Nessa and I had a blast last night. Eleven na kami umuwi at hindi pa noon natatapos ang cook fest. Kung hindi ko pa siya nakitang humikab ay hindi pa sana ako umuwi. I thought she would wake up late but after my morning workout, nadatnan ko siyang inaasikaso ang laundry.
"Good morning," bati ko sa kaniya.
"Oy, gising ka na pala!"
"Kumain ka na?"
Her eyes darted on the wall clock. "Mag-aalas dies na. Kung ang tinutukoy mo ay agahan, oo naman."
"I woke up kinda late."
"May pagkain ka sa lamesa. I-reheat mo na lang."
"I'm not hungry. Anyway, kakasimula mo pa lang bang maglaba?"
She nodded. "Inuuna ko 'tong mga puti. May isasabay ka pa ba?"
Since I was wearing a white compression shirt, I decided to take it off. I gave it to her. "Puwede bang isabay kahit medyo basa pa ng pawis?"
She cleared her throat. "Oo naman, bakit hindi?"
Sinalang na niya ang washing machine at may mga pinindot. When the clothes inside started tumbling, she continued sorting out the denim and cotton fabrics.
"Bakit nandito ka pa? May kailangan ka pa?" she asked.
"Hmm, wala naman. I'll stay here."
"Wala ka bang ibang gagawin?"
I leaned on the wall with my arms crossed over my chest. "Why does it feel like you don't want me here?"
"Hindi sa gano'n, oy!"
"Then what?"
"Puwede bang magsuot ka ng t-shirt?" tumayo siya.
I noticed her eye raking my torso. I also noticed the slight movement of her throat. Did she just swallow?
"Why, am I making you uncomfortable?" I asked, trying my best to sound baritone.
She took a deep breath, her eyes still discreetly glancing at me. . . although she is not really doing a good job at doing it secretly. I slowly advanced toward her. Umatras siya so I kept walking. Tumigil lang siya nang tumama siya sa washing machine. Pinatong ko ang mga kamay ko sa ibabaw ng washing machine at napapagitnaan siya ng mga ito. Our bodies were so close to each other. She looked away.
"Jackson," she managed to whisper.
"Yes, Nessa?"
"Amoy pawis ka."
I stifled a gasp. Lumayo ako sa kaniya nang kaunti bago nagpigil ng ngiti. "Mabaho ba ako?"
Umiling siya. "Hindi ko naman masasabing mabaho. Siguro mabantot lang."
"And what's the difference?"
"Kapag mabantot, slight lang."
I chuckled before turning my back on her. "Magsa-shower na nga ako! Mamaya maging mabaho pa ako, eh!"
Narinig ko ang pagbulong niya pero hindi ko na 'yon pero hindi ko na 'yon pinansin. Before I took a shower, I texted Kasper, my cousin, Rouge, asking if I could crash by his place. May mga plano akong gustong tanungin sa kaniya, but he said he's too busy with his family. I went to my last resort, Chaos. Ayaw ko pa sanang siya ang lapitan ko dahil kailang lang ay inaasar ko pa siya.
I texted him and asked him if I could go to his place. Tapos na raw ang mga trabaho niya kaya ayos lang. I sighed and went to shower. Before I turned the water on, inamoy ko ang sarili ko kung mabaho ba ako kagaya ng sinasabi ni Nessa sa akin. I couldn't even smell anything. What is she on about?
I thoroughly cleaned my body. Pagkatapos no'n ay naglagay pa ako ng maraming pabango, deodorant at body lotion at saka nagsuot ng maayos na damit. I went back to Nessa at saktong isinasalang niya ang iba pang damit sa washing machine.
"Naligo na ako," I said.
She looked at me with an eyebrow raised. "Oh, tapos?"
"Amuyin mo ako, mabango na ulit ako."
She made a face kaya ako na ang lumapit sa kaniya. Hindi pa man ako nakakalapit nang tuluyan nang takpan niya ang bibig at ilong niya. Sumighot pa siya at saka nagtakip ulit.
"Ikaw ba 'yong naaamoy ko?"
"Mabango ba?" I countered, grinning.
"Ang tapang ng pabango mo! Nakakahilo ang amoy mo, Jackson!"
I heaved a deep sigh. I knew spraying too much body cologne isn't good. What was I thinking?
"Ano ba'ng gusto mong amoy ko?" I finally spat. "I didn't smell bad earlier and you said I did."
"Ba't ka galit?" she said sarcastically.
"Damn it, I was trying to smell good for you. Ayaw mo ba talaga sa amoy ko?"
Napaawang ang bibig niya. "Seryoso ka ba sa mga sinasabi mo?"
"Ano ba'ng pakialam ko sa amoy mo at parang concious na concious ka naman diyan?"
"Because I am! Nakakahiya sa 'yo kung sakaling mabaho ako."
"At bakit ka mahihya, eh ako ang katulong sa ating dalawa? Boss kita, Jackson. Bakit ka naman mahihiya sa akin?"
Natutop ko ang sarili kong bibig. Para akong nawalan ng salitang sasabihin. Tama nga naman siya. Maybe from her point of view, I was a total weirdo. I cleared my throat trying to save myself from total embarassment.
"Baka lang naman kasi mabaho ako tapos ayaw mo sa amoy ko, nahihiya ka lang magsabi."
Humaba ang nguso niya. "Nagbibiro lang naman ako kaniya. Sorry ha, seryosong tao ka pala."
Kinuha ko ang basket na may lamang mga damit na tapos nang isalang sa washing. "Are you gonna hang these?"
"Oo, hindi ko na ida-dryer dahil mataas naman ang sikat ng araw. Matutuyo 'yan bago matapos ang araw."
"Ako na."
Tumango lang siya at saka naiwan doon. Binuhat ko iyon at saka sinampay sa likod ng bahay. Sumunod din siya dala ang isa pang basket.
"Maraming salamat sa pagtulong sa akin," she said.
"It's nothing." I hesitated to talk. "Was I acting weird?"
She shook her head but her body language stated otherwise. Hindi na lang ako nagpumilit at nanahimik na lang. I guess she's not comfortable with things like that. If I wanna get close to her, I guess I have to build a strong foundation for our friendship first. But how the fuck am I gonna do that?
"I'm going to meet a friend for dinner," I informed her. "Magluto ka na lang mamaya ng para sa 'yo lang."
I didn't wanna tell her I'm going to Chaos'. I'm sure she's fangirl over him and I'm not in the mood to listen to it. Or maybe I could use him to my advantage?
Paano kung gamitin ko si Chaos para mas maging close kami ni Nessa? I could take her to press conference, fan meetings. . . but that would only make her like him more. . .
That's not good, I told myself.
Pagkatapos niyang maglaba, umalis na kaagad ako. I used my motorcycle to drive towards Chaos' place. Akala ko ay siya lang madaratnan ko pero kasama niya roon si Maj. Since he was my best friend, I just barged in and found them snuggling in his couch watching a Rom-Com movie.
"Since when did you like watching Rom-Com?" I teased when I got seated.
"Oh, ayaw mo ba?" Maj asked innocently. "You said it's one of your favorite genres."
Chaos' face flushed red. "It is. Hindi lang alam ni Jackson dahil hindi naman kami madalas manood nang magkasama."
"Dude, I know almost everything about you." I grinned.
"Well, almost everything. You don't know everything, Jack."
"Bakit defensive ka?"
"Oh, what the-"
"Chaos!" Maj yelled.
Chaos looked defeated. "Maj, I wasn't gonna cuss."
I held back my laughter. Submissive yata ang gago.
"Ano ba kasi ang pinunta mo rito?" inis na singhal ni Chaos sa akin.
"Can't we wait until Maj isn't here? It's kind of a bro thing."
Chaos raised his eyebrow and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "No, Maj will hear whatever you wanna hear."
"I'll keep it a secret. I promise!" panggagatong pa ni Maj.
I sulked, but I'm sure I can't do anything. "I think I like someone. I don't know. . . I'm not sure."
"Paano mo nasasabing gusto mo siya pero hindi ka sigurado?" Chaos asked.
"Hindi pa kasi kami magkakilala nang matagal. I like her vibes. Gusto ko siyang maging kaibigan, but everytime I try to make a move, I do something stupid."
"What did you like about her?"
"Her vibes. Her Mom told me a lot about her and meeting her in person makes me wanna be her friend."
"Then be a fucking normal person and try to befriend her."
Mukhang hindi nagustuhan ni Maj ang pagmumura ni Chaos. Pinitik niya ang bibig ng kaibigan ko. Nag-sorry naman kaagad si Chaos. It still baffles me how an innocent looking woman can tame my best friend like this.
"Do you think I like her?"
Nagkibit-balikat si Chaos ngunit hindi nagsalita. Maj was the one who answered. "You said it yourself, hindi mo pa siya gaanong kakilala. Try to befriend her first just like what Chaos said and time will tell if you like her or not."
Kumunot ang noo ko. "Befriend her? Paano? I beceome awkward around her."
There was a sly smile on Maj's lips. "Maybe kilalanin mo muna siya? If you know a person, being friends wouldn't be hard."
With what she said, things just got more complicated.