"You slept here last night?" I asked him while helping him to put the foods at the back of the car Kuya ordered the maids to prepare.

I should be swimming with my brothers but then they're in the company so I am left alone with Cyrus today. According to Kuya Art, he will accompany me to wherever I want to go.

"We forgot about the time last night because we're busy talking about the new projects that will be build here. My hotel is in the city and it'll took me an hour before going there so they offered a room."

I nodded but still in awe. Will he sleep here later, too?

"So where are we going today?"

"Where do you want?" He asked.

"It should be swimming day today but..." I'm not comfortable being alone with you. "I'm thinking of something different."

"What? Like planning to escape again?" He tilted his head and released a smirk.

I looked away not because I'm pissed with his joke but because his smirk gives me that different feeling. After putting all the foods in the car, we both get inside and he started to drive.

"Don't you have work to do?" I asked.

"I finished everything yesterday. Why? You don't want me around?"

"I'm just asking... it's weekend but my brothers are both busy..."I looked outside the window.

"They will follow once their done-"

"We're done when they follow."

I get my phone and searched for a nice and perfect spot to visit here today. This place has a lot of mountains and I suddenly want to hike but we're not ready. I don't want to swim only either.

"What are your thoughts?"

I suddenly ran out of ideas to do today. Very unusual. Last time I checked, I wanted to roam around here but now, I don't know why I'm suddenly not in the mood. Maybe just because of my brothers.

"I don't know... any will do."

I let him drive. We're not talking. There's no noise inside the car except for his engine.

I didn't notice I fell asleep. When I woke up, Cyrus is nowhere to be find. I glanced outside the window and a busy place welcomed my eyes.

I'm about to go out but I want to waited for Cyrus because I'm very confused about what's happening.

"You awake," he said when he opened the door of his car.

I nodded. "Where are we?"

He smiled a bit. "I wanted to lift up your mood and I know exactly how to it. Welcome to the public market, Victoria."

At first, I didn't get what he was saying. I was in complete shock. So this is where Tony and his father sell their fishes? Does that mean I can see them here? Maybe I can help, too?

"Are we here to see Tony?" I excitedly asked.

He shrugged his shoulders. "It can be... but I brought you here to make you happy. Don't be sad because your brothers are not around. Just like your parents, they're doing this for your future."

I paused for a while before smiling at him. He has a point. Maybe I was blinded by the fact that my brothers are always busy but now I see and understand what they're doing. It's all for the family and it's all for me.

"Feeling better now?" He asked.

"Yup... atleast I got you."

He made me wear plastic boots. It's color violet and easy to walk with.

"What are these for?" I asked playing it with my feet while walking.

"This place is full of fishes and meat. For sure, you won't like the way it smell and they use water to wash them. It will sprinkle all over the place. Your feet will not be dirty if you use that."

"Is it mandatory? Other's don't have these," I pointed at the man cutting meat into slices without boots.

"If you're used with the place you can go here without that. But because you grew up in the States, I bet you don't like dirty and messy places..."

"I am not really that picky..." I whispered.

He led the way and I just follow him wherever he goes. I'm alerted when I hear Tony's familiar voice and laugh. I'm not mistaken because from afar, I can see him holding something I'm not familiar with and he's swaying it repeatedly above the fishes.

"Ate Viri!" He shouted as soon as he saw me.

I lowered my body so I can hug him. He held my hand immediately and we walk closer to their stall.

"What is she doing here, Cyrus? She might not like the place.." I heard Tony's concerned father.

Cyrus tapped his shoulder. "Nothing to worry about, Anthony. She prefers to go here than to swim in the ocean."

"An unusual Ordanza, then..."

I spend my time helping Tony and his father, Anthony to call some customers so they will go to our stall. Most likely, men will go near our store not to buy fishes but to ask for my phone number or name.

"Hi! I'm Matthew! Do you live here or are you a tourist?"

That's the sixth man who went here just to ask the same questions. I even saw the past men who went here standing within the vicinity of our stall.

"I'm not a tourist. I'm a Filipina..."

"Oh! I thought... you're just so beautiful. Do you have a boyfriend?" Matthew asked.

"I don't have..." I answered and continued to call someone who will buy the fishes.

"Do you want me to buy all your fishes?" He suddenly asked.

"All of it? Really?" My eyes widened.

If ever he buys everything, Tony and his father won't have to stay here until later. They can go home and rest.

"In exchange of your phone number," he continued.

I saw Cyrus staring here at my peripheral vision. Will it be okay if I give him my number? It's for Tony, after all.

"Sure!" I happily agreed.

We exchanged digits and just like what he promised, he bought everything. All of it. Nothing's left.

"Sold out!" Tony shouted. "Thank you, Ate Viri!"

Cyrus helped them fix and clean the stall before leaving. I pulled Tony on a corner to hand him the payment for his service of touring me around.

"You don't have to pay me anymore, Ate Viri. What you did today is much more than enough. Thank you, Ate. Now, my father can rest early..."

He did not accept the money but I simply slipped it in his bag. He worked for it so he deserve it.

We bid our goodbyes to them. It's been a tired day but I felt so complete and happy. Helping others has been so fulfilling.

"Can I help them again next time?" I asked while he was driving.

He nodded. "But only when I'm available."

"I memorize the way, though. I can go there alone so you won't have to-"

"Then tell me when do you want so I can cancel all my appointments."

I pouted. He suddenly looked at me so I changed my expression. When will he be available again? I don't want to wait again for so long.

"You're not always available..." I trailed.

He looked at me darkly.

"I mean... thank you for accompanying me every time but I'm serious. If you're not available I can always go there by myself. You don't have to-"

"And thank you for trying to convince me but I'm coming with you. Your brothers assigned you to me. You are assigned to me," he said seriously.

We did not talk anymore. I also slept on our way home because I'm really tired. When he woke me up, we're already in front of our house.

"You should go inside so you can rest..."

I nodded at him. When I went outside his car, he walked me inside.

"Your brothers are not yet here but I already told them that you're home. Sleep now, Victoria."

I stopped for a moment.

"Are you going to sleep here again?" I asked in confusion.

"Why?"

"Well... you said your hotel is still an hour drive from here. It's late and... you should rest, too," I reasoned out.

He looked at me straight. "I don't know. I still have to ask permission from your brothers so I can't just-"

"This is my house, too and they trusted me with you. What's there to worry about?"

He looked on his right and sighed.

"Things don't work that way..."

Although, I understand his point. He's a guy and he respect my brothers. It's a good thing but I really wanted him to rest because I'm the reason why he's tired anyway.

"Okay. Goodnight, then. Take care," I finally said.

He only nodded and waited until I can get inside the room before he left. I immediately went to my bed and I fell fast asleep.

"If you're coming with him to Manila you should atleast search for some universities in advance. Choose your Top 3 and then asked him to come with you," Kuya Warren said the next morning.

I asked permission and I'm quite shocked that he agreed easily.

"Kuya... aren't we disturbing Cyrus too much? He has a lot of things to do, too. He's also a student," Kuya Art said.

Kuya Warren looked at me. Scared of the possibility that he might take back what he said, I immediately think for a way.

"I promise to do things that I can on my own so I won't be that burden to him. I won't disturb him if ever that he needs to do something. Kuya, I promise! I just really wanted to see the schools personally..."

They both agreed at the end.

Everyday, every time I wake up, I will find Cyrus on our living room, sitting and drinking a cup of coffee. He's always ready to accompany me anywhere. I like it, though. I get to see the beautiful places here before I leave for school. I just don't like the fact that I am disturbing him with whatever he needs to do.

"Good morning," he greeted one morning.

I nodded and greeted him, too.

"Where do you want to go today?" The same question I've been hearing for the past days.

I'm wearing a simple black crop top partnered with white high waist jeans.

I glanced at the table near where he sat and I saw piles of papers and his laptop turned on.

He must have a lot of things to do.

"I feel like... I'm not in the mood to go outside today," I said.

His forehead creased, confused of what I said.

"Why? But you're prepared," he said looking at my clothes.

I bit my lower lip, thinking on how can I convince him that I don't really want to go though I'm really excited for today.

"I changed my mind... just, right now. Yeah... like right now."

He scanned my face thoroughly. I know part of him will doubt but if he keeps on insisting that he don't have anything to do which in fact, he has, I can't be selfish now.

"Okay. If that's what you want," he licked his lower lip and glanced at his laptop. "I'll be right here, finishing something. Where will you be?"

I pointed the kitchen. "Probably there."

"Okay."

I went to the kitchen like I said but I just sat on a stool because I don't know what's a good thing to do today.

I logged in into my social media accounts. I saw my friend's posts back in the States. I exhaustingly scrolled down but then I saw a post from a page that I liked when we came here. That page is featuring the beautiful spots here in our province and I just saw a good one that I really want to see!

Maybe I can go without him noticing.