DOWN IN THE DUMPS

Chapter 8

Inviting him inside my apartment to see his human emotions makes no sense. When did I start to exert this much effort just to witness someone cry or laugh? Where did I pluck the courage to break my own rule of not inviting people to my home?

Inviting him so I won’t be out again to give him his shoes and money to save the remaining energy I have from the whole escapade tonight makes no sense too.

Before I opened my unit’s door, I made a glance at the impassive face of Cherry’s dad. He looks like a lonely painting dragged to an unfamiliar place where he knows he doesn’t belong.

Compared to Yohan, Cherry’s dad has nothing to boast of except his looks that no one in Milea Bay can surpass. It’s like he was born to make a long queue for the girls. He’s also rational and knows his responsibility. He even took me as a responsibility right on the spot.

I exhaled a small sigh as I ascertain why I came this far. I’m ultimately curious about him — his thoughts and his emotions — and to what extent he can handle me.

“Alexa, turn on the lights,” I ordered as I entered my humble abode.

Lumiwanag ang buong unit ko ng wala pang limang segundo. Lumingon ako sa likod para senyasan siya na puwede na siyang pumasok. Hinubad ko ang sapatos na suot ko at inilagay sa shoe rack malapit sa pinto. I winced when I saw him still holding the plastic bag which contains my stinky shoes.

“Iwan mo muna ‘yan dito,” turo ko sa rack.

Wala siyang imik sa pagpasok namin at nanatiling nakatayo sa may shoe rack matapos niyang ilagay ang bitbit niya roon. Habang ako ay dumistansiya ng kaunti para hindi naman halatang nakatitig ako sa kanya.

I saw how his eyes wandered around my strange unit. It was as if he was familiarizing all the corners and things of my unit. Nagtatagal ang tingin niya sa mga naka-frame na paintings na nakasabit sa dingding ko. Nang sundan ko ang tingin niya ay huminto ito sa tapat ng bedroom ko. Bakas sa mukha niya ang pagtataka kung bakit naroon ang kama ko. Hinayaan ko lang siyang magtaka at hindi na nag-explain pa.

Ang mga kwarto lang sa unit ko ay ang storage room, walk-in closet at ang bathroom. Ako lang naman ang nakatira rito kaya nasa akin ang buong privacy ng unit.

“Alexa, turn on the air conditioner.” saad ko nang maramdamang medyo umiinit na. Nanlalagkit na rin ang pakiramdam ko at gusto ko nalang tumakbo para magshower.

Napalingon siya sa akin nang nagsalita ako at muling napatingin sa mga paintings sa dingding. He’s a modern person after all. Akala ko magtatanong siya kung sino si Alexa.

Dahil hindi ko na kayang tiisin ang panlalagkit ng katawan ko ay pumasok na ako sa loob ng banyo at nag-bubble bath. It took me an hour and a half to step outside the bathroom because I fell asleep. Nadatnan ko siyang nakatayo pa rin sa harap ng paintings.

“Those are not mutilated body parts,” I announced, trying to get rid of the thoughts running in his head. “That’s my left eye, right hand, and neck.” turo ko sa mga painting.

When he averted his gaze on me, his eyes were half-closed. I could tell how sleepy his eyes were. Pagod na pagod ang awra niya at nasisiguro kong gusto na niyang humiga.

Although sleepy, he managed to give me a small reaction from what I said. He squinted his eyes, figuring out if what I said were all true. Naglakbay ang tingin niya sa mga parte ng katawan ko na binanggit kanina at ikinompara sa mga paintings.

“Those are all made by a local artist dito sa Milea Bay,” dagdag ko pa para makumbinsi siya at itinuro ang pirma ng pintor.

I don’t know if he’s into arts though he looks like one so...