Glimpses of Yesterday (Isla Contejo #2)

Chapter 19

NAGISING ako nang maaga kinabukasan. Nagluto agad ako ng almusal habang natutulog pa si Arsen. Kagabi, hindi na kami nag-usap pa. Hindi siya sumabay sa akin sa dinner. Noong matapos akong kumain at matutulog na ako, pagpasok ko sa kuwarto ay 'tsaka pa lamang siya lumabas ng kuwarto.

Hindi ko alam kung anong oras siyang natulog, pero nagawa niya pa naman akong tabihan sa kama dahil pagkagising ko kanina ay nakayakap siya sa akin. Dahan-dahan ko na lang inalis ang braso niya sa tiyan ko para makabangon na ako.

With the way he acted last night and how he avoided to join me for dinner, I already thought that he might not want to sleep beside me. Baka sa galit niya sa akin ay sa couch na lang siya sa living room matulog. But I was wrong, though, since I still found him sleeping soundly beside me when I woke up.

Malapit ko nang matapos ang fried rice na niluluto ko nang marinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto ng aming kuwarto. Arsen stepped out and immediately roamed his eyes around the unit until it landed on me who was in the kitchen. His expression relaxed the moment he saw me.

Marahan kong iniwas ang tingin ko sa kaniya at ibinalik na lamang sa pagluluto.

We were silent while eating. In our almost five-year relationship, this is the most awkward and silent breakfast we've ever had. The clicking of our utensils was almost deafening since it were the only ones creating a sound between us.

Para rin biglang ang hirap lumunok. Tila ingat na ingat ang bawat pagnguya namin, ultimo pagtitipon ng fried rice at ulam sa spoon ay parang ang bigat gawin.

Isang malalim na buntonghininga ang pinakawalan ko bago ako sumubo ng pagkain. I felt him shifting his gaze towards me, so I looked at him, too. He cleared his throat before averting his gaze. Sumimsim siya sa baso ng tubig niya at tinitigan iyon pagkatapos.

I, on the other hand, still remained silent. I slowly collected a spoonful of fried rice until I stopped when I heard him speak.

"Where do you wanna eat lunch later?"

Naiangat ko ang tingin ko sa kaniya at dalawang beses na kumurap.

"What?"

Tumaas ang kilay niya. "Saan tayo kakain mamaya?" ulit pa niya.

Pinigilan kong huwag ikunot ang noo dahil baka mag-away na naman kami -- umagang-umaga. But seriously, after long hours of silent treatment, that was what he was going to ask? Iyon lang? I was even expecting that he would somehow apologize for his behaviour last night.

Pero sa nakikita ko ngayon, mukhang wala naman siyang balak mag-sorry.

I shrugged. "Cafeteria? Like the usual."

He sighed heavily and looked down on his glass of water again.

"Let's eat somewhere else. At a fancy restaurant or something."

My eyes narrowed at him -- trying to figure out what he was thinking. He glanced at me again and raised an eyebrow.

"You're asking me on a date?" tanong ko nang may mapagtanto.

Ganito kasi siya kapag magyayaya ng date. Hindi niya direktahang sinasabi na gusto niyang mag-date kami. Ang dami niya pang pakulo bago aminin na gusto niya lang namang makipag-date sa akin.

He shrugged. "If you just want."

Nagtagal pa ang naniningkit kong mga mata sa kaniya hanggang magbaba na lamang ako ng tingin sa aking plato.

"I'll check the internet, so I can look for a near resto na malapit sa office," sabi ko na lang.

"Alright."