His Girl Friday 2

Chapter 30: Truce

Chapter 30: Truce

Manang: meron ako iniwan mga ulam sa ref

Manang: pwede nyo init sa microwave pag nagutom kayo

Ara: Okay po, thank you!

Manang: bakasyon lang kami saglit

Manang: pakabusog kayo ni sir apollo

***

I knew something was different when I woke up this morning. But I still jumped off my bed and started my morning routine on autopilot. I took a long shower, brushed my teeth, did my morning skincare, cleaned my mouthguard, picked my clothes for today, and then lounged on my bed to check and answer my emails.

But then, I noticed how quiet the whole house was. Usually kapag ganitong oras, naririnig ko na 'yung kalampag ng mga kawali sa kusina dahil sa pagluluto ni Manang Jocelyn. Walang palya 'yun.

Kaya nakakapagtaka kung bakit tahimik ang buong farmhouse ngayong umaga.

Napatalon ako sa gulat nang biglang tumunog ang pagbukas at pagsara ng pintuan. From the sound of it, or how close it sounded, it was probably Apollo exiting his bedroom. With my smartphone in my hand, I hopped off my bed and left my room.

I found Apollo in the kitchen pulling out a casserole from the fridge.

"Where's Manang and Angelica?

He looked over his shoulder as he placed the casserole near the microwave oven. "They left for the weekend. Hermosa Day is on Monday," he answered. I watched him continue heating the food he pulled out from the fridge.

"And?" I asked in confusion.

"Walang pasok. They went home," he answered plainly. He put the casserole inside the microwave. It started humming as soon as he closed it.

"So umalis silang lahat?" I asked as I looked around the farmhouse. There's no one here but the two of us. "Even the house staff?

I watched him nod. "I think so, yeah."

Fuck. Why did no one tell me there's going to be a long weekend holiday this week? Not even my best friends who were also here in Hermosa.

"Kumain ka na ba?" he asked all of a sudden.

I shook my head. "Ngayon lang ako lumabas ng room this morning."

"Are you going to eat breakfast with me today?"

Even though I didn't want to, I just shrugged at him. "Sure," I even said to him to look nonchalant. God, I hate faking shit. I'm still angry at him but it gets tiring to pretend to be this cold-blooded person who just doesn't care.

But not for long. Once na makaalis ako dito sa farmhouse at makalipat sa room na binook ko sa Ever's Meadow, I know I'll be okay.

I need to get started on it. Might as well tell Apollo now that I'm planning to leave but will still work for him to pay for all the shit he did and paid for me.

Trying to catch his attention, I cleared my throat pointedly before I started speaking. "Anyway, there's a cancelled reservation sa Ever's Meadow next week." He looked over his shoulder again and our eyes met as I kept telling him about my moving-out plans. "I already booked the room via Everly. I'll be out of your hair, by then."

He stopped whatever he was doing. He then faced me fully, the kitchen counter separating us. His brows were pinched together in confusion. "I thought you were going to live and work here?"