Falling for the Masterpiece

Chapter 4: Canton

IVAN

"Sorry," was the first word that came out of Yuki's mouth. Mabilis siyang napaupo mula sa pagkakasandal sa dibdib ko. May naramdaman akong basa sa bahagi ng damit kong inunanan niya na agad niyang pinunasan. "Shit! Sorry, Ivan. Sorry."

He was rubbing my tank top so hard na parang batang may ginawang mali. Nabasa niya kasi ng laway.

I grabbed his wrist.

"Ayos lang," saad ko. Mabilis akong napatayo sa kama at sinimulang ligpitin ang extra matress sa baba.

Yuki circled around the bed and ran towards me. "Ako na ang magliligpit nito. Naabala na kita masyado."

Masyado pang maaga. The coffee has not yet touched my throat. Arguing with him as early as now is pointless.

"Are you sure, hindi ka pa ba nilalagnat?"

Mabilis siyang umiling.

Looking at Yuki now, ibang-iba ang itsura niya sa kadalasang maangas na heartthrob ng school. Medyo kulot pala ang buhok niya kapag bagong gising. And they are not totally black. The ray of early morning sun from my window makes his hair glow, it has this brownish look. Kahit mas matangkad siya sa akin, he looks more... I'm not sure what word to use... fragile.

The swelling in his eyes seems to have lessen. Nakangiti na siya habang nakatitig sa akin at mukhang hindi na sumasakit ang mata niya whenever he smiles.

He smiled and said something weird, "Your amber eyes looks like the water reflecting the sun."

I smiled, which made him smile more. That's when his eye started hurting again.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, ililigpit ko lang ito and maybe I could go."

"Dito ka na mag-agahan. Pahinga ka muna at wala naman tayong pasok."

Nakayuko na siya this time. Sinimulan niyang tupiin ang kumot niya.

"I'll just take a shower," dagdag ko. "May 3-in-1 sa drawer katabi ng lababo at magtimpla la na lang ng kape mo."

"Okay, Ivan," sagot niya habang nakayuko. He sounded shy again.

"Also, pasensya ka na at pancit canton lang ang meron ako tsaka itlog. Do you mind making them for us?"

"Okay." Nakayuko lang siya. He's sounding hesitant while uttering my name. "Ivan."

I suddenly touched his forehead. "Hindi ka naman na nilalagnat, bakit ang tamlay mo pa rin?"

"Sorry, Ivan."

Baka gutom lang siya. May bigla akong naalala! Rich kid nga siguro 'to at hindi marunong magluto.

"You do know how to use a stove, right?"

Tinanguan niya lang ako.

I tapped his shoulder sabay nagtungo ako sa banyo. While I was sitting in the toilet, I ordered some food delivery para kay Yuki. I'm thinking na baka hindi siya sanay kumain ng mga junk foods so I decided to buy him some pancakes and salad.

When I was done with the bathroom, I don my green Keroppi shirt at yellow jersey shorts na binili ko sa ukay. I can't even phantom my tatay's reaction when he sees me wearing this. Masinop at mapili sa damit si tatay. Nagagalit 'yon tuwing nagsusuot ako ng mga segunda mano kesa sa mga damit na binili niya.

Living away from home since high school has been a life changer. Siya naman ang may gusto noon. Sabi niya, I can only come back kung kaya ko na ang sarili ko. Akala niya siguro, takot akong mag-isa. Living on my own is like one of the best things that happened to me. Except when I met Em, ang pinsan ni Andi, in one of our outings. Sobrang ganda niya. Noon lang ako nagka-crush sa isang tao. And that feeling was so amazing, iyong tipong tiklop talaga ako whenever she's near me. Iyong pakiramdam na kasalanan ang lapitan siya.