Anthology

TSIB Ch. 44 Outtake

SPOILERS FOR TSIB 44!
This happened right after the sixth kiss. Dapat kasama talaga 'to sa mismong update, kaso medyo naging off ang dating sa 'kin kaya tinanggal ko na lang :)

**

Natigil ang asaran namin nang pumasok saglit ang ilang nurses para batiin kami ng Happy New Year. Kinulit pa ni Andreau yung isang nurse na i-discharge na siya the first thing in the morning kaso nginitian lang siya ni Ategirl Nurse. Hah, hindi na effective ang charm smile niya!

After they left, ni-reheat ko ang leftover na baked mac at roasted chicken para may Media Noche kaming dalawa. Kairita ‘tong si Andreau eh, kanina pa pala gutom pero hindi nagsasabi! Kung hindi pa kakalam nang malakas yung tiyan niya ugh. Good thing na ni-reheat ko ang pagkain sa pantry malapit sa nurses’ station, may excuse akong hindi makita ang mukha ni Andreau ng ilang minuto. Slightly naconscious kasi ako sa kanya, ngiting-ngiti pa rin eh. Sinisimulan niya ang taon na parang engot!

“Question lang regarding sa New Year tradition,” sabi ko habang kumakain kaming dalawa.

Nakapwesto ulit ako sa happy place ko habang nakahiga siya sa kama. He only hummed in reply, busy kasi siya sa pagkain ng chicken. Kinikilabutan ako pag nakikita ko ang Patay Gutom Andreau side niya. So.. weird. “Isang tao lang ang pwede mong halikan pag New Year?”

“Uhuh," he replied, nodding slightly.

“What if may katabi ka tapos walang humalik sa kanya? Hindi mo rin siya pwedeng halikan after mong mahalikan ang iba?”

“Yup.”

“Weh?” binaba ko muna ng styroplate sa maliit na table sa tabi ko. “Kawawa naman siya if ever. Does that mean mamalasin siya the whole year?”

“Probably.”

“All because he didn’t kiss someone on New Year’s Eve. This tradition’s so cruel. I hate it.”

Andreau chuckled at my distress. “Stop thinking about it. Kumain ka na lang or else uubusin ko yung chicken.”

“Another question.”

He sighed. “It’s not you if you don’t have questions. What now?”

“For the record, you can kiss someone basta katabi mo sila, right?”

“Yep.”

“So.. you kissed me because we’re the only people in this room. If may kasama tayong ibang tao, pwede sila ang halikan natin?”

His fork froze in mid-air and suddenly he’s glaring at me. Oh shit, did I say something wrong? Seryoso naman yung tanong ko ah! Nagtataka kasi ako sa “tradition” na ‘to. “Yeah,” he replied a bit forcefully. “The tradition’s not that strict.”

“Hmm.. so kunwari nag-CR ako tapos si Tita Medtech ang katabi mo rito.. would you still kiss her?”

Andreau kinda squirmed at that question. “Yeah. Told you, not that strict, Zades. Just eat up, will you? Mamamayat ka sa kakatanong mo eh.”

Sungit talaga! "Last question na. If vice-versa naman..could I kiss another gu--"

"No," he answered quickly, too quickly. Natapon tuloy ang pagkain sa kandungan niya. Bago ko pa siya matulungan, kumuha na siya ng tissue.

"What do you mean no? Parang ang unfair naman ata no'n for me ah. You can kiss whoever you like tap--"

"Basta. No."

"Ayaw mo bang maging lucky charm din ako ng ibang tao?"

He rolled his eyes. "Why are you asking these questions anyway?"

"I'm curious." I took a deep breath. "Fine, titigil na ako. Ang init na naman kasi ng ulo mo. Hypothetical lang naman yung sinasabi ko."

He fell silent for a moment, at akala ko doon na matatapos ang usapan namin. Inubos lang niya ang kinakain niyang chicken tapos nagsalita ulit siya. "I'm here so.."

"Huh? Andito ka tapos?"

"I'm always here when you need me."

That was.. unexpected. Saan ba nahuhugot nito ang mga pinagsasabi niya? Minsan parang nakakatakot malaman ang nasa isip ni Andreau eh. "You know what? Ilagay mo na rin sa resolution mo ang stop kissing random people. Sobrang creepy mo na."

"So that excludes you because you're not one of the random people."

Puso, kalma. "Tse. Now I know that you're flirting. Stop flirting with me nga. Pumapanget ka lalo sa paningin ko."

Bentang-benta na naman sa kanya ang sinabi ko. Nasisiraan na talaga siya ng bait. "Part of the job, Zades. Always remember that."

"Then you're fired."

"I don't think you mean that."

Yeah, I really don't.