The Ability User

CHAPTER 2

Kasalukuyan kaming tumatakbo ni Allen palabas ng Airport at nang makalabas na kami, hingal na hingal kaming sumandal sa may pader habang nakarest yung kamay sa tuhod. 

Nakita kong may taxi sa malapit kaya mabilis ko itong pinalapit sa amin at agad na sumakay sa loob, mabilis din naman na sumunod si Allen sa tabi ko matapos nyang ilagay sa compartment ang mga gamit nya. He could be coming home from a small vacation kasi mukang konti lang ang dala nya.

We told the driver to hurry up and as he did, may inabot sa kanya si Allen na address, "sa condo ko muna ikaw tutuloy, okay lang naman diba? I want to know you better," sabi nito na syang tinanguan ko.

After about 10mins, nakarating na kami sa condo nya, sumakay sa elevator patungo sa unit na tinutuluyan niya, at nang makapasok kami, hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko na mamangha. 

I couldn't help but study the whole room while my mouth's slightly open; the ceiling is high and from it hangs an LED chandelier, a few shelves of books and small figures stood near the tv set in the middle of the room, and overall, napaka-minimalist ng buong style. But what makes the whole place 1000% perfect is the glass wall that overlooks the city and currently... the beautiful sun on its way home. 

Hindi ko namalayan na sunod sunod na pala ang paghakbang ng mga paa ko patungo sa glass wall at napahawak pa ako dito habang nararamdaman ko ang malakas na tibok ng puso ko. The sun's splashing the whole world with its orange soul, and a family of birds ventures above the city. We're too high up from the ground kaya hindi ko makita ang gawain ng bawat tao but i know that the world's still busy being itself. 

Nakasandal lang ako sa salamin habang dinadama ang kasalukuyang tanawin hanggang sa tuluyan nang lumubog ang araw. Muli akong humarap sa unit ni Allen at nakita ko syang nagluluto sa kusina, and when i walked towards it, hindi ko mapigilan na mapangiti dahil sa ayos ng buong kwarto. 

You know when a person has a room with a lot of books, you automatically think that he's a bookworm? This man right here is a cook, he is. From different corners and places of his kitchen, makikita mong naka display ang iba't ibang utensils and stuff for cooking, na hindi naman mukang naka display lang because of how i see Allen moves around his place.

He's currently slicing up a few ingredients needed for the pot on the stove, pero naaamoy ko na agad kung anong niluluto nya. "Tinola?" Tanong ko dito. Agad syang humarap sakin at mabilis na ngumiti.

"Yep, this is my favorite. We'll eat this together later."

"Nga pala..." pasimula ko nang maalala kong may tatanungin nga pala ako sa kanya. 

"Hm?"

"Can i borrow some clothes from you? I didn't bring one with me," i smiled sheepishly.

"Sure. Pasok ka lang sa kwarto ko and you'll immediately see the closet beside the bathroom door."

I thanked him and headed towards his room, at nang makapasok ako dito, muli na naman akong namangha dahil sa ayos. Everything is so nice, clean, and just like the bigger one, this room also has a minimal style. I like how Allen is so neat with his stuff. 

I opened his closet and started looking for clothes na pwede kong isuot (everything smells like him... sobrang bango.) Agad akong nakakita ng isang black na tshirt at pares ng denim pants na mukang maliit na at pwede ko nang isuot. 

Muli akong lumabas ng kwarto upang bumalik sa kusina at napangiti ako nang makitang nakahain na ang mga pagkain sa lamesa... with side dishes? Wait, how did he finish everything so fast? Is this an act of mystery that only those who are skilled with cooking know about?

Nakita ko si Allen na kumukuha ng tubig mula sa ref, at napangiti sya nang makita nya ako. "I see you found my favorite pair," he said as he sat down on one chair.