Perfect Match (Completed)

Chapter 4 - Hangout

I don't hate Eris. I just don't like him. For one, paano ko siya magugustuhan kung wala siyang ginawa kung hindi asarin ako.

Tuwang tuwa sa kanya sila Mika dahil mapang-asar siya at masayang kasama. At okay rin ang pakikitungo niya sa kanila. Sa akin lang hindi kaya hindi ko alam kung anong problema niya sa akin.

Hindi ko rin siya maintindihan. They were times that I can tolerate him. Like when he's glaring at Jake every time Jake tries something with me. Para nga siyang bodyguard ko sa school pero pagdating naman sa dorm he's out with it. He acts like he don't know me.

So I never said my thanks for all those times he saved me from Jake.

Napapansin ko rin na nakasunod siya sa akin palabas ng room palagi at didistansya lang siya pag malayo na kami sa classroom. All the while never saying a word to me.

It's even weird that I felt comforted by his presence. Hindi ako malapitan ni Jake dahil sa kanya and find that comforting.

Even now, he tore his yellow pad into half and place the other half on my table before I could ask for one.

"Thanks." Sabi ko pero hindi ako ngumiti.

I realized that he's not that bad. Siya 'yung guardian angel ko na laging nandyan pero ayaw ng any credits. 

Wag lang niyang buksan ang bibig niya then I guess we can be civil.

Sinulyapan ko siya bago sinulat ang pangalan ko sa papel.

Nauna lang ako ng ilang minuto pauwi sa dorm. Nag-aantay ako ng elevator nung dumating siya and we waited in silence without acknowledging each other's presence. Then we went separate ways when we reached our floor.

Pagbukas ko ay sinilip ni Mika and pinto para tignan ang kabila.

"Sabay kayong umuwi?"

Ngumiwi ako. "Nagkita lang kami sa elevator."

"Hindi pa rin kayo nag-uusap? Akala ko okay ka na sa kanya?"

"Okay na ako as in hindi ko siya sinarahan ng pinto sa elevator okay." Paliwanag ko.

Tumawa lang siya at nagsuklay bago dinampot ang bag at lumabas.

Minsan lang talaga magtugma ang mga schedule naming tatlo. Like now nakauwi na ako pero papasok pa lang si Mika. Si Ate naman umaga pa umalis. That means kakain ako mag-isa or kung maaga silang uuwi.

I can always ask Cole but I've never done that. Hindi kami naghahangout kung wala ang isa sa mga roommates ko which I only find weird now.

Hindi pala talaga ako ganun kasocial na tao. I need to start hanging out with him.

Nakatulog ako ng hapon at nagising nalang ako sa text ni Ate Rox na kumatok ako sa kabila para may kasabay akong kumain.

Hindi ko pinansin ang message. Hindi ko kailangan makisabay kung may laman naman ang ref and there's always instant food.

Napakagat nalang ako sa labi ko nang pagbukas ko ng ref ay wala ako nakitang pwedeng lutuin. We don't even have a single egg.

Fine, since I told myself I'm hanging out with Cole, I gathered myself and went knocking at their door.

Pero hindi si Cole ang nagbukas ng pinto. It was Eris behind the door.

"Mor." Amusement lined his lips.

I sighed and corrected him. "Maureen."

Ngumiti lang siya. "So what's up?"

"Nandyan ba si Cole?"

"Cole?" Tumaas ang kilay niya. "Bakit mo hinanap pinsan ko?"

"Do you really ask so many questions?"

Imbes na sumagot ay nginisian lang niya ako at tinawag ang pinsan niya. He faced me again after shouting for his cousin. "Gusto mo bang pumasok? Have juice or something?"

He said but his voice said it all. Sarcasm is his second language I figured.

Unfortunately it is mine too. "No thanks unless you're personally making one for me."

His brow raised at the retort. Clearly I'm not an easy prey for him to play with. He should already know that by now.

Cole showed up before this bantering become out of hand. Nagpalipat lipat ang tingin niya sa aming dalawa before it settled on me.

"Kumain ka na? Let's eat! Wala sila Mika and Ate Rox." Sabi ko.

Hindi siya nakasagot agad dahil ngayon ko lang siya niyaya so I gave him a moment to process this.

"Tara. Saan mo gusto?" Sabi niya then glance at Eris. "I assume he's not invited?" Natatawa siya.

"I'm sure he can make something for himself?" I said loud enough for Eris to hear.

He popped his head at Cole's shoulder and smiled. "I'd prefer it if you made it for me, Mor."

"Not in this lifetime." I answered.

Cole stifled a laugh and clapped Eris' shoulder. I hid a smile.

I felt bad for not inviting Eris while waiting for Cole to get ready. Sigurado akong walang pagkain sa unit nila dahil hindi naman nagluluto si Cole at hindi naman tama na niyaya ko ang pinsan niya tapos siya hindi.

"Tara?" Cole appeared after a minute.

"Pwede rin sumama pinsan mo kung gusto niya." Sabi ko. "Kung gusto lang niya."

Lumaki ang ngisi ni Eris sa sinabi ko at ready na pala ang loko at mukhang inaantay lang na yayain ko siya but I doubt that. Sa pagkakakilala ko sa kanya, malamang sasama siya kahit hindi ko siya niyaya.

Well he did help me with Jake so...

Nauna pa si Eris sa amin maglakad papunta sa elevator.

Cole just laughed while shaking his head.

Turned out Cole is a great company. He's an amazing person. Now I know why Mika like him. You just have to hangout and bond to know if one's worth the attention.

If Cole is great, his cousin is the complete opposite. Cole is the sweet type and would get any parents approval while Eris is the type that parents warn you about.

He'd scowl and scoff when Cole said something funny and I would laugh. Or when we're talking and suddenly he would chuckle insultingly like our topic is not worth his time.

Hindi siya pinapansin ni Cole siguro sanay na sa ugali niya but I'm not.

"Anong problema mo? Sana hindi ka na sumama kung mukhang ayaw mo naman."

"When did I say that? Narinig mo ba 'yun Cole? May sinabi ba akong ayaw ko?"

I rolled my eyes. "You act like one."

"You're observing me? Tinitignan mo reaksyon ko? Hindi ko alam na naapektuhan ka pala sa mga ginagawa ko." He answered casually.

"I'm not stupid, Eris."

His brow just shot up saying otherwise. That's it. I can't tolerate his attitude anymore. Hindi ko na siya kakausapin. Kahit anong sabihin pa nila Ate Rox sa akin at kahit sipain nila ako palabas ng room hindi ko na siya ulit kakausapin.