I am done extroverting for the weekend! Enjoy this chapter I made while daydreaming about the rain. Keep safe nga pala sa mga taga Metro Manila! 😙
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Blythe's POV
Pagbukas ko ng pinto ng kuwarto ko ay siya ring pagbukas ng pintuan ng kabilang kuwarto. Nagkatinginan kami ng taong kalalabas lang doon. Walang imikan. Walang kumilos. Nagkatinginan lang kami.
Now, this ain't like those movies when two people were stupefied while looking into each other's eyes and it feels like the world stopped spinning and everything that they needed were right in front of them.
It's just not this.
Because the moment I saw her, all I wanted to do was to shoot lightning at her and watch her body burn as she dies to an imminent death. That's a little morbid but I'd pay just to see that.
From the side of my eyes I took a glance at the only bathroom in this apartment. And as if she's thinking the same, we ran towards it and grabbed hold of the door knob almost at the same time. Nauna nga lang ako dahil nasa ilalim ang kamay ko habang nakapaibabaw naman ang kamay niya sa akin. They are warm.
Erase! Erase!
"You know for a runner, you're quite slow." Pang aasar ko sa kanya.
"Damn it!" She basically withdraw her hand as I flashed her a triumphant smile. I think I saw the corner of her lips move but I don't wanna assume stupid things. As long as I have the bathroom first, I don't give a damn about her.
I took my time in the bathroom para lang mang asar. Bahala siya kung malate siya sa mga lakad niya. Are athletes morning persons? Because if they are, then she should have acted friendly towards me on the first day. Baka pagbibigyan ko pa siyang maunang gumamit ng banyo. Too bad she's an evil woman.
After taking a bath ay lumabas ako wearing my pink cotton robe. Naabutan ko siyang prenteng nakaupo sa kitchen habang humihigop ng kape at hawak sa kamy iyong house rules. Tumaas ang kilay ko dahil doon.
"We need to settle this ASAP." She's looking at me intently. Unti unting bumaba ang tingin niya at hinagod ako ng tingin. I smiled to myself. I should have wore the sexy silk robe instead.
What? Gusto mong magpaboso sa babaeng iyan? I shook my head at the thought.
"What is it?" Nilapitan ko siya.
"I made some adjustments." Inabot niya iyong papel.
Kinuha ko iyon mula sa kanya at napataas ang kilay ko nang makita ang 'adjustments' na sinasabi niya. Rule five which is the cooking rule is crossed out. Sinulatan niya iyon ng 'Buy your own groceries. Cook your own food. Wash your own dishes.' Binasa ko iyon pababa at naka cross out rin ang rule 9—the bathroom rule. Ang pinalit niya doon ay 'The use of bathroom in the morning is alphabetically arranged.'
"Anong alphabetically arranged?" nakataas ang kilay na tanong ko.
"Auburn first before Blythe. Just like Romano first before Santiago." Humigop siya sa sa kape niya tapos pailalim niya akong tiningnan.
Pagak akong tumawa. "Ano tayo? Nasa eskwelahan?"
"Hindi. Pero alas siyete ang start ng training ko. I should get ready before then. Whilst you, office starts at 8 AM if I'm not mistaken. So mauuna ako. Don't worry, I specifically wrote the amount of time I needed to use the bathroom." Tiningnan kong muli ang papel. Tama nga siya. There's a note just below her handwriting that she'll need 30 minutes in the bathroom.
"Ang dami mo pang sinabi puwede mo naman akong pakiusapan na paunahin ka nalang."
"Eventually, that won't work with you."
"And why? Do you think I'm insensitive?"
"No, but you seem to like written agreements so much so I just gave what you like."
I let out a breath and rolled my eyes. "At ano naman itong dinagdag mo sa baba?" May idinagdag siyang rule sa baba. Rule number eleven. "Mind your own business?" basa ko doon.
"Like I told you, walang pakialaman. I'll do my thing and you do yours. We have no reason to stick our noses on the things we do."
"Sounds great. At least we have one thing we can agree on."
"Great. That settles it." Tumayo na siya at lumapit sa lababo. She washed the mug that she used and returned it in the cupboard after drying it with a towel.
"Kape lang ang iniinom mo sa umaga? Hindi ka ba magbre-breakfast?" I almost sounded like a worried friend.
"Rule 3, 6, 7 and 11." Iyon lang at nilagpasan niya ako para pumasok sa banyo.
I looked up at the rules she just said at agad nag init ang ulo nang makita ang mga nakasulat sa mga rules na iyon. I stomped my feet because of frustration.
Hindi ko na alam kung paano pakikisamahan ang babaeng iyon! Lord, give me patience!
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I am currently out to eat lunch today. I needed to talk to someone desperately bago pa ako mawala sa katinuaan. And speaking of that someone, nakita ko na siyang papasok sa pintuan ng restaurant habang nakasunod sa likuran niya ang kanyang sekretarya.
May tinanong ito saglit sa staff na nasa pintuan tapos tinuro ang puwesto ko. Nagtanggal siya ng shades at kumaway sa akin. She sophisticatedly walked towards me at hindi maiwasang mapatingin sa kanya ang lahat ng taong madadaanan niya. Can't blame them.
"Do you miss me that much that you have to see me again after meeting me just a few days ago, huh, Blythe?"
"Hello to you too, Hali." Natatawang nakipag beso ako sa kanya. "And hello to you too, Jenna." Nginitian niya ako.
Umupo kami at agad may lumapit na waiter sa table namin. "I'm famished! Puwede ba akong um-order ng madami?" Excited na kinuha ni Hali ang menu.
"Order all you want. Ikaw din Jenna." I gave her a menu.
Nahihiyang kinuha nito iyon at tumingin ng makakain. Nanlaki ang mata niya at muntik na akong matawa. "Tubig nalang sa akin."
Inagaw ni Hali ang hawak na menu ni Jenna at seryosong ibinalik ang tingin sa pagpili ng pagkain. "Ako na oorder para sayo."
At dahil magkatabi sila at nasa harap nila ako ay kitang kita ko ang palihim na mga sulyap ni Jenna sa boss niya tapos tila nahihiyang ngingiti mag isa. I can't help but let out an amused laugh that made them look at me.
"May problema ba?" Taas kilay na tanong ni Hal.
"Wala. Ang cute niyo lang." sabi ko. Jenna's face turned bright red. Wala namang pake yung isa.
"Kung ano ano pinapansin mo. Buti nalang nasayo lang ang pansin ko." Dumukwang siya at pinisil ang magkabilang pisngi ko.
"Ah—ahh—aww!" Daing ko. Lakas pa rin pala ng topak ni Hali pagdating sa akin.
Sa wakas ay naka order na kami at hinihintay nalang ang pagkain. I took that chance to tell Hali the reason why I called her out for lunch.
"I need help, Hal."
"Uh-oh. Sounds serious."
"It is. In fact, it's a matter of life and death situation." Hindi siya sumagot kaya nagpatuloy ako. "I think one of these days I might commit a murder."
Her eyes twinkled. "Cool. Do you need an accomplice?"
"Sure. It's your sister by the way." I said it in an almost monotonous voice like it's a normal thing to kill someone. And yes, I've never been serious about things like these before.
"Which sister?" she said, amused.
"The eldest one." Saying her name will send chills in my bones, so uh-uh.
"Auburn, huh?"
Saktong dumating ang order naming pagkain. I just observed how Hali put food on Jenna's plate and telling her to eat up. Halos lumuwa ng iba't ibang putahe ang plato nito pagkatapos. Hindi naman
"So, you were saying, Blythe?" Binalik niya ang atensiyon sa akin.
"Tatanungin lang sana kita kung ano ang puwede kong gawin para kahit papano ay makasundo ko yung kapatid mo. Because I guess killing her is not an option."
"Haha, no. You'll have to deal with Gaia if you tried to kill one of us."
I nod at that realization. "So, what can you suggest? I mean, you guys know that she's living with me—not with me, but with me, like a decent housemate and everything." I struggled to find the right words. "I wrote this house rules but she eventually wants to live the way she wanted. Eh papano nga niya gagawin iyon kung literal na kasama niya ako. How about house chores? And schedules and curfews and—ugh! She just shut me out Hal!"
"Wow. I didn't know you have a lot against my sister."
"Girl, you have no idea."
"Hmmm, Auburn is really like that. I mean, siya kasi ang pinakamatagal na naging independent sa amin. Her being an athlete made her isolated to other humans other than her fellow athletes. She struggles to communicate like a normal person sometimes. Kaya kung nahihirapan kang pakisamahan siya, maybe that's because she's still trying to figure out how she'll act towards people. Though I doubt that when it comes to you." Halos pabulong nalang iyong last part na sinabi niya kaya di ko halos marinig.
"I practically told her to at least act civil with me."
"Maybe you also need to do your part. Hindi ko sinasabing maging friends kayo agad, but make her think that she can approach you."
"What do you mean?"
"Offer her a truce but don't tell her verbally. Show her. Greet her good morning like a normal person greeting another person. Ask her how's her day kapag dumating siya para lang masabi na na-notice mo pagdating niya. Ask her if she wants to come with you kapag may lakad ka para kunwari hindi ka nagkulang sa pag imbita bilang housemate niya, and besides, that's an informal way of saying na aalis ka."
"Are you saying that I should not be direct? Like if I will have my coffee in the morning, magreready ako ng good for two persons para maidamay na siya since pareho lang naman kaming nagkakape sa umaga."
"Yes! Exactly. And when you can feel that she's softening up already, ask her kung puwede na ba kayo maging mag kaibigan."
"You make it sound like it's an easy thing to do."
"Oh Blythe," naghiwa siya ng maliit na piraso sa steak niya at iniumang ang tinidor niya sa akin. Kinain ko naman iyon. "You'll be surprised how much effect you have on people. And Auburn is not an exception. Trust me." Kanin naman ngayon ang binibigay niya sa akin.
For the next couple of minutes, hindi ko namamalayan na sinusubuan pala ako ni Hali. "Ano ba Hal, nakakahiya naman kay Jenna." Pansin kong tahimik lang sa tabi si Jenna habang nakayukong kumakain.
"Ang dami mo kasing sinasabi, hindi ka tuloy makakain. Say ahhh," she's giving me a spoonful of food now.
Umiling ako at tinaas ang kamay. "Busog na ako."
"Ha? Eh hindi pa natin nakakalahati itong mga pagkain."
"Bakit kasi ang dami mong in-order?" Uminon ako ng tubig. "Jenna, kumain ka pa." I pushed towards her the other plates of foods.
"B-Busog na din ako."
"Kaya ang payat mo eh, kasi hindi ka kumakain kapag pinapakain ka." Hali started to fill her plate again. Nanlalaki naman ang mga mata ni Jenna.
We continued talking until it's time for us to get back to our works. Ako lang pala dahil mukhang may balak pang puntahan ang dalawa—or should I say si Hali, dahil wala namang magagawa si Jenna bilang siya ang sekretarya niya.
"Thanks for giving me ideas Hal," I said as I walk them to their car. Pinagbuksan sila agad ng driver ni Hali.
"No problem. Just remember to take it slow with Auburn kasi baka masunggaban ka niyon ng wala sa oras. Irresistible ka pa naman." Natatawang saad niya.
I snorted at her choice of adjectives. "You mean baka ma creep out siya kapag masyado akong nag feeling close agad? Yung kapatid mo kasi mukhang allergic sa kabaitan eh."
"Just...treat her the way you want to be treated and you'll both be fine. Auburn was once innamorato with you, afterall."
"Wha—" bago pa ako makapagtanong kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin doon ay mabilisan niya akong nahalikan sa pisngi at tinulak si Jenna papasok sa kotse at agad rin siyang sumunod. Ang pinaka ayaw ko pa man din sa lahat ay iyong naiiwan akong clueless.
Wala na akong nagawa kundi ang ihatid ng tingin ang papalayong sasakyan ni Hali. Sa susunod ko nalang siguro siya tatanungin. Di bale, talking to her was a great idea dahil alam ko na kung papano patayin—este, paamuhin kahit konti ang nag iisang Auburn Romano.
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Maaga akong umuwi. Dahil may sarili na akong sasakyan—motor rather, sinadya ko talagang agahan ang pag uwi para maumpisahan ko na ang plano ko.
Operation Truce.
I will start by making dinner. Sosobrahan ko kunwari para pagdating ng housemate ko ay may pagkain akong mai-offer sa kanya.
"Treat her the way you want to be treated." Naalala kong sabi ni Hali. So I came up with a plan to do her as much favor as possible so when it's time for me to ask for one, it's like asking for a payback on all the good things I've done for her. Magtatanim ako ng utang na loob sa kanya. Great, right?
Sinarapan ko ang luto kong sinigang na hipon. Kinantahan ko pa nga habang niluluto iyon para may touch of TLC.
TLC? Are you kidding me? You almost sounded like an excited girlfriend cooking dinner for a lover! My mind shouted. At dahil doon ay napatigil ako saglit sa ginagawa at napaisip. Am I just doing these things to earn her trust?
"Jeez, civilized. Do it for world peace." Kausap ko sa sarili ko.
After cooking ay kumain rin ako agad. Naisip ko kasi na kung hihintayin ko siyang dumating at yayaing sumabay sa akin ay baka hindi umubra yung 'indirectness' ng mga actions ko. The point here is to make her think that I am considering her subconsciously.
I took a bath and changed into a maroon cami and tap shorts. I also slipped on my pink leg warmers dahil medyo nilalamig ako sa hangin na binubuga ng aircon. Hindi ko na iblo-blow dry ang buhok ko at hahayaan ko nalang iyong nakalugay hanggang matuyo. Tatambay pa naman ako sa living room para gumawa ng lab reports eh.
I turned on the television at hinayaan lang na may mag play na channel doon. Gusto ko lang na may kaunting ingay kahit nasa laptop naman talaga ang pansin ko. I slouched on the couch and put my feet up on the table. Saglit kong in-admire ang pink na kulay ng leg warmers ko lol! With a throw pillow on my lap habang nakapatong doon ang laptop ko, I started doing my lab reports.
Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras na akong naka focus sa trabaho. Basta naramdaman ko nalang na may nakatingin sa akin. At tama nga ako, dahil pagtingin ko sa gilid ko ay nakatayo doon si Auburn habang titig na titig...sa mga binti ko. Hindi ko man lang narinig ang pagdating niya. Muntikan na akong matawa sa hitsura niya. This is not part of the plan but I was celebrating inside dahil hindi naman pala siya immune sa magagada, char!
"Hey," I broke the silence. I was about to ask her kung kumain na siya but that would be awkward and direct.
"Hey," maikli rin niyang sagot. Nagtatanggal siya ng sapatos at doon ko lang napansin na mas maayos siyang tingnan ngayon. Naligo muna siguro ito bago siya umuwi dahil nakasuot na siya ng t-shirt at jeans unlike yesterday.
May inilapag siyang isang supot sa center table at nakita kong puro cup noodles ang nandoon. Don't tell me na iyon lang ang kakainin niya?
"If you haven't eaten yet, may sobrang ulam sa kitchen. Napadami kasi ang luto ko." Sabi ko habang hindi tinatanggal ang tingin sa laptop at kunwaring may ginagawa ako doon.
"No, thanks."
I inhaled to keep myself from getting mad. Here I am making world peace possible pero sinusupalpal ako ng babaeng ito. "Nagsasabi lang naman ako. It's not as if I cooked for you. Besides, mas masarap ang legit na hipon kaysa sa..." I took one cup noodles from the plastic bag. "Spicy seafood noodles. But it's up to you." Tumayo ako at inayos ang mga gamit ko. Bitbit ang mga iyon ay naglakad ako papasok sa kuwarto. "Ikaw na magpatay ng tv at mga ilaw. Paki check nalang din kung naka lock na ang pinto pag matutulog ka na."
I did not wait for her answer. Nang nasa loob na ako ng kuwarto ay nagbilang ako ng ilang segundo bago dahang dahang binuksan ang pinto. I opened it wide enough to look at what's she doing.
Through the small gap I made, I saw her walking towards the kitchen and checked if I'm telling the truth about the food. Napakagat ako sa labi ko to keep myself from smiling widely dahil sumandok siya doon. Hindi pa ako nakuntento sa nakita ko kaya I stayed to watch a little bit longer. I watched until I saw her took the first bite.
And I definitely watched as she smiled after that.
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(Media: Blythe)