Chapter 13
Burger
"I miss eating these kind of food." I clapped my hands as I watch Apollo take out the food that we bought in a drive tru of a fast-food chain.
I eagerly took a fries and dump it my my already craving mouth. I let out a soft moan as the salty and greasy taste of the famous fried potato melts in my mouth.
I grabbed next the burger with an extra-extra mayonaise because there is no ketchup, I'm allergic to it. Each bite of the burger was an ecstacy of flavors. I am happily eating when I notice that Apollo has been silent the whole time. I look at him but quickly regretting it.
He's looking at me in a weird way again.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" nilunok ko ang kinakain ko kasabay ng paglunok ko sa nang-yari kanina. Shame on me! Remind me again why I hug him back?
"What?" he ask. He shifted his seat angle and face me completely. I gave him horrified look as he did that.
"What are you doing? Stop. Don't give me that look." I warn him. He just supply me a devilish smile. I hate that smile.
"What look?" he ask me. He lean in slowly to me and all I can do is close my eyes and wait him. I was expecting something when I felt him take a bite to my burger.
Tumingin ako kay Apollo na ngumunguya na saka tumingin sa nakagatan ko nang burger. That was my burger! I already taken a bite from it.
"Hey, that's unfair! You have your own." galit-galitan kong bulyaw sa kanya. Gosh he can ask me naman eh, why did he do something like that pa kasi.
Masakit umasa.
I pretend to get something behind my back to hide my face blushing. He chuckled at my behaviour.
"I thought it was weird when you order that combination. But now that I've tasted it, t'was actually good." he said smiling. I glare at him but he just wink at me.
Stop my fast beating heart. How rude of him oblivion to the effects of his actions.
I remember a while back the way he look at me nung sinabi ko ang choice of burger ko. I just rolled my eyes at him and extremely insisted no ketchup, nag-aalangan pa itong sabihin ang order ko but did it anyway.
Apollo sighed in contentment. Nilagay nito ang dalawang kamay sa likod nito para suporta bago tumingin sa taas at pumikit. He inhaled a large amount of air then exhale loudly.
A smile crept to my face as I stare at him. His face imitates the peacefulness of the sea. The waves are under his spell and submissively calm. We are both currently sitting at the beach side near at our house. I am sitting at his white polo uniform disguised as mat.
After my drama kanina sa school, he dragged me at his car and droved to the nearest drive tru to buy some snacks. Pinigilan ko pa nga ito thinking Nanay Mathilda's words forbidding me in eating fast foods.
But Apollo insisted anyway, and I never stop him again. We both watched the sunset together a while back and shared the calmness of the sorrounding.
I continue eating my burger until I finished it. My next victim was the kiddie meal with chicken nuggets, I smirk because it was really belong to Apollo. I'm just gonna worry my diet later, gotta enjoy pigging out muna.
"Glad you're enjoying the food and see you smiling again." Apollo said after several minutes in solemn silence. I gulped what I'm eating muna then drank water from my tumbler before answering him.
"Because it's delish. Ngayon na lang ulit ako kakain ng ganitong food so I better enjoy it while I still have it." I explain to him.
Tinapik ko siya konti, tumingin naman ito sa akin wondering. I motion him to get my bag, malapit lang kasi ito sa tabi nito. Sumimangot ito sa akin but I give him my cute puppy eyes.
Umiling ito sa akin but still get my bag. Agad ko naman itong inabot saka kumuha ng wipes para pampunas sa kamay ko, the tissue didn't totally get the grease off. Baka rin kasi maamoy ni Nanay Mathilda, she'll get mad at me.
"Because?" tanong nito sa akin. Inaayos ko muna ang aking pinagkainan bago sumagot.
"Because Nanay Mathilda strictly said to me that eating fast foods is bawal to me." He ordered large fries kanina and I only eat half of it, yung sundae lang ang kinain ni Apollo.
Inangat ko ang kalahating fries at pinakita kay Apollo, silently asking him if he wants to eat it. He open his mouth asking me to feed him. I glare at him but nag-beautiful eyes ito sa akin then arching his eyebrows up and down.
I dump two fries at his mouth out of irritation but sa loob-loob ko I am enjoying this playful side of him. Tho I observe him to be such a brute, his bad mask is peeling off revealing his good side.
"Hey, do a better job." he said mimicking my glare. I give him sarcastic smile before giving him one piece.
It is now near twilight. Violet, Orange and Red is battling in the sky showing a magnificent painting. Mirroring the sky, the ocean waken it's waves giving crystal shimmers.
"Why?" he ask me. It's short one word question but somehow I know the depth of it.
"I thought you never gonna ask me about that." I smiled bitterly at the ocean. I just want to whelve what happened a while back at school and forget everything. But that includes what's happening right now, me beside him in front of this serene moment.
"I'm just curious, it'll be a month now that I know you. Most of our encounters aside from being on upperhand, always mad at me and just rolling your eyes every single time, that was the first time I saw you cry." I laugh at his description to me. He hit a bull's eye.
"Is that your first impresion to me?" I ask him while laughing. Gaad I never thought he can be that observant.
"No." He said smirking to me. Umupo na ito ng maayos at hinarap ako.
"Then, ano?" tanong ko ulit.
"I know what you are doing. Answer me first." he persisted. I grimace at his question.
Akala ko makalusot na ako, he notice that I'm changing the topic. Huminga muna ako ng malalim, contemplating if I should tell him the truth. Because telling him what happened is also explaining my situation.
"Is it too much to tell?" tanong nito.
"No, it's just that. I don't know where to begin." I answer honestly.
"Do you know the game 20 questions?" inisip kong mabuti kong nalaro ko na ba ito. Seems familiar.
"Doesn't ring a bell." tumango-tango ito sa sagot ko.
"It's a getting to know you game, or something like that. Basically, each of us will ask 20 questions alternate. Rules, no pass and answer honestly." he said. That's nice, I think.
"Okay." I agreed.
"Give me a coin." utos nito sa akin. Kumuha naman ako ng limang piso and handed it to him. He showed me the man's face indicating that side is mine and the back will be his.
He toss the coin in the air and catch it fluidly. He open his palm at ang likod ng barya ang nakalagay. He smugly return the coin back to me. I don't know the reason behind his smile and just ignored it.
"What is your full name?" unang tanong nito surprisingly me. Akala ko agad niyang itatanong sa akin yung pag-iyak ko kanina.
"Crystal Snow Fortalejo." sagot ko sabay abot ng kanang kamay ko.
"Apollo Elysian Lee." pakilala nito ulit sabay abot sa kamay ko. We shake hands and laugh at our silliness.
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Lee." I playfully give him a dramatic bow that he amusely return.
"Likewise, Lady Crystal." We burst on laughing after he said that. I swear, my heart is leaping with joy right now. Gone is the aching heart and crying.
"My turn, how old are you really?" I ask him. He just smirk at me. Matagal ko nang gustong itanong ito since he ask my age nung nag-gardening kami.
"I'm 17. But in korean age, I'm 18." he explain.
"What's with the korean age?" I ask curiously.
"Isn't it my turn?" he joke.
"Just answer it." gigil kong sabi.
"It will be counted." he said wickedly. I just rolled my eyes to him. Pakialam ko sa mga tanong.
"Whatever." I reply.
"We consider our date of birth as our one year, that's why we are advance in counting of our age." he explain to me. I nodded at the information.
"Is Christian your ex-boyfriend?" he ask out of nowhere. Gulat akong tumingin sa kanya and ended up laughing again.
"Are you serious?" natatawang tanong ko dito. He just nodded to innocently. Antagal na nung incident na yun.
"He is not my ex-boyfriend or what so ever. I had this small crush on him and one week later I found out that he has a girlfriend, yes that is Sophie." tumango ito sa akin.
"Is he still your crush?" tanong ni Apollo sa maliit na boses. He look shy as he ask me that.
"No, as I told you it's a small crush. I have a new one." I reply without thinking. Shit.
Meron akong bagong crush?
"Who?" Apollo's interest perk up as I mention my new crush. It's like his curiousness is over the top and I need to answer it no matter what. Tumitig ito sa akin while fishing for answer, binaling ko naman sa kamay ko ang aking tingin para umiwas.
"Does it matter?" I reply while playing my fingers. I need to cut my fingernails.
"No, it doesn't matter." he answer with voice of conviction. Inangat ko ang aking tingin and discover determination in Apollo's eyes. Whats with him ba? Parang may kaaway ito na kailangang pabagsakin.
"Are you really Nanay Mathilda's daughter?" for the third time nagulat na naman ako sa tanong nito.
Where are these questions coming from?
Parang inimbak nito lahat ng tanong nito at isa-isa nitong pinapasabog. I wonder how he knows my relationship with Nanay. Or does he?
"What do you know?" tanong ko. He shrug his shoulders.
"When we arrive at your house, your Nanay told us that you are her daughter. But one afternoon I overheard both Nanay in their conversation. They are talking about you, and explaining why you are living with Nanay Mathilda. I feel like it's a private conversation so I didn't pry too much. So I ask you about it. I just want to confirm it or more like hear it come from you." is his long reply.
The whole time he is telling me that I glare him with suspicion. But he defensively counter what he said. Chismoso much?
I sigh with surrender. I think it's one way or another. Malalaman din lamang nito ang totoo. I grab my tumbler at uminom muna dito, pagkatapos nun ay umupo ako ng maayos facing him also. Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay nung makita nito ang pwesto ko.
Here we go.
---
🐼