"Mom, where are you going?" I eagerly asked Mom when I got out of the bedroom. She's already wearing a french coat, sa palagay ko ay aalis siya.

"Oh. I'll just buy some ingredient to a wet market nearby," Mom said. Nakaupo siya ngayon habang isinusuot ang kanya boots.

Naglakad ako palapit sa pwesto niya, "Sama ako..." I said almost a whisper. I don't find wet market interesting but I always want to go with them.

Tumayo siya at bahagyang pinagpagan ang suot. "Hmmm.." Mom hummed. "Why don't you just stay here? Baka mawala ka nanaman," mahinahong dagdag nito.

I pouted and sit to her seat. Hindi naman na mauulit iyon, takot ko na lamang na tuluyan akong mawala.

"I will not na.. please?" I pleaded. Napalingon ako saglit sa kwarto nila, " and where's dad? Hindi mo rin naman kabisado rito mom diba?"

Mom got up to drink some water. She handed me one as well bago niya sinagot ang tanong ko, "We already went here before,"

My mom doesn't want me to come but I still manage to persuade her. Hindi ko naman talaga gusto sa maraming tao but I would rather not mind people as long as I'm beside them.

I feel anxious and think negative things kapag wala ako sa tabi nila.. I know this shouldn't be a normal thing. We already talked about this and I have also visited a doctor too. Nagiging okay naman na ako but sometimes I can't help it but to worry about things too much.

I remember when they leave me in the philippines to fly out with kuya here for the first time. Umiyak ako ng umiyak para ipilit na sasama ako but after series of talking and kuya conditioning me of the situation, napapayag nila ako. But of course, nagkasakit din ako those days. Kung hindi ko lang naalala na older sister ako ni Clane, magmumukmok pa rin ako hanggang ngayon. I feel guilty of my actions.

But I'm getting better and compared to before; I'm at my best. Naligaw lang naman ako kaya ganoon pero sa palagay ko naman ay nakakayanan ko na rin... minsan...

Medyo may kalayuan na ang paglalakad namin. The street isn't familiar, hindi pa ata namin ito napuntahan kahapon or maybe I'm just bad at remembering one lalo na at may pagkakatulad.

"There's Dad," Mom announced pagkatapos ng paglakad-lakad namin.

Napalingon naman ako roon. Nandito pala si Dad, that's explain why wala siya kanina sa apartment. I wonder why...

"Oh. You wake up early? Thought my children will wake up late because of yesterday," salubong sa amin ni Dad after giving him a kiss on his cheek.

Mom just shrugged. Before, whenever they about to go outside they knew I would always come with them. Hinahayaan din naman nila ako but now that I'm doing fine, hindi na masyado. Kuya Duke always reminded me too that I'm getting older.

Pinagmamasdan ko lang ang pagligid nang magpatuloy kami sa paglalakad, still wondering where are we going? Napabaling ako sa kanila, there I saw them wearing a matching inner clothes. I know this habit... whenever my parents date they wear a complementing hoodie. I don't know why though, but thinking of joining them makes me feel guilty.

This is not the first time but I understand that they need quality time too. Hindi naman din madali ang pag-aasikaso nila sa magkaibang business. Saglit akong sumilip para matignan ang dinaanan namin, I still can go back, right?

"Mom, Dad.."

"Why?" mahinahong tanong agad ni Dad nang mapatingin sila sa akin.

"May masakit ba sa iyo?" sunod na tanong ni Mom, nag-aalala.

I shake my head while slightly walking backwards. "Uuwi na lang pala ako..." I smiled at saka umamba sa pagtakbo.

"Sapphire! Mawawala ka nanaman. Halika nga," naiinis na asik ni Mom. Bahagya akong napanguso, kapag ganito na ang pagtatagalog ni Mom. We know that her patience shouldn't be tested.

"Sapphire," Dad said in a warning tone, sumesenyas na sundin si Mom.

I sighed. Ayoko sirain ang mood nila, alam ko kung kailan kapag magagalit na sila. Si mom naman kasi, she lied.

Napakagat labi na lamang ako bago lumapit muli, "Mom didn't tell me you're going on a date,"

Nagkatinginan silang dalawa, hindi inaasahan ang sasabihin ko bago muli akong hinarap. "What's the problem? Then we'll go three on a date," Mom answered and Dad nodded in agreement.

Bumaling ako sa gilid, "eh... I don't want to..." Nagaalangang sagot ko.

They looked shock at my answer. As if they can't believe it's coming from me, saglit pa nilang inaanalisa ako bago sila nakabawi.

"Wow. Our daughter doesn't want us anymore," Hindi makapaniwalang sabi ni Dad while Mom is just looking at me with her raised eyebrows.

Binigyan ko naman sila ng matamis na ngiti, that's not what I meant. I was about to say something when someone speak.

"Good morning tito and tita,"

Agad akong lumingon sa kabila at napatingalang tinitigan siya, he's wearing a casual expression. Lihim akong napangiti ng may maisip, now I know how to bail out.

"Good to see you here Zen," bati ni Dad while Mom smiled at him.

Napansin niya ata ang paninitig ko kaya napatingin siya sa akin, ngayon ay mataray na nakataas ang isang kilay niya. Umiwas ako ng tingin at muling hinarap ang magulang ko.

"Dad, Mom..." nginitian ko sila.

Napapailing lang si Dad sa akin samantala si Mom ay napabuntong-hininga na lang. I don't know how my parents can understand what's my intention with just calling their name, but I'm glad they did.

"Ah, Zen. Are you busy? Can you take Sapphire home?" Mom approached.

His eyes were suddenly filled with a little confusion pero agad ding nawala at nagpatango-tango,"It's fine—"

Pinutol ko ang sasabihin niya, his eyes darted at me kaya lumikot ang mga mata kong tumingin sa gilid niya. "Uh.. wait! C-can I just accompany you?"

Nakakahiya namang magpahatid sa kanya. Ganoon na nga noong nakaraang araw nang mawala ako, pwede naman iba 'di ba? Hindi ko naman kailangang umuwi kaagad.

His brows shot up, "You mean I'll accompany you?"

Nakatingin sila sa aking lahat ngayon. I awkwardly smiled and lightly shake my head. "I..mean.. s-sama na lang ako... sa iyo.." pahina nang pahina ang pagbigkas ko pero sapat na para maintindihan nila.

His eyes remained on me, I can't keep up with it kaya sa iba ko itinuon ang tingin, intentionally avoiding to met his gaze. Tumikhim siya, "It's fine for me,"

Marahan akong huminga na hindi ko namalayang pinipigil ko pala dahil sa pag-aantay ng pagpayag niya. I smiled a little towards him but he's just fixing his front hair with his hand.

"Thank you, Zen!" Mom smiled. Tumango rin si Dad, "Please take care. My wife and I are going on a date," pag-imporma pa nito.

"No worries," Zeno answered nonchalantly.

Nakasunod lang ako sa kanya nang magsimula kaming humiwalay sa mga magulang ko. His lean back and broad shoulders are occupying my sight, I feel so small because of him.

Saan kaya dapat siya pupunta? Is it really okay with him? Napangiwi ako, I asked for this, right?

Hindi ko alam kung bakit natutuwa akong ngayong sasama ako sa kanya. Maybe because he helped me before that I feel so good towards him, a first time in my life.

I glanced at our surroundings and the street becomes familiar. Ito ata 'yung kung saan din ako nawala, mayroong mga stand na naglalaman ng mga prutas. There are a people passing by but not a lot to crowd the place. You can still see people entering shops sa hindi kalayuan.

Nang lumiko kami ay mas lalo pang marami ang nagbebenta roon. And now, a lot of people too that makes me unwell kaya kaagad ako napahawak sa sleeve niya. He didn't glance at me kaya hindi na ako nag-abalang tanggalin iyon.

We finally stopped in front of a small shop. He opened the door and let me go inside first kaya tuluyan na akong bumitaw. Saglit pa akong lumingon sa kanya na wala pa ring bakas na expresyon sa mukha. Binaling ko na lamang ang tingin sa loob na agad nagpangiti sa akin, This is an art shop!