Nagulat ako sa biglaang text ni Trisha at nagyayayang mag movie sa bahay nila. Wala ang Kuya niya at may lakad ang mga boys kaya gumawa rin si Trisha ng sariling lakad niya. Kami lang nila Camille ang nakapunta dahil may shooting gig si pepper sa province.
Knowing Trisha she might be pulling pranks on his brother again by inviting me without telling him pero mukhang wala talaga ang mga boys dahil ang tahimik ng bahay niya.
"Asan Kuya mo?" Tanong ni Ian.
"Kasama nila Vince doing whatever boys do."
Ngumuso si Ian at sumimangot. "Sabi mo nandito Kuya mo kaya ako pumunta."
"Huy Ian, mahiya ka nga kay Mandy."
"Oh don't worry, we agreed to share. Right, Mandy?" Kinindatan ako ni Ian.
We did?
Pinasa ni Camille ang remote sa kanya. "Mamili ka nalang ng movie kaysa puro kalandian inaatupag mo."
We were watching Clueless when we heard a the gate and voices.
Tumatawa sila pagpasok ng bahay. Napatingin kami sa kanila at sila rin sa amin.
"Oh andito pala kayo." Sabi ni Arvic at tumingin kay Trisha. "Anong pinakain mo sa bisita mo?"
"Delivery duh?"
Biglang umupo si Nico sa couch. "Anong pinapanood niyo?"
"Wag na kayo manood, maglaro nalang tayo." Sabi ni Andrew.
"Bakit ba kayo andito? Akala ko late pa kayo matatapos? Istorbo kayo sa amin!" Sabi ni Trisha and gave Vince a pointed look.
"Bakit sa akin ka nakatingin? Bahay rin 'to ng Kuya mo. We sort of have the right to crash here."
"Seriously, Velasco?"
"Aw, ayaw na tayo makasama ni Trisha." Sabi ni Andrew. "Buti pa si Mandy."
Tinabihan ako ni Patrick at inakbayan. "Dito nalang tayo kay Mandy."
Tinaasan siya ng kilay ni Trisha, "Bakit may pag akbay ka? Kuya, tignan mo 'yung kamay ng kaibigan mo."
"Bahala kayo dyan." Tawa ni Arvic at umakyat.
Nanahimik rin ang boys at tinapos namin ang Clueless kasama sila. Surprisingly walang nagsaside comment.
Ginagaya nila ang mga lines pagkatapos. Naglalaro sila ng basketball at natalo si Andrew.
"Talunan ka talaga." Tawa ni Trisha.
"Ugh, as if." Andrew said dramatically.
Bumaba si Arvic pagkatapos magpalit ng damit. "I'll just be at the kitchen."
"You need help?"
Arvic tilted his head and chuckled at his sister. "From you?"
"I'll help." I volunteered.
Vince, Patrick and I went to help.
I don't even know what I'm doing pero gusto kong makita si Arvic in an apron.
Vince went to help prepare the ingredients and Patrick washed what needed to be washed.
"Anything I can help you with?" I asked Arvic.
"Marunong kang humawak ng kutsilyo?"
I pursed my lips. "Uhm, no."
He smiled and called Pat. Ako ang naghugas at itinabi ko para kay Arvic.
Pinanood ko siyang maghiwa at amazed na amzed ako dahil ang galing niya. Nakikita ko rin ang muscles niya sa braso sa bawat galaw ng kamay niya. Ngayon ko lang napansin na mahaba pala ang daliri niya. He has nice hands for a guy.
Why am I noticing these things anyway?
Umalis na sila Vince after helping and I stayed. Sinuot niya ang apron and is struggling with tying it on his back.
I don't know what's gotten into me but I offered to tie it for him.
His fingers lingered for a few seconds so our fingers are touching but he let go after that. He stayed still quiet while I tie it for him.
I'm careful so my fingers doesn't brush his lower back. I patted his back when I'm done.
Bigla siyang humarap sa akin kaya napaatras ako. Medyo naout of balance ako and he steadied me by my arm. "Steady, Mands." He laughed.
I blinked and nodded. I went to sit in the counter behind and just watched him do his thing.
Maingay sila sa living room pero nanatili ako sa kitchen. This is more entertaining than whatever they are doing.
He is smiling at me warmly and asking me stuff while cooking. This is suddenly so intimate?
He set the dishes in front of me after he's done. Hinubad niya ang apron at pumwesto sa tapat ko.
"Trisha was right, magaling ka nga magluto." I said as I eyed the plates of food.
Arvic seem pleased. "How about you? What do you think?"
"You are amazing."
"Hindi mo pa nga natitikman."
"Hindi ko na kailangan matikman para masabi kong masarap."
He grinned. "Don't fall for me yet, Mandy."
I rolled my eyes instead of answering.
"You know there's this one time Trisha offered to cook for Vince when she didn't even know how to use our oven." Sabi niya.
Pinigilan kong tumawa. I can relate to that. Of course we want to show off to our crush that we can cook kahit na hindi. At one point of a girl's life, nasabi niyang pagluluto niya 'yung taong gusto niya kahit hindi siya marunong.
"I'd probably do that also. Who wouldn't? Vince 'yun oh." Tawa ko.
"I know." He smiled. "So nagluluto ka?"
I wrinkled my nose. "Not really. Siguro same lang kami ng skills ni Trisha when it comes to cooking."
"Turuan kita."
"Not interested. Tagakain lang ako. Doon lang ako magaling."
Arvic chuckled. "Ganon? Then I'll be responsible for cooking. Ako ang tagaluto mo."
Natigilan ako. You don't just cook for anyone. Ang hassle kayang magluto, simula sa paghanda, pagluto tapos magliligpit pa.
Walang taong mageeffort ng ganon sa taong hindi nila gusto. "Bakit?"
"Wala lang. Bawal ka bang ipagluto?"
He is obviously evading my question So I might as well ask once and for all. "Arvic, uhm, may gusto ka ba sa akin?"
Pepper would applaud me just for asking.
Arvic was not surprised by my sudden question. He remained calm and composed and said, "Anong gagawin mo kung oo?"
Ako ang nagtanong pero ako ang nagulat sa sagot niya. "So oo?"
"Depende. Sasaluhin mo ba ako?"
I pursed my lips while thinking how to answer him without this being awkward.
He saved me from answering by laughing really loud like a crazy person.
"I'm just messing with you." He started to walk away. "Tawagin ko na sila baka sabihin mo ginugutom kita."
