Chapter Text
“Mavis is taking a break; Chase leads the team!”
“The news didn’t just ripple—it slammed through the racing industry like a rogue wave. Everyone was talking about it. No one could believe it.”
“Mavis Jett, undefeated, untouchable, the girl who had owned every track she ever set foot on, was suddenly… gone. Just like that. Vanished. And now Chase, her trusted colleague, was taking the wheel. Literally. Figuratively. Everyone’s eyes were glued to this twist, because who could have predicted it? The champion disappearing, leaving someone else to carry her legacy.”
I grabbed the remote control and slammed it down with a sharp click, killing the television instantly. Mara, of course, jumped like I had slapped her—well, not literally, but she flinched dramatically anyway. Kanina pa kasi siya nakatutok sa TV kahit ilang beses ko na siyang tinawag. She was hopeless, honestly. The most addicted person I knew to this kind of drama—posting anything and everything on social media, watching every celebrity, fangirling over people she would probably never meet.
If we were being honest, life in Manila would have fit her better. The bright lights, the crowded streets, the endless events… everything that made it easier to stalk her idols. But no, she chose to stay here, with me, on the ranch that was left to me after our parents passed away. A quiet place where the wind spoke and the horses stomped rhythmically in the dirt. Where the noise of the outside world felt like another planet.
I wasn’t completely alone. I have an older brother, yes—but he had chosen to chase a life outside this quiet bubble, outside this secluded little patch of land. Who could blame him? Who would willingly stay in a place where the loudest thing you could hear was the wind sighing through the trees?
“Ari naman. Lalabas na mukha ni Chase sa TV e!” Mara frowned like I was deliberately trying to ruin her life. But I just looked at her, my expression carefully neutral. “Sabi ko nga, tatayo na.”
She finally moved, reluctantly, from the couch, pushing herself up and following me outside. Our boots crunched against the gravel path, small sounds in the vast quiet of the ranch.
Today, we had plans—important plans. The kind of plans that mattered in a way nothing on TV could. We were going to help the workers trim the horses’ hooves. Practical, grounded, tangible. Wala kaming ibang gagawin anyway, so ito na lang.
But first… I needed to walk Silvestre, my horse. My personal horse. My responsibility. Walang ibang pwedeng gumamit sa kanya bukod sa akin. I had reminded everyone a hundred times: don’t touch him, it’s my job. Not possessive, not selfish—it was necessity. Silvestre was stubborn, sensitive, temperamental. He required care only I could give.
“Alam mo kaya wala kang social life kasi napaka-secluded mo,” Mara jabbed as we walked, her words playful but knowing. “Minsan ba hindi mo binalak lumabas tas maghanap ng lalaking magpapangiti naman sa ‘yo?”
I grimaced. Nakaka-cringe. Mara was the hopeless romantic type, always believing in some magical moment that would fix everything. I could still see her last year, practically melting over Chase—the famous car racer—on TV, swearing it was love at first sight. Cute. Really cute. But Mara? She could never reach someone like Chase. Even if she bent the world over backward, even if she gave the universe everything she had… Chase would never notice her that way.
“Una sa lahat, ayoko sa lalaki.” I rolled my eyes instinctively—and then my gaze landed on Simeon.
Ex-best friend. Childhood friend. Someone I had trusted with secrets, laughter, and the moments in between. Until he confessed last year. Until that word, feelings, twisted everything. We became polite. Civil. Safe distance. He was no longer the Simeon I was comfortable hugging, joking, or riding horses with. We were acquaintances now. That was the rule. And I stuck to it.
“Aray.” Mara chuckled as we stepped into the stables, clearly entertained by something I didn’t bother to ask about.
“Ah, Ari.” Simeon cleared his throat, voice smooth but cautious. “Tinatanong ni tatay kung ginamit mo raw ba si Silvestre kaninang umaga.”
I froze, eyebrows furrowing.
“Huh? Hindi. Bakit?” I asked, panic just starting to creep in.
“Ari, nasaan si Silvestre?” Mara’s voice followed, sharp with worry now. And that’s when my heart actually sank. My stomach twisted. My hands went clammy. My horse. My responsibility. My Silvestre.
I ran. Ran inside the stables, chest tight, lungs burning, scanning every corner. He wasn’t there. Not a trace. Not a whinny, not a clop, not a stir of her mane. No one—no one—was allowed to touch him. Not because I was selfish, but because he was untameable to anyone else. He was mine.
“Fuck.” I muttered under my breath, teeth gritting as I bolted out into the open air. My mind raced. My legs carried me before my thoughts could catch up. I had no plan. I didn’t know where to start looking. But I had to find him.
“ARI!” Mara’s voice rang out behind me, panicked, desperate. But I didn’t turn.
Not now.
Silvestre comes first. Always.
Damn it. Silvestre… where the hell are you?
***
Sa sobrang laki ng lupain namin, halos paikot-ikot na yata ako sa paghahanap pero hindi ko pa rin makita si Silvestre kahit saan. The ranch stretched endlessly—rolling fields, patches of trees, and dirt paths na paulit-ulit ko nang dinaanan. The wind brushed past my face habang nagmamadali akong maglakad, scanning every corner I could think of. Imposible namang makalabas siya. The fences were high enough, and the gates were always secured. Pero kung sakali man na somehow nakalusot siya, panigurado ay hindi naman siya makakalayo. Silvestre wasn’t the type of horse who wandered too far from familiar ground.
Still, the thought made my chest tighten.
Sana lang talaga ay walang mangyaring masama sa kanya. I wouldn't forgive myself if anything happened to him.
“Come here.”
I heard an unfamiliar voice not far from where I stood kaya napalingon ako agad. The sound was calm, almost casual, like the person speaking had absolutely no idea they were calling something that could easily trample them.
My brows furrowed as I took a few steps forward.
Then I saw it.
A red-haired girl standing a few meters away, casually holding Silvestre’s reins like it was the most normal thing in the world.
For a moment, I just stared.
I didn’t know her. I was sure of that. Hindi ko siya kilala, and if she had been around the ranch before, I would’ve remembered that bright red hair immediately. Silvestre probably didn’t know her as well.
Pero paano—?
How come she could tame my horse like that?
Silvestre wasn’t exactly the friendliest horse to strangers. He barely tolerated the ranch hands unless I was around. Yet right now, looking at the scene in front of me, mukhang hindi naman galit ang kabayo ko. He wasn’t stomping aggressively or pulling away.
He was… obeying her.
WHAT THE FUCK DID THAT GIRL DO TO MY HORSE?
“HOY!” I yelled, my voice slicing through the quiet field.
The red-haired girl turned her head and looked at me.
“What are you doing with my horse? Are you trying to sell him?” I asked habang naglalakad nang mabilis palapit sa kanila, my boots sinking slightly into the soft ground with every step.
The girl didn’t react the way I expected her to. No panic. No guilt. Wala man lang pagtatangka na tumakbo. She only looked at me—calm, observant—parang ako pa yung strange sa situation na ito.
And that irritated me even more.
“Give me my horse back.” I grabbed the reins from her hand, a little harsher than necessary, then immediately reached up to caress Silvestre’s neck. His warm breath puffed against my arm as I checked him quickly. “Did she hurt you?”
The girl suddenly chuckled, shaking her head like she found the whole thing amusing.
“Ang angas mo rin no? Ikaw owner nyan?”
I shot her a glare.
“Yes, and back off kung ayaw mong i-report kita for stealing my horse!” I yelled, pulling Silvestre gently so he would start walking with me.
Ang hirap pa naman maglakad sa area na ito dahil maputik. Each step felt like the mud was trying to swallow my boots whole.
Bwiset.
“Hey!”
Before the girl could say anything else, I lightly patted Silvestre in a way that I knew would irritate him just enough.
He stomped his hoof against the muddy ground.
And just like I expected, a splash of thick mud flew backward—straight toward the red-haired girl standing behind us.
For a second, there was silence.
Then I chuckled under my breath and continued walking away with Silvestre like nothing happened.
Hahabol ka pa ha.
Behind me, I heard her curse.
“Bullshit.”
I kept walking, but the thought kept circling in my head.
What the hell did she do to my horse… at bakit niya na-tame agad ng ganoon? Silvestre barely listened to anyone except me.
Yet that girl—whoever she was—handled him like it was nothing. And somehow, that bothered me more than the fact that she was holding his reins earlier.
“Saan ka galing?” Mara asked as she looked at me, her brows knitting together habang sinusundan ng tingin ang bawat hakbang ko.
My boots were covered in mud, halos hindi mo na makita ang original na kulay nito, and grabe ang pagkakunot ng noo ko habang naglalakad papunta sa stables. Hanggang ngayon, umiikot pa rin sa utak ko ‘yung babaeng ‘yon—kung paano niya hinawakan si Silvestre, kung paano siya sumunod sa kanya na parang… sanay na.
How could she do that?
“At saan mo nakita si Silvestre?” Mara asked again, this time nakapameywang na siya, clearly waiting for an explanation.
“Mamaya na natin pag-usapan. I forgot my brother would call today. Babalik na ako sa loob.” Paalam ko, trying to brush her off habang maingat kong ibinalik si Silvestre sa stable niya. I ran my hand along his neck one last time, as if checking kung okay ba talaga siya.
He seemed fine. Too fine.
Dali-dali akong bumalik sa loob ng bahay pagkatapos kong maghugas ng paa, tinatanggal ang makapal na putik na dumikit sa boots ko. The cold water helped a bit, pero hindi nito natanggal yung inis at confusion na naiwan sa utak ko. Sana talaga hindi ko na ulit makita ang babaeng ‘yon. Nakakainis.
“Good morning, Ari. How’s your sleep?”
That was my brother’s voice the moment I answered his call.
I slumped on the couch, letting my body sink into the cushions, and rested my head back. For a moment, I just stared at the ceiling, blank, as if doon ko mahahanap ang sagot sa mga tanong ko.
Should I tell my brother about Silvestre? Kung paano siya nakawala… at kung paano siya napaamo ng babaeng ‘yon?
OA na kung OA, pero big deal talaga sa akin ‘yon.
“I am fine, kuya. Kailan ka bibisita rito?” I asked, my voice a little more tired than I intended as I slowly massaged my temple.
“May inaayos pa ako. Dumating na ba si Mavis dyan?” he asked casually, like he wasn’t dropping something important.
“Mavis?” I frowned. “Ano ba si Mavis? Kotse, kabayo, cattle o tao?”
I heard my brother laugh on the other line, loud and amused.
“Tao siya, Ari.” Kuya laughed again. “I told her to stay there muna. Ie-explain ko lahat sa ‘yo mamaya once she gets there.”
“Tao?” I pushed myself up from the couch and walked toward the window, looking outside the hacienda. “Wala naman akong nakitang bisita.”
I scanned the area. Halos lahat ng tao na nakikita ko ay mga trabahador lang namin, busy sa kani-kanilang gawain. No unfamiliar faces.
“Really? Saan na naman kaya pumunta ‘yon?” Kuya heaved a sigh. “Tawagan ko na lang siya. Basta kapag may nakita kang babaeng maputi tapos red ‘yung buhok, call me.”
Hindi na siya naghintay ng sagot ko at bigla niyang binaba ang tawag.
Babaeng maputi at pula ang buhok…
My grip on the phone tightened slightly.
“Ari?” I heard Mara’s voice from behind kaya napalingon ako sa kanya. “Someone’s looking for you.”
“Sino?”
“Ewan.” She grimaced. “Ang baho e.”
Napalingon ako agad sa direction na tinitingnan niya—
—and there she was.
The same red-haired girl.
Halos hindi ko na siya mamukhaan. Grabe pala karami ang putik na tinapon ni Silvestre sa kanya kanina—nakadikit sa buhok niya, sa mukha, sa damit. Para siyang literal na gumulong sa lupa.
“You are Ari Arenas?” the girl asked, her voice steady despite her appearance.
“Yeah.” I slowly nodded, still processing.
“Mavis Jett Lawson,” she introduced herself without hesitation. “Didn’t your brother tell you na pupunta ako rito?”
“MAVIS JETT?!” Mara practically screamed, her eyes widening in shock. “Bakit mukha kang tae ng kalabaw?”
I pursed my lips and nudged my cousin hard.
Tangina talaga ng bunganga nito.
“Gusto mo bang maligo muna bago tayo mag-usap?” I asked, forcing an awkward smile habang tinitignan si—Mavis.
Mavis Jett.
The same name from the news earlier.
“Samahan mo na, gago,” Mara laughed shamelessly. “Pustahan tayo, ikaw may gawa niyan no?”
“Bakit ako?” I glared at her. “Si Silvestre kaya.”
Mavis cleared her throat, cutting through the tension kaya napalingon kami ulit sa kanya.
“May hose dito. Okay lang bang tanggalin mo muna mga putik sa ‘yo bago ka pumasok ng bahay?” I said, a little more composed now.
Mavis nodded and followed me without a word, her steps calm despite the mud clinging to her.
We walked toward the garden area where the hose was—yung ginagamit namin pangdilig ng halaman. Nakakahiya naman kung sa may horses ko pa siya papaliguan. Baka lalo niya akong murahin sa isip niya.
I turned the faucet and handed her the hose.
Water rushed out, clear and cold, washing away the thick layers of mud from her clothes, her arms, her face. I stood there, watching without really meaning to.
Slowly, the dirt faded.
And what was left—
She looked… ethereal.
The red of her hair became more vibrant as it got wet, strands sticking slightly to her face habang tumutulo ang tubig pababa sa pisngi niya, sa jawline niya. Her skin looked even fairer under the sunlight, droplets catching the light like tiny crystals.
Seryoso? Ganito kakapal kilay niya? Aba pinagpala.
“Hey.”
I blinked.
I didn’t realize I had been staring.
Mavis snapped her fingers in front of me, pulling me back to reality.
What the heck. Baka isipin niya kung ano na iniisip ko.
“Okay na ba ‘to?” she asked, raising a brow slightly. “Pwede na ba akong pumasok sa bahay ninyo?”
I swallowed, then slowly nodded.
Pagpasok namin sa bahay, I immediately called one of the maids and told them na asikasuhin siya—magbigay ng towel, extra clothes, anything she needed—kasi pakiramdam ko, konti na lang at mapupuno na talaga siya sa akin. And honestly, I wouldn’t even blame her.
I didn’t know she was a visitor.
Ibig sabihin, nakita niya lang si Silvestre sa labas habang papasok siya sa loob ng ranch namin. She probably thought she was helping—taming him, bringing him back—like it was the most natural thing to do. And what did I do? Sinungitan ko lang siya. Accused her pa.
Tangina.
“Saan na si ganda?” Mara asked, her lips already curling into a teasing grin kaya napairap ako.
Nandito kaming dalawa ngayon sa sala, nakaupo sa magkabilang side ng couch, hinihintay matapos si Mavis sa paliligo. The house felt quieter than usual, pero may kakaibang tension na hindi ko ma-explain.
“Kakarating lang ng truck na may dala ng mga gamit niya. Pinasuyo ko na lang kay Simeon. Saan pala siya titira? Dito talaga?” Mara asked, glancing outside for a second before looking back at me.
I shrugged, leaning back slightly.
Wala naman akong alam. Sinabi lang sa akin ni kuya na tawagan ko siya kapag nandito na si Mavis. Pero hindi ko pa siya pwedeng tawagan ngayon. Not yet. Baka isumbong ako ng isang ‘yon. Kailangan ko muna siyang amuhin kahit papaano.
“Ang dami niyang gamit,” Mara continued, standing up and walking toward the window. “Balak ata niyang tumira rito for years.” She shook her head habang sinisilip si Simeon sa labas na nagbubuhat ng mga box.
“I don’t know until when. Kakausapin ko pa lang si kuya mamaya,” I whispered, standing up and joining her. My eyes followed Simeon as he lifted another box. “Hindi ba kilala mo siya?”
“Mavis? Yes.” Mara nodded. “Pero puro bad traits niya lang naririnig ko. Aside sa halimaw raw siya sa racing dahil walang nakakatalo sa kanya, halimaw raw talaga siya sa totoong buhay.”
I chuckled softly, folding my arms. “What do you mean?”
“Like masama ugali,” Mara said, shrugging. “Kaya nga wala akong paki sa kanya. Mas bet ko talaga ‘yung isang driver ng Crimson Velocity.”
Crimson Velocity.
The name lingered in my head. The racing team my brother had built from scratch.
Crimson.
My favorite color. Kaya nga laging crimson ang kulay ng gear ng mga kabayo naming sinasali sa horse racing before. It used to mean something here. Something ours.
But kuya wanted more. Hindi na enough sa kanya ang bilis ng kabayo, ang ingay ng hoofbeats sa lupa. He wanted engines, speed, something louder, faster, more dangerous. So he left.
And he succeeded.
Of course he did.
But in the process…
He forgot that he had a family here.
Ako.
Ako na lang yung natira, pero minsan pakiramdam ko… nakalimutan niya pa rin.
Still, I understood him. I always did. Ayokong maging selfish para pigilan siya.
“Are those my things?”
Naputol ang iniisip ko nang marinig ko ang boses ni Mavis sa likod namin.
She walked over and stood beside us, tumabi sa amin ni Mara para sumilip din sa labas. And the moment she did—
I swear, my brain short-circuited.
Amoy ko agad siya.
Same lang naman kami ng sabon. Pareho lang naman kami ng ginagamit dito sa bahay. But for some reason, mas amoy na amoy sa kanya. Mas bagay sa kanya. Pakiramdam ko tuloy hindi ako marunong maligo.
“Yes,” I said, clearing my throat. “Ano pa lang sabi ni kuya? Dito ka raw titira?”
Mavis didn’t look at me. She just continued drying her hair with a towel, slow and unbothered, before giving a small nod.
“He didn’t tell you yet?”
“Hindi ko pa siya tinatawagan.”
“Call him now,” she said simply. “I don’t have a phone.”
She placed the towel over her shoulder and walked out again like it was her house, like she already knew where she belonged, para tulungan si Simeon.
“Ang lakas ha,” Mara chuckled habang pinapanood si Mavis na magbuhat ng isang malaking box na parang wala lang. “Feeling ko kapag nakipag—”
“BUNGANGA MO.” I glared at her before she could even finish.
“Nakipag-arm wrestle kasi!” Mara burst out laughing. “Ikaw utak mo kung ano-anong pumapasok. Iyan napapala ng tumatandang dalaga.”
“27 pa lang ako!”
“Saan ako matutulog?”
Napalingon ako agad nang bumalik si Mavis sa may pintuan, bitbit pa rin ang box na parang hindi man lang siya nahihirapan.
“Hatid mo na,” Mara said, giving me that look—the one I absolutely hated. “Hahatid lang ha. Bumalik kayo ha.”
“Ina mo.” I muttered under my breath and motioned for Mavis to follow me.
Tarantado talaga ‘yong Mara na ‘yon.
Pakiramdam ko sobrang bagal naming maglakad, parang bawat hakbang namin humahaba nang humahaba yung oras. The gravel crunched softly beneath our feet, tapos may konting hangin na dumadaan, pero kahit gano’n, parang ang tagal naming makarating. Napakalaki kasi ng hacienda—kaya nga hacienda ang tawag. Malawak, tahimik, halos endless.
Ang nakakatawa lang? Dalawa lang kami ni Mara ang nakatira rito bukod sa mga maids. Ang daming espasyo, ang daming kwarto, pero konti lang kami. Minsan nga pakiramdam ko, mas marami pang kwento ang bahay kaysa sa mga taong nakatira dito.
“Malayo pa ba?” Mavis asked, her voice cutting through the quiet habang steady pa rin yung lakad niya, bitbit yung box na parang wala lang sa kanya.
“Gusto mo ba tulungan kita sa bitbit mo?” I asked, glancing at the box kahit alam ko namang kaya niya.
“No. You look fragile. I can handle this.”
Her voice was cold. Diretso. Walang paligoy-ligoy. Pero bagay na bagay sa kanya—parang natural lang na gano’n siya magsalita. And for some unknown reason… napapangiti ako.
I swear I didn’t know.
Kinikilig ba ako kasi ang ganda ng boses niya? Kasi maganda siya?
Bading ba ako? Babae ba gusto ko?
Tangina, ano ‘to.
“Dito na,” I muttered, stopping in front of one of the rooms and quickly opening the door, as if that would stop whatever was going on inside my head.
Actually, sobrang daming room ang pwede niyang pag-stay-an. Halos kahit saan pwede. Pero ito yung pinili ko—the one nearest to mine. Hindi ko na inisip kung bakit. Basta automatic na ‘yon. Para kapag may kailangan siya… mabilis niya lang ako mapupuntahan.
Or ako ang makakapunta agad sa kanya.
“Did you call your brother na ba?” Mavis asked as she stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room—walls, bed, windows—parang ina-assess niya kung okay ba sa kanya. “Baka he’s worried about me.”
“If you don’t mind me asking…” I trailed off, leaning slightly against the doorframe, watching her. “Girlfriend ka ba ng kuya ko?”
Mavis looked at me.
Deadpanned.
No reaction. No hesitation. Just that look.
“I’m just curious,” I added quickly, raising my hands a little. “But if ayaw mong sagutin, it’s fine.”
I was about to turn and leave—save myself from the awkwardness—
“I’m into girls,” she said. “So, no. I don’t have any romantic relationships with your brother.”
I slowly nodded.
Then I bit my lower lip.
GOODNESS GRACIOUS BAKIT BA AKO NAPAPANGITI?
“Okay. I’ll call my brother later after mong mag-ayos ng room.” I smiled, trying to act normal, trying to act like nothing was happening inside my head.
“Ari.”
She called me again kaya napalingon ako agad, hand still on the doorknob.
“Kapatid ka ba talaga ni Monroe?”
I frowned a little but nodded anyway. “Why?”
“Nothing,” she said, a small smile forming on her lips—subtle, almost teasing, but not quite. “I was just curious too.”
Then she turned away, like the conversation meant nothing, and started fixing her things—opening boxes, placing items neatly, like she already planned to stay here longer than expected.
I just nodded, kahit hindi naman niya nakikita, then stepped out of the room.
The hallway suddenly felt quieter.
Weirdly quieter.
I exhaled and ran a hand through my hair before walking back to the living room para magpatulong sa iba kung saan dadalhin ang ibang gamit ni Mavis.
Pero kahit anong pilit kong mag-focus—
Bumabalik at bumabalik pa rin sa utak ko yung boses niya.
And that stupid smile I couldn’t seem to control.
“Simeon, doon sa room na katabi nung akin.” I instructed, pointing lazily toward the hallway kahit alam naman na niya kung saan ‘yon.
He nodded agad, no questions asked, and lifted another box like it weighed nothing.
Pagkatingin ko sa ibang boxes na naka-stack sa sahig, nahagilap ko agad ang tingin ni Mara sa akin—nakakaloko na naman. That look. The one na parang may alam siyang hindi ko alam tungkol sa sarili ko.
“Mukhang kailangan ko na magtakip ng—”
“Bibig,” I cut her off agad, hindi ko na siya pinatapos. “Need mo na tapalan ‘yan kasi kung ano-ano lumalabas.”
She gasped in mock offense, placing a hand dramatically over her chest. “Wow ha. Defensive.”
“Hindi defensive,” I muttered, picking up a smaller box para may ginagawa lang ako. “Annoyed lang.”
“Alam mo,” Mara continued, crossing her arms habang nakatingin pa rin sa akin na parang nag-aanalyze, “type mo talaga ‘yung Mavis na ‘yon e. I just can’t prove it.”
I scoffed. “Pinagsasasabi mo?”
Pero hindi ko rin maiwasan na umiwas ng tingin.
Mara opened her mouth, ready na sana sumagot—
—pero biglang nag-ring ang phone ko.
Kuya.
“Shh.” I motioned at her to keep quiet bago ko sagutin ang tawag.
“Kuya?”
“Is she there na?” he asked agad, walang paligoy-ligoy.
“Yes. Nag-aayos lang ng room.” I glanced toward the hallway instinctively, as if makikita ko si Mavis from there.
“Okay. I won’t be able to talk to you both since marami akong ginagawa,” kuya said, his voice slightly strained, like pagod na pagod siya. “But she would be staying there as long as I told her to. Please, huwag mong hayaang lumabas or may kumuha ng picture niya or may magpost ng location niya.”
My brows furrowed.
“Bakit, anong meron?” I asked, confusion creeping in.
“Please, don’t ask too many questions, Ari. Masakit na ulo ko.” He sighed on the other line. “I’m sorry, princess, but ipapaalaga ko muna siya sa ‘yo.”
“Alaga?” Tumaas ang kilay ko, napatingin ulit sa hallway. “Alagain ‘to?”
“Ikaw na bahala sa kanya,” he continued, ignoring my tone. “But tell everyone sa ranch na hindi pwedeng lumabas ang picture niya kahit saan at malaman ng iba ang location niya, okay?”
I paused for a second.
Then I nodded, kahit hindi naman niya ako nakikita.
“I understand.”
“Take care, princess. I love you.”
“I love you too, kuya.” I sighed softly before ending the call, lowering my phone slowly.
For a moment, I just stood there. Tahimik. Thinking.
Babysitter?
Of all things?
“Ano sabi?” Mara asked, already leaning closer, curious na curious.
“Mukhang magiging babysitter ako,” I said, forcing a small, almost helpless smile.
Mara blinked.
Then she laughed.
“Okay lang ‘yan,” she said, grinning wide. “Maganda naman baby mo.” She winked, then laughed again like she just said the funniest thing in the world.
I clicked my tongue and rolled my eyes.
Bwiset talaga.