Only Ever After

Kabanata 55

Kabanata 55

"Let's celebrate your birthday today." Saad ni Liham, it was October 31. Right. We can't celebrate it tomorrow because he will be going to the masquerade party...

Ngumiti ako at tumango.

"I'm sorry if we can't celebrate it tomorrow." He said, as if reading my mind.

"I understand..." Sagot ko naman sa kanya, "saka hindi naman kailangan na ipagdiwang ang kaarawan, all that matters is that we are safe, that's all I can ask."

"Then let's make your day simple." Sagot ni Liham, tumingin naman ako sa kanya, nasa kama kami at nagsilbing unan ko ang kanyang braso.

"What plans do you have in mind?" I asked.

Nagkibit-balikat siya, "how about cooking a cake with you?"

Kumislap ang mata ko, I've always wanted to bake cakes! Nakita naman ni Liham ang pagkaengganyo ko kaya ngumiti siya.

"Okay, I'll go at the kitchen first to prepare, you do your thing." Bumangon na si Liham at saka lumabas sa kwarto, ako naman ay agad na dumiretso sa banyo para maghilamos.

Nang naayos ko na ang aking sarili ay lumabas na rin ako sa kwarto at dumiretso sa kusina, nadatnan ko naman si Liham na seryosong nakatingin sa cook book, doon ko naalala na hindi pala siya marunong magluto, but how about baking?

Naglakad ako palapit, "Liham?"

Halatang nagulat siya dahil sa pagsulpot ko kaya naman tumawa ako, Liham pouted. "You almost killed me." Pagbibiro niya.

"Do you know how to bake?" Tanong ko.

"I can figure it out, you?"

Umiling ako, "this is my first time..."

Pareho kaming tumango, tinignan ko ang cook book. May instructions doon kung paano gumawa ng cake, "you'll be needing flour, milk, honey, cream, and eggs..." Tinignan ko ang mga bagay na hinanda ni Liham sa counter, lahat ng kailangan ay nandoon na pati ang cooking utensils.

Binasa namin ni Liham ang libro at sinunod ang bawat hakbang, Liham tried to crack the eggs but ended up smashing four before letting me do the honor, nakakatawa kung gaano siya kagulo sa kanyang ginagawa, I appreciate it though... His efforts, he don't know what he was doing but he was still doing it.

"What's next?" Tanong ni Liham.

Tinignan ko naman ang cook book, "it says put it in the oven..."

Tumango si Liham at agad niyang nilagay sa loob ng oven ang cake, he set the timer and temperature which is exactly what the book says, "we still have an hour before the cake is finished." Liham grinned, nagulat ako nang nilagyan niya ako ng arina sa mukha.

I frowned, "Liham!"

He just laughed and stucked his tongue out to me, sinimangutan ko siya at gumanti rin ako, pinahid ko ang arina sa kanyang ilong, then I started laughing with him.

Hindi namin namalayan na naggagantihan na pala kami sa paglagay ng arina, our face now messed up with the flour, huli na nang napagtanto namin na gulong-gulo na ang kusina.

We were both panting for air when we were finished. "Let's go to the garden." He offered me his hand and I took it. "We'll be back shortly."

Nang nasa hardin na kami ni Liham ay taka ko siyang tinignan, "ano ang gagawin natin dito?"

He shrugged, "wait for it..." He looked at his watch, "it'll be in ten seconds..."

I mentally did a countdown, matapos iyon ay biglang lumabas ang mga nagkalat na water fountains sa paligid na nagdidilig sa bermuda grass, nabasa naman kami ni Liham at natanggal ang arina sa aming katawan.