Takip Silip

xv. Pumapanglabing-lima

"Gusto mo bang maglakad-lakad sa labas?" yaya ni Elli pagkatapos niyang kumain ng almusal. Another morning with her. This time, Elli cooked for her. Para mabawi ang pagluto niya kahapon.

"P'wede ba?" she asked tilting her head, nagpapacute, kahit alam naman niyang p'wede. She don't know. It's much more comforting than a simple yes.

"Of couse, we can. After you eat." and it seems working to Elli. Elli pat her head like a kid. They are getting comfortable to each other every single day. Aurora is become at ease with her. Kahit naman simula una pero mas nagiging kampante siya sa tabi ni Elli plus how she treats her. So much care, "Kamusta ang tulog mo kagabi?" like this.

Sometimes, it's weird for her. Sino ba naman kasing magtatanong kung kamusta ang tulog mo kung magkasama naman kayo? Ramdam niyang tinatanong siya nito para maramdaman niya ang pakialam ito sa nararamdam niya. To comfort. To assure. And she's not used to it but coping with it. Sometimes she get confused—most of the time.

"Ayos naman. Ikaw ba?" she asked back. Pakiramdam niya kasi sasabog siya kapag hindi niya ibinalik ito. Parang magsstuck ito sa dibdib niya kaya kailangan niya ilabas.

Elli smiled, "Ako din. Sobrang comfy ko kagabi. Malamig rin." she answered. Aurora nodded.

"Good for you," with a smile. Elli's smile gets wider.

"Thank you for making me feel comfy."

"I did?" Elli nodded like a kid. Uh, she did? Wala naman siyang ginawa kundi matulog lang.

"Yes. Minsan naaalipungatan ka and kiss my forehead." nagulat siya sa sinabi ni Elli. Trying to remember kung nagigising ba talaga but she couldn't kahit isa.

"I do?" she exclaimed, "wala akong maalala. Sinungaling ka." Bakit niya gagawin 'yun, in the first place?

Sumimangot si Elli, "Bakit ako magsisinungaling?"

"Ewan ko sa'yo. Gawa-gawa ka kwento." Miss Writer. Why would she even do that? That's too much.

"Bakit ako gagawa ng kwento? Hello, ikaw ang humalik sa ulo."

"Di 'yan totoo." nakanganga si Elli sa harap ni Aurora. Gulat sa akusa sa kanya. Mukha naman totoo ang sinasabi ni Elli—or hindi siya sigurado. Baka nga talaga nagsisinungaling siya kasi bakit naman niya gagawin 'yun? Isama pa na tulog siya at talagang sa lahat ng bagay ayun ang gagawin niya?

"Bahala ka d'yan. Edi wag ka maniwala." Tumingan si Elli sa malayo, nagtatampo. Ngumiwi si Aurora. She doesn't know what to do. She just brushed her head. She couldn't really remember doing that. Posible ba 'yun? At least she didn't do something bad habang natutulog di ba? In case kung totoo nga.

"Okay. Sige na. Totoo na." Suko ni Aurora. Umiling si Elli.

"Hindi na. Sige na. Gawa-gawa na ako k'wento." That action left Aurora's mouth hanging. She staring at her waiting her to take back her action. Baka nagbibiro? But she's just looking straight to her eyes, emotionless. Ngumiwi siya, "Ba't gusto ka bang gawin?" deriving her attention. Elli rolled her eyes knowing na iniiba niya ang topic. She looked back to Aurora's plate. She's done eating.

"Akala ko ba maglalakad-lakad tayo?"

"Ngayon na ba?" she asked.

"Ngayon na ba?" Elli asked it back pero mas mabagal at may diin ang bawat salita, "you forgot it?"

"Akala ko mamaya pa. Ngayon na ba?" lalong sumimangot si Elli that made Aurora stop, "Tara?" aniya na masayang tuno. Elli nodded and stand up to ger herself ready. Aurora thinned her lips while watching her being frustrated. Ang bilis uminit ang ulo.

Elli takes off her clothes in front of Aurora to wear another shirt. She couldn't help but gaze.

"Can't we just stay here?" she suggested, "kahit saglit?" she continued. Elli scoffed for an answer.

Okay, edi hindi. Madali lang naman siya kausap.

She's been staring at her habang naglalakad sila. Diretso lang ang tingin nito sa kalsada. Mula kanina nakasimangot ito. Sa maliit na bagay ay naiirita. Maiinit ang ulo. Elli on her bad day. Aurora gets somehow frustrated. What is wrong? What can she do? Bakit nga ba ito nagagalit?

She expected it to be fun pero mukhang uminit ang ulo ng isa dahil kanina. She's too scared to approach.

Ano p'wede niyang gawin? She want this silence and rage to stop. Parang kaunting tapik ay sasabog na ang kasama.

Hindi naman niya alam kung anong problema? Is she having her period that's why she's acting like this? She's stressing out! but she's stressing out?  It's not even worth it.

Aurora closed her eyes because of frustration. She doesn't like this air between them. She likes it at ease and it should be at ease. Hindi ba't ayun ang point why they are together, why she's there? And now. She's overthinking.

Hindi ito ang pinasok niya.

But what can she do? At least she can do something... even for a little? Uh, flowers? Uh. Again, why are you stressing out, Aurora? It's not your responsibility.

You're not in a relationship with her or anything. Why is she even acting like this?

Aurora is overthinking things and overwhelmed. Maybe, she's not used to this atmosphere. So, they walked around. Having the awkward air between them. The sense of Elli's waiting for her and Aurora's confusion and hesitation.

Of course, nothing will win and no one is going to make the first move. They went home gaining nothing. It makes Elli's rage because she didn't meet her expected actions and Aurora can feel it but her pride is bigger than her.

Elli popped, "Wala ka man lang ginawa?" ramdam ang inis at pagtataka sa boses nito. Aurora played dedma.

"Saan?" Again, it's not her responsibility. She doesn't know what's wrong? Why is she even mad? Why is she acting like this? As far as she knows, wala naman siyang nagawang mali. Di ba?

She reactions made Elli awed, with rage. Nakakanganga ito at hindi makapaniwalang nakatingin kay Aurora.

What the f**k is wrong with her?

"I was mad," Elli was blushing to admit that, "and you know that."

"Yeah. I don't know why you're mad."

"Because you're irritating!" Elli yelled that made Aurora confused.

"What do you mean I'm irritating?" It's getting to Aurora's too. She's so confused. Why is she getting these reactions from her? Elli rolled her eyes.

"Nevermind," pagkatapos ay binalibag nito ang sarili sa kama. Binalot ang sarili ng kumot. Aurora is standing beside the bed. Staring at her back. She still don't get it. But maybe, a little patience.

After a minute, she tried to calm herself down. Sit beside Elli. She's caressing her arms sa kumot, "What's wrong?" she asked, softly. Expecting that Elli would be soft too and talk. Maybe it's a bad day.

"I was mad."

"Why are you mad? What do you need?" trying to conceal herself.

"Dapat nilambing mo ko." she hardly whispered. Aurora is staring again with confusion. It's a battle between her. Bakit niya gagawin 'yun and bakit hindi niya na lang gawin? "Aren't we here for art purposes? You're giving me nothing."

Her head aches. It just everything aches again. She's going blind by her emotions.

She hugged Elli. Kissed her forehead. Feeling her own heartbeat. Sumiksik si Elli sa dibdib niya that made her heart more... she doesn't know.

"Uuwi na tayo mamaya." Elli whispered. She's trying to understand, oh. Gusto niya ba sulitin? Kaya gano'n? Di ba? She couldn't hear a thing.

She hugged Elli tightly. How heaven came to her hand so fast and lost it at the same time.

Home sweet home, s***h the sweet and the home. She's never home. She's still staying at Elli's unit. Nagpapahinga ang kasama sa pagod sa byahe. And as always when she's left alone, she's staring at the ceiling. Figuring things out.

She finally grabbed her phone and turn it on. A lot of messages from her brother, Kuya Jay, her best friend, and Elisa? Kay Elisa lang ang binuksan niya.

'heeeey, wanna come over?'

And a minute, Aurora is escaping through the door. Closing it while Elli is sleeping so peaceful and soundly like an angel.