𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝟎𝟏: 𝐒𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐢𝐫𝐭 (𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐃)

𝟖: 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬; 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬

     The board was plastered back to where it originally belonged. Hindi feel ni Mathara na itapon ang mga yun. Parang importante ang mga bagay na yun kay Ronin. She wasn't mistaken; Ronin had spent years collecting them. They stood as an evidence of his efforts in single-handedly seeking justice for his family. 

     Si Ronin na ang bahala kung itatapon niya ang mga yun o hindi.

    She woke up to the sight of Ronin, freshly bathed, half naked again. Nakatapis lang ito. Naningkit ang mga mata ng dalaga habang nasa pinto pa ng kwarto, nakahawak sa doorknob. His well-built physique didn't affect her in any particular way, but she couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't proper. 

     Naalala niya kasi paano nagreact si Ronin nung maghuhubad sana siya.

     "Hindi ba uso magdamit sa pamamahay mo?" tanong niya rito, her arms are now crossed.

     "Saan mo ba nilagay ang mga damit ko?" iritadong tanong ng binata. His eyebrows are furrowed, halatang kanina pa ito naghahanap at hindi malaman kung nasaan na ang mga iyon.

     Padabog na lumapit si Mathara dito at binuksan ang pinakahuling drawer ng maliit na cabinet kung saan nakapatong ang tv. She took a cloth and threw it onto Ronin's face. It was a simple gesture to tell him that it was right in front of him. 

     "Hoy, Luci! Bakit ikaw pa ang galit, ha?" Sinundan niya ito na padabog na nagtungo sa kusina. She stopped at the countertop's side, realizing the house is too small and she has nowhere else to go. 

     "Sino ba ang unang nagalit sa atin?" Humarap ang dalaga dito sabay taas ng isang kilay. 

      Nakasandal na siya sa may countertop ngayon nagtataray. Ronin, taller than Mathara, attempted to use his height to intimidate her by leaning forward and locking her between his two arms. Both of his hands clamped down on the countertop, a strong grip ensuring Mathara couldn't escape.

     Mathara could feel his breath; his face was just a few inches away from hers. Isang tulak siguro ay magkakahalikan itong dalawa. Wala namang magtutulak sa kanila, they are alone there.

     Hindi natinag si Mathara. The position was very awkward for both of them, considering they had only recently become acquainted. Or maybe not; perhaps they were merely establishing something more than a truce.

     He leaned even closer, like three inches nalang ang pagitan. His wet hair dripped water, running down to his neck and well-built chest. Their eyes remained locked together, a silent competition on who would look away first. 

     Siguro ay napapa-isip kayo kung hindi ba hot sa paningin ni Mathara si Ronin. Well, no, she lacks the ability to identify what is hot and what is not. Pinalaki lang siya para lumaban, hindi para maging isang normal na taong dumadamdam. 

     She lacked even the ability to appreciate the opposite gender. In short, she was comple innocent, untouched by the emotions of infatuation or love. Not even a love for the family.

     "Pinagtatarayan mo ba ako sa loob ng pamamahay ko ha? Luci?" Parang nagbabanta ang tuno ni Ronin kahit wala naman siyang ibang plano kundi ang takutin lang ang dalaga. She crossed her arms again.

     He believed he could intimidate her, when in fact, siya dapat ang matakot dito. If he only knew who he is trying to scare. 

     "What are you trying to do?" tanong ni Mathara dito, still managed to display a relaxed face and aura.

     Then, there's silence.

     The staring competition continued.

     Sino ang unang bibitaw?

     Sino ang unang kukurap?

     Bigla bigla, may nahulog sa paanan nila. They both knew what it was. Ronin began to blush in embarrassment. The air playfully flirted with his sword. Doon pa niya naramdaman ang ginaw. 

     May mas awkward pa ba sa pangyayaring ito? 

     "Wag na wag kang titingin sa baba," paalala niya kay Mathara.

     "I won't," sagot naman ng dalaga sabay tingin sa itaas. She couldn't tell why Ronin was acting this way, but she chose not to worsen the situation to avoid a bigger argument later on. She is growing tired with the small talk fight.

     Dahan dahang bumaba si Ronin habang binabantayan parin si Mathara. Mabilisan niyang kinuha 'yong tuwalya at tinapis ulit sabay alis sa harap nito.

     Ronin finally dressed in his work uniform. Mathara then proudly presented the dish she had learned the previous day – a simple yet garnished scrambled egg. 

     "Yey," walang ganang saad ng binata. Itlog na naman kasi.

     Mathara's smug expression relaxed as she rolled her eyes in irritation. Pareho lang silang dalawa mga mainitin ang ulo. What a duo. 

     "Atleast may mga bagong natutunan. E, ikaw? Nangongolekta ka lang naman ng mga dyaryo ng mga taong pinapaslang. Do you like murder that much?" walang ganang sabi ni Mathara.

     Oops. Now, she had just admitted na ginalaw niya ang mga yun. 

     Isusubo na sana ni Ronin 'yong kanin at ilog na nasa kutsara niya nang nawala nalang ang gana niya. Bumigat ang kamay nito't halos padabog ang pagbalik ng kutsara sa plato.

     "Pakialamera ka din no?" inis na bwelta nito.

     "Well, I was cleaning." Mathara gave him a shrug.

     "Why don't we set our rules, for each other?" Ronin was fair. Hindi lamang siya ang may rules kahit pamamahay niya ito. 

Ronin's Rules: 

1. Never touch my board, my collections and those photographs ever again. O, palalayasin kita.

2. Never flirt with me. You're not my type.

3. Never bring your affairs in the house. Dun kayo sa bahay ng lalaki mo.

4. Aalis ka kapag di na kita kailangan.

5. I can add new ones if needed.

     Inipit na ni Ronin sa ref magnet 'yong naisulat niya. Napasulyap siya kay Mathara na seryoso pa sa pagsusulat.

     "Bilisan mo, mali-late na ako," sabi na niya sabay tingin sa relo niya.

     Para masidlan ang tiyan ay pinilit na niyang kumain kahit kaunti. 

Mathara's Rules:

1. Boundaries. Never intrude my room. Well, your room, but now mine.

2. I can go wherever I want. You won't care tho, I know. I'm not your responsibility.

3. I can leave this house whenever. I might remember myself.

4. We stay no more than a truce.

5. Magdadagdag ako kapag gusto ko.

     Rules are set. Now they live just to benefit from each other. Ronin needed someone na iiwan sa bahay at si Mathara kailangan ng matutuluyan, temporarily. 

TakahashiKazumi2024