Love Of Distance

LOD3

Lumabas agad ako ng kwarto nang mabasa ang chat ni Tita. Sally rushed at me and wiggled her tail.

"Hey, baby Sally..." I laughed when he barked.

Nilagyan ko ang lalagyan niya ng pagkain. Alas syete na ng umaga pero tahimik pa rin ang lugar hindi kagaya sa Pilipinas na sa ganitong oras ay para bang may sabong ang mga manok dahil sa walang humpay na pagtilaok nila.

Kung sa Pinas ay magigising ka sa mga tsismis ng mga katabing kapit-bahay pero dito naman ay para bang magkalayo ang bahay. Maganda nalang kung ang tinitirahan mo ay may mabait at approachable na mga kapitbahay. Dito kasi abala ang lahat at tahimik lang.

I would love to live in a place where people tend to socialize with each other rather than in a place of silence yet filled with loneliness.

I drank my iced coffee as I manipulated the remote control of the TV. I opened Netflix and started to watch Haikyuu. It's been five minutes since I sat when the doorbell rang.

"May bisita ba si Tita?" I whispered.

Sally was still busy with her food. As I walked out the door, the sun touched my skin. It wasn't irritating because it's still early in the morning. The doorbell rang again that made my feet walk as fast as I could because the house was somehow too far from their elegant gate.

"Coming!"

I held the hand bar gaping. My lips were left open when my eyes drifted to the man in front of me. He smiled with his white teeth on, which made his dimple obvious to me. His natural, damp hair swayed as he titled his head to see me. He was just wearing his white shirt with a line 'I know it's you' printed on it.

"Good morning!" He greeted me happily.

He's holding a bouquet of flowers. It's different compared to yesterday. It's full of red roses with a white ribbon around them. Parang may kung anong nilalang ang kumalabit sa tiyan ko nang iwinestra niya ito sa akin.

"W-What are you doing here?" My voice was shaken without accepting the flowers.

"I planned to be with you today. Tita Kate told me that they were out on a business trip. So, she said, I should take care of you---'

"You don't have to. I can handle myself. I don't need you."

Kita ko kung paano nabura ang ngiti niya sa labi nang sabihin ko iyon na halos pagsisihan ko rin naman. Bumaba ang tingin ko at napabuntong hininga bago siya tinalikuran.

"Tss. Please come in..."

"Okay."

Agad akong tumakbo sa kwarto at iniwan siya sa sala. Sinuri ko agad ang itsura ko at napahilamos ng kamay.

"Shit! Nakakahiya!"

I showered and, after that, combed my straight hair. I also put some liptint, but its just light because I don't want him to think anything against me. I wear simple black knitted top and high-waist short. Nang tuluyang makapagbihis ay lumabas na agad ako at naabutan siyang nanood ng Haikyuu.

God! I forgot to turn it off!

"You're also into anime, huh?"

"Hmm."

He glanced at me, and I saw his perfect jaw clenched as he scanned my new look. I saw how his face turned red before he looked away.

"A-Ahh... Do you want to watch it---"

"Nah, Zaiden!"

"Huh? I mean... Haikyuu. Do you also want to watch, or should I turn off the TV now?"

"Oh... yeah? J-Just... turn it off." He stuttered, dahilan kung bakit kumunot ang noo ko.

"Okay."

Naglakad ako sa kusina at kumuha ng isa pang platito. Nilagay ko iyong isa pang ginawa kong pancake. Naramdaman kong sumunod din siya sa akin. Umupo siya sa high chair habang nakamasid sa ginagawa ko.

"Do you also want some iced coffee?"

"I'd love to." Saad niya habang nakatingin sa akin. Umiwas ako at sinalinan siya sa baso. "Thanks..."

Tahimik kaming kumain. Hindi ko alam kung anong nangyari sa kanya. Dahil kung tutuosin naman ay madaldal siya kapag kaming dalawa lang ang magkasama. O dahil ba ito sa hindi pagsagot sa mga chat niya kagabi?

"Sorry..." He said in a baritone voice. "Did I say anything bad that made you feel offended yesterday?"

I didn't look at him, just remain my vision on my pancake. I heard him sigh deeply and gently hold my hand.

"Hey... Look at me..." Mahinang saad niya.

Lumapit siya sa akin nang hindi binibitawan ang kamay ko. Tiningnan ko siya dahilan kung bakit mas lalong nagmawala ang puso ko.

"Did I make you uncomfortable because of what I said?" He sounded so sincere. The place was so serene. As I looked at his soft lips, my mind went blank.

The fuck! I wanted to taste it! What's wrong with me!?

"M-My mom told me that you're giving her---"

"Is that why you're mad at me?" Umiwas ako ng tingin.

"I'm not mad."

"Then why are you avoiding me? Why do you keep ignoring my chats?"

"I-I..."

"You what?"

"I just don't want to talk to you." I lied and walked away.

Sally ran to me. I hugged her and walked outside. Sinuot ko sa kanya ang panali niya at lumabas na ng gate. Ramdam ko ang pagsunod ni Su sa akin. Siya ang nagsarado ng gate at tumakbo hanggang sa maabutan kami ni Sally.

"Did I cross the line? I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that. I just think that I could impress your mom---"

"That's not even impressive to me." Malamig na saad ko.

Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko at sinundan si Sally habang hindi binibitawan ang panali niya.

Totoo naman. Hindi ako natutuwa sa ginawa niya. Ayo'ko iyong taong gagastos ng kung ano-ano, just to please someone. Money can't buy sincerity and happiness. It will only make you look you so superior.

"I'm sorry..." I stopped when I felt his hand on my wrist. I met his gorgeous eyes, but he looked terribly guilty. He licked his lower lip and gulped continuously.

"It's okay. I just don't like it when people use money just to impress someone." I honestly said.

He nodded and heaved a long sigh. "Okay. I'll take note of that. I'm so sorry again. How can I make it up to you?"

Salubong ang kilay niya at kagat-kagat ang pang-ibabang labi habang naghihintay sa sagot ko. Kitang kita ko ang paglabas ng malalim niya na dimple dahil sa kaba. Tumawa ako dahil doon.

"Tss. Stop pouting. You just looked more cute with that." Reklamo ko at tinalikuran siya.

Patago akong napangiti nang marinig ang mumunting pagtawa niya na para bang isang musika sa pandinig ko. Tumakbo siya at halos tumambol muli ang puso ko nang maramdaman ang kamay niya sa baywang ko habang ang isa ay kinuha ang tali ni Sally sa akin.

"Should I remain pouting, so I can see you laugh again?" He teased me.

"Tss."

"Damn, you're really beautiful, babe..." He whispered.