Night Life in Tokyo

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

I was vacuuming for the past hour now. Habang wala si Trent ay naglinis ako ng paligid though there isn't much to clean dahil nalinis ko na naman din ito. I'm just trying to avoid watching and looking Tonton working out on the gym corner of the unit. But glancing far away from him, even when he's covered with sweat ay mukhang mabango pa rin ang amoy niya. And I wanted to ask more about his cousin but not in this kind of situation.

Lumunok naman ako ng laway bago ako lumapit kay Tonton. It is not what would anyone think about. Trabaho lang 'to sa akin.

I cleared my throat saka ko tinawag ang kanyang pansin. "Tonton—ay mali, pucha—Sir Antonio."

He chuckled putting the barbell down on the floor. As he bend down, hindi ko naiwasang mapatingin sa pwet niya. I shook my head and raised my head to look only at his face.

"Like I told you, you don't have to call me sir," ngisi pa nito. He brushed up his hair at saka niya iniling ang ulo at tumalsik ang ilang pawis mula sa kanyang buhok. I didn't mind it. Nasalo naman ng carpeted floor ang pawis. He puts his hands on his waist. "What do you want now?"

"Oh... uh... I just want to ask if you want me to clean your room?" tanong ko.

"Sure you can," ngisi pa nito. "But I think there's not much to clean there. Everything's settled there."

"Okay, pero check ko pa rin just to make sure. It is still my job anyway."

He nodded and chuckled. "Yeah, you do that and I'll be done with my work out in a few minutes."

"Sure... gotta go there now," aniko saka dali-dali ko siyang tinalikuran at tumungo sa hallway at pinasok ang kwarto ni Tonton.

Para naman akong tanga na sobrang nahihiya kay Tonton. Though our talk earlier helps us to know each other but I don't think it is really necessary dahil hindi rin naman siya magtatagal dito. He'll be leaving on Monday morning and after that, it'll be me and my boss left in this condo unit. How lovely that is, huh?

As I got into Tonton's room, he was right when he said that there's nothing much to clean. Maayos din siya katulad ng pinsan niya and I think may mga pinagmamanahan talaga 'tong mga tao. And thinking how they related to each other and knowing Trent could understand and speak my language embarrassed me for the rest of my whole life.

Ang mga gamit ni Tonton ay hindi niya inalis sa kanyang luggage but there are some lingering in the chair. Kinuha ko naman iyon para tingnan ko. It's just a couple of shirts and then his shorts at sa ilalim no'n ay ang briefs niya. Tiningnan ko pa ang size nito at small siya at hindi kagaya ni Trent na large. Would that also mean something?

"Lav?"

Parang sinundot ang katawan ko nang marinig ko ang boses niya. Literal na nagulat ako at hiyang-hiya nang makita niya ako sa sitwasyon ko ngayon. Mabilis kong itinago sa likod ko ang hawak kong underwear ni Tonton at pilit na ngiti ang pinakita ko sa kanya. I glance at the digital clock on the bedside table and it's just six in the evening. Napaaga ba ang uwi niya?

"Ah—eh sir... you're here na sir," nauutal kong tugon.

"Yeah, my friend had to leave early because he got an emergency. So I went home."

"Have you had your dinner, sir?"

Umiling ito. "Not yet. I thought you could prepare some for me."

Agad naman akong tumango. "Yes, I will. I'll make your dinner now and for your cousin. Excuse me—"

"No," pagpigil niya sa akin at huminto naman ako sa paglalakad ko. Iniangat ko ang tingin ko sa kanya. Kahit pinipilit kong huwag siyang tingnan sa mata ay mistulang nagtatama pa rin ang mga tingin namin. I hate this feeling! Parang ang laki ng kasalanan ko. "What's behind you?"