TERRIFIED

-Chapter Four-

"THIS is going to be your room," imporma ni Enzo. Binuksan nito ang pinto ng silid at bumulaga sa kanyang paningin ang loob niyon. She didn't care much about the room though. Kahit saan siya matulog ay okay lang sa kanya. Hindi naman siya maselan.

"This was my room," patuloy nito. Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang kuwarto. Sa gitna niyon nakapuwesto ang queen size bed. Mayroong twenty-nine-inch LED flat screen television at mayroon ding personal computer sa kanang bahagi ng silid. Ang kaliwa naman ay nagsisilbing glass paneled wall na sliding palabas ng balkonahe.

Tinawid niya ang silid upang lumabas sa veranda. Tinanaw niya ang paligid. From where she was standing, she could see the whole square. According to Enzo, they were situated in Campo Santa Magherita.

May mga bars, coffee shops, pizza parlors. Maybe one time, she would just seat on the square with a pizza on her hand as she watched the day go by in silence. It was such a perfect location for reflection. It was such a picturesque spot for relaxation.

Probably, she would hear what her heart has to say while watching the sun descend somewhere in the horizon. Iyon ay kung kaya niyang mag-pretend na siya lamang ang tao sa square.

"Missing someone?" masuyong tanong ni Enzo nang tumabi sa kanya. Ipinatong nito ang dalawang siko sa railing ng balkon at tinanaw ang piazza.

"Actually, no." Pinagkalooban niya ito ng ngiti. "Too early to miss anything, or anyone."

Tumango ito at inalis ang tingin sa piazza upang ilipat sa kanya. "Gusto mo bang lumabas? Mamasyal tayo sa square."

The thought of roaming around appealed to her but ony for the briefest second. Marami siyang oras para galugarin ang Venice o kahit ang buong Italy kung gugustuhin niya. As for the moment, she needed to be acquainted with the apartment and get familiar once more with her house mate. Or was it the other way around?

"Some other time na lang, Fiance. Kailangan ko pa kasing ayusin ang mga gamit ko."

"Okay," anito. Ipinasok nito ang dalawang kamay sa bulsa ng pantalon, tinawid ang pinto ng silid upang iwanan siyang mag-isa.

"Enzo!" tawag niya, bago pa ito tuluyang makaalis.

He stepped backwards and looked questioningly at her. "Whatever happened to 'kuya'?"

"When did I ever call you 'kuya'?"

Kumunot ang noo nito. Nag-isip. Napangiti. "Hmm...you never called me 'kuya', right?"

Hindi niya sinagot ang tanong nito. "Have you ever heard of a fiancée calling her fiancé 'kuya'? It doesn't seem right, di ba?"

"You're crazy." Naiiling na sabi nito.

"So they say," sang-ayon niya. "But hang on a moment, I've been meaning to ask you, are you really going to lend me your room?"

"Yep. I don't have a problem with that. This is the best room in the house so it's yours for the time being."

"Where are you going to sleep then?"

"Sa guest room," he answered like it was the most obvious answer in the world. "Nandito pa ang karamihan ng gamit ko, so every now and then kukuha ako ng ilang gamit. Baka kasi i-check ng embassy kung talagang magpapakasal tayo. Kailangan na makita nila ang intimacy ng relationship natin so dapat magkasama ang gamit natin."

"Well, we can make it even more intimate. We can share this room if you like." Kinindatan niya ito pagkatapos ay nginitian ng nakakaloko.

Nakisakay si Enzo sa ginawa niya, pinagkrus nito ang dalawang braso sa dibdib at sumandal sa hamba ng pinto. "Let's just say I go with your plan. Where do you propose I sleep?"