Housemates With Benefits [COMPLETE|PUBLISHED]

Oliver (55)

The breathtaking view of Taal in the early morning is lost on me.  It is eclipsed by the laughing face of Sabrina as she embraces Rachel from behind.

I can't help but sigh.  Will I ever get tired watching that beloved happy face?  Definitely no.  

I sighed again.  My future as a henpecked husband seems to be getting closer and closer as the day passes by.  The fact that I'm actually looking forward to that future just proves that God has a twisted sense of humor.  Bumuntong-hininga na naman ako and leaned deeper into the klismos chair I'm seated on.

When a steaming mug appeared right in front of my nose, napatingala ako sa may dala niyon and came face to face with Cole's serious face.  As if may iba namang expression sa mukha ang isang ito.  I accepted the mug and stared at its contents.  

"Soup?" nakakunot-noo kong tanong when I saw a slice of mushroom floating inside the mug.

"Huwag ka nang maarte," he said in a tone that can't be bothered.  Inabutan niya pa ako ng soup spoon na tinanggap ko naman din.  "'Yan lang ang kayang lutuin ni Theo."

Naupo na rin siya sa katabi pang klismos, hands wrapping around his own mug.  We watched the girls playing by the pool in companionable silence.  

Mukhang enjoy na enjoy ang mga babae sa pool.  Well, ang magkapatid at si Trisha ay mukhang enjoy na enjoy habang si Anna naman ay nagpapapadyak sa harapan ng tatlo.  Mukhang malulunod na nga si Trisha sa kakatawa.

"Bakit soup?  Bakit hindi na lang kape?" naisipan kong itanong after taking a slow sip.

"Pareho kaming hindi nagkakape ni Theo."

Tinapunan ko siya ng tingin na nagtataka.  "So soup ang sagot?  Wala bang ibang beverages sa pantry?"

He looked at me sideways without moving his head.  Muli rin niyang ibinalik ang tingin sa mga kaganapan on the swimming pool area beyond the floor-to-ceiling wall of the living room.

"We're hungry and soup will tide us over until Sabrina and Orie prepares breakfast.  By the looks of it, matatagalan pa yata sila."

Natatawang kinutsara ko na ang nag-iisang sliced mushroom na lumulutang sa binigay sa akin na mug.  "The girls are not here to cook for us you know."

"I know.  Pero marunong ka ba magluto?  Does anybody from the team knows how?"

"Dmitri."

He looked at me again sideways.  "Dare you to ask him to cook for us."

Napahalakhak na ako.  "I like my head where it is now."

Tumango siya.  "Sabi ko nga.  So the girls have to do it.  Kung bakit naman kasi lunch and dinner lang ang pina-cater ninyo?"  

I grinned at him.  "Don't blame me.  I'm not in-charged of the food.  Kay Rachel 'yan.  At desisyon niya na lunch and dinner lang ang ipa-cater.  Nawala yata sa isip niya na may mga lalaki siyang papakainin."

"She seems to be thoughtless about a lot of things."

My eyes narrowed.  "Are you throwing shade at Rachel?"

Cole stared at me.  "What it is to you?  Are you dating her, too?  I thought you've changed."

"What?  No!  I'm Sabrina's," mariin kong pagtanggi.  

Nasusuka ako at the thought that people may actually think that I'm gunning for that tall socialite.  Gago na ako kung gago pero mayroon naman akong delikadesa.  I will never get in between two sisters.

He smirked at me.  "Sabrina's?  You seem to like it that you got owned."

I shrugged and looked at the pool and observed the girls again.