Have I Told You (PUBLISHED BY POP FICTION)

Chapter Twenty Two

Chapter Twenty Two

His room surprises me, not because it's big, but because of how he creatively maximized the space that makes the room look bigger. Sobrang organized at masinop niya sa gamit. Walang wala ako. Ngayon ko sobrang naintindihan kung bakit galit na galit siya sa mga kalat ko.

But what really catches my attention and warms me at the same time is the 3D painting of a view on top of a mountain on his walls. I'm really sleepy, but I can't take my eyes off the mural. It's like I'm really on the mountain, overlooking the highlands, valley, and city of Cebu.

He even painted the clouds on the ceiling to make it more realistic. The peak and the clouds are almost on the same level, but not really.

It looks so real and familiar. I feel like I'm really at the peak of the mountain. Na-mention ko na kanina 'yun, pero 'yun talaga nararamdaman ko. I stare at it a bit longer. It's the mountain that we climbed in Cebu. Wow, he's so good at details. Good is an understatement. Wow. It's breathtaking.

No wonder why Aunt Teri has fallen in love with his talent.

His bed is positioned across from the mural. Kahit nakahiga na ako, nakikita ko pa rin. All I do is stare at it until I close my eyes and wake up at 9 in the morning. Buti na lang hapon pa yung duty ko.

I open the bed room curtains. Hindi na umuulan. In fact, the sun's shining brightly. Lalo akong na-amaze sa mural ni Eisley. I want a mural in my room, too. Mas masarap matulog pag maganda yung view.

Oh sht. Nakalimutan ko si Bev. Sabay nga pala kaming papasok mamaya. Tinanggal ko yung charger sa phone ko na nakasaksak pa at binasa mga texts ni Bev. I call her immediately.

"Bev? Okay ka lang?"

"Sa tingin mo, girl?" she sounds exasperated. "Ano ka ba naman, manay! Sana sinabi mong hindi ka uuwi!" she grunts. "Fuuuuuck naman, nahihiya ako lumabas ng kwarto mo."

"Sorry, sorry." Pinipigilan ko tawa ko. "Don't worry, wala naman tao diyan ngayon. Nasa work na parents ko. Mahihintay mo ba ako? Pauwi na ako."

"Go lang, girl. Matutulog na lang muna ulit ako. Wala naman palang tao dito. Kunwari na lang, akin 'tong bahay niyo. Bye!"

As if on cue, I hear a sneeze behind me. Pagtalikod ko, kailangan ko munang kurutin sarili ko para malaman kung nananaginip lang ako. Nakita ko si Eisley na nakasandal sa mural niya.

Nag sneeze ulit siya. "Excuse me." He's wearing a surgical mask. His hair's so messy. "Hi." He sniffs, his voice hoarse.

"Well, well, well. Good morning, Eisley boy. Kanina ka pa dito?" tanong ko.

Tumango siya. Mukha siyang inaantok na nahihilo. "You're finally awake. Are you okay?" he looks worried. Siya kaya yung hindi mukhang okay. He has a runny nose and pale skin.

I nod. "Bakit naman ako hindi magiging okay?"

"Nabasa ka ng ulan kagabi. Late ka na rin natulog. Maaga ka pang nagising. Hindi ba sumasakit ulo mo?" he coughs. Hindi lang pala runny nose at pale skin. May ubo rin siya.

"I slept really well. Thanks for asking." Tumabi ako sa kanya, pero lumayo siya. "Worried ka? Ayaw mo akong mahawa?"

He nods. "Gutom ka na ba? Nasa baba breakfast mo." Apparently, eating's not allowed in his room. Nakita ko kagabi sa pinto niya, may nakadikit na 'no eating', 'no smoking', and 'no drinking' signs. He's so clean!

"Sorry." I shake my head. "Nasa bahay pa kasi si Bev. Wala siyang kasama kaya kailangan ko na talaga umalis.

"Okay, but..."