The Game Changer (Completed)

Chapter 3

"Lookie, lookie," sabi at pasok ni Luke sa kwarto ko. Ang cute ng pagkakasabi nya ng lookie lookie. Ang cute nya.

Nakatingin sya sa dalawang bowls na nakapatong sa tray na hawak-hawak nya. Hinihipan nya yun kaya nakanguso sya. Napasinghap ako sa view. 'Di ko napigilang 'di ngumiti.

"Here you go, mac and cheese," sabi nya. "Ito lang kasi yung nakita ko sa kitchen mo na alam kong gawin."

"Wow you put greens and bacon," sabi ko sa kanyang nakangiti nang napansin kong may kale at bacon bits yung bowls namin.

"Yes, favourite kong ganyan yan," sabi nya. "Eat, charge up. Would you like us to watch TV?" tanong nya.

Tumango ako. Binuksan nya ang TV. Nasa NatGeo yung channel at LockedUp Abroad ang palabas.

"This is my favourite show on NatGeo!" he exclaimed. "Pero it's fine if you want to watch something else," sabay baling nya sa'kin.

"No, I watch this too," I admitted. We have something in common!

"Really? That's great! Akala ko nga ako lang ang nanonood nito. Sino ba naman kasi ang magkakainteres na panoorin ang mga foreigners sa ibang bansa na nakukulong 'diba? Pero ang galing kasi real experience talaga," sabi nya. Whenever he speaks about the things that he enjoys, his eyes twinkle with passion.

"Yeah, para syang worst nightmare ng lahat and it happened to them," I said.

"Exactly! Exactly what I was going to say!" he said and then nag-ayos sya ng upo sa kama ko to get really comfortable. Sumubo sya.

Nangiti ako. Ang cute nya. Napaka-kumportable namin ngayon.

"So, what's your favourite episode?" tumingin sya sa'kin.

"The American woman who went to Japan and then became a drug mule. She became disciplined in their prison," sabi ko.

"Ah, yeah. Ako, my favourite is yung nakulong sa South America sa parang hindi kulungan e pero bad community. Grabe yun," he said umiling-iling. "What's your worst fear?"

"Hmm? Not being relevant or needed?" honest kong sabi.

"Really?" nag-taas sya ng kilay and became thoughtful.

"Yes," ngiti ko lang sa kanya. "Ikaw?"

"I love spiders kasi I love animals pero namana ko ata kay Daddy yung takot sa spiders. Pero my Ate Cleo? She loves them and she has several actually. Iniinis nya kami ni Daddy lagi when she has the chance," natawa sya sa kinuwento nya.

"Talaga?" reaksyon ko. He talks about his family a lot, nakakainggit sya.

Tumango sya, "Uh-huh," oo nya. "She would put them in my Dad's car and he would freak! Pero okay lang kay Daddy after, pero enjoy na enjoy lang si Ate Cleo at minsan si mommy na makita ang reaksyon ni Daddy." Tiningnan nya ako. Parang may sasabihin sya pero pinigilan nya ang sarili nya.

"My parents? My family?" inunahan ko na sya. Alam kong iyon ang itatanong nya.

"Wow you're really good! Yes, are they here in Manila?" tanong nya.

Umiling ako. "My dad died when I was seven. My mom remarried and went to the US," sabi ko.

"Siblings?"

"I have a stepsister," sabi ko.

Tumango tango sya pero nag-aantay pa rin ng kadugtong.

"I don't know where they are now if that's what you're waiting for," sabi ko.

"Ahh," sabi nya. "How about your favourite movie? Sabi nila you can tell a lot about the person from her fave flick." Iniba nya ang usapan dahil alam nyang uncomfortable na ako. I was happy he didn't press on.