In the Midst of the War

Kabanata 31

KABANATA 31.

Girl Next Door.

HANGGANG SA makauwi ako sa condo ay iniisip ko parin ang tungkol sa imbetasyon ni Charlie. It's not that bad and he asked me in a nice way but I can't help but to over think things. For sure it will be a grand reunion and I don't think that I'm ready for it.

Kung sabagay ay may ilang araw pa naman ako para pag-isipan kung pupunta ba ako o hindi. Isinantabi ko muna ang isiping iyon at saka dumiretso na sa kwarto para magbihis.

I unconsciously looked at my bedroom's wall. Tahimik ang katabing unit but it doesn't mean na wala tao roon. The noise is just not that loud so I'm not hearing anything.

Napabuntong hininga ako. Why am I looking at wall anyway? It doesn't make any sense.

Lumabas na ako sa kwarto ko at dumiretso sa kusina. I was looking for available ingredients on the cupboard when I suddenly thought of an idea.

I brought out all ingredients needed and started making bake mac. It was easy, Spica and I always make this way back in college.

Nang maluto iyon ay kumuha ako at inilagay ko sa isang transparent na Tupperware. I waited for it to cool down a bit before putting it on a transparent plastic bag.

I'm planning to give it to the new tenant next door. When I was new here, I remembered my neighbors giving me foods as a welcome gift. The people on this floor are all friendly that's why I easily adapted to the environment.

Lumabas na ako sa condo ko dala ang plastic bag na may lamang baked mac. I walked until the next door's doorstep. For a moment I was hesitant if I'll ring the bell or not but I end up pushing the button anyway.

I feel so nervous that I even practiced smiling. When the door opened, my smile was hanged in the air. I tried to smile again when I saw the new owner of the unit next to me.

"Hi! I'm from the unit next door!" I greeted her.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya bago takpan ang bibig. Doon kumunot ang noo ko. The girl or woman next door is so pretty. Her cheeks had a natural blush and her hair is tied up on a messy bun.

"Hala, naiingayan ka ba? Nako pasensiya ka na, lagi kasing maingay dito. Pero iiwasan na naming maging maingay, promise! Huhuhu, sorry talaga!" she was blaberring. She even said the 'huhuhu' outloud.

Kumunot ang noo ko. She thought that I came here to confront her? Cute.

"Ah, no," she looked at me again, a little confused now. "You're new here, right? I made this as a welcome gift," I showed her the plastic bag. "Welcome to the floor!"

Natulala lang siya saakin. Nakailang kurap siya pero hindi niya inalis ang tingin niya saakin. I bit my lower lip. Okay lang kaya siya?

I tried waving my hand in front of her. Ilang beses pa siyang napakurap bago nagpakawala ng alanganing tawa.

"Ay, hehe, pasensiya na. My name's Jana," nilahad niya ang kamay niya saakin kaya kinuha ko iyon.

"Rafa, I live next door," turo ko sa pinto ng unit ko. ngumit naman siya at tumango. Hindi na siya mukhang kinakabahan kaya inilahad ko sakaniya ang plastic bag.

"It's for you," ani ko. Kinuha niya ang plastic bag at tinignan ang laman. Parang nagningning ang mata niya nang makita niyang baked mac ang laman no'n.

"OMG, thank you! Sana 'di ka na nag-abala!"

"It's okay, it's like a tradition here. Anyway, if you need anything just knock on my unit. I'll get going," nagpasalamat ulit siya bago ako umalis. I just smiled at her and returned to my unit.