Faultlessly Captivated [Completed]

Chapter 7

Nagising ako nang tumunog ang Cellphone ko. Linggo ngayon at walang trabaho kaya wala akong planong gumising ng maaga. Kung sino mang walang hiyang tumawag sa'kin, mananagot siya! Ipapabarang ko talaga siya! Nakakainis! Hindi ako nakatulog sa kakaisip sa sinabi ni Sir tapos, ugh!

Eyes close, I groan, and get my phone under my pillow.

“Barang  or be killed?” I hissed after I answer the call.

“I don't know that you are that grumpy in the morning. Though, I don't mind witnessing that every day,” huskily said by him. Peace-Tea! Napabangon ako ng marinig ko ang boses ni Sir sa kabilang linya. 

I hastily looked at the calendar on my phone, baka isang araw akong tulog at Lunes ngayon kaya tinawagan ako dahil hindi ako pumasok, pero kumalma ako ng makitang Linggo pa ngayon.

“G-gayumahin ko kayo, Sir, gusto niyo?” mahinang saad ko. Ang tanga mo, Athena!

“Why the sudden change of mind? I thought voodoo and being killed are the choices... however... you don't have to potion me, I'm already charmed. ”

Natahimik ako sa sinabi niya. My eyes widened when what he said sinks in, in my mind.

He was charmed? By whom? Me?  How? When? What? Where? Why? Ang gulo! 'Di ba ang suplado nito sa'kin?

“Cat got your tongue?” he spoke up when he didn't get any response from me.

Kagabi pa 'to eh. Nanggugulat. I only gave him a fake laugh when I can't find any words to say. Anong nakain nito? Bakit ang daldal? Sana kainin niya lagi!

“Whatever. I'll go there at lunch, let's eat together,” he inform me then ended the call.

I looked at the wall clock, it was only six in the morning.  Bumusangot ako, gustuhin ko mang matulog ulit ay hindi puwede kase nga pupunta si Sir. Tatlong oras lang 'ata tulog ko.

Umalis ako ng kama at dumiretso sa kusina. Ininit ko ang tirang pagkain kagabi kasi sayang naman. I was thought by my parents na hindi magsayang kase hindi lahat ay masuwerte na nakakain ng tatlong beses sa isang araw. I missed them but I'm still enjoying my freedom. I remember Zeus, I hope he didn't tell my parents about it last night.

Pagkatapos kong kumain ay sinimulan ko ng maglinis. I changed the curtains kase hindi ko pa ito napalitan kahit isang beses. I swept and mopped the floor. When I'm content with the form of my tiny living room, I go to the kitchen. Hindi ko na nilinis ang kwarto ko, hindi naman siguro siya papasok doon.

It's already 10 in the morning kaya naisipan ko ng magluto for lunch. I open my little refrigerator and I saw vegetables and fruits, a lot of them. I'm not a vegetarian yet I rarely eat meat. I live in a province my whole life surrounded by greens. Nasanay na rin ako kaya lumaki akong mahilig sa sa gulay at prutas.

I decided to cook a pinakbet. Nagsaing ako ng kanin bago simulan ang pagluluto. I played a song on my phone and paminsan-minsan ay nakikisabay rin sa kanta.

After I finished cooking, I took a quick bath. I felt fresh after it. Nagsuot lang ako ng oversize shirt na ninakaw ko pa sa kapatid ko. It has a printed text on the front “Hades”. I paired it with comfy shorts.

I'm combing my hair when I received a text. It was a text from Sir and I save his phone number last night that's why I know that the text is from him.

From: Baby Abunjing Bunjing
I'm outside.

Nilugay ko lang ang buhok ko dahil basa pa ito. Tiningnan ko ang sarili sa salamin, ang putla ng labi ko kaya nilagyan ko ng liptint. Nang kuntento na ako sa hitsura ko, pinuntahan ko siya sa labas.

I saw his car near the gate. Lumabas siya ng sasakyan nang makita niya ako. I smile at him but as usual, hindi niya ito sinuklian. Binuksan ko ang gate at pinapasok siya.

“Wala bang pagkain sa inyo?” I asked trying to start a conversation.

“Why?” He asked back, confused by my question.

“Kasi nakikikain ka dito sa apartment ko,” sagot ko sa kaniya.

“We have. I just want to eat with you.”

“Bakit?” I have an idea of what he's talking about but I just shrugged off the thought. Impossible.

“I told you I won't hold back anymore,” he said before pulling me inside my apartment.

Wala na, confirmed na. He whips my calm heart and it is wildly beating for him now. Nangangamoy sakit ang kasunod.

He was the one who opened the door to my apartment. Tumigil kami ng makapasok kami. Nilibot niya ang tingin. I saw how his forehead creased. Dahil siguro maliit lang ang apartment ko. Sus, mayaman eh.

“Ah... upo ka muna. Maghahanda lang ako ng pagkain.”

Nilahad ko sa kaniya ang hindi kalakihan kong couch. Umupo naman siya kaya umalis na ako papuntang kitchen.

Hinain ko ang niluto kong pagkain. Naglagay na rin ako ng plato, kutsara, at tinidor. When I'm done, kinuha ko ang tinimplang Nestea sa Ref. Paborito ko kase ito lalo na 'yung grapes flavor. 

When I'm done, binalikan ko siya sa sala. He was still sitting on the couch when I came back and I told him, “Let's eat, Sir?”

“I told you to stop calling me that,” he said a little bit frowning. But he still stands and we head in the kitchen.

“But I'm used to it already,” I reasoned.

“Then get used to calling me by name, County, ” he insisted.

For the second time, he called me by my name. Where did the Ms. Arnais go? Though I like how he says my name. It comes off as beautiful when it's from him. Maybe it's because I like him o malandi lang talaga ako.

Narating na namin ang kusina, kaunti lang naman ang layo nito sa sala.

“Upo na tayo,” sabi ko habang binaliwala ang sinabi niya kanina.

Naninitili siyang nakatayo habang titig sa nakahandang pagkain. I have always seen him composed with a strict aura, but now, para siyang natatae na ewan. Don't tell me he doesn't eat vegetables.

“Etienne,” I got his attention by calling his second name. He gulped when he heard it.

I don't know if it's because of the food that is being served on the table or it's because of me calling his name.

When I didn't hear any response, I asked him, “Hindi ka kumakain ng gulay?”

He looked at the food and then at me. I can clearly see that he is torn from saying yes for him to avoid eating the vegetable and torn to saying no for him to not hurt my feelings. And I think he doesn't want me to feel bad dahil umupo siya at nagsimula ng magsandok.

Malulungkot ako kung hindi niya kakainin ang niluto ko pero maiintindihan ko pa rin naman siya. Iba-iba tayo ng nakasanayan, eh.

Pero inaamin ko na ang saya ko dahil kinain niya parin, kahit halatang napipilitan. But I don't care, I appreciate his action.