"What are you doing here?" I asked Matmat, brows were knitted.

At these hour, people should be sleeping and not in front of others' house.

He inhaled deeple before walking forward and held my hands. I blinked twice. "My mother told me to choose happiness," he muttered. He was looking at my eyes intently.

I saw him gulped. "You're my happiness, Aemour. I want you, I like you, and I love you. I can't take this anymore. My heart..." he puts my left hand on his chest. "Is beating wildly because of you, my Aemour." He licked his lower lip. "Can I court you?" he asked with eagerness.

I smiled. Those words. I've been wanting to hear it from him. And now, the long wait is over.

I pulled him towards me and tiptoed to kiss him.

I enveloped his neck with my arms while kissing.

In front of our house, here in Cornelia Street, under the bright moon and glowy stars, we sealed our love.

Kanina ay malamig ang simoy dahil 2 AM pa lang ngunit dahil sa nag-aapoy na damdamin, init ang nararamdaman ko.

"I love you..." I woke up with a smile and scratched my eyes. Takte, panaginip?! Na naman?!

It's been days since I'm dreaming about that! Dahil kasi sa sinabi ni Millie ay walang araw na lumipas na hindi ko 'yon iniisip.

Tama naman siya, bakit hindi ko tanungin para hindi na ako mag-isip kung sino ang babaeng gusto niya.

Ngunit paano nga kung pangalan ko ang isasagot niya?

I giggled. I do na agad!

Nag-online ako para tignan kung may mga nag-order na ng mga crochet ko.

Napangiti ako nang makitang may mga tao pa rin na nakaka-appreciate ng mga handmade outfits.

Biglang lumabas sa screen ko ang walang mukha na chat heads. I-e-ex ko na sana kaya lang na-curious ako sa kung anong ini-chat nito sa 'kin.

Flynn Alejandro Matthew Escobar:
good morning Aemour :) are you busy?

Ah, so he deleted his previous profile photo? Takte,ano kaya reaksyon niya no'ng mabasa comments ko?! Or baka hindi naman pala niya nabasa.

'Di bale, ka-chat ko naman siya ngayon. I smiled like an idiot and screamed in a thin voice before replying.

Ophelia Aemour Raquel:
hindi naman :) y??

It showed that he immediately seen it and he is currently typing a reply.

Flynn Alejandro Matthew Escobar:
are you sure?

Ophelia Aemour Raquel:
oo naman! shur na shur na aq sau!!
jk!!
HAHAHAHA

Flynn Alejandro Matthew Escobar:
okay
my mother's here and
she wants to learn baking
but idk how :<
i saw your sister went out early
so i think she's busy
can you
teach my mother
hehe

I put my tongue on the side of my cheek. I just remembered now... My agenda today is to sew crochets, review for the quizzes, and buy some groceries.

I sighed hardly. "Sorry, mother in law, baka next time na lang tayo magb-bonding," malungkot na tinig ko.

My brain told me to do important things first but my heart contradicts. Kaya ko namang gawin 'yong mga 'yon. Tsaka it's time to shine! Makaka-bonding ko si Tita at magpapa-goodshot ako!

Nasimulan ko nang manahi nung mga nakaraang araw at nakapag-advance read na ako kagabi bago matulog. Kailangan ko lang muna na mag-grocery ngayong umaga at turuan si Tita 'pag uwi ko.

"Aemour, hija!" My mother in law... I mean, Tita Morgan waved at me in front of their gate. Tita, naman, eh, inantay talaga ako. I giggled inwardly.

Pagkatapos kong bumili ng mga kailangan sa bahay ay umuwi at inayos ko muna ang mga 'yon bago pumunta sa kanila.

Tita Morgan told me that she loves eating baked goods but can't make one. Mayroon silang oven pero hindi raw magamit dahil minsan lang siya nakakauwi rito.

Busy ako, pero once in a blue moon lang mangyari ang pagkakaroon ng bonding kasama ang mother in law ko! I mean Mama ni Matmat! Alam ko naman sa sarili na kaya kong magawa ang mga 'yon mamaya atsaka hindi naman ako aabutin ng isang araw mag-bake kasama si Tita.

I advised her to try watching YouTube videos because that's where Ate Sydney learned to bake.

Pero mas gusto raw ni Tita Morgan na turuan siya personally. Um-oo naman ako agad! Takte, kapag si Matmat talaga, hindi kaya ng body and soul kong tumanggi!

Moist chocolate cake ang gusto ni Tita Morgan na gawin. May dala akong ingredients na nasa bahay at sabi ni Tita ay babayaran pa raw ako! Mayroon nang ibang mga ingredients na nasa kusina lang nila Tita kaya wala namang problema.

"Hindi naman po kailangan," nahihiya kong tugon sa kanya. We're here in their kitchen and we'll prepare the ingredients, mixing bowls, cups, at ibang gamit na kailangan.

Hinanap ng mata ko si Matmat at mukhang napansin iyon ni Tita Morgan. "Nasa kwarto siya, nag-aaral." She smiled sweetly.

The corner of her eyes crinkled. She looks Matmat's older version. White hairs were noticeable and we almost have the same height. I'm a bit taller than her but that doesn't make her less beautiful.

I smiled at her too. "We have to separate dry and wet ingredients po," panimula ko bago sinumulang kumuha ng 1 3/4 cup ng all purpose flour at inilagay sa bowl.

Habang ginagawa ang pagb-bake. Para na rin kaming nagkaroon ng bonding. In a span of one hour, we became closer.

Tita Morgan told me that even when Matmat was younger, he's really the studious type. Unlike other kids who plays with their playmates or classmates at his age.

Kaya ganoon na lang kapursigido si Tita na magtrabaho para mapag-aral ang anak.

I salute her for those hardships. Parang si Mama, napakalayo sa amin para mapag-aral ako at mayroon kaming makain ni Ate sa araw-araw at makapagbayad ng mga bills.

I salute all single mothers out there. Some of them are far away from their loved ones to work for their family and it is twice the work and twice the stress.

But they keep on fighting. And what I admired the most about them is they are stronger than any people think they are.

"Tita, thank you for bringing Matmat into this world," I told her, smiling, while checking the cake in the oven. I inserted it with toothpick in center to see if it comes out clean and there's no moist crumbs attached.

"Sa Diyos dapat tayo magpasalamat, hija." I glanced at her. She was smiling.

Lumapit siya sa 'kin para tulungan ako sa pagkuha nito dahil pwede na ito. Ipapa-cool muna bago makain. I asked her if she wants to add some frosting but she declined.

"Walang araw na hindi nagte-text si Matmat sa 'kin. Kahit doon sa mga messages niya, ramdam ko pa rin na mahal niya ako kahit malayo ako kasi naaalala pa rin niya ako," she muttered.

Malapit ang upuan namin sa isa't isa kaya hinawalan ko ang braso niya. "Maayos po siyang napalaki." Mas lumawak ang aking ngiti. "Kaya nga po, crush ko siya," wika ko.

She let out a soft laugh and covered her mouth. "Hija, isa lang ang masasabi ko, maayos ang paningin mo at pagkakakilatis sa kanya," natutuwang saad niya at napatawa ako.

I quickly nodded my head. "Legit, Tita. Noong unang kita ko sa kanya grabe agad 'yung naramdaman ko! Nakipagkarera ata 'yung puso ko sa sobrang bilis ng tibok!" I uttered, remembering that day that I first met Matmat.

Natagpuan ko na lang ang sarili na kinakatok ang pintuan ng kwarto ni Matmat, bitbit ang naka-sliced na cake at potato chips na nasa glass bowl at may mayonnaise sauce sa gitna.

Inutusan lang ako ni Tita Morgan! Wala raw kasing babae na napapakilala sa kanya ni Matmat o babaeng kaibigan kaya naninibago raw siya na narito ako. Hindi pa raw kasi nagmemeryenda si Matmat kaya sabayan ko na raw! Bigla raw kasing may tumawag sa kanya ang isang kakilala at sinisingil siya sa utang kaya lumabas muna siya saglit para doon.

"Papasok na ako, ha?" paalam ko bago ipinihit ang door knob.

Tinanong ko rin kung nasaan si Eleazar dahil wala siya rito ngayon at sabi ni Tita Morgan ay mayroon daw group project.

Nalaman ko rin na ang magulang ni Eleazar ay hindi good terms at si Tita Morgan na lang ang kumupkop sa kanya.

I entered his room slowly and left the door opened but he's not here. I put down his foods on his study desk. There's a frame of him and his mother that is diplayed, and a photo of him with his cousin, Eleazar.

I roamed my eyes around his room. All I can say is it was tidy and has a serene atmosphere. Takte, nahiya naman 'yung kwarto ko!

White and gray is the palette of his bedroom. His bed has books and his specs on it but it wasn't a mess. Mahilig talaha siyang magbasa at talagang nakaayos din ang higaan! Tapos ang color naman ng bathroom door ay black. All of his furniture inside were made of woods.

Nagulat na lang ako nang bumukas ang bathroom at lumabas siya, towel lang ang nakatakip sa katawan, tumutulo ang tubig galing sa buhok, at pinupunasan ito gamit ang isa pang twalya. I immediately turned around when his eyes darted at me.

"I'm sorry! I didn't knew that you were taking a bath!" I explained, panicked.

"Si Mama?" tanong niya habang nakatalikod pa rin ako.

I cleared my throat. "Lumabas," I answered shortly .

I can feel his presence near me. I was almost out of breath. How could he be so hot?! Wearing his towel and hair was drenched!

"Salamat sa pag-guide kay Mama mag-bake," he uttered softly. Tumango lang ako kahit na nakatalikod. My body froze when he whispered in my left ear. "I will put on my clothes, Aemour." He lowly chuckled.

I understood the assignment but my feet can't move! I should go out!

Inaakit niya ako! Walanghiya! O sadyang naaakit lang ako?! Kahit na ako pa magbihis sa 'yo, eh!

I tried to calm myself... but failed. "O-Okay," nanginginig ko pa ring tugon bago lumabas sa kwarto niya at nagtungong kusina.

Napahawak ako sa countertop, nanghihina. "Pucha," bulong ko at tumayo na nang maayos bago napapaypay sa sarili.

Hindi ko alam kung paano ako naka-review nang maayos ng araw na 'yon. The image of him in his towel, replays in my mind!

Kaya sa mga sumunod na araw ay umiwas na talaga ako.

Pero kahit na anong pilit kong umiwas, siya na talaga itong kusang lumalapit.

Pinagbuksan ko si Matmat ng gate nang narinig ko siyang 'nag-tao po'. He handed me Selecta ube ice cream in a solo pack with a smile on his eyes and I gladly accepted it. Tatanungin ko sana kung bakit siya narito dahil 6 PM na.

"Uh, do you want to have a dinner with me... tomorrow?" He slightly chuckled. I started stomping my feet.

Hindi ako nakapagsalita. Bakit naman ganyan ang ibubungad niya sa 'kin.

Pakisampal ako, please. Baka nananaginip na naman ako.

Bigla ngang may kamay ang mahinang tumama sa aking mukha. Napatingin ako sa kanya, gulat.

"S-Sorry, m-may l-lamok," he said, stuttering, face turned red.

Takte. Sinampal ako ng crush ko! Ng taong gusto ko!

Ipinakita pa niya ang lamok sa kamay. I slowly nodded, lips were parted.

He scratched his head. "H-Hindi k-ko..." he trailed off, I raised an eyebrow.

He lowered his head and placed his hands together. "Sorry, Aemour," he uttered.

I unconsciously smiled. Baliw na talaga ang puso ko.

I pinched his right cheek. "Masakit 'yon, ha!" pagkukunwari ko. Binitawan ko siya at tinuro ang pisngi kung saan niya iyon ginawa. "Dapat i-kiss para mawala ang sakit." I giggled.

His lips formed a ghost smile. "If I were going to kiss you, it's not only on your cheek but on your lips, Aemour." He licked his lower lip. "So beware, hmm?"

Takte, talo talaga ako. Ano bang kinain nito at marunong na siya ng mga ganyan?!

I diverted the topic. "B-Bakit m-mo naman a-ako biglang inaya mag-mag-dinner bukas, huh?" I gulped. "Hindi ba, dapat ang inaaya mo ay 'yung babaeng gusto mo? Hindi ako, kasi hindi naman ako, 'di ba?" I stated. "Atsaka dapat chance mo na umamin. Wala namang masama roon basta wala siyang boyfriend."

He bit his lower lip to suppress a smile. "Aemour, kaya nga niyayaya kita." He gave my head a light pat. "Tomorrow, at 5 PM, sa Foodquake Grill... Ah, I will wait in front of your room."

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