Lost on the Road (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 7

Kabanata 7

I woke up to the smell of fried food. Nanatili akong nakapikit, pilit na nilalabanan ang pagbangon habang naririnig ang tunog ng mantika. But it was too inviting, and the crackle of oil felt like a wake-up call.

Pagmulat ko ng mga mata, pasibol pa lang ang araw. The faint light seeped through the thin curtains, painting the room in shades of orange and gray. I glanced at the clock on the wall. It's still early. Too early for Lucas to be up, I thought.

Bumangon ako, hinila ang tuwalyang nakasabit sa gilid ng kama, at itinakip ito sa dibdib ko. Paglabas ko ng kwarto, nakita ko siya sa kusina, nakatalikod, at abalang nagluluto. Umikot ang paningin ko at nakita kong wala na iyong bra na na-hanger sa electricfan. Nagpanic agad ako.

"Good morning," he greeted, turning around with a lazy smile, spatula in hand. His hair was a mess, falling haphazardly over his forehead, but it only added to his annoyingly effortless charm.

Kunot-noo akong sumagot, "Nasaan iyong dalawang bra ko na naka-hanger?" my voice cracked slightly, half from panic and half from irritation.

He licked his lower lip, looking almost amused. "Nilabas ko para maarawan," he said nonchalantly.

"Madilim pa!" Tumuro ako sa bintana. "Wala pa ngang araw, oh!"

He shrugged. "Just wanted to make sure they didn't get all sweaty in that corner."

Malalim na hininga ang pinakawakan ko while still holding onto the towel tightly, as though I was trying to shield myself from his casual attitude.

"Come on, Laure, wala akong gagawin sa bra mo." he chuckled. Uminit ang pisngi ko.

"Siraulo!" I snapped, but he gave me a tongue smile. His eyes glinted with amusement, and I was sure he could see how flustered I was.

Ang walangyang 'to! Nang-aasar pa ata.

"You need to relax, Laure. You're getting way too worked up about this."

"Yeah, well, you need to stop being such a damn maniac," I muttered under my breath, but loud enough for him to hear.

Humalakhak na naman siya. "Whatever you say."

He turned back to the stove as if the whole interaction meant nothing, like it wasn't his fault for making me feel so uncomfortable.

Walangya talaga!

I rolled my eyes and walked away, my hands still gripping the towel tightly around me. The last thing I needed today is to be dealing with him.

But deep down, I knew this wasn't the last of it.

Kinuha ko ang bra na nakasampay sa labas. Tuyo naman na pala ito. Mabilis ko iyong ipinasok sa silid at inilagay sa drawer.

Pagbalik ko sa kusina, nakita ko na siyang nag-aayos ng lamesa. Two plates of fried eggs, fish, garlic rice, and slices of ripe mangoes were neatly laid out. The smell makes me forget how much he got on my nerves.

"Kumain kana," sabi ni Lucas nang lumabas ako.

Naghahanda siya ng pagkain sa mesa. Hindi ko tuloy mapigilang pagkatitigan siya.

Mukha naman siyang normal. I mean, disenteng lalaki kapag ganito siya. But the moment he grinned or gave you one of his trademark looks, it was like a switch flipped. Akala mo ay parang may masamang ibinabalak, idagdag mo pa lahat ng mga nasaksihan at nalaman ko tungkol sa kaniya.

"Uuwi ako sa Basco mamaya, it's my grandma's birthday," he announced while serving rice on my plate. "But I'll come back right away. Ayos lang ba sa'yo?"