Narda visited Noah who was currently hospitalized. She brought some foods for him.

"Salamat Narda sa pag dalaw..."

"Gusto ko lang din mag sorry Noah."

"Para saan?"

"Hindi ko kasi alam kung dapat ba akong mange-alam sa away nyo ng dad mo eh —di narin kasi ako nakatiis... Kaya so-sorry."

"D-di—hindi.okay lang yun. Naka hanap nga si dad ng katapat sayo —ang tapang mo din pala noh. Alam mo bang wala pang nakakagawa nun Kay Dad."

Narda smiled.

"And kwento din pala ni Andrei na ikaw yung nag rescue sakin. Maraming salamat ha. Utang ko sayo buhay ko."

"Wala yun. Trabaho ko naman yun eh."

"Alam mo—mas lalo tuloy akong humahanga sayo."

"Hm, mukhang okay ka na nga. Nakakapang Bola ka na eh."

He laughed.

"Ayy food?" she raised the bag she's carrying. "Lagay ko dito ah." she said then put it under the table.

"THANK—YOU."

"Ayaaan.. Pag na gutom ka kainin mo toh." she said—she smiled then turn her feet around to leave.

"A-ahh—Narda?" he called that stopped her —she look at him again.

"I'm sorry about last time. Wala naman akong masamang intensyon eh, gusto lang kitang makilala. I'm sorry kung hindi naging okay ang dating ko. Siguro... Hindi lang talaga ako marunong makipag kaibigan. Kaya kung ano anong gimmick pumapasok sa isip ko."

"Ano ka ba wala yun... Kung gusto mo talagang magkaroon ng totoong kaibigan magpakatotoo ka. At wag mong idaan sa panloloko." she said.

*nodded.. "Okayy. I will take note of that."

"So ang ibig sabihin nito mag kaibigan na tayo?" he added.

She think for a second.

"S-sige!"

Noah smiled.

"A-ahh kailangan ko na palang umalis." she said in panic.

"Ah Narda?"

She faced him again.

"Thankyou sa pag dalaw at sa foods."

"Ah wala yun—sige mag ingat ka ha."

"Thankyou!"

*Door closed.

____

Narda go to Brian's room. Pag pasok nya naabutan na nya na itong nag iimpake.

"Uwi ka na?" sabay lapit nya.

"Uh-uhm. Pinayagan na ako ng doctor na Lumabas ng maaga."

Narda fixed her bag then lean on the headboard of the bed.

"Pinayagan ka o pinilit mo?"

He paused then look at her habang nagtutupi ng pantalon.

"Eh kailangan ko ng pumasok bukas eh. Eh alam mo na may hinuhuli pa akong babaeng ahas diba?"

"Hmm... OK ka na ba talaga?"

"Oo... Humihinga pa naman ako so okay pa ako. Kaya wag ka ng masyadong mag-alala." he teasingly laughed.

Narda looked at him in disbelief.

"OH bakit?"

"Ay oo nga pala. Meron akong food dito. Gusto mo ba? Kumain ka na."

"Busog pa ako. Baunin mo nalang yan sa duty ikaw ang matakaw eh."

"Sigurado ka? —grabe ang bango oh. Hmmm!" she said habang inaamoy ang pagkain sa loob ng Tupperware. "Grabe sayang naman itong niluto ni lola para sayo."

*laugh "Ikaw naman di ka mabiro. Halika kainin na natin yan." he insist and take the food from her.

"Sige Tara." he sat on the edge of the bed.

"Tingnan mo ang Arte Arte mo kasi eh."

"Saraaap naman netooo." he said saka sumubo..

"OH sarap diba? Arte Arte pa kasi eh."

"Hmm! Lola mo nag luto?"

She nodded.

"Gusto mo?" alok nito.

"Hindi! Kumain narin ako, makita lang kitang busog busog narin ako."

"Hindi pa ako busog eh so ikaw na." he said saka sya sinubuan pero hindi pa man ito nakakarating sa bibig ni Narda kinuha nya pabalik saka isinubo.

"Mmmh!"

"Ikaw talaga!" she said then jokingly hit his head.

Ali drove me to Narda's house and just told him na sunduin nya na lang ako. So I'm here...

Pagdating ko ang naabutan ko is yung kapatid nyang lalake at ang lola nya. They are very hospitable and hurriedly asked me to go inside.

Hindi naman gaanong kalakihan ang bahay nila unlike mine but this place feels more as home...

"Mabuti naman napadalaw ka Regina..." her lola said smiling while we're sitting in thier small dining table.

"Matagal ko na pong gustong pumunta dito. Parati rin po kayong nakikwento ni Narda sakin." i smiled.

"Ahm asan na po si Narda??" I curiously asked. Nagkatinginan naman sila ng isa pa nyang apo.

"A-ahh, eh... Ding apo asan na ba ate mo?"

"Tinext ko na po lola." he answered while holding his phone.

I noticed na may tinitingnan sa likuran ko si lola and she looks so worried or whatever.

I can even feel something, something that I can't figure out. Para bang may nararamdaman akong kakaiba mula sa loob ng isang kwarto sa likuran ko.

"Ano po'ng tinitingnan nyo lola? "I curiously asked.

She looks at me." A-ah wala apo, akala ko kasi nakita ko si Narda. "

" Ahhh..."

Suddenly I heard footsteps coming—

" Hiii! "Narda greeted from behind —I smiled.

" OH Narda you're here.? "

" A-ah oo! Nakalimutan ko lang kasi na sabihin Kay Ding saka Kay lola na naka uwi na ako eh. "

" Ahhhhh. "Ding and her lola reacted in unison.

" Nakatulog narin kasi ako eh. "Narda added." OH napadaan ka pala.? "she look at me.

" Ahm naisip ko lang na bumisita since hindi naman ako busy today. Okay lang ba? "

" A-ah oo naman! "

" Naku mabuti pa magtitimpla muna ako ng kape. Dun na kayo sa Sala at dadalhin ko nalang dun. "her lola said then stood up.

" Salamat po lola.—Regina Tara? "Narda said so I stood up—she pull my seat for me. I glance at her smiling then sumunod na sakanya sa Sala.

"Feel at home ka lang ha. —sige na upo na." she removed the small pillow then she let me sat on thier wooden long chair. She placed the other pillow to my lap before she sat next to me.

"Okay ka lang? Pasensya na ha wala kaming sofa—"

"No—no it's all fine. Kahit sa sahig pa tayo maupo okay lang." I said then slightly laughed.

"Ah haha—ay gusto mo ba mag electric fan? Baka naiinitan ka Regina." she was about to stand up but I grab her hand to stop her.—she glance at our hands.

"Narda Kalma. Okay lang ako, just sit. Huwag mo akong masyadong alalahanin. Ako lang toh." I smiled.

She pursed a smile nodding then sat again,this time she became silent.

I stared at her.

"B-bakit??" she asked then blinked twice.

"Wala naman... It's just the first time I saw you na nakalugay ang buhok. You're even more prettier."

She avoided my gaze then awkwardly laughed. "Asus... Nambola ka pa."

*furrowed. "I'm not. But don't get me wrong, you look good with tied hair or not, just tonight you look different."

She smiled.

"OH eto na mga apo. Mag kape muna kayo." lola said as she came saka inilapag sa maliit na Mesa ang tray na may apat na baso.

"Salamat po lola." I said while she's putting the cup of coffee in front of me—she gave the other one to Narda.

"R-Regina nagkakape ka ba??" a worried Narda asked again.

"Oo naman!" I smiled then smell the coffee. Mukha syang masarap, I think it's the first time I drink coffee in my entire life so I don't know how it taste like.

I blow it first then have a taste.

"Hmm... Masarap!" I said. Narda smiled who were watching me.

She started to have a drink too.

" Lagi kang binibida ni apo sakin. Hindi ka lang daw magaling mabait ka pa—noon ka pa namin gustong makilala buti naman binisita mo na kami." her lola said that made me smile.

"Naku parati din po kayong kinkwento ni Narda kaya finally masaya po ako na nakilala ko na po kayo." I said that made them smile.

Suddenly Ding came habang bitbit ang isang pares ng tsinelas.

"Ate Regina mag tsinelas na muna po kayo. Para komportable mo kayo." he said.

"Uhh...—"

"Galing pa pong baguio yan hehe."

"Mm thankyou Ding!" he's so sweet. Nakaka touch naman.

He smiled then walk around the table saka maupo sa tabi ni Narda while I was wearing the sleeper he gave me.

"La yung Akin po."

"Hm shempre apo meron ka." lola gave him the cup of coffee.

He take it then take a sip. "Hmmm yummy!" he said that made us all laugh.

Ang saya naman ng family nila.... How I wish I have it too.

___

"Sobrang saya pala dito sa bahay nyo noh? Kanina sobrang problemadong problemado ako, now that I'm here sobrang gaan na ng pakiramdam ko." I said then faced her.

"Bakit may nangyare ba?" she asked.

I sat on the seat putting my cup of coffee down the table —naupo narin sya at the opposite side of it.

"It's just that—I'm having nightmares." I look at her.

"Tungkol saan??"

I sighed."Tungkol sa babaeng ahas... Sa panaginip ko ako yung babaeng ahas." and it's driving me insane.

"Panaginip lang yun Regina, Huwag kang magpapa apekto sa mga bagay na di naman totoo."

"But it felt so real Narda—uh! Feeling ko nga nay idea na si dad sa nangyayare sakin. He must think I'm going crazy!"

She smiled in disbelief. "Ano ka ba! Hindi ikaw yung babaeng ahas noh. Tingnan mo ang ganda-ganda nga ng buhok mo eh, eh yung babaeng ahas halimaw yun! –ikaw sobrang complete opposite. Kulang na nga lang tubuan ka ng pakpak sa likod eh. Di ka lang mabait,humble pa... Maganda na, magaling pa na abogado, presidente pa ng foundation namin. Sosyal—mayaman. Dito ka nga sa lugar namin na walang kaarte-Arte eh... "she stated and all I can do is smile.

" Diba?? "she added.

" Thankyou Narda... "I sincerely utter.

" Basta pag may problema ka Huwag kang magdalawang isip na lapitan kami. Sa bahay... Si ding nga parang kapatid ka na nya eh. Si lola Berta? Turing nadin nun sayo apo. "

I smiled then wiped my tears.

" Thankyou. "I utter then offered my hand—she held it and we hold hands under the table.

I don't know how much time we spend staring at each other.

I glanced at our hands then carries the back of her palm.

" By the way I'm so sorry for last time ha Narda. Ayuko sanang isipin mo na I was taking you for granted... I just felt that I need it—I want it. My emotion J-just..."

"Nangyare na yun Regina.Siguro naman. ..pareho natin yung gusto.?" she utter then look at my eyes directly.

I pursed a smile.

Suddenly lola came outside—Narda and I panickly pull our hands away from each other.

"Apo may naghahanap kay Regina sa labas."

I think anjan na si Ali.

"A-ahm..." I glance at Narda.

"Ahh anjan na ata sundo mo Regina? Si Ali." she said.

I stood up.

"Sige LA, hatid ko na sa labas si Regina." Narda said.

"Ah sige... Gabi narin, ingat ka Regina ha." lola said.

"Opo lola. Thankyou." I smiled.

"Tara??" Narda asked then walked first—I followed.

While walking I glance behind checking if anjan ang kapatid nya or si lola.

"Sige na Regina naghihintay na si Ali sa labas." she said infront of the door. She hold the door knob but I hold her hand to stop.

She look at me confused.

"A-ahm, wait lang..." I utter.

"Bakit??"

I look around then take one step closer to her—I give a peek on her cheeks.

"Because I cant do that outside in front of Ali." I utter then pursed a smile—I pushed the knob opening the door then I step outside. She followed.

"Regina Tara na?" Ali asked from outside the car.

I turn my feet around facing Narda who with a red cheeks.

"Goodnight." I told her then step towards my car—Ali opened the door at the backseat for me.

I glance at Narda who were just staring at me.

"I LOVE YOU..." I mouthed before Ali finally closes the door.