"You have work today?" I furrowed my brows at him. He chuckled before nodding.
"Then why are you inviting me to have breakfast?" I sounded confused, because I really am!
"Well." He looked away before biting on his lower lip to stifle a smile.
"Well?" I shrugged.
"I woke up in a bad mood today, and decided to just drop by here so I can at least start a good day at work." He smiled while still not looking.
My heart immediately jumped at a fast pace. I looked away to hide my blushing cheeks, napatingin kasi siya sa akin. I looked down on Callia when she stretched her leg to reach for Dylan.
"Hey, good morning, Callia." He patted her head, she liked it very much.
"Your mom looks cute when blushing." He whispered to Callia but I heard it clearly.
Bulong ba talaga 'yun? Narinig ko kaya!
"Anyway, I have to go now." He said. I looked at him with confused eyes.
"Nag breakfast ka na?" I asked him.
He looked surprised that I asked him that. His parted lips turned into a smile before he chuckled. I was just asking him if he had breakfast already, anong nakakatawa 'dun?
"Hey, what's funny?" I raised a brow at him.
"Nothing." He continued chuckling while still looking away.
Ano ba kasing nakakatawa? I'm getting pissed and curious now but still..
Ang gwapo pa rin niya tumawa.
"Ano nga?" I rolled my eyes at him which made him stop chuckling. I can see how he was trying so hard to stifle a smile, he behaved in an instant.
"Natawa lang ako." He scratched on his nape while having a small smile.
"Saan?" Sana i-share niya baka sakaling matawa rin ako eh?
"Tinanong mo lang naman ako kung nag-almusal na ko pero kinikilig na ako kaagad."
That made me stunned. I was wrong when I thought that I would also laugh if he shared it with me. It made me blush and triggered my heart to beat faster.
"Sige na, una na ko-" I cut him off from speaking.
"Breakfast tayo dito?" I immediately looked away when I saw how his lips formed into a smile.
"Thought you just woke up and haven't showered yet?" He said with an amused smile.
Oh, right! I just told him that so he thought I rejected his offer and now I'm asking him to have breakfast with me!
"Well, I'm about to prepare breakfast na rin naman." I shrugged.
"Okay, then." He also shrugged before chuckling.
He really is a smiley person, I admire him for that.
"Come in." I stepped away to let him in. He closed the gate when he went inside. He suddenly looked hesitant and awkward, I'm not sure why.
Sinundan niya lang ako nang pumasok ako sa bahay. Ibinaba ko si Callia kaya agad siyang pumunta sa likod ng paanan ni Dylan habang naglalambing. Callia still stalked him from behind even until we went inside the kitchen. She suddenly forgot that her mom is here, and that's me!
"What would you like for breakfast?" I asked him as I searched for something to cook inside the fridge.
"Can I cook here?" I turned to him with furrowed brows and parted lips because of what he said.
"H-Hey, you're the guest." I pointed out.
"I'm your suitor." He chuckled like what he said made sense with mine. Even so, my heart still jumped crazily.
"And?"
"I want to prepare breakfast for you." He said while roaming his eyes around the kitchen.
Ganun ba kapag manliligaw?
"I can prepare breakfast for myself." I closed the fridge and sarcastically rolled my eyes at him. He chuckled at what I said.
"Yeah right?" He pointed at my glass door cabinet. When I turned to it, I saw my box of cereals, loaf breads, oatmeal and some of my usual diet meals. I looked away and massaged the bridge of my nose.
"So, can I cook here? It won’t take long, don’t worry." He tilted his head a little to the right and playfully smiled.
"O-Okay." I even stuttered, what the hell!
He happily went to the fridge to search for something to cook. I just let him do that since I allowed him to do so. I just sat on the high chair in front of the countertop to watch him. I allowed him because I am also curious of what he looks like when he's cooking, he seemed so passionate about it.
"What would you like to have for breakfast, ma'am?" He turned his head around to look at me.
"You decide, chef." I nodded at him with a small smile.
"Permission to use the kitchen, Ma'am?" He playfully asked as he roamed his eyes on my place.
"Permission granted, feel free." I answered as I leaned my elbows on the countertop.
He turned to the fridge again before raising his hand with an 'okay' sign. I felt something on my feet so I looked down to see it, it was Callia. I carried her and placed her on the countertop. The two of us watched Dylan as he prepared breakfast. When he glanced at me, he smiled because he saw Callia watching him, too. He went to Callia and gently massaged her head while wiggling playfully. Napaka-cute!
"I'll prepare breakfast for you, too." He said as he caressed her face.
He played with Callia a little more before going back to what he's doing. He's now in front of the stove. I had the opportunity to take a picture of him while he was still not looking so I did so. I got my phone from my pocket and took a few shots of him while cooking. He glanced at me with curious eyes, gladly, I put down my phone before he even looked.
I can't clearly see everything he's doing. Ang alam ko lang ay may niluluto siya habang nagto-toast naman siya ng tinapay sa toaster ko.
"Coffee, tea, or milk?" He was playfully smiling when he turned to me. Natawa naman ako nang konti, akala ko 'coffee, tea, or me?' ang itatanong niya.
Na-ready ko pa man din sagot ko 'dun.
"Milk." He just nodded when I answered before focusing again.
I barely drink coffee. Kapag inaantok lang ako pero hindi pa ako dapat matulog, saka lang ako nagkakape. Pero sa umaga, I always choose milk.
Ilang minuto pa ang lumipas na pinapanood lang namin siya ni Callia bago niya inilapag ang dalawang plato ng niluto niya at dalawang mugs. I immediately put Callia down when she was about to come near the food. Tinahulan niya ako nang binaba ko siya kaya napatingin si Dylan sa amin. Nang lumapit siya at nakita si Callia sa sahig, bumaba siya para kausapin ito.
"The food is for your mom, I have one for you." He said as he massaged her head. She barked again which made Dylan smile.
He went back to preparing after that. A few more minutes passed before he placed Callia's plate of dog food and milk in front of her. He patted on her head first before sitting on the high chair in front of me. He gently pushed one plate until it reached my side, next is one mug with nonfat milk. Kape pala 'yung isa, at 'yun ang sa kanya. Nang tingnan ko 'yung plato, I was amused.
"That was the fastest I can make so I wouldn't make you wait for so long." He said while getting some utensils. He gave me some so I placed it on the plate.
Natakam na kaagad ako makita ko pa lang 'yung ginawa niya. Mayroong tatlong tinapay sa plato ko na may tuna, repolyo at sibuyas sa ibabaw ng bawat isa. Parang tuloy isa sa mga menu list sa isang fancy restaurant.
"Let's eat?" He gestured to my food.
"Bago pa lumamig 'yung pagkain?" I chuckled as I mocked his words. He sarcastically rolled his eyes at me before slicing the bread using a knife.
Nagsimula na rin akong kumain dahil 'don. When I noticed him busy with his food, I grabbed the opportunity to take a photo of him. Dalawa lang para hindi niya mapansin. Tinago ko na rin 'yung phone ko para hindi siya magtaka.
I somehow felt like a teenager stalking her crush!
"Did you like it?" He asked in the middle of our breakfast, sipping on his coffee first before eating again.
"Yup, chef." I nodded like a kid.
"Do you usually eat those for breakfast?" He moved his head a little to where my glass door cabinet is.
"Yep." I answered, popping the 'p'. He just nodded before going back to eating.
We finished breakfast talking about some random stuff. He insisted on washing the dishes but I refused. Kinailangan ko pang magsungit bago siya tumigil.
"Ikaw na nagluto eh, ako na ang maghuhugas. Maupo ka na lang diyan." I warned him when he was already seated in the high chair I was seated in earlier. He nodded like a behaved kid.
Hinugasan ko na 'yung mga pinagkainan namin at iniligpit na lahat ng kailangan. Nilinis ko rin yung lababo at 'yung paligid nito para hindi marumi tingnan, that's what I hate the most.
"Thank you for the breakfast." I gave him a small smile.
Nasa labas na kami ng gate dahil papasok pa raw siya sa trabaho kaya hinatid ko na siya.
"Very much welcome, and thank you for allowing me to cook breakfast for you, too." He returned the same smile at me.
"Ingat ka." I waved at him, he kinda looked hesitant to leave.
"I will, you too, miss." He waved his hand a little before walking away.
I waited for a few minutes before I saw his car leaving. He stopped it for a while and lowered his car window.
"Stay safe." He smiled before playfully saluting. He maneuvered the car after that so I went inside of my house.
Callia immediately went to me to play with my legs. She looks happy, is it because of Dylan? I sarcastically massaged my temple when I thought of it. I was playing with Callia in the living room when my phone rang. When I checked on it, Ms. Lozada was the one calling. I immediately answered.
"Good morning, Ms. Lozada." I greeted.
[And so to you, Ms. Kaye.]
"Napatawag po kayo?"
[Are you free on the 24th? Valerie just called saying she can't make it because she had to run on some errands. Can you cover her up? It's a trip to Laguna, you will be going with Princess.]
24th? Oh my, it's Deila's debut celebration!
"I'm sorry Ma'am but I already have my word to someone that I will attend her party. Sa 24 din po kasi 'yon, I don't think I can cover up for Valerie on this." I tried my best not to sound pleading.
[Oh, is that so? Okay, thank you Ms. Kaye. I'll hang up now.]
"O-Okay, Ms. Lozada. I'm sorry again-" I was cut off when she hung up the call.
I somehow felt guilty, kailangan pa tuloy niya maghanap ulit ng makakapalit ni Valerie dahil hindi ako pwede.
I kept myself busy with scrolling through my Instagram when my doorbell rang. I went out to check on it but when I opened the gate, there was no one. I looked outside to see if there was anyone there but no one was. Instead, a deep rose-colored envelope was half-way inside my mailbox. I got it and tried to look outside one last time before I went inside.
I sat on my couch before staring at the envelope. It must be a special type of paper since it looks shiny and glittery even though it has no glitters. I turned it around and saw a small sticky note attached to it.
'I forgot to give you this, miss.
Good thing Deila reminded me because
she really wants you to be there.
See you at the party!
-Dylan (your suitor)'
I stifled a smile when I read the latter part where his name was written. Why does he have to say that? I playfully covered my mouth when a sweet smile escaped from it, I couldn't help but smile!
When I opened the envelope, I got a light rose-colored square booklet with a picture of Deila on its front page. I scanned through the pages where her sets of 18s are listed. It also has a direct map of where the party venue will be held, D'La Vegas Hotels Dasmariñas Events Hall.
I typed a message to Dylan to let him know that I have received the package. I was still smiling sweetly as I messaged him.
To: Dylan
Received the package already, thanks!
I was a little surprised that he replied in an instant. Not that busy, huh?
From: Dylan
Package from whom?
I furrowed my brows as I typed a reply.
To: Dylan
From you, it's Deila's invitation!
Have you forgotten?
From: Dylan
Maybe you got the wrong package, I don't remember putting 'you' on my signature there.
Now, I'm confused!
To: Dylan
But it says here '-Dylan'!?
From: Dylan
Dylan? Sinong Dylan 'yan?
I let out a heavy sigh and dramatically massaged my head when I realized what he wanted me to say. I can't help but smile thinking that he can still play and flirt while working.
To: Dylan
Dylan, my suitor ( > , < )
It took him a few more minutes before he replied. I chuckled when I read his message.
From: Dylan
Ahhhh, mabuti naman na-receive
mo na. See you at the party!