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

Chapter 12

Ryder's POV

WHEN I woke up, I was kinda hoping to see Aiden beside me in bed, but he was no longer then. I was expecting it already though, dahil alam kong hindi siya p'wedeng maabutan nina Rex at Apollo, because that would probably make my head spin. I took a few breaths bago bumangon sa higaan.

Surprised, I saw a note on the bed side table, took it and read. The note said...

"Hello, Rabbit!

You're still sleeping when I wake up and I don't have the heart na gisingin ka especially that I see you resting so peacefully. You deserve to rest that way, for I know I stressed you out. That's why I made you breakfast, ask manang to heat it up for you. I promise you'll enjoy it because it's my favorite since I was a child.

I want you to have a taste of my favorite of course. And hopefully next time, I get to share it with you. Good morning, Ryder! Enjoy your breakfast! See you in school!

Yours,
Aiden."

After reading the note that Aiden left for me, the excitement of going downstairs filled my chest. He cooked for me! Who would not be excited for food that's been cooked by your crush, right?

When I came downstairs, gising na rin sina Rex at Apollo, and they're already eating the soup that I assumed Aiden made. I looked at the clock and it's 5:46 am, still early...

"Good morning, Bub," bati ni Apollo mula sa dining.

I smiled and made my way to them. "Ang aga niyo atang nagising?" tanong ko sa kanilang dalawa.

"Hindi ko rin alam, nagising ako when I smelled food sa baba eh, like nagising diwa ko nung nangamoy siya. And when I came downstairs nakita kong nakain si manang so hindi na muna ako sumabay. She asked me to eat and said it was delicious pero tumaas muna ako ulit," Apollo said.

"And dahil kay Apollo, nagising ako kasi I was sleeping tapos bigla niya akong pinaipod, how rude," Rex complained habang nakain.

"Well, it's because you're occupying 3/4 of the bed, and wala na akong space at hindi ako magkakasya kaya ko ginawa iyon," Apollo reasoned out.

"So here we are right now, eating," Rex finished.

"And totoo nga sabi ni manang, ang sarap nga ng nito, I wonder what manang put in this," Apollo said.

Bigla namang sumingit si manang. "Hindi ako nagluto niyan," saad nito.

It was Aiden... and manang knows huh? I thought to myself.

"Ha edi sino pong nagluto nito?" tanong ni Apollo.

"Kaibigan ko, bakit? Hindi ba masarap?" tanong ni Manang pabalik.

"Hindi po ah! Masarap nga po kaya ko tinatanong eh," sagot naman ni Apollo.

"May kaibigang multo si manang?" tanong ni Rex.

"Ha? Paano naman magiging multo? Multo magluluto ng masarap na chicken soup? Hindi ko alam kung baliw ka na ba talaga o nagbabaliw-baliwan ka lang," Apollo replied.

"Eh kasi naman..." Rex started her claim. "Paano naman magkakaroon ng kaibigan si manang, e sa tagal nating nandito parang wala pa ata akong nakikilala na kaibigan ni manang. Wala rin naman siyang kwinekwento sa atin, 'di ba? So malay natin namulto si manang kagabi," Rex said.

"Edi nakain ka ng luto ng multo?" tanong ni Apollo.

"Kesa naman kumain nung matabang na luto ng nanay ni Faye, mas gusto ko pa luto ng multo, masarap," sagot ni Rex.

Napailing ako tsaka natawa. Hindi ko na lamang pinansin ang sagutan ng dalawa, I've been used to the two of them. They always do that for fun, it's like their own way of bonding, just randomly blabbering about a lot of things. It's fun, listening to it dahil alam ko namang hindi talaga nag-aaway ang dalawa, and that they're only doing it for fun.

Kumuha ako ng chicken soup tsaka tumabi kay Apollo. When I sat there, kaagad ko agad tinikman... and... it was indeed so delicious. With this in mind, Aiden immediately came into my mind, and I was thinking of him in the kitchen cooking the soup he made.

He would've looked so hot kung sakaling naabutan ko itong nagluluto, just imagine, Aiden makes coffee, makes good food... Damn... what else is he good at? While eating, all I was thinking was Aiden, to see him in school and thank him for the good breakfast that he made me.

WE finished eating, and right after that we decided to prepare for school. Like planned, may dalang damit si Rex, habang si Apollo ay hihiram sa akin ng damit, and he also have spare clothes na naiwan niya rito sa bahay, and good thing I have plenty of extra uniforms.

It was chaotic dahil magkasama kaming tatlo. I've been used to this kind of chaos, it's the kind of chaos that is actually chaotic but in a positive note. Unlike the chaos we usually deem as so stressing, this kind of chaos is stupidly enjoying.

My room was a mess, but then again I'll just clean it when I get home. Nang makatapos kaming tatlo, we weren't in much of a rush dahil nga hindi naman ganoon kalayo ang bahay namin sa school. So we decided to walk.

Habang naglalakad, Rex started a conversation. "Parang gusto ko pa nung chicken soup, not gonna lie I'm intrigued din kung sino nagluto no'n. No lies, ang sarap," she started.

"Sabi ko sa iyo eh..." Apollo paused. "Pero feeling ko talaga tritripan lang tayo ni manang, I'm pretty sure she's the one who made it."

Rex replied. "Basta kung sino man nagluto no'n, si manang man, o multo, I'll ask them to cook it again. I want that for breakfast tomorrow, nakakainis."

Pabiro akong sumagot. "Kahit si Aiden ang nagluto?" tanong ko kay Rex.

"Busog na ako..." Rex rolled her eyes at me.

Natawa ako. "Whaaat! What if si Aiden nga ang nagluto no'n. You said it yourself, Rex. Masarap yung luto."

"I'll just buy myself chicken soup from a good restaurant. Ayaw ko. Like, no no no way, my independent and dominant soul cannot," she said.

Malakas akong natawa... only if they knew. I wonder how would they react if they find out that it was Aiden who made their breakfast.

Our conversation went fun, and when we reached school. We bid ways right after passing the hallway dahil magkakaiba kami ng strand. While I was walking, there's someone behind me who tapped my back— it was Aiden.

"Good morning, Rabbit," bati niya sa akin.

I rolled my eyes. "Ewan ko sa'yo," I replied then smiled. I added, "Good morning."

Aiden then smiled at me. He asked, "So, what are your thoughts sa niluto kong breakfast para sa iyo?"

"Ang sarap... I am completely speechless when I tasted it, and for the record I was imagining of you cooking in the kitchen. Thank you, that made my morning." I smiled at him.

For a few seconds, I was wondering why he was silent. He was literally still and not talking any single word.

"Why so silent?" I asked him.

"I'm just suppressing my kilig." Aiden chuckled. "I'm glad I actually made your morning. Because, you made mine, too."

"Really?" I asked him habang naglalakad kami. "How?" I asked again.

Aiden gave me a grin before he replied, "I'll just keep it to myself for now."

He then walked passed me, he said, "I'll see you layer, baby," Aiden whispered. Right after that, he came running away.

All I did was shook my head, and thought to myself...

It wouldn't be bad having Aiden around... he feels like... home.

Augustine M.