Taking Chances

Home is where the Heart is

"Sorry, I just couldn't resist pretty girl," Matt confessed. "Di na mauulit. Not until we're married."

"Loko mo!" Sarah admonished and took a deep breath to still her heart. 

Matt's friends easily warmed up to everyone in the party, especially to Kiara and Eggpie who kicked themselves for being too hung over to socialize better with the yummy boys that Matt introduced.

Right after dinner, everyone gathered in the living room, hooked up the videoke, and went on a singing spree. Eggpie and Kiara opened the show with their version of Zombie, their cracked and hollowed voices perfectly matching the song. Kim and Xian, the newly engaged couple, followed a duet version of Chinito to the delight of everyone in the house. 

"Ano sweetie, hinahamon tayo o!" Matt said. "Pakitaan nga natin ng It takes a Man and a Woman tong dalawang to."

"Tumigil ka Matt a! Nakakahiya kina Papa!" Sarah scolded. Matt laughed and ruffled her hair.

"Joke lang!"

So Sarah and Matt  went with Ice, Ice Baby instead, and laughingly helped each other out to get through the rap song alive.

"Ano ba eto girl, hiphop na nga ang kinanta pero kinikilig pa din ako," Eggpie remarked.

"Kung makatouchy feely at makatingin naman sa isa't isa kasi te" Kiara murmured, "Parang isang taong hindi nagkita!"

Sean then sang I Swear, with Victor and Marcus singing along in the background. Kim and Xian tried to drown out his woeful rendition by scanning the songbook for their next duet. Kiara and Eggpie on the other hand cheered for the muscular mestizo as if he had the best voice in the world.

Matt sat comfortably beside Sarah. She leaned on him and he held her hand while they watched the funny scene unfold. They were quite happy in their own world. She thoroughly enjoyed feeling the warmth of his chest cover her back and having him whisper jokes to her once in a while. Sarah smiled to herself. It was really, really good to be back.

"Teka, kukunin ko lang yung camera sa kwarto," Sarah said and started to get up from the couch. After being away from Matt for so long, she understood better the importance of taking photos. She couldn't have survived one month without him if not for the pictures that she kept on her phone.

"Let me get it." Matt put a hand on her shoulder to keep her from standing up. "Sa cabinet mo diba?" 

That night Matt fussed over her too much for comfort. He wouldn't let her do anything for herself, much less to let her do anything for him. He waited on her like she was an invalid, when she only had a slight cold.

 "Ano ba Matt... Kanina mo pa ko pinagsisilbihan. Kulang na lang iwheelchair mo ko e. Ako na bahala."

"Pagod ka sa byahe. I'll get it." He patted her head before he left for her room.