Barangay Series #2 : Evan Dos Santiago

Kabanata 4

"Evan, can you hand me the chopping board?"

Kinuha ko ang mga gulay sa ref at hinugasan iyon sa lababo. He was cutting his food on the chopping board so I asked for it.

"Someone is calling you," aniya matapos ilapag ang chopping board sa gilid ko, "ang kabit mo. Tumatawag."

I rolled my eyes on him a took my phone out of my pocket. I heard him goes to the bathroom.

Duh, kabit who? We're not even married. Poging pogi sa sarili, sinungaling naman.

"Hello, Lazarus?"

I put it on speaker and started slicing the vegetables. Buti na lamang, may pera pa ako kahit wala pa akong trabaho. Christmas will come and I don't have any celebration party 'cause I don't have money yet I still don't have work. It's holiday kasi.

"Hara…" ang paos nitong boses na kagigising lamang ang bumungad sa akin. I felt my face blushed because of that and gulped. He sounded hot.

"Yes?" I calmy asked and slowly cuts the vegetables.

Evan came out of the bathroom while looking at his phone. Kinuha niya ang mga lulutuin niya at sinimulang buksan ang kalan. Pasimple kong tinitingnan ang niluluto nito dahil nakatuon ito sa telepono't masunugan pa kami rito.

"My mom is inviting you here… two days and one night daw. For christmas."

Evan immediately turned his gaze to me. Nagsalubong ang tingin namin at saglit nagkatitigan. He was like looking at me boredly and waiting my answer.

"Is your husband there? Tell him our room is separated-"

"You can sleep with her in just one bed, dude," sabat ni Evan. "You can even fuck her. Galingan mo na lang." then he started pouring oil on the pan.

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa kutsilyo at inunspeaker iyon. Mabilis ko itong dimapot ang diniin na lamang sa'king balikat habang nakatagilid ang ulo para makausap ito ng ayos.

"Sorry, yeah, I think sure? Wala naman akong kasama mag-celebrate. My family will surely not gonna invite me like what I've used to," mahina akong tumawa ng mapait.

I heard his sighed, "don't worry. I'm sure about what I've said, you'll sleep at my sister's room so your husband won't be angry-"

"I am single, Lazarus," tumaas bahagya ang boses ko.

Kumuha ako ng mangkok at pinaghalo-halo roon ang mga prutas at gulay kong hiniwa. I'm making vegetables and fruit salad for my lunch.

"Alright," tumawa siya. "Susunduin na lang kita ulit, maliligo at gagayak lang ako."

I drop the call and finished cooking. We ate together but our food isn't same. Kan'ya kan'ya talaga kami ng pagkain, nauubos na nga ang perang laman ng wallet ko na huli ko pang nakuha mula sa huling pasok ko. Allowance ko iyon, ang huling pera raw na makukuha ko sa Lola ko dahil hindi na niya ako aabutan dahil may asawa na ako.

My husband isn't even sharing his food to me because he cost his own money for it. Hindi naman talaga niya ako asawa, hindi ko nga alam kung magka-ano ano kami.

Maybe, roommate? Because we're not even friends.

After eating, I didn't wash his plate. I only washed mine. Hindi kami nagimikan nang makita niya na plato ko lamang ang hinugasan ko.