba ng tingin.

Ginulo niya ang buhok ko at nagsalita. "I know. Let's go, I'll take you home." Pinagbuksan niya pa ako ng pinto at nginitian.

We arrived at my condo. Hinatid pa ako ni Seb hanggang sa tapat mismo ng condo ko. Nagulat siya nang bigla akong magtanong. "Uhm, do you want to come in?"

"Ikaw bahala." nahihiyang sagot niya kaya napatawa ako. "Okay! Come in and help me clean." wika ko at hinila na sya papasok.

My condo is not really that messy. Pero madaming nakakalat na gamit dahil minsan ay hindi ko na naaayos at nagkakalat din si Jen kapag pumupunta siya, although she likes being neat. There was even a time when she spilled coffee on the carpet at ako pa ang sinisi!

I was wiping the tables when I saw him looking at the pictures displayed in the living room. "You look cute here," wika niya nang maramdamang papalapit ako. "and here." he said as he looked at me. I blushed. "What the heck did you eat Seb? Kanina ka pa!" iyon lang ang nasabi ko at tinalikuran na siya, pilit itinatago ang kilig. He laughed.

 "Really? 'Seb'? I thought you'll call me Sebby with that cute voice of yours?" nanunuksong wika niya. Nararamdaman ko ang mga hakbang niya papalapit sa akin. Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagpatuloy nalang sa pagpupunas. "You're wiping a pillow, Ami." he spoke right in my ear which made me flinch.

"Yah! Doon ka nga! I told you to help me clean, not tease me!" wika ko at tinulak siya papunta sa kusina. "Stop laughing!" sita ko sa kanya kaya tumigil siya sa pagtawa, pero halatang gusto pa niya akong tawanan kaya sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

He was about to tease me again nang biglang tumunog ang doorbell. "Who is it?!" pasigaw na tanong ko at lumapit sa pintuan. I looked at peephole to see who is it. 

I froze.

Seb walked to me, confused. "Who is it?" tanong niya sa akin. I looked at him before answering. "It's my dad." I answered him before opening the door.

"Bakit ang tagal mo bago magbukas ng pinto?" my dad asked while looking directly at me. He then looked at Seb who is standing beside me. Hindi nagsalita si dad at dire-diretsong nagpunta sa living room.

Hinila ko si Seb at pinaupo sa tabi ko habang si dad ay nakaupo sa harap namin. "I wanted to talk to you about something personal. So if you don't mind, Mr.?" wika ni dad at nakatingin na ngayon kay Seb. "Sebastian, Sebastian Laurent Martinez." Seb answered. Napatigil saglit si dad nang marinig ang pangalan ni Seb, pero nagsalita ulit si Seb kaya natauhan ito. "I'll leave you two alone. Sa kitchen lang ako. I'll make snacks for you." he said and patted my head before going to the kitchen.

"Do you like him?" tanong agad ni dad nang maiwan kami sa sala. Hindi ako sumagot. "I don't care who you like, but I want you to meet someone. Do you remember your auntie Helen? Your mom's best friend? Her business is well known in the country right now." tuloy tuloy na sabi ni dad. Tumango lang ako. Auntie Helen is my mother's best friend and she always take me to the park when I was a kid para pasayahin ako noong nawala si mama.

"I want you to meet her son." direktang sabi ni dad sa akin. "Just meet her son?" I asked, though I already know where this is coming. "I want you to marry her son." 

I knew it.

"I don't want to marry someone I don't like, dad." sambit ko na may bahid ng inis. "I know. That's why I want you to meet him, para magustuhan mo sya." sagot niya na para bang wala lang sa kaniya ang nararamdaman ko. "What the hell dad!" sigaw ko sa kaniya. "I did everything you asked me to. Pati ba naman sa pagpapakasal ikaw din ang dapat kong sundin?" tanong ko at naluluha na sa galit at lungkot. "Of course. Ikaw na rin ang nagsabi. You do everything I asked you to, so why not follow it this time?" wika niya at tumingin ng direkta sa akin.

"Do you not even care about me?! Not even a bit?! Umalis ka na! I will not follow you this time, jerk!" iyon na lamang ang sinabi ko at tumakbo papasok sa kuwarto. Nadaanan ko si Seb at nakita ko ang pag-aalala sa mukha niya.

I locked myself in my room. I hate my dad! Am I really just a tool for him?

I cried so much that I fell asleep.

I don't know how long I was asleep, but when I woke up, it was already dark outside. I went out of my room at nagulat ako nang makitang nakaupo si Seb sa labas ng pinto ko at natutulog. Dahan dahan akong naglakad paalis para hindi sya magising pero hinila niya ako kaya napaupo ako sa kanya. 

"H-hey.." nauutal kong sabi at nagtangkang kumawala sa pagkakahawak niya. Pero imbes na bitiwan, niyakap niya ako ng mahigpit. I was now sitting on the floor between his legs, while he's hugging me from behind. He rested his face on my shoulders.

I felt safe in his arms.

"It's going to be fine. I'm here with you, ok?" he said in a soft voice and I felt my tears starting to fall. "Shh, I'm here. I'm here." pagkasabi niya noon ay dali-dali akong humarap sa kaniya upang mayakap siya.

He caressed my back and patted my head as I continued to cry on his shoulders.

After a while, he spoke. "Stop crying. I waited for you to open the door, I should be the one crying." wika niya at ngumuso pa. I chuckled at his cuteness. "There, much better." he smiled at me and tucked my hair behind my ears. He then stood up and reached for my hands. "Stand up. I cooked dinner for us." I smiled and let him pull me into the kitchen.

<3