"Love, are you listening?"
I got back to my senses when Pau called from behind the next morning. I came home because I have no duty.
"I'm sorry, I was just tired." Bulong ko at saka ngumiti sa kanya. After eating our breakfast, he insisted to wash the dishes. I was too tired to volunteer kaya hinayaan ko na lang siya sa gusto niya. I was trying really hard to open my eyes and wait for him to finish the work but I just found myself, sleeping...
It was past lunch when I woke up the next day. The house is noisy. "Shut it, Joy's sleeping!" I heard Pau hissed, so the guys chuckled lightly. Napabalikwas ako ng bangon nang ma-realize na may bisita si Paulo. And I know who those guys were. They were just here another day. Nandito na naman sila ngayon.
"Ken!" Saway niya muli nang lumakas ang tawa ni Felip. I was supressing my laughter, trying to act like a fool inside our room. In the end, nag-decide na lang din akong maligo, saka lumabas ng kwarto. At that moment, I know that they already know that I am awake.
"Good afternoon Madam!" Josh greeted. Tumawa ako at saka umupo sa bakanteng upuan. Katabi si Paulo.
"Sabi ko sa inyo huwag kayong maingay," kalmado pero may diing saad ni Pau habang nakatingin sa apat, particularly kay Felip na nagpipigil pa rin ng tawa hanggang ngayon. I slightly tapped his lap to tell him that it was fine. I was glad that Felip looked okay.
"It's okay. Sanay naman akong matulog nang 1 hour or 2 hours lang. I already had 5 hours of sleep." I whispered trying to cover up but he was still mad. "Have you guys eaten?" Sabay-sabay silang umiling kahit na sinamaan sila ng tingin ni Paulo.
Tumawa ako at saka tumayo para maghanda ng pagkain. Pau immediately followed me. I can hear his footsteps from behind. "I can cook." He offered pero tumanggi ako. Those guys were here because they wanted to visit him. I don't want to steal their time.
In the end, Paulo had left no choice but to go back to his seat. Nag-focus naman ako sa pagluluto. Hindi naman sila mahirap lutuan dahil kahit anong ilagay mo sa mesa siguradong kakainin nila. I just settled with seafood and pork.
"Sarap naman dito tumira." Biro ni Felip nang naupo kaming lahat sa mesa para kumain. No one from them seconded but he wasn't bothered at all. Diretso lang siya sa pagtawa. Among the five of them, si Felip talaga ang pinakamasarap ipaghanda ng pagkain. He's appreciative even with the smallest thing.
"Salamat po sa pagkain!" Stell commented and put some foods on his plate. Ngumiti lang ako bago nilagyan ng pagkain ang pinggan ni Paulo na hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa nagagalaw.
"You should eat too." Bulong ko sa kanya. He held my hand to stop me from moving and continued scooping food for himself. I did the same for my own.
Walang patay na minuto sa mesa kapag kasama sila dahil walang tigil sa pagbato ng jokes si Jah at Stell. Paminsan-minsan, Josh are commenting too. But most of the time, Felip's serious words could make us laugh effortlessly.
They are asking me about work na sinasagot ko naman. But I couldn't do the same to them. I was guilty... everything they have going through is because of me.
Minsan nga, hindi ko maiwasan na mag-isip. Am I doing it right? I knew, I was being selfish right now but I can't help it. I wanted to be selfish but my guilt is eating me up... like I don't really deserved to be happy because I am making someone else's life miserable. I am making someone's dreams hard to follow. I was making life miserable to him... to everyone around us.
"Just think of yourself." Felip uttered out of nowhere. Nag-bato bato pick sila kung sinong maghuhugas ng pinggan, siya ang natalo kaya magkasama kami sa kusina.
