Arvic is curled up like a cat in his thick comforter when I went to his house the next day. He has really intense eyes when he's awake but looking at him sleep, he's like a harmless puppy.
I can't help but reach out to comb his hair. His brows furrowed and he pulled the comforter higher.
"Go away. Maghanda ka ng sarili mong pagkain." He murmured.
Natawa ako. "Tanghali na."
Lalong kumunot ang noo niya. He opened an eye to check. "Anong ginagawa mo dito?"
"Should I leave?"
"No." Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at hinalikan 'yun. "5 more minutes."
I poked his forehead. "Bakit ka ba kasi uminom ng marami."
He groaned not wanting to remember but I heard him curse Pepper. Gusto kong matawa sa itsura niya. In the end he muttered a sorry.
I decided to tease him for being a pain in the ass. "Sorry kasi naglasing ka o sorry sa mga ginawa mo kagabi?"
Napatigil siya. Unti unti siyang dumilat. "Anong ginawa ko?"
Binawi ko 'yung kamay ko. "I see so hindi mo matandaan. Akala ko pa naman gentleman ka. You act like you're conservative pero lumabas rin ang totoo."
He looked at me from head to toe slowly and this time he asked firmly, "What did I do?"
Ngumuso ako. "Never mind. Kalimutan nalang natin since hindi mo na rin naman matandaan. I can pretend it never happened."
"What do you mean? Did I...do something?"
Umiling ako. "Bumangon ka na. You need to go to work."
Napahawak siya sa ulo niya. "I'm not going."
Nagreklamo siya nung hinila ko 'yung comforter niya. "I'm allowed to take a leave! Let's just stay here. Hmm?"
Tumayo ako. "What makes you think gusto kong mag stay dito pagtapos ng ginawa mo kagabi?"
He kicked his comforter. Clearly frustrated. "Ano ba kasi 'yun?"
"Bumangon ka na. Hihintayin kita sa baba." Tumalikod na ako agad dahil hindi ko na mapigilan 'yung tawa ko.
Mas masaya pala pantrip ng taong may hangover. What he said and did last night would just be buried deep in my brain that only I have access to. Hindi ko sasabihin na sobrang clingy at sweet siya.
I asked him to sit while I prepared his lunch. Nag take out ako ng pagkain dahil alam kong hindi siya makakapagluto.
"Trisha went out." Sabi ko.
Tumango siya habang tinutusok ang pagkain niya. "So what did I do?"
"Kumain ka muna."
He took a bite hesitantly. I watched him as he awkwardly avoided my eyes.
Natawa na talaga ako. "Niloloko lang kita. Wala kang ginawa kaya hindi mo na kailangan umiwas ng tingin."
Hindi pa siya naniniwala. Lumapit ako sa kanya at kumandong at hinalikan siya sa pisngi. "I love you."
Tumaas ang kilay niya. "Why are you suddenly confessing your love? May kasalanan ka ba?"
Ngumiti ako at umiling. "Iniwan namin sila Pepper. Tingin mo ok lang sila?"
"Sanay na 'yun. It's rather my first time na may nag uwi sa akin. Matagal na sana ako nag girlfriend kung alam ko lang na ganito."
I flashed him my teeth. "At sino naman jojowain mo? Si Enah?"
"Enah nanaman?"
"Siya lang ang kilala ko unless may iba kang gusto."
"Ikaw. Sino pa ba?"
Hindi na ako nakapagsalita.
Sumandal siya sa akin. "Thank you."
"What for?"
"For taking care of me last night. I know you don't really like driving tapos napuyat ka pa."
"Hindi mo naman kailangan magpasalamat kung para doon."
"But I still want to say it so that you know." Aniya.
Ngumiti ako.
"When will you cook for me again?"
"Sabi mo tagakain lang ako at ikaw ang tagaluto sa atin diba? Wala nang bawian."
"Bilisan mong kumain. You still have work to do." Sabi ko nung hindi siya kumilos.
"Can we just stay? I can still work here and you can accompany me." He pouted.
I stared at him before turning away. Nope, this can't do. Muntik na akong pumayag. Arvic barely pout but he does when he's making me agree to something.
"Pero kailangan mo pa rin pumunta."
"Then I'll go later paghatid ko sayo."
I want to say no. I should've stood my ground but I didn't. Marupok talaga ako pagdating kay Arvic so I just nodded.
We ended up sitting at their living room. May nahalungkat akong photo albums nilang magkapatid and I'm flipping at it while he's on his laptop and phone.
Nagsasalita at tumatawa ako mag-isa habang tinitignan ang mga pictures niya.
"Ang taba mo pala nung bata ka."
"Ang sarap mo siguro yakapin nung baby ka."
"Omg ang cute mo dito!" Sabi ko at nilabas ko pa sa pocket yung picture para titigan.
Ang bungisngis na bata ni Arvic hindi ko alam bakit bihira lang siyang ngumiti ngayon.
"Take it." Aniya.
"Really?"
"Yup."
"Gawin mo nga ulit 'yung ngiti mo dito." Sabi ko. "Dali!"
"I'm working."
"Dali na. Ang damot mo naman."
"Later." He said while typing.
"Ngayon na. Bakit ba kasi ayaw mong gawin? Patingin na ng smile mo."
Nilingon niya ako at sumimangot. "I can't do it. I'm not a kid anymore."
"Hindi ka rin naman matanda."
Nilapag niya ang laptop sa tabi at nilapit ang mukha sa akin. "Then you first."
"Hay nako. Sige na, wag na kung ayaw mo." I was about to turn away when he cupped my face and smiled.
It was not the same pa-cute smile but it's a smile.
"Happy?"
Ngumiti ako at tumango dahil nakuha ko ang gusto ko.
"I want a reward." Tapos walang pasabi niya akong hinalikan.
Kinuha niya ulit ang laptop na parang walang nangyari.
Nang nagsawa ako sa photo albums ay tinabihan ko nalang siya. I let him work quietly while I scroll through my social media accounts.
I can get used to this. I don't think I will get tired of this life. I will glance at Arvic occasionally and he will smile at me when I did.
We've reached a certain point na comfortable kami sa isa't isa na kahit hindi kami mag-usap ay hindi awkward.
We're contented just to be with each other and I think it's the best kind.
