Three to Tango

Let's have a common ground

I blinked a few times while staring at the white ceiling of my new room. Ilang minuto na rin siguro mula nang magising ako pero hindi ko magawang bumangon.

The fear of what is going to happen next is weighing me down.

Pero kailangan kong magpatuloy.

At sumabay sa mga susunod na mangyayari.

“Too much thinking will only lead me to shits,” I murmured to myself. “Right, Ava?”

Nang makabangon ako, inayos ko muna ang pinaghigaan ko ‘tapos naghilamos. Nang maayos na ang itsura ko, I exited my room. This is technically my first day in this place.

Malaki ‘yung buong mansyon at muntik na akong magkandaligaw-ligaw hanggang sa dinala ako ng mga paa ko sa first floor, sa may left wing, sa kitchen. At doon ko narinig ang mga pamilyar na boses ng mga makakasama ko sa mansyon na ‘to.

But I was stunned on my place when I saw the two of them in the kitchen. I blinked and held on the kitchen door's frame. Hindi ko inaasahan ang naabutan ko.

It was Chad cooking while Stephen was behind him, giving him a backhug. Dinig na dinig ko ang hagikgik ni Chad dahil sa pagtulong sa kanya ni Stephen nang may kasamang mga pilyong galaw. He seemed to not get enough with him.

“Josh! Isa! Masusunog ‘to!”

“Good morning kiss ko nga kasi!”

“Oh gosh! Stop squeezing my behind!”

“Gusto mo naman ‘to ah. Hmnn?”

I found myself dumbfounded for a while before I realized I was watching them already for too long.

Napalunok ako bago napasuklay sa buhok ko. I shook my head before I turned around. Ayokong istorbohin sila. They seem having a very good and sweet morning with each other.

Hindi ko sigurado kung saan ako pupunta dahil hindi ko pa naman naiikot ang buong mansyon na ‘to. I was supposed to find the living room when I saw an opened door to the east of the kitchen. Doon ako dumiretso at sunod kong natagpuan ang sarili ko sa na nasa isang garden. Napangiti ako nang tumama sa mukha ko ang sinag ng araw. Kaagad akong dumiretso sa bench na nasa gitna ng garden na puno ng mga gulay at bulaklak na gumamela.

I was actually surprised to see some yellow and violet chili peppers potted at the side of the garden. May ilang trellis din for vegetable vines like upo at patola. Tapos sa gitna ng garden ay may mga raised beds na may nakatanim ding mga gulay. I'm not sure if pechay at mustasa lang lahat. I think some were radish or maybe carrots?

“This is cool,” I murmured, as I noticed some insects were already feeding on the flowers of the vegetable plants.

I inhaled a very deep breath as I settled myself seated on the wooden bench. Iba ang hangin ng probinsya kesa sa city. The air here was really fresh. I remembered feeling a bit suffocated earlier but now... I felt relieved.

Natigilan ako sa naisip ko. As if on cue, the scenario in the kitchen came back to me. Stephen was so happy.

He used to laugh like that with me.

Napakurap ako bago ipinilig ang aking ulo. Binatukan ko pa ang aking sarili nang ma-realize ko ang iniisip ko.

“Ayos tayo, Venice. You got so much in your plate already.”

Huminga pa ako nang malalim bago tiningala ang kulay asul na langit. I should really stop letting myself to feel any emotions. I just need to mourn and heal now.

Hindi ko sigurado kung gaano ako katagal na nasa garden at nakatulala habang ninanamnam ang malamig na hangin pero napaigtad ako nang may umubo.

I was stunned on my place when I saw Stephen standing by the door’s frame.