Chapter 15
2010 Words
15
(page 7 of 126)
My classes for the day had just been over and it was 2:00 in the afternoon when my mother called. It’s good that she remembers my daily schedule.
“Luke, is this you?”
“Of course, ma. You’re the one who called.” If only she could see me slowly shake my head for disapproval.
“Just making sure. What if your phone was stolen?”
“Well it’s not.”
“Are you going home this weekend?”
I paused for a brief moment. I forgot that I have promised her. “Yeah, ma. I’ll go home.”
“Good, I’m gonna prepare a great dinner for you, is that alright?”
“Yes. Thank you, ma.”
I ended the call. I hadn’t realized that it was already Friday. And also, I hadn’t realized that I was already at our apartment. That’s weird.
I began to pack my things, mostly my dirty clothes. Eureka, was using my laptop all curled up on my bed. Its fine that she uses my stuff but now, I wonder, what does she do when we’re not around. Does she dance around here? Maybe talk to herself? Sing Lady Gaga songs? Wait, does she even know Lady Gaga?
“Hey,” I said breaking the silence.
“Hey.” she said not looking at me.
“I’m going home for the weekend.”
“Oh...”
I was almost sure that she’ll say “Can I come?” but it just ended with an ‘oh’.
“Got any plans?” I asked.
“Nah.”
I stopped transferring my things from my school bag to my bigger go-home bag and squinted at her. “Is everything alright?”
She looked up at me now and tilted her head just a little bit. “Why?”
“Cause, you’re answering me on a single word basis.”
“Really?”
“See!”I sat on my bed and raised an eyebrow at her. “Tell me, is there something wrong?”
She closed the laptop and sighed. “I’m just so bored. It feels like I’m missing something out there, yet, I don’t know...”
“Oh, Eureka,”
“You guys have classes and I feel so pathetic here in the house, doing nothing”
I bit my lower lip for I don’t know what to say. Do you want to come with me? I wanted to tell her but that would be absurd.
“How about a job?”
“A job, huh? Yeah.” her voice sounded windy and empty.
I heard the door flew open so I checked it out in an instant. It was Matt.
“Hi! Are you heading out?” Matt asked me.
“Yeah, I’m going home.”
“Oh, too bad.”
“Why?”
I saw another guy entered the room. It was the dark knight. It was Eric. “Movie marathon, bros!” he cheered. He was wearing a black tee and a pair of brown shorts. Not a very appealing combination to someone who has a dark skin tone. Not that I’m a fashion freak, hell no. I’m just saying.
“Oh, that’s why.” I rolled my eyes. “Eureka, come look what fascinating creature Matt brought home!” Eureka shortly appeared behind me.
“Is she the one you’re talking about Matt?”
“Yes. Eureka he’s Eric. Eric, Eureka.” Matt introduced. Eureka held out her hand and Eric reached out to shake. And they did.
“Hey, I told you wear a shirt whenever you go here and now you’re barely clothed? That’s pretty unwholesome. ” I said grinning at him. Even Matt and Eureka sneered.
“Ha ha,” Eric rolled his eyes “even though I’m dark, it doesn’t mean wearing dark clothes would make me naked, you nerd!”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Yes, I’m pretty sure about that. Maybe something is wrong with your ray-ban frames.” Eric then turned his face to Eureka and raised his thick eyebrow. “A female housemate, huh? Wouldn’t that be weird?”
“No, it would be weird if the three of you guys would be housemates.” Eureka pointed at the three of us. She easily adapted to Eric, like she knew him from before.
“Yes, that would be very weird that is why we are not.”I assured. “Eureka, they’ll be having a movie marathon. Would that be alright to you?”
“Yeah, of course. I love movies.”
“Would you be okay now?”
She pouted and nodded at me, like a little girl she was.
***
My trip to Pasay took longer than usual. A normal ride would just take me two hours to get home but because of the heavy traffic, it took half an hour more. I’m just glad the bus was fully air-conditioned and it has these very comfortable chairs that made me relax and fall asleep.
When I arrived home, my mother welcomed me and took my heavy bag from me.
“How’s the trip?”
“It was fine. Caught in a slight heavy traffic.” I said exasperated.
“So?” she was really expecting something out of me. I thought ‘Hey ma, you know what? My girlfriend and I broke up and there’s this girl that came out from my favourite book who is currently living with me. Yeah just the usual, nothing extraordinary!’
“So, what?” I asked rejecting my first thought.
“Are you fine now?”
“I’m fine now, ma. Thanks for the concern.” I smiled at her and she patted my head dishevelling my hair.
“I made your favourite meal.” she excitedly claimed. She motioned me to sit on the dining table so I did. “Do you want to eat now? Or later?”
“It’s just 4:40, ma. I’ll have it later.” Sometimes she doesn’t have the idea of when to eat or not. That’s what worries me most. What if she forgot that at 7-8 pm she should have eaten dinner?
“I just thought you were hungry.”
“I’m not hungry. Not yet. How are you doing?”
“Hmmm, fine. Our store is just fine.” She was referring to our mini-convenience store. The store that makes me alive in college- it was been there since I was little and now it is a moderately earning store thanks to my mother’s entrepreneurial skills.
“No, I meant you. How are you?”
“Luke, something’s wrong isn’t it?”
I sighed. Sometimes a mother’s instinct is helpful and amazing but not always.
“I was dumped by my girlfriend.” I softly mumbled.
“Oh my God! You had a girlfriend?!” I instantly remembered Eureka’s expression when she learned that as well. They sort of had the same reaction: eyes widening, eyebrows meeting at a single point, in short horrified looks.
“Ma, stop saying it like that. It makes me feel more pathetic.”
“You’re right, son. I’m sorry. I should just have said: ‘Oh,’”
“Ma, please.”
“I’m sorry but how can I not be surprised? This is the first time you said you had a girlfriend and I haven’t even met her.”
“I was going to introduce her to you...”
“When?”
“I haven’t thought of a perfect day yet...” Lie. I had already thought of the day.
“Every day is a perfect day, Luke” her voice was mild and soothing.
“Well, it’s now over. You probably won’t get to see her.”
“I’m sorry, Luke, I didn’t know.” She touched my face and looks at me with her endearing eyes. I wonder if I had her eyes, her stares that could melt.
“I’m sorry too, ma for hiding it to you.”
“I probably should have just said ‘Oh,’” she repeated.
“Yeah, at least that would make feel manly or something,” I grinned at her. “Now, I’m hungry.”
***
My afternoon snack/pre-dinner was, as expected, delicious and satisfactory. My mom cooked our family recipe called PGH. It was named after a hospital; Philippine General Hospital, since the one who invented/improved it, which was my great grandmother, was confined in there and fed by a single meal that taste like beef steak but different. She learned the recipe just by tasting it for multiple times and improved it and thus she called it PGH.
Since I have nothing else to do, I turned on my old computer in my room. I left my laptop for two reasons:
It’s too darn heavy.
So Eureka could use it.
I logged in on my f*******: account and surprisingly I had a single friend request. It was Eureka Cortez and her profile picture was still the default one. I accepted her and in a flash of a second, she chatted me.
Eureka: Hey!
Me: Hey, wow! You learned how to use f*******: huh?
Eureka: Yeah, Matt taught me. He was so surprised when he learned that I didn’t have an account.
Eureka: It’s just so weird that I couldn’t search for my old friends. I guess they don’t have any f*******: account yet.
I bit my lip. I guess her ‘friends’ doesn’t really exist. How would she feel about it when she learns the truth?
Luke: How was the movie marathon?
Eureka: We’re still watching. But we have just finished Wreck-it-Ralph
Luke: Was it good?
Eureka: It was touching!
Luke: Oh yeah? How did Ralph touch you?
She didn’t reply as fast. That’s when I realized how silly my question was.
Eureka: What?
Luke: I’m sorry that’s not what I meant.
Luke: I mean, ugh, even in chat you make me think different.
Eureka: Really?
Luke: Yes really. You make me feel nervous.
Eureka: Oh.
Eureka: Then that’s your Eureka effect.
Luke: Eureka effect?
Eureka: You know it. ;)
Luke: Oh you could use an emoticon too?
Eureka: Of course I could! [Insert various girly emoticons here]
Luke: Ha! [Insert inappropriate emoticons here]
Eureka: This is fun!
Luke: Yeah?
Eureka: You’re fun.
My face feels a little numb for smiling so wide.
Luke: Well, we’re both fun.
Eureka: When would you go home?
Luke: I just got here, silly.
Eureka: You’re gonna miss me, then.
Luke: Why’s that? [Insert totally intrigued and interested emoticons here]
Eureka: I’ll apply on a job tomorrow.
Luke: Oh, good luck then.
Eureka: Thanks!
I was going to type “I’ll go home soon, then.” but she went offline before I could even click enter. Am I actually flirting with her? It’s funny how a few distances could change how you think of a person. Yes, 28 minutes ago we were just chatting yet I still couldn’t get her out of my mind, and I couldn’t deny it to myself anymore, I already miss her.
- Writer
