Kinabukasan, nagising ako na nakahiga pa sa sofa. The sun was barely peeking through the blinds, casting a soft glow around the condo unit. I sat up and rubbing my face with my palm para magising ang diwa ko, the events from yesterday slowly creeping back into my mind.
"Lan Miguel"
Napatingin ako sa direksyon ng guest room. The door was still shut, completely silent. No sign of life. For a second, I debated if I should just leave him be or knock and check if he was still alive.
I sighed, scratching the back of my head. "Do I even care?" But then again, the last thing I needed was Tita Vien chewing me out for ignoring her friends artist.
Standing up, I grabbed a shirt to wear and glancing again at the closed door again. kakatukin ko ba para malaman kung buhay pa? It felt awkward, damn. I wasn't even sure how to act around the guy. He was so cold and distant yesterday, it was like talking to an air.
I made my way to the kitchen, thinking maybe making coffee would help me think straight let the smell of brewing coffee fill my nostrils but still, that damn door was calling my attention.
"What if he's still asleep?" I thought. "Or what if he's waiting for me to say something?"
I leaned against the kitchen counter, staring at the guest room. My foot tapped against the tiled floor, a little faster than usual. This guy was seriously getting into my head. He hadn't even been here for a full day, and I was already stressed.
Finally, I shook my head and
I picked up my coffee mug and, with a deep breath, walked over to Lan's door. For a moment, I stood in front of it, hesitating if kakatukin ko ba. unsure if I should knock or just turn around and pretend I didn't care.
"Just knock, Xian. e che-check mo lang naman kung buhay pa ba"
I raised my fist and gave three light taps. Silence.
I waited for a few seconds, but no sound came from inside. I knocked again, a little louder this time.
Still nothing.
I furrowed my brows. "He can't still be asleep, right?" It was already past 8 AM. most people would be up by now at tyaka he is an artist so dapat sanay na syang maagang nagigising. Maybe he was just ignoring me or maybe he left early.
Feeling slightly annoyed, I leaned in closer to the door. "Lan?" I called out, my voice low but loud enough para marinig nya sa loob if he is still there.
Still no response.
Okay, this was weird. I pressed my ear against the door, trying to listen for any movement inside. There wasn't a single sound. My mind started racing. "What if something happened to him?I remembered Francis saying he was going through something. What if...
No. That was ridiculous. He was probably fine. But what if...
I clenched my jaw, my frustration growing. I was about to break down the door because this guy maybe did something wrong to his self. I backed away, shaking my head. Maybe I was overthinking things.
I turned to walk away, but then just as I took a step, the door creaked open.
I froze.
Lan stood there, his cold and uninterested eyes meeting mine. He looked the same as yesterday-distant, almost like he was annoyed that I bothered him.
"What do you want?" he asked, his voice as cool as ever.
I blinked, surprised that he actually opened the door. "Uh... I was just checking if you were awake. You've been quiet all morning."
Lan gave a slight nod, but his expression didn't change. "I'm fine. Is that all?"
His bluntness. "Yeah... I guess."
Without another word, he closed the door in my face.
I stood there, dumbfounded. Did he just slam the door at my face.
I stared at the closed door for a few seconds, then sighed and headed back to the kitchen. I took a long sip of my coffee, the bitterness lingering on my tongue as I processed what just happened.
This guy's gonna drive me crazy, I thought, shaking my head.
ilang oras pagkatapos ng pagsasara nya ng pintuan sa akin, narinig kung bumukas ang pinto ng guest room. Lumabas siya, mukhang bagong ligo, suot ang simpleng itim na t-shirt at pajama pants. Tahimik siyang lumakad papunta sa sala, walang imik, at umupo sa sofa na parang walang tao sa paligid niya.
Nakaupo ako sa kitchen counter, nagbabasa ng ilang email ko at ang mga schedule ko for this month, pero napatigil ako nang makita ko siyang lumabas. Medyo nag-aalangan ako kung kakausapin ko ba siya o hindi, pero naisip kong subukan na lang.
"Hey," tawag ko habang iniiwasan ko ang pagiging awkward. "Gutom ka ba? Nagluto ako ng breakfast." Tinuro ko ang mga pancakes at scrambled eggs na nasa counter side.
Tumingin siya sa akin, sandali lang, bago bumalik ang tingin niya sa harapan. Walang pagbabago sa expression niya, parang walang naririnig "Okay lang. I'm not really hungry," sabi niya ng malamig, pero hindi naman bastos.
Napasimangot ako ng konti. This guy... Pero sige, naisip ko, baka di lang sanay sa may kasama so as me pero hindi naman pwede na lagi nalang kaming awkward sa isat-isa lalo na at nasa iisang condo unit kami.
"Well," sabi ko habang nagkakamot ng ulo, "if ever magbago isip mo, nandiyan lang 'yan. Mainit pa." Nakatayo lang ako doon, awkwardly sipping my coffee, feeling like I was talking to a wall. Pero hindi ko rin naman siya masisisi. Baka hindi lang talaga siya sanay makipag-usap.
Tahimik lang si Lan, hindi man lang ako tinignan ulit. Pero napansin kung tiningnan niya sandali ang pagkain sa side ko. Okay, maybe he's interested, naisip ko.
Nagpatuloy ako. "Pancakes 'to. Homemade. Not bad, if I say it for myself," I added to offer, trying to lighten the mood.
This time, nagbuntong-hininga siya nang bahagya, parang napipilitan. "Fine. I'll have some."
Napangiti ako, kahit papaano. "Good choice." Tumayo ako at kinuha ang isang plato, nilagyan ng ilang pancakes at scrambled eggs, at inilapag ito sa harap niya
Tahimik lang si Lan habang inaabot ang kutsara't tinidor. Tinikman niya ang pancakes, at kahit walang emosyon sa mukha niya, parang wala naman siyang reklamo.
"Masarap 'yan, di ba?" biro ko, umaasang kahit konti, mag-iinitiate siya ng conversation.
"Walang lasa," diretsong sabi niya, pero hindi niya tinigilan ang pagkain.
Napanganga ako sandali. "Wow, brutal," sagot ko, pero tumatawa na rin. At least he's eating.
Lan kept eating, not even reacting to my laugh. Pero kahit malamig ang dating niya, napansin kung inubos niya yung laman plato hanggang sa huling kagat. Well, well, well. I guess its not so bad after all.
"Okay na," maikling sagot niya habang iniinom ang tubig na inabot ko sa kanya.
Pagkatapos niyang matapos kumain, tahimik siyang tumayo at naglakad pabalik sa guest room. Hindi man lang siya nagsabi ng " thank you" o kahit "goodbye." Pero sa totoo lang, naisip ko, at least kumain siya.
Tahimik akong umiling habang nililigpit ang pinagkainan nya. "This guy's tougher to crack than I thought." Pero kahit ganon, hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti. Maybe there was more to Lan Miguel than his cold, distant attitude. Maybe.
