L SERIES Side Story #1: Her End Game

Chapter 17: She's Special

Kei.

I woke up earlier than expected. I reached out my phone and saw that it's still early. Too early to be exact, it was eight in the evening when I got home and I haven't eaten dinner yet. I think I woke up because I'm hungry.

It's still one in the morning and I can feel my stomach grumbling. I quietly walk out of my room and got down. Napakunot pa ang noo ko nang makitang nakabukas ang ilaw sa kitchen. I smiled when I saw the woman who's now living with me for a month and half.

She's now working with my mother and I can say that she's really enjoying what she's doing right now. Tuluyan na akong bumaba at dumiretso sakanya. Nakatalikod siya sa akin habang hinihiwa ang bangus.

She flinched when my arms sneaked around her waist. I snuggled closer to her and sniff her neck.

"Are you hungry? Hindi ka nag-dinner." She said.

"I am, why are you still up?" Tanong ko sakanya.

"I know you'll wake up in the middle of the night because you're hungry. Naisip ko baka ayaw mo ang ulam kaya magluluto sana ako ng bago." She answered and I chuckled.

This woman is filling up the empty spaces of this place. I don't know when did it happened but I started calling my place as home.

I don't know but I love to hug her especially when I'm exhausted and stressed out. It's just that, I want to feel her prescence to calm myself down. She bacame my daily dose of peacefulness.

"Anong oras ka ba aalis bukas?" Tanong niya at humarap sa akin.

"I actually want to visit my mom bukas and I want to spend time with the kids." Sabi ko at ngumiti naman siya.

Hindi ako magaling sa mga ganitong bagay dahil ako lagi ang naii-spoil noon. I also thought that maybe she's just pushing herself when she said she wants to get a full-time job but seeing her now, she's really enjoying on her work.

Since she also loves teaching, part-time teacher parin siya sa Light University. Kapag may emergency ay siya ang nagiging substitute pero minsan lang iyon. She gets to spend time with her new friends at talaga namang natutuwa siya. Umupo na ako sa harap ng mesa dahil sabi niya ay lulutuin na daw niya ang sinigang na bangus.

"Sigurado ka bang wala kang importanteng gagawin bukas?" Tanong niya sa akin kaya nag-angat ako ng tingin sakanya.

"Yes, I promise. I also texted Ate Shina and the others that they can come if they want to." Biglang tumahimik kaya napatitig ako sakanya.

"You're a model before right?" Natigilan ako sa tanong niya. What's with the seriousness?

"Yes I was. Why?"

"You're still young and modelling suits you well. Why did you quit?" I was caught of guard with her question.

"Because that's the right thing to do? Modelling isn't really what I wanted on the first place so I quit." I answered plainly.

"What is it that you want the most then?"

"I already have it, Rie. A loving family and a peaceful life."

Natigilan siya sa sagot ko at humarap ng bahagya sa akin. She smiled and shake her head.

"Your eyes tells me otherwise." Natuod ako sa kinauupuan ko. Bumalik na siya sa pagluluto at wala nang nagsalita sa aming dalawa pagkatapos nang sinabi niyang iyon.

"Eat up. Leave the dishes at the sink, I'll wash them tommorrow. Matulog kana rin pagkatapos mong kumain, okay?" She smiled and walked away.

Nakatitig lang ako sa inihanda niya sa harap ko. Napahawak ako sa puso ko dahil parang nakaramdam ako ng kakaiba. This is the first time that someone asked me what I really wanted. I even answered without thinking dahil ano nga ba ang gusto ko?