Jathea/Rastro: When Love Gets Complicated

'One step at a time'

Jade's

I never thought that a having a home cook meal could be so great.

With all of the fancy foods that I had in a fancy restaurant, for me, nothing beats the food that Althea cooked.

Ang sarap ng pagkain at ang sarap sa feeling na kumain ng hindi nako-concious na maaaring may paparazzi na kumukuha ng pictures at ipo-post sa isang blog or worst sa sa news and magazines.

This feeling si so nice.. its so homey and being with Althea is so comfortable that I would care what she would think what she think of me while I ate like a pig.

'Blame Althea for cooking food that mede my taste bud explode. Sobrang sarap ba naman!'

"Kailangan pa ba kitang ihatid Jade? Hindi na ako ako babalik ng office e kaya I wont mind kung ihahatid pa kita."

'Hmmmn, babalik pa ba ako sa office? Baka balikan ako ni Dad. Tumakas na nga ako tapos babalik pa ako dun? San naman ako magsta-stay kung aalis ako? Starbucks?'

"Hey..." I look at Althea's hand na naka dantay sa kamay ko then I looked at her.

"I can see that your having internal battle inside, you can stay here if you like." Althea flashed her an understanding smile.

'Who knew that a stranger wouldnt let me feel so strange at all?'

'Guess Althea have that affect on me huh.'

I was about to open my mouth to say something only to close it again.

"Hey, its really okay with me Jade. All you got to do is say thanks. Haha!"

I squeezed her hand and smiled at her.

"Thank you Althea and yes I want to stay here.. may dapat pa kasi akong tapusin pero natatakot akong bumalik sa office kasi baka balikan ako ni Dad. If its okay with you can I stay for a while?" This time I felt Althea squeezed my hand and nudge me in the side.

"Sabing okay lang eh. Welcome ka dito anytime."

'May pa kindat kindat pang nalalaman huh!'

"Thank you." Was all that I could say.

--
Althea put her laptop down in the center table then she sat infront of it habang sya ay nakaupo lang sa chair.. for a while they focus on their individual work, I am finishing my proposal to our investors while Althea is doing what I think is their report for their income.. nakita kong napapakunot ang noo habang naka tinggin sa laptop nya and I find it cute. Lahat nalang yata about sa babaing to I find it cute. She caught me staring at her and she winked at me which made me bit my lower lip to suppress my smile. She gestured for me to sit beside her kaya umupo nga ako sa tabi nya sa nilagay ang laptop sa tabi ng sa kanya.

Noong una small talk lang hanggang tumagal ay naging seryosohan na.

Its like getting to now the person while doing their work.

"So you mean that youre out and proud?" Sabi ko saka ni turn off na ang laptop matapos kong masave ang kakatapos ko lang na proposal. Althea already tuck hers a while ago kaya prente lang itong naka sandal sa sofa habang nakaupo sa sahig.. she is facing me.

"Oo naman.. nung high school pa ako nagladlad ng totoo kong katauhan Jade. It was all thanks to Xianee."

'Xianee? Sinong Xianee?'

"Xianee?" I look aat her saka sumandal din paharap dito.

"Xianee is my first girlfriend. Kababata ko din sya. Nang dahil sa kanya natanggap ko na din kung sino at kung ano ba talaga ang gender preference ko. Hindi naman kasi naging madali ang pag out ko Jade, I was in denial, yung ayaw ko na maging iba sa mga tao. Kasi aminin man natin o hindi people this days like to critized somoene without even knowing the reason why do people do such things. Sinubukan ko naman talaga na mag bago pero wala e, ganito talaga ako, tomboy."