The Roommate Situation

Chapter 8

Gracie

Tahimik ang apartment maliban sa mahinang ugong ng electric fan at ang paminsang-minsang tunog ng mga sasakyan sa labas. Sabado ng gabi, mukhang kakagising lang ni Alex. His messy hair and sleepy eyes told me as much when he shuffled out of his room, stretching his arms and yawning.

Bumili ako ng isang bote ng soju kanina, reward sa sarili for a long day at the café. Pero nang makita ko si Alex, parang mas deserve niya 'to kesa sa'kin. Can't believe this guy works a 13-hour shift all the time. Kung maka-grind akala mo may sampung anak na binubuhay.

Kumuha siya ng isang malamig na baso ng tubig at sumandal lang sa counter, nakatitig sa sahig na parang lutang. I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but when his phone rang and he answered it, agad kong napansin ang tono ng boses niya.

"Hi, ma," he said softly, his voice losing its usual sarcastic edga.

Natigilan ako. Never ko pang narinig si Alex na nagsalita tungkol sa pamilya niya. I just assumed na ulilang lubos din siya gaya ko.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Palagi naman akong nightshift, ma, pero okay lang. No need to worry about me." He paused, listening to whatever his mom was saying. Then he laughed lightly, a sound so genuine it tugged at something in me. "I promise I'll call more often. Tell dad I miss him too. Oh, and can you send me photos of Thor?" He smiled. The call ended with: "Okay, love you, bye."

Agad akong nagpanggap na nagse-cellphone, kunwari hindi ako nakinig, pero ang daming tanong ang tumatakbo sa isipan ko. Close siya sa parents niya? Parang hindi tugma sa Alex na kilala ko— the snarky, night-shift-loving roommate na mahilig mag-iwan ng mug ng kape sa sink at kaaway ko palagi sa pinaka-maliliit na bagay.

But the curiosity got the best of me. When he hung up, I couldn't help but ask.

"May sweet bone ka palas a katawan," I remarked, smirking at him.

Binato niya ako ng pagod na tingin. "You're creeping me out, Gracie."

"No really, I didn't think you'd be the type na nag-a-I love you sa magulang."

He rolled his eyes. "Sorry kung 'di ka mahal ng magulang mo."

I shot him a death glare. "I'm an orphan. Ako na lang mag-isa sa buhay, but my mom surely loved me when she was still alive."

I saw the guilt in his eyes. His gaze softened, "shit. I didn't know. I'm sorry. That was insensitive of me."

Gagamitin ko pa sana 'yon para i-guilt trip siya pero na-konsensya ako. Hindi rin naman ako na-offend. Sanay na ako sa sarcasm ni Alex, and I also know na empath siya. Pansin ko 'yun sa isang buwan na naming magkasama sa bahay. He'd joke about things but he won't ever intentionally say something just to hurt me.

"It's okay." I made an effort to make it look like he didn't need to worry about it. "Anyway, how's your family like?"

"Marites," he answered, holding back a smile.

"Can't help it, occupational hazard of being a café owner," I grinned. I thought about the thousand times I had to ask our customers how's their day going. Ganun talaga kapag nasa hospitality industry.

Napailing si Alex, muttering something under his breath, but I caught the faintest smile tugging at his lips.

"Fine," I said as I hold up the soju bottle. "Laro na lang tayo ng drinking game. Drink or tell the truth."

"Hindi naman laro 'yan eh. You just made that up para maki-chismis sa buhay ko."

"Yeah, whatever. Ano, in or not? Come on, deserve mo ng soju. Para ka nang zombie kaka-trabaho eh."