The Second Time Around (The Starving Squad #1)

Chapter 18: Things We Don't Say

Madaling-araw pa lamang ay nagising na si Fresia dahil sa gutom. Hindi pa siya nakakapaghapunan. Bullet was still fast asleep next to her. Nakatagilid ito, nakaharap sa kanya.

Gusto sana niya itong hayaang matulog hanggat gusto nito, kaso ay nagrereklamo na ang tiyan at pantog niya.

"Bullet..."

Tinapik niya ang pisngi nito.

"Hey, wake up. Gutom na 'ko."

Umungot lang ito.

"Bullet!" Niyugyog niya ang balikat nito. "Gumising ka muna at magluto! Mamaya ka na lang ulit matulog!"

Hindi niya ito tinigilan hanggat hindi ito bumabangon. Simangot itong tumingin sa kanya, eyes still half-closed. She pushed him off the bed and out of the bedroom. Habang naghihikab ito sa kusina ay tinungo niya ang banyo to freshen up.

When she got back, he was already making coffee. Hikab ito nang hikab, mukhang antok na antok pa talaga.

"Fried rice ang lutuin mo, ha."

"Wala akong sinaing," sabi nito. "Buttered toast na lang, gusto mo?"

That won't satiate her hunger, but it will do. Kesa naman walang laman ang tiyan niya. So she told him okay and he made some toast. Correction: he made a mountain of toasts. Halos ubusin nito ang sliced bread. Ang dami pa nitong inilabas na palaman: nutella, peanut butter, butter, sliced cheese...

"Pwedeng sunny-side up egg at bacon ang palaman?" request niya.

Bullet took out eggs and bacon from the fridge. "You cook them."

"Ayoko na pala ng eggs and bacon." Kinuha niya ang peanut butter at iyon ang ipinalaman sa tinapay. "Gusto mo rin?"

"Sure," he answered. Pumunta ito sa living room sandali at pagbalik nito, dala-dala nito ang cupcakes na bigay ni Mona. Nabuksan na nito iyon bago pa niya ma-realize na hindi nga pala siya nakapag-confess dito kagabi.

He frowned when he saw them. What will he think about the tiny hearts on top of the cupcakes? Mabuti na lamang talaga at hindi iyon nilagyan ni Mona ng kung anu-anong sulat.

"Mona asked me to give them to you."

Kumuha ito ng isang cupcake at saka kumagat doon. "Hmm... maybe I should send her something," he said thoughtfully. "What's her favorite food?"

He wants to send Mona something? Pa'no naman siya? She stayed with him the whole night so he could sleep!

"She likes to eat everything," sagot niya.

Bullet chuckled. "Anything then."

She munched on her toast. Since he likes Mona's cupcakes so much, hindi na niya ito ipinagpalaman. He can have the cupcakes for himself. Sosolohin na lamang niya ang mga tinapay.

Sinalinan nito ng kape ang dalawang tasa at ibinigay sa kanya ang isa. He added sugar on his. Tapos ay itinulak nito palapit sa kanya ang gatas at asukal.

"Bakit ka nga pala nagpunta rito kagabi?"

Napatigil siya bigla sa pagnguya. "Ano... to apologize for the way I acted last weekend," mahina niyang sagot.

Bullet nodded. "Okay."

"Okay? Okay na 'yon sa 'yo?"

Ngumiti ito. "Yeah. Thanks to you, I was able to sleep well again. But I'm not done sleeping.... so you can't leave just yet."

"I have work." Which reminds her... she needs to go back to her apartment.

Kagat-kagat ang isang toast na may palamang butter, tumayo siya para kunin ang mga gamit nang humarang ito sa kanya.