S U A D E L A

15

TW: Mention of traumatic experience.
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"Sua."

"Mmm." Suadela slowly opened her eyes and frowned at Luan who was crouching beside the couch.

"Gising na. It's already six in the morning." Luan said in a low voice before standing straight.

Dahan-dahan bumangon si Suadela at kunot-noong tinignan ang binata. Nakaligo na ito base sa mamasa-masa nitong buhok pero nakapambahay pa rin. White shirt at gray pants.

"Anong sinabi mo?" kunot-noo pa ring tanong ni Suadela. Bahagyang nakatingala sa binata.

"Sabi ko gising na at alas-sais na." Si Luan at tinalikuran siya.

"Yung isa pa, bago yon."

Luan stopped and looked back at her with a frown, "Sua?" he inquired. Then, he headed to the kitchen, "Follow me."

Lalong kumunot-noo si Suadela habang nakatingin sa papalayo nitong pigura.

"Suadela!" sigaw ni Luan mula sa kusina.

"Andyan na!" bumangon si Suadela at sinuklay ang buhok ng mga daliri bago pumunta sa kusina.

Pagbungad niya sa pinto ay tinuro ni Luan ang mesa. Nagtatakang lumapit at tinignan ni Suadela ang mga nakahain doon. Mixed veggies, pritong itlog, bacon, tapa, mushroom soup, at garlic fried rice. Meron ding plain rice.

"Coffee or milk?" tanong ni Luan na binuksan ang cupboard para kumuha ng mug.

"Gatas nalang."

"Such a baby."

Hindi umimik si Suadela at umupo na. Grabihan naman mag-agahan itong lalaking 'to. Takot na takot magutom?

"Kain na." Si Luan at nilapag sa tapat ni Suadela ang baso ng gatas.

"Maggagatas lang ako."

Luan stopped pulling out the chair and questioningly looked at Suadela.

"Okay na ko dito. Hindi talaga ako masyadong nakain sa umaga."

"Then, get used with it from now on. I could cook for you whenever you come over."

Napanguso si Suadela at tatanggi pa sana nang akmang lalagyan na siya ng pagkain sa plato ni Luan.

"Ako na!" pigil ni Suadela sa kamay ng kaharap.

Umupo na rin si Luan at nagsimula nang kumain.

"Ganito ka talaga magbreakfast?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Wala. Mukha kang busy lagi kaya akala ko nag-i-skip ka ng breakfast."

"I never skip breakfast. It's the most important meal of the day. I skip lunch most of the time though. Busy kapag nasa school na."

"Kaya ka ba sinasabayan pa nila Sen?"

"Partly, yes." Luan pointed his fork on Suadela's plate, "Eat more. Don't be such a picky eater."

Suadela glared at Luan. Napaka talaga nito. Hindi kayang dalhin sa kwento-kwento.

Matapos kumain ay pinaligo na ni Luan si Suadela. Habang ito pa rin ang naghugas ng mga pinagkainan nila sa kabila ng pag-ako ni Suadela na gawin iyon.

Twenty minutes before 8 AM, they are both ready and about to head out to SU.

"Wait," Suadela stopped Luan, "peram ako nito," and reached for his baseball cap.

Luan rolled his eyes and went back to his room. When he came out, he was wearing a replica of the baseball cap that Suadela took. She has the black while he has the white.