CHAPTER 9

[Kobe’s POV]

Fvck! What did I do? Shit! I almost kissed her! I was just teasing her, but I suddenly felt the urge to kiss her. Damn! This is not good.

Agad akong nagtungo dito sa bathroom after that incident, to release some heat.

***

After taking a shower, I quickly go downstairs and head to the kitchen.

"Here, Kobe it's for you." Mom said and gave me a plate full of cookies. ."Gawa yan ni Sharmaine so you should taste it." Mom said. Nang marinig ko ang sinabi ni Mommy ang pangalan nya, wala sa planong napatingin ako dito sakto naman na agad itong yumuko. I gulped as embarrassment eats me.

Naalala ko na naman tuloy ang nangyari kanina, Mom knocked on my door then she look for Sharmaine. Akala ko mahuhuli niya na magkasama kami, mabuti na lang at naalala ‘kong naka-lock ang pintuan ng kwarto ko nang pigilan ko si Sharm na lumabas. Then I remembered that my room has a door that is connected to the other room, kaya naman agad na dumaan duon si sharm kaya hindi kami nahuli. I’m sure kung nahuli kami ni Mom kanina, tiyak na aasarin niya na kami sa isa’t isa. And I don’t fucking want that!

I cleared my throat first before picking one cookie and taste it. After tasting, napatango-tango naman ako. Then I looked at Mom. "It's good." I commented. Mom look at me teasingly kaya naman napatingin din ako kay Dad and he’s also doing the same thing.

“What?” I asked frowning.

Mom laughed. “You liked the cookies that was made by Sharmaine.” Mom said that made me stille, then I looked at Sharmaine whose now smiling.

I can’t help no to stare at her when she’s having that kind of smile on her face.

I’ll admit. Sharmaine is really beautiful.

Pero hindi sya ang tipo ‘kong babae. She’s too loud for me.

Sharmaine looked at me kaya nagtama ang mga mata namin, pero agad na din akong nag-iwas.

And she’s too perfect for a someone like me.

[Sharm’s POV]

"Kobe, Malapit nang mag-gabi baka hinahanap na si Sharmaine sa kanila. Mabuti pa't ihatid mo na sya pauwi." Tita Amber said. Kasalukuyang nasa living room kami ng bahay nila, watching TV together with Tito and Kobe.

I looked at Kobe who seems irritated. "Bakit naman kelangang ako pa? Andyan naman yung driver natin." Sagot nya pa. Tignan mo to! Pagkatapos nya akong bitbitin dito sa kanila ngayon ayaw nya akong ihatid?

"You are the one who brought Sharmaine here so you should also be the one to bring her home Kobe." Tito Adam said.

"Aish! Mom is the one who wants to bring that girl here! I just followed her." Kobe insisted.

Bago pa ulit makasagot si Tito. Nagsalita na ako."Okay lang po, Tita at Tito. I can handle myself po." i said and let out a smile.

"No iha. Baka kung mapano ka” Tita stated. "Kobe you have to bring her home. Kailangan ‘mong paliwanag kina Cedrick at Loraine kung ba't sya ginabi." Tita said to Kobe. Napayuko naman ako, as if naman nanduon sila Mom and Dad sa bahay. Baka nga hindi nila napansin na wala pa ako e. tssk.

Napakamot naman sya ng ulo nya. "Tsk Fine!" he replied and suddenly he left us.

Bipolar talaga.

"Iha sana makapunta ka ulit dito, ikamusta mo na lang kami sa parents mo." Tita said to me.

I smiled at her."I’ll try po Tita. Thank you po ulit."

Nginitian naman ako ni Tita bago tumayo at naglakad papunta sa akin, habang si Tito Adam naman ay umalis sandali para magtungo sa kitchen. Tita held my hand, “Sana katulad mo ang babaeng mamahalin ni Kobe. Sana, bago pa man ako mawala makita ko siyang masaya. I won’t hide the truth Sharm. But, I like your for my son.” Tita admitted. Na-shock ako sa sinabi nya na gusto nya ako para sa anak nya pero mas nagtataka ako sa sinabi nyangb’bago pa siya mawala’ Anong ibig niyang sabihin?

"What do you mean Tita?" I asked.

Nginitian ako ni Tita pero ramdam ko ang lunkot sa ngiting iyon. "We'll i have a cancer in blood iha. The doctor said that maybe less than a year i might die. But i'm not taking that negatively. Sa halip na isipin 'kong mawawala na ako mas iniisip ko na kelangan 'kong mas sulitin yun. So i'm wishing na makitang maging masaya ang anak ko. Gusto ko siyang makitang masaya kasama ang babaeng nababagay sa pagmamahal niya. Yung babaeng mahal niya at magmamahal din sa kanya pabalik. Para kahit di ko maabutan na ikasal sya, still nakita ko naman yung mga panahon na sobrang saya nya." Pag amin ni Titan a talagang ikinagulat ko. Napatakip ako nang bibig ko nang marinig ko ang sinabi niya. Ohgod! H-hindi ko man lang napansin na may ganuon na palang pinagdadaanan si Tita. She looks so fine and okay at hinding hindi mapapansin na may pinagdadaanan na pala siya.

I held Tita's hand. "Don't worry Tita. Don't lose hope, i'm sure na gagaling ka pa Tita. I know na marami ka ‘pang dapat gawin at makita. At isa na dun yung makita si Kobe na masaya, makikita mo pa yung future wife nya at future childrens niya, tiwala lang Tita. I will always pray for your health.” i said with full of sincerity.

Tita smiled at me."Thank you iha. Sana ikaw na lang ‘yung babaeng nakatadhana para magpasaya kay Kobe. I will be happier and I will have a reason to live more kung alam 'kong ikaw ang makakatuluyan ng anak ko. Gusto 'kong makita yung magiging future nyo. But I know that I can’t control the both of you." Tita said and laughed. Napangiti naman ako dahil sa kalungkutan. I think Tita’s wish cannot be granted. Hindi ako gusto ni Kobe. And I don’t like him too.

"Let's go." Pareho kaming napalingon ni Tita nang may magsalita.

Agad namang remehistro sa mga mata ko ang mukha ni Kobe.

Narinig nya kaya yung napag usapan namin ng Mommy nya?

Uuwi na pala ako.I looked at Tita and smiled. “Tita, kelangan ko na ‘pong umuwi. Thank you po ulit." I said and kissed her on the cheeks.

"O'sya iha mag ingat kayo." She said to us.

I just nod at agad na ‘ding tumayo. Nauna namang lumabas si Kobe na agad ko namang sinundan. Pumasok siya sa isang Blue Mitsubishi Mirage…wait! Ngayon ko lang naalala, ang kotse ko!!!

Nang marinig ‘kong pinaandar na niya ang makina ay nagmamadali akong pumasok sa loob ng kotse at naupo sa passenger seat.

“Kobe?” I called out his name.

“What?” seryosong tugon naman ito.

I blows a deep breath. “Pwede ‘bang sa University mo na lang ako ihatid?” I asked na ikinalingon niya sakin.

He frowned. “Why?”

“Nandun ang sasakyan ko. Babalikan ko lang.”

“Don’t worry, secured ang kotse mo sa University. I’ll make sure on that.” He said, at kahit papano nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag. Nanahimik na lang naman ako at napatingin na lang sa nakabukas ‘kong bintana.

"Narinig ko ang usapan niyo ni Mommy." He said na ikinabalik ng atensyon ko sa kanya.

I didn't speak instead, I waited for him to continue.

"I love my Mom, and I don’t want her to die. Kaya bilang anak, gusto ‘kong gawin ang lahat para mapasaya siya."

"What are you implying, Kobe?" i asked.

He releases a deep sigh. "I want to make her happy. And there’s one thing that I’m sure will make her happy." He said.

“Ano naman?”

He sighed then looked at me,

“Be my girlfriend.” He mumbled. “Just for my Mom.”

Oh god! I never thought that he will really ask me this.

It’s shocking…

But…what am I going to answer to him?