After My Death Tomorrow

Episode 15

"Okay?" He laughs, with full of truth on his voice. He playfully knitt his thick eyebrows. "What's with the sudden . . . mood?"

Bigla akong napaiwas ako ng tingin, hindi ko nakayanang tumingin pang muli sa kanyang mga mata. There's something on it. Something intimidating that I can never help but to avoid. What could it be?

To my surprise, he leaned closer to me. Now, his face is nearly close to mine. That's the point where I started to turn my gaze on him again. And there, I saw him. Smiling with his boyish grin. Smiling for me.

"I would love to do that, Margotliit." He mumbled as he messed my hair with his large palms. "Let's be friends . . . until forever."

And I finally smiled back.

***

Matapos ang araw na iyon, Marco and I's friendship grew. I found myself being fond by him.

Nitong mga nagdaang linggo din, Marco's life began to walk the right path. His life became light as feather when little by little, Vaeden came back to his life. Hindi naging madali ang proseso. They were so uncomfortable at first but thankfully, they managed to settle their issue and conclude it with a graceful truce.

At si Magne, okay na siya kay Marco. Narealize niya ang lahat noong minsang sumama siya sa akin. Hindi ko kasi hinahayaang mawalan ng kasama si Marco kaya everytime na sasama sa akin si Magne, wala siyang magawa kundi ang kausapin si Marco. Hanggang ang pag-uusap nila ay nauwi sa pag-aasaran na sinamahan pa ni Vaeden. Kaya sa huli, asar talo ang best friend ko.

Alongside with Diyes, we are starting to form a group that may halt Marco's destiny and I am freaking loving that.

Samantala, ngayon ay mag-isa akong naglalakad papunta sa labas ng subdivision. Bigla kasi akong nagutom. I don't know pero bigla akong naging patay-gutom lately.

I halted my feet when I saw Marco. He is sitting on one of the benches of the convenience store. Mukhang sarap na sarap siya sa kinakaing cup noodles. Lumakad na ako papalapit sa kanya. For some reasons, doon ako pumwesto sa kanyang likod.

"Hey," I mumbled as I put my hand above his shoulder blade.

"What the f**k?!" Halos mapatalon siya mula sa kinauupuan dahil sa ginawa ko. Natapon ang cup noodles diretso sa damit niya kaya't bigla siyang napatayo. Nagpatalon-talon pa siya dahil marahil sa init.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. And on cue, I tried to help him as I tried wiping the mess out of his white muscled shirt. But to no avail, nothing happens. I just found myself mumbling my endless apalogies instead.

His face softens when he saw me. A lift on the corner of his lips started to occur as soon as our eyes started to meet. Para bang may connection ang mga mata namin. Iyong tipong kapag nagko-connect, parang wala nang paraan para madisconnect pa.

"Sorry talaga, Marco. I didn't know na . . . magugulatin ka pala?" I was true to my words. Sa laki kasi ng katawan ng lalaking ito ay walang magaakalang may kinakatakutan siya.

"It's okay." He chuckled as he tried to shake off the soup out of his now damp shirt. "It's just cup noodles."

I pouted.

This is my fault.

I hate myself.

Bakit ba kasi sa likod pa niya talaga ako pumwesto?!

Hindi ko rin talaga masisisi kung bakit siya nagulat, eh!

"Hey, stop the pout. I already said I am fine." Patuloy siya sa pagtawa nang bahagya, tila bang may nakakatawa talaga sa itsura ko.

"I kind of feel bad." I mumbled. Lately, I am surprise of how vocal with my emotions I became lately. If I was the old Margot, I would've just leave him here alone.

"Alright, para hindi ka na," he gestured his hand as if quoting, "ma-feel bad, sumama ka sa akin."

Before I can even speak, his warm palms landed on my wrist. Feeling his gentle grip, I continue to stare at him with a quizzical look. "Saan naman?"

"Sa bahay."

"What?" I blink, "err?"

"Ipagluto mo ako." He wiggled his eyebrows, "wala na akong pagkain, eh. Do I have to remind you what you did earlier?"

A sudden laugh came out of my mouth. "Right. Let's go."

***

This is my first time entering a guy's house. At kinakabahan ako.

Wait, bakit ba ako kinakabahan?

Napalunok ako ng laway. Thoughts started to flash before my eyes and I tried my hardest to shove it all away from my mind!

Pinindot na niya ang switch ng ilaw. Medyo madilim na kasi. It's prolly six in the afternoon already. Kulimlim na kasi ang paligid.

"Pasok ka." Sambit ni Marco noong natigilan ako sa pagpasok. He might felt my involuntary hesitations. "Come on," he chuckled and I swallowed hard first before I oblige to enter the house.

The house is looking good. It has minimalist designs. Normal lang na bahay. Iyong may TV, sofa, and the usual things na karaniwang makikita sa isang bahay. Obvious talaga na puro lalaki lang ang tumira sa bahay na ito.

Tinuro na ni Marco sa akin ang kusina. At wala na akong hinintay pa, I quickly directed my way towards it. Ang refrigerator ang una kong pinagkabalahan. Naghanap ako doon ng maaring iluto. Pero napakurap na lang ako nang wala akong nakita doon kundi mga lantang gulay lang na sa tingin ko ay ilang linggo nang naka-stuck dito at dalawang dosenang itlog.

Teka nga, bakit puro itlog?

Napakurap ako.

So, anong iluluto ko? Pritong itlog?

Hinayupak! Edi sana, siya na lang ang nagluto.

I'm about to smack his head when he told me, "Margot, ligo lang ako." Kasunod noon ay narinig ko ang mga yabag niya sa hagdanan.

Hindi ko siya pinansin. Nag-isip ako ng maaring iluto gamit ang mga itlog niya-- I mean, itlog sa refrigerator niya.

Sa huli, ang naisipan ko ay ang adobo rice. Mahilig siya sa adobo at siguradong magugustuhan niya ito dahil malakas siyang kumain ng kanin. And also, para hindi na rin masayang iyong kaning lamig niya.

Habang nilalaga ko ang apat na itlog ay nagsimula na akong magtimpla ng adobo sauce sa kawali. Inilagay ko na doon ang sibuyas, bawang, toyo at suka. Hinintay ko muna itong kumulo nang kaunti bago ko nilagay ang malamig na kanin.

Habang hinahalo ko na ang adobo rice ay sakto namang bumaba si Marco. On the corner of my eye, I can see him walk right into my direction.

"Ano 'yan?" Tumayo siya sa tabi ko.

But I widened my eyes when I finally turn my gaze at him. He is only with his boxers! His white towel is hanging on his shoulder blades. Basa pa rin ang kanyang buhok.

Sweet mercy . . .

Hindi ko maiwasang tignan siya mula ulo pababa sa kanyang tiyan. My eyes betrayed me when I steady my gaze at the rock hard surface on his tummy.

What. The. Hell.

Biglang uminit ang mukha ko. For some moment, I swallowed hard because I am afraid I might just drool any freaking time.

Shit.

Shit!

"Pandesal..." I absentmindedly murmur.

Natigilan siya dahil sa sinambit ko. On cue, I heard him laugh nonchalantly as he covers his body using the towel resting on his shoulder blade.

"I didn't know that the Fersiphina Margot Agassi loves abs."

I blink and snap out of my own obnoxious trance. That moment, I know that I have to defend myself.

Itinuro ko ang tiyan niya gamit ang sandok. "Luh? Assuming siya." I stare at him with my forced are you okay? disgusted look. "Hindi ko pagnanasaan 'yang payat mong katawan. Ayoko kaya ng skeleton!" My voice sounds more defensive and indennial on my mind.

Hindi na niya ako sinagot. Ngumisi lang siya sa akin nang nakakaloko. Dahil sa pag-iinit ng mukha ko ay ibinaling ko na lang ang tingin ko sa niluluto. Hinalo ko ito nang hinalo.

I purse my lips before I speak once again. "Magbihis ka na nga. Maluluto na 'to." Patuloy lang ako sa paghalo sa niluluto kahit na hindi na naman kailangan.

Mabuti na lang at sinunod niya ako. Lumayo na siya sa akin habang tumatawa. Kasunod noon ang tunog ng mga yabag niya sa hagdan.

Bumuga ako ng malalim na hininga at pinaypayan ang sarili. What the f**k did I just do? Did I just drool over his . . . body? What?! I mentally slap myself.

Nang maluto na ang nilagang itlog ay ginayat ko na ang mga ito at saka ito ibinudbod sa adobo rice. Muli ko pa itong hinalo nang ilang beses bago ito ilagay sa malaking plato. Sakto namang bumaba na uli si Marco habang nilalagay ko ang malaking plato sa mesa.

"Kumain ka na." I am mentally glaring at him. But my heart softened when he smiled while lipbiting. Genuinely.

"Thank you." Nakangiti siya nang malawak bago magsimulang kumain.

I continue to watch him as he eat like a child. Ngiting ngiti siya na para bang ito ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na nakakain uli siya ng lutong bahay.

I discreetly smile.

Right on that moment, sigurado akong gagawin ko ang lahat para hindi mawala ang ngiti mong 'yan, Marco.

I promise that your smile will live on for more than ten years from now. Because I want to see that playful smile of yours for a lifetime.

Until forever.