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CHAPTER 19: DATE

EMBER'S POV

I can't help but tap my foot on the floor while I have my arms around me. Malamig sa Tagaytay pero mas malamig ngayong araw dahil kanina lang tumigil ang ulan. I noticed Trace side-eyeing me, and I immediately stopped moving. Iyon nga lang ay alam kong huli na at nakita niya nang nilalamig ako dahil narinig ko ang pagbuntong-hininga niya.

Sinabihan niya na kasi akong magdala ng jacket pero nakalimutan ko iyon na kunin sa kuwarto ko dahil abala ako sa pakikipaglaro kay Potchi at Bingo.

"Come here."

Binuksan niya ang jacket niya at dahil akala ko ay ibibigay niya iyon sa akin ay lumapit ako. Hindi na ko mahihiya. Lamig na lamig na ko eh. Iyon nga lang ay imbis na hubarin iyon para iabot sa akin ay hinila niya ako palapit sa kaniya at ikinulong ako sa loob ng jacket niya na suot pa rin niya. I looked like a kangaroo's joey.

"Trace! Mamaya may makakita sa atin," bulong ko.

"Ano naman? Wala naman tayong ginagawa na masama."

Tiningala ko siya dahilan para mapasandal ako sa malapad niyang dibdib. "May mga bata. Baka magalit ang mga magulang nila."

"They know how to create babies. I doubt they'll be scandalized by us."

I rolled my eyes at him, but I didn't argue more. Saka magrereklamo pa ba ako? He's saving me from freezing, because now I'm all warm and comfy.

"Your jacket will get stretched out," I mumbled.

"Hindi naman. I can even zip us up if you want. Ang liit mo lang para masira mo ang jacket ko."

Tininangala ko siya ulit pero sa pagkakataon na ito ay pinaningkitan ko siya. "Do you have a problem with my height?"

His eyes were shining with amusement when he pulled me closer. Inilagay niya sa magkabilang bulsa ng jacket ang mga kamay niya at pagkatapos ay muli niya akong pinaloob doon sa pamamagitan ng pagyakap sa akin.

"Why would I? You fit perfectly in my arms." Yumuko siya at pinatong niya ang baba niya sa balikat ko. I can feel stares coming from around us. He's much taller than me, so him leaning down to hug me like this is very noticeable. "And you look so cute and adorable that I want to keep you like this with me forever."

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang sa sandaling iyon din ay namataan ko ang kanina pa naming hinihintay lumabas mula sa gusali na nasa harapan namin. Trace laughed in a huff when I lightly elbowed his stomach. Kumawala ako sa pagkakayakap niya at kumaway ako sa bata na naglalakad na palapit sa amin.

My forehead knotted when I noticed the expression on the child's face. "There's something wrong with him."

Duke Nikolas Dawson, also known as Cookie, is walking towards us with a closed-off expression on his face. He's a child who seems to inherit the cheerful qualities of his uncles. His face is all smiles like Trace, and he's a foodie like Axel. But right now, he's so much like his father. There's a stubborn determination on his face, as if he were trying his best not to burst out crying.

"Hey, man. Ganiyan na ba kahirap ang pre-school ngayon at parang problemado ka?" bungad ni Trace sa pamangkin nang makalapit ang bata sa amin.

Cookie pressed his lips together, and my heart squeezed when I saw them tremble.

"Are you okay?" I asked him softly.

Nangilid ang luha sa mga mata niya pero hindi niya iyong hinayaan na tumulo. Yep. He really got the stubborn side of the Dawson siblings. "It huwts."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Trace at yumuko siya para hawakan sa magkabilang balikat si Cookie. I can see him looking the child over as if searching for a wound or scratch.

"Saan masakit? Nasugatan ka ba?" tanong ni Trace.

Itinuro ni Cookie ang dibdib. "It huwts wight hewe, Toto."

Akmang tatanggalin na ni Trace sa pagkakabutones ang suot na pang-itaas ng bata para marahil tignan kung anong meron doon pero hinawakan ko siya sa braso para pigilan siya. He looked up at me, and I could see that he was filled with worry.

"Your chest hurts?" I asked the child.

Umiling si Cookie at pagkatapos ay may nilingon. Bumukas muli ang pintuan ng school at mula doon ay may dalawang bata na magkahawak ng kamay na tumakbo palabas. One's a cute girl with shoulder-length hair that is pulled back by a pink hairband, and the other is a boy who seems to be Cookie's age.

"My heawt huwts."

His heart hurts. Advance na talaga ang mga bata ngayon. He's a baby, but he appears to be experiencing his first heartbreak.

Trace looked at Cookie seriously. Kung may isa atang sineseryoso si Trace ay iyon ay ang usaping pag-ibig. It's like he found a kindred spirit in his four-year-old nephew. Dahil sabi nga ng mga sister-in-law niya, profession daw ni Trace ang tumambay sa "sawi zone".

"What happened?" Trace asked.

"Kasey doesn't wike me anymowe. It's like she towe my heawt out of my chest and I'm bweeding on the fwoow waiting to be eaten by cwows."

Kasey doesn't like him anymore. It's like she tore his heart out of his chest, and he's bleeding on the floor, waiting to be eaten by crows. Kung hindi lang ako naaawa sa kaniya ay baka natawa na ako. He's just so adorable. Mukha ring may namana rin siya kay Lucienne dahil ngayon lang ako nakakita ng bata na kasing descriptive niya.

"Why doesn't she like you anymore?" Trace asked again.

"She wikes Kevin mowe. Wagi po kasi siyang mewong Swuban toys. He has the town city set and Kasey wikes it so they pway together. Wagi din po siyang may bagong toys tapos ako wala po."

I blinked in surprise. "You don't have toys?"

"Mewon po pewo di po new."

"Do you want me to ask your Mama to buy you a new toy?" tanong ni Trace na hindi pa rin nababawasan ang pag-alala. It wasn't that long since I first met Cookie, but I'm sure this is new even to Trace. Hindi kasi si Cookie iyong klase ng bata na mahilig mag-tantrums. He's a happy kid. "I bet she will buy you whatever you want. Mataas lagi ang grades mo kaya kung sasabihin mo lang sa kaniya ay sigurado akong bibilhan ka no'n. You can also tell your Papa."

Umiling ang bata. "Pag birthday ko po wagi akong binibiwan ng madaming gifts ni Mama at Papa. I always have new things because Mama woves Shopee. She buy me gifts for Chwistmas, Vawentine's, Labouw Day, Wizaw Day, Bonifacio Day, Independence Day—"

Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko nang tumatango-tangong tinapik ni Trace ang balikat ni Cookie para tumigil na sa pag-recite ng holidays ang bata. Mukha kasing naghahanap lang ng dahilan si Lucienne para bigyan ng regalo ang anak niya dahil kahit Araw ng Kalayaan ay mukhang may celebration din sila. What an amazing way to make a child remember the dates of important holidays in the country.

"I don't want Mama and Papa to spend mowe money on toys. Hindi naman po kasi 'yun impowtante."

He's a cute child, but I can see that he's also smart and considerate.

"Toys are important too. It helps your cognitive development," nakangiting sabi ko sa kaniya. "Wala namang masama na bumili kung deserve mo naman. The important thing is that you appreciate what you have and what you're being given. I'm sure your Mama and Papa are proud of you for being a smart baby."

Nilingon ni Cookie ang kinaroroonan ng dalawa pang bata na nagkakasiyahan dahil rinig na rinig ang tawanan nila. Mukhang hinihintay pa nila ang mga sundo nila katulad ng iba pang mga bata na naglalaro sa maliit na playground di kalayuan.

"Why don't you ask Kevin if you could play too?" Trace asked.

I could see that he's trying to lighten the situation. Kahit na maging siya ay parang hindi gusto ang sarili niyang suggestion. But no matter how smart Cookie appears to be, he's still a child, and so are his classmates.

"Tinanong ko na po siya. He... he said he doesn't want to pway with an ugly fawt."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Trace. Dumiretso siya ng tayo at tumingin sa direksyon ni Kevin. Bago pa siya makagawa ng kung ano ay inilagay ko ang kamay ko sa likod niya at magaang tinapik siya habang ang isa kong kamay ay pinanghaplos ko sa ulo ni Cookie na naluluha na naman.

"He's a kid," I whispered to Trace, trying to be the voice of reason.

"Swerte niya at nasa booksigning si Lucienne. Kung hindi baka hanggang eighteenth birthday ng Kevin na 'yan eh babangungutin siya," naniningkit ang mga matang sabi ni Trace.

Nasa Quezon City kasi si Lucienne. Kasama niya si Domino dahil may kikitaing kliyente si Thorn. Walang magsusundo kay Cookie na nasa pre-school pa kaya si Trace na ang nagpresinta. Balak niya na doon muna kami sa bahay nila Lucienne habang hinihintay si Thorn na pauwi na rin naman.

"You know Cookie, maybe you should find new friends." Cookie looked at me with misty eyes. "People who like you for your company and not just for the things that you have."

"Pewo wala po akong company. Kay Papa po 'yun."

Umubo ako para ikubli ang tawa ko. It's your fault Ember. He's a baby. "What I meant to say was that maybe you have classmates who want to play with you, sit beside you during lunch, or just simply spend time with you. Iyong hindi mo kailangan ng new toys para lang maging friends mo sila."

Inilibot ko ang paningin sa lugar at napatigil ang mga mata ko nang matanaw ko ang isang batang babae di kalayuan sa amin na nakatayo sa tabi ng hagdanan ng pambatang slide. She looks cute with her long hair separated into two low pigtails. She's smaller than Cookie, but I think they are on the same level based on the color of her ribbon. Kulay sky blue kasi iyon katulad ng bow tie ni Cookie. May iba kasing mga estudyante na iba ang kulay na suot.

"How about her?" I said pointing to the little girl that shyly hid herself on the slide's stairs.

Nilingon ni Cookie ang tinuturo ko. "Si Divine po?" His lips stick out a bit. "Pag wumawapit po ako sa kaniya hindi siya nagsasawita. I don't think she wikes me po." Para bang pinagbagsakan ng langit at lupa na tumingin siya sa baba. "Maybe thewe is something wong with me."

"Of course not." Yumuko ako at pinagpatuloy ko ang paghaplos sa buhok niya. "Some people are just shy. It doesn't mean they don't like you or that they don't want to know you. She appears to be interested in getting to know you. She doesn't leave when you talk, right? Maybe she's more of a listener at first, and when she opens up, she'll talk to you more."

Bumaling ako sa kinaroroonan nila Kevin at nakita kong nakatingin siya sa gawi namin. Cookie must have felt it, because he looked in their direction as well. Sa pagkakataon na ito ay ako ang nagsalubong ang kilay nang makita kong ngumisi ang batang lalaki kay Cookie.

"Inaasaw niya po ako," sumbong ni Cookie.

"Hindi naman siguro—"

Hindi ko nagawang tapusin ang sasabihin ko nang tila nang-aasar na dumila si Kevin at pagkatapos ay gumalaw ang mga labi niya. It's easy to read what his lips said. Ugly fart. Sa tabi niya ay humagikhik si Kasey. These brats.

Parang may sariling buhay na humakbang ang mga paa ko papunta sa direksyon nila at nakita kong halos sabay na nanglaki ang mga mata nila. Mabuti na lang talaga at may braso na kumawit sa bewang ko at hininto ako na makalapit sa dalawa.

"They're kids," paalala sa akin ni Trace sa sinabi ko kanina.

"Those are monsters," I whispered to him.

Naiiling na napatawa siya bago siya nagbaba ng tingin sa pamangkin. "Show the slide to your Tita Ember, Cookie, and ask that cute little girl if she wants to play with you."

Hinubad ni Trace ang jacket niya at ipinatong niya iyon sa balikat ko bago ako iniwan kasama ng pamangkin niya na kaagad inabot ang kamay ko para igaya ako sa kinaroroonan ng slide.

I can hear Cookie asking the shy Divine to play, but my divided attention was on Trace. Nakita ko siyang lumapit sa isang babae na nakatayo sa pintuan ng school na mukhang guro roon. I watched them talk for awhile, and when he came back, there was something in his expression that told me that he was satisfied about something.

"Expelled na ba siya?" tanong ko nang makalapit siya sa amin.

Nangingiting hinaplos niya ang buhok ko katulad nang ginagawa ko kay Cookie kanina. I narrowed my eyes at him, but he just continued what he was doing. "No, my temperemental princess."

"I'm not temperemental."

"Your temper is only second to Lia, but you have one."

I was distracted by what he said for a moment. "Si Lia? She's the most calm person I ever met."

"Akala mo lang 'yon. Abangan mo kapag nagtalo sila ni Kuya Gun."

I "harrumphed" and then I raised my eyebrow at him. "Anong pinag-usapan niyo no'ng teacher?"

"I simply asked her to check the kids' toys for me. Sluban brand toys are usually for ages six to twelve. Their students are mostly five and under. Cookie's class are full of four years old." Malawak ang ngiti na sumilay sa mga labi niya. "It means that Gremlin will lose his leverage over that Kasey."

Swuban. Sluban toys?

Sandaling nakatulala lang ako kay Trace. Iginalaw-galaw niya ang mga kilay niya. "Am I amazing or what?"

"You are amazing," I whispered as my own lips curved into a smile. "Pero paano mo nalaman kung pang ilang taon ang Sluban toys?"

Napakamot sa ulo ang binata. "Marami si Arctic no'n saka Legos. Pag bumibisita kami ni Domino kadalasan naglalaro kami sa playroom niya. Belaya spoils that kid that's why his playroom looks like Santa threw up on it."

Bakit pakiramdam ko mas nag-e-enjoy sila sa playroom ni Arctic?

Nilabas ko ang cellphone ko at nagpipindot ako roon. Hindi pa nagtatagal ay may mga nakita na ako na gusto ko. I continued tapping on the screen for a moment and when I'm done, I put my phone back in my pocket. "Cookie?"

Sumungaw ang ulo ng bata sa taas ng slide. Sa tabi niya ay nandoon na si Divine. "Yes po?"

"When you receive new toys make sure to share it with others, okay?"

"Okay po!"

"But share it to your classmates that you like and were kind to you first. Iyong mga bad sa'yo..." Huwag mong pahiramin at sabihan mong 'not in this lifetime ugly beansprouts'. "Tell them to wait for their turn dahil una muna ang friends mo."

Or tell them that your toys are for winners only and not for losers.

"I can almost hear your thoughts."

I wiped whatever expression was splattered on my face and kept it blank while I looked at the man beside me. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You're usually calm."

Tumango ako. "I'm the epitome of calmness."

"It's hard to pierce the wall you usually put up."

I nodded. I'm a wall. I'm a Great Wall of Ember.

"You're headstrong, confident, and I'm learning that you might not talk much but you have a lot to say. Nasa isip mo nga lang kadalasan." He ran his finger along the bridge of my nose, tapping the tip when he reached it. "You're also competitive by nature."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Whatever."

"Kailangan ko na bang sabihan ng maaga si Kuya Thorn para hindi niya mapagbintangan si Lucienne na nag-shopping spree na naman?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." Nang umangat lang ang isang kilay niya ay napanguso ako. "I didn't buy everything."

"Of what?"

"Playmobil themed toys. They're perfect for age four and above children."

"How many did you buy?" he asked.

"Iyong iba para kay IC someday dahil may mga pambabae ang theme."

"Princess. How many?"

"Hindi nga lahat." Nanatili lang siyang nakatingin sa akin habang naghihintay. Why can he always read my mind? "Kasi hindi available iyong iba."

I was waiting for him to tell me that it was too much. That I didn't have to purchase twenty-six themed Playmobil toys. That I can't decide for his nephew or that I should have told his parents first.

"Bakit ako hindi mo binilan? Mas close naman tayo."

He really can't get angry or annoyed at me. He likes me that much? I wonder how long that could last. How long could he keep liking me? "You can ask Cookie to share. He'll play with you for sure."

"Of course he will. Favorite tito ako niyan eh."

IT STARTED WITH a 'I want to try driving your Lexus'. It was just a Freudian slip. I was admiring his beautiful car, and I found myself saying that out loud. Trace, being Trace, told me that I could drive us back to the farmhouse after Thorn arrived home.

Now here we are.

Malawak at mahaba ang mga daan sa Tagaytay. Mukhang wala ring masyadong mga turista ngayong araw dahil hindi masyadong madami ang mga sasakyan. It's the perfect place and time to enjoy driving without the hassle of traffic.

Kung nakikita lang ako ni Miss Asencio at ni Cristiano ay baka nagmamakaawa na ang mga iyon na bumaba ako ng sasakyan. Even Miss Asencio is a better driver than me.

"You have a license right?" tanong niya nang makaupo siya sa passenger seat.

"I have. Nasa wallet ko."

Nilingon niya ako at ngumiti siya. "Let's go home."

I try to push away the feeling that surges inside me at his words. Home. "Mag-seatbelt ka muna."

"Hindi namang gano'ng kalayo ang bahay."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Safety first."

Kahit pa siguro nasa kabilang kanto lang ang farmhouse ay kakailangan niya pa rin na mag-seatbelt. He doesn't know what he's getting into.

I took a few driving lessons before. Pero dahil abala ako sa mga gawain ko ay matagal ang naging pagitan bago ako nakapagmaneho ulit. Saka ang bagal lang ng takbo sa driving school tapos iisa lang ang pinagpapraktisan namin na daanan.

I don't care what they say, but driving a car is not like riding a bike. Hindi mo man makalimutan ang specifics kung paano patakbuhin ang sasakyan pero hindi ibig sabihin ay hindi ka mag-a-adjust ng malala kapag matagal kang hindi nakapagmaneho. Idagdag pa ro'n ay kadalasan din nagpapa-drive na lang ako dahil hindi ako pwedeng magbagal sa mga lakad ko.

"Ikaw ang magkabit," sabi niya.

I gave him a look before leaning in and reaching for the seatbelt. Hinila ko iyon at saktong naipasok ko na iyon sa slot niyon nang maramdaman ko ang pagdampi ng mainit na bagay sa pisngi ko. Nilingon ko si Trace at kumikinang ang mga mata na nginitian niya ako.

"What happened to not kissing me?" tanong ko nang maikabit ko ang sarili kong seatbelt.

Iyon kasi ang sinabi niya sa akin noong nasa rancho pa kami. Pero parang nitong mga nakaraan ay panay halik siya sa kamay ko at minsan naman ay sa pisngi ko.

"I didn't kiss you on the lips."

"You didn't tell me anything specific," katwiran ko.

"But I was thinking of your lips when I told you that." As if talking to himself, he continued, "I'm always thinking about your lips."

I pressed the said lips together at the same time I felt fire on my cheeks. Damn it, Trace.

"Let's go!" Excited na pumalakpak si Trace. "Buckle up your seatbelt. We're gonna do this right. We're gonna drive this car around the track. Now everybody please hold on tight!" He winked at me. It was a sexy kind of wink which is the exact opposite of his next words. "It's BJ song from Barney."

"Uhh... who?"

"Barney the purple dinosaur and BJ his yellow dinosaur friend." Itinaas niya ang mga kamay niya. "We're riding in a race car. Don't you know the fun just grows and grows? We're riding in a race car. Around and round we go!"

Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko. Just drive straight, Ember. Don't go "around and round we go". Just like an arrow. Straight. Tumikhim ako at hinawakan ko ang gear stick. I put it on drive, and I swallowed the shriek that wanted to escape my mouth.

"We can go kinda fast, or we can go real slow. Come on everybody! It's time to get movin'. A One-Two-Three - AHHHHH!"

Mukhang hindi kasama sa kanta ni Trace ang pagsigaw dahil napadiretso siya habang nanlalaki ang mga matang napatingin sa akin.

Naninigas ang leeg at mahigpit ang hawak sa manibela na nakatutok lang ang mga mata ko sa harapan. I don't know why I can't ever relax whenever I attempt to drive.

"Gutter! That's gutter, princess!" Mabilis na inabot niya ang manibela at niliko ng bahagya iyon para mapalayo sa gilid ng kalsada na muntik ko ng akyatin. "Preno muna." Inapakan ko ang unang maabot ng paa ko pero imbis na bumagal ang sasakyan ay lalong bumilis 'yon. "Prenooo!"

"Don't shout!"

Para bang nasa horror movie na puno ng pagkasindak ang mukha na bumaling siya sa akin. I have that effect on people who are in the car with me while I drive. His face grew more horrified when he saw me also looking at him. "Eyes on the road!"

"I said don't shout!" I screamed back as I snapped my head back to look at the front.

"My beautiful princess, please ease off on the gas pedal. Please." His voice sounded soft this time. Extra soft, as if he's dealing with a bomb rather than a woman who has no business being behind the wheel. "I don't care if you destroy the car but I rather you're not inside it."

Nanginginig ang mga tuhod na inangat ko ang paa ko mula sa inaapakan ko at inilipat ko iyon sa isa pa. I pressed the other pedal hard, and I felt the seatbelt tighten when I almost slammed myself on the wheel. On reflex, I reached for Trace and put my hand on his chest.

It was then something else happened.

When I turn to look at him, a piercing ache rushes through my head at the same time that pain throbs in my chest. Like someone was pinning me down. It was quick. It didn't last long. But it was very painful.

The remaining sensible part of me made me push the gear stick into park and pull on the handbrake.

"Princess?"

What was that? For a moment it felt like I'm being suffocated with pain.

"Ember?"

Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko at humarap ako kay Trace. "Are you okay?"

His gaze searched my face. "Are you?"

"Y-Yeah." I forced myself to smile. I wouldn't know how to explain it to him either. "I'm just really bad at driving."

Pinakatitigan niya lang ako sandali bago muling nagsalita pagkaraan, "I'll teach you."

"Even Cristiano gave up on me."

"I'm never giving up on you." Nang mapanganga ako ay ngumisi siya. "You're a fun date, princess."

"Talaga?"

"Yup."

"So should I drive again—?"

He reached for my hand when I jokingly put it on top of the gearstick. Inangat niya ang kamay ko at hinalikan ang likod ng palad ko. "Pero ayokong mapagod ka kaya ako na ang magmamaneho pauwi."

______________________________End of Chapter 19.