Parallel Intersection

Chapter 35

"Merry Christmas, Jam." My lips parted upon seeing Joe in front of me.

Dala-dala pa nito ang kanyang mga bagahe. Hawak-hawak niya ang isang cake at sa likod ay mga pagkain pa.

"Sorry, I'm late. Tagal kasi umalis ng eroplano e." Paliwanag niya habang may ngiti sa kanyang mga labi.

I wasn't able to utter my thanks. "What are you doing here?" Iyon ang tanging nasabi ko.

"I don't know...I don't want you to celebrate Christmas alone." He said while staring straight into my eyes. I gulped.

"P-pasok ka." Nanginginig ang aking mga kamay nang dahan-dahang pumasok si Joe roon.

"I have an extra room, over there." I said, while pointing out where he's room would be.

"I can stay here?" Tila gulat niyang tanong. Tumikhim ako.

"It's Christmas." Tipid kong sagot, kinakabahan dahil sa pakulo niyang ito.

He tried to supressed his smile while looking around my room. Iginiya ko na siya patungo sa kanyang silid. He said his thank you and I just nodded.

Parang sasabog na ang aking puso dahil sa biglaan niyang paglitaw. What is he even doing here? At...paano niya nalaman ang silid ko? Is it because of Miss Ty? Hay naku!

Dapat ay matutulog na lamang ako ngunit heto ako, inaayos ang kanyang dala-dalang pagkain. I fixed the dining table and waited for him to go out of his room.

Lumabas ito suot ang isang malinis na puting T-shirt at itim na shorts. His shirt is almost hugging his body. Muli kong itinuon ang aking tingin sa hapag.

"You asked Miss Ty about my whereabouts?" Usisa ko rito nang makaupo na.

He smirked and poured his glass some red wine. "Bilis naman. Did you asked her?"

I shrugged. "It was very obvious. No need to actually ask her."

Medyo marami ang kanyang dalang pagkain. I don't even know where he bought all of these. Mga pagkaing pinoy kasi iyon.

"You didn't roamed around here in New York?" He asked before chewing his food.

Umiling ako. "I'd rather rest. My sched's too hectic." Paliwanag ko habang kinakagatan ang dala niyang barbecue.

Cheat days, again! May rampa pa ako sa New Year!

He laughed when I got silent. "You can just burn those carbs. We'll exercise."

Lito ko itong nilingon. He only pursed his lips and continued eating.

"Don't tell me, you're going to stay here until New Year?"

"Was about to say that," He said, not minding my shocked expression.

Inirapan ko na lamang ito. It's Christmas, Jam. Calm down.

Naging tahimik ulit ang hapag. Hindi naman naubos ang dala niyang mga pagkain. I've decided to keep it inside the fridge. He volunteered to washed the dishes. Hinayaan ko na lamang siyang gawin iyon.

Somehow, I felt like I'm complete again. Nahihibang na ata ako. I did my night routine. It's almost two in the morning.

"Joe," I called his name. He's still busy doing things in the kitchen.

Saglit niya akong nilingon. Ano bang ginagawa nitong lalaking 'to? May ritwal din ata to sa kusina kagaya ni Mama e.

"Merry Christmas." I trailed off. Halatang kinakabahan. I saw his back stiffened. "Thank you...for spending it...uh...with me. Goodnight." I uttered the last word under my breath.

I didn't heard any response, kaya naman ay mabilis akong pumasok sa aking kwarto. My thoughts about Joe and his confusing signals kept on running on my mind.

Nakatulugan ko na iyon. I woke up around two in the afternoon. Hindi ko alam kung gising na ba si Joe. Sana naman ay matagal din siyang magising.

I cleaned myself first. I took and bath before going out. Si Joe ang una kong nakita nang lumabas ako. Tutok ang kanyang atensyon sa TV. Mukhang may pinapanood ata.

When he saw me, he instantly grabbed the remote control. Siguro ay ipapause ang kanyang pinapanood.

I waved my hand at him. "Kumain ka na?" Tanong ko nang tumayo na ito. "Continue watching whatever it is." Saad ko.

Pumanhik na ako sa kitchen. Mukhang hindi ko na kailangan pang magluto dahil may nakahanda na sa mesa. Good thing about Miss Ty's place is that, she's always giving me a home-vibe room. Kumpleto rekados na. Sulit naman bayad niya rito e.

"Let's eat together." Kunot noo ko itong tiningnan. "Haven't eaten lunch since I'm waiting for you to wake up."

My lips kind of parted. Pambihira! E kung gabi na pala ako nagising, e di gabi rin siya kakain? My goodness! What is this man up to?

Tahimik ulit kami sa hapag. Mukhang ininit at nilagyan niya ng bagong timpla ang natirang barbecue. He's a good cook, huh.

Ako na ang nag-volunteer na maghuhugas. Muling bumalik si Joe sa kanyang pwesto para siguro manood.

Ganoon ang nangyari. Mukha kaming nag-babahay-bahayan dito. The only difference is that, we're not doing anything intimate. Gigising ako. Kakain kami. Papasok ako sa aking kwarto habang siya ay manonood lang.

Hindi rin ako lumalabas dahil tinatamad ako. I miss staying on my bed all day. Hindi ko rin magawang tanungin si Joe kung bakit nandito pa rin siya.

Disperas na para sa bagong taon ngunit heto ako at abala na naman para sa fashion show. I can't believe I'm spending New Year with work. Hindi pa talaga ako nasasanay.

I'll always be the last one to go out. Hindi na rin naman ako kinakabahan. Sanay na sanay e. The moment I stepped out, my eyes caught his amusing stares at me.

I gulped. Hindi pala kinakabahan, huh? He's on the VVIP chairs! Nasa pinaka-gitna rin ang kanyang pwesto!

His eyes weren't too dark and intense. They were just filled with amusement. Even the way he clapped his hands, akala mo ay proud na proud siya sa kanyang alaga!

Kabadong-kabado tuloy ako. Buti na lang dahil hindi ko naman kailangang ngumiti. My heart's hammering like crazy!

"You did well!" We're spending our New Year here at New York's time square.

Napapikit ako nang marinig ang sunod-sunod na paputok. I opened my eyes and looked at the dark sky, now filled with different lights.

"Happy New Year, Jam!" He whispered on my ear. For once, I felt like my whole world stopped. Tanging siya lamang ang naririnig at nakikita ko.

I smiled. "Happy New Year."

I grabbed my phone outside my pocket and typed my message to my family. Agad ko rin iyong isinilid.

"I want to spend the rest of my years with you."

Lito ko itong tiningnan. "W-what?"

He faced me. Dahan-dahan niya ring hinawakan ang aking mga kamay. He sighed. "Sabi ko," He said, adding a volume on his voice, "Gusto kitang makasama habang buhay!"

My jaw dropped after hearing his words.