POV Shar
'Shar, I'm listening," Donny said.
"Donny..."
Then suddenly I heard someone calling Donny.
"Donny, where are you?"
"Mom, wait, I'm talking to Shar," Donny told his mom.
"Shar, what do you want to say?"
"Donny, next time, I'll just tell it next time."
I immediately lost my confidence upon listening to Donny's mom. I felt like cat got my tongue.
In the morning, as I am in my Grandma's garden...
"Sharlene...where are you?" Asked nanay.
"I'm here at the garden Nanay," I replied.
"Sharlene, Donny is here," nanay told me.
I can't believe to what I heard. I felt like I was frozen from what I am doing.
"Shar, I'm here," Donny breaks the silence.
I turned my back.
"Donny, who told you to come here? Don't you know that you needed rest? What if something happens to you?"
"Shar, relax...I'm okay."
"Sharlene, I have to prepare snack, wait here."
"No nanay, we will just come inside the house if we need some."
"Okay, I'll see your grandma."
Nanay left us two at the garden.
"Shar, your grandma likes roses."
"Maybe."
"Do roses need water everyday?"
"I don't know, but I think so."
"They say, it's best thing to water roses early in the morning."
"How do you know?"
"Mom likes roses too. She likes taking care of plants. She never missed a day without watering them."
"What will happen if she missed one day?"
"They will feel sad."
"Donny, they don't have feelings, you know."
"Since you have feelings, how would you feel if you don't see me?"
"Donny, that's exactly a different topic."
"I miss you Shar," he suddenly told me.
I am about to say I miss him too but grandmama came to welcome Donny.
"Shar, I haven't meet your friend, come inside the house let's talk inside."
"Ah, granma, he's Donny. Donny, she's granma."
"I'm happy to meet you grandma," Donny greeted Granma. "Ah, granma, your roses are beautiful. And all your plants here of course."
"Happy to hear that hijo. Do you like taking care of plants as well?"
"Actually, it's my mom who really like granma, but I think I just started to like it as well."
"That's good then, Sharlene hija, I think you should start liking it too," Granma told me.
Inside the house...
"Granma, do you know I like cooking?"
"Donny..." I tried to stop him.
"Talaga hijo?"
"Yes granma, is Shar good in cooking?" Donny asked.
"Not that good," Granma honestly told Donny.
"Granma naman."
"Ah, granma, do you want me to teach Shar how to cook?"
"Teach her how to cook? It's okay with me."
I am initially hesitant but I agreed since Granma used to laugh whenever Donny says something.
Granma, Nanay, Donny's yaya and driver talked at the sala while I and Donny are cooking for lunch.
Donny is really a good cook. But I find it hard to chop the potato and carrots for the chicken curry. Donny assisted me in chopping.
Whenever he accidentally touch my hand, I feel nervous as if there's a CCTV camera recording what we are doing.
"Shar, is this native chicken?" he asked.
"No, it's the chicken from the supermarket."
"Do you know native chickens are more delicious than those being sold at the supermarket?"
I just smiled. I can't tell him I don't like native chicken.
"Shar, you have a lot of native chicken out there at your backyard common let's try to catch one."
"No!" I told him as if I am forbidding him.
"Common Shar, I'll ask permission from granma."
He is about to go but I grabbed his arm forcefully. Because of my strenth, he almost kissed me and his eyes were looking exactly at my eyes.
"Shar..."
I immediately avoid him. "I don't like native chicken," I honestly told him.
"Really?"
"Uhm."
"If you don't like then I can't do anything. Of course I have to listen to my Princess."
"Donny, stop it, they might hear you."
"What if they will hear me? Mabuti yun, so that Grandma will know you're my princess and of course I am your prince."
"I agreed to prepare food with you but please don't ruin my day."
"Shar grabe ka, is being your prince can ruin your day?"
I stopped what I am doing.
"That's not what I mean."
"Then what?" he excitedly come closer waiting for my answer.
Then Nanay is approaching asking us if we're okay.
Donny quickly avoided me.
"Do you need help?" Nanay asked with Granma's nanny.
"No nanay, we can do it," Donny answered.
"Sure?"
"Yes nanay, sure," Donny said.
...
"Donny, I really need help now. Why didn't you tell them we need help?"
"What help do you need? I'll do it."
"No need. I'll just do it."
"Shar, why do you change your mind quickly?"
"Did I?" I asked. But then I remember when I decided to tell Donny that I love him also but haven't done it yet.
"Yes, I think you say this and that and then later, you're not going to stand to what you just said."
I was speechless. I feel like I am someone whom he is describing.
"But, why are you silent all of a sudden?"
I didn't answer.
"Shar, what are you thinking? Why do you look so serious?"
Still I can't say a word.
"Shar, are you okay?"
Then I thought of an alibi.
"Donny, I think there's something wrong with what you're cooking?"
"What's wrong?"
"Did you put all the ingredients carefully?"
"Of course," he answered.
"How did you do it?"
"Of course I put them and mix it all."
"Don't you know that there's a proper way of putting the ingredients or else you'll suffer stomachache later."
"That's my first time hearing that."
"Then, you think again how did you put the ingredients."
"Why would I do it?"
"Because if you don't all who will eat that food will get sick."
"Shar, where did you get all those beliefs?"
"It is not just a belief, I tell you, it's true."
"Shar, do you believe that I love you?"
I was speechless.
[Shar, this is your time to tell him you love him also] I told myself silently.
"Shar, did you hear what I just said?"
"Of course Donny, my ears are properly functioning."
"Shar again, do you believe that I love you?"
"Why do you need to answer that? It's your feelings not mine."
"Donny..." someone called his name.
"Shar, tell us if you're done so we could help you prepare."
"Yes, nanay, just a few minutes and it's done."
Lunch...
Donny was appreciated because he cooked well while I was encouraged to learn. But at the end, we are both appreciated for our effort to prepare.
3pm
"Sharlene have you met my sister?" Granma asked.
"Not yet granma,"
"Could you deliver this basket to her? I hope I could come but I forgot it's my check up."
"Don't worry, granma I'll accompany Shar."
"Thank you Donny."
"This is the address. But you can't go using the car, you have to walk for maybe 5 minutes. Don't worry it's the only house there so it won't be so hard to find."
We successfully gave the basket. Granma's sister is very happy to meet me. Donny even had a good conversation with her.
Then while going back, Donny suddenly disappear.
I got scared. I called his name many times but he did not reply.
I am about to cry when he suddenly appear in front of me.
"Are you worried?"
I didn't answer.
He turned and continue to walk.
"If not, then, I have to go," he said.
Without any thought, I hugged his back.
"Saranghae," I told him.
Donny did not move. He felt frozen.
"One more time Shar, could you say it again?"
"Saranghae, Donny."