The Man Who Cried

Chapter 10 | Part 2

We immediately went home and separated ways towards our own room. I was the one who brought the products until he entered his room. Tomorrow is his first day and like me, he must be nervous to do his job at the first time. Also, just because I have this secret feeling toward him, I will be easy on him already. Kahit na ayaw ko sa dad ko and sa kompaniya niya, I am still doing my job for my pride. I won’t let the other team defeat my team. And getting easy towards Simon might be the cause of slowly losing.

My phone rang. The phone number calling was registered in my phone as that someone who I was just talking about a minute ago. “Dad,” I muttered as I answered the phone. “If you are asking me if I am doing my job, I am, dad. Ask the team leader and he’ll give you an answer. I’m committed to my job kaya nagsisipag ako sa trabaho ko.”

“I am not asking you if you’re doing good on your job,” aniya. ‘Yon kasi ang palagi niyang tinatanong sa ‘kin kapag tumatawag siya kaya nasanay na ako. Kung hindi tungkol sa trabaho, ano namang itatanong niya sa ‘kin. “I am asking you when will you come home again? I’m feeling lonely and alone here in our house. Walang katao-tao. Ikaw at ako na lang nga ang tao dito, umalis ka pa.”

Is he really the dad I am used to talking with? “What?” tanong ko. He usually asks about everything about me and our family. He gives no damn about all those things but work, career and the company. Anong nakain niya at tinatanong niya ako nang ganito? “When am I going to go home?” tanong ko. Hindi siya sumagot. “I’ll take my day-off to come home. For now, habang nagtatrabaho ako, dito muna ako sa condo ko, dad. Living away from you might lower the risk of those employees gossiping that I got accepted in the company because of my connection and not because of my skills.”

“Hmm,” he muttered. He sounded sincerer and sadder this time. Is he sad that I was away from him? No, that is impossible. The great Alexus Sonata, the coldest person I know in the world, my father who does not give any damn… misses me? That’s a big no. He would never. “I will wait for your day-off then. I believe you are doing good on your job so I won’t ask about that. I love you, son.”

I ended the call. “What’s wrong with him?” tanong ko sa sarili ko. I sometimes ask myself if he really is the cold one or am I becoming colder than him? It’s just that, weird talaga isipin na nalulungkot siya na wala ako sa bahay. He never gives a f**k, anyway. I already am used to see him not caring. “Hmm…”

After preparing myself, I walked out of my room and placed myself on the living room, opened the television and started watching some series. A little later, my phone rang again and saw a message on our barkada group chat. They were asking to hang out at Saturday. I can’t because I have a work so I told them I am not available. I just left them unseen after that and focused on the series that I am watching.

The other room’s door opened and I turned my gaze to him who walked out of the room. He went to the sofa and sat there, leaving a half meter between us two. “Anong oras na, hindi ka pa rin kumakain?” Tumingin siya sa mesa at tinignan ako. “Anong oras ka ba kumakain ng hapunan? Ako na magluluto.”

“Are you hungry?” tanong ko sa kaniya. He never answered it but he cannot deny it on his face. “Don’t worry and don’t bother. I already ordered some foods kasi wala pang supply sa refrigerator. Next time when I finished buying groceries, I would let you cook. I would want to taste the foods you cook, as well.”

The night has been passing quickly that it is already ten o’clock in the evening. I am stuck in the comfort room while the water is pouring above me. My mind kept on thinking the naked Simon it saw kaninang umaga. I do not know why but it really turns me on. My mind really cannot stop thinking about these things.

Nagparaos ako sa loob ng banyo bago lumabas sa banyo. What greeted me was Simon who was standing aback of me. He may have noticed that I already am going outside so he faced aback and smiled at me. Napaiwas ako ng tingin at ngumiti na lang. How can I look at that someone’s face after m**********g on that someone’s naked body? I am really weird. Why am I born like this?

After that incident, we immediately slept, preparing for the work tomorrow. When I opened my eyes from sleeping, my nose immediately smelled something nice for a breakfast. I opened my room’s door and saw Simon preparing the dining table for with sunny side up eggs, hotdogs and fried rice on it. “You cooked this?” He nodded. “You do not have to do this. Pa’no kapag nasanay ako na palaging may ganito?”

“Kahit masanay ka pa, willing naman akong ipagluto ka araw-araw.” I immediately avoided gaze after my heart skipped a beat. Iba na talaga ang tama ko. “Bilang bayad na rin sa pagpapatira sa ‘kin dito. May magawa man lang ako sa mga naibigay mo sa ‘kin.”

I smiled. “I will make some grocery after work later. Para mas marami ang ingredient na p’wede mong gamitin.” I was still awkward when I told him that but I saw him smiled. And him seeing smile is already making me happy as well. “Let’s eat.”

Pagkatapos naming kumain, I volunteered to do the dishes and let him take a bath first before me. Sakto naman na pagkatapos kong maghugas ay lumabas na siya. He was already wearing the pants but is not wearing anything on top. I, then, entered the CR to take a bath. I took only fifteen minutes to clean my whole body and face before leaving the comfort room with only shorts on my body.

What I saw after leaving the room was Simon standing in front of me. He was doing something but he’s facing aback so I could not really see him but he was furious so I moved my body in front of him and checked what’s wrong. Hindi niya kayang gawin ang necktie niya, kaya pala kanina pa naiinis.

Without his awareness, I grabbed the tip of his necktie and started doing it for him. “Salamat, Ali,” aniya. He does not need to say thanks, though. I would honestly want to do this for him, every day. “Kanina ko pa sinusubukang gawin ‘to, nag-search na rin ako kung paano gawin pero hindi ko pa rin magawa. Nakakainis nga, e.”

I finished the necktie with the last way of doing it. “There, ayos na,” ani ko bago nilagay ang kamay ko sa ulo niya at tinapik ito nang marahan, dalawang beses. I do not even know how my hands did that but it surely has its own life to do this. “If you cannot do something, ask for my help. I would want to do it for you.”

I smiled at him before leaving him alone at the living room. After closing the door of my room, I leaned back on the door itself. Both my hands and mouth are doing something out of my willingness. “You’ll reveal your secret if you don’t fix yourself, Ali.”

Inalis ko na lang ‘yon sa isipan ko at nagsimulang magbihis. After fixing my hair a little bit, I wore my shoes and shined it a little before going out. Simon was just sitting on the sofa; his legs are shaking but his face is smiling. I can tell that he’s nervous. I grabbed my bag and that made him stand up, carry his bag as well. I smiled at him. “Ready ka na bas a first day mo, Simon?” I asked him. He slightly nodded. “Let’s go.”