Taped-Up Heart

XXXII. Jealous

Chapter Thirty Two

Jealous

"What?" I asked the moment I opened the door. Kinukusot kusot ko pa ang mga mata ko dahil kakagising ko lang, pero ito si Achaia at nasa harapan na ng condo unit ko.

"Breakfast?"

At saka ko lang napansin na may dala siyang tray na may laman na mga pagkain. Sumimangot ako. Ang aga aga pa, ano nanamang pagpapakilig niya 'to?

"Why are you frowning?" he chuckled.

I just rolled my eyes and let him in. Umupo na kami sa table pero tinitigan niya lang ako. "What? Hindi ka pa ba kakain—" Kaagad akong napatakip sa mukha ko nang ma-realize kung ano ang tinitingnan niya. "Oh, my god, may muta ba ako?!" I asked in horror.

Kaagad ako tumakbo papunta sa banyo at naghilamos. Nag-mouthwash din ako bago bumalik sa table. Nakita ko siyang tatawa-tawa doon.

"It's not funny," I said.

"You're still pretty, though," he said. "And wala kang muta, okay? I'm just memorizing how you look when you wake up in the morning."

"Ewan ko sa 'yo."

He laughed again before putting some bacon on my plate. Bacon and eggs ang niluto niya na may kasamang french toast at kanin. Siya na rin ang naglagay sa akin ng kanin at tinapay.

"Alam mo, manliligaw lang kita. Hindi kita yaya. And as far as I can remember, I'm very able and healthy. Nakakagalaw pa ang mga kamay ko," I said.

He pouted. "I just want to spoil you."

Pinigilan ko ang nagbabadyang ngiti. Nakakainis naman. Bakit ba ako kinikilig kahit sa mga simpleng bagay niyang ginagawa? Who knew he could be this sweet? Ang unpredictable niya talaga as a person. Parang kahit kailan hinding hindi ko malalaman ang mga tumatakbo sa isipan niya.

"Don't you remember? One of the conditions was that you'd have breakfast and dinner with me."

"Tanda ko... nawala lang sa isip ko," I told him.

"Good."

Tiningnan ko lang siya habang nakain. "Did you cook all of this?" I asked curiously.

"Yes," he said. "You're crushing over me nanaman? Asia, you just fry eggs and bacons. You toast the bread. It's just easy. Masyado namang mataas—"

Sa inis ko ay isinubo ko sa kanya ang french toast. Ang aga aga pero almusal ko na kaagad ang kayabangan niya!

He glared at me. "What the hell was that for?"

"Ingay mo," sabi ko.

"Tss."

"I was just curious. No need to boast," I said. "Ang dami ko kasing hindi pa alam sa'yo."

Tumawa siya kaya napatingin ako sa kanya. "Asia, we're just starting. It's only normal that you don't know everything about me yet. That's why we're doing this, right? Along the way, we'll get to know each other better... maybe even best."

Tumango lang ako at kumain na. Ako na ang naghugas ng pinagkainan namin at naglinis. Bumalik naman na siya sa kwarto niya para maligo. Naligo na rin ako pagkatapos maglinis dahil parehas kaming may 8 AM class.

After taking a bath, I put on a casual outfit—my usual go-to look. High-waisted jeans, a shirt, and my favorite pair of Vans. I sat in front of my vanity mirror. This wasn't part of my usual routine—I rarely looked at myself in the mirror. Madalas kasi pagkabihis ko, nagsusuklay lang ako tapos sisilipin ko lang sandali itsura ko sa salamin, then I'm done.