Van saw me and yet he smiled so dazzlingly.
"Uhm, Mom made a lot of these." I said and handed the Leche Flan to him.
"Hey, why dont you get inside and eat Leche Flan with me?" Sabi niya.
Uhm?
Wala naman akong gagawin. Hindi din naman ako busy. Wow, I am so amazed na hindi ako busy palagi. Wala ba talaga akong plano mag-work? Okay.
I just nodded and Van doesnt talk much at pumasok na kami kaagad sa bahay niya. This will be my first time na makapasok ng ibang bahay sa Australia. And sa bahay pa ni Van Mentius. A guy who bought 10 boxes of condoms. Oh my god, hanggang ngayon di pa din ako nakaka-move on dun. Para san ba kasi? I mean, para kanino?
Napakamot ako ng ilong ko ng makita ko kung paano ka blanko ang buhay ni Van. I mean, there is no curtains. No picture frames. No decorations. It is just plain white. Parang dormitory. Hala ang bad ko naman. Pero totoo.
Pero ang laki ng sofa niya infairness. Tapos color white. Everything here is white. Dream house ba niya 'to? Kay ganda kasi minimal lang. Kulay puti at gray lang ba talaga ang alam niyang kulay? Okay. Stop judging na, Angel.
Interesting kasi.
I though he could be more... black. Pero as in. Ang linis.
Nang makaupo na ako sa sofa. I noticed na may scrabble Board, uno cards, tapos several workout equipments naman sa corner na nakatapad sa window. Kaya siguro fit na fit si Van. Hindi siya payat at hindi rin naman siya mataba. Sakto lang. Sana all. Taba kasi ng pisngi ko pero hindi naman ako mataba talaga. Well, embrace your body kasi dun tayo maganda.
Kailan pa ako nagsimulang mag pep talk with myself? Nakakaloka din kasi na ang laki na din ng pinagbago ko sa Australia. Guess, I dont really spend time with people. I just literally just spent my time only with Mom and obviously ni Van.
"I'll get some spoons." He said at saka nagpunta na sa kusina.
Napatingin naman ako sa paligid. Ganito ba talaga ka peaceful dito? Ayan ka na naman Angel. Hanggang kailan mo i-diss ang bahay niya. May better ideas ka ba tungkol sa interior design nang lalaking mag-isang nakatira sa malaking bahay?
May nahagip ang mata ko.
"Oh?" Sabi ko nang makita ang isang bahay na dapat ay hindi ko makita.
Yap.
The Unbothered 10 boxes of condoms are here at the living freaking room.
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at saka napaiwas.
Nasa side table. Malapit sa outlets and telephone. This is madness! Out here? In the open area?
Nakabalik na si Van and he saw mt expression na hindi ko lang talaga na timing na walain kasi nakita na niya akong halos lalabas na yung mata.
"What's wrong?" Sabi niya at saka napaupo sa tabi ko.
Too close, I can smell his scent.
Napatingin siya kung san ako napatingin kanina.
"Shit." He cursed. I smiled. "I'm sorry I havent took that in my drawer yet."
"Do you really put it everywhere?" Sabi ko. Now we are finally talking about those boxes.
He hesitated to answer at tinignan niya ako ng maigi sa mga mata ko at saka pa siya nagsalita.
"Yeah."
"Why?" Sabi ko.
"I am living alone. I dont really invite people over since I lived here. Aside from my relatives or friends who forced themselves to meet me." Sabi niya. Binigay niya sa akin ang spoon.
Nagsimula na siyang kumain ng Leche Flan. Nagsalita ulit ako.
"Why that many?" I said at kaagad siyang binilaukan.
He coughed several times pero okay lang siya sabi niya.
"Uhm, I dont know." Sabi niya.
"Okay."
He is about to say something again pero tinitignan na naman niya ako ng mabuti bago siya magsalita.
"It's for future usage." Sabi niya.
I nodded.
Bakit ba siya amoy Vanilla!?
"May girlfriend ka?" I asked and ate Leche Flan na din.
"Wala." He replied.
"Then, wife?" I asked.
He chuckled, "I dont have."
I nodded again.
"Then, who is it for?" Sabi ko. "Or is it too personal? I'm sorry I—"
"For you."
What?
BINABASA MO ANG
Van Mentius Lim: My Pain (Completed)
Romance"My Pain is you, Van Mentius." - Angel Horfelia The story of "My Pain" revolves around Van Mentius Lim and his journey to finding love and acceptance. Van, tired of playing games and having ill-fated relationships, finally meets a girl who changes...
