Cassandra woke up in a familiar bed, alam niya ang amoy na bumabalot sa loob ng kuwarto na iyon. The manly smell of the sheets, she knew it well.
She stretches her arms and saw a handsome man beside her, pinagmasdan niya ang binata habang natutulog ito. He's sleeping peacefully.
Nakahiga ang ulo nito sa kama ngunit nakaupo sa sahig, it's an uncomfy position for sleeping. Ang sakit sa likod nito.
I couldn't deny what I am feeling right now, my heart beats so fast while admiring the beauty of this man in front of me.
I have lots of questions in mind, kung deserving ba ako sa lahat ng kayang ibigay ng taong nasa harapan ko, kung kaya ko din bang iparamdam sa kaniya ang kasiyahan na dulot niya sa akin.
Cassandra's hand caresses Tyrone's hair while she's looking at his face, transformer talaga itong lalaking ito eh.
Kapag gising akala mo kung sinong maangas na snob pero kapag tulog akala mo kung sinong baby na maamo.
Nagulat si Cassandra ng hawakan ni Tyrone ang kamay niya na nakalapat sa buhok nito, Tyrone held her hand while she's caressing his hair.
"You doing good?". Mahinang tanong ni Tyrone sa kaniya with his bedroom voice.
Cassandra smiles and answer. "Better, you're here with me eh".
Tyrone lifted up his head at nagtama ang mga mata nila. "You look beautiful in the morning". Kumindat pa ito sa kaniya.
Cassandra blushes and got shy so she turned her back, ngayon nakatalikod na siya sa binata dahil sa hiyang naramdaman.
Kainis naman eh! Siya ang gwapo kahit sa umaga ako mukha na ata akong ginawan ng bahay ng mga ibon sa gulo ng buhok ko!
Tyrone keeps tapping her back but she refuses to look at him.
"You don't need any make-up to look beautiful and stunning in my eyes, young lady".
She blushes because of his statement.
"Shoo! Wag ka dito!". Inis na sabi niya, kaasar kasi.
I heard him chuckled as he sat at the corner of the bed. "Really? You want me gone inside my own room?".
Muntik ko ng masapok ang sarili ko, oo nga pala! Hindi ko nga pala kwarto ito, grabe!
I stretch my arms and sit on the bed, tinapunan ko siya ng tingin at ngumiti. "I need to go na, may klase pa tayo".
I saw him nod and he stands up, pagpasok niya sa banyo agad na akong bumaba para makapaghanda kahit papaano ng breakfast.
Tyrone did his morning routine and go downstairs, he found Cassandra preparing breakfast in his kitchen.
That was the scene that he never imagines loving ever in his whole life...
"What are you cooking, love?". Maamo ang boses nito ng tanungin si Cassandra.
"Hotdogs, egg and ham. Nagtoast na din ako ng bread for us to eat".
Sagot nito ng hindi lumilingon sa binata, he nodded in satisfaction.
Tyrone smiles at the thought that she's spoiling him in every possible way and he loves it so much.
Pumunta siya sa tabi ng dalaga at nagtimpla ng kape to be fair, ayaw naman niya na si Cassandra lang ang kikilos. He wants to treat her like a princess if possible.
Tumingin si Cassandra sa katabi niya at nagsalita. "I want my coffee with many sugars, pampagising".
Tyrone chuckles at her remark. "Won't you get diabetes?".
She shook her head as a disagreement. "Never". Natatawang sagot ng dalaga.
"Noted, madam".
Nagtulong silang maghain ng pagkain sa lamesa at sabay ng nilusob ang mga nakahandang pagkain sa hapag.
"Thank you for cooking breakfast". Mahinang pagpapasalamat ni Tyrone habang nanguya ng ham at toasted bread.
Cassandra smiles at him genuinely and answer. "No biggie, enjoy".
Naghari ang katahimikan sa kanila but this time, it's not awkward. Suddenly, Tyrone blurted a question that sent an error to Cassandra's system.
"Are we really official?". Nagtugma ang mga paningin nila and Cassandra saw a glint of hope in the man's eyes.
She laughs at him before answering. "Was it unbelievable?".
He shook his head and bite his bread.
"Just making sure because once I hold onto you, I'll never let you go".
She blushes at his statement but she just shrugged it off.
"Wag kang pahalata na gustong-gusto mo ako". Pagbiro niya dito.
"I won't deny it". Puno ng sinseridad ang boses ng binata.
Cassandra scrunches her nose and Tyrone chuckled.
"You look so cute with that habit of yours".
She looks at him sarcastically and flips her hair. "As always". Biro niya rito.
Tyrone just shrugged his shoulders as he sips on his coffee.
Napansin ni Cassandra na gusto ni Tyrone ang plain na kape, walang creamer, walang asukal. Just pure coffee.
After eating breakfast, hinatid na ni Tyrone si Cassandra sa bahay nito upang makapaghanda na bago pumunta sa paaralan.
Cassandra looks at Tyrone to bid a goodbye dahil nasa harap na sila ng bahay niya.
"Thank you for everything, Tyrone. I appreciate it a lot".
He nodded and let out a small smile.
Bago pa siya makalabas, she felt a hand pulled her wrist to stop her from going outside.
Nilingon niya ang binata ng puno ng pagtataka. "Bakit po?".
Tyrone's eyes glisten with so much affection as he replies to her. "You're very beautiful, baby".
His statement made her blush, ang agang kay tamis naman!
"Alam mo, sasakit na ngipin ko sa sweetness mo po". Biro niya dito.
Tyrone let out a proud expression. "What can you do? I am just so sweet when it comes to you".
She just punches his shoulder lightly and bids a final goodbye.
Thank God! Pinakawalan na rin niya ang kamay ko at nagmaneho na pauwi, baka malate pa kaming pareho.
Her brother suddenly welcomes her with a tight hug pagpasok niya ng bahay nila.
"Sorry, Luna. Sorry for letting you get hurt with their words". Panay ang hingi nito ng patawad sa kaniya.
Her heart warms with his big brother's gesture.
"No need to apologize, kuya. Thank you for defending me on that one".
Ayaw niyang sisihin ni Jorge ang sarili, it wasn't his fault. She just needs to be brave enough to face every judgment that will be thrown at her.
"Still, ayokong ginaganun ka. It hurts me so much seeing you helpless". Ramdam ni Cassanndra ang pagmamahal sa kaniya ng kuya niya and she's thankful for that.
She suddenly thinks of Tyrone after her brother lets her go of that hug.
"I can endure it all, kuya. I just finally found my home". Makahulugan niyang sambit sa kuya niya.
Jorge knew it, ramdam niya ang atraksyon ng kapatid sa lalaking iyon but what he can see in her eyes right now is not just attraction.
He never thought that he'll be happy seeing those things in her eyes.
"I'm glad you finally found your home; you deserve to be happy after all the things you've been through".
She's blessed to have this kind of big brother.
They had a small talk before she go to school, hinatid pa siya ng kuya niya.
She listens and takes down notes habang nagdidiscuss ang professor nila, haggard na siya ng lumabas sa classroom nila.
She's currently reading her books and memorizing terms and conditions of medicines and human anatomy lessons nang may biglang tumawag sa kaniya.
She held her phone in one hand and the other one is holding her books.
It was his man, Tyrone.
"Hey, have you eaten your lunch?".
Usisa ni Tyrone pagkasagot na pagkasagot niya ng tawag nito.
"Hindi pa eh, halos kakatapos lang ng huli kong klase". Yes, late na siya maglulunch because it's already 1 in the afternoon.
"Should I fetch you now so we can eat together?".
He was done eating actually but it's okay to eat one more time para magkasabay sila.
Cassandra's heart fluttered because of that ngunit hindi pa siya nakakasagot may mga lokaret na biglang sumampa sa kaniya na muntik na niyang ikabuwal.
"Hi poging Tyrone!". Sigaw ni Abigail na hinablot ang telepono ko.
Ginawa pang loud speaker ni Abi para marinig ko din, ang angas ah.
"Hey, I was just asking Cassandra if I should fetch her so we can eat lunch but on the second thought".
"Sunduin ko na lang kayong tatlo". How thoughtful.
Iniisip siguro nito na hindi pa kumakain itong dalawa kong kaibigan.
Napatili bigla si Abi kaya si Jai ang sumagot. "Sige! Wait ka namin".
Sila pa nga ang nagpatay ng tawag, ang respeto talaga sa may ari ng telepono ano?
Pagkabigay ni Abi sa kaniya ng telepono, ngumis pa ito.
"Huy! Ano na update sa lovelife mo? Sanaol inaaya maglunch".
Tinutusok-tusok pa ni Abi ang tagiliran ko, lakas ng tama.
Cassandra just shrugged her shoulders at nagintay na lang sila sa binata kahit hindi pa din siya tinitigilan ng mga kasama lalo na si Abi.
"Ano ng ganap sa masagana mong lablayp? Ayiee!! Hope langis". Asar ni Jairah.
Na dinugtungan ni Abigail.
"Hope langis din akoo, taga support muna kami sayo bes. Wala pa kasing da wan".
Natawa siya sa mga kalokohan ng dalawa niyang kaibigan. "Intay lang, wag lang bumigay sa maling tao".
Humalakhak ang dalawang kaibigan niya na parang nagsabi siya ng joke.
"Yabang nito porket nasa tamang tao na siya ohh". Nagangat pa si Cassandra ng kilay na para bang nagmamalaki.
"Jackpot yern?". Asar din ni Jairah sa kaniya.
When kaya magiging matino 'tong dalawang 'to?
May tumigil na sasakyan sa harap nila and she knows who owns it, sasakyan ni Tyrone yan.
Lumabas ang binata at ng humarap na ito sa kaniya, he gently pulls her hands and hugged her.
Narinig niya ang mahihinang tili ng mga kaibigan sa likod nila but Tyrone's warmth invaded her whole system, she also hugged him like her life and happiness depends on him.
His manly scent sent havoc to her system.
"How's your day, baby?". Bulong nito sa kaniya habang nakayakap pa din.
"Tiring as always pero masaya naman". Maikli niyang sagot habang nakayakap pa din sa binata.
If this is the home run for every challenge then I'll do my best to win.
Her friends faked cough behind them. "Wag kayong masyadong matamis, nilalanggam na us dito".
Kumalas siya sa yakap kay Tyrone pero nakayakap pa din ito sa kaniya patagilid like he doesn't want to let go.
"Hop in, ladies. Let's grab your late lunches". Mahina pa itong natawa.
Tyrone just held her hand while he's driving para bang ayaw na nito siyang pakawalan.
"Huy Tyrone! Hindi masamang bumitaw kahit isang minuto". Asar ni Jai sa lalaking nagmamaneho ngayon sa tabi niya.
They let out a chuckle as Tyrone answer her friend. "Just making sure na hindi na siya makakawala".
She blushes with his words na ikinatawa ng mga kaibigan niya.
Nagtaas pa ng kilay si Abigail at nagtanong. "Kayo na ba? Bakit may pag bakod na?".
Natawa pa si Jairah at binatukan si Abi na dahilan ng pagkanguso ng kaibigan, they simply look at her friends and smirk.
"Oh my gosh! May pag ngisi!". Sigaw ni Abigail na may kasamang hampas pa kay Jai.
"Let's celebrate! Hindi na siya lonely!". Sigaw din ni Jairah.
Cassadra threw a glance at Tyrone para tignan kung masyado na ba itong naiingayan pero nakangiti lang ito habang nagmamaneho.
Nang kumalma na ang mga kaibigan niya, asaran naman ngayon.
"Apakabitter nito, Tyrone. Pakisabi nga dun sa kaibigan mong si Grey balikan na ito".
Nakanguso na sumbong ni Abi kay Tyrone.
Tyrone just laughs at them. "Noted, makakarating".
Nakita ko yung mukha ngayon ni Jai, namumula na ewan. Kamatis yern?
Tumigil sila sa isang restaurant at habang kumakain sila, tuloy pa din ang asaran ng mga kaibigan niya.
"Ang PDA naman!". Reklamo ni Abi ng lagyan ni Tyrone ang plato ko ng nabalatan na niyang hipon.
Bitter sila mga bes!
"Hanap ka na kasi ng tulad ni Tyrone, bes". Asar ni Jai na may matching tapik pa sa likod ni Abi.
Dumapo ang tingin ni Abi sa akin at ngumisi, ano kayang balak ng lokaret na 'to?
"Peram muna kaya ako kay Tyrone, bes". May halong pangiinis ang tono ng boses ng kaibigan.
Pinanlakihan ni Cassandra ng mata ang kaibigan at inangat ang kaliwang kamay ni kung saan magkahawak ang kamay nila ni Tyrone.
"Ghe, subukan mo. Aahitin ko yang kilay mo". Banta nito sa kaibigan.
Syempre biro lang pero pwede din naman, char!
Tyrone is just smiling at them while watching his girl enjoying her time with her friends.
Bumaling ng tingin sa kaniya si Cassandra at nagthumbs up. "You doing good?".
He smiles at her. "Great, nandito ka na sa tabi ko wala na akong hihilingin pa".
Cassandra blushes and punches his shoulder.
Hinatid nila ang dalawang kaibigan ni Cassandra sa apartment na tinutuluyan ng mga ito at naiwan silang dalawa sa kotse.
Tyrone is holding her hand while driving like he's securing his future in his hands, they stopped in an open space in a park and sat on that one bench.
"Do you think tayo na hanggang dulo?". Tanong ni Cassandra sa katabi niya.
Tyrone looks at her and held her hand tight.
"We don't know what the future holds but I assure you, ikaw lang para sakin hanggang dulo".
She sighs with that, naalala ni Cassandra ang sinabi ng kaibigan niya. Malalaman mong mahal mo na kapag nababahala ka na, na baka bukas mawala na lang siya bigla.
But what can we do? We can only hold each other's hand and fight to be deserving in each other's future.
Cassandra keeps on hearing Tyrone say he likes her but she knows what does she need to risk it all.
He held her hand as he looks into her eyes.
"I will do my best to protect you and not make you suffer the same pain".
Cassandra's phone suddenly rang because it receives a message at nang tignan niya ito, galing ang mensaheng iyon sa kuya niya.
Kuya kong pangit:
Come to my house with him, I wanna knows him more.
Kumalabog ang puso niya at tumingin siya kay Tyrone.
"Kuya wants us in his house, especially you". Hindi alam ni Cassandra ngunit napuno ng kagalakan ang puso niya ng tumango si Tyrone.
"Let's go, hindi ako magtatago. I will face your brother to prove to him that I am taking you seriously".
Saan ka pa ba makakahanap ng ganitong lalaki? Sorry, nasa akin na.
Cute niyang bunso:
Papunta na, kuya.
Kaagad silang bumalik sa kotse ni Tyrone at nagmaneho ito habang tinuturo niya ang daan papunta.
When they arrived, she saw his brother's girlfriend. Si ate Charm.
Tumakbo ito papunta sa kaniya at niyakap siya.
"Oh my gosh! Sa wakas, nakajackpot ka ah". May halo pang pangaasar ito.
Cassandra laughs at her and blushes a little.
Kita niya ang nerbyos na mukha ni Tyrone, it was his first time meeting a family member that is not his. Pero para sa dalaga handa siya.
Nang nasa hapag na sila, Jorge keeps on asking Tyrone questions na para bang nasa interrogation sila.
"Are you willing to take my punches kapag nakita kong sinaktan mo ang kapatid ko?".
Agad kong sinamaan ng tingin si kuya at hinampas naman ito ni ate Charm.
"My gosh, Jorge! Don't scare the poor man, hayaan mo na". Panenermon ni ate Charm.
"Let me ask him, baby. Dumaan din ako sa tatay mo bago kita makuha so he also needs to do the same". Seryoso nitong sagot sa kasintahan.
Tyrone suddenly replied to my brother's question.
"Like what I said on the call, don't spare my life if I do". Nanlaki ang mga mata namin sa sinabi niya.
Kinurot ko nga sa tagiliran. "Ano? Pumapayag kang patayin ka ni kuya?".
He chuckles and pinches my nose. "It's just a what if, love. Para nga talagang hindi kita saktan".
Hindi ko alam kung matutuwa ako o ano eh.
"Good to know, atleast nagkakaintindihan tayo". Sambit ni kuya.
Grabe! Akala mo naman talaga oh.
Her ate Charm keeps on lighting up the mood, nangaasar lang ito.
"Let them explore life, Jorge. Bagay nga sila eh". Mukhang kinikilig pa ito.
I saw my brother slight pouted lips na akala mo batang inagawan ng candy.
"Bakit ako lagi mong inaaway tapos sila makafangirl ka diyan".
"Unfair". Dugtong pa nito na ikinatawa nila, Tyrone on my side just chuckled.
Nagpamewang pa si ate Charm, ready ng barahin si kuya.
"Don't act like a teen ager, pangasar ka kasi. Sinong hindi ka tatarayan?". With matching eye roll pa nga.
Naging magaan na kahit papaano ang simoy ng hangin sa loob ng hapag at nagkwentuhan na lang sila.
They had chit-chat and before they go, Jorge excuses himself with Tyrone.
"Tyrone, follow me". Sambit ni kuya na mukhang seryoso pa.
"Saan kayo?". Usisa ko sa kuya.
Tyrone just held my hand and smiles to assure me. "Let us, baby".
Kinabahan si Cassandra but Charm assures her that Jorge won't do something stupid to her boyfriend, sabi pa nga nito mukhang nakapasa pa sa vibe check ng kuya niya si Tyrone.
"I never saw Jorge that comfortable with men around you". Dagdag ni ate Charm.
Maiintindihan ko naman kung magsusungit si kuya, I am his baby sis for sake.
When Tyrone and her brother arrived, they excuse themselves dahil may pasok pa din sila.
"Mauna na kami, kuya, ate. May pasok pa kami bukas eh". Pagpapaalam ko.
Tyrone is beside me, mukhang maayos naman ito. Walang kahit na anong galos pero medyo nagtagal sila ni kuya duon.
"Go home safe, Tyrone yung sinabi ko sayo". Pagpapaalala ng kuya ko, ano kaya yun?
I saw Tyrone smile at my brother. "I'll keep that engrave in my mind and my soul, kuya Jorge".
My brother nodded in satisfaction.
"Ingat kayo". Masayang pagpapaalam ni ate Charm.
Nang nasa kotse na kami, hindi ko mapigilang hindi magtanong. "Ano yung sinabi ni kuya?".
Ngumiti lang ito sa akin at hinawakan ang kamay ko. "It's between the both of us, young lady. Nothing to worry about".
Mas lalo lang akong nilamon ng pagtataka, ayy basta.
I am joyful na kahit papaano nakita na ni kuya si Tyrone and like what ate Charm said, mukhang okay naman ang tingin ng kuya niya sa kasintahan.
I hope everything will fall into its right place from now on because all I know is I already found my home where I can be myself and it's in him, he's my home.
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Tapos naa!! I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Kindly leave feedback on what you think about this update :)
Love you all!
-KC