Illusion (Quarantine Series #1)

CHAPTER 5

Nong gabing yun ay nakatulog nalang si Joy sa balikat ko. She fell asleep without knowing that the movie is not yet done. Habang ako ay tinapos ko nalang ang episode na yun. I hate to say this but nagawa kong tapusin ang episode na yun and I don't think kung nag-enjoy ako o kung ano. After that, napagpasiyahan kong ihiga si Joy sa sofa. Pinatay ko na yung TV at agad naglinis ng kalat.

Nang matapos, ay agad akong kumuha ng comforter at ikinumot sa kaniya. Nang bahagya siyang kumilos ay napahinto ako dahil baka magising ko siya. Bahagya akong umupo para malapitang makitang mahimbing na natutulog si Joy. Tinitigan ko ang maamo niyang mukha. I stared at her hanggang sa mamemoryado ko bawat detalye ng kaniyang mukha. I can say that she's pretty looking good.

Naalala ko na naman ang pagdebate namin kanina. How could she say that it was all just a joke? Her words were so genuine. I saw it in her eyes. Was it really just a joke?

I was thinking kung ilan na ang boyfriend nito. The way she talks about it, looks like she had lots of boys before, but she didn't bother to mention it. I want to know it but I didn't utter a word to ask her.

I should thank her. Kahit papaano ay may rason ako upang hindi mabore. And she's the reason why is that. Noong una, ako yung nagtataboy sa kaniya but now, seems like gusto ko nalang na palagi siyang nasa tabi ko. Funny, right?

I don't know why. I don't want to open up what I feel towards her. Because it's hard to control feelings. It also leads people to confusion. There are things that are hard to handle and understand. There are things that you have doubts on it because you are not that sure. And with that, I don't know if what I feel towards her is really that serious.

Ilang araw palang kaming nagkakilala but the feeling is getting more confusing. I just can't tell what is it exactly.

Nagising ako nang maamoy ang mabangong niluluto ng kuno sino man ito. I rubbed my eyes and help myself to get up at takang napalingon sa paligid. Napagtanto kung dito pala ako naka tulog sa sala, sa sofa rin tulad ni Joy. Tumayo ako para tumungo sa kusina, nang hindi pa ako nakakalapit naaamoy ko na ang adobong manok.

Nang makarating na ako sa kusina ay agad kong nakita ang babaeng unang nakatulog sa akin kagabi. May earphones sa tainga niya, I'm sure that she's listening to that weird song again. She's humming while swaying her body gracefully. I stared at her for a moment bago kumawala ang isang ngiti sa labi ko.

Sumandal ako sa pader at ipinagkrus ang mga braso ko habang nakatitig lang kay Joy.

Joy! Joy! How joyful you are?

Hindi ko akalain na maaabot kami sa ganito. At dahil 'yan sa kaniya, she's so stubborn, to the point na daig niya pa ang mag-close na kami mula pagkabata. She always forced herself to me, that I really found annoying. Pero habang tumatagal, I couldn't help but to bear with his bratty attitude.

Patuloy parin siya sa paghugong hanggang sa umikot-ikot na siya habang nakapikit ang mga mata. She moved her hands, while still holding the laddle, in a weird way. She even acted like she's strumming a guitar, which was using the laddle.

I chuckled.

Nang pumunta siya sa mesa ay doon niya na ako nakita at agad naman akong napatayo nang maayos. Bahagya siyang nagulat at agad na tinanggal ang earphone sa tainga niya at inilapag sa mesa kasama ang cellphone. She smiled at me.

"Good morning, Mr. Grumpy." she greeted at tumango lang ako sa kaniya.

I cleared my throat and gulped. "W-What are doing?" I asked randomly.

"Cooking?" It's either a question or a statement.

May kinuha siya sa mesa at agad itong inilagay sa niluluto niya. She then stir it at pagkatapos ay tinikman. Marahan pa siyang napapikit na parang ninanamnam ang sarap ng niluluto niya. Humarap siya sa akin.