Serendipity

Chapter 18

Betray...

I get all of my things, preparing to go home. Gusto ko sanang kausapin muna si Archer bago umuwi. Convince him to go home and take a rest pero alam kong hindi siya papayag. I'll just end up getting hurt again by his words.

"Hello?" sagot ko sa tawag habang nasa loob ng elevator.

"How's he?" She asked.

"Still the same..."

I heard her sighed. Tita Frea is so stressed out with her son, maging si Tito Gab.

"Are yu still with him?"

"No po, but i'm heading to his unit. I'll prepare his dinner..."

Dahil isang taon na rin namang ganito ang routine ko, they didn't questioned my actions. I'm glad because if they suspected it, i don't know what to tell them. They are even grateful for what i am doing. They are relieved that theu have me to look out for their son while they're away.

"Thank you so much, Kiana."

"There's no need to thank me, Tita. This is the least that i can do..."

"Still, i'm really thankful for all of your efforts. I never thought that this day would come, that we will actually ask you a favor."

It's not a favor for them, though. It is for myself. I'm doing this in favor of my desire to take care of him even just for the sake of the girl that he loves the most.

"You are always welcome, Tita. Anyways, i have to go na po. I'll talk to you some other time. I'm sorry..."

"No, hija. It's okay. I'm sorry that i called you late at night. Take care."

When she ended the call, agad akong dumiretso sa sakayan ng jeep. Nang makarating sa unit niya ay agad kong pinindot ang passcode. I know the code and i have a spare key as well. Tita and Tito gave it to me when i decided to look out for Archer. Since their son is not going home and staying in here, hindi sila kampante kung maayos ba ang lagay ng anak nila kaya nasa akin 'to.

In case that something happens, i'll be able to enter in here. At first, siyempre hindi ako pumayag, 'no! This is invasion of Archer's privacy!

I'm afraid that he will get mad at me. This is his personal space, but i am in here, forcing myself to get in. Nakakahiya at nakakailang. He was in a state of shock and at the same time, annoyed. Sino ba naman ang matutuwa kung merong taong anytime ay pwedeng makapasok sa pamamahay mo, 'di ba?

But as time goes by, naging normal na din s'amin ang ganitong set up. We're not having a quality time naman kasi sa unit niya at madalas, kapag nandito ako ay wala naman siya. We rarely see each other, so it's kinda okay.

Ang ginagawa ko lang naman sa loob ay ang ipagluto siya at ipaglinis. Although may taga linis naman siya every week, i always make sure na araw-araw, nalilinisan ang unit niya.

I opened his refrigerator. Nakahinga naman ako ng maluwag nang makitang puno pa yon. Last time kasi ay ako ang nag grocery for him.

Kinuha ko lang ang engredients na madali lang iluto. Baka kasi ay uuwi na siya maya-maya at gutom na. Nagsaing na rin ako sa rice cooker para kapag nakaluto na ako ng ulam ay may kanin na rin siya.

Habang nag hihintay na maluto ang niluluto ko ay nag ikot-ikot na muna ako. Tuwing mag-isa lang ako dito ay nililibot ko talaga ang buong unit niya. Tinitignan ko ang mga collection niya at mga pictures niya. Although hindi marami, meron pa rin naman.

I always found myself smiling everytime na nakikita ko ang pictures niya. Akala mo ay laging may kaaway dahil bibihira lang kung ngumiti. He still looks good tho.