Shelter in a Storm (Elyu Series #2)

Chapter 25

"Hoy, hinay-hinay lang, Ivo! Mga lamp yan, eh!" Binatukan ni Lulu si Ivo nang tumunog ang box pagkalapag nito sa sahig.

Ivo wiped the sweat off his forehead and glared at his best friend.

"Andami-dami mong gamit, Luanne Rose! Pang-isang pamilya na 'to, eh!"

Karlo nodded in agreement. "Punong-puno na ng mga box itong sala, tapos may paparating pa. Papatayin mo ba kami?"

"Napaka-reklamador niyo, ah! Parang hindi kaibigan..." Lulu pouted.

Even Kael and Ravi came to help. When Lulu offered to be my roommate, it took her a while to pack all of her things and move here. Noong isang linggo pa narito si Chuchay kaya naman medyo nasasanay na ito sa bagong tirahan. I was glad to see her putting back some weight and playing actively in the yard. Habang pinapanuod ko itong habulin ang paru-paro sa bakuran ay nawala kaagad lahat ng pagod ko. I thought everything was worth it while watching her...

Lulu wanted to paint the walls room by room, so I let her do whatever she wanted and we ended up sleeping in the living room for a couple of days. Palagi na ring nagpupunta si Kael dito para tulungan ang nobya dahil kung anu-anong DIY projects ang naiisip ng kaibigan para i-decorate ang bagong apartment namin.

"Hindi ka pa ba nagre-resign?" Tanong niya sa akin nang makasalubong ako sa sala. Kakagaling ko lang sa shift ko at mukhang kakagising pa lang niya.

I shook my head. "Medyo nasasanay na rin kasi ako... atsaka, hindi ko makukuha ang sweldo ko sa unang buwan kapag nag-quit kaagad ako."

"Well, at least quit drinking energy drinks. Nakita ko ang ref natin, puno iyon ng energy drinks. Nag-aalala ako para sa'yo, Avery..."

I sighed and nodded. I tried drinking coffee, but it didn't help much so I immediately switched to drinking energy drinks because I needed my body to function as much as it can.

Alam kong masama ang naidudulot nito sa katawan. Tuwing day off ko, imbes na makatulog ay tulala lang akong nakahiga sa kama. I've been looking forward to sleep the entire week but when it comes to it, I couldn't even close my eyes.

As months passed by, I could barely recognize the apartment as it once was. Lulu brought life to the place, and I'm really glad she's living with me. If I had to live in a lifeless apartment on top of doing everything else, I'll plunge straight into depression.

Kahit papaano, sa tuwing umuuwi ako ay nakikita ko ang mga halaman ni Lulu sa labas. O di kaya'y tumutunog ang wind chimer sa tuwing binubuksan ko ang pinto. Linggo-linggong ina-arrange ni Lulu ang sofa kaya nagugulat nalang ako na iba na naman ang hitsura ng sala namin.

But everything she did made me feel so alive... and the fact that Chuchay greets me each time I get home. I thought, with these two, I could keep on going like this. No matter how dark and gloomy I get, I could always rely on Chuchay being so energetic and Lulu being her usual sunshine self.

"Ako na ang magluluto ng agahan natin," ani ko sabay lapag ng gamit ko sa lamesa.

"Yes, please! Gusto ko iyong sinangag na niluto mo noong nakaraan!" Sigaw naman niya mula sa sala.

Pagsasaing at pagp-prito ng mga itlog, hotdog, o di kaya's luncheon meat lang ang alam ni Lulu. She's so handy at other things but when it comes to cooking, she could barely whisk an egg! Buti nalang at kahit papaano'y mayroon naman akong natutunan mula kay Tita kaya naman nakakakain pa rin kami nang maayos. I told her to quit ordering food online, she told me to quit my energy drinks. Both of us compromised and for a moment, it feels like I was having a relationship with her instead of Enrique.

Ganito pala talaga ang nagagawa ng oras at distansiya...

Minsan, sa sobrang pagod ko ay may mga araw na lumilipas na hindi ko na siya magawang isipin. Of course, I always worry about him. I always hope that he's doing well inside the academy. I think about him when I don't have any homework to cram or any irate customer to soothe. Sa mga oras na iyon, mas lalo kong nararamdaman ang sobrang pangungulila sa kaniya.