A Week in Bangkok

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

"So... this is where you're staying?" I mumbled, looking around the premises.

It took us just about thirty minutes heading into his place. He lives just around Ratchadaphisek Road.

"It's cheap and small, right?" he winced.

Umiling ako. "No, I think this is cool since you've got a shelter for yourself and I think you're doing well here. It seems like... you've been taking care off of your room so nice and neat."

"Yeah, thanks. That's the only thing I could do, maintain the proper cleanliness."

"I see..." I mumbled, nodding my head. "So, alam mo na ang gagawin, alright?"

He creased his forehead, wondering what I was talking about. "Man khux xari?" (What is it?)

"Magpapahinga ka lang all day and I'll do my best to look after you!" Ang lapad pa ng ngiti ko sa kanya and I hope he won't take this on a bad note.

Napakamot siya sa ulo niya. "Cring?"

"Anong cring?" tanong ko.

He chuckled, realizing I couldn't understand what he was saying. "That means really. I'm sorry, I tried my best not to talk my language to you, but I'm multilingual so I do understand, I'm just not in my best suit right now."

"Kaya nga nandito ako, e," pagpapaalala ko pa sa kanya. "What do you have in your ref ba?"

"Uh..." he mumbled, but I already got my way to check what's inside his mini-fridge. I was expecting that when I open the fridge it would be filled with stocks, but then there's only a water jug and a few local candies and chocolates. "That's what I was gonna say..." Napangiwi na lang din naman ito.

"But I can still make it work, watch me."

"Oh, okay... what are you gonna do?" he asked.

I smiled and didn't even say a word. Tumungo ako sa kitchen ng room niya. It wasn't big, may sink at enough space countertop lang to suffice everything. I mean, this was really enough for him. I told him to just sit and wait for the magic I can do. Nakahanap naman ako ng powder soup sa hilira ng stocks niya. May naisip naman akong luto kung anong gagawin ko for that.

I kept myself busy while I let Heikenz rest on his bed for the meantime habang naghihintay siya sa niluluto ko. There is no chicken, pork, or any meat in his fridge. Wala rin siyang stock na gulay though may nakita akong ilang piraso ng cup noodles sa cabinet, but that's not nutritious at all. Wala siyang makukuhang sustansya ro'n.

After fifteen minutes, I've finished cooking and when I checked on Heikenz, he was resting on his bed, fell asleep waiting for my mushroom soup. Tinakpan ko na lang muna ang kawali saka iinitin na lang siguro mamaya kapag nagising na siya. He really needed some sleep to get his strength back.

Umupo ako sa edge ng kama. I look at him and then I just realized that I'm completely in a stranger's house and here I am, trying to comfort him. Ano nga ba 'tong ideya na pumasok sa isip ko? Bakit kailangan ko siyang bantayan? He's not my responsibility naman and surely, hindi naman niya ako sugar daddy... but then I felt like, I needed to be there for him kahit kakikilala lang naming dalawa.

"Oh!" his body jerked, waking himself shocked.

"Did I wake you up... or a bad dream already?" I questioned.

He breathes out and shook his head, tired of saying a word. At naiintindihan ko naman 'yon. May kinuha ako sa bag ko at inabot ko sa kanya 'yong gamot na dala ko. Lagi akong may dalang Biogesic sa wallet ko, for an emergency lang and I think that suits to this day for him to be better.