Not So Typical High School Love Story [On-Going]

Chapter 11

Aiden's POV

MY EYES started to open, as I gain back my consciousness. I could feel the warmth of Ryder's embrace, the same way I could feel the comfort like home. This feeling... something I thought was long gone. I stared at Ryder while he was sleeping, and I could tell that he feels safe.

His fingers are still intertwined with mine even— he never let them go last night. A smile then curved on my lips, my heart started pounding that I could hear it my own. Even though I wanted to stay like this forever, I know I have to leave so that Rex and Apollo wouldn't know, it might cause Ryder a trouble if I do stay.

That's why, I let go of his hand, and gently pulled myself away from the haven I felt in bed. When I looked at my phone by the side table, it was already 4 am in the morning... for some reason, even though I slept for only a few hours, my heart, mind, and soul feels so well rested.

I took a deep breath and fixed myself. I put on my shirt and short as I only slept only in my boxers last night. Afterwards, I went down the kitchen, planning to leave the house, only to be greeted by Manang.

I smiled at her, then greeted, "Good morning po."

Sumimsim ito ng kape bago ako tinugon, "Good morning din. Aalis ka na? Hindi ka ba muna mag-aalmusal? P'wede naman kitang ipagluto."

That melted my heart... this kind of warmth, in this house, it's something that I never felt before. For someone who has always been living alone, and taking care of himself, having someone to ask me whether I want something and to have someone actually asking to cook for me... it made my heart happy.

"Ayos lang po ako..." I was going to ask properly, to leave the house when an idea came to my mind.

"Pero, p'wede po kaya sana ako humingi ng pabor?" tanong ko kay manang.

"Ano?" Tila ba biglang tumaray ang naging tugon nito sa akin matapos kong tanungin kung p'wede akong humingi ng pabor sa kaniya.

Nginitian ko ang matanda, tsaka lumapit dito, "P'wede po bang ako na lang po ang magluto para sa almusal niyo? Pati na rin po para kila Ryder?"

Tinaasan ako ng kilay ng matanda. "Sigurado ka ba r'yan sa gusto mo?" paniniguro niya.

Tumango ako. "Opo, habang maaga pa po tsaka hindi pa po sila gising. Huwag niyo na lang po sanang ipaalam kina Rex at Apollo, baka po kasi hindi sila matuwa na pumunta ako rito."

Mahinang natawa ang matanda, "Hay nako, kayong mga bata kayo, ang gagaling niyo ring magtaguan at tumakas sa isa't-isa. Eh ano naman ang gagawin nina Apollo kung malaman nila? Nangyari naman na, at tsaka sigurado naman akong malalaman at malalaman din iyan nung dalawang iyon, lalo na at hindi mahilig maglihim iyang si Ryder kila Rex."

Natawa rin ako sa sinabi nito. Totoo nga naman at hindi maglilihim si Ryder kila Rex. "Sige po, ayos lang naman po, pero mas maganda po sigurong kay Ryder mismo manggaling. Mag-iiwan na lang po ako ng mensahe mamaya kay Ryder, para rin po alam niyang umalis ako."

Sumimsim muli ang matanda sa iniinom nitong kape. "Oh siya sige, tara na't magluto na tayo, tutulungan na kita para mabilis kang matapos. Mamaya mahuli ka pa nila rito, maigi nang kay Ryder muna manggaling."

After that, Manang and I did made our way to make breakfast. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, and... chicken soup. Back when I was young, I could recall that my mother used to cook for me my favorite chicken soup.

Hanggang sa lumaki ako ay iyon pa rin talaga ang paborito kong almusal, kaso nga lang ay simula nang mamuhay ako mag-isa, ay isa ito sa mga bagay na nangulila ako. Kaya naman, inaral kong magluto no'n. Nung una, nakakapagluto ako, pero hindi ito kalasa ng luto ni Mama. Paunti-unti, inaral kong hanapin ang lasa na kagaya ng niluluto ni Mama, hanggang sa matutunan ko ito.

It became one of the things that reminds me of home, and while I was making it... I'm hoping it could remind Ryder the feeling of home.

Habang nagluluto ako, napatanong ako kay manang. "Ano po pala ang pangalan niyo, hehe? Nakalimutan ko na po kasing tanungin eh."

Natawa ito. "Sigurado ka bang gusto mo malaman pangalan ko?" paniniguro ng matanda.

"Opo naman, para po alam ko," sagot ko.

Muli itong natawa. "Ninja."

Napalingon ako kay manang. "Ano po?"

Hindi ko alam kung tama ba ang pakarinig ko, o nabingi lang ako sa sinabi niya.

"Ninja," ulit ni manang.

"Ang pangalan niyo po ay—" Tumitig ako kay manang.

"—Ninja," tapos ni manang sa sasabihin ko.

Nagulat ako. That was a weird name. Who would even name their child as... Ninja?

"Nagulat ka 'no?" tanong sa akin ni Manang Ninja tsaka natawa.

"Maangas pangalan ko, pero kakaiba," banggit nito.

"Maganda naman po pangalan niyo ah? Gaya nga po ng sabi niyo maangas, pero oo nga po, medyo kakaiba at ang weird," amin ko.

"Baliw kasi mga magulang ko. Pero ayos na rin, bagay naman daw sa akin," saad ni manang.

While we were cooking, the two of us continued chatting about plenty more of things about life. It was nice, getting to talk with manang as I feel like there's an elder with me in the house. To be honest, everything about Ryder's home, feels completely the opposite to mine.

On my house, mind you, not a home, it's just so empty. That's why, it's completely the opposite. There, I realize that... No matter how big a house is, without the warmth of love and comfort, it can't be called a home... for home is not a place, but a feeling of solace you can feel.

Nang makatapos kami ni manang sa pagluluto. Nagpaalam ako ritong tataas muna ako kay Ryder. When I came to his room, he was still sleeping. Pumunta ako sa k'warto ni Ryder at tahimik na humanap ng papel at ballpen.

Sa ibabaw ng mesa nito, there's a mood board, and... sa mood board na iyon, there's a sticky note that has my name inside a heart. Napangiti ako... kailan pa kaya ito nilagay ni Ryder? The paper seems to be a bit old...

I touched it with my fingers, and it felt... so comforting. Napailing ako at kinuha ang notepad, pagkatapos no'n ay bumalik ako kay Ryder, and I wrote on a note...

Pagkatapos no'n, I reached for his head, combed his hair and kissed his forehead. Afterwards, I could finally leave for a while, and promise myself to come back home for Ryder.

"Una na po ako, manang, salamat po sa pagpapatuloy niyo sa akin..." I was about to leave when manang called me.

"Oh Aiden," tawag niya. "Balik ka sa susunod para maturuan mo ako paano magluto nitong chicken soup mo. Ang sarap e." She said while eating the chicken soup.

I smiled and left the house. See you later, Ryder.

Augustine M.