In the Midst of the War

Kabanata 16

KABANATA 16.

I Like You.

LAST DAY of this year, I received a call from Vale early in the morning. I think it was seven AM when he called and said that he’s just around the area and he’s dropping off. Nagising ang diwa ko nang sinabi niyang pupunta siya rito sa condo ko.

Bumangon agad ako at naghilamos at nag-sipilyo. I know that he doesn’t like me but I don’t want to be ugly in front of him, ‘no! After washing my face and my teeth, I combed my hair. Sakto pagkatapos ko mag suklay ay tumunog ang door bell. When I opened the door, I was greeted by Vale’s smile. He was carrying a paper bag.

Kahit nagtataka sa dala niya ay pinapasok ko siya. Inilapag niya sa breakfast table ang  paper bag at isa-isang inilabas ang mga laman noon. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang makita ang mga laman no’n.

“Ba’t ka nagdala ng mga ‘yan?” I asked him. He just looked at me innocently then continued unpacking. Gulat ko siyang tinignan.

“I’ll cook for you. We’ll go to the concert later but we’ll eat first, okay?” he said while unpacking. Ang laman ng paper bag na dala niya ay mga ingredients. I don’t know what he’s cooking but these are lots of goods so maybe two or three dishes?

“How about lasagna for brunch?” he turned to me. Wala sa sariling napatango ako. He smiled then started washing the ingredients. Wala akong nagawa kundi ang umupo sa high chair at panuorin siyang pakialam sa kusina ko.

Habang hinuhugasan niya ang mga dapat hugasan, nababasa ng talsik ng tubig na galing sa faucet ang t-shirt niya. Napailing nalang ako at bumaba sa high chair para pumunta sa kuwarto ko. I opened my other cabinet to get a shirt. Siguro naman ay kasya sakaniya ang mga damit ni Alonzo.

Madalas mag-sleep over sa condo ko sina Spica and my other friends that’s why I have a separate cabinet for the clothes that they left on my condo. Damit ni Adi ang pinakamarami since madalas siyang mag-sleep over dito. There are also clothes of Alonzo. Naiwan niya noong nakiligo siya rito after his training.

“Hey,” I poked him. “Here’s an extra shirt. Magpalit ka muna, basa ka ‘yong shirt mo. And please wear apron para di ka na madumihan.” I handed him the shirt and my yellow apron. He looked at it.

“You’ll let me use your apron?” he asked. Agad naman akong tumango. Kinuha niya saakin ang t-shirt at nagpalit. Iniwas ko ang tingin ko nang maghubad siya sa mismong harap ko!

“Whose shirt is this by the way?” he asked while putting the apron.

“It’s Lonzo’s. It’s good na magka-size kayo,” baliwalang sabi ko. Natigil siya sa pagsuot ng apron at tinignan ako. His thick eyebrows were almost fighting.

“Why do you have Alonzo’s clothes in your place?” he asked. His cheerful voice earlier was gone. Hanggang ngayon ay namamangha parin ako sa tuwing kinakausap niya ako na may emosyon ang boses niya. Hindi naman sa ayaw ko, it’s great that he’s showing me emotions, unlike before na nagkaka-emosyon lang ang boses niya kapag kumakanta.

“Nakikikain at nakikiligo siya rito minsan. Some of his clothes were left here after taking a bath. I kept it kaysa naman itapon ko,” I said calmly. Tumango-tango naman siya at nagpatuloy sa pagsusuot ng apron.

“It’s better if you just thrown them,”

“Huh?” napakurap ako at bumalik ang tingin sakaniya. I didn’t catch what he said. It seems like he was just talking to himself but it also seems like he’s talking to me. I don’t know.

“Wala, I’ll make your lasagna,” after saying that, he rushed in front of the ingredients and do his thing. Ako naman ay bumalik na sa kinauupuan ko kanina at pinanuod siya.