The Write One To Love

07

CHAPTER SEVEN

Lucho

"LET'S live together, Mr. Illustre..."

Hindi ako makapaniwala na papayag si Audrey na tumira kasama ko sa isang bahay. That night, I didn't expected her to agreed with my plan. He made me throw away a cigarette that I put in between my lips. Alam ko na lagi ako naroon sa tuwing eeksena ang toxic niyang ex. Siguro nga paraan ng langit ang lahat ng nangyayari sa akin mula sa sakit ko hanggang dito. Heaven gave me a chance to see the life's beauty through Audrey. It maybe too dark for both us now, but I know eventually the light will overcome the darkness inside ourselves. But this doesn't mean I'm in love with her. Maybe infatuated.

Inalis ko ang sigarilyo na balak ko na sana sindihan at binalik iyon sa kaha. Nilapitan ko si Audrey at marahang hinila papunta sa sasakyan ko. We both head home. Yes to my house and we're living there together. When we arrived home, I immediately asked Audrey in.

"Bahay ba 'to o palasyo?" tanong na narinig ko kay Audrey nang makapasok kami sa bahay ko. "Ilang kwarto meron dito?"

"Five, including my room."

"Whoah!" Nakita ko na natuon ang atensyon niya sa cabinet ng mga achievements ko. "You achieved many awards in the past years, Sir Lucho."

Those were my trophies and excellence certificates from different award giving bodies inside and outside of the country. Kinuha ko sa bulsa ko ang pack ng sigarilyo at kumuha ng isang piraso saka nilagay sa pagitan ng mga labi ko. Hindi ko alam kung sisindihan ko ba ang sigarilyo na ito.

"You can use the room upstairs adjacent to mine on your left." Akma akong tatalikod na ngunit napigil niya. Kinuha niya ang yosi sa bibig ko at tinapon iyon sa basurahan. "Why did you do that?"

"You cannot smoke when I'm around. May hika ako kaya ikaw ang mag-adjust sa akin since you agreed to live with me."

I agreed to live with Audrey because of work. I want to help her but there's no way I'm going to live with her apartment. Ayoko na napapalibutan kami ng toxic na mga tao at itong bahay ko ang pinakaligtas na lugar sa mga gano'ng tao.

"I will smoke outside, Aud."

"Kahit na. Let's have house rules na lang." She seemed okay now. Wala na iyong Audrey kanina na nakita kong umiiyak. Audrey went to my paper racks and got a piece of paper there and a pen. "I'll write down everything, and you'll approve it."

I chuckled.

The whole living together scheme is a complete ridiculous plan. Pero higit na nakakabaliw ang magkaroon ng house rules sa sarili kong bahay. Lalo na at siya pa ang may gawa.

"I own the house, Aud. My house, my rules."

"It's unfair! This is business, and you're doing it with me, so it is right to have my own rules too, and you will abide by them."

Huminga ako nang malalim at hinayaan siya isulat ang rules na gusto niyang sundin ko rin.

Naupo siya sa couch at nag-umpisang magsulat. Matama ko lang siyang pinanood hanggang matapos ilatag ang sampung house rules niya na dapat ay sundin ko rin.

"Why do you have ten house rules?" Hindi rules lahat ito. More like a sheet of request paper. What's with the number 4 and 10 rules?

"I only have ten while you have infinite rules I will abide by, sir." Quite reasonable, but still! These rules are impossible for me to abide by. Tama pa ba na inalok ko siya na tumira kasama ko? "I'll be in my room now!"

Umakyat siya ngunit huminto sa pinakagitna saka luminga-linga sa kaliwa't kanan ng hallway sa taas. Does she not know where is left and right?

"To your left, Audrey." Lumingon siya sa akin saka tinuro maling direksyon. I heaved another deep sigh. "On the other side..."