Scarper with Fremde

Chapter 5

Chapter V

An emotion I haven't felt yet rose from the bottom of somewhere. The air running around the area felt wintry making the hair on my body awakened. My heart skipped a loud beat, even I was afraid Vinx would hear it even though he was far away from me.

He still cooking, and I didn't move from the sofa. I focused myself watching TV but my mind was somewhere. It's only been a few minutes since he said that and there was no sound after that except for the TV and his cooking.

My eyes went above the TV, there was a clock and it was only three-fourths of an hour since the school hour ended.

"Ianna," Vinx's voice turned my head to his place. "What do you prefer, going out or just inside?"

Bakit niya tinatanong? I shrugged my thoughts and let him know what I wanted.

"Inside."

"Can you... uh, tell me what you like or hobbies?" He looks hesitant but he still asks. He didn't looked at me just his cooking.

Sumandal ako sa sofa at hinayaang ma-relax ang katawan doon. Ang mga mata ay nasa puting kisame. He has a little chandelier but it wasn't on.

"I like coffee or any strawberry or apple. I prefer sweet than bitter, though not that sweet. I read books, manga, comics, novels, and about academics." I hummed, thinking about what I do whenever I'm bored. "Other than listening to Avril Lavigne's songs, I do listen to the soft melodic music. I like science more than math. And I like dogs." Then I looked at him while my head still lying on the backrest.

"Do you have friends?"

I hummed and looked back at the ceiling. "I do have acquaintances."

"How about Cassiara?"

"She's my best friend." I glance at him. "How about you?"

"Me? Uh," he cleared his throat as he moved to do something to his cooks. "I like fruit salad. That's my favorite food. Other than fruit juices, I like coffee. I'm not fond of going out. I prefer sleeping than to study. I don't like vegetables but I'm okay with potatoes. And I like guitars."

Umayos ako ng upo at nilingon ang likod niya. Nakaharap siya sa stove habang may hinahalo. "What's your course?"

Lumingon siya saglit bago tinikman ang niluluto. "Business Ad. Marketing management."

"Oh," Ate Grethel is also a Business Ad., but she's majoring in financial management.

"Come, it's done!"

Tumayo ako at pumunta sa lamesa habang naghahanda siya. He cooked tofu adobo and pork stew. There are also fried potatoes that are cut lengthwise with a ketchup beside.

"Sit there," nginuso niya ang upuan na nasa harap ko habang nilalapag niya ang dalawang plato.

Umupo ako do'n at pinanood siyang kumuha ng dalawang pitsel, at Tupperware sa ref. After that, he opened the cabinet above the sink and took two glasses there. Then, kumuha siya ng kutsara at tinidor sa unahang drawer.

"Let's eat!" There's a smile on his face as he say down.

Siya ang naglagay ng kanin sa plato ko bago niya nilagyan ang kan'ya. Nilapit niya sa harap ko ang mga ulam na niluto niya. There is a shyness in me but I didn't let that win. He cooked this for me. And I appreciate that. Bukod kay Mommy, luto niya ang unang matitikman ko na kilala ko kung sino ang nagluto.

I already expected that he's a good cook but I didn't know how good he is.

"What is it?" Ang mga mata niya ay nanginginig. He's hoping.

I nodded as I put down my spoon. "It's good!" I smile and give him a thumbs-up.

He laughs making me laugh too. Our dinner was in silence but it wasn't awkward, unlike our past silent time—though it was only on the Caffey incident. Magana din siya kumain at malakas magkanin. He likes soup that his plate is flooding.

I chuckled at his act. He's cute.

"What?"

Umiling ako at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Every time my water decreased, he would refill like as if it were natural to him. Malinis ang plato niya kahit na nag-u-umapaw ang sabaw.

Nilapit niya ang Tupperware na salad ang laman pati ang fried potatoes sa'kin nang matapos ako kumain. I smiled and muttered my thanks as I put a little amount of salad on my plate. Maging ang salad niya, napaka raming sabaw.

"Are you the only one living here?" I asked. There was no trace of other people here. And the ambiance was like made for a man.

He's also eating a fruit salad. He glances at me as he takes a bite of the fried potatoes. "Yup!" Sumandal siya sa upuan at bahagyang humarap sa'kin kasama ang upuan. "Mom and Dad were currently out of the country. Iniikot nila ang buong Europe, kung hindi ako nagkakamali. Dito lang ako natutulog kapag wala sila. Mom wanted me to sleep in our house whenever they were in there."

"Aren't you lonely?" I continue asking as I dipped the potato in the ketchup.

He shrugged and spooned a salad. "Nope. I sometimes with the band or in their house. And if not, I'm sleeping here."

Silence embraces us again. But this time, he's not avoiding my eyes anymore. My shyness faded and I could now relax even though he was near.

"What do you want to do?" He suddenly asked. He smiles. "We still have two hours to kill."

I shrugged my shoulder. "Movie?" 'Yan ang usually nangyayari kapag walang magawa, hindi ba?

"Okay!" He stood up to collect our used plates. Tumayo rin ako at tumulong pero hinawakan niya ang braso ko. "Wait for me on the sofa. Ako na dito."

"But..."

"Come on, Ianna, you're the guest here."

I sighed in defeated and went there. Hinayaan ko na siyang kumilos doon. I squeezed myself in the corner or the sofa. Ang mga paa ko ay nakadiretso doon sa kabilang upuan sa sofa habang ang likod ko ay nakasandal.

"Do you want a blanket?" He asked. I looked at him, he's holding the doorknob of the door just beside the sofa.

"Yes, please?" I chuckled when he entered the room even without replying to me.

"Here,"

Kinuha ko ang kumot at kinumot mula sa paa ko hanggang bewang. "Thank you!"

Nilapit niya ang maliit na lamesa sa corner ng sofa, nasa gilid ko lang mismo. Pagkatapos ay bumalik siya sa kusina para kunin ang pitsel na may apple juice at dalawang baso, nilapag niya do'n at bumalik ulit siya para kunin naman ang natirang fried potatoes. Then, lumapit siya sa TV at binusan ang kabinet na pinapatungan ng TV.

It was full of various snacks.

Lumingon siya sa'kin. "Anong gusto mo?"

Nilibot ko ang mata ko sa bawat chitchirya na naroon. "Can I have some Vcut?"

Kumuha siya ng malaking Vcut at cookies bago nilapag sa lamesa. Then, he bring the remote with him. Pumunta siya sa pinto para patayin ang mga ilaw. Naiwan lang ang ilaw na malapit sa pintuan. It wasn't really illuminates our place but since the TV is on, the screen is the only light the living area.

"It is okay?" I nodded.

Kumuha siya ng tatlong unan sa mula sa pinasukan niya kaninang pinto at 'saka siya tuluyang umupo sa tabi ko. May unan siyang binigay sa'kin na nilagay ko sa hita ko, ang isa naman ay nilagay niya sa gitna namin, habang ang isa ay nasa kan'ya.

"Choose what to watch," he said as he navigates the screen from remote.

There's a lot in the homepage of Netflix. But I remember what Cassiara said.

"Hotel Transylvania?" I looked at him and saw him nodded.

Umayos ako ng upo at kinuha ang Vcut 'saka 'to binuksan. I took a sip to the juice that is on the glass and eat the snack. I sometimes eat the potato but I mostly eat Vcut.

This is the first time I do this. It's odd feeling but ecstatic. Sa sobrang focus at relax ko, hindi ko namalayang napasandal na 'ko at napapikit.

"Baby..." hearing a gentle voice together with light touch on my shoulder woke my soul but my eyes refused to open. "Ianna..."

I turned my body on the side and sleep again. But then, I felt like I was floating, my mind finally woke up. A familiar scent lingered my nose as I felt something hard. I forced my eyes to opened, only to see in Vinx' arms. A soft mattress touches my back making my eyes closed again to feel it.

"Shh... continue sleeping. I'll wake you up later." Then, a soft and warm pressed in my forehead before I heard a door closed.

The scent of him got stronger even he's not present here. It wasn't a strong aroma, rather the fragrance seems so whole. I slowly lifted my upper body but stopped when a jacket fell off from my chest. It was a black cotton fuma.

Hinawakan ko 'yon at tuluyang sinuot. Maybe this is the reason why his scent is this strong. A thump from my chest make my organs danced.

My eyes roamed around the room. There was a big bookshelf full of books and some figurine in beside of the bed. A canvas on top of the black bed frame that is a shadow of a guitar and a car underneath. Sa paanan ng kama ay ang lamesa, nakadikit doon sa pader. Sa tabi niyon ay may gitarang nasa stand. My eyes squinted at the guitar, it was an electric guitar.

Other than that, there are no more things inside his room. Unti unti akong tumayo, at dahil wala na 'ko sa kama, nakita ko na may kabinet na maliit sa mismong paanan ng kama.

His bed is blue and gray, I can't figure since the only light that is on is in the table. I walked and slowly opened the door after I turned off the lamp. But hearing those voices stop me on my track.

"Oh," Vinx eyes went in me, particular to the jacket I am wearing. He's leaning on the counter as his phone is in the counter. "Sorry, did they wake you?"

I shrugged my head and didn't talk. Baka marinig ng kausap niya. Those voices seems like the band. Nagtatawagan sila ng mga pangalan so I guess sila nga.

"Hoy, Riva! Nagsasawa na kami sa puti mong kisame, baka gusto mo namang ipakita 'yang pader mo?"

"Bobo! Parehas namang puti ang kisame at pader n'yan! Anong pinagkaiba no'n?"

"Tigilan mo 'ko, Nirde, baka 'di kita matansya at i-chat ko si Ja!"

"Lul! Baka replyan ka no'n!"

"Sabagay, ikaw nga hindi nirereplyan, 'e!"

Different voices of laughers echoed. Even though it was not full volume, it was still noisy.

Nakita 'kong ngumiwi si Vinx na kinatawa ko. "What?" I asked when I saw him staring at me.

"You look more beautiful when laughing."

A heat from my chest went down to my stomach. Something's swimming through my intestine like it was fluttering. Umiwas ako ng tingin at napunta 'yon sa orasan. It's already passed seven-thirty.

"Hoy, Riva! Nakakadiri ka! Tumawa lang kami, sinabihan mo na kaming maganda! Sorry ka! 'Di kita type, no!" A voice from his phone said while laughing.

"Wait!" A familiar voice made me looked back at Vinx.

He's looking at his phone that still on the counter even he's near in that.

"Nand'yan siya, Kez?"

Vinx glances at me before holding his phone. "Yes, she'll be home now. I'll forward the sample later. Bye." Then he pressed something and the voices faded.

"Are you ready now? You need to go home before eight." He announced. His eyes were moving but not looking at me.

The lights from the kitchen is on, making him shines through this darkness. And because the lights were hitting him, I could easily see the reddening of his ears. His clothes were now different. A black longsleeve and gray jogging pants.

I chuckled as nodding. He blushes, huh?

Kinuha niya ang bag ko sa pinatungan niya kanina habang ang coat ko naman ay nakasampay sa braso niya. While looking at the mirror attached to the back of his door, I adjusted the cap I was wearing earlier. The hair that was in front of my ears, I tucked it back and put some hair on my shoulder.

Nilapag niya sa harapan ko ang sapatos na kinuha niya. He even helped me put it since I can't kneel or bend down. I am still wearing my skirt.

Siya ang nagbukas ng pinto ng sasakyan at pinauna akong pumasok. My intestine were moving everytime he's behind or do something new to me. He put my bag on the back seat and starts the car.

Akala ko didiretso na kami sa subdivision kaya namuo ang taka sa isip ko nang lumiko siya sa drive thru ng Coffey.

He looked at me as he rolled down the window. "What do you want?"

A confusion I'm sure showing on my face right now but I didn't it voice out and just said anything. He really does what I didn't expect.

"Why?" I asked him after the car stops at the second stop of the drive thru. He hummed and looked at me. "Why did we stopped here?"

"What?" The light from the Coffey is the only thing illumine the inside of the car. "So you can have something to drink while were in the road?"

"Pero malapit na naman, ah?" I couldn't understand.

"Ianna, I want to buy you something to drink before you go home. Anong problema?" The gentleness of his voice didn't helped.

I didn't say anything anymore and stayed silent. I want to ask more but if I did, I felt like he wouldn't answer what I need to hear.

I did my calming exercise by doing the inhaling in my nose and exhaling through my mouth. I did that many times in silent until his order came out.

"Ianna..." his voice went low after he thanked the crew. "Look at me, please?"

I sighed and finally looked at his place. "What?" I may be calm but I'm still frustrated.

He hummed. "What's the problem?" He slowly held my elbow. His fingers were cold but when his palm touched my skin, it felt eccentric. It was warm. "Tell me what's the problem of me buying the drinks to you, love?"