Page 36 of Not My Type, Not Yet.

Agad kaming nagpaalam kay nanay Melda na don muna kami kela Knox. Elise needs to breathe, so do I. That house triggered me so much kaya mas mabuti na lumayo muna don.

Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Knox habang nagmamaneho sya papunta sakanila, nakatulog si Elise sa kandungan ko dahil sa pagod.

"Hmm?"

"Thank you for being there, Knox. You have no idea kong gaano gumaan ang dibdib ko dahil sayo..." I said sincerely and kissed the back of his hand.

"Like I said, karga kita Austine kaya you don't have to worry about anything else pag ako kasama mo," he winked at me kaya napangiti ako.

Agad din naman kaming nakarating sa bahay nila dahil medjo malapit lang naman.

Nauna syang lumabas sa kotse at kinuha ang natutulog na Elise sa kandungan ko.

Lumabas na rin ako dala-dala ang gamit namin.

Para kaming mag-asawa na pinalayas sa boarding house kaya wala kaming ibang magawa kundi ang bumalik sa nanay ni Knox para makitira.

Mahina akong napatawa dahil sa mga pumapasok sa isip ko.

"Bring your things ako na ang bahala kay Elise," saad ni Knox kaya tumango ako.

Sumunod ako kay Knox, I grabbed the hem of his shirt na para bang batang natatakot na mawala sa parke.

"Shy or scared?" he taunted teasingly when he noticed my hand on his shirt.

"Pwedeng both? I mean they don't know me yet tas nakakahiya pa dahil wala man lang akong dala," kinakabahan na saad ko. He chuckled.

"You don't have to worry about them not knowing you," aniya.

I tilted my head in confusion. "Bakit?" I asked.

He just shrugged his shoulders and grinned at me. "You'll know once we get there."

Napailing nalang ako dahil ang dami nyang kaemehan sa buhay.

"KUYA KNOX! KUYA AUSTINE!" A loud voice rang in my ear.

I saw Kaycee running towards us, skipping happily. Habang may matandang babae na nakasunod sakanya. Nagtama ang mata namin kaya ngumiti sya. I smile shyly at mas nagtago sa likod ni Knox. Knox eyed me, nakangiti pa ang hayop.

"Shhh Kaycee, you'll wake Elise up." Saway nito sa kapatid.

Nanlaki ang mata ni Kaycee habang sinisilip si Elise. "Wow she's very very veryyyyy pretty. She looks like Deva Cassel," she exclaimed excitedly in a hush voice.

Elise groan kaya bahagya syang napatakip sakanyang bibig. "Is she awake?" she asked nervously.

"Nah. Elise needs some rest may lagnat pa," saad ni Knox.

"Akin na muna si Elise apo," lumapit ang matandang babae na nakasunod kay Kaycee kanina. Hinaplos nya ang noo ni Elise. "Kawawang bata, sobrang taas ng lagnat."

"Pasensya po sa abala," I said sincerely. Napabaling naman ang tingin nya sakin.

"Kay gwapo naman ng boyfriend mo apo." Puri nya. Agad na nanlaki ang mata ko. I shot Knox a confused look, he just shrugged his shoulders and nodded.

What's that supposed to mean you dumbass!!!

"Pano po?"

She clicked her tongue and hit my shoulder playfully.

"Nanay Janice nalang, alam mo naman tong apo ko, lagi kang bukang bibig malamang makikilala at makikilala talaga kita.

Oh sya, wag kang mahiya apo ha, sinabi na rin sakin ni Knox na pamsamantala muna kayo dito.

Welcome ka sa bahay namin palagi," her smile melted something inside of me. Parehas sila ng ngiti ni Knox.

Kinuha nya si Elise sa bisig ni Knox. She cradled Elise so tenderly na para bang kadugo nya habang nakasunod si Kaycee sakanila. I saw Elise wrapping her hands around Nanay Janice's neck and hugged her kaya napangiti ako.

Knox snaked his arms around my waist. "Want to check our room?" aniya.

I smirked and elbowed him. "Sure." I said.

We spend the night at his house, nagising na rin si Elise medjo bumaba na ang lagnat, hindi ko alam kong anong mahika ang ginawa ni Nanay Janice eh. Basta pagbaba namin kanina galing sa kwarto ni Knox nakita ko ng nakikipaglaro na sya kay Kaycee sa sala sila.

"This one looks like you," Kaycee held out a doll and placed it beside Elise.

"No ate, this one looks like because you're so pretty," she then scooted the doll beside Kaycee.

Kaycee grin widened. "Then we both are princesses then!"

"Yes!!" they exclaimed in unison. Napangiti na lang din ako.

Knox's house isn't big as ours but it sure is warmer than ours. Masarap pakinggan ang hampas ng alon sa di kalayuan, isabay mo pa ang ingay mula sa kusina. I want something like this. I want to build our family full of love and warmth.

I, Knox, Kaycee and Elise.

"Austine apo!" Tawag ni Nanay Janice mula sa kusina agad naman akong pumunta don.

"Bakit po?" tanong ko ng makarating.

"Hali ka at tikman mo to," aniya. Lumapit ako sakanya and I swear biglaang tumunog ang tyan ko ng malanghap ang amoy ng sinigang.

Tutulo ata laway ko nito. Natawa si Nanay Janice sa reaksyon ko. Inabot nya saakin ang kutsarang may lamang sabaw. Agad ko naman yung kinuha at inihipan. The moment the soup entered my mouth, it was heaven.

Literal na nanlaki ang mata ko at nag thumbs up kay Nanay Janice.

"Masarap?" aniya, seeking my approval.

"Sobra pa sa sobra!" I exclaimed. "Penga pa nga po."

She chuckled. "Mamaya na, damihan mo ang kain mo mamaya ha. Lagot ka sakin pag kaunti lang ang kanin mo," she then showed her fist. I laughed.

"Roger," I saluted.

Bumalik na ako sa sala kong saan nakita kong nakaupo si Knox kasama ng dalawa. I almost burst out laughing when I saw him. Naka pigtails ang buhok tas kong anong anik-anik ang nilagay ng dalawa sa ulo nya. I averted my gaze when he glanced at me. Mas lalo akong natatawa dahil sa lipstick, ang pula.

I clear my throat, nilunok ko muna ang tawa ko dahil masama na ang tingin nya sakin.

"Wow, tatlo na ang prinsesa namin ah," I stifle a smile.

"Yes kuya, we made sure that Kuya Knox is as pretty as we are!" Si Elise habang nilalagyan ng hairpin ang buhok ni Knox.

"We forgot his blush! His make up isn't complete without it. Wait, stay still kuya, papantayin ko naman to wag kang Oa." Sapilitang nilagyan ni Kaycee si Knox ng blush on.

"P-pogi naman ng prinsesa ko." Saad ko.

"Shut up baby," Knox pursed his lips and looked away. Natawa nalang ako ng tuloyan dahil sa kalagayan nya.

Nilabas ko ang cellphone ko at kinunan sila ng larawan. Elise and Kaycee smiling widely habang nakasimangot naman si Knox.

At dahil sa pang-aasar ko napikon si Knox at hinabol ako para bumawi. Nakisama ang dalawang bata kaya apat na kaming paikot-ikot sa sala nila. The sala were filled by our laughter and playful banter, pakiramdam ko abot na kabilang bayan ang tawanan namin.

Nanay Janice peeked through the kitchen door and laughed when she saw us. Kahit sa hapag kainan ang ingay namin. Lola Janice volunteer to put Elise and Kaycee to sleep, kaya naiwan kaming dalawa ni Knox dito sa kusina.

I hugged him from behind while he washes the dishes. I kissed his nape and inhaled his scent na ikinatawa nya.

"Ang sarap ng ulam," saad ko.

"Mas masarap ako," banat nya syang tinawanan ko.

"I know baby..." I whispered in his ear. He chuckled and dried the plates.

"I want you to see something," Kumalas ako sakanya when he shifted his body to face me. "Would you run away with me for a while?" he offered his hand. Walang pag alinlangan ko naman yung kinuha.

He smiled and I smiled back. Hinila nya ako palabas papuntang dagat. Napapikit ako when the wind gushed through my face.

"Anong ginagawa natin dito?" Tanong ko habang nililibot ang paningin sa paligid.

The ocean waves crashed through our feet when he ran along the shore as if wanting to swallow us but we remained firm. Malamig ang tubig pero mas ramdam ko ang init na nanggagaling sa kamay ni Knox.

"Basta, magusgustohan mo don." Ngumiti sya. I smiled defeatedly at sinundan na lang sya.

We stopped at the rocky part of the ocean, and he climbed onto it.

I hesitated for a moment, pero agad din naman akong sumunod.

Akala ko maliit na bato lang ang inakyatan namin but when I reached the top halos pwedeng higaan ang bato dahil sa sobrang lawak.

Umupo ako sa tabi ni Knox at sumandal sakanya.

"Anong meron dito?"

"People feared to climbed this stone, fearing na baka masaktan sila," si Knox habang nakatangla sa langit. "Alam mo ba, this is where I made my promise," he slowly glanced at me, the moonlight shimmering in his eyes and the song of the ocean enveloped us in his embrace.

"What promise?"

"To bring you here again someday," malumanay syang ngumiti at dinala ang kamay ko sa labi nya. My chest thumbed daring to leap out of my chest.

There it goes again. He didn't even attempt to hide that yearning glint in his eyes. Nagkatitigan lang kami, until he leaned closer and brushed our lips.

"Medjo madaya ka sa part na yan..." I chuckled when our lips parted.

Mahina syang natawa. He fixed himself and lumayo sakin ng kaunti kaya nagtataka ko syang tinignan.

"Anong ginagawa mo?" I laughed. Nilagay nya ang kanyang hintuturo sa labi ko.

"Shh... may gusto akong gawin." Aniya.

Magsasalita pa sana ako when he extended his hands. "Hi I'm Knox, I'm 8 years old. I want to be your boyfriend someday." Bigla nyang pakilala sa sarili.

Una nagtataka ko syang tinignan but it slowly sinks in. Right, how could I ever forget. This stone, this exact stone is where I spend most of my time just staring at the vast sky. Dito din ako nakikita n Knox. He wanted to do the things he failed to do back then.

Napangiti ako at tinanggap ang kamay nya. "Hi, I'm Austine. I'm 8...and you are already my boyfriend dummy," hinila ko sya papalapit sakin at hinalikan ang kanyang labi. Napangiti sya kaya napangiti din ako.

We stayed in our position, nakasandal pa rin ako sa kanya habang pinagmamasdan namin ang langit at dagat na magkatagpo.

"Thank you for today Knox," I whispered. "Sa totoo lang I hate it when other people see me like this. Alam mo yun ang siga ko tapos iiyak-iyak lang ako ano yun?" mahina akong napatawa. I sigh, reach for his hand and nuzzled my face in it.

Tumingin ako sakanya, "Knox, in the most cringiest way possible. I love you more than I love myself. In your eyes, I see galaxies, and in your touch, I find forever..."

His eyes softened, he cupped my face and kissed my forehead.

"Baby, I want you to prioritize yourself.

Love yourself more than you love me." Cherish your soul more than you cherished mine.

That's the only way we both can shine...

" pinagdikit nya ang noo namin. "In the most poetic way Austine, my body, soul and heart yearns for your warmth. "

Under the twilight, our smiles met—soft, timeless, and wrapped in the colors of dusk as if this moment alone is our testimony of our silent promises. A promise that we both know since then.

Hawak kamay kaming bumalik sa bahay nila, we laughed, banter and we talked about our likes and dislikes. Ang dami ko ding nalaman tungkol sa kanya.

"No you did not?!" Hindi makapaniwalang singhal nya when I told him na kamuntikan na kaming napalo ng walis tingting ni Preston dati.

"Yeah, I remembered how he fumes when Rafael pulled a man and forced to buy their batchoy. Ayun, halos maging dragon si Preston. Buti na lang talaga at nauna kaming tumakbo ni Rayne, may mga pasa sana kami." Kwento ko habang natatawa.

London Boy ba naman si Rafael dati, hirap na hirap mag tagalog ang isang yun pero nakakaintindi naman.

"Feisty," I agreed.

"Talaga, magkalapit lang ang school namin dati kaya lagi kaming magkasama hanggang sa bigla na lang sya nawala pag graduate namin sa grade 12. Akala nga namin nakabuntis eh," natawa sya sa sinabi ko.

"Ikaw ha baka madami kang ex dati," bigla nyang saad, napaubo ako.

"Past is past, ikaw lang naman ang nag-iisang minahal ko ng totoo," mas lalong sumingkit ang kanyang mata.

"But you kissed a lot of girls I bet, wow nakakaselos," nakapout nyang saad. I nudged his side.

"Come on, baby. It's making me uncomfortable kaya," ay hala oa.

"Kasi guilty ka?" nagtatampo nyang saad. Oh god, bat napunta dito ang usapan namin, akala ko ba don lang kami sa kinarate ni Preston si Rafael.

I hugged him and kissed his neck. "Mas gusto kong mag focus sating dalawa Knox. The past didn't matter anymore, what matters is you—us and our future." Ngumiti ako sa kanya.

"Wala na tiklop nanaman," mas lalo akong natawa.

Malapit na kami sa bahay nila when my eyes spotted a luxury car parked just outside their house. Knox's hands stiffen and I saw his jaw clenching the moment his eyes saw the car.

"Who was it?" I asked, still eyeing the car.

"Some people I wished not to see."