CRIZIA

"JUST GOT HOME?" Diego asked while his hand is on my waist. He's looking at his cousin darkly. Magka-away ba sila?

"Yeah. Isn't obvious?" Nakangisi pa rin yung lalaki and seems like wala siyang pake kung masamang nakatingin sakanya si Diego. Mukhang nage-enjoy pa siya.

"When did you get home?" Diego asked him again.

"Last month. I'll meet Cole soon. You want to go with me?" Nanunuya niyang tanong dito. Who's Cole?

"You know I can't." Seryosong sambit ni Diego kaya napailing at natawa itong Jackson. Pinasadahan niya muli ako ng tingin.

"Grandpa L will hire him as the president of the Empire. Any reaction?" Hindi sumagot si Diego. "Grandpa will hire him just in case... How about your mom's reaction?" Umangat ang kilay nito. Naramdam ko ang pagkuyom ng kamao ni Diego kaya hinawakan ko ito agad.

"Stop." Suway ko. Lumipat ang tingin niya sakin at ngumisi ulit.

"You have a nice taste, huh. She's pretty. Don't make her pregnant yet." Kumindat ito sakin. "I gotta go."

Natahimik kami nang umalis siya. I looked at Diego who's still silent. May problema kaya siya about Jackson?

"Are you okay? I'm sorry kung iniwan kita do'n. I just want to buy some foods for us." He nodded and kissed my forehead.

"It's okay."

Pinaghila niya ako ng upuan bago siya umupo sa tapat ko. Tahimik pa rin siya.

"Stop thinking about your cousin, Diego." I said, irritated. "Are you being preoccupied because of what he said? About that Cole being the president of Rivera's Empire?" He looked at me.

"I'm sorry, Zia. It feels like I'm ruining our date. I don't want to think about it but my head keeps reminding me about it and my mom's reaction once she found out that my cousin will be the president." Napatungo siya.

"Just think about me, Diego. Don't think about the Empire, about your cousin and about your mom. Isn't it relaxing if you just think about me?" Pagmamayabang ko. It's true. Nakakaganda ng mood kapag ako ang iniisip. He laughed because of that. See?

"You look handsome when you're smiling." I said while smirking.

"So, I'm ugly when I'm not smiling?" He asked. He touched his lips na para bang pinapakiramdaman ito.

"You look handsome, too, but you're way handsome when you're smiling like that." I pointed his smile. "Trust me..."

Natahimik siya at parang may inisip na naman. I shook my head and called the waiter. I ordered some seafoods because that's my favorite.

"Sayo?" I asked Diego.

"Kahit ano." I pouted my lips before I ordered him some seafoods, too.

I suddenly remembered something. My father didn't contact me for almost one week. Minsan nga para siyang alarm clock. Is he slowly giving me my freedom? But, even my mother didn't contact me.

"Excuse me. I'll just call someone." I excused myself. I dialed my mom's number but she didn't pick up her phone. Even dad. What's wrong?

I licked my lips. Maybe they're busy or they're having a vacation. Yeah. Just busy. I nodded myself.

Kumain kami ng lunch at nagpahinga ng konti. Then after lunch, we decided to look around and buy some things that I want.

While we were roaming around, I saw a baby. She's so cute. She's with her mom, but her mom's busy scrolling her phone. I shook my head. God. Those mom's nowadays.

"How can she resist her baby?" I asked myself habang hindi pa rin inaalis ang tingin sa baby na nakatingin sakanya. Maybe she's waiting for her mom to notice her or what. I looked at her mom again, still scrolling.

"Got a problem?" Diego, beside me asked.

"Wala naman." I smiled. He hold my hand as we walk again. Hindi ko alam kung saan kami pupunta basta nakasunod lang din ako sakanya. "Where do you want to go?" He asked.

"Can we swim? Ang init kasi. Sakto lang kung magsi-swimming tayo."

"Too many tourist today. I don't want them to see you wearing something revealing." I even saw the way he rolled his eyes. I chuckled a little. He's so cute. I nodded. I don't want to wear something revealing too.

"Then let's... Do the horse back riding?" Suggest ko. I want to try that, riding a horse.

"You want that?" He asked so I nodded. Isu-suggest ko ba 'yon kung hindi ko gusto? Gosh, Diego. I shook my head secretly.

Hinila niya ako papunta sa kung saan. Sa sasakyan niya pala. He opened the door for me as always. I said, thank you. I looked at my nails while he's driving. Hindi mahaba ang kuko ko kaya walang problema lalo na at hindi ito madumi. Shit. Why am I thinking? So nonsense.

"Diego, what are your thoughts about having a baby?" I suddenly asked. I remembered the baby kasi kanina. She's so adorable.

"What?" Natatawa niyang tanong at nakuha niya pang umiling.

"I remembered the baby kasi kanina. She looks so cute. I want her."

"You are too young to think nor to have a baby. You are just 21, Zia. Still studying." He shrugged. I pouted my lips. He's right. I'm too young to have a baby.

"Huh? So what if I marry someone at this age? Hindi muna kami pwedeng gumawa ng baby because I'm still studying?" I innocently asked.

"Who are you going to marry?" He asked with his serious tone. Is he angry? Did I did something wrong? Or did I say something wrong? Huh?

"Let's say... you." I said. Halos mauntog ako nang bigla siyang pumreno. "What the hell?!" Mabuti na lang at naka seatbelt ako! What the hell is wrong with him? Muntik na akong mauntog dahil sa biglaang preno niya!

"Are you saying that you are going to marry me at this age?" Halos matunaw ako sa titig niya lalo na ngayong mukhang interesadong interesado siya sa isasagot ko.

"Well, it was just for an example." I brushed my hair using my fingers. "Going back," Tumikhim ako. "So, hindi pa tayo pwedeng gumawa ng baby kasi nag-aaral pa ako at hindi ko pa siya kayang buhayin, tama?" Saglit siyang napatitig sakin.

"Yeah." Labas sa ilong niyang sagot. "But we can still romance each other." Kumunot ang noo ko.

"What do you mean?"

"We can still make love, but we have to be careful." He brushed his hair too. Looking so nervous. "After your college, we can a baby already."

"Huh? After my college? How about work? Anong ipapakain ko sa baby kung hindi ako magtatrabaho?" I asked.

"I'll work for our family." He winked at me. Nagpatuloy siya sa pagmamaneho kaya tumigil na ako sa pagtatanong dahil baka mapreno niya na naman ng wala sa oras.

I looked at the window if his car.

He will work for our family?

As if naman kami talaga yung magkakatuluyan. Maybe this is just a puppy love. We are both young to think about our future. May mga darating pang mga tao para timbangin at subukan kami. He will get attracted with someone else and me too.

Kapag dumating ang panahon na 'yon, tatawanan ko na lang ang mga pangako namin. We are not even in a relationship.

"Overthinking is not good for you." He said.

"May iniisip lang." I shrugged.

"Like?"

"Basta."

He parked his car sa kung saan. Nauna na akong bumaba at hindi na hinintay ang pagbubukas niya ng pinto para sakin. Mukhang rancho itong napuntahan namin.

He wrapped his arm around my waist as we walked. Sa malayo pa lang ay may mga nakikita na akong kabayo. Nakaagaw ng pansin ko ang isang itim na itim na kabayo. I think I want that horse. So beautiful. Makintab siya.

"Good afternoon, sir. Ano hong maipaglilingkod namin?" Biglang sumulpot ang tingin ko'y 50 pataas na taong lalaki.

"We would like to rent a horse." Sambit ni Diego habang pinagmamasdan ang mga kabayo.

"Nako! Hindi po pwedeng ilabas ang mga kabayo lalo na at weekend ngayon at maraming turista. Kung gusto niyo ay dito na lang kayo sa rancho namin mangabayo." Nilibot ko ang paningin. Di hamak na mas maganda at fresh dito.

"Okay na dito, Diego. Maganda naman and presko." Sambit ko.

"We will rent..." Hinarap niya ako. "You want to ride me?" He asked, huskily. "I mean, to ride with me?"

"Nakow! Ka-sweet niyo namang mag-asawa. Bagong kasal ba kayo, iho, iha?" Napatanga ako kay Tatang. Mag-asawa?

"Po? Nako—"

"Ikakasal pa lang po." Nakangising sagot ni Diego bago ako hinapit papunta sakanya.

"Ka-sweet naman. Ganyan din kami ng asawa ko noon! Medyo nag-bago lang nang nagka-anak kami. Nagselos pa nga ako sa anak namin noon!" Napatampal pa ito sa noo niya kaya napangiti ako.

"Was that normal?" Taas kilay na tanong ni Diego.

"Normal lang, iho. Suggest ko lang, 'wag muna kayo maga-anak. I-enjoy niyo muna ang isa't isa." Tumawa pa ito. "Ilang kabayo ba?"

"You will come with me?" Tanong ni Diego. Tumango lang ako. "Isa lang po." Sambit ni Diego.

"Limang daan, sir," Nag-abot si Diego ng bayad. "Pili na kayo ng kabayo, ma'am, sir."

"Diego, yung itim na lang kaya?" Tanong ko habang naglalakad kami. "Ayun oh! Feeling ko kanina niya pa ako tinatawag kasi kanina pa kami naka-eye contact."

"Really?" Nilapitan niya 'yon kaya lumapit na rin. "Are you flirting with her, huh?" Pang-aaway nito sa kabayo.

"You are insane." Irap ko. Dumating is Tatang na may dalang maliit na helmet.

"Para safe kayo."

"Salamat po."

Hinila ko paharap si Diego sakin. Sinuotan ko siya ng helmet bago ko sinuot ang sakin. Hinawi ko pa ang buhok niya. He looks like a baby to me.

"Come here." Inangat niya ako pasakay sa kabayo. Hinimas ko agad ang buhok nito at inamo.

"Hi, Horsy. I'm Crizia." I brushed his or her hair. "This man behind me is Diego." Sambit ko at tinuro pa si Diego. "Be careful with us, okay?"

"Why are you talking with a horse? Hindi ka naman maiintindihan niyan." I shook my head.

"We will never know dahil hindi naman tayo hayop." Tumawa siya at hinalikan pisngi ko. I bit my lower lip. Para kaming mag-boyfriend and girlfriend.

"Hold tight," He whispered against my ear. Nagkaka-untugan na kami pero dikit na dikit pa rin siya sa likod ko since ako ang nasa harap niya. It looks like he's hugging me from behind while he's holding the lace of our horse.

Nakihawak rin ako sa tali. Hindi ako marunong ng ganito pero parang marunong naman si Diego kaya siya na ang bahala sa lahat, basta makikisabit lang ako sakanya.

"Shit!" I shouted nang bigla niyang sinipa yung kabayo dahilan kung bakit kami biglang umandar. Medyo mabagal lang pero natatakot ako dahil baka sipain ng kabayo si Diego kasi sinipa siya nito. "Diego, slow down!" I shouted.

"Ah, no." He chuckled. Pinitik niya yung lace na hawak namin sa kabayo kaya mas lalo kaming bumilis. Sobrang bilis ng tibok ng puso ko sa takot. I don't want to do this na! Nalalaglag ang puso ko! Shit! "You like this?" He asked bago kami lumiko sa malilim na banda.

"No. I don't like this anymore, Diego. I want to stop this! Natatakot na ako!" Reklamo ko pero hindi pa rin talaga siya tumigil. "Diego!"

"Calm down. Hindi naman kita hahayaang mahulog kung hindi sakin." Tumawa siya ulit kaya hindi na ako kumibo. I just closed my eyes and trust him. Alam ko namang hindi niya ako ipapahamak at mas lalong hindi niya ako ihuhulog dito.

I opened my eyes nang naramdaman kong tumigil kami sa paggalaw. Nasa ilalim na kami ng puno ngayon kung saan hindi kami masisinagan ng araw. Naramdaman kong bumaba si Diego at hinaplos ang mukha ng kabayo bago lumapit sakin. Pawisan na ang buhok ko at magulo na rin ito.

"Come." Humawak ako sakanya at dahan dahang bumaba ng kabayo. I smiled. Hindi man lang gumalaw ang kabayo na para bang gusto niya ring ingatan ako sa pagbaba.

"Bakit tayo huminto dito?" I asked. Tinanggal niya ang helmet na maliit at syempre hindi katulad nang sa motor.

"I just want to unwind." Tumango ako sa rason niya. Okay. Presko rin ang hangin dito kaya mukhang masarap niya muna huminto rito. "Come here." Nakanguso akong lumapit sakanya. Inayos niya ang buhok kong basa dahil sa pawis.

Napatitig ako sakanya habang inaayos niya ang buhok ko. He's been courting me for 3 months. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pinapatagal ko pa ang pang liligaw niya sakin kahit na ang mahalagang magtagal ay ang relasyon namin.

I don't want to have a boyfriend because I'm scared. Scared... sa father ko. He wants me to graduate and have a work first bago ako pumasok sa isang relasyon, but who can resist Diego's charm? No one.

Even me.

I can't resist his charm.

"Diego..." Bumaling ang tingin niya sakin kahit na busy siya sa pagaayos ng buhok ko.

"Yeah?"

"If someone ask you who's your girl, you can tell my name." Kumunot ang noo niya na para hindi maproseso ang sinabi ko.

"What?" Unti unting bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko habang nakatitig sa kulay brown niyang mata.

"Let's mark this date as our anniversary..."

Okay. Sila na. Sana all, ha. When kaya.