Thunder's Affliction (Updating)

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Confusion started to swarm over my mind after Thunder welcomed me home, and another voice said the exact same words he said to me. Kaya imbes na ngumiti ako ay hindi ko na nagawa. I don't know what does Thunder means by that at hindi ko rin alam kung saan nanggaling ang boses na 'yon.

“Hey, natahimik ka?” He tried to look at me over his shoulder, and I just shook my head.

“I'll take you to your room first so you can sleep." umiling naman siya bago pa lang ako makakilos.

"I have a garden at the back, please help me go there." tumango naman ako at kaagad na dinala siya roon following his instruction.

"When was this house built?" I asked him, para kasing bago lang e.

"Well, a very long time ago." sagot naman niya at nagkibit balikat pa.

"Very long time ago? Ilang taon ka?" curious na tanong ko.

"I can't remember actually, why?" umiling naman ako.

"Wala, was just curious, kasi parang bago pa." He chuckled and signed for me to stop pushing the wheelchair already. Noon ko lang napansin na nasa garden na niya pala kami at halos umawang ang mga labi ko to see different kinds of flowers. May mga butterflies pa and some birds flying.

"Wow!" hindi ko alam kung paano ko pa ilalarawan ang pagkamangha ko. The place was enchanting.

"I built this house to be a safe place for me. Stress-free, safe from pain and anything that could break me. Everytime I'm here I feel recharged and heal. Though it was temporary, at least. . . I can get the peace and rest I deserve. And now I am sharing this with you, Heaven. . . I know you badly need this place." ang malawak na ngiti ko ay unti-unting napawi sa sinabi niyang huli.

Bumaling ako ng tingin sa kaniya ngunit napapikit lang ako nang makaramdam na tila sumakit bigla ang ulo ko. I can hear voices around me. They keep on whispering in my ears as I covered both of them to stop it. I was trying to push it, waving my hands anywhere.

"Heaven!" Someone called my name. But I didn't open my eyes.

"My God, Heaven! What are you doing?!" I can hear the voices everywhere.

“Heaven, you okay?" Napasinghap ako like I came from a deep and bad dream as I looked at Thunder, who's looking at me.

"What happened? Natulala ka na lang. Hindi ba maganda ang pakiramdam mo?" umiling ako at  ngumiti sa kaniya pilit itinatago ang panginginig ng kamay ko.

"So, okay lang talaga sa 'yo na pumunta punta ako rito kahit wala ka?" tumango siya.

"Of course, I'll give you one of my keys." hindi ko mapigilang hindi matuwa sa sinabi niya completely forgotten what happened earlier.

AFTER ng ilang oras ay nagpasya na rin siyang magpahatid sa kwarto niya. Si Paulo at Jiko naman ay nagpaalam na babalik muna dahil may kailangan silang kunin, kaya kami lamang ni Thunder ang naiwan sa bahay na 'yon.

While Thunder was asleep, I decided to prepare our lunch, so I checked the fridge and saw na kokonti lamang ang stocks. Kaya nagpasya ako na mamalengke muna. Before ako umalis ay tiningnan ko muna kung okay lang si Thunder at kung tulog na tulog ba ito and when I saw him deeply sleeping, marahan akong lumabas ng kwarto. I locked the house first to make sure no one would dare to trespass. After that ay nagmadali na akong tumungo sa pinakamalapit na market. I wanna buy fresh meat kaya instead na sa supermarket ay sa wet market ako tumungo.

The place was so loud and alive. Naghalo-halo na ang amoy ng isa, mga karne at gulay. I was roaming my eyes while thinking, kung ano ba ang masarap na lutuin, and I decided to buy a kilo of pork. Bumili rin ako ng mushroom, cream, and other ingredients na kailngan ko para sa lulutuin ko and when I'm done, I go home immediately.

After placing the ingredients I bought on the kitchen's counter sink, sinilip ko muna si Thunder, and he's still sleeping. Marahan ulit akong lumabas at sinara ang pinto bago tumungo pabalik sa kusina to start cooking. Sanay ako magluto dahil sa apartment namin ni Yssa ay palitan kami sa pagluluto at ang lulutuin ko ay ng madalas naming lutuin kapag nakakaluwagluwag kami.

I fried the pork first after covering it with salt and minced black pepper. After that, I set it aside to cook the sauce. Placing butter on the pan, I waited for it to melt and added the chopped garlic and onions. After sautéing the garlic and onions, I added the mushrooms and spring onions, then the all-purpose cream. I added salt, pepper, a beef knorr cube, and other seasonings to taste, and when it was cooked, I added the fried pork chops and mixed them into the sauce. I waited for the taste to be absorbed by the meat, and I turned off the stove. Sunod naman ay tiningnan ko ang sinasaing ko it's already done too. 

I just cleaned everything and started to prepare our lunch.

"Wow, smells good." Nagulat ako sa biglang nagsalita and I saw Thunder smiling habang tinitingnan ang niluto ko.

"Oh, pupuntahan pa lang sana kita." Nakakahiya pawis pa ako e.

"Nagising ako sa amoy ng niluluto mo, nagutom ako. Saka kaya ko namang pagulungin itong wheelchair." ngumiti lang ako sa kaniya at tinapos na ang pag-serve ng lunch namin.

"Let's eat!" I placed a piece of pork on his plate above his rice.

"Thanks for this, Heaven. I can't remember the last time someone cooked for me." sinulyapan ko siya and he was staring at his plate.

"And it was the first time I cooked for a guy. Usually, kasi si nanay, iyong pinsan ko na nakatira sa bahay namin at si Yssa ang nakakatikim ng luto ko." kwento ko sa kaniya and he was attentively listening. Pakiramdam ko mas nakikilala ko siya habang nakakasama ko siya. He's more than a guy with a reputation. More than that CEO, who seems too intimidating and reserved.

"Well then, you shouldn't cook for anyone else from now on. Ako lang dapat ipagluluto mo." mabilis akong napatingin sa kaniya and he was looking at me with a playful smile on his lips.

"Wow, possessive mo naman sir." I joked, but he just looked at me with seriousness.

"Kumain ka na nga lang! Talaga namang wala akong ipagluluto na iba, ikaw lang." he laughed.

"Narinig ko na 'yan," pangaasar niya kaya sinimangutan ko na lang at nagsimulang kumain.

"Hmm! Sarap ah! Pang restaurant. Bakit hindi ka mag-apply na chef?" I laughed about what he said.

"Sir Thunder, I am not a college graduate. Hindi man lang ako nakapag-aral ng Culinary." I said, and he stared at me.

"Do you want to continue? Willing akong pag-aralin ka Heaven." mukhang seryoso talaga siya kaya instead na magbiro ako ay sumeryoso rin ang mukha ko.

"A-ah, hindi na. Mas kailangan ko magtrabaho kaysa mag-aral." binaba ko ang tingin sa kinakain ko at nararamdaman ko pa rin ang titig niya sa akin.

"And you left your job for how many days already to be here with me and to take care of me. I am sure, your boss was already looking for you." naiiling na sabi niya. Hindi ko alam kung paano sasabihin sa kaniya na hindi ako makakampante kapag hindi ko siya inalagaan.

"It's okay, ilang buwan lang naman e. Saka kung matanggal man ako, I can find a new job. Dali lang maghanap ng bagong work. Kaya ko 'yon." He sighed after hearing that.

"Fine, then I'll pay you for this." Marereklamo pa lang sana ako, pero tinaas na niya ang hintuturo niya.

"No buts for you, Heaven." And I guess I don't have any choice. Kung ang pagtanggap ko naman noon ay ang pananatili ko rito habang nagpapagaling siya, then it's fine.

. . .