Note: This is a work of fiction. All characters and events in this story are entirely fictional. Vocabulary, grammar, and punctuation errors may occur.
6
Maui shoots a ping pong ball at a cup. She takes the cup and drinks it in one go. "Putcha, patis!" Tinawanan ng malakas ni Kelio ang itsura ni Maui. Hahampasin sana siya ni Maui, "Ops! Birthday ko." Turo niya kay Maui. Ayan pinakyuhan nalang siya.
It's Kelio's birthday. Niyaya niya kami sa isang bar para magcelebrate. Nandito kaming lahat. Pati na rin sina Brie. "Chug, chug, chug!", "RAAAAH!!" Alan puts both of his arms up after chugging beer. I turned to Henry who was beside me. He isn't holding any glass.
"Bakit hindi ka nainom?"
"I'll have to drive us home."
Nga pala, sabay kaming pumunta rito. Pinapasabay niya na rin ako.
I suddenly chuckled at how he said 'home'. Napatingin siya sa akin at tinaas ang kilay. "Nothing." I waved a hand. He studied my face. "Crazy." He mumbled.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing." Sinabi niya kung paano ko sinabi.
I squinted my eyes at him. Now, we're having a staring contest. Onti-onti na akong nalalasing.
Our contest was interrupted. "Reia, tara sayaw!" Maui and Feli pull my arms to the dance floor while Brie pushes my back.
"I turn my chin music up and I'm puffing my chest..."
I move my hips and shoulders, dancing to the music. The girls do too. "We're gonna get more drinks!" Brie and Feli went back to the table with Henry and the others. Hindi talaga siya umiinom.
Habang sumasayaw, bigla akong nawalan ng balanse at natisod. Mabuti hindi ako tuluyang natumba. High heels pa kasi ang suot ko. Tumingin ako sa paligid kung may nakakita.
"Nathan?"
He turned when he heard his name, "Reia." Naglakad siya papalapit sa akin.
"Anong ginagawa mo dito?"
"Just drinking with a few friends. You..."
"Sorry?" I couldn't hear him because of the loud music. He leans in closer. "I said you look amazing." He leans back and smiled, "Oh, thank you!"
I looked over my shoulder and saw Maui winking at me with her mouth open. Katabi niya si Kelio. Nakabuka rin ang bibig. Bumalik ang tingin ko kay Nathan na nginitian sila. "Nathan!" One of his friends called him.
"I'll go now."
"See you!" I wave.
Nang mawala na siya, tumabi sina Maui at Kelio sa akin. "Omg, sino yon?" Tanong ni Kelio. "Nathan. Kapatid ng boyfriend ng pinsan ko." Inisip pa ni Kelio. "Ang pogi, mare!" Maui squealed. I shook my head and looked over to our table. Henry had disappeared.
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"Happy birthday ulit, Kelio!"
"Thanks!"
Hinatid nina Kelio at Feli sina Maui, Brie, at Alan since they passed out. Henry and I are heading back to our apartment.
Tinanggal ko ang heels ko at minasahe ito. "I am not wearing high heels again when dancing," I said while massaging my heel. "Or maybe you're just clumsy." He spoke. Kumunot ang noo ko at tumingin sa kanya. His eyes remained on the road.
"Nakita mo 'yon?"
He doesn't say anything, but he places his elbow behind the glass window and covers his mouth with his hand. I see his cheeks slowly rising. "Oh my God, nakita mo 'yon!" He snickered softly which made my cheeks heat up.
"Shut up."
"I wasn't saying anything."
"You were laughing at me."
He snickers again. "See!"
We both turned to the cup holder where my phone had started ringing. "Hello?" I picked up the phone and answered. "Hi, Reia. It's me." A familiar voice spoke. "Nathan, hi."
"Are you busy tomorrow?"
"Uh, no. I'm free until tomorrow."
"I was wondering if we could go to the movies together."
"Movies?"
I glanced at Henry. His face was now blank, focused on driving. "My friend got two tickets to a movie but pero hindi siya natuloy so binigay niya sakin."
"Oh, I see."
I turn again to Henry as he runs a hand to his mouth.
"Sure, we could go."
"Great. I'll pick you up tomorrow."
"Mhm. See you." I ended the call and put my phone inside my bag.
"You two going out?" Napalingon ako sa kanya nang bigla siyang magtanong. "Nathan and me? Uh, yeah." He blinked. I watch his jaw work as his eyes stay on the road. "Not dating. I mean like going out to watch a movie." I shake my head. He hummed in response. I watch the lights in Rockwell as we drove in silence until we got home.
_____________
"I still can't believe he died in the end."
"I know, right? It's so sad."
Hinatid niya ako sa harap ng apartment. "Thank you for today, Nathan. You didn't have to come up here." I said as he just smiled. "It's really fun being with you." He tells me. I smile in return. "Goodnight, Reia.", "Goodnight."
Today, Nathan and I went to the movies. Mas nakikilala na namin ang isa't isa. Binuksan ko ang pintuan sa unit. Napatingin ako sa kitchen counter kung saan nakabukas ang ilaw. I see Henry and he's—
Oh.
My.
God.
He paused when he saw me. "Are you dipping Oreo in orange juice?!" Tumakbo ako patungo sa kanya. "Jesus..." He was startled by my loud ass gasp.
I can't believe it. Agad akong kumuha ng sarili kong baso at nagsalin ng orange juice. Kumuha din ako ng oreo at sinawsaw ito sa juice. Sinamaan niya ako ng tingin habang ngumunguya ako, "Akin 'yan." He looks cute though. "Woops, sorry." I hold up a peace sign and smile. His mouth twitches and he chuckled. And oh, the sound of his chuckle.
"Bakit ka natawa?"
"You got some Oreo on your teeth." He pointed at my teeth. "Bungal."
Nanlaki ang mata ko nang tawagin niya akong bungal. Tinakpan ko ang bibig ko at binaba ang daliri niya. He chuckled again. "Who taught you this?" I asked, dipping another oreo in the orange juice. He looks at me for a moment. Then, he looks away.
"Someone."
"Well, kung sino man siya," I put both my thumbs up, "They know best. They're the best!" I eat the cookie in one bite. His lips form into a small smile. Yet it made my heart thump. I drop the Oreo on the juice, and it splatters.
"You're making a mess."
"What mess?"
Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at pinulot si Helia. I placed her on the counter. She licks the orange juice that splattered. "Your mommy's making you lick the counter." Umangat ang tingin ko kay Henry na nakakunot ang noo. "You like orange juice, baby?" Paghaplos ko sa ulo ni Helia, hindi siya pinansin. He shakes his head while I chuckle.
_____________
I walk to my apartment, coming home from work. I asked Henry again to take care of Helia while I was away. Helia's starting to spend more time with him.
Pagbukas ko ng pinto, may naamoy ako agad na mabango. Sobrang bango. Amoy na amoy siya sa labas. The door wasn't even fully opened. It smells so good!
When I entered, I saw my roommate in the kitchen, wearing an apron. I move my luggage to the side. Hindi pa niya ako napapansin. Lumapit si Helia sa akin at umikot, "Hi, baby." I whispered. I narrowed my eyes at the kitchen counter. Henry Clarke was freaking baking cookies.
Pumunta ako sa kusina at tumabi sa kanya. "What're those?" Nabigla siya nang magsalita ako. His brows furrowed, then relaxed. "Snowball cookies." He replied, taking the tray of cookies out of the oven. "Para saan?" Tanong ko ulit. "Was craving for it," He places the tray on the table. "A gift for Tita Irene too." Tita Irene probably told him to call her that. She is everyone's Tita. "Right! Birthday niya ngayon."
Habang pinapalamig niya ang cookies, lumipat ako sa kanan ko kung saan may gawa nang cookies. Inangat ko ang plato at inamoy ito. "Oh, that smells good." I said 'oh' as I moaned it. Lumingon siya sa akin at tumawa ng mahina.
"Bakit?"
"You got some powdered sugar on your nose." He wipes my nose with his two fingers. Naramdaman kong uminit ang pisngi ko. He pursed his lips, fighting a smile. He went back to rolling the cookies in the sugar. Bumaba ang tingin ko kay Helia na ngumyaw.
I take my phone from my pocket and check my reflection on the black screen. Henry did not remove the powdered sugar from my nose. Instead, he added more. He chuckled softly when I realized. "You." Inirapan ko siya. Sinasaw ko ang tatlong daliri ko sa powdered sugar para ipahid sa kanya. I failed.
He avoided my fingers by placing his palm on my face, pushing me away. Nasakop ang buong mukha ko ng malaki niyang kamay. Ang malaki niyang kamay na puno ng powdered sugar. "Oh, shit." He removes his hand from my face. I gasped so loudly it echoed throughout the entire unit. Hindi kami gumalaw at tinitigan ang isa't isa. The longer he looked at me, he snorts and then laughs. I check my phone again to see my face.
"Mukha ka nang espasol."
"Henry!"
He laughs harder.
He steps back while laughing, still trying to avoid my powdered fingers. Tumatawa siya. And I don't want him to stop. "Halika dito!" We ran around the kitchen like silly teenagers. Naabot ko ang kanang pisngi niya. Pero nasampal ko iyon.
"Ouch."
"Oh, my God! I'm sorry!"
I cup his right cheek. Our eyes meet. His eyes roamed around my face and laughs, and so did I. "You look ridiculous." I melted at the way he smiled. Damn it, he's gorgeous.
We turned to the door when we heard it creak. "Oh my." Nathan and Tita Irene's peeked behind the door. "The door was...slightly open.", "May...naamoy din akong mabango." They both seemed surprised. Ang dungis-dungis ba naman namin. Nalimutan kong may lakad kami ni Nathan. I was supposed to take Helia on a walk, and he asked if he could come. "Uh, saglit lang. I'll just change." I was still in my flight attendant uniform. "Happy Birthday, Tita Irene!" I would hug and kiss her on the cheek if it weren't for the powdered sugar on my face. Kumaway nalang ako sa kanya. "Oh, thank you, Reia!" She waved back. As I rushed to my room, I heard Henry clear his throat. "For you, Tita Irene."
_____________
I released Helia's leash so she could walk around the grass. Sinusundan namin siya ni Nathan sa paglakad niya. "You still have some on your cheek." Turo niya sa ibabang pisngi ko. "Oh." I chuckled and wiped it. Nathan and I have been going out a lot because of Thalia. She sets us up most of the time.
I suddenly remembered what just happened there. The sound of Henry's laugh. I pray he doesn't eat all the cookies and leaves some for me.
Biglang huminto sa paglalakad si Nathan kaya napatigil din ako.
"What's wrong?"
"I think we should stop."
"Stop...walking?"
Tumawa siya ng mahina, "Going out." I gave him a confused look. He spoke, "Alam kong kaibigan lang ang tingin mo sakin."
I pursed my lips. "I'm sorry, Nathan. You're really a great guy pero–"
"It's okay." He chuckled and gave me a reassuring smile. I did the same. "We can actually still be friends though.", "I'd really prefer that." We both chuckled and started walking again.
"So, he's the guy you like?"
"Who?"
"The pilot. Yung roommate mo. Henry, right?"
_____________
"Okay, alin sa dalawa?" Maui holds up two plates with different designs. We're at a mall in Japan. Naghahanap si Maui ng dinnerware for her apartment. I pick up the plate that looked similar to the one we had at the apartment. The one where he put the cookies he baked. Bigla kong naalala ang sinabi ni Nathan. "The guy I like?" I muttered to myself. "Ha?"
Henry's face flashes through my mind. His stupid handsome face. Lumipat ang tingin ko sa puso kong biglang tumitibok-tibok.
"Oh my God, Maui."
"Ano?"
"I think I'm falling for Henry. I think I like him!"
I slowly lose grip on the plate. Maui takes the plate from my hand before I drop it. "Mahulog ka na wag lang yung plato."
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