We enter the cottage wet and we’re both shivering. He open the door, it's a cottage with a room inside, mini kitchen filled with foods and appliances, and a bathroom. Tiningnan ko si Nicholai na binuksan ang cabinet, mabuti nalang at hindi malamig sa loob. He hand me a towel.
“There’s a shirt and a shorts in the bathroom, you can wear it, it's clean.” I didn't say anything and just went inside the bathroom. Minadali ko lang ang pagligo dahil basa pa siya. Baka nilalamig na siya.
Lumabas ako agad kahit basa pa ang buhok ko, i just took the hair dryer from the bathroom and brought it outside. “Tapos na ako.” sabi ko. I sat on the sofa and plug in the hair dryer. He enters the bathroom.
I let out a sigh and held my stomach. I’m so hungry. Nakaayos ako ng upo ng biglang bumukas ang bathroom door. I look at him and he was looking at me. “Kukuha lang ako ng masusuot.” i didn't say anything.
Pumasok siya kaya napabatok ako sa sarili ko. “He didn't saw me, right?” bulong ko sa sarili ko and continues drying my hair. Natapos ako pero siya hindi pa. I look at the counter. Merong mga foods dun. Pwede lang kayang kumuha?
Tatayo sana ako ng bigla siyang lumabas kaya naman umupo ako ulit. “Do you want to eat?” he asked. Agad akong umiling. “N-no, i’m not hungry.” i said.
“Sayang naman, ang dami pa namang pagkaing dinala ni Mr. Rivero kanina.” sabi niya. Madami nga at mukhang masasarap. “Hindi ko naman yan maibibigay sa mga guards kasi dinalhan din sila ni Mr. Rivero. Baka mapanis lang—” tumayo ako.
“S-sige na nga kahit busog ako.” sabi ko. I look at him and i saw him smile. “Okay, come here.” tumungo ako sa counter. Merong high chair doon kaya umupo ako.
Binuksan niya ang mga pagkain at binigyan ako ng plate and utensils. “Water? Juice? Coffee? Tea? Milk? Soda? Or C2?” natigilan ako.
C2. I suddenly remembers our past. That time when he surprised me.
“Water.” i said. Kumuha ako ng fried chicken, rice, and chapsoy. Kumuha rin siya ng sa kanya. Tahimik lang kaming kumain dalawa. I never thought na mangyayari ulit ‘to. Na kakain kami together again.
Natapos ang pagkain namin and i insist to do the dishes. Pansin kong medyo namumula ang mukha niya lalo na ang ilong niya. Mukhang lalagnatin siya.
The rain was even heavier than earlier at malapit ng mag gabi. Am i really gonna stay here tonight?
“Ah, Nic? I’ll just sleep for a moment okay lang ba? You can wake me up if you want something. I’ll just sleep here on the sofa. My phone is on the side table, you can borrow it and do whatever you wants. I'll just sleep for a moment.” i nod. He went to sleep on the sofa.
Ba't diyan siya matutulog? Akala ko sa kama? Nabingi yata ako, akmang gigisingin ko siya ng mapansin kong malalim na ang tulog niya.
Ang bilis. Biglang umilaw ang phone niya kaya naman tiningnan ko ito. He said, i could do anything i want with his phone right? Paano kong sirain ko ‘to? Siguradong magagalit siya.
I saw someone sent him a message. It says Ms. Catsiyah.
Catsiyah? His girlfriend? Miss tawag niya dito? Ang baduy ah. I open his phone and saw his girlfriend's message.
Ms. Catsiyah
Nicholai, when are you coming back to manila? I need you.
You need him? Paano mo ba ‘yan? Mukhang ‘di ka niya need? Joke. I rolled my eyes and couldn't help but to scroll their messages or should i say just Catsiyah’s messages?
BINABASA MO ANG
TEARDROPS OF TOMORROW
DragosteNicole thought it was okay to like her neighbor, Nicholai Herrera silently. She's been in love with Nicholai for almost a decade. For Nicole, it was enough to see him and talk to him even for a second. When she turns into a high school student, she...
