The Virgin Lies (Published under LIB)

Chapter 33

Dedicated to our birthday girl,  Alysza_Sy . Happy Birthday!!!!

.•*•.

Maaga pa lamang ay gumising na 'ko para magluto. The way I moved was rushed but precise. My face was serious. Nasa isip ko kung anong sunud na gagawin. Anong sangkap ang ilalagay at kung pa'no pa 'to mapapasarap. Para akong expert chef.

Feeling ko expert chef nga ako!

Kahit sinangag lang 'to at prito.

Kahit simple lamang ang aking mga niluluto, of course ang pinaka gusto ko ay masarapan ang taong kakain nito. Tiyak na matutuwa siya.

With that thought, I had the inspiration and motivation to have all this be perfect.

I prepared and organized the table after. I even thought placing a thin vase with one plastic tulip as a center piece would be too much but I still had it done.

Ngayon ay naghihintay na lamang akong gumising siya nang makita niyang lahat ang mga hinanda at pinaghirapan ko.

I saw all smiles when I saw him made his way to this table. Magulo ang buhok nito at mapupungay pa ang mga mata dahil sa pagtulog. He had this tired looked that would make girls dreamy of him. Para bang 'I woke up like this' moment.

"Good morning! Nagluto ako."

When his eyes landed on me, he groaned in annoyance. He shook his head. "Incredible."

My smile never faltered with his reaction. "Tara! Kain na tayo."

"Why are you here again, Iara?" He threw his sharp eyes at me. "Araw araw ka nalang nandito. Kulang nalang dito ka matulog. Hindi mo 'to bahay."

"Ito naman!" I said while placing food on his plate. "Parang di tayo magkapit bahay. Your breakfast routine would be only coffee and bread so I cooked for you. Concern lang ako sa'yo."

"Cut the crap." Tunog ng hinihilang upuan ang nagpa-angat ng tingin ko sa kanya. "I know who's living in your place. Nakita ko siya no'ng araw na lumipat siya. Pwede ba! 'Wag mong gawing bat cave o taguan itong lugar ko. Kung umiiwas ka kay Orevalo, 'wag dito."

I had to admit, nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. "Pa'no mo nalaman?"

"I don't need to be a genius to figure it out. Halos ayaw mong umuwi kaya tumatambay ka dito. That means may tinataguan ka at isang tao lang naman ang gumugulo sa'yo."

"Hindi no!" Tanggi ko. "Dati naman lagi kitang nilulutuan. It's the same as before."

"Not in 6 consecutive days."

I sat back and pursed my lips. "Kumain ka na nga lang. I couldn't even get a single thanks from you. Alam mo ba kung ga'no kahirap magluto lalo na't walang mailuluto dito! Kainis!"

He snorted and started eating. Kumain na din ako. "Mas mabuti kung mag-uusap ka'yo ng masinsinan. 'Wag mo na siyang taguan. It won't solve any misunderstanding. Hindi rin nakakabuti yan sa'yo, sa inyo at sa'kin. Maliwanag ba, Iara?"

Pahayag nito matapos kumain. Tumayo ito at tumungo na sa salas. Iniwan ako nito para linisin ang aming kinalat.

Washing the dishes, I was still troubled by who I would see at home. I was just prolonging the agony. That's true.