CHAPTER FOURTEEN
He came for me.
"Thank you po, Sir!" Brooklyn said, flashing a smile on her face.
"No problem," Ressler responded, glancing at me.
"What?" I said, raising my eyebrows at him.
He smirked. "You didn't bring your inhaler on purpose."
What the hell?
"Excuse me? You're expecting too highly of yourself," I said, annoyed with what he just said.
"Sir, why don't you stay here with us for tonight? Ano'ng oras na rin kasi, malayo pa ang biyahe pabalik ng Vera," Marcus said, cutting the conversation between us.
My eyes widened.
"No!" I shouted. Napatingin silang lahat sa 'kin.
"Tam," Marcus warned me.
I couldn't let him stay with us for tonight. Ayoko. Lugi ako. May girlfriend na siya. Hangga't maaari nga ayaw ko na talaga siyang makita.
Everytime I see him, I feel like universe is slapping me on my face.
"Can I do that?" Ressler asked Marcus, not minding what I've said.
"Yes, Sir. Tara na sa loob," Marcus said and showed him in.
Okay?
F*ck.
I have no choice. Hindi ko naman bahay 'to. Nakakainis lang si Marcus kasi alam niya na ngang iniiwasan ko si Ressler, aba nag-offer pang patuluyin dito! My God. Minsan talaga 'di mo alam kung nananadya ang kaibigan mo.
"I'll cook," Ressler insisted as we finished setting up the kitchen.
"Nako, Sir! 'Wag na po! Umupo na lang po kayo!" natatarantang sabi ni Brook.
Ressler chuckled. "You can call me Ressler when we're not inside the campus. And also, stop being too formal when you talk to me. I'm just 24," Ressler said, flashing an innocent smile from his face.
"Oh. Then I'll do that. Awkward rin kasi tawagin kang Sir and mag-po at opo sa 'yo knowing na dalawang taon lang tanda mo sa 'kin," Marcus said frankly. I chuckled. Napatingin tuloy sa 'kin si Ressler.
"He's my age, and he's also a second courser," sabi ko kay Ressler habang tinuturo ko si Marcus. Ressler nodded. He wasn't aware na pati si Marcus ay second courser tulad ko. Now he knows.
"It's settled then," Ressler said, leaving us no choice as he started claiming the kitchen.
* * *
"Woah, you're a good cook," Marcus said after taking a bite of Ressler's glazed chicken wings.
"Thanks," Ressler responded.
"Ah! Sarap ng Carbonara mo, Sir—I mean, Kuya Ressler!" Brook giggled.
Okay, Tam. Kalma.
Ngayon lang ako makakatikim ng luto niya kasi hindi niya naman talaga ako pinapansin dati.
"Tikman mo na, Tam, dali," Brook demanded.
Para akong judge sa cooking show dahil inaabangan talaga nila 'yong pagsubo ko at kung ano ang magiging reaction ko.
After ko sumubo ng isa, nanlaki ang mata ko at sunod-sunod akong sumubo ulit.
"Never been a fan of glazed chicken wings. Ngayon lang!" I said with amusement.
I saw Ressler smiled as he saw my reaction.
Did he just smile? For real? Or am I just imagining things?
"Huy nakalimutan ko sabihin kanina, Tam. Nag-text sa 'kin kanina si Kuya Zild, kinakamusta ka. Hindi ka na raw kasi nag-reply kanina," biglang sabi ni Brook kaya nabulunan ako.
Marcus handed me a glass of water and ininom ko agad 'yon.
"Nalimutan ko i-charge phone ko. Na-drain kanina batt ko eh," I explained.
Baka nag-aalala na 'yon. 'Di bale, after kumain charge ko na agad phone ko para i-text siya.
Nagmadali akong tapusin ang kinakain ko at agad na dumiretso sa taas para mag-charge ng phone sa kuwarto.
Hey, I'm sorry I forgot to charge my phone, lumabas kasi kami kanina. Nag-dinner ka na?
I almost dropped my phone when Ressler suddenly appeared in front of me.
"What the hell? Papatayin mo 'ko sa gulat!" I groaned.
"Are you really dating my cousin?" he asked, raising his brow at me.
"Why does it bother you?" I rolled my eyes. "Mind your own business, please," I said, annoyed with his sudden question.
"If you're going to text him all night, why didn't you bring him here with you instead?" tanong niya pa ulit kaya tiningnan ko talaga siya ng masama.
My phone buzzed with a text from Zild.
Di pa ko kumakain. Can you make something for me?
Huh? How can I make food for you? I'm out of town, Zild.
I'm outside.
Agad akong natigilan nang mabasa ko ang reply niya. Dali-dali akong tumayo para sumilip sa bintana and I saw him standing outside, leaning on his car.
Lumingon ako kay Ressler and flashed him a smirk.
"I didn't bring him here with me, but he came for me instead," pagyayabang ko.