Chapter 20 Officially Living with Him

"Hey, good morning sungit. Upo ka"

Huh? Bakit ang aga naman niyang magising.

"Longganisa, Tocino, at scramble eggs. Pagpasensyahan mo na, mamayang gabi, mas masarap pa dyan ang ihahain ko"

What? W-what does it mean?

I don't know what to say as he put all the foods in my plates, gosh! I forgot na mag-tooth brush!

"Oo nga pala, naisip ko. Ako na lang ang magluluto. Tapos ikaw na ang bahala sa hugasin. Oh, fair yan"

Tsk. As if naman magrereklamo pa ko ehh, I don't know nga how to cook.

"Siya nga pala simula na ngayon nong part time ko. Hindi na kita masasamahan sa shoot."

Fuck! He's so talkative, yet I'm just here, sitting comfortably and I'm not sure if bad breath ba ko, or what. I just need to be out of here.

He was now enjoying his food. Habang nakatingin lang ako sa kanya. Shit! Siguro mukha pa akong sabog ngayon.

"Ayaw mo ba? Anong gusto mo, ipagluluto na lang k---"

"NO!"

Shit! He's now ready to prepare for another set of food kasi, and hindi ko naman inexpect na gising na agad siya that's why dire-diretso lang akong lumabas sa room ko. And now I regret it.

"I mean, gusto ko yung food na prinepare mo. I just.. hm.. please excuse me, mag Ccr lang ako"

Oh my god! Hindi ko maramdaman ang paghinga ko habang nasa harapan niya. What's wrong with me?! Hindi naman ganito ang naging reaction ko sa mga past relationships ko. Wait! What? At bakit ko naman siya kino-compared sa iba? He's just my friend!

Compose yourself Z! Kailan ka pa nagkagusto sa best friend mo? Siguro, nami-misinterpret ko lang ang kabaitan ni Javier. Yah. Ganon nga.

I was now looking at my reflection, in the mirror. And sobrang red ng face ko dahil sa nangyari kagabi. I mean, sa sinabi niya. He's so sweet. And hindi ko mapigilang mag-overthink na, maybe, maybe. No! Imposible. Don't go there Z. He still has a girlfriend.

"Hey. Done?"

"Hmm"

Bakit hindi pa siya kumakain? Don't tell me hinintay niya pa ko?!

"You didn't finish your food"

He pulled a chair for me, and I could feel his stares kahit na nakatayo pa rin siya sa likod ko.

"Hinintay na kita. Gusto kong makita ang reaction mo"

What? Reaction?

Kunot noong lumingon ako kay Javier na nakangising humarap sa akin. What's wrong with this guy. Ang weird niya ha.

"Eat up. Kailangan mo yan"

Ayts. Mukha ba kong pat-patin? I'm eating foods na nga, kahit hindi ko na nasusunod yung fitness schedule ni Mamu.

And now, na pumapayat na siya. I don't think magiging nobody pa siya sa school. Actually, i'm excited and a bit nervous this incoming school year. I know, it's not going to be easy.

"Hindi kana mag eextra rice?"

This was the very first time na nakita ko siyang magtipid sa food. I mean, he's the expert when it comes to it, that's why nakakapanibago lang na nagliligpit na siya ngayon.

"Busog na ko. Isa pa, bawal akong malate. Maliligo na ko. Ayusin mo yan ha. Wag kang magbabasag mahal ang pinggan"

"Tsk. I'm not good in household chores, but I know how to make things right"

Duh! Kung magbabasag man ako ng pinggan baka sa mukha pa niya. And bakit ko nga ba siya pine-praise kanina? Annoying fat!

"Things rightnananana. Kumain kana lang dyan. Sungit!"

I rolled my eyes at him nang magsimula na itong maglakad palayo. Argh! Ang ganda-ganda ng umaga. Tapos biglang boom! Nang-aasar na naman siya.

Siguro kailangan ko na ring masanay sa araw-araw na pangbubwisit niya. As long as, he will make food for us. Magkakasundo pa kaming dalawa.

After kong matapos kainin yung mga hinanda ni Javier na halos ako lang lahat yung umubos ay sinimulan ko ng hugasan yung mga pinagkainan namin sa sink. In fairness, ngayon ko lang narealized na hindi naman pala mahirap mag-clean ng plates. Even frying pan ay nilinis ko na din. I don't know why, pero natutuwa ako sa mga bubbles. I feel like nagsslide siya sa hands ko. They're so cute!

"HOY!"

"Oh my gosh! JAVIERRRR!"

Damn! Papatayin niya ba ko sa gulat?! And yung bubble! Oh god! I was concentrating to it and now, wala na. He popped it!

"What's wrong with you? Bakit ang hilig mong mang-gulat!"

Tss. First day pa lang namin to, pero mukhang ngayon pa lang ay gusto ko ng mag-impake paalis. Geez! Bigyan pa sana ako ni god ng mahabang pasensya.

"Anong ginagawa mo? Ngayon ka lang ba nakakita ng bula? At talagang hinihipan mo pa."

Hayts! So masama na pala ngayon ang mag-enjoy! And speaking of bubbles! Malaki na sana siya ngayon kung hindi niya ako ginulat! Great!

"Fyi javier. Bago ka makichismis, try to look on your self. See? Pati tabs mo binabalandra mo sa harapan ko"

He's a certified chismoso. Siguro one of these days gagawan ko siya ng certificate. Proof na nag-eexist ang lalaking chismosong katulad niya.

"Ahh eto? Magiging abs din to. Magugulat ka"

Wow! Spell mahangin! J-A-V-I-E-R! At talagang mas inilapit pa niya yung body niya sa harapan ko. As if naman maaapektuhan ako.

"Really? When? Kapag naging si araw at dagat ulit? Or kapag naging sweet yung salt? Oh di kaya---"

"Kapag nasabi ko na sa kanya na mahal ko siya."

Wait! What?!

"At kapag may lakas na ko nang loob. Kapag kaya ko na siyang abutin. Siguro, namumutok na yung abs ko."

He laughed. And that's the clue na walang seryoso sa sinabi niya. Shit! Maniniwala na sana ako. Gosh! Buti na lang talaga I know him. Damn! Javier.

"HAHAHAH. Yung kilay mo nakakunot na. Parang anytime pwede mo kong sugudin. Hayy. I got you sungit! I got you"

He stuck his tounge. And kung childish siguro ako na katulad niya, baka itong frying pan na hawak ko ay naibato ko na sa kanya.

Shit! I must go get my things ready bago ko pa siya mapatulan. Such a pain in the ass!

"Saan ka pupunta?"

He raised his eyebrows and wait, akala ko ba nagmamadali siya?

"You have work right? And may shoot din ako, so, maliligo na rin ako."

I was about to turn my back at him nang maalala kong hindi pa pala ako nakakabili ng towel ko.

"And, this. Pahiram ako"

I pulled his towel out, na nakalagay pa rin sa waist niya. And huli na nang marealized ko kung anong nagawa ko. Fuck!

"KELZY! ANONG GINAGAWA MO?"

Oh my! Buti na lang nakaboxer siya!

"KELZY!"

He shouted again, as I run through the bathroom's door. Damn! Damn! Sorry po!

I immediately locked the door and inopen ko na rin yung shower to pretend na naliligo na ako. Oh my god! What was that Z?!

"SUNGIT! Sa susunod, magpaalam ka. Pano kung nakabrief lang ako. Or worst nakahu---"

"What? I can't hear you. Later na lang tayo mag usap, naliligo na ko. Shoo!"

When I heard his footsteps fading, ay saka lang ako kumalma. God! How I wish, wala na siya paglabas ko. Kasi kung hindi. Hindi talaga ako lalabas ng bathroom.

After I've done doing my bath routine ay tahimik na pinakiramdaman ko lang kung may tao pa sa labas. I just want to make sure na nakaalis na siya dahil ayokong pag usapan ang nangyari kanina. Although malapit na rin akong malate sa shoot ko mamaya.

Mamu called earlier na susunduin ako ni Mang Tonyo, and I don't know kung saan ba magwowork si Javier. And sana hindi ko siya makasabay mamaya. Knowing Mang Tonyo, he would definitely insist Javier a ride.

"Wala na kaya siya?"

I asked myself out of nowhere, nang wala akong marinig na ibang kaluskos maliban sa paghinga ko. Gosh!

He's probably out for his work, so kahit kinakabahan ay lakas loob kong binuksan ang pinto. Only to find out, him, Javier, comfortably laying his back near the bathroom's door habang nakahalukipkip pa ito. Fuck! He's still here!

I was about to close the door again, when he strongly hold the door's knob while smirking at me. Oh my god! I'm doomed!

"Kanina pa ko dito. At alam kong tapos kana rin kanina pa. Bakit ang tagal mo?"

Hayts. Tinatanong pa ba yan?!

"Nothing. At bakit andidito kapa? May work ka pa right? And you said na baka malate ka"

Buti na lang, I still wore the clothes na hinubad ko kanina. Kasi kung hindi, malamang nabusog na ang mga mata ni Javier.

"Hinintay ka. Akala ko kasi hindi kana himihinga sa loob."

Tsk. Hanggang pagpasok ko sa room ko ay nakasunod sa akin si Javier. He was just looking at me, and ako yung naiilang sa kanya.

"You know Javier, staring is rude"

I looked at him, and ngayon ay nakaupo na siya sa bed ko. This was the very first time na may pumuntang guy sa room ko. Yes, I'm a bitch, but I don't want the thought of a guy laying or even sitting on my bed. Except of course kay Javier. Dahil hindi ko naman maiiwasan yon, lalo na't magkasama kami sa iisang condo.

"Tinitingnan ko lang tong kwarto mo. Daming gamit ahh"

He's pertaining to my stuff na nakalagay sa vanity mirror. Duh! Of course I have these different abubot for my shoots. And some of them were from my closest friends, mom and dad. It was a gift from different occasions.

"Lipstick nga ayokong ipagamit kay Stef."

"Kasi nga, OA ka. You boys always think na kapag may make up, malandi na, kaladkaring babae, a slut. Without knowing na we're applying these to boost our confident"

I don't understand why, may mga guys na sobrang higpit sa mga babae. I mean, it's okay to be strict, but of course dapat makita din nila yung good side from the perceptions that they have.

"Noon yon syempre. Pero ngayon hinahayaan ko na si Stef. Yun ang isa sa naintindihan ko nang makilala kita"

"Dapat lang Javier. Anyways, leave. Magbibihis pa ko."

I pointed out the door of my room. And mas lalo pa siyang humiga sa bed ko, na nakalimutan ko palang ligpitin kanina.

"Pipikit na lang ako"

"Javier!"

"Oh para fair, magtataklob na lang ako ng comforter"

"Isa!"

"Dadapa na la--"

"Dalawa!"

Argh! Ang kulit niya ahh! Paano ako magbibihis kung andito siya? Is he out of his mind?!

"Okay okay madam. Lalabas na nga"

Gosh! Naka-shoes na siya tapos inilakad niya pa sa bed ko! Hindi na siya nakakatulong!

"Javier your shoes!"

I can't believe na sinundan niya lang ako dito para mang-gulo. Shit! Color white pa naman yung bed sheets and comforter ko!

"Wag kang mag-alala, bagong laba to. Tsaka ayaw mo ba talaga na andito ako?"

"JAVI---"

"On the second thought, kailangan ko na ding umalis. Bye sungit. Patayin mo yung ilaw, electric fan, sayang sa kuryente. Tsaka yung pinto ilock mo ng mabuti."

"GET OU--"

"Tsaka yung ref----"

"JAVIERR!"

"Byee bye"

He close the door and when I'm now ready to remove my clothes ay siya namang pagbukas muli nang pintuan at nakangising si Javier ang bungad sa akin, habang nakapeace sign pa. The hell!

"JAVIERRRR!"

God! Maaga akong tatanda dahil sa kanya!

"Nakalimutan ko yung lunch box na hinanda ko. Dalhin mo ha, bye"

Fuck! I was supposed to be mad at him yet naeexcite akong buksan yung lunch box kung anong food ang hinanda niya.

That's why after I've done putting make ups and clothes ay sa kitchen na agad ako nagtungo. And there, a pink little cute box with a sticky note on its top, saying 'para sa pangarap' that makes me giggle even more.

I was now busy checking the inside of the box when my phone rings. It was from the unknown number, and with the thought na baka emergency to ay mabilis ko din namang sinagot.

"Hello. Kelzy Herrera speaking, who's this?"

"Ma'am! Si Jane po ito. Nasa labas na kami ng condo niyo. Sunduin na po kita?"

Ow. It's Jane Lough.

"Ahm. No. Ako na lang ang baba. Wait me there, pababa na rin ako"

"Sige ma'am. Ingat po"

"Thank you"

I just put the lunch box in the paper bag, and I also make sure na lahat ng bilin ni Javier ay nagawa ko.

"Si miss Kelzy yon diba?"

"Alin?"

"Ayun ohh, yung sikat na modelo. Dito pala siya nakatira"

Actually, I'm not scared na sa mga fans. As long as hindi sila maging aggressive katulad nong nangyari sa airport. And I thank god dahil kakaunti lang yung tao sa lobby. I guess no hassle for today.

I just entertained a few people na lumapit sa akin para magpapicture, and after that ay lumapit na rin sa amin si Jane dahil dumarami na ang tao sa lugar.

"Here's your meetings and shoots schedule na gagawin mo miss for today. Puno na rin yung ilang days na excess, bago yung opening ng school year nyo, so we expected na matapos na tong lahat"

I prepared for this, we planned na din naman before na kailangan kong tumanggap ng maraming shoots. Because I don't know if magiging ganito pa rin ako kaactive sa modeling kapag nag-start na ang pasukan.

"Pose. Perfect. Show the product. Okay. Good. Let's take a break"

Eat. Talk. Plan. Pose. That's the thing that we all do, just to finish this shoot smoothly. We tried different tactics na din para maiba naman sa paningin ng ibang tao. And of course I also applied the products, to make sure na magandang produkto ang magagamit ng mga tao.

"Miss. Ito na po yung food m----"

I was now opening the lunch box nang biglang lumapit sa akin si Jane. She's holding a veggie food. And alam kong sinabihan na rin siya ni Mamu about my diet. But for now, I preferred Javier's food.

"Can you eat that for me. I promised, next time kakain ko na yan. It just that, Javier, my fr---"

"Ahh sige ma'am. Galing pala yan sa boyfriend mo. Ako na po ang bahala dito"

What? Boyfriend? At kelan ko naman naging boyfriend si Javier?!

"Ahm. Wait Jane. Sino nagsabi sayo na boyfriend ko si Javier?"

To think na kilala na niya agad si Javier. I know na may nagsabi sa kanya.

"Ahh sina Jodie at Roxy. In fairness ma'am. Bagay ho kayong dalawa. Pogi din yung boyfriend niyo, medyo chubby lang. Hehe"

I knew it! Ate Jodie and ate Roxy was really Javier's fan. And because of them kung anu-ano na ang sumasagi sa isip ko. God!

"One last shot. This time, ipakita mo kung anong ganda ang maidudulot ng angel's cosmetics. Ready? Pose"

Indeed. Kuya Joaqy was a great photographer. Kapag nasa set na ay ibang iba siya sa real life. It was as if I was talking to another person, dahil napaka-professional niyang tingnan. Hindi talaga siya tumatanggap ng mga palyang poses. And I really really loved him for that.

"Mga boys. Pakipatay na nitong pailaw ni mayor. Jonas yung kalat. Z alisin mo na yung make up mo, baka magka-wrinkles ka pa."

"Yes mamu."

Everyone was doing their assigned task, and hapon na rin nang matapos yung shoot. Also yung ibang meetings pa na dinaluhan ko, for ads. It was very tiring but productive day for us.

Hinatid lang ulit ako ni Mang Tonyo sa condo. And I don't know kung anong oras uuwi si Javier. But I planned na magpahinga na muna ngayon. And if, gagabihin si Javier ay magtatry akong magluto for dinner. Yung mga easy to cook lang, para hindi ako mastress sa kitchen mamaya.

The door was locked pa rin, so hindi pa nga nakakarating si Javier. After kong makapasok sa loob ay niremoved ko muna yung heels ko, para ilagay sa divider near the condo's door. Actually, two shelves siya isa sakin and kay Javier but konti lang naman yung shoes niya, so pati yung cabinet niya ehh na- occupied ko na rin.

"God! I never thought na ganito yung bubungad sakin pagbalik ko. Should I take a shower first? Or matutulog na lang ako?"

I asked myself out of nowhere, and ang ending mas gusto ko na lang matulog ngayon.

I don't know what time is it na nang magising ako. And nang maalala ko si Javier ay dali-dali akong bumangon, dahil nakalimutan kong magprepare ng dinner para sa aming dalawa.

Gosh! I'm really a sleepyhead. Next time, hindi na talaga ako matutulog para hindi ko ma-skip ang pagluluto.

Inayos ko lang yung magulo kong buhok and yung pj's ko na rin na nagulo dahil sa pagkakahiga. Bago lumabas.

Paglabas ko pa lang ng room ko ay wala na akong nakitang kakaiba, except sa shoulder bag ni Javier na nasa sofa. So he's here.

I was just silently walking through the kitchen and there he was. Preparing for our food, and it was so nice looking at him at behind. He's so masculine and a chubby guy at the same time.

Every moves that he make, it makes me wanted to clung on his shoulder, while chitchatting the things that I've done today. About my shoot, my meetings, all of it.

"Sungit? Gising kana pala. Let's eat"

He smiled at me, and yah. I am so addicted with his smile. And I guess, breakfast and dinner without him wouldn't be this special anymore.

"How's shoot? Nakita ko nga pala yung lunch box kanina, grabe, kulang na lang pati lalagyan kainin mo na"

"Tsk. Ang OA mo ahh. And about shoot, same as before, tiring"

In fairness, he really keep his promises. At ito na yung favorite ko ngayon, sinigang.

"May tanong ako sayo"

Huh?

"What is it?"

Katulad kanina, ay tapos na agad siyang kumain. And I have no choice kundi ubusin lahat to dahil nakakahiya naman sa kanya.

"Bakit Paris?"

Paris? What?

Nakakunot ang noong lumingon ako sa kanya na malalim pa ring nakatingin sa akin. Okay, I get it.

"About Paris project ba?"

"Yah. Palagi ko kasing naririnig yon kay mamu. Ano bang meron don?"

We both keep quiet. And I don't know what to say, as he looked at me, confused.

Paris project was a dream. That's my mom's dream. I want her to feel proud of me, as well as dad.

"Gusto kong maging international model. And after that, an artist."

I giggled as I imagine myself being one of the best artist or even model to this field.

"Taas ahh. Pero kapag naging international model kana, pakipromote ako sa mga bigating tao na makikilala mo. Baka engineer Javier to"

Wow. So gagawin niya kong endorser niya. Galing!

"Fyi javier. Mahal TF ko"

"Tss. Talent na ba yon?"

"Of course. Imagine, pipilitin ko pa silang kuhanin ka"

I laughed as I saw his reaction na parang hindi siya makapaniwala sa sinabi ko.

"Aba, magaling na engineer ata tong kausap mo. At makikita mo. Who you ka sakin"

Damn! He really take that as a challenge.

"You'll see. This engineer can make a model down for him"

He whispered, that sent shiver down my spine. Uh oh. That's not a good challenge.