MORE THAN I FEEL INSIDE

XVII

ILANG araw na mula nang makalabas ng ospital si Gabriel. Magaling na ang mga sugat nito sa ulo, gayundin ang mga gasgas nito sa braso.

Natutuwa naman si Althea sa mga nangyayari. A lot of things had changed in their relationship. He had changed in ways she had never imagined, not even in her wildest dreams. He was now a different person. She even saw a strange emotion in his eyes that she couldn't name.

Isang araw ay ipinagluto siya nito. She comfortably sat at the kitchen table, watching him.

"Gab, are you sure you know what you're doing?" naaaliw na tanong niya rito. Nanlalalim kasi ang gatla nito sa noo sa pagkakatitig nito sa niluluto.

Tila nahihiyang bumaling ito sa kanya at pilit na ngumiti. "Yeah, just stay put, baby. I've got this."

"By all means," she said as her eyes twinkled with gladness.

Sinimulan nitong pagsama-samahin ang mga rekado. Tila seryosong-seryoso ito sa ginagawa. He looked cute and lovable.

The past few days had been amazing. She saw a different side of him, or rather the real him. Mula nang makalabas ito ng ospital, wala na itong ibang ginawa kundi samahan at alagaan siya. Minsan nga ay naiisip niyang baka nabagok ang ulo nito kaya ito nagbago. But then again, she knew in her heart that it had nothing to do with his accident.

"Gab, I can help you a bit," nakangiting sabi niya.

Nahihiyang tumingin ito sa kanya at napakamot sa ulo. "A-a little help maybe."

Natawa siya.

Natawa rin ito.

Tumayo siya at tumabi rito. "Let me see that." Napakunot-noo siya nang matitigan ang laman ng kawali. "Gab, what is this?"

"Menudo," sagot nito habang napapakamot sa ulo. Halatang naiilang ito.

"Really? It doesn't look like it." She found his expressions very amusing and lovable at the same time. Lahat talaga ng mga reaksiyon nito ay hindi nakakaligtas sa paningin niya.

"Sorry, baby, 'seems like I got the recipe wrong."

"You don't really cook, right?"

"As a matter of fact, I do." Bigla itong namula sa kahihiyan.

She laugh merrily. "We can still save this."

"Talaga, baby?" His eyes beamed with happiness. Tila bata ito na binigyan ng candy.

"Uh-huh. All you have to do is to sit back and relax." She literally forced him to sit on the chair that she was sitting on awhile ago.

"But, baby—" He tried to protest but she cut him off.

"Ako na ang bahala." She started weaving magic on his menudo. Even if she couldn't see him, she was sure he was looking at her. She could feel his stares.

Mayamaya pa ay natapos na niya ang pagliligtas sa menudo ni Gabriel. He set the table. Ilang saglit pa ay magkaharap na silang kumakain.

Nang sumubo ito ay nakatitig lang siya rito, hinihintay ang magiging reaksiyon nito. Ninenerbiyos siya. Naalala kasi niya ang panahong ininsulto nito ang mga luto niya. He slowly chewed the food. She nervously waited for his response. She almost shouted when he smiled broadly.

"This is good," puri nito.

"Luto mo 'yan, 'no." She started eating, too.

"Nope. 'Yong luto ko, tiyak na hindi natin makakain. You saved my menudo. You're really an angel. Ito na ang pinakamasarap na menudo na natikman ko." He gave her his most beautiful smile ever.