HOWLINGS AND SHADOWS (Thindrel Howzit Hawthorne)

🐾XXII. Time🐾

Thindrel Howzit Hawthorne

Kinabukasan ay maaga akong nagising. Sinigurado ko iyon dahil alam kong may exam pa siya at gusto ko rin na ipaghanda siya.

I can't believe it. I'm the King with a Kingdom and here I am, preparing some breakfast for the woman I love.

Saktong pagkatapos ko ay tsaka naman ang paglabas niya ng kwarto. Nakabihis na ng damit. Bitbit ang bag at ang libro. She's my Esmeray right now. With that yellow dress, she looks innocent and so beautiful.

"Good morning! I made some breakfast", maligayang sabi ko sa kanya.

Her eyes look so tired. Walang pinagbago ang tingin niya sa akin. With lazy eyes, she turns to me.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, but I have breakfast appointment with my boyfriend. Bye!", she said and bid goodbye.

Natulala ako. Boyfriend. That was me. Was. Because I left her.

Shorter than a second, nakarating ako sa harapan niya para pigilan siya sa pag-alis.

"I made you some. Kahit kaunti lang. Sayang naman effort ko", sabi ko. Doon ko lang napagtanto na mali pala iyon. Hindi ko na sana idiniin na nag effort ako.

"If you feel like I step on you ego because a King cooked a breakfast for me? Then sorry, but, no. I have to go. Someone's waiting for me", aniya sa akin at pilit na umalis sa harapan ko.

The silver knives are stabbing my heart again right now.

"What am I gonna do with the breakfast I prepared?", tanong ko sa kanya kaya napalingon siya sa akin.

"Eat it and go back to where you belong", pairap niyang sabi sa akin. "I don't why you're here anyway if this property are mine now", pabulong nalanhg iyon ngunit dinig na dinig ko.

"Are you gonna left for that guy? Is he really your boyfriend, Ray?", the sadness of my voice didn't escape her ears.

Kita kong gulat din siya sa tono ng boses ko. She breath out hold on to her books tighter.

"Fortunately, yes, Thindrel. He's my boyfriend", she smile at me like she's saying that she's so in love with him.

I nodded. Twice. Thrice. And more than that for it to sink in. She close the door between us. Naiwan akong nakatitig sa pinto kung saan siya lumabas. Tears escape my eyes because the silver knives are unbearable already.

I know my cousins won't believe when I tell you this. A King shed tears for that human girl. Napatingin ako sa korona kong nakapatong sa cabinet niya.

Huminga ako ng malalim at bumaling sa mga pagkain na niluto ko. I don't know how to cook but being at home and being a responsible son, nag-aral akong magluto because that's what my father taught me. He used to cook for my mom and until now, he still cooks for her.

Kaya nagsikap akong matuto na para sana ay ipagluto si Esmeray ngunit hindi na pala kailangan dahil may kasabay naman siyang kakain at hindi ako iyon.

Naupo ako sa hapag kaharap ang pagkarami-raming pagkain. Kumain ako ng kaunti even though this aren't my favorite dishes. Walang dugo akong makukuha so might as well eat this para naman magkalakas ako.

I got so weak after all the pain she caused me since last night.

Marami pa ang natira kaya tinakpan ko iyon. I took a paper and a pen from her desk and write something.

'Eat it when your home after your exams. I know you'll be so tired but try to eat before sleeping.

Love, Thindrel'

Lumabas ako ng apartment bitbit ang korona ko. Mabilis akong sumakay sa sasakyan ko at dumiretso sa supermarket ng Sighisoara. I need to buy groceries for her. Halos ubos na ang stock niya sa bahay. She's living alone. Without her parents to sustain her needs, it must be so difficult for her kaya kailangan ko siyang bilhan.

After that, it takes a wing van truck to deliver all the groceries I bought for her. Pinadala ko sa kung saan ang unit ko. I have a spare key kaya naipasok iyon lahat.

I organized her place and the groceries in the cabinet of the kitchen. Pagkatapos kong gawin iyon ay naupo ako sa sofa an naroon at nilibot ng tingin ang paligid.

This is nice.

Huminga ako ng malalim at tumayo na. I need to go. She won't like it if I stay here a bit longer.

Paalis na sana ako ng biglang bumukas ang pinto at bumungad sa akin si Esmeray with that man again.

Pareho silang nagtawanan ngunit kaagad natahimik ng makita ako.

"He's still here?", bulong ng kasama niya.

Kumunot ang noo ni Esmeray. "Why are you still here?", she asked.

Mabilis kong inayos ang may kahabaan kong buhok dahil alam kong magulo ito pagkatapos ng trabaho ko dito kanina. I fixed it in a man bun with a little strands of it fell in front of my face.

Sasagot na sana ako when another group of people enter the room. Ng makita ako ay kaagad napatigil.

"OMG! The hotty steamy Thindrel Hawthorne!", patiling sigaw ng isang babae.

Gusto kong matawa pero sa paraan ng pagtitig ni Esmeray sa kanya ay parang hindi ito natutuwa.

Jealous, baby?

"I-I'll go now", sabi ko at umabang aalis na.

"Why? Join us. Iinom kami kasi tapos na ang exam. Makkagraduate na rin", tawa ng babae na pumuri sa akin.

"He won't join. Sige na, alis na", pagtataboy ni Esmeray sa akin.

Hindi na bago.

"Come on, Ray. Hindi mo ba na miss si Thindrel? You used to be so sweet before. Well, anyway wala na din naman kayo. Pwede na siguro kami", pabiro nito.

Natawa ako doon at nakita iyon ni Esmeray. She eyed me with daggers bago tuloyang tumango.

"After this, you'll go home", mariin na sabi niya sa akin at walang nagawa sa request ng kanyang kaklase.

Kahit na hindi ko gusto ang paglalandi ng kaibigan niya ay natutuwa pa rin ako. At least I can have another time with her.