Living Together

A knock interrupted my sleep. I pick up my phone on the table beside my bed and sit up after knowing that it is just fifteen past eleven.

"Audrey?"

I rush towards my bedroom door and find Matthew wearing apologetic eyes, "Hey…"

"About the things I said earlier, I'm sorry. You know, my staying here. If you don't like, I'll be leaving tomorrow…"

"No! I mean it is okay. Uhm, It's fine that you are staying here," I have a quick bite on my lower lip at iniwasan na tumingin sa kanya.

"I think I must be crazy. We just met and..?"

"Yes, but if you do not mind, can I ask what is your reason?" naglakas ng loob ako na tumingin sa mga mata niya and he's surprised that I interrupted him.

"I'll tell you can we talk?"

"No! I mean let us talk outside," my playful mind just imagined that he is asking to talk inside my room.

"Yeah sure…" I think hindi siya nakatulog kahit saglit.

Naisip ko na sa kusina mag-uusap. Kumuha ako ng tubig na maiinom at inoffer kay Matthew ang isang glass bago umupo sa isa sa opposite chairs sa mini dining table ko. Parang awkward ng moment na in the middle of the night kami mag-uusap. Pero okay na din kasi dapat ma-clear ang misunderstanding bago mag-umaga.

Siguradong nakatitig siya sa akin. Pero hindi ako makatingin. I hear him gulped and I decided to drink some water too.

"My family migrated in Canada so I went my college there…"

Ahh that's explains.

"… but I didn't graduate…"

Bakas ang pagsisisi sa mga boses ni Matthew. Naisip ko siguro mas mabuti nang huwag na akong magsalita at hahayaan ko siyang mag-kuwento. He told me na nagtrabaho siya sa Canada ng kung ano-ano para maka-ipon. Tapos just recently mag-isa siyang umuwi sa Pilipinas.

"And to cut that long story short, I worked as a call center agent here, a technical support."

"Well, that's good to hear… ahh ang ibig kong sabihin, what about your parents. They must be worried about you."

"I'm not sure. I just want to stand on my own. My parents arrange- I mean they want to decide my future. I already decided to live on my own, without their approval… and without their consent."

"Mat…"

"Sorry na olit," he tries to speak tagalog and smiles.

"Parents know best, just saying. Hindi ko alam 'yong full story. But, believe me…" pinigilan kong tumawa sa huling sinabi niyang "olit".

"Audrey, sure ka na ba? You are going to let me stay here?" nagulat ako nang inilapit niya ang mukha niya sa akin.

"Yup, just told you diba?" dali-dali akong tumayo at iniligpit ang mga baso. Ramdam ko talaga ang pag-nit ng mukha ko. I don't know if it was just my imagination but I felt his breathe reached my cheeks.

"Matotolog ka already?" he asks me as I turn going to the sink.

Hindi ko na talaga mapigilan ang pagtawa. I laughed out loud like someone punches a corny joke out of the blue. "Oo… may trabaho pa ako bukas. Hindi naman puwede na magdamag tayo mag-uusap diba?"

"Sure Audrey, Good Night. Salamat!"

"No worries…sleep na ako ha?" pag-ulit ko sa kanya. Sa totoo lang sobrang natutunaw na kasi akong humarap sa kanya. Baka talaga na makakahalata na siya. Nakakahiya talaga na malaman niya na hanggang ngayon, pangarap ko parin siya. Dahan-dahan akong papunta ng kuwarto dahil ramdam ko na nakasunod ang tingin niya sa akin. Tina-try ko talaga na mahinhin at maganda ang paglalakad ko.

"Mat…" I turn to ask him one more question and I'm not wrong that he is actually staring at me "…by the way, where do you stay?"

"At the hotel…" He grins. Again, his dimples just killing me. "You know, just adjacent to where the convenience store you picked me."

"Ano?? Di nga…"

"Well, you decided. I'm gonna stay here," he went to the sofa and make himself comfortable.

I wake up by the kitchen stuffs' sound and think I overslept. But, instead na mag-worry na mali-late, I draw a small smile in my lips. I check my phone and yes na-miss ko nga ang alarm ko. Sure, I woke up forty-five minutes late but today, I feel great. I made sure that there were no sleep residues left on my face before coming out. Good thing about my apartment is that meron akong sariling comfort room. So, okay lang talaga kahit may guest ako dito.

Nadatnan ko si Matthew sa kitchen na may niluluto. I see he is cooking something. And, I see him open my chocolate powdered drink.

"Hey, Good Morning"

"…morning" I make sure that my reply is not that excited.

"Gosto mo Champorado?" ang aga-aga pero nakuha niya pang mag-joke or is it only me ang nag-iisip na-nagjo-joke siya with his accent. Tiningnan ko ang casserole at luto na ang champorado.

"I think it is my first time to eat this thing after like… I don't know college days pa ako huling nakakain nito."

"Really? Di nga?" tumawa siya and seeing his teeth feels like I see the high school student na Matthew. The only thing na nag-capture sa akin noong high school were his teeth. I'm not sure but those were the times the Bella-Edward fever heated my teenage lilife. Ang mga ngipin kasi niya ay for me parang 'yong pareho ng vampires.

"Oo, my siblings and I were not fan of Champorado," I tell him honestly. Akala ko madidis-appoint siya.

"Well, I'll just think this is your first time. Wala kang magagawa kase walang ka namang food that's left there and take note, 'eating food for the first time after such a long time feels like it's still your first time… like breaking your heart again after breaking it in the past feels like breaking it again for the first time. Cut your wound after it healed then the pain you will feel is always like first time…"

"Wow," nagulat ako sa remarks niya.

"Masarap ba ang amoy?" sabi niya habang tina-transfer yung champorado sa mga cute na bowls.

"ahh? Huo gutom na nga ako eh…"

"Don't you want to take a bath first?"

"ha?"

"You know, mas masarap ang champorado when it's not hot. And, besides, you are going to work so it saves time while waiting."

"Actually, Matthew it is my habit kasi na unang kumain muna bago maligo," nahihiya ako pero 'yon ang totoo. Kahit si Mama palagi akong sinasabihan na dapat mauna akong maligo. Wala lang pero gusto kong meal 'yong mauna.

"I think your funny…" he smirks as he removed the apron and I just notice that he wore the polo and trousers he was searing the other night.

"You're going somewhere?" I set aside his remark of me being funny at tinanong siya instead.

"Yeah, I'm going to work. And by the way, can I ask for a key… and your cellphone number," he whispers his last two words.

"For what?"

"I just want to... you know, Audrey we are living together."

"Maliligo na ako," I stunned by his reasons and turns my back going to my room.

"Hey, Audrey"

"Later," I do not even turn to face him. …"we are living together"… Hearing these words, awkwardness and sparks just penetrated my whole body.