To Kill a Sunset

TWO

I TURNED the page of the book I was reading. It's so interesting that I got so engrossed to it. Gumapang ang kamay ko sa platito ng cookies na nasa tabi ng libro. I was fighting the urge to eat it. I just put it there for satisfaction.

I have this thing where I just want to display chocolates and stare at them but I don't wanna eat them because sugar is bad for the teeth and your health, in general. Binitiwan ko ang cookies nang makarinig ng mga kalampag.

It's raining hard outside so I guess I was just hearing things. I went back to reading. I will not sleep until I'm done with this book. It's just that I can't focus because there comes the loud thuds again. If I keep hearing it, it must be something.

Umahon ako mula sa swivel chair na inuupuan ko saka mabagal na naglakad patungo sa pinto ng balkonahe. Natatakpan na 'yon ng makapal na kurtina, because I'm supposed to go to sleep. Hinawi ko ang makapal na tela at nakita si Anton na basang-basang nakatayo sa likod ng salaming pinto.

Nagmamadaling pinagbuksan ko siya. Tumalikod ako para kumuha ng spare na tuwalya. Nang lingunin ko siya'y nakatayo pa din siya doon sa kinatatayuan niya.

Oh, for the love of God! Umiikot ang mga matang reklamo ko sa isip.

"What are you doing? Pumapasok ang ambon! Come in!"

Tila naman siya natauhan at dali-daling pumasok. Sinara niya ang pinto at binalik sa pagkakasara ang kurtina. Lumabas ako sandali para kumuha ng tuwalya sa common bathroom. Pagbalik ko'y naroon pa rin si Anton sa kung saan ko siya iniwang nakatayo kanina.

"Anton, go and use the bathroom! You're dripping! And you're damping the floor!"

"Oops." He then ran to my bathroom. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin.

"Do I need to tell you everything before you do it?"

"Sorry na." He let out an apologetic grin. Gan'on ang ngiti niya sa tuwing nagtutunog nagger ako.

Inirapan ko lang siya. Narinig ko siyang tumawa bago tuluyang sumara ang pinto ng banyo. Maya-maya'y lagaslas naman ng tubig ang narinig ko kaya kahit anong pilit kong itunon ang atensyon sa binabasa ay hindi ko magawa.

Normally, I don't get easily distracted just by the sound of running water. Kahit nga busina pa ng tren 'yan kung gusto kong mag-solve ng Mathematical problem, I can solve it without delay.

Kaya lang ang talagang nagdi-distract sa 'kin ay ang katotohanang nasa loob ng aking banyo si Anton, who is probably naked and I can't focus if I'm thinking about a naked Anton.

Well, I haven't seen him fully naked but the thought is rather amusing. And the thought that he's using the same soap I'm using and—

Wait.

He's using the same soap I'm using.

The same soap I'm using?

My soap.

He's using my soap!

Agad na tinakbo ko ang pinto ng banyo at kinatok 'yon. "Don't use my soap!"

"What?" He yelled back against the strong gushing of shower.

"I said don't use my soap!"

"Oh, too late! I already did!"

Mariin akong napapikit.

Great.

Okay. One of the key points about me, I don't like sharing my soap and pillow. No specific reasons. I just don't.

Naiinis na naupo ako pabalik sa swivel chair, randomly browsing through my book's pages. I heard the bathroom door opened after some time and there was Anton in all his athlete physique's glory, half-naked with only a towel covering his lower body.