Winning Hurricane

X - Weeds

"Emergency."

Sabay kaming nag-hilamos at nag-mumog bago lumabas ng kwarto ni Cy. I was expecting a sleeping Cane but was surprised nang makita siyang nagha-hain na sa mesa.

"Wow. Fried rice!" Ansel's eyes glimmered before running towards the table.

"Good morning," he greeted.

Lumapit nadin ako at umupo sa tabi ni Ansel. He cooked bacons and hotdogs. Nag-labas din siya ng fresh milk.

"Ang aga mo nagising," pansin ni Ansel. Umupo naman si Hurricane sa tapat ko.

"Morning person." He simply answered pero parehas kaming nag-duda ni Ansel. But well.. maybe he really is.

"How's it?" he asked. I looked up only to see him looking at me.

"Hurricane it's just fried hotdogs and bacons.. and fried rice too." Naramdaman kong inapakan ako ni Ansel.

He frowned at me. "But I appreciate it and it's masarap." Damn. May mali na talaga sakin.

I caught him smiling like a kid and his ears were red. Again. Nailing nalang ako.

On our way to condo panay lang ang kwento ni Ansel about Storm and her plans to surprise him. I just keep on nodding but my mind's back on his morning side.. his disarray hair, his lazy smile.. even how he sipped his morning coffee kept on playing in my mind.

Shit.

May hang-over ba ako? Hindi naman ako nalasing kagabi.

I tried focusing the whole day. Pinilit ko talagang hindi siya isipin and it sucks to have no control over your mind. It's too powerfully annoying.

My phone pinged habang nasa class kami. Last class for the day.

He sent a message on my instagram.

hurricanetntc: Coffee shop?

So.. he's back to joining us again?

chandrellarquiluz: Coffee bean. Ansel will be there.

hurricanetntc: ikaw?

chandrellarquiluz: can't. Have other plans.

hurricanetntc: okay. Ako din.

My brows furrowed. Huh? Akala ko naman sasama nadin siya sa coffee shop. I left him on seen bago tumayo nang mag-dismis si Doc Mel.

Hinatid ko lang si Ansel sa condo bago dumiretso sa bahay namin sa Alabang. I've been here the other day nang mag-date kami ni ate pero wala naman akong nadatnan except for the helpers.

"Hija, dadating ka pala." Manang Sally smiled pagka-labas ko sa kotse.

"Is there anyone home po?"

"Oo. Nag-luluto Lola mo. Si Charlie nasa kwarto, si Chad kakadating lang."

I nodded. Bago pumasok at dumiretso sa kitchen. Naabutan ko si Lola na nag-luluto nga. She beamed the moment she saw me. Lumapit siya agad at yumakap.

"Oh! I'm glad you visit!"

I smiled.

"Oh, go upstairs. Charlie will be happy to see you!"

Tumango lang ako bago umakyat at kumatok sa pinto ni Charlie. When I heard her voice agad akong pumasok. Nasa balcony siya. She's holding a paintbrush, her hand's full of paint. Agad siyang tumayo at tumakbo payakap sakin.

"Ate! You're here!" she's too pale. Too thin.

"Yes. What are you painting?"

She pulled me and showed me her work. "I'll donate this to the hospital."