Hello, Yellow Fellow

Chapter 25

Hello, Yellow Fellow
Chapter 25: Photos

Tumungo ako sa counter ng kitchen niya, bitbit 'yong rice porridge na niluto ko kanina sa condo. It's still hot, kaya tingin ko okay na 'to kahit hindi na initin.

Habang busy ako sa paghahanda, naramdaman ko siyang lumapit mula sa likod. He leaned in, dumungaw siya mula sa gilid ko, and suddenly, our faces were just inches apart. Nalanghap ko agad 'yong amoy niya— so familiar yet so intoxicating.

"What's that?" He asked softly, his breath warm against my cheek habang nakadungaw sa ginagawa ko.

"Rice porridge. You should eat," I replied, focusing on preparing it kahit na alam kong andiyan siya, almost leaning against me.

"Nakainom ka na ba ng gamot?" I asked habang naghahanap ng maliit na bowl at serving spoon sa cabinet niya.

Ramdam ko na hindi siya sumasagot. Tumigil ako saglit, lumingon at nakita siyang nakangiti, leaning against the counter, looking at me like I'm some kind of amusing scene.

"Tinatanong ko kung nakainom ka na ng gamot," I repeated, raising an eyebrow at him. Pero imbes na sumagot, ngumiti lang siya, his eyes twinkling.

"What if, " he trailed off, still smiling.

"What if... what?" Medyo naiinis kong tanong habang sinalin ko na 'yong porridge sa bowl.

"What if dito ka na lang tumira sa condo ko?"

Napatingin ako sa kanya, caught off guard by the seriousness in his voice. The fuck, seryoso ba siya?

"Epekto ba 'yan ng sakit mo?" I scoffed, trying to brush off the sudden shift in his tone.

"Hindi. Kapag nandito ka, sure akong 'di na ako magkakasakit," he explained with a playful grin.

"Ano connect?" I narrowed my eyes at him. He chuckled softly, amused.

Kumuha ako ng tubig para masigurong matapos na niyang kainin 'yong porridge at makainom ng gamot. Baka mas lumala pa 'to at kung ano-ano pa ang sabihin.

"Kain na," I said, placing the bowl in front of him.

"Subo mo ako."

"Ha?" Halos mabilaukan ako sa sinabi niya.

"Subuan mo ako," he repeated with a cheeky grin, clearly enjoying how flustered I looked. Ramdam ko 'yong init sa pisngi ko sa narinig ko.

"S-seryoso ka ba?" I stammered, and before I knew it, he burst out laughing. He laughed so hard na kinailangan pa niyang punasan 'yong luha niya.

"Tangina, kahit 'di na ako uminom ng gamot, gagaling ako dahil sayo," he teased, still chuckling. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin, pero natatawa na rin ako sa pang-aasar niya.

"Kumain ka na nga. Lumalala na talaga 'yang sakit mo," I said, rolling my eyes at him bago ako umalis sa harap niya.

"Yes, boss," he said with a playful salute bago sumubo ng porridge.

I walked toward the couches in the middle of the room. The place was really huge— two large couches facing a round table, with a flat screen TV mounted on the wall, and a chandelier above.

My gaze landed on the floor-to-ceiling glass window, where the city lights twinkled outside. Slowly, I walked towards it, mesmerized by the view. Ang ganda ng mga ilaw from here, so peaceful to look at.

"Ikaw lang ba mag-isa dito, Maki?" I asked absentmindedly, still captivated by the view. Sobrang laki ng condo niya para sa isang tao lang.

"Yes, just me," he replied, his voice a bit muffled from chewing the porridge. Mukhang sarap na sarap siya sa simpleng luto ko.