Behind Closed Doors

twenty six

I woke up with a feeling of someone lightly caressing my hair. I slowly opened my eyes as I tried to adjust to the sunlight that is coming outside the window.

"Good morning babi." Aliah smiled at me sweetly. Kalmado lang siyang nakatingin sakin. Nakapatong ang ulo niya sa kamay niya na nasa kama.

I can always spend my night and much more willing to welcome my day with this beautiful woman beside me.

Isang chance lang Lord, ipilit na po natin.
Sino ba naman ang aayaw kay Aliah? Hindi ako. Gustong gusto ko 'to e.

"Oh? Walang good morning para sakin?" She pout as she look away from me.

"Hala ka uy, 29 ka na ha. Pabebe." I tease her a little. She shove me away. I laughed.

"Miro lumayas ka na sa bahay ko. Sama lang ng ugali mo." She said. Tumayo siya at lumakad palayo.

"Luh, sorry Ma'am." I laughed again. She throw me a death glare as she slam the door.

Nakakatawa talaga 'tong asarin. Pikunin.

I follow her outside and saw her preparing our breakfast. I went behind her and sneak my arms around her waist. Ipinatong ko ang baba ko sa balikat niya. Natigilan naman siya sa ginagawa niya.

"Don't be masungit na Ma'am. Tatanda ka lalo nyan." I playfully said. She slap my arms the made me pull away.

"Aww! Sadista ka ah." Sabi ko sabay hawak sa braso ko na mapula na dahil sa hampas niya.

Durog na puso ko pati ata buto ko mapupulbos pa e.

I feel her staring at me so I lift my gaze to look at her.

"Sama." I utter as I stick my tongue out.

"Tama lang sayo."

Wow, this diva just rolled her eyes at me. Just wow. The audacity. Kung hindi ko lang talaga gusto , masasapak ko na.

"Alam mo kumain ka na lang ha. Naiinis na ako sayo ha." She said while looking at me with annoyance.

Naiinis na nga siya. Salubong na kilay e.

I went beside her and pulled a chair for her. She raised her eyebrows at me.

"Upo ka na." I smiled at her.

"All joke aside na muna tayo." I tried to make it sound serious para naman matapos na ang gulo.

She smiled at me as she sat down without arguing at me.

When she's finally settled, I walked across her and pulled a chair for myself. I sat down. Aliah is quick enough to put the food on my plate. I just quietly watched her moves.

"Parang kang nanay mag-alaga." Sabi ko at natawa naman siya.

"Gusto mong magiging nanay?" Tanong ko. Tinaasan naman ako ng kilay.

"Nanay mo? Huwag na sasa-

" ng anak natin." I cut her words. She seems caught off the guard because she wasn't able to utter any words.

I laughed.

"Joke lang. Kumain ka na dyan." I said as I pointed her own plate.

"Ikaw talaga. Lahat na ata ng kalokohan alam mo." Sabi niya naman at yumuko para kumain.

Kinikilig din pala si Ma'am. Namumula masyado. Halata masyado. Jusko Aliah.

"Kamatis ka ba?" I asked her. She look at me, clueless.

"Ha?" She asked, still puzzled. I laughed again. Her reaction is really hilarious to witness.

"Pick up line ba yan?" She added that made me laugh more.

"Hindi, buang. Ang pula mo kasi." I said.

Napanganga lang siya at walang nasabi. Natawa ako at nagsimula na lang kumain. Tila nahiya siya kaya hindi na siya nagsalita.

Hindi ko na nga lang din aasarin baka mapalayas na talaga ako.

Kumakain lang kami nang tahimik pero biglang nag-ring yung phone ko na nakapatong sa mesa. Napatingin ako kay Aliah habang siya naman ay nakatingin sa screen ko.

"Excuse me." Sabi ko sabay at kinuha ko ang phone ko. Tumayo ko para pumunta sa living room.

"Oh Jens?"

"Miro! Saan ka nanaman? I'm so worried about you. Ikaw talaga. Papatayin mo na ba ako sa nerbyos?" Jens rants from the other line.

"Aray ha, ang sakit sa ears." Sabi ko.

"Umuwi ka na, sinasabi ko sayo." Jens said seriously.

"Don't worry about me. Hindi na ako uuwi sa condo. Pupunta ako sa Cavite kila lola. " I explained.

"Totoo ba yan?" She asked me. Duda pa ang bata.

"Oo nga, kahit tumawag ka pa." Sabi ko naman na may inis.

"O sige na. Send my regards to lola at lolo. Bye." Hindi na ako nakapagsalita dahil ibinaba na niya ang tawag.

I walked back in the kitchen.

"Who's that?" She raised her eyebrows at me.

"Si Jens hinahanap ako." I replied and put my phone on the table again.

"Hindi ka ba uuwi sa Cebu?" I open a light topic for us.

"Nope." She shortly replied as she shook her head.

"Ikaw?" She added as she looks at me.

"Ah diretsyo na ako sa Cavite mamaya." I casually replied as I continue to eat my food. Aliah is almost done but I still have a lot on my plate. Slow eater ako e.

"Sama ka?" I unconsciously asked her. I immediately cover my mouth.

"Sorry, carried away." I show her a peace sign.

"Sasama na sana ako kaso ayaw mo yata, huwag na lang." Sabi niya habang nakangiti sakin. Natigilan naman ako sa narinig ko.

"Seryoso nga?" I stared at her. She smiles at me as she nodded her head.

Lord thank you.

"Bakit parang gulat na gulat ka?" She asked.

"Hindi naman. First time mong sasama sakin doon kila lola e." Sabi ko naman.

"Hindi mo naman siguro ako ililigaw no?"

"Ha? Bakit kita ililigaw? Pati kanino naman?"

She laughed.

"Miro, ililigaw ng daan ha. Hindi ililigaw sa tao."

I laughed when I realized what she's talking about.

"Right." I nodded.

"Hindi ah, safe ka sakin Ma'am." I winked at her. Parang namula nanaman siya. Ano bang problema sa mata ko? Nagiging colorful masyado. Antok 'to. Tama, itutulog ko na lang ulit mamaya.

Author's note:

I would like to dedicate this chapter to vuurtoh .