I folded my arms on my chest as I watched Atlas walk back and forth, preparing plates, spoons, and forks for us.
"You said you didn't eat it with rice. How about your friends?" he asked as he settled himself on the chair across mine.
"Hindi rin sila nag-rice." tumango siya at unti-unting sinalinan ng kanin ang pinggan na nasa harap ko.
"You should try it with rice." I licked my lower lip as I watched him with what he was doing.
"Ikaw? You said you don't eat chicken curry."
I gently took the spoon to start eating only to stop when he did the same.
"I might as well try it, so I'll eat too." tinignan ko siya at hindi ko mapigilang mapangisi nang sumandok siya nang sabay at tinikman iyon.
"How was it?" I said, but I cleared my throat when I sounded excited.
"I actually don't know what it's supposed to taste because it was my first time cooking this. I just followed the recipe."
Tumango ako at naglagay na rin ng sabaw sa kanin.
"Masarap 'yung luto mo. I thought you were bluffing when you said you never cooked this."
Yumuko ako at ibinigay ang atensyon sa pagkain dahil bigla kong naramdaman ang mabigat niyang titig. And it's making me uncomfortable, but not in a bad way.
I still remember how I smiled earlier when he opened the door for me. How I felt strange looking at him smiling in front of me.
I wanted to leave, but when I found out that he hadn't eaten his dinner, I just found myself sitting at his dining table, waiting for him as he prepared it for us.
"That's great to hear then." tumango lamang ako at hindi na nagsalita dahil kumakain.
I was actually already full because I ate with my friends earlier, but when I think about eating the chicken curry Atlas cooked, I suddenly had the appetite.
"You live alone?" I asked minutes later when I felt the awkwardness between us.
I could only hear the sound of the plate and spoon so I spoke.
"Yup. My parents reside in New Zealand." napaupo ako nang maayos dahil sa narinig sa kanya.
He is sharing.
"Mag-isa ka lang dito sa Pilipinas?" paninigurado ko.
Doesn't he have siblings?
"Yeah. My father is a scottish who grew up there. They decided to live there."
Woah. Maybe that explains his looks.
I couldn't help but to roam my gaze around his face down to his shoulder, down to his chest, and back to his face, specifically his eyes. Now that he mentioned about his father's race, I couldn't help but to notice his physical appearance more. It dawned on me that the brown eyes I was looking at before weren't really brown, but hazel. I got to look at them closely, specially that he was not wearing glasses.
It's clearer when he is not in his glasses.
"That explains the color of your eyes." I said even before I could stop myself.
"The color of my eyes?" he asked.
"Hmm... It's not brown, it's hazel." I bit my lower lip and bowed so I could have the last bite on my plate.
"I thought you won't notice." I pushed the plate and drank water before turning to him.
"It's obvious." I said like it's the most obvious when, in fact, I only noticed it just now. "Why are you here by the way? You mentioned that your parents live in New Zealand." I said to change the topic.
