The Same Romance

VII

Strawberry

Good morning! 

Paggising ko ay iyon ang mensaheng unang bumungad pag bukas ko ng aking telepono.

I wonder if she's seriously hitting on me.

Nang mabasa iyon ay agad kong ibnialik ang aking telepono sa mesa at umikot sa kama ko habang binabalot ang sarili sa kumot.

At this moment, I'd rather starve myself and just lay comfortably on my bed the whole day. 

My bed is the warmest home I have.

Ilang minuto kong sinubukang makabalik sa tulog. Pilit na sinisiksik ang aking katawan sa init at malamabto na tela ng aking kumot.

I sighed deeply as I suck the scent from my comforter sheet.

Strawberry.

Just how I want it to be.

But I can sleep no more. 

I'll tell you what is frustrating. It is not getting back to sleep again when you woke up so early.

Ilang beses akong hindi nag tagumpay sa gusto kong mangyari.

I roll on to my bed in my frustration.

Hanggang sa napatingala ako sa ceiling.

Did I even sleep for 8 hours? Never mind.

I grabbed my phone on top of the table.

Good morning 

I replied.

Wait, I think I should've thought it twice if I am going to respond.

Mamaya isipin niya gusto ko ng good morning messages.

After sending the reply. I stood up from my bed and decided to start my day.

Well I already did it. Not even accidentally. Maybe I am just bored that's why I responded.

I turned on the smart tv as I lay on my couch.

Nakabaliktad akong nakahiga sa couch habang nanonood sa telebisyon.

The couch is pretty soft but not softer than my bed. 

But I think I could also sleep like this here.

I love to take a nap while listening to the noise of my tv before falling asleep.

Suddenly, I felt so tired of sleeping.

I dare close my eyes as I lie there.

Ngunit ang pangitain kahapon ay binagabag ang pag pikit kong komporatable.

Naalala ko naman na dinudugo ako ngayon kung kaya agad akong tumayo sa pagkakahiga galing sa aking couch, at nag madali patungong banyo upang maligo.

Oh, I hate days like this.

I might as well do something today to get distracted.

I am certain I took an hour inside the bathroom. And I am convincing myself that it was fine because I feel so gross coming from my bed, with this what smells like a fish from down there.

That's what I did and I feel fresh. I feel like, I need to be productive this day just because I feel good.

Hopefully, it'll last.

Well not hopefully because I really need to get something done today, I should be damn productive.

My phone received a text while I am in the bathroom because when I opened it there's a message from an unknown number again. The same unknown number. 

How are you doing?

Great.

Lunch?

Is she asking me for a lunch date or she's asking me if I already ate lunch?

Well, either of these questions it's both a no.

But I decided not to respond yet and do my basic chores instead.

And why is she asking 'lunch?' it's not even lunchtime yet?

Oh maybe because it's her lunchtime at work?

I decided to respond to her text.

Too early to eat lunch.

Just the right thing to send her as a reply.

After sending it to her I decided to start my chores this time.

I boomed the speakers on and dance my way to do some chores in the house.

I can feel that this will be such a good day.

Masamang pangitain pala na isiping magandang araw 'to. Mamaya madisappoint ako if things don't run out as I expected.

I feel that this day is gonna be worse.

Oh baka hindi dapat ako papakasigurado dahil maaga-aga pa lang at wala pa ako sa kalahati ng araw.

I enjoyed cleaning at this point because it's one of the things I need to do today. I think I should deep clean often for a lower risk of germs.

Let's pretend I am not gross.

Well I am not going to pretend because I am not gross in any way.

Habang gumagawa ako ng pag lilinis sa bahay ay naisip ko rin na gumawa ng kape bilang pamatid uhaw.

Coldwater? Nah I want a hot coffee.

Good coffee for a good day.

What's your favorite coffee?

and food:)

At bakit ka pala adik sa kape?

As I finished doing my chores. Three messages popped on my screen from minutes ago. 

What the hell?

Should I tell her?

Absolutely now. She is a stranger, she is still a stranger to me.

Wala pang 24 hours humaharot nag tatanong na agad ng favorites. 

I was expecting na alam niya ang paborito kong kame dahil doon naman ako sa coffee shop nila bumibili. And also she should've done her research first.

Tapos eto siya ngayon, pa-speed and easy.

Kung ano ang kinaimpress ko sa kanya noong una, saka naman ako nadismaya ngayon..

"As for now, you will remain unknown in my contact list" I spat.

Hindi ko agad nireplyan iyon at kinuha muna ang aking kape sa kusina. I decided to watch on the tv first before getting to her text.

It makes me wonder how does she know that I am not straight?

Is she that pretty confident of her gay radar?

She looks tougher on the outside.

Maya maya ay tumunog ang telepono ko sa table. 

:(

Ang needy naman. Kapal ng mukha.

"Subukan mo lang talaga mag reklamo na mabagal ako mag reply" I said while facioing the phone.

Binaba ko ang aking phone at nag patuloy sa panonood ng telebisyon.

Maya maya ay mayroong kumato sa aking pintuan. Which I am sure na si Tyler ang iluluwa noon sa pagkakataon na mabukasan iyon.

"Come in" wika ko mula sa aking inuupuan.

The door is delicately being opened. And an unfamiliar face came inside.

Nagulat naman ako sadelivery guy na dirediretsong pumasok upang hagilapin ang atensyon ko. Kaya agad ko naman siyang dinaluhan sa b****a ng pintuan.

"Delivery po" he smiled.

Nakita ko naman ang dalawang plastic bag na hawak  niya sa mag kabilang kamay. Kinuha ko na iyon agad sa kanya at tinanong kung magkano ang babayaran ko. it must be from Tyler because I didn't order this.

"Bayad na po" wika ng nagdeliver sa pagkain.

"Ah" pag tango ko sa kanya kahit hindi ko alam kung kanino galing ito.

"Sige po salamat ingat kayo" sabi ko na lamang sa kanya upang umalis na siy.

Hindi na ako masyadong nagulat sa  nag padala dahil alam kong kay Tyler iyon. At baka nasa naisip niya na i-take out na lamang ang pagkain na 'to.

Baka gusto niyang sabayan ko siya.

Mag tatanghali na ah?

It's either he's on work, or in his girlfriend's house, or just strolling outside.

As the delivery guy left, I decided to contact Tyler.

"Sa'n ka galing tol?" bungad ko sa kanya nang sagutin niya ang telepono.

"Ha? Nasa bahay lang ako baliw" I heard his voice becoming louder. Like he's approaching me.

Maya maya ay walang katok-katok na pumasok si Tyler sa loob ng apartment ko.

He is still holding his phone at his left ear and he dropped the call as soon as he saw me inside my home.

"May pa-grab ka ah?"

"'Di kaman lang nag aya" dagdag niya pa.

Eh hindi na nga ako sigurado kung kanino galing 'to eh.

He approached my kitchen counter where I put the bags of delivered food.

"Wag mo muna kainin yan!" sigaw ko sa kanya galing sa tapat niya lamang.

He poked the inside of his ears as if my voice made him deaf for a moment.

"Ano ba ang lapit lapit mo lang sa'kin oh" he complained.

"Edi sorry"

"Akala ko sayo galing yang pagkain kaya tinanong kita kung nasaan ka" I said.

Para siyang hindi nakikinig sa akin at  nag papatuloy pa rin na halughugin ang laman na pagkain doon

"Stop that Tyler!" I exclaimed.

"We don't even know from who it was" I added.

He looked at me seriously for a moment. Like he was assessing if I am joking or just frantic.

"I swear to god I didn't order anything online today" I spat.

Nakapamaywang naman siyang nakatingin sa akin na para bang naghihintay na mag paliwanag ako.

"Any secret suitors?" Tyler added.

And then I remembered my phone. Nang tiningnan ko iyon. There is a message as I have expected. I didn't notice the notification ring for minutes passed since I was busy watching and talking.

Have you received it yet?

Are you mad?

Please don't get mad:(

I just want you to eat well:)

The deliveries are my treat:)

Messages had popped out on my screen.

It came from the same unknown number I am exchanging messages with.

So galing nga yata sa kanya 'to.

I still need to make sure.

Wala bang gayuma to o lason? Thank you btw

"You're kidding me" Tyler said just behind my back as he sneaks reading the text messages we had exchanged.

"You need tot ell me who's that guy"

"O-or a girl" he added.

Umirap lamang ako sa kanya at tinungo na ang kitchen counter.

I sat in the chair and continue watching tv instead.

"I am not hungry"

"The food is all yours" I said to Tyler.

Tyler didn't hesitate to take and instead acted grateful for having such a good lunch.

There are a bucket of chicken there and a couple of burgers and drinks.

This gal wanted me to eat well yet buying me fast food.

She's joking, right?

Sana inadvise niya na lamang sa akin na mag yoga tuwing umaga o paalalahanan ako na wag kalimutan mag work out.

I let Tyler devour my food.

"May note dito Yumi" Tyler called my attention.

It didn't bug me quite but I asked him to read it for me. 

"Ano sabi?" I asked. I am too lazy to read it myself.

"Alam kong makapal ang mukha ko" Tyler laughed as he said the phrase.

Even though there's nothing funny about it. It is just the truth.

Again, it has not yet 24 hours that had passed for her to act like we have known each other already. 

From that short span of texts? Masama pa nga loob ko replyan siya tapos ang kapal nang mukha niya. I smell pride and a gal that has a fling reputation.

Well that's sad cause I don't have the plan to settle for less.

I'd rather be a ninang ng anak ni tyler at Saya sa mga susunod na taon. O kahit imaging matandang dalaga wag lang maperwisyo peace of mind ko.

"We never had a proper introduction even on our text"

"But I doubt you really knew me tapos smiley face dash strawberry" he finished reading the note aloud.

That was short and quite an intense note.

Nagulat naman ako sa nickname na ibinigay niya.

I may not know her personally. But why strawberry? Is she a stalker?

"Is that for real?" I asked shocked.

"Obviously" 

"Sino ba kumuha ng number mo? or baka may nag bigay na kaibigan natin" Tyler is confused.

Well, I didn't explain to him what happened to me the last time I went to the coffee shop. As a matter of fact, I see this as a result of his request. Those damn orders became a major interference of my day that day.

But I didn't get the time to let it out to Tyler because when I got home he is not home yet. And when he came home I am already asleep. 

I just left a text message to him that day that I put his request to his fridge since I got a spare key from his apartment. Well, I got the master key of the units actually.

But still, 'Strawberry' is an odd pseudonym. 

"Bakit kaya strawberry?" I unconsciously asked the air. 

"Uhh maybe they know your favorite refresher?" Tyler said.

That is impossible.

Or maybe yeah? But I don't remember ordering one in the coffee shop. 

Or maybe I just forgot that I did? At least once?

I shook it off since sooner or later I am pretty sure she won't last long.

Whatever, I am not interested anyway.