MY LOVELY STRANGER

CHAPTER 30: Bonding

CHELSEA'S POV

So that was his first love? How can a mere 8 year old kid fall in love? Grabe sya. Ano bang alam nya sa love?

Nababadtrip akong isipin na ganun kabait ang tingin nya kay Xyerah. Malayo naman kasi talaga ang ugali nun sa kinukwento nya.

"Bahala ka kung ayaw mong maniwala. Basta gusto ko parin sya hanggang ngayon" he was grinning while saying that.

Tumayo sya at nagprepare ng breakfast. Nagluto sya ng egg omelet at tocino. With Fried rice.

"Sabi mo galing sa mahirap na Pamilya ang mommy mo. Eh bakit may condo ka?" naitanong ko.

"My Dad loves to spoil me with things but when I started high school, gala ako ng gala. Hindi ako pumipirmi sa bahay. Kung saan saan ako nakikitulog. I even joined a gang when I was 15. So, he gave me this place when I turned 16, kapalit ng pagtigil ko sa pagbabarkada. 2 years na ako dito." sagot nya.

Umupo sya sa tabi ko at nilagyan ako ng sinangag sa plato.

"Thank you" I said, appreciating his sweet gesture.

"You're welcome, your majesty." kumindat sya.

Tumawa ako. "Eh kung binibigay naman pala sa'yo lahat ng gusto mo, bakit ayaw mong umuwi?"

He shrugged his shoulders and looked at me.

"Too many questions" he said.

Umirap ako. "Nagtatanong lang eh."

"Sasagutin ko lahat ng itatanong mo. Mag confess ka muna" he smirked.

"Kapal mo ha" nag simula na akong kumain.

"It rained overnight" he said while we enjoy the food. "Hanggang ngayon malakas pa rin ang ulan. May bagyo yata."

At hindi nga sya nagkamali. Matapos kumain, nagbukas sya ng TV at ayon sa balita, signal number 2 sa Maynila ngayon.

Kataka taka dahil kahapon lang, ok naman ang panahon.

He called up the school para itanong kung may pasok ngayon, sadly, the university is currently flooded dahil sa lakas ng ulan magdamag.

"I guess it can't be helped. We will stay here all day. Baha sa labas" sabi nya.

"Ano namang gagawin natin dito?" I asked.

"Watch movie. Play Games. Or sleep all day. Ikaw ang bahala." We walked to his game room.

"Billiards. Turuan mo ako" I said as we entered.

"Okay." Kinuha nya ang isang tako at inabot sa akin.

Isinalansan nya ang mga bola sa gitna at ihiniwalay ang puti.

"It's easy" he said. "I'll teach you the standard 8ball first. See? Number 8 should be in the middle"

Pumwesto ako sa kabilang gilid hawak ang cue stick. Ginaya ko ang mga posisyon ng mga nakikita kong naglalaro nun, I bent down and shot. Kulang sa pwersa at sa gilid lang tumama ang bola.

I heard him chuckle.

I stood straight. "Ang hirap naman pala patamaan ng mga yan"

Lumapit sya sakin at pumwesto sa likod ko.

"For you to learn the game, first,  you have to familiarize with the rules." He took the cue stick from me. "Mali ka kasi ng hawak ng tako. Pati yung anggulo mo. Here.." he held my left hand and guided it where should I hold the stick. "Wag mong hawakan sa gitna." He put my index finger on the top of the stick, curving it, and put my thumb at the bottom. My right hand placed on the base of the stick.

I can't concentrate on what he's saying coz he's too near me, I can smell his breath. Lumayo sya sandali at kinuha ang cue ball "If you play pool, this is the only ball you should directly hit." Inilapag nya ang bola sa table. "This table is called kitchen" pagkatapos ay bumalik sya sa likod ko, held my hand again. "The first hit is called break. You break the rack of balls. When you play, right arm lang ang pagagalawin mo. Yung kaliwa mo, steady lang dapat. Hold the stick tight."

"Bend over" he said.

I did as he said. Very awkward position. Halos magkadikit na ang mga pisngi namin at nararamdaman ko ang dibdib nya sa likod ko. "Focus on hitting the cue ball straight. Put force on it. Aim to hit your object ball. Go"

I looked at the cue ball and on the rack of balls formed as triangle on the other side. I moved my right arm, he guided me and shot it. He put pressure on my move, the cue ball hit the triangle and one ball fell into the pocket.

"Good" he said. Dinukot nya sa bulsa ng table ang isang bola. Number 7 ang nalaglag. "Yours is solid. Solid colors lang ang titirahin mo. Remember, do not directly aim for number 8. Titirahin mo lang yan kapag ubos na ang bola mo. Let's see"

Itinuro nya sakin ang mga bolang posibleng pumasok.

Ilang sandali pa ay na-gets ko na kung pano yun laruin. I was so glad. Naglaro kami ng ilang beses pero hindi man lang ako manalo nalo sa kanya.  Tinatawanan nya lang ako.

~~❤

"That was nice" I said matapos kaming maglaro. Iniligpit nya ang mga bola.

"Anong nice dun eh hindi ka nga nanalo kahit isang beses" natatawang sabi nya.

"Hindi mo manlang ako pinagbigyan" sumimangot ako.

He just kept on chuckling. His cute laugh made me smile.

Matapos magligpit ay sumandal sya sa billiard table, crossing his arms on his chest.

"It was nice watching you play" he smiled at me. "What do you want to do next?"

Nag isip ako. "Watch movie"

"Alright." naglakad kami papunta sa salas. "Which movie?"

"Train to Busan" sabi ko. Napanood ko na yun once pero gusto ko ulit mapanood.

Nangunot ang noo nya. "Let me check."

Umupo ako sa couch habang kinakalikot nya ang TV. Ilang sandali pa, nagsimula na ang movie.

"I'll get you something to eat." he said at pumunta sya sa kusina. Pagbalik ay may dalang malaking chips at soda na nasa malaking baso, with ice in it. Sinehan ang datingan. Inilapag nya ang food sa lamesa sa tapat ng couch, pulled it closer to where I was sitting then went to turn off the lights.

"See, parang movie house diba?" naupo sya sa tabi ko.

I giggled. He has a very good house. Ilang sandali pa, narinig kong humikab sya.

"Di mo gusto tong movie?" I asked.

"Gusto naman. Kaso napanood ko na eh." He then lay down. His head on my lap.

"Hey, hey, what are you doing?" Shocked na sabi ko.

"Ssh" He closed his eyes. "I'll just take a nap"

Hindi na ako nagprotesta. Hinayaan ko nalang sya ng ganun.

At the middle of the movie, I felt his deep breath. He was fast asleep.