eight

Aliyah turned around and saw Adam standing at their doorstep "What are you doing here?" she blurted out

Dali-daling tinakpan ni Mrs. Argania ang bibig ni Aliyah and move forward "I knew it you wouldn't break your promise," she said smilingly, peeking at his back "Where is Elyse?"

Adam looked at Aliyah who's still looking at him furiously, he shrugged looking back to her mother "She's too tired of studying, so I just send Aliyah here by myself. Hope you don't mind"

Mrs. Argania holds his hand "Of course I don't mind. Mabuti pa nga yon"

Confused with what Mrs. Argania said Adam look at Aliyah asking for help, pero baliktad sa inaasahan niya Aliyah just gave him a shrug "Gutom na ako, una na ako mom ha" leaving him with her mother.

"What did you do in the car? What did you converse about? Is my daughter good?" sunod-sunod na tanong ni Mrs. Argania

Adam was startled by the continuous questions he got from Aliyah's mom he gave her a simple answer "I need to ask your daughter first if I could tell you about what happened earlier. It's too confidential"

Mrs. Argania smiled and eyes get wider by his answer "Oh my gosh is it too- oh my!" she excitedly squealed "Aliyah!" calling her daughter, she runs toward the dining room leaving Adam their standing

Hearing her mom's call, Aliyah's heartbeat gets faster "Why mom?" she innocently asks her mother while eyeing Adam who follows her mom in the dining room, mouthing 'what did you tell her?'

Paying back what she did to him a while ago, Adam shrugged as he walks behind her pulling a chair and sits on it.

"Is there something that you need to say to me?" Mrs. Argania puts her hands on her waist eyeing her innocent daughter

"Ah mom?" she sheepishly smiles as she turned around to the unbothered man quietly sitting behind her, "I think he is just bullshitting" accusing Adam who's just looking at them indifferently

Raising both his arms "I didn't say anything but the truth. I'm an honest person with an honest mouth"

Pasimpleng sinipa ni Aliyah ang binti ni Adam, but he still maintain the sly smile on his face, turning her head around to look at her mother "Don't believe him" pointing at Adam "He is just joking right?" glaring at Adam she mouthed 'Umoo ka'

Before Adam could comply with her threat, Mr. Argania entered the scene "What is this commotion about?"

Mrs. Argania turned to her husband "Oh my! Here you are, your precious daughter di- "before she could finish her sentence Aliyah holds her mother's mouth "Ah ma. Ang ganda ng kulay ng lipstick nyo" Puri niya sa dark purple lipstick ng kanyang ina, the lipstick she has sworn that she won't praise in her entire life "Can you buy me one with that exact color and brand?" she added

Distracted by the praises she got "Oh course my precious daughter! I knew you have great taste!"

Pulling her mother's chair, she let her mother sit "Of course ma! Mana ako sayo eh!" she gave her a wide smile

Adam can't control his laughter and let out a chuckle, Aliyah look at him with her gawk golden eyes, he cleared his throat "Sorry" he said in a low voice

Mr. Argania took his seat as he looks at Adam "Good to see you here. My future partner"

Mrs. Agania eyes widen "Partner?" she furiously asks and looks back and forth at her husband and Adam

Mr. Agania laughs as Adam looks at Aliyah's mom "We will have a collaboration in one project" paliwanag nito.

"Ay kala ko inaagaw mo sa akin ang asawa ko eh, kung masyado kang nasisisyahan sa pamilya namin, you could try other method on joining our little family" Mrs. Argania laugh as she looks at her daughter

"Ano na naman?" tanong ni Aliyah when she realizes that all the people in the dining table were looking at her, feeling awkward with their stares she laughed "Oo na makikinig na ako sa boring conversations niyo"

Aliyah tried to listen to their conversations about the company and stocks while eating the dinner, but she couldn't help but be distracted by the thoughts in her head. She felt the pain in her legs as Adam kick her slightly, she looks and glares at him, but he just pointed her plate which has nothing on it.

"I guess you love eating air?" he asks in a low voice enough for the two to hear "Would you like more?"

Aliyah kicks his leg once again, seeing Adam change expression makes her in a good mood. Smiling at her parents "Mom I'm full I'll head upstairs I still need to review for the finals" she stood up before she left the table Aliyah looked at Adam who is now busy eating "Goodbye Mr. Diaz. Hope that you have a good meal" she bowed and walks away smiling from ear to ear.

At the front door Mrs. Argania was bidding her goodbyes to Adam, "Hope I can dine with you again as a part of our family" she sheepishly said as she hugs him.

Adam chuckled "It's up to your daughter Mrs. Argania" giving her a meaningful smile "I need to go now, thank you for the dinner. The dishes you cooked deserve to be in the next cuisine" he praised

"Oh! You really know how to win the hearts of a woman" she gave him a look "Why couldn't you get my daughter's? Siguro di talaga babae ang anak ko" she sighed, as she looked upstairs where her daughter's room at, unexpectedly Aliyah appeared running down the stairs, "Speaking of the devil" she mumbled, "Oh gusto mo ba ihatid si Vincent?" Mrs. Agrania asked her breathless daughter

Breathing heavily Aliyah pointed Adam "I'm going with him"

Adam was startled on what he heard he looked at the woman who was busy catching her breath "Why?"

"Oo nga bakit Aliyah? Gabing-gabi na ha, kung ano man nasa isip mo bawal pa. Your father will turn our house upside-down. Go to your room" Mrs. Argania ordered, 'Akala ko ba pinalaki kong dalagang Pilipina 'tong anak ko?' she asked herself

"Mom I need to go with him" she desperately said as she looks at Adam, her eyes are getting blurry because of the tears starting to form in her eyes. She stopped as she racks her brain to search for an excuse "Elyse need me" she said to her mom as she holds her hands "Mom please, promise babalik agad ako bukas. Kailangan ko lang ipaliwanag kay Elyse yung topic face to face"

Mrs. Argania was still in the middle whether she would let her daughter spend the night on the other house, "Are you sure? Aliyah? You are telling the truth?"

Seeing the desperate face of Aliyah asking for his help, Adam gets his phone and dial's her sister number "Do you really need help? Hindi mo talaga mag-isa? Not even when I teach you? Do you really need Aliyah? Are you that dumb?" he questioned her continuously

Elyse who's already in the middle of her sleep because she already gave up studying, answers her phone half-awake, "What the heck are you talking about?" but her brother already hanged up "What the hell is that Adam Vincent Diaz!" she frustratingly said as she searches for curses words and phrases then send it all to her brother. With her anger hindi na siya inaantok, frustrated standing on her bed "Sign na ba ito na mag-aaral na ako?" she mumbled

Adam look at Mrs. Argania and gave her an apologizing smile "Sorry Mrs. Argania but my sister really needs Aliyah she's currently having a mental breakdown. So, can I borrow your daughter for my brat sister?"

Mrs. Argania look at her daughter reluctantly "But your dad"

"Mom please" holding her mother's hand she pleaded as her tears start to fall

"I'll be the one who's responsible for her, I'll explain to Mr. Argania" Adam bravely proclaim

Mrs. Argania sighed, "Okay I'll cover it up" she looked at Adam "But Vincent make sure to take good care of my daughter, I'll hand her to you," she said and gave Aliyah's hand to him

"Yes, as always" he responded

Aliyah hugs her mom "Thank you mom I'll be a great daughter in the future promise" she said at humiwalay na sa pagkakayakap. Grabbing Adam's hand "Tara na" and drag him outside.

Seeing her daughter drag someone's son out of their house makes Mrs. Argania shook her head as she walks towards their bedroom.

"In our hospital" Aliyah commanded with her trembling voice when she got inside of the car

Starting the car, Adam held the hands of Aliyah because she was pinching it hard "We'll be there in a minute" he told her and let go of her hands placing it softly in her lap, and start to drive faster.

Aliyah's minds start to overthink, she starts on calming herself by breathing slowly and closing her eyes. The moment Adam announces that they were already in front of the hospital she immediately gets out of the car without bothering to thank Adam. Aliyah run inside the hospital grabbing the first nurse her eyes landed on "Where are the people from the car accident?"

The nurse was startled "I don't know I was not from the emergency department"

"Why don't you know!?" she questioned. Itinaboy niya ito at hinila ang isang doctor na nagmamadali "Nasaaan ang mga pasyente sa car accident?"

The doctor was in a hurry "Don't you know the information desk? Move"

With the attitude of the doctor she furiously grabs his ID "I'll get you fired"

"Are you out of your mind?" the doctor asks

Adam immediately gets the ID in the hands of Aliyah "I know where he is" sabi nito at inalalayan si Aliyah papunta sa ward, pero bago pa sila makalayo Adam threw the doctor's ID at the back without looking at the doctor.

Seeing Gio lying on the bed wounded, Aliyah can't control her tears as she moves closer to him, "Gio" she said between her sobs. Holding his hand, she starts to regret the decision she did a while ago, while she was happily eating her dinner, Gio almost encountered death. Looking at his legs that were wrapped with a bandage she knew this will have a great effect on Gio in the next few days.

Adam just sat on the bench near Gio's ward, watching Aliyah from afar how she battled with her sleepiness. After watching her for a few minutes, he stood up and walk to the exit.