Emerald Eyes

Chapter 07: Weird But Cute

Kasalukuyan akong nakapila upang bumili ng pananghalian para kay Vylant. Malapit lang dito iyong condo kaya pinili kong dito na lamang bumili. Dumaan muna ako dito sa isang fastfood kasi mas matatagalan kung magluluto pa ako. Pananghalian pero alas tres na ng hapon. Baka namatay na sa gutom iyong lalaking 'yon. Huwag naman sana. Konsensya ko pa kung sakali.

I kept looking at my wrist watch. There are too many people and the line is taking so long to move! It's making me frustrated.

I just looked around to distract myself and my eyes landed on a paper bag. Hawak-hawak ito ng isang lalaking mukhang kasing-edad ko lamang. A famous clothing brand is printed on it. At naisip ko na wala nga palang mga damit si Vylant. Kailangan ko rin siyang bilihan. When did he become my responsibility?

Kasi naman, 'yong suot niyang damit ay punit-punit na dahil doon sa pagbagsak niya. May mga natuyong dugo pa na sa tingin ko ay mahirap nang matanggal kahit labhan ko pa. Isasama ko na lang siya sa pagbili ng damit bukas. Sakto naman na sabado.

"May I take your order ma'am?"

Nagising ako mula sa pag-iisip at humarap sa babaeng cashier na nasa harap ko. I didn't notice that it was my turn already. I ordered a lot of food, thinking how hungry he is right now that one meal won't be enough.

Pagkatapos kong bumili, tinakbo ko na lang mula sa pinagbilhan ko hanggang condo. Hingal na hingal akong pumasok sa loob ng elevator. Sumandal ako sa gilid habang habol pa rin ang aking hininga. Dali-dali akong lumabas no'ng nasa 17th floor na. Handa na akong makita ang nakabusangot niyang mukha. Huminga muna ako ng malalim bago dahan-dahang binuksan ang pinto ng aking condo unit.

Naabutan ko siyang nanonood pa rin ng T.V at tutok na tutok dito. He glanced at the door where I am currently standing.

"What took you so long?" His eyebrows are furrowed while looking at me like I'm some sort of a criminal. "I was hungry. Good thing I learned how to cook."

It took me long before I realized what he just said.

"Ha?" Napanganga ako dahil sa sinabi niya. What did he just say?

I looked at him closely and noticed that his hair is wet and that he had no clothes on top, leaving his upper body naked.

Iniwas ko agad ang aking tingin at dali-dali akong pumunta sa kusina. I was taken aback when I saw that there is indeed food placed on the table.

"There are still leftovers. Just in case you haven't eaten yet." Hindi ko napansing sumunod pala siya sa akin sa kusina. Nasa tabi ko siya at napadako ang tingin niya sa plastic na dala ko. Kinuha niya ito at nilapag sa mesa. Tahimik lang akong naka tingin sa kaniya. Gulat pa rin at hindi makapaniwala.

"W-Where did you learn how to cook?" Nauutal kong tanong. Tinapos niya muna ang paglabas ng mga pagkain sa lamesa bago sumagot.

"That T.V. thing is very useful." Sabay harap sa akin tapos ngumiti. "I've learned lots of stuff. And that includes cooking. I saw the same exact rectangular thing over there and I checked it. Turns out it's a food dimension for pete's sake!" Sabi niya sabay turo doon sa refrigerator.

Food dimension?

"It's very cold. The food are frozen. And there's a little door inside that's like a total ice age! It's not snowing but there's ice." Tuwang-tuwa siya habang nagku kuwento. His eyes are even twinkling in amazement. I think he's talking about the freezer. Halata ang pagkamanga siya kaniyang mukha.

"I hate to burst your bubble but that is not a food dimension." I told him and he immediately shut up to look at me in confusion.

"That's called a refrigerator. Ref for short. It's where we stock our food. And of course it's cold to avoid spoilage." I explained carefully so he will understand.