Good To Me

Chapter 4

"Are we really going to the groceries??" kunot noong tanong ni Kuya Dominic nang lumabas ako sa kuwarto ko matapos kong gawin lahat ng mga activities namin to be passed tomorrow. He's sitting at the sofa at napa taayo nang makita ako.

I nodded saka sinabit ang sling bag ko sa balikat after double checking na wala akong naiwan. "Yeah. Let's go?"

"You sure you're not going anywhere after?" Tanong niya.

"Why? Is there a problem ba?" tanong ko sa kaya. Umiling lang sya ang pushed the cart.

He smiled saka pinasadahan ako mula sa ulo hanggang paa ko so I fixed my posture so he won't have any difficulty checking me out. He's free to look and stare at me but if he do it too much baka naman I'd melt.

Kuya Dominic laughed like he can't believe me. "Your outfit's cute. Let's go!"

I automatically became giddy when he complimented my outfit because dapat lang! I thought of this a lot last night. Nagsisi pa ako na I only bought few clothes so I just picked one of white short sleeved dress and then curled my hair and puts on a really light make up.

This is the first time that I will be going somewhere with Kuya Dominic. Rather than being nervous dahil baka ipahiya ko na naman ang sarili ko sa kanya, excited ako to be with him.

It's just gonna do grocery shopping at uuwi rin after, I know, but it's not everyday that I will be stuck with him for hours so I gotta seize the opportunity.

We arrived at the grocery store na hindi naman ka layuan sa condo. Actually, it just took him a few turns at narito na kami. No wonder that he's just wearing a kahaki cargo shorts and plain white shirt and a white sneakers. I looked around and it dawned to me that I am definitely overdressed but who cares, right?

Pag pasok pa lang namin, pinagtitinginan na kami. I don't know if that's because of my dress or because they find Kuya Domic pogi.

"You get one cart Kuya and then one basket sa baba for toiletries and laundry," utos ko.

Madali namang sabihan si Kuya dahil sumunod rin sya kaagad. We pushed the cart and lumiko sa unang aisle kung nasaan ang mga fresh vegetables and fruits and stopped.

"Okay," humarap ako sa kanya. "What are the vegetables that you don't eat?"

"I don't eat vegetables that often but I haven't found anything that I don't like so anything's fine," aniya.

Tumango ako and kumuha nung mga puwede kong i- sahog sa mga meat and seafood.

We pushed naman next to the meat section. "Okay. Any meat or seafood that you're allergic in?"

"Why are you only asking me? How about your brother?" kunot noong tanong nya.

"I've lived with him for twenty years, kuya. I am sure I know enough," confident kong sabi.

Ganito pala dapat if you wanna know a person and their preferences. Take them to the grocery and you'll know what they like and dislike.

"Nothing. But I find seafood a bit of difficult to eat because of the fishy smell. I also prefer beef and chicken too because it has more protein. I need that when I lift weights."

"Okay. We'll just buy different cuts of meat," sabi ko at yumuko to get what I'll be needing.

"You're so good at this, huh. I didn't know that you do this kind of stuffs," aniya.

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa kanya. "Why? Is it because I look like a princess who can't even fry eggs?" sabi ko sa kanya.

Kuya bit his lips and hesitated.

"It's okay. I really look like that. Even my ex boyfriends are shocked when they discover that side of me," sabi ko.

"I am shocked too," pag amin nya.

Hindi ko naman sya ex boyfriend but his shock is valid. Crush ko naman siya so it's fine.

"Minsan, well okay, for the most of the time tamad lang ako but once I set my mind on something, walang makakapigil sa akin to do it."

Umawang ang bibig nya at dahan dahang tumango. "Ah... So whenever your brother's telling you to stay away from boys, hindi mo ginagawa kasi you have set your mind to them?"

Palihim akong umirap at binulungan ng sumpa ang kuya ko who has a big mouth.

Si Kuya Gio naman pati iyon kinukwento rito kay Kuya Dom! Napapahiya ako sa crush ko!

"Give me a break, kuya! I was dumb! Saka sabi nga nila, experience is the best teacher."

Tumawa si Kuya Dominic so I also chuckled.

"Alright. Okay. And what's your goal this time?" tanong nya sa akin.

Ang pagsilbihan ka.

But of course, I didn't say that. He'll probably tease me na crush ko sya kahit totoo naman.

"Healthy living for you and kuya."

Tinulak ni Kuya ang cart papunta sa mga condiments, hanggang sa anything that I think we will be needing everyday. I thought a cart will be enough but he got one more dahil hindi pa kasya yung para sa mga snacks.

"Akala ko ba healhy living? Why are we here at the aisle of junk foods?" he asked me nang pina hinto ko sya.

I looked around looking for a honey butter flavored chips and when I found it, nag lagay kaagad ako sa cart ng tatlo.

"I can't leave this out. This is my favorite."

Ngumisi at umiling lang si Kuya Dom.

Sabi ko nga, ako na ang batas at masusunod sa bahay pero sila pa rin ang mag ba-bayad ng bills.

He continued pushing the cart na puno na while I am the one pushing and filling up the almost empty cart.

"Kuya, wait. Let's get this." Yumuko ako para abutin ang isang jar ng peanut butter. "This is your favorite right?"

Lumingon ako kay Kuya and his eyes are widen and his lios are slightly parted, halatang gulat sa sinabi ko at sinenyasn ko sya to push.

"How do you know that?" His surprised face earlier wore off at napalitan ito ng amusement.

"You always ask Ate Meryl or si Mimi to make you a grilled peanut butter sandwich with banana. You also like to pair it with banana milk," sabi ko.

Umangat ang kilay nya. "I didn't know you pay that much attention to me."

Of course, I do. Kahit nga pag twitch ng labi nya when he's annoyed, when he brushes his hair back using his hand, and just him breathing ay na pa- pansin ko.

And I'd love to watch him all day.

"You ask for that and only that, kuya. You live for it to the point na Mom always makes sure na laging may peanut butter sa bahay. How can I not know?" kunot noo kong sabi sa kanya.

He giggled. "Right. I love that so much but I don't know how to do it like Ate because when I tried, I failed."

I looked at him with so much shame on my face for him. "How can you fail a sandwich, kuya? Oh my gosh! Alright. I'll teach you how to do it next time."

Nanlaki na naman ang magaganda niyang mata. "Really?"

Tumango ako. "Oo nga. It's just simple."

"I'll expect that, maam."

Tumango ako. "Please do."

Him calling me 'maam' made a tingling sensation to me and I don't know why is that but it just sounds so good to my ears.

"But you know," panimula nya at saglit na lumingon ako sa kanya bago kumuha ng mga toiled papers. "I also realized that I have so many things thay I don't know about you."

Of course.

While I have my eyes set on him, lagi naman siyang nasa malayo ang tingin or he'd just take a small glimpse at me at malayo na ulit but it's fine. Crushing him is just like a happy little secret of mine.

I assuringly smiled. "Don't worry, kuya. We now live under the same roof so you'll see more of my gorgeousness."

Humalagpak na naman sya ng tawa at dahil medyo malakas iyon, napa tingin sa amin 'yung mga nasa aisle din na iyon.

Idinikit ko sa labi ko ang naka taas kong pointing finger at lumingon sa kanya. "Shhh!"

Hindi pa rin sya matigil sa kaka tawa so he bit his lips to stop it.

"Ay? Why are you laughing may mali ba sa sinabi ko?" kunwaring nagtatampo kong sabi but I am not. Gusto ko lang to tease him.

Umiling sya'y abot langit ang ngiti nya.

When I think we're really done getting everything, I checked if may nakaligtaan ba ako pero mukhang wala naman so dumiretso na kami sa cashier.

"Let me pay for this," aniya at dinukot yung wallet nya on his pocket.

I looked at him. "Oh, no na kuya. It's okay. Kuya Gio left his card to me last night," sabi ko habang na-ta-tarantang kinuha ang card on my wallet at inabot sa cashier but she's already swiping a platinum credit card which is his.

He's fast, ah.

I looked at him and he smiled at me.

And after our groceries are bagged at mailagay na ng maayos sa likod ng kotse, unti- unti kong tinanggap that my short time will be with kuya is almost over.

"Oo nga pala, kuya. You have plans tonight 'no? Are you still gonna have dinner before going?" tanong ko.

Itinapat ko ang air con sa akin dahil napagod ako.

He looked at me and apologetically smiled. "Baka hindi na siguro. I have to leave early."

Tumango ako.

It's supposed to be my first time cooking for them nagyong magkakasama na kami sa iisang bubong but they're not even there para sabayan ako sa dinner but I understand.

Ngayon lang 'yo.

"It's fine. Mukhang may dinner kayo ng girlfriend mo," sabi ko.

Kumunot ang noo nya't sandaling sumulyap sa akin. "Girlfriend who? I don't have one."

I feel like there are fireworks inside me that popped when I heard the confirmation to him na wala siyang girlfriend.

Like me, he's also out there meeting nrw friends. And girls.

"Oh... so wala na kayo nung Lanie?" I curiously asked.

Lanie is the girl who was with him nang birthday party ni Kuya last month sa bahay.

"Wala namang kami to begin with," sabi nya.

In this situation, baliktad kami ni Kuya. If I am out in the world with the relationship that I had, sa kanya naman halos wala kaming alam. He's with girls but he always introduces the girl to us as a friend and then after weeks or months, the girl will just be gone with no trails.

He never introduced one to us again after Lanie so I assumed na girlfriend na sya.

I don't know if I will be happy with this information or what eh.

"Ah... Akala ko lang naman. Kung uuwi ka and you feel like you're hungry, you can just re- heat the food amd eat.

"Thank you. A friend asked me to visit his bar so I'll go," paliwanag nya.

Tumango ako.

Pag dating namin sa unit, he carried almost all of the stuffs hanghang sa maka akyat kami at nakita ko na naman ang pag labas ng ugat nya sa kamay. Hindi lang iyon, pati and biceps nya oh gosh!

"You can just put it there at ako na ang bahala to arrange it so I would know where I placed them," sabi ko.

"I'll just change my clothes and I'll help so I also know where to look for things."

Sabagay, tama rin naman sya.

Kung susumahin, I had almost four hours with Kuya and I enjoyed every bit of it.

Parang nawala lahat ng stress ko at bumalik rin pag uwi namin.

Pumasok rin ako sa kwarto ko para magpalit at lumabas rin agad. pagkatapos. "Let's do it?"

Tumango ako. "Yup!"

Dahil rito, tatagal na naman ang oras na ka bonding ko si kuya and I am not gonna complain because it brings me joy.