Searing Burst of Rage (Fireheart 2)

Chapter 43

It's another sunny weekend. We have plans today to take my little brothers on a date in an amusement park. I was supposed to study for my finals but Alfe insisted. He made me agree by using my brothers for today.

I woke up earlier than Alfe today so I'm trying to surprise him with breakfast in bed. I made him upset last night because I went back home so late. Because I spent so much time last night at the library with my batchmates, he accused me of secretly wanting to sleep over at my batchmate's condo. We had a small fight, so I plan on cooking pasta for breakfast as a peace offering.

It's my first time cooking pasta. I only follow what's in the cookbook so I hope this will turn out well. I'm already boiling the pasta and now I'm preparing the sauce. I'm only familiar with tomato sauce so I decided to do this one. I was slicing garlic when Alfe stepped out of the bedroom. My eyes instantly met his still sleepy ones.

"Good morning," he said. "What are you doing?"

"Cooking," I answered.

Naglakad sya papalapit sa akin kaya ay ibinalik ko ang tingin sa bawang na hinihiwa ko. He should be flattered that I'm cooking breakfast today. Hindi ko talaga masyadong bet ang pasta kaya dapat talagang maflattered na ito ang hinahanda ko ngayon.

"What the heck!" he exclaimed.

"What?" gulat na tanong ko sabay harap sa kanya. "What's wrong?"

"What did you do?" he said pointing at the pasta I am boiling.

"I'm boiling it. Am I doing it wrong?" natataranta kong sabi sabay kuha ng cookbook. "Sabi dito ay papakuluan ko tapos lalagyan ng asin."

"Why did you break it in half?"

I looked down at the pasta I cut in half. "Hindi magkasya kaya pinutol ko. Para sabay at mabilis na maluto."

He sighed, calming himself. "Don't do it again."

"What's wrong?" kunot noo kong tanong. "Aren't you touched I'm making an effort to prepare this for breakfast?"

"Huwag mo nalang ulitin ang putulin yan," aniya. "We don't do that."

Kumunot lalo ang noo ko. "You know what. I don't want to finish this. You cook it!" Tumalikod ako at pumasok na ng kwarto. Nakakainis! Maganda ang gising ko kanina tapos hindi man lang nya naappreciate ang ginawa ko.

Hinablot ko ang libro ko sa ilalim ng lamp sa kwarto atsaka bumalik sa labas. I don't have to check on Alfe to see if he glanced at me when I walked out of the room. Umupo ako sa bean bag at nagsimulang magbasa.

Ilang minuto ang nakalipas ay nalanghap ko ang mabangong amoy ng niluluto ni Alfe. Sinulyapan ko sya galing dito sa kinauupuan ko. Napanguso ako nang makita syang seryoso sa ginagawa. May iba pa kaya syang hinahanda?

I acted as if I wasn't excited about breakfast when he called me. Kanina pa kumakalam ang sikmura ko sa bango ng pagkain. Pasta, pancakes, and some boiled eggs are on the table right now. He also prepared hot choco with marshmallows.

Tahimik lang akong nagsimulang kumain. Si Alfe ay hindi na din nagtangkang magsalita. Wala naman akong kasalan. Sya yung may kasalanan. Naiinis pa din ako sa kanya, kagabi pa sya.

"Don't frown in front of the food," he annotated.

Kahit ba naman pagkunot ng noo ay big deal? Hindi ko sya sinagot at nagpatuloy lang sa pagkain. I was busy eating pancakes when he peeled an egg and then put it on my plate. I wanted to smile but I stopped myself. Naiinis ako sa kanya.

Sabay kaming natapos kumain ni Alfe. Sinabihan nya akong sya na ang maghuhugas para makahanda na ako sa pag-alis namin ngayon. Eh, sya naman yung matagal makapagbihis sa aming dalawa.