Home Smells Like You (Home #1)

Chapter 12

The weekend came so fast that I had never imagined I'd be able to survive with Red's teasing these past few days. Sabi ko nga sa kaniya dahil proud naman siya sa puwet niya, ipa-billboard niya nang mapalitan naman ang mga tarpaulin ng mga kandidatong ginagawang business ang politika. At least that's more bearable to see. I guess.

Everything went back to normal, like I had been able to eat a meal with Red without him calling me on Instagram or knocking nonstop outside of my bedroom door.

What's weirder for me is that Red is getting clingier now. Not that he would cling to me physically, but rather he's trying to involve me with his life.

For the past months, we have our own separate lives—me spending my leisure watching anime or playing mobile games and him doing his activities like going to the gym or reading DSM-5 or fiction books in his room.

So I don't know what has changed.

It's like a line was crossed without any warning, and now everything feels different. Ano iyon nang dahil sa puwet mas naging close kami?

At saka sure naman akong hindi kami magkaibigan ni Red. Oo, kasama ko siya sa condo but that's it.

We're just roommates after all.

But that doesn't also change a fact na palagi pa rin kaming sabay kumakain. Siya pa rin ang madalas magluto. We still talk about random stuff, like we always did. The same easy banter flows between us—he throws sarcastic remarks, I toss them right back, and we both laugh when someone spits a joke, no matter how ridiculous.

"Bakit kasi kailangan kong sumama, 'tol?" I whined, still tucked in bed.

"Mag-jo-jogging lang tayo. Hindi naman kita gagawing badjao na tumatambol sa jeep."

I rolled my eyes at him.

"Ayoko pa rin. Imbis na pahinga ang weekend, eh! Saka alas kwatro pa lang ng madaling araw, maawa ka naman."

"You always lock yourself in your room. Bihira ka na lang din maarawan. It's like you're becoming a ghost with your pale skin." Wika ni Red habang tinatanggal ang kumot na nakabalot sa katawan ko.

"Mestiso kasi ako! Walangya ka ibalik mo kumot ko. . .ang lamig."

"Get up now, Greene. I'll just wait for you in the living room." Pahayag niya nang maitupi na ang kumot at lumabas ng kwarto ko.

May choice naman akong hindi sundin si Red. Hihilata na ulit sana ako nang may marinig na sigaw.

"I know you're trying to get back to sleep again, Greene. Unless you want me to drag you out of your bed and undress you to change your clothes!" He firmly announced.

Ginulo ko ang buhok sa sinabi ni Red. Hindi ba puwedeng bawiin ko na lang sa pagkain ng maraming gulay kaysa sa mag-jogging nang ganito kaaga?

Dahil bakas ang pagiging seryoso sa boses ni Red, labag sa loob akong bumangon sa kama at naghalungkat sa cabinet ng masusuot. I wore a compression long sleeves, running shorts, and a pair of adidas. I also wore my baseball cap.

Kung minamalas ka nga naman, hindi ko pala naicharge ang airpods ko kagabi. Ayoko naman gamitin ang wired earphones dahil magiging sagabal lang ito sa pagtakbo ko.

Nang okay na ako sa suot ko, I took a mirror shot and posted it on my instagram. Hindi pa nakalipas ang isang segundo ay may naglike na agad sa story ko.

vlntnred.nati liked your story

Naks! Si active liker ko pala 'to, eh.

Lumabas na ako ng kwarto at nadatnan si Red na naghihintay sa sala. Nakatalikod siya sa akin at mukhang hindi narinig ang paglapit ko. Titig na titig siya sa kaniyang cellphone ngunit hindi ko makita ang tinitingnan dahil sa privacy screen protector.