unedited.
"So... she's just playing with you?" Inangat niya muli ang tingin sa akin. The tip of her sharpie was resting between her lips, digesting all the information. Her eyes were filled with a familiar curiosity... again.
"Stop throwing repetitive questions and focus on your task, Ibon," I drawled.
"Sabi mo pwede akong magtanong?" busangot niya.
"I did. Wala akong sinabing magtanong ka ng paulit-ulit na pare-parehas lang."
"Ano naman?" She rolled her eyes, shifting her vision to my laptop screen. "Tanong pa rin 'yon," bulong-bulong pa niya habang kumukuha ng cookies sa bowl.
"Tagumpay ba misyon nung babae?" she asked again.
"Babae?"
"Si Loti."
"Her plan was to bring my brother home and to stopped him from being a substitute from our Dad's work." Inangat ko ang tingin sa ceiling, nag-iisip. "Unfortunately... no."
Umawang ang labi niya.
"But he came back. Not for Loti, though..." I added, trying to make her feel better.
"Edi para kanino? I thought he was her only girlfriend?" Her brows pinched together in confusion. "Baka para sa'yo?"
I chortled. "I wish."
"So... gusto niya lang umuwi?"
"No. He got home for someone."
"A friend?" she tried again.
"Don't let him hear that." A grin formed on my lips.
A familiar waves of recognition flashed across her eyes. "He's the one who's cheating?" she murmured. Umiling siya nang pa-ulit-ulit, pinanliliitan ako ng mata. "Not cool..." she mumbled lowly, pursing her lips.
"Focus on your task now, princess."
Kinagatan niya ang cookies at hinaplos ang leeg, nasa screen na ang paningin. Her brows were pinched together with a mixed of frustration and a bit of confusion. Sumulyap ulit siya sa'kin. "Sorry kanina..." she muttered, smiling awkwardly at me. "Pinagbintangan kitang cheater... That's a heavy accusation." Ngumiti siya nang matamis, "Forgive me po."
"It's okay," I shrugged, tipping my head. "Nahihirapan ka ba diyan?" Nangalumbaba ako. "Kaya mo 'yan. You already did that, didn't you?"
"Yeah... Nahihirapan lang ako sa source." Pinikit niya ang mata, nag-iisip. Nang binuksan niya, nagtama ang paningin namin. Her fingers were tapping the table in a hurried pace, as if she already figured out the puzzle displayed on her head.
"Ah... yup! Nag-send pala ako kay na Lila ng source kanina. So, I'll just arrange it and apply the same template I used," sabi niya sa sarili.
"An hour is still not enough," I said. Inangat niya ang paningin sa'kin, kagat ang labi.
"Baka ma-late ka pang umuwi dahil sa tagal ko... Do you have a car?"
"Hindi ko dala," I replied. Grabbing the wrappers of some candies I bought, I met her eyes just the time I shoot it from a trash can away from us. "I'll nap. Wake me up when you're done."
"Makakauwi tayo ng madaling araw, Ross..." pag-aalala niya. My lips curled into a playful grin, shaking my head to assure her.
"It's okay."
"Hi."
"Hi."
Ross almost purred in his sleep. Parati niyang kinakamot ang tungki ng ilong. Parang pusa.
"You done?"
Inangat niya ang braso at nag-inat. He sighed from satisfaction and pursed his lips.
"Yes... Thanks." Inangat ko ang braso sa mesa at pinaglaruan ang mga daliri. "Uh... I used your facebook account earlier to send my file in my account. Ayos lang ba?"
"Ginawa mo na, e." He chuckled. "Ayos lang. What time is it?"
"Three A.M..." I swallowed the lump forming on my throat. "Papapasukin ka pa ba sa inyo?"
"I live alone, Ibon," he answer, brows shot. "Perhaps you can visit."
There's no trace of mockery with his tone. Tumaas ang mga kilay ko, confused if he's just making fun of me.
"With Vanya?"
With scrunched nose, he shaked his head.
"How about Lila?"
"Definitely no." Bumilis pa ang pag-iling.
"You dislike Lila?"
"No..." Natawa siya. "I want you there without anyone. Bakit gusto mong isama ang mga kaibigan mo?"
"What about Dustin and Finn?"
"Why them? Kaibigan mo na rin sila?"
"We're friends. Ikaw lang naman hindi ko kaibigan, e." I grinned.
"Ako?" Tinuro niya ang sarili. "You're a traitor."
"Bakit?" I bit my lips, pinipigilang matawa.
Kinuha niya ang laptop sa harap ko at ngumiwi. Pain crossed over his face. He looks stupidly hurt.
"You're so dramatic."
"Why are you talking to me?" Irap niya. "We're not friends." Sinarado niya ang laptop at nilagay sa loob ng dala niyang bag. I bit my bottom lip with my teeth, shoulders vibrating with the laugh trapped inside.
"Thanks, Ross..." I tried not to curl my lips from smiling.
"For?"
"Letting me borrow your thing," klaro ko.
"Sige lang."
"That's so sincere."
"What do you want me to respond?" Tawa niya.
"Nothing..." Ngumiwi ako. "Tapos ka na rin ba roon sa task ni Miss?"
"Kay Miss Santos?"
I nodded.
"Yep."
"Ipapasa mo na bukas?"
"Via e-mail lang. A-Absent ako bukas."
I unconsciously straightened my back. "Bakit?"
"Found me remarkable now?" He said playfully.
"Don't be delusional, Chiro. Curious lang."
"Chiro, huh? Close tayo? Akala ko hindi tayo friends?"
"Chiro is your first name. Kailangan ba lahat ng tao nickname mo ang itatawag sa'yo?" Pagtataray ko. "And we're friends."
Amusement flashed across his eyes.
"Okay, Maia. First name basis."
I sweep my tounge across my bottom lip. "You sound like Dustin."
"That's kinda humiliating."
My alarm clock rang. I opened my phone and looked for the time.
"It's three-thirty," I mumbled. Standing up, kinuha ko ang bag na hindi ko napansing nahulog sa ilalim ng mesa. Sinulyapan ko si Ross na kunot ang noong nakasilip sa relo.
"Hey, let's go home."
"Walk you home?" Nagtama ang paningin namin.
"Yes, please..." I shivered.
"Alright, Ma'am. Lead the way..."
