Love Above It All

Chapter 9

"Welcome to my humble abode."

I bit the insides of my cheek while looking around his apartment... where I'm going to stay in for a few weeks. It screams much like him. Aesthetic, chill, and minimalist. Maliit siya kumpara sa mga space na tinitirahan ni Connor madalas pero kumportable at malinis.

His apartment is located just around the city, it's a loft type apartment. A full body mirror is immediately seen on the side, maybe to look at his appearance before he'll leave or when he enters. On the other side of the wall is a white cabinet. Stuffs may be in there.

I saw the living room, a black couch was in the corner. The television was on the white wall, and oh! An indoor plant, sitting pretty on a black chair. A white area rug covered the living room. For the space, I'd say he did a good job designing.

"Sweet." I whistled. I took a peek on the kitchen and dining, where he put the groceries. Malawak ang dining area niya. Very modern. Naglakad siya patungo sa akin. I turned my back against him and opened the door I saw, a bathroom.

Mabilis ko 'yong sinara at napaatras nang makaharap ko ang dibdib ni Connor. The space when he's near is so tight. He's really massive, damn it. Umiwas ako at hinawakan ko ang kahoy na hagdan na nagbibigay ng daan patungo sa kanyang tulugan.

"Your clothes... you can put those in the cabinet." Itinuro niya ang cabinet na nakita ko kanina pagkapasok. Tumango ako at umakyat sa hagdan. A king sized mattress was on the floor, covered in white sheets and pillows, a wooden bed side table, too. A lamp, maybe he uses it at night. And I saw another faux plant in a white pot beside the black guitar.

"Cozy," I commented and smiled at him.

"I stay here a lot back in the days I can't go home because I'm drunk." He chuckled, remembering a memory. Nakatayo lang siya habang umupo ako sa kama, naeengganyo sa lambot.

"Give me at least a week or two in finishing your condo. I already taught you how to punch the code, you can enter here anytime. There's food storage in the fridge, you can cook anytime. Feel at home, alright?"

Umusog ako nang maupo siya sa tabi ko, almost taking all the space. He borrowed the phone that he gave me so I immediately gave it to him. Nagtataka ako kung anong kinakalikot niya pero binuksan niya ang camera at nagpicture siya roon, his face was so near the camera while he was smiling cheekily. I chuckled.

"Don't laugh at me, this will gonna be your lock screen for the rest of your life!" he said and set it as the lock screen of the phone. Doon ako napasimangot.

"Ano ba namang bungad 'yan!" reklamo ko.

"Mahandang umaga, magandang hapon, magandang gabi!" Tawa niya tsaka napahiga pa sa kama habang hawak ang tiyan. Napahilamos ako ng mukha gamit ang palad ko. Paano na kaya sa mga susunod na buwan...

"I ordered dinner, it should be here by now." He said while recovering from his laughter. Eksaktong may kumatok. Bumangon na siya para buksan ang pinto pero nanatili ako rito. I sighed, I still shouldn't get used to this. Mahirap na kapag tumigil kami.

Nagvibrate ang lumang telepono ko na nasa bulsa. Kumunot ang noo ko at binuksan 'yon. Tumatawag... si Papa. Sumilip ako sa baba at nakitang inaayos ni Connor ang pagkain sa lamesa. I know I should help, but I'll answer this first. Bakit siya tumatawag?

I gulped and exhaled a large breath before answering.

"Hello..." Malamig na boses ang iginawad ko. Ano pa nga ba? Bakit naman ako maglalambing? We're not like the typical father daughter tandem out there. We're lethal. Or should I say, they'll be the death of me.

[Serafina...] Kinagat ko ang labi ko at agad na naramdaman ang mainit at nagpipigil na luha sa gilid ng aking mga mata nang marinig siyang sabihin 'yon. He doesn't call me Serafina for years now. Just now.