Stay With Me

P A G E - 14

Good time

8:20 A.M. - Cemetery - B r i a n a 's P.O.V

Before going to the Cemetery, bumili kami ni Sayoko ng white flowers para kay mama at papa. We even bought a blanket para may mauupuan kami doon, like a picnic but no foods.

Nakarating kami sa sementeryo namin, kami ang may-ari nito at halos lahat ng relatives namin na nawala na ay dito nililibing. We're now walking to my mother and father's grave, Sayoko's holding my hand for assistance.

"You covered the hickey?" He suddenly asked teasingly. Who wouldn't? Tsk.

"Why did you put that hickey?" I hissed.

"I just want to, you know for them to know that you're mine." He chuckled.

Umirap ako at nilatag na ang biniling groundsheet sa harap ng grave nila mama. Nilapag naman ni Sayoko ang biniling bulaklak at nagdasal, ganon din ang ginawa ko. I remember someone said that this is a japanese tradition, praying for peace. Naupo kaming dalawa sa groundsheet at dinama ang malamig na simoy ng hangin, kahit umagang-umaga palang malamig pa din. Buti nalang may malaking puno dito sa katabi namin para hindi kami maarawan masyado.

"This is the big tree I was mentioning," nakangiting sabi ni Sayoko habang nakatingin sa akin. It is big and shady, no wonder hindi ko siya nakita dahil pag bumaling ako doon ay parang wala namang tao.

"You're always here?" I asked. He's really here every year for my parents' death anniversary? I can't believed it, I mean he's my bully...

"Yeah, surprised? I'm maybe your bully but your parents are like my parents too." He answered. "I wanted to be close with them, para pag lumaki na tayo, titigilan ko na pagbully ko sayo at sasabihin ang tunay kong nararamdaman." He's now looking at the grave. I stared at him and saw a hint of sadness in his eyes.

"I already confessed my feelings to your parents, sayo ko nalang ata hindi nasasabi." He glanced at me and hold my hands before placing a soft kiss to the back of my hands.

"I like you, Briana Mendoza, ever since I saw you. Ilang beses na kitang pinagmamalaki sa pamilya ko, sabi ko sa kanila na kapag minahal ako ng babaeng mahal ko, they'll let me have my tiger, pero kapag hindi naman, hahayaan kong pakawalan nila si Celine." He confessed, slowly he placed his head to my shoulder. Wait- sino si Celine? Diba ako 'yon?

"Who's Celine...?" I asked with a low tone.

"My pet tiger... they said that Celine is still wild at sa akin lang talaga nagpapa-amo."

"And you named your pet tiger, Celine?" I snapped.

"Yes, she's a girl anyways." He chuckled. 

Umiling nalang ako at hinayaan siyang ipahinga ang ulo niya sa balikat ko. I slowly wrapped my arms to him, hugging him gently and feeling his warmth. He hugged me back aswell and buried his face to my neck. Am I letting myself hug him? And there I thought I have a control to my own body.

"Daisuki, akachan." He whispered that I didn't know the meaning of. Maybe I should watch anime sometimes, para kahit basic Japanese manlang ay alam ko.

Inabot kami lunch sa tagal naming kinausap sila mama at papa tungkol sa biglaang pagkita namin ni Sayoko, biglaang pangligaw niya at sa pagtira sa pad ko. Kahit na hindi kami nakikita nila mama, masaya ako dahil hindi na ako sinasaktan ni Sayoko tulad ng dati. But I still can't accept him, hindi porket pinapasaya niya ako ngayon ay tatanggapin ko kaagad siya. Hindi ako ganun kabaliw sa kaniya.

"Magdedate na po kami ni Briana, tita Beatrix!" Nakangiting paalam ni Sayoko na ikinasimangot ko.

"Anong date? Tss..."

"Sungit naman, mama oh!" Pagsubong niya habang nakaharap sa puntod ni mama. Umiling-iling ako.

"Bakit ka nakiki-mama?" Tumayo na ako at pinagpagan ang dress ko. Nasisiraan na ata ng ulo 'tong gunggong na 'to.

"Sus, pag nagpakasal tayo syempre nagpapraktis na akong tawagin din si Tita na mama." Nakangiting paliwanag nito. Umirap nalang ako at kinuha na ang pouch ko sa groundsheet bago naglakad palayo sa kaniya.

"Hey, wait up!" Tawag niya at tumakbo na sa akin. Dala niya na ang groundsheet na ginamit at naghintay ako sa harap ng passenger seat. Tumabi siya sa akin na parang nagtataka hanggang sa pinagbuksan niya na ako ng pintuan.

"I'm driving?" He asked me and I just nodded. Nakangiting sinarado niya ang pintuan at nagtungo sa driver's seat. Never knew this bad boy is a little bit of childish.

Nag simula na siyang nagdrive sa kung saan at hinayaan ko lang siya. Nilabas ko ang concealer ko at ang brush ko, nilagyan ko ng concealer ang kissmark na nilagay ni Sayoko. Narinig ko ang mahina niyang tawa habang nilalagyan ko ng concealer ang leeg ko.

"Tss... epal." Umirap ako at tinago na ang concealer at brush pagkatapos. Nakarating kami sa Sakura Restaurant, pinagbukas niya ako ng pintuan at sabay kaming pumasok sa loob. Pinaghalong kaba at hiya ang nararamdaman ko dahil kasama ko si Sayoko na nagmamay-ari nitong restaurant, tapos kahihiyan dahil wala naman kaming relasyon pero magkaholding hands kami.

"Okaerinasai, manējā." The waiters and chefs greeted. They bowed down their heads to Sayoko while smiling.

"Please continue what you guys are doing, I don't wanna bother some costumers." He beamed and continued walking while holding my hand. Nakarating kami sa isang V.I.P. room sa loob ng restaurant niya, the table is round with food already served. The ceiling has black and white stripped design while the lightings is a red lantern, making the room look so dim and neat.

Sayoko then offered me to seat, he gently pulled a chair for me to seat while he pulled the chair infront of me. It's only the two of us inside this V.I.P. room, he poured my glass with wine and grinned at me.

"Sorry for the sudden date. Inabot kasi tayo ng lunchtime at tamang-tama naman ang pagreserve ko sa atin." Nakangiting sambit niya.

Hindi ako nakasagot at tanging paghinga lang namin ang naghari pagkatapos niyang nagsalita. Is this part of his courtship? Kung panliligaw lang 'to... why is my heart beating so darn fast? I hate him right? Simpleng pagtulong palang 'yung ginawa niya sa akin nang makitira siya sa pad ko! I can't be falling for him now!

"Eat up, your food is getting cold." He said while smiling. I nodded and started eating. Hindi ko nalang sinagot ang sinabi niya, hindi rin naman 'yon tanong.

After eating, pumunta din kami sa isa sa mga famous malls dito na ipinatayo daw ng mga kaibigan niya. I must say that... I'm enjoying the time with him. Kung noon ay puro sakit at iyak ang pinaranas niya sa akin, ngayon naman ay puro tawa at saya. If I answer him now... will everything change? Will he admit that he's just playing with me? That this courting thingy is all just a piece of crap? I'm afraid... I already confessed to him that I'm confused. Ayoko namang biglaang sasabihin na gusto ko na siya. Ayoko ring ipagpadalos-dalos ang nararamdaman ko, I want to keep it for myself first, at pagnakumpirmi kong gusto ko siya or mahal ko na siya... then I'll say yes even if he's just joking, I'll say yes.

Ayokong habang buhay na tinatago ang nararamdaman, but he's an exemption, and I don't know why.

9:40 P.M.

"Sayoko?" I called as we entered my pad. Nilapag niya ang susi ko sa lamesa at tinanggal niya ang sapatos niya bago niya ako balingan.

"Yes, spaghetti?" He asked while staring at me.

"I-I h-had a good time." I stuttered and went to my room then locked the door. I don't want to see his reaction, I just feel embarrassed tonight.

Still, thank you Sayoko for your time.