Saving Harper
Chapter 14 - Asa

-Xavier's POV-

I can watch Harper eat that cheeseburger the whole night. We're here sa burger joint kung saan ko sya inorderan ng lunch nung naging assistant nya ko.

I can still feel her high energy after bringing her sa photo exhibit. She mentioned that it's her first time sa ganon. I wouldn't have believed it pero dahil alam kong workaholic sya, posible nga naman. I wonder what she usually does on weekends?

I watched her narrate her reactions to the photos and what she thought about mine.

Medyo malakas yung appetite nya, lalu na sa cheeseburger. I curiously pointed out that fact and akala ko kababawan lang, like favorite lang talaga nya. I didn't expect it to be something deeper. Waaaay deeper kasi dahil pala sa dad nya. Theirs was a relationship that was once doting between a father and a daughter, but now she doesn't even want to talk about it.

I felt privileged when she opened up about it because I can see some hesitation in her, pero sinabi parin nya. It was like she opened a window for me to glimpse a part of her life through her eyes.

Franco said she hated talking about it so medyo condensed version yung binigay nya sakin. I wanted to know more but I didn't pry anymore. I'll be patient.

I waited for more than a year to get to know her, what's another year? But I know we might not have that time. Will a short time be enough?

"Cheeseburger felt like the home I remembered." The sadness on her eyes was evident even if it only passed for a second.

Well shit. Harper has been dealing with this since college? I can't imagine how she stays sane carrying this.

"Okay dahil dyan, may cheeseburger ka araw-araw." I smiled at her. Pero deep inside nalulungkot ako. I want to share her pain so she doesn't have to carry it all by herself. But all I can do for now was jest to distract her kahit alam kong it will just be of little help.

Well sabi nga nila, baby steps.

Those baby steps were tested the following day.

I made a deal with her over winning the book cover challenge na ginagawa naming mga artists. "Okay Ms. Javier, let's put a wager on that. If I get this cover, you owe me. If not, then I owe you." I smiled.

Hindi naman sa pagmamayabang, but this is too easy. May leverage nako agad kasi nabasa ko na yung manuscript. The junior artists always make a mistake of just reading the summary contained in the editor's creative brief kaya I hold the record of creating the most number of cover art. Syempre except kay Franco na nine years nang nandito.

"What do we owe each other?" She frowns. Natawa ako kasi parang takot na agad sya. Mas curious ako kung anong gusto nya pag nanalo sya.

"So anything?"

Anything nga ba? Of course. "Yup." Knowing I might be selfish on my intentions for this wager. Baby steps daw ampota. Tumalon ka e.

"So, I can ask for a new car?" Okay tangina. I was hoping intangible things yung gusto nya. E paano nga pag yun ang hingin nya? Napasubo ka na Xavier. Tanga.

Ako hindi ko na kailangan isipin kung anong hihingin ko sakanya. A chance.

But reality dawned on me. Hindi ko yun hihingin sa pustahan kasi if I do, walang diperensya yun sa ginagawa namin ngayon. I will not trap her into something na wala syang choice. Pag nagustuhan nya ko, kailangan totoo. Walang pagpapanggap.

I stopped myself from asking her kung anong hihingin nya.

Ano bang inaasahan kong marinig sa kanya na gusto nyang hingin?

Ako.

Saturday morning, nag attend muna ako ng morning classes ko sa master's tapos tinitigan ko yung cabinet ko kung anong pwedeng isuot. I can't believe that I'm exerting so much effort on this. Alam ko magiging maganda sya so I need to look decent enough next to her.

(text) Me: Babe I'm downstairs na sa driveway.

I texted her. I love calling her 'babe'. It was a semblance of the truth we don't really have but I can only dream of.

It was like she moved in slow motion going down the few steps from her condo's lobby. I consciously closed my mouth na parang malalaglag sa sobrang ganda nya. She was wearing a black fitted dress, black heels, her hair was arranged in a simple way na katulad ng make up nya. Simple lang. Na sa totoo lang, hindi nya kailangan mag make-up sa sobrang ganda na nya. She was beyond beautiful.

"Wow." I breathed out my compliment. Yun lang nasabi ko. Kasi parang tumigil mag function yung utak ko sa itsura nya.

"Wow back at you, Mr. Arnaiz." She smiled at me to compliment me.

Walang-wala yung itsura ko sa itsura nya, gusto kong halikan yung lupang nilalakaran nya. Ganon sya kaganda. Aba Xavier, wag ka ng tumitig dyan. I opened the door for my date. Yup, showtime. Girlfriend ko sya ngayon.

Sinubukan kong wag tumingin masyado sa kanya but I abysmally failed. It was nice seeing her this relaxed na sumasabay lang kumanta sa Spotify playlist nya na sinsasabayan ko din sa pagkanta. Sana ganito sya palagi. This side of her was my favorite, so far.

Pag dating namin sa bahay nila, hindi ako makapaniwalang ganito sila kayaman. May valet pa! Tangina. Pero di ko na inisip yung langit ka lupa ako moment na BAKA magkaron kami. I never cared about those things.

I looked on sa bahay, mamaya ko na papansinin yung mga architectural details. My mom would love to see this house. Feeling ko matagal na matagal na tong nasa pamilya nila.

"Wait." I held her arm bago kami umakyat sa bahay nila. "If we're playing boyfriend-girlfriend, umm do you want to convince them on that?" I asked her.

She laughed nervously. Alam naman siguro nya kung ano yung tinatanong ko diba? Ayoko lang na magulat sya sa mga gagawin ko sa kanya sa harap ng pamilya nya. This definitely won't be like nung nasa restaurant kami. Alam naman nya na iba tong sitwasyon ngayon. We need to make this look natural.

Uh huh, Xavier.

"Yeah. I mean yeah. Umm we should. Yeah." Tatlong 'yeah,' so siguro go signal na yon.

"Okay." I breathed. I offered my hand for her to take.

I can't help my amusement at how nervous she was about what will happen. Relax, Harper gusto kong ibulong sakanya. Was she this nervous nung nagdedate sila ni Franco?

Baka hindi. Totoo yun e.

Harper's mom was very different now compared to the night when I first met her. Siguro dahil nandito sya sa sarili nyang bahay. Kaya nung binati ko yung bahay nila, she took a jab at Harper not liking to be here at kung alam pa nya kung saan sya pupunta.

Harper didn't seem to mind. Actually, medyo nageenjoy pa yata syang asarin yung pamilya nya with her sarcastic retorts. It made her more attractive for me. Dito ba sya walang pakielam?

Kung nagulat ako sa harap ng bahay nila, mas nagulat ako sa likod. Parang doble nung bahay nila yung size ng likod na "garden" na parang park na sa laki.

Harper led the way. "Sorry. Debut nya."

Kulang nalang umirap sya. I guess Harper also didn't care kung ganito sila kayaman or kahit hindi. She seems to be mocking everything here as if she found everything unnecessarily extravagant. "Dito ka din ba nag debut?" I asked curiously. Sa laki nito, kahit dito sya ikasal, pwede. Okay, stop imagining yourself sa kasal na yon, Xavier.

"No, I celebrated it in a bar getting wasted with my college friends." She smiled. Aba. I would pay everything I had para makita sya nung mga panahon na yon.

Tinaasan ko sya ng kilay and looked at her teasingly. "Ipakilala mo nga ako sa Harper na yon."

"Get me drunk, lalabas yon." Natawa ako but it was full of curiosity. I wonder if makikita ko yon ever?

She pulled me para ipakilala sa mga pinsan nya. She and Franco were not kidding, lahat doctor, except yung best friend nyang pinsan din nya, si Jem. She's nice and mukhang makakasundo ko sya. "Nilalasing mo ba ko?" Siningkitan ako ng mata ni Harper nung kumuha ako ng champagne para saaming dalawa.

"Sabi mo e. Sinusunod lang kita." I winked at her. Pwede din naman. But I was actually going for being a gentleman na kumuha ng drinks para sa date, nabiro pa ko. But I welcomed it kasi it means na nagrerelax na sya sakin. Ma-test nga.

Naramdaman kong halos mapatalon na sya nung niyakap ko yung right arm ko sa bewang nya and gently pulled her towards me. Kumagat ako sa labi ko to suppress my laugh saka kausap ko din yung pinsan nya e.

Napainom sya ng madami sa champagne nya. Na mabilis din nyang naubos habang nakikipag kwentuhan sya kay Jem. Dahil ba sa ginawa ko? At kumuha ulit sya ng isa nung may dumaan na waiter. Huy Harper relax. Di pa sya kumakain so dapat dahan-dahan lang, kahit di ko alam kung gaano ka taas yung alcohol tolerance nya.

"Wag mo kong tulungan na lasingin ka." I teased again while I whispered it on her ear. I can't control my amusement on how she's reacting sa mga ginagawa ko. Again, di sya sanay. Dapat pala nag suggest ako na mag practice muna kami. I would be pushing my luck if I asked for that.

"Love, you want me to get you another drink?" Tinaasan ko sya ng kilay nung nakita kong ubos na agad yung iniinom nya. Nasa inuman ba kami? Akala nya ata isang shot yang iniinom nya. Kailangan ubusin pag kumuha sya. Then she called me babe sa sinagot nya sakin. Mga 5 seconds akong walang ibang narinig. It just echoed on my mind. She's finally playing along.

Nung sinabayan nya ko sa pagkuha ng pangalawang baso ko ng champagne sa pangatlo nya I whispered to her. "Stressed ka ba?" Napainom nanaman sya. Yun na yung sagot ko but she answered me anyway. "This house makes me feel anxious." Halata naman.

"So kung hindi mo ko kasama ngayon, what are you doing here right now?" Malamang lasing na sya sa champagne.

"Getting drunk." She smiled looking up to me.

But that is kung wala ako. Pero dahil nandito ako, I need to take care of her. I want to take care of her.

"E why are you still doing it now kahit kasama mo ko? Tama na muna. Later tayo mag inuman pag nakakain ka na." I said gently and kissed her hair, inhaling her scent. I wanted to know if I was allowed to do that to her. She bit the insides of her cheek as a reaction. It's a yes.

"Cute." I chuckled.

All of a sudden, inannounce na yung ate nya. Seriously? Bata ba sya or ganito lang talaga pag mayayaman? I looked at Harper and nahuli ko syang pinagpalit yung walang laman nyang baso, sa baso ni Jem.

Ayaw papigil. I looked at her and binalik nya ulit yung baso ng pinsan nya. Buti naman naisip nyang kailangan nya muna talagang kumain.

"Bibigay ko lahat ng vodka na gusto mo mamaya. Kumain ka lang muna please?" I tried. Alam kong walang nakaka control sakanya, pero gusto ko talagang makakain muna sya. She smiled guiltily. "Actually, I'm more of a Jack Daniels girl."

"Wow, whiskey pala ang gusto ng girlfriend ko. Basta pag binuhat kita pauwi di mo ibabato sakin yung sapatos mo, pwede mong inumin lahat ng gusto mo." Biniro ko sya. Pag tapos nyang kumain pwede na syang uminom ng uminom. Nandito naman ako para alagaan sya e. Whatever she needs.

Biniro kami nung pinsan nya na alam ko na yung favorite gawin ni Harper pag naiinis sya-bumabato ng kung ano-ano.

Harper looked horrified na alam ko yun. Popular topic yun dati sa office. Pero wala pa naman syang binabato as in yung natamaan yung tao kasi sabi ni Franco target nya yung pader nya sa office.

"Oo naman. Para pag nag away kami, ready nakong umiwas." I winked at Harper.

"So di pa kayo nag aaway?" Her cousin asked curiously. Teka, abnormal naman kung hindi pa kami nag aaway. Ay wait, technically nagalit na sya sakin.

"Nag away na. Last week lang." I said in amusement and took Harper's free hand to hold. Di ko yata kayang hindi sya hawakan.

"He called me a bitch." Okay sorry na. Tumawa yung pinsan nya and commended me for doing so at buti nalang daw hindi ako nabato ng kahit ano. "Syempre. Mahal na mahal ako nito e." Nilapit ko sya sakin.

Di ko na alam kung kanino ko binebenta na girlfriend ko sya, sa pamilya ni Harper or sakanya mismo.

"Mahal lang yung laptop ko, babe." She answered.

Whoa. Hinila nya yung kamay ko para ilagay sa likod nya and I willingly wound my arm again sa bewang nya. Nabenta ko ba sakanya?

Asa ka naman.

Nagulat nalang ako na nasa harap na namin yung ate nya. Paano ako hindi magugulat sa tingkad ba naman ng suot nya, parang Stabilo highlighter. Di ko sya kailangang makilala to know she's definitely different from Harper. Pinakilala ko yung sarili ko and greeted her happy birthday. But I didn't shake her hand kasi sa totoo lang kumportable na kung nasaan yung kamay ko-around her sister's waist.

Alangan namang ipahawak ko dun sa birthday celebrant yung basong hawak ko para makipag kamay sakanya. "So ikaw ang tinatago saamin ni Harper." Tinaasan nya ko ng kilay in a seductive way. Gusto kong tumawa. This Holly was trying way too hard.

I was actually non-existent sa buhay ni Harper a month ago. I chuckled to myself. "Busy lang kami. Sa isa't-isa." I looked at Harper and kinindatan ko sya.

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Wala nakong narinig sa sinabi ng kapatid nya as I stared at the girl beside me. I'm sure madaming nakukuhang lalake yung kapatid nya, but Harper was the person worth pining for. At kung ngayong gabi ko lang sya magiging girlfriend, I'll make every second count.

Sana lang hindi masyadong touchy at feeling close nitong ate nya. I wanted to shake off her hand na nasa likod ko when we prepared for a group photo pero napaka impolite naman non. I pulled Harper towards me kahit na parang wala ng space sa pagitan namin and smiled at her when she looked at me. Kaya nung nag picture na, we were smiling at each other.

Pag di pa kinilig dun sa nangyari si Harper, bato sya. Joke lang.

Di ko na din natiis, nagrequest nako ng tour sa bahay nila while having dinner kahit na pinaka curious lang naman ako sa kwarto nya. I wanted to get to know the old Harper (technically, younger Harper). Naubo yung pinsan nya when I mentioned na gusto kong makita yung kwarto nya. Asa namang may mangyari don.

Her room was way cooler than mine was nung bata pako. Hers was full of memories lalu na nung high school pa sya and her early days nung college. Until she moved out of here. Which made me curious and asked her about it nung sinamahan ko syang umupo sa kama nya.

I wanted us to be closer pero the pain she had while telling me all of it was also painful for me to witness. I wasn't sure asking her this was a good idea.

"Alam mo kung gaano sila ka-disappointed sakin? They didn't even attend my graduation." Her tears came with her words. It's unbelievable that some parents can do this to their children. Pero nangyayari talaga and sa lahat ng tao, kay Harper pa.

Her vulnerable side was a place not everyone would want to swim in, it was a dark pool of blinding pain which was enough to break anyone. Swimming and fighting through it was the reason why Harper is as strong as she is now. But that doesn't mean na hindi sya nasasaktan. And I can see the hurt in her eyes. A strong girl with eyes full of sadness.

I dried her tears. "I'm sorry Harper. You deserve so much more." I felt as though my words offered less comfort than what I intended to give her. I took her in my arms as if I could shield her from the pain. But what she had was a deep cut. A shield would be useless kasi tapos na. Nasa loob na nya yung sakit, all the way through her heart.

How can you save someone as broken as her? If I try to pick up the pieces of her life, would it be enough?

Alam ko na yung sagot. I wasn't whole enough for her.

I too was once broken but for a different reason, and it left me with hesitations that I buried deep within me. So paano pa sya?

I will still try to be everything she needed me to be. It was my unspoken promise to her. And I'll hold her for as long as she wanted me to.

Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa lahat ng bagay that she revealed to me or gusto lang nya talaga mag enjoy tonight, unti-unti ko syang nakitang malasing lalu na nung nag simula na yung drinking games na pinangunahan ng pinsan nya. Sobrang olats nya don. Sorry pero di sya dapat sumasali sa ganon. And unti-unti ko ulit nakita yung carefree side nya. Eto sya nung college, panigurado.

I found myself enjoying the party with her. Lalu na nung tatlong beses nyang hinila yung buhok ng ate nya habang nasa dancefloor sila nila Hilda. At tawang-tawa ako sa itsura ni Holly na parang naguguluhan kung may humila ba talaga ng buhok nya. Malamang lasing na.

Harper was singing along with songs, laughing with Hilda and their cousins. Lahat yun nilagay ko sa IG story ko hoping na makita nya to remind her that she can be like this again. Well hindi lasing, pero masaya.

Alam kong lasing na sya kasi nakayakap na sya sakin. Hindi din naman ako tatanggi don. Sinasalo ko na yung shots nya at pag nagpupumilit syang uminom, binibigyan ko ng tubig sa shot glass. She couldn't even tell the difference. Di sya tumitigil sa pag yakap sakin. "Ang lakas ng tama sayo ng pinsan ko." Natatawang sabi ni Terrence sakin, isa sa mga pinsan nya na kanina ko pa kausap.

Ngayon kasi nakaupo na si Harper sakin habang nakikipag tawanan kay Jem at yung braso nya halos nakasakal na sakin.

Inuulit ko, di ako tumatanggi sa ginagawa nya. I had to hold her around her waist again para suportahan sya. Yung coat ko kailangan kong hubarin para itakip sa legs nya kasi umaakyat yung damit nya sa sobrang fit. At wala na syang pakielam kung paano sya umupo.

"Trust me, mas malakas tama ko sakanya." ;I didn't lie about that.

He hooted. "Ikaw unang pinakilala nyang boyfriend nya samin and now I know why. Wag mong sasaktan yan pre. Madami kaming kuya nyan."

"Di ko kaya." I said. Can I promise that?

"Baby!" Harper said that out loud at humarap saakin. Matatawa ako pag naalala na nya to lahat bukas.

"Yes babe?" I looked at her pag tapos akong ipashot ni Terrence.

"Ang gwapo gwapo mo no?" I laughed and natawa rin si Terrence dahil narinig nya yung sinabi ni Harper dahil ang lakas.

"Thank you, baby." I fixed her hair and yung pagkakaupo nya sakin para hindi sya malaglag. Nilapit nya yung pisngi nya sa mukha ko. Hala nagpapahalik ba sya sakin? Ok. I gave her a kiss tapos nakipag asaran nanaman sya kela Jem. Nangyari yon ng mga limang beses pa at minsan sya pa yung humahalik sa pisngi ko. Mukhang tanga na yung ngiti sa mukha ko. Umiiling nalang si Terrence sa itsura ko habang nakikipag kwentuhan ako sa kanila.

Si Nick din nahihirapan na kay Hilda kasi ayaw mag papigil sa pag sayaw. Tinawagan din ni Jem yung friend nila ni Harper at sinisigawan lang nila.

"Ang kakalat ng mga girlfriend nyo." Tumawa si Joey yung isa pa nilang pinsan na kainuman namin at tinuro nya kami ni Nick.

"Pahingi nga ng shot dyan. Si Hilda lang yung lasing, paano naman ako." Sabi ni Nick. Mukhang hindi lang si Harper yung naglalabas ng carefree side nya. Nag toast kami ng shots para kay Nick.

Ako hindi pwedeng malasing kasi aalagaan ko si Harper. Paano pa ko magddrive nito kasi nakadami nako ng inom? May Grab naman.

"May sasabihin ako sayo." Harper took my face in both of her hands. "I really, really like you."

Tumigil yung mundo ko. Sana sinasabi nya to hindi lang dahil lasing sya or dahil nagpapanggap kami. Paki video nga kami para may prueba akong nangyari lahat to.

"Weh? Like lang?" Humirit ulit si Terrence. Tumawa ng malakas bigla si Jem na lasing na din.

"Love ko sya. I love you!" Harper beamed at me. Tangina di nako makahinga.

"I love you too." I said to her sincerely.

So kami na ba? Hindi ko alam kung counted to para sa kanya kasi lasing sya. Pero sakin, oo. Pwede ba yun? Girlfriend ko sya pero hindi nya ko boyfriend?

"Ang gwapo gwapo talaga ng boyfriend ko no? Sorry sa inyong lahat, cute lang kayo. Sya gwapo." She smirked at her cousins.

Napahimas ako sa mukha ko habang nagtawanan nanaman silang lahat.

"Sigurado ka bang mas hulog ka dyan?" ;Hirit ulit ni Terrence.

Then Harper did the unthinkable. She kissed me full on my lips. She tasted of alcohol but she tasted sweet as well. I cradled her cheek with my free hand. Akala ko tapos na, but we started making out for a few seconds.

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Sumabog pauli-ulit yung puso ko sa nangyayari. It was like a dream. Surreal would be the correct term for this.

Lord, sana maalala nya lahat to bukas and she meant everything she said.

Pagkatapos, nag kantyawan yung mga pinsan nya. "Who knew na mahilig pala sa PDA si Harper?" Sabi ni Nick.

"Pag nakainom lang." Gulat parin ako sa ginawa nya pero di ko pwedeng ipakita. Kunyari matagal na naming ginagawa to.

"Huy si Jem!" Terrence pointed at Jem na mahuhulog na sa silya. Hinila ni Nick yung braso nya.

"Nasusuka nako." Numumutla sya. Napatayo si Harper at nag hubad ng sapatos na inabot nya sakin. Inalalayan nya si Jem para sumuka dun sa mga puno.

Sumunod si Hilda at inabot nya din yung sapatos nya kay Nick.

"Yan. Kaya ayoko mag girlfriend e. Dakilang taga dala ng mga sapatos at bag." Napailing nanaman si Terrence samin ni Nick.

"Pre role mo na yan forever." Joey told Nick.

"Tsinelas nalang ipapasuot ko sakanya." Nick joked and sinilip ko sila Harper kung ok lang sila.

Naglalakad na sila pabalik. Inabutan ko si Jem ng tubig para mahimasmasan.

Umupo na si Harper sa tabi ko and inakbayan ko sya "Ok ka lang?" I asked. "Oo naman! Inom pa tayo!" Nagpuno nanaman ng tubig si Terrence sa shot glass and inabot kay Harper na ininom ulit nya. Wala na to.

Si Hilda ganon din ginawa ni Terrence nung humingi din ng shot. Nick looked unbelievingly at Hilda dahil di din nya nalalasahan yung iniinom nya.

Kumakanta ulit si Harper and I videoed her again, kumanta pa sya straight to the camera of my phone tapos sumandal sya sakin. I flipped my camera saaming dalawa. I kissed the top of her head and pumikit sya. Okay, it was the sign, kailangan ko na syang iuwi. "Pre iuwi mo na yan, knock out na yan." Terrence said and inalalayan ko si Harper patayo. "Uwi na tayo, love." I said to her. Medyo half-conscious pa naman sya. "Bye, bitches." She waved to her cousins at tumalikod na sa kanila. Natawa ako sakanya.

I half-carried her and her shoes. "No, kaya ko to." She insisted nung nasa hagdan na kami ng terrace nila. I humored her pero naka alalay parin ako in case malaglag sya. This one I had to see.

She took one step and she slowly leaned forward, di sya nalalaglag pero parang plano nyang gumapang pataas. I quickly pulled her up kasi yung damit nanaman nya was hitching up. Wala nakong choice kesa malaglag sya kaya pinasuot ko sakanya yung coat ko and I carried her in my arms kasama ng sapatos nya. Nakatulog na sya ng konti saakin.

Pag lagpas namin sa terrace nila napatigil ako kasi yung tatay nya yung kaharap ko. Di ko alam kung ngingiti ako kasi he looked serious nung nakita nya yung anak nyang buhat-buhat ko. Every dad's almost-worst nightmare. "Wag na kayong umuwi Xavier kasi nakainom ka na din. I think you better take her to her room upstairs. Lasing na ba sila Hilda?" He asked. I can only nod. He left us kasi alam nyang alam ko na kung saan yung kwarto ni Harper.

I carried her easily sa kwarto nya. Nagstruggle lang ako sa doorknob kasi bitbit ko din yung sapatos nya. I set her down sa kama pero tumayo sya para pumunta sa cr st sumuka sa toilet. Hinawakan ko pataas yung buhok nya. Pag tapos, inabot ko sakanya yung twalya nya and I asked her if kaya nyang maligo. Oo daw. I left the door half-opened kasi mamaya malaglag sya tapos masira ko pa yung pinto to get to her.

Binuksan ko yung cabinet to look for clothes for her. I pulled out a large shirt na parang pambahay nya and naghanap ako ng panty nya. I hesitated kasi parang I'm invading something very private pero hahayaan ko pa ba syang mangalikot dito e hindi na nga halos makatayo?

Pag dating ko sa cr, the towel was already wrapped around her. Shit bibihisan ko ba sya? Malamang I said to myself as I saw her attempting to keep her upright position.

Napalunok ako. Okay Xavier, control. Do this as gentlemanly as you can.

Halos nakapikit nako while I helped her to her clothes kaya struggle para saaming dalawa. I helped her brush her teeth and naglagay sya ng kung ano-anong skincare. Mukhang di na sya lasing.

Inalalayan ko sya sa kama and when I turned to leave, kasi nung sinabi ng tatay nyang dito nako matulog, I'm sure he was saying na dun ako matulog sa isa sa mga limang guest rooms nila. Harper grabbed my hand. "Dito ka na please?" She murmured.

"Baby, paano yung tatay mo?" Napakapit ako sa batok ko.

"So? Hindi sya dito ;natutulog. Please?" Sarcastic parin kahit lasing na.

Di ako nakakatanggi sakanya. I took a quick shower and tinabihan ko na sya. Yumakap sya sakin and I kissed the top of her head wishing this was not the end to us. Na maalala nya lahat to bukas.

Pag gising ko napasimangot ako. Wala si Harper sa tabi ko.

Did she run off nung nakita nyang katabi nya ko? I listened if nasa cr sya pero wala at nakabukas yung pinto don. Napansin ko yung comforter na nahila sa kabilang side. Nahulog ba sya?

Sinilip ko sya, nakahiga sya sa carpet nya at nakapikit pero alam kong gising na sya. Nahulog nga. "Hi." I smiled at her nung minulat nya yung mata nya.

"Anong nangyari kagabi?" She asked me. Well shit. Nung tinanong ko sya kung ano yung last nyang naalala, wala pa sa 2/3 ng gabi yon yung sinabi nya.

I had a sinking feeling na lahat ng ginawa nya at sinabi nya sakin, di nya maaalala.

Sinabi ko sa kanya yung mga ibang bagay na ginawa nya pero yung mga mahihiya syang malaman, di ko muna sinabi. Dun palang sa fact na sinabi kong binuhat ko sya nahiya na sya e. "Ummm, did WE do anything stupid last night?" Haay. Hopeless ka Xavier. Wala syang naaalala.

"Harper, if you're asking if we had sex last night, no."

I would never do that to her. Unless... di sya nakainom at yun talaga yung gusto nya. Sige Xavier, umasa ka parin.

Did we do anything stupid last night? I repeated her question to myself.

We? Wala.

Ako? Meron. Kasi umasa ako na totoo lahat yon.