Sin City

12: Beautiful human

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang iabot ni Roux sa akin ang isang bouquet nang mabuksan ko ang pintuan. It was a bouquet of different kinds of flowers, kinds that I don't even know. They were in pastel colors. He sweetly smiled at me and handed me a cup of iced coffee, too.

"From me to you, Jillian."

"Thank you," I couldn't help but pout when I smelled the flowers, it smelled like grass when it rains. My favorite earthy scent. "Sweet mo naman," I teased.

"Sweet lang?" he raised a brow as he stifled a small smile.

My brows furrowed. "Hmm," I paused when I thought of teasing him. "Mabait din."

I sucked my bottom lip to stop myself from giggling when he looked at me with disbelief. He then composed himself. "Ano pa?" he asked again, fishing for a better compliment.

"Hmmm," I brushed my palm across my jaw as I looked at the ceiling, acting like I was deeply thinking. Seryoso ko siyang tinignan, "yun lang."

"Ah," tumango tango ito. I giggled when disappointment was visible in his face. Napairap nalamang ako sa kaartehan niya.

"Gusto mo ba pumasok?" I asked as I mischievously smiled at him. Nakanguso pa rin ito, umaarteng nagtatampo sa akin dahil hindi ko siya tinawag na gwapo or pogi. He heaved a sigh and nodded, tumango pa ito na tila napipilitan lang.

"Halika na, pogi," I grabbed his hand. "Pasok na," hinila ko ito papasok ng unit ko. I laughed when I heard him snorted, he was amused of what I just called him.

I placed the flowers and the coffee on the kitchen island. "Upo ka lang ha, maghahanap lang ako ng vase," I informed Rouqil. Agad din akong nagpunta sa kabilang kwarto para kumuha ng vase na paglalagyan ng bulaklak. I had to dig deep under my unopened boxes. Mag iisang taon na ako sa Vegas pero ang dami ko pa rin hindi na unpack.

"Kumain ka na ba?" I heard him asked, his voice sounded close kaya napalingon ako sa pintuan. He was by the door, leaning, while intently looking at me scavenging for a vase.

"Not yet," I shook my head and continued opening my tuff boxes.

"I'm gonna help myself ha," pagpapaalam nito. He sounded so polite, too.

Napangiti ako habang nagbubukas ng box. I nodded without looking at him, I didn't want him to see me smiling just because he sounded polite. "Yeah, of course," agad kong sagot. I heard Roux's footsteps fading away.

Apat na boxes pa ang nabuksan ko bago ko makita ang China porcelain vase ko. Mom bought it for me and placed it in my childhood room kaya dinala ko.

"What are you doing?" nagtataka kong tanong sa kanya when I saw him cut the edges of the flowers' stems. I also noticed the smell of sautéed onions.

"Binigyan kita ng flowers, hindi na dapat kita pinag effort na maghanap ng vase at hindi dapat ikaw ang magcut ng stems nito. All you should do is admire the flowers, Jillian," nakangiti nitong sagot sa akin.

I subtly inhaled when I felt my heart fluttered in glee. Tila may mga naghahabulan din sa tiyan ko. Is this what they call butterflies in my stomach? Why does it feel weird and good at the same time?

I partly opened my mouth to say something, but I couldn't. I couldn't make up any words at all kaya tinikom ko ulit ang bibig ko at lumapit nalamang sa kanya para ibigay ang vase.

"Thank you," kinuha nito ang vase at hinugasan.

Napatingin ako sa skillet sa stove. It looked like he was waiting for the onions to caramelized. At kahit sibuyas lang ang niluluto niya, ang bango bango pa rin. "Do you need help making lunch?" I asked him.