At Arm's Length (so close, yet so far)

Kabanata 1

Kabanata 1.

Francheska Leigh Ortega

"Good morning, Nikolai!"

Binuksan ko yung bintana ng kaniyang kwarto at tinanggal ang kumot na nakabalot sa kaniya. I gently tap his shoulders para gisingin siya.

"Bumangon ka na dyan. May klase ka today diba?" tanong ko sa kaniya.

"Mmm." he murmured. Minulat niya ang kaniyang mga mata at ngumiti nang makita ako. "Hi, Ches." he greeted me.

Tumalon ang puso ko nang makita ko ang kaniyang mga ngiti. His smile has always been wonderful. It never failed to make my heart skip a beat.

Tumalikod ako mula sa kaniya dahil baka mahalata niyang namumula na naman ang aking mga mukha. He'll probably tease me again if that happens.

"May dala akong pagkain, mag-almusal ka na at maligo." utos ko sa kaniya.

"C'mon, wala ba akong hug dyan?" mapang-asar na tanong niya. Mas lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. I threw a pillow at his face and he just laughed at me. I knew it, nang-aasar na naman siya.

"Tigilan mo ko, ang aga-aga." I told him habang pinupulot ang mga nagkalat na damit sa sahig ng kaniyang kwarto.

"Kaya nga ang aga-aga but you're so grumpy." he pouted. I felt something pinched my heart. He's so cute that I almost gave in pero hindi, kailangan na niyang pumasok. Alam kong ginagawa niya lang naman 'yon kasi ayaw niyang pumasok sa school but he can't. Ilang beses na ba siyang nakamiss ng klase, konti nalang at madrodrop na siya.

"Hindi na yan gagana sa akin." nilagay ko sa laundry basket niya yung mga labahan niyang damit. "Get up now."

I heard him clicked his tongue. He's acting like a brat again. Ganyan siya pag hindi napapagbigyan ang gusto niya.

"Ayokong pumasok sa school. I can't. I don't have the strength." he said and I knew exactly why he doesn't have the strength to go to school. Nakaramdam ako ng kaunting kirot sa aking puso. Funny, I thought sanay na ako. For almost 3 years na magkasama kaming dalawa, I really thought that I'm already used to it. Hindi pa rin pala.

Huminga lang ako nang malalim at saka siya nilapitan. Hinawakan ko siya sa kaniyang magkabilang braso and dragged him out of his bed. I used all of my strength para lang maitayo siya mula sa kaniyang pagkakaupo.

"Maligo ka na at kumain ka na don." tinulak ko siya palabas ng kaniyang kwarto. Hindi naman siya nagpumiglas, unlike any other days. Minsan kasi ay talagang gagawin niya ang lahat wag lang pumasok sa school. He's suprisingly cooperative today.

"How about you?" he asked before he sat down on the chair in his dining table. "Hindi ka ba muna kakain?"

Umiling ako and then I smiled at him, "No. Kumain na ako, besides anong oras na." I looked at the wall clock besides his ex-girlfriend's portrait. "Papunta na rin yung mga kaibigan mo. I don't want to dampen the mood by seeing me early in the morning. You know that I don't get along with them." I told him while washing the dishes na ginamit niya kagabi.

"Bakit nga ba? Why don't you get along with them, Ches? I'll be happy if you do." he said.

Saglit akong napatigil sa paghuhugas ng pinggan. I wanted to sarcastically laugh but I didn't want him to think that I was mocking him. In the end, I was still the one who gave in.

"Sure, I'll try harder." I said.

"Thank you, Ches! The best ka talaga." he said and I knew he has a smile plastered on his face.