Lock 27: Yellow

It's been three weeks since my encounter with Liam, and I guess he is serious about hitting me. I mean, he's been visiting me after his shift, even if it's late at night, like 10 or 11 in the evening. He would either bring chocolate, stuffed toys or flowers, conventional gifts when you want to impress someone. Thankfully, Mom and Dad are away again for a business trip, and Manang Linda is the only one who knows that Liam is courting me. Liam has been updating me. Day and night on what he is up to and even asking if I already had my meals. It's cheesy for me, but he is efforting, and little by little, I appreciate it. I'm new to this kind of treatment and feeling. It's nice to be someone special.

However, Shane remains the only one in my mind and heart, and I can't get rid of my feelings for him. Even if I want to, it's not that easy. I want to reciprocate the love that Liam is giving me, but up to this day, my heart is beating for Shane.

Enough of my love interest, lately I've been baking and cooking again. Yesterday, I tried to make a cinnamon roll for the first time, it was a success, and I felt happy. Before that, I've also baked some cookies, brownies, banana bread, and chiffon cake. It's good, and I think that I am improving and the same time, learning new things every try that I make. However, baking a pie was making me have a hard time perfecting its crust.

My lazy ass still hasn't unpacked the books I bought last time. Perhaps, next week I'll start reading again.

"Ziggy, someone is looking for you at the gate," Manang Linda said.

Wait, who is it? That's not Liam. Manang would tell me if it's him because she probably memorized his face already for all this time that he's been going here. Is it a delivery man? No, I don't think so, because I haven't been shopping online nor expecting a package from someone.

I should probably get going to the gate now. So, I would know who is that be and not randomly have a guess here.

As soon as I opened the gate, a familiar face appeared right in front of me. It's the same delivery man as before. His name is Henry if I am not mistaken. He's been the one delivering packages coming from Mockingbird. It's been months since the last one, it was way back in January, and it's June now. I haven't heard a thing from this Mockingbird for a long time. Why suddenly appear?

"Do you know who is this Mockingbird?" I asked Henry since I had not asked him this matter.

He just shook his head.

As expected, how the hell would he know.

"I haven't seen the person sending you the packages. All I did was to pick it up from their maid at different residences. Yet still named under this codename, and they wouldn't also tell me other details," Henry explained. He is good-looking. I just noticed, mind your own business.

"Oh, I see. What do you have for me then?" I asked what could be there now.

Henry went to the back of his van and took out a canvas.

"What is this for?" I'm confused.

"Based on his instruction, he has a message for you that I will read," he answered.

"I saw you, looking at it for a very long time, so I thought you'd like it on your wall. Do think of me every time you will see it. -Mockingbird"

I was in awe, and I still have not responded to him as I'm still shocked realizing that it was the painting in the mall that I wanted to buy, but it was too pricey.

"I cannot take this one. For all the things that this Mockingbird had given me, it's the only one that I cannot accept. That's way too expensive. Give it back. Please," I beg Henry as that's too much for me.

Henry was confused. He looks hesitant about what I've asked him to do.

"Are you sure, Mr. De Leon?" he asked.

"Yes. Please!" I confirmed and asked, "Is there a problem?"

"He already anticipated this and that reaction of yours. So his second instruction was to throw it away in the garbage if you will not take it," Henry casually explained things.

"It's either you take it, or I dispose of it," he added and started walking towards the trash bin.

Gosh! That would be such a waste to throw away. I want it but-

"Stop!" I shouted out of nowhere.

Henry was startled, and even I was surprised at what I had just done.

"Don't throw it. I'll take it. Gosh, you are making my head hurt," I said.

Then Henry started laughing while giving me the painting.

"Why?" I said to him in an annoyed manner.

"Nothing. That's too cute of you, Mr. De Leon," he went inside the vehicle after saying that and left.

I was inside and was about to close the gate when Ley suddenly appeared in front of our house.

"What's that?" Ley, referring to the canvas.

"Just a painting from someone," I answered.

Ley asked another thing about the canvas but was too tired to explain everything and just ignored him. I went inside the house, and there he followed me.

He was talking, and I'm not giving a damn thing about it, and I just said, "why are you here?"

He replied with, "sleepover," and ran to my room like it was his own.

I went up and saw him on my bed already. He felt at home here.

"Hey!" I called him, "that's my bed," acting as if annoyed.

"Lalalalalalala…," while him acting like he didn't hear a thing.

So, I sat on the edge of the bed to reoccupy it. Ley suddenly got up, and I thought he went to move on the chair, but he only changed his position to where his head is on my lap now.

"Move," I said while removing his head out of my thighs.

"Ah. Ah," Ley said while moving his pointing fingers sideways as he refused to withdraw.

Now, I'm stuck, and I can't move, but I just let him sleep there as my laps begin to numb. He has done a lot for me, and it's nothing to repay his kindness.

Thus, I also laid my body, closed my eyes, and went into slumber.

And as I wake up late in the evening. I saw myself on my own on the bed covered with a blanket, and Ley was sleeping on the sofa. I went to where he fell asleep and covered him with my extra blanket.

I opened my phone, and a lot of messages from Liam were on my notification.

A few of them were:

"Did you have your dinner?"

"Are you already sleeping?"

"Goodnight. Sleep well."

Even though I saw it just now, I still texted him once, answering all his queries. It's too rude not to reply.

"I'm okay. Today was busy, but do not worry, I had my dinner, and I'm about to sleep. Goodnight. Sleep well =)," my message to him ending it with a smiley face.