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Chapter 8
#wrewp
It took us a few hours to finish the paper. I was too meticulous. Sa introduction, summary, analysis, examples, conclusion, at iba pa. I made sure that it was thoroughly well-written. Idagdag pa na madalas ang pag-re-rephrase ko ng mga gawa ni Grant. It was my competitive ass talking. I couldn't fathom that he was perfect and gifted.
I stretched out my arms and rotated my neck. Kahit ang mga daliri ko ay inikot-ikot ko para maunat. Dumampot ako ng pizza sa table na inakyat ni Grant kanina. Hindi ko na rin natanggihan dahil gutom na rin ako. Sinilip ko ang oras. It was already past seven. Baka hinahanap na ako sa bahay.
"You should stay for dinner," sabi ni Grant.
Hawak-hawak niya si Spooky. Tinignan din ako ng pusa habang dinig na dinig ko ang pagvi-vibrate nito sa bisig ni Grant. Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kaniya. I petted its head back and forth. Its purring became more evident. Napangiti ako.
"He's so cute."
"Thanks."
"'Yung pusa ang tinutukoy ko, hindi ikaw," sabi ko.
"I'm his father, he has my genes."
I gazed at him, my brows furrowing as disbelief washed over me.
"Pusa ka ba? Lakas ng tama," saad ko. "Sabagay, amoy cat food ka naman."
I almost laughed out loud when his forehead wrinkled. His eyebrows pressed together.
"What?"
Umiling ako, natatawa. Kinuha ko ang gamit ko para gumayak na. He was just watching me, looking annoyed, as I fix my things up. I couldn't be more pleased to see him that way. Parang pumapalakpak ang mata ko. Kulang na lang ay magkaroon ito ng pakpak para lumipad.
"Uuwi na ako."
"Amuyin mo 'ko, Matienne," hamon niya.
Natatawa akong umiling. "Amoy cat food."
He scoffed. He grazed his tongue on top of his teeth. Ngayong ako naman ang nang-aasar, parang pikon na pikon siya? Wala rin siya sa hulog, e.
Muli kong binalikan ang laptop niya na ginamit namin kanina. I double-checked if the file was already saved. When I was already certain, I removed the MS Word. My forehead creased when I saw his recent browser upon closing the software. The blog that he read was still plastered on the screen, probably he forgot to exit the site.
Ngumuso ako para pigilan ang tawa nang mabasa ang title ng blog.
Scent-sational: Mastering the Art of Smelling Good
"Masyado mo naman sigurong pinaghahandaan ang date niyo ni Milca?" natatawang sabi ko.
He was confused by what I said. Sinilip niya ang screen ng laptop. Ngumuso siya at nag-iwas ng tingin. I noticed how his eyes blinked more than thrice. Huli ka! Gusto mo rin pala si Milca, e. Natutuwa ako dahil naghahanap siya ng paraan para mas mahulog sa kaniya ang babae. If this continued, it would become a distraction for him, causing him to fall behind the rankings.
"That's an ad."
"Okay, okay." I shrugged my shoulders. "Sabi mo, e."
He glared at me. "Ad lang, Villaruz."
My lips turned upside down as I raised my hand in defeat.
"Naniniwala ako. Ad lang."
Dumaan ang weekends nang hindi ko namamalayan. I did my usual studying routine during those days. Kung minsan ay tumutulong din ako kay Papa sa pagkukumpuni. Doon lang naman umiikot ang linggo para sa akin. I already got used to it since my whole life, it revolved around studying. Inaaya naman ako madalas nila Gabe na lumabas kapag sabado at linggo, pero madalas din naman ang pagtanggi ko. Boring, wasn't?
