Caught In Flames

13 : breakfasts and apologies

ARTEMIS

"Art?"

One thing came across my mind, I don't know this guy. Pero bakit ako napatigil nang makita siya? Is this what they call destiny? Na kapag nakipagtitigan ka sa nabangga mo ay matutulala ka na lang?

Ugh! Kinukulang na naman ako sa tulog.

Tuluyan na akong nahimasmasan. Bumalik na yata ako sa totoong mundo galing sa pagkakatitig ko. In fairness, the twins and this guy definitely has the looks. Too bad I don't dig potential stalkers slash murderers. No offense. It's what they do. Courtesy of the twins.

"Ayos ka lang? Saan ka galing?" He looked at me like he was so surprised. Bakit ba ganito sila makatitig? Hindi naman dapat ako kabahan kasi I'm obviously out of their list of people to track down and kill. Ayoko lang ng tinititigan ako.

"Ayos lang ako. Sorry I bumped into you." Nginitian ko lang siya at saka naglakad na lang ulit. I was supposed to go to the kitchen pero dederetso na lang ako sa kwarto ko.

But before I could go any further, bigla siyang sumigaw.

"It's Dean. Breakfast's ready!"

And like a storm had hit me, and a thousand lightning bolts struck my system. Heck. I bet I sounded cool. Breakfast, here I come!

▪︎▪︎▪︎

"Woah. Slow down, dude." Napatingin ako sa babaeng nakatutok ang mga mata sa laptop at may hawak na plato sa isang kamay habang ang isa'y abala sa cellphone.

Nakita ko siya kaninang naghahanda ng hapag kainan kaya tinulungan ko siya. She introduced herself as Sue. But I think I'd prefer calling her Violet becayse of her hair.

I should be the one asking her to slow down. Seeing her multitask is stressing me out when it should be her problem.

"Sowwy. Em hungwy." Natawa si Trailer sa pagsasalita ko habang ang sama ng tingin sa'kin ni Temper. Dean on the other hand, katabi ko siya and it would be awkward to look at his reaction with my mouth full.

"Nguyain mo na nga lang 'yan!" Masungit na bulyaw ni Temper. What the hell? Sinusumpong na naman. Ni hindi ko nga siya pinapansin!

I rolled my eyes and chewed my food. I continued eating until they cleared their plates. Hindi pa ako tapos kumain kaya hindi ko sila pinansin.

"Art, kaya mo pa ba?" Halos magkakasabay nilang sabi bukod kay Temper na bumalik na sa kwarto niya. Tiningnan ko sila at sinabing uubusin ko na lang itong nasa plato ko dahil sayang naman.

"You do look alike." Inangat ko ang tingin ko kay Sue na pabalik-balik ang tingin mula sa'kin at kay Dean. Kumunot ang noo ko hindi lang dahil sa sinabi niya kundi dahil sa masamang tingin ni Dean kay Sue.

But I couldn't argue with what she said. Tama nga siya. Our eyes and nose was quite similar. I asked Dean if he was a cousin I never met. Tumango lang siya at ngumiti. Biglang nagpaalam si Sue habang bitbit ang laptop niya.

Nang matapos ako sa pagkain ay nag-volunteer akong maghugas ng pinggan. To which Dean refused. Siya daw ang nakatoka ngayon kaya pumayag na lang ako at bumalik sa kwarto ko. But somehow, I forgot the way to my room and had to stay in the kitchen to wait for Dean's assistance.

What? Ayokong mawala. I need help.

Para hindi ako mainip sa paghihintay, binuksan ko ang cellphone ko at may bumungad na notification.

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