New Sound

Chapter 40: Different Pursuits: Justice vs. Peace

Raid's PoV

"What's for lunch today?" I heard Neu asked as he go down the stairs.

Nilingon ko ang wall clock para tignan kung anong oras na, at nakita kong magaala-una na ng hapon. "You woke up late today." Hindi naman n'ya ako pinansin at basta nalang nagkalkal nalang sa kusina. Madalas kase, s'ya ang nauunang gumising sa'min, dahil s'ya naman itong mahilig magluto, pero ngayon, parang first time yata na ganitong oras na s'ya bumangon. "Didn't you go to bed early yesterday?" Tumingin naman s'ya sa direkyon ko.

"Yeah, I don't feel good since yesterday night. I think, I've got fever." Doon ko lang natunugan na iba nga ang tunog ng boses n'ya ngayon.

Matapos 'yung nangyari kahapon, inaya n'ya lang ako na dito kami sa loob ng bahay mag-usap. Pareho pa kaming basa ng ulan no'n, kaya nagkasundo kaming mag-uusap pagkatapos naming magkapagpalit ng mga damit, pero hindi na s'ya bumaba ulit kagabi para makipag-usap. Now, that might be the reason.

"Ah, sorry, I did say na may pag-uusapan tayo kagabi, pero 'di  natuloy." Neu sounds calmer now, kumpara sa tono n'ya kagabi no'ng sinabi n'ya 'yon. "I really felt ill yesterday. I lay down on my bed hopeful to get some energy, before I go downstairs for our talk, but I fell asleep." I just nodded. Bumalik naman s'ya sa paghahanap sa kusina ng makakain, pagkatapos no'n. "Hay, as expected, you don't prepare any for lunch. Good thing I brought noodles yesterday." Noodles? May dala ba s'ya kahapon? "Did you saw the grocery bag?" he asked once again turning to me.

"I believe you don't carry anything with you yesterday, except your umbrella." I answered. He then starts to recall what happened yesterday.

"Tsk" he seemed to recall something making him do a light facepalm. "Naiwan ko 'ata sa studio." Once again, he turned to me. "You Raid, what did you have for lunch?" 

"Bread. The usual." I answered pointing the bag of bread on table. "What's good about this bread, for you to trade off rice meal for this?" he walked towards the table and grab the whole bag with him. "But I guess, I'll try it. Akin nalang ah." 

"Y-Yeah sure." Maybe I should help him. His voice even sounds weaker and weaker each time he speaks. And he still have those bruises on his face, which he still told me about.  "Leave it there. Dadalhin ko nalang sa kwarto mo." 

He look at me with curiosity. "Hmm." 

"Bakit?"

"Wala. It's rare for you to offer help on your own accord, so I was just checking." Neu laughed quietly. "But thanks. I'll get back to my room, then." 

He was about to climb the stairs, when I told him. "That bread is best paired with chocolate."  he furred his eyebrows. He must have been wondering why I said it. "It reminds me of what we used to eat for afternoon snacks when we were kids, so I like it." I didn't bother looking at him. "'Want anything else?"

I heard him laugh. "So that's that, huh. Well then, can you make me the chocolate drink," I was about to answer that when Neu added "like how mom did it?"

"S-Sure."

"Then I'll really get going." I hear his footsteps climbing the stairs shortly after. "Also, stay at my room, we'll talk."

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"Saan mo ba nabibili 'tong tinapay na 'to? Masarap nga ah." bungad na tanong saakin ni Neu pagpasok ko sa kwarto n'ya. Sunod-sunod n'ya pang kinakagat 'yung tinapay habang sinasabi n'ya 'yon.