Inilagay ko sa lababo ang pinggan at basong ginamit ko sa pag snack kanina. Huhugasan ko na rin dahil nakita ko iyong pinagkainan niya na nasa dish drying rack na. Hindi niya talaga hinintay iyong akin at basta lang akong iniwan doon sa garden. Napikon ba siya pangaasar ko sa kaniya kanina?
I was about to start washing when my phone rang in my pocket. I took it out, saw it was Ash calling, and answered, setting it on loudspeaker so I could hear him while washing.
"Hey, where are you?" I asked, starting to wash the dishes.
"Need something?" he asked back.
"Yeah. But, where are you? I've been calling you," I replied.
He sighed on the other end, "Just somewhere. So, what do you need?" he said, changing the subject.
"Let's hang out. I've been stuck at home since summer started."
"You know, you should get some friends to hang out with."
"Why bother? I have you, anyway."
"Aren't you sick of hanging out with me?" he asked.
"Nope—"
"'Cause I am."
I glanced at my phone, grinning. "Ouch, you're hurting me, Ash."
"I know you don't care. You're a numb motherfucker," he snapped.
I chuckled at his grumpiness. If I didn't know Ash well, I'd probably be offended by his foul mouth, but I'm used to it, and he's used to mine.
"I heard Celine hired someone around our age to keep you company. Why don't you ask him?"
I grimaced. "I don't think we're close enough to hang out, Ash." Pero kung maka "I'm your baby" ako kanina, parang hindi lang kahapon nagkakilala.
"Why? Inaway mo na naman? You should get rid of your bad attitude, that's why you don't have friends—"
"Hey," putol ko sa kaniya. "I didn't, okay?" akala mo may kaibigan din ang isang ito.
Pinunasan ko ang mga kamay ko nang matapos akong maghugas at inilay sa drying rack ang mga hinugasan.
"So, ano lang?" ayaw talagang maniwala na wala akong ginawa.
Well, sa lahat na naging helper namin dito sa bahay, ay wala talagang tumatagal ng isang buwan. At oo, kasalanan ko iyon. Kaya walang nags-stay na helper dito sa bahay. That's why Celine hired cleaners who just come every day and leave before I even wake up. Nakakapagtaka lang ngayon na kinuha niya si Matt.
"I just teased him," pag-amin ko.
"I'm more surprise that you just teased him," he sighed.
"Well, he started it first."
"Yeah?"
"Yup," nangingiting kong sagot, naalala ko na naman ang reaksyon niya kanina.
"I'll be there before dinner," hindi na siya nagtanong pa.
"Okay. See you."
"Yeah," he said before ending the call.
I slip my phone into my pocket before turning away from the sink. Halos mapaatras naman ako sa gulat nang ang sumalubong sa paningin ko ay si Matt na nakasandal sa pinto habang nakahalukipkip at seryosong nakatingin sa 'kin. Hindi ko man lang namalayan na andyan na pala siya.
"Papatayin mo ba ako sa gulat?" nakangiwing tanong ko.
"Hindi naman kita ginulat, nagulat ka ng kusa," he replied, as if it were the most logical thing in the world.
