What It Means To Be Free

Chapter 15

"Anyare sayo? You look like you've seen a ghost." Sabi ni Aeya nang makabalik siya bago uminom ng tubig.

I was about to defend myself when her phone rang. Kinuha niya ito at sinagot ang tawag. She took a few seconds before she finished the call.

"Bakit? May gagawin ka? Let's go. Uwi na tayo." I uttered and stood up.

She gave me a weird look but didn't bother to ask what's wrong and started to fix her things. Nilakad namin ang parking space na pinagiwanan namin ng sasakyan niya at umalis na roon.

Aeya told me na may kailangan pa raw siyang tapusin sa trabaho at ibababa na lang niya na lang daw ako sa tapat ng condo building ko na sinangayunan ko naman.

Although nasa college pa lang kami, Aeya found herself a side hustle. Meron na siyang sariling business kaya may mga araw na hindi ko siya maaya lumabas katulad na lang sa mga pagkakataon na busy ako at siya naman ang nagaya.

Once we reached the building she immediately waved goodbye and drove away leaving me at the entrance of my condominium building.

Umiling ako at umakyat na papunta sa unit ko. I opened the door and quickly went towards my walk in closet to get some clothes and took a quick shower.

Tinuloy ko ang pagbabasa ko ng mga articles and watched documentaries for further research and information just to be prepared for surprise recitations.

It took me 5 hours before I ended reading and watching when I felt my stomach grumbling in hunger. Bumuntong hininga ako at pinatay ang TV at sinara ang librong binabasa ko.

I left my coffee table including the book and papers that I was reading and fled to get my wallet and car keys in my room and changed my shorts into jeans. Lumabas ako ng unit ko at bumaba. I went out and looked for other restaurants that I haven't tried yet.

After 4 years from moving out of our house I haven't learned how to cook. Sinubukan ko namang lutuan ang sarili ko pero mukhang kahit kailan ay hindi na kami magkakasundo pa ng kusina. And now I couldn't have the time to learn how to cook since I should be really focusing on my studies lalo na't graduating na kami this year.

When I couldn't find other restaurants I haven't tried, I settled with the nearest fast food restaurant since it would take a lot of time if I look for other restaurants far from my area. I parked my car in their parking space and walked inside.

I was greeted with the delicious smell of their fried chicken. Maingay ang mga tunog mula sa pagtama ng mga kutsara at tinidor sa paligid. The restaurant is almost packed pero dinadagsa pa rin ang restaurant na ito kahit na madilim na.

Pumila ako sa may kahabaang pila para umorder. Almost 30 minutes had past and yet the line seemed to move in a very slow pace. Ramdam ko ang pananakit ng tyan ko dahil sa gutom pero pinili ko pa ring magantay dahil dalawa na lang ang nasa harapan ko at susunod na ako.

"Miss, isang McFloat nga po—" Rinig kong sabi ng babaeng mukhang nalito na sa bibilhin niya.

"Ma'am, Jollibee po ito pero meron po kaming Jollibee coke float, Ma'am." The worker said patiently despite the fact that the girl seemed to haven't decided what to order yet.

My stomach started to grumble at talagang nanghihina na ako. I haven't eaten anything since this morning, I only had a coffee after Aeya sent me back to my place and went back straight to reading those articles that I forgot to eat both breakfast and lunch.

After a few more minutes of waiting it was already my turn to state my order. They gave me my receipt, my change and my tray containing my order.

Ngayon ay problema ko namang maghanap mauupuan dahil halos punuan na talaga rito. Sinuyod ko ang buong restaurant at nakitang may isang lalaki na nakatalikod at nakaupo sa pangapatan na lamesa at magisa.

I sighed and approached his table. Lumunok ako at huminga ng malalim bago siya hinarap.

I stiffened when I saw his face. Napatigil din siya sa pagambang pagsubo sa pagkain niya nang makita akong nakatingin sa kaniya. He wiped his mouth using his handkerchief and sat properly.

"Uhm....can I take this sit? Wala na kasing ibang mauupuan." I said then looked around and back at him.

Wala siyang sinabi pero nilahad naman niya ang upuan sa harap niya at hinintay akong makaupo at makaayos.

Tinuloy niya ang pagkain niya nang sinimulan ko ng kumain. I ordered a lot since I haven't eaten anything yet.

I ordered a 1 piece of chicken with burger steak, 1 order of spaghetti and fries. Pansin ko ang madalas na pagsulyap ni Brixz sa akin at sa pagkain ko.

"What?" I asked when I couldn't take his glances anymore.

"Hindi ka pa ba kumakain mula kanina?" He asked.

"Nope. I was so busy with my readings that I forgot to eat. At bakit? Nagmumukha na ba akong matakaw?" I asked harshly when I remembered something that caused a pang of pain in my chest.

Mukhang nagulat siya sa biglang pagtataray ko dahil hindi agad siya nakapagsalita at nakatingin lang ng diretso sa mga mata ko. I felt guilty and looked away.

"Sorry." I said. "I-ikaw? Bakit dito ka kumakain?" Pambawi ko sa naging asal ko kanina sa kaniya.

"Magaling ka namang magluto diba?" Dagdag ko pa nang maalala ko ang niluto niya dati para sa performance task namin sa TLE dati. I also remembered that he once said that he dreamt of becoming a chef one day.

He drank from his glass of water and wiped his mouth before he answered. "Tinamad na kasi akong magluto. Hindi ko namang inaasahan na dahil sa katamaran ko makikita pa kita."

"You should be thankful then. Nablessan pa ang mga mata mo." I proudly said kahit na medyo kinakabahan ako sa pinagsasasabi ko.

"Hindi rin." Mabilis ang paglipat ng tingin ko mula sa mga tao sa paligid papunta kay Brixz.

"Nasumpa pa nga ata." Really? Really, Brixz?!

Dahil sa inis ay hindi ko na napigilan pa ang sarili ko at malakas na tinapakan ang paa niya sa ilalim ng lamesa. He hissed in pain and bit his lower lip hiding a smile as he looked at me straight in the eye.

"By the way, yung jacket mo pala...." I trailed off. "May pupuntahan ka pa ba? Or gagawin? Gusto mo daanan mo sa'kin." I said and he agreed.

Sabay kaming lumabas ng restaurant nang matapos kaming kumain. Brixz brought his car with him so we agreed to do a convoy. Ako ang nangunguna habang ang sasakyan naman niya ay nakasunod sa akin sa likod.

Medyo malapit na kami sa condo building ko nang maalala kong wala na palang laman ang refrigerator ko doon sa unit.

I instantly turned my car towards the nearest mall and went in their parking lot to park my car. Pinatay ko ang makina ng kotse at tinanggal ang susi. I stepped out of my car and closed the door before I locked it.

"s**t!" I exclaimed when someone held my right arm.

"So, ano? Gano'n mo na lang ba ako kabilis kalimutan, Rubyane?" Brixz asked. Oo nga pala! Yung jacket!

Binitawan niya ako at tumayo ng maayos. I glanced at his car that was already parked beside mine.

"Sorry. May bibilhin pa kasi ako. Ngayon ko lang naalala. Makakapaghantay ka pa ba? May pupuntahan ka ba?" I asked.

Tumingin siya sa relo niya kaya naman naisip ko na baka may naghihintay sa kaniya o baka may kailangan pa siyang gawin.

"If you want, you can just leave. Mukha kasing may naghihintay sayo?" I carefully asked.

"Hindi. Okay lang." He said.

"Sure? Wala ka bang girlfriend na naghihintay sayo?" I asked. Feeling ko kasi may magagalit kung may makakita man sa amin na kakilala namin.

"Wala. Hindi ko pa nga nililigawan." He uttered as we started to walk towards the mall's entrance as we walked side by side together.

"Slow mo naman." I commented.

"Hindi naman kasi gano'n kadali 'yon. Well, let's just say na….duwag ako." I stopped to look at him who was already looking at me so seriously.

Nang mapansing nakatingin ako sa kaniya ay ngumiti lang siya kaya naman umiwas ako ng tingin nang makaramdam ng kakaibang pakiramdam na sa kaniya ko lang nararamdaman noon.

"Tayo na?" Imbita niya dahil napansin niyang tumigil ako sa paglalakad kaya tumigil din siya at pinantayan ako.

"Tara." I said and led the way to the supermarket.

Nang makapasok kami ay kumuha ako ng push cart dahil mukhang mapaparami ang bibilhin ko.

I stopped when Brixz grabbed the push cart handle beside my hand. "Ako na." Sabi niya kaya naman binitawan ko ang hawakan at nagsimulang maghanap ng bibilihin.

He pushed the cart, following me as I picked foods to fill in my fridge. Kumuha ako ng mga ready to eat na mga pagkain tulad ng tinapay at oatmeals nang mapadpad kami sa mga tsokolate.

I straight away went for the pack of wiggles and added more packs of chips when we went on the aisles intended for the chips. Nilagay ko ang mga pinagkukuha ko sa cart na tulak tulak ni Brixz. As I put the chips in the cart, I even saw Brixz' eyes follow the packages as I placed them in the cart.

"What?" Tanong ko.

"Hindi ka pa rin ba marunong magluto?" He interrogated while leaning his elbow on the cart handle as he looked at me and the cart containing the chips and chocolates I picked.

"No. Bakit?"

"Halika." He said and then pushed the cart away from the aisle and led me towards the fruits section.

"Fruits are a good source of vitamins and minerals." He said as he picked an apple and put it in my cart.

"So?" I sternly asked. Ano ngayon?

"My point is, hindi maganda para sayo ang mga chichirya, Rubyane." Sabi niya bago itinulak ang cart papunta sa mga orange at saging.

"I eat what I want, Brixz."

Hindi siya nakinig sa akin at kuha parin ng kuha ng mga prutas. After the fruits, he went for the leafy vegetables and meat. Nakasimangot naman akong nakatingin sa kaniya habang sinusundan siya at tinitingnan ang mga nilalagay niya sa cart ko.

"Pakielamero." I commented as we walked towards the cashier to settle the payment.

Mabilis na inabot ko sa kahera ang card ko nang makita kong iaabot sana ni Brixz ang kaniya.

I can pay for my own groceries! Goodness ka Brixz!

I rolled my eyes at him when our eyes met and looked away. Narinig ko naman ang mahinang pagtawa niya na muling ikinatingin ko sa kaniya na nakakunot ang noo at nagtataka.

"Namiss ko 'yon ah. Isa pa nga." He said as he smiled at me. I don't know why but it made me blush so I looked away to hide my already red cheeks from him.

"Ewan ko sa'yo." Ani ko bago pinuntahan ang box na puno ng mga pinamili ko para sana buhatin nang maunahan ako ni Brixz.

Hinayaan ko na lang siyang buhatin iyon dahil alam ko namang hindi ko rin kayang buhatin iyon. We stepped out of the supermarket and walked towards the exit when we walked pass a bakery shop.

Naalala ko tuloy yung red velvet cupcake na nakita ko sa sss kagabi.

"Brixz, teka." I grabbed his wrist and pulled him towards the store.

Pero mukhang ayaw magpahila ni Brixz dahil hindi man lang kami umuusad kahit anong hila pa ang gawin ko o kung gaano kalakas ang paghila ko sa kaniya ay walang nangyayari.

"Brixz naman eh." I frustratingly said and stomped my feet and wriggled while pouting.

"Mukha kang uod na inasinan." Tatama na sana ang kamay ko sa braso ni Brixz nang maiwasan niya ito.

"Tara na kasi!" I frustratingly said as I glared at him.

Sa huli ay wala rin siyang nagawa kung hindi sumunod sa akin nang iwan ko siya roon malapit sa glass doors ng exit para pumasok sa loob ng pastry store. He waited patiently while carrying the box which contained my groceries as I picked my order.

Nang makapagbayad na ay sabay na kaming lumabas habang hawak hawak ko ang box ng anim na red velvet cupcake na inorder ko.

I clicked on my key fob once we reached the parking space where we parked our cars. Brixz instantly opened my car trunk and placed my groceries inside. He didn't close the car trunk when I sat beside my groceries right away.

"Saglit. Wait ka lang, Brixz. Seat." I motioned him to sit beside me before I brought my attention to the box of cupcakes I ordered.

"Ginawa mo naman akong aso." Nayayamot niyang sabi bago sumandal sa gilid ng kotse ko.

I didn't mind him and opened the box lying on my lap. Kumuha ako ng isa sa mga red velvet cupcakes na may vanilla frosting with red sprinkles. I took a bite and lightly clapped my hands as I held the cupcake between my thumb and index finger when I tasted the chocolate feeling inside.

"Masarap?"

Binalingan ko si Brixz at dinilaan ang gilid ng labi ko nang maramdaman ko na may icing pang natira. I noticed how his eyes followed my tongue when I licked the side of my lips.

Napailing siya at may kinuha sa bulsa. Kumuha ako ng isa pang cupcake para sana ibigay sa kaniya. I turned to him and was about to give him the cupcake when he held my chin which startled me and wiped the side of my lips.

"There." Sabi niya bago binulsa ang pamunas at bumalik sa pagkakasandal sa kabilang dulo ng trunk at humalukipkip habang nakatingin sa akin na nakatulala sa kaniya.