Chapter 9

"So... this is where you're staying?" I mumbled, looking around the premises.

It took us just about thirty minutes heading into his place. He lives just around Ratchadaphisek Road.

"It's cheap and small, right?" he winced.

Umiling ako. "No, I think this is cool since you've got a shelter for yourself and I think you're doing well here. It seems like... you've been taking care off of your room so nice and neat."

"Yeah, thanks. That's the only thing I could do, maintain the proper cleanliness."

"I see..." I mumbled, nodding my head. "So, alam mo na ang gagawin, alright?"

He creased his forehead, wondering what I was talking about. "Man khux xari?" (What is it?)

"Magpapahinga ka lang all day and I'll do my best to look after you!" Ang lapad pa ng ngiti ko sa kanya and I hope he won't take this on a bad note.

Napakamot siya sa ulo niya. "Cring?"

"Anong cring?" tanong ko.

He chuckled, realizing I couldn't understand what he was saying. "That means really. I'm sorry, I tried my best not to talk my language to you, but I'm multilingual so I do understand, I'm just not in my best suit right now."

"Kaya nga nandito ako, e," pagpapaalala ko pa sa kanya. "What do you have in your ref ba?"

"Uh..." he mumbled, but I already got my way to check what's inside his mini-fridge. I was expecting that when I open the fridge it would be filled with stocks, but then there's only a water jug and a few local candies and chocolates. "That's what I was gonna say..." Napangiwi na lang din naman ito.

"But I can still make it work, watch me."

"Oh, okay... what are you gonna do?" he asked.

I smiled and didn't even say a word. Tumungo ako sa kitchen ng room niya. It wasn't big, may sink at enough space countertop lang to suffice everything. I mean, this was really enough for him. I told him to just sit and wait for the magic I can do. Nakahanap naman ako ng powder soup sa hilira ng stocks niya. May naisip naman akong luto kung anong gagawin ko for that.

I kept myself busy while I let Heikenz rest on his bed for the meantime habang naghihintay siya sa niluluto ko. There is no chicken, pork, or any meat in his fridge. Wala rin siyang stock na gulay though may nakita akong ilang piraso ng cup noodles sa cabinet, but that's not nutritious at all. Wala siyang makukuhang sustansya ro'n.

After fifteen minutes, I've finished cooking and when I checked on Heikenz, he was resting on his bed, fell asleep waiting for my mushroom soup. Tinakpan ko na lang muna ang kawali saka iinitin na lang siguro mamaya kapag nagising na siya. He really needed some sleep to get his strength back.

Umupo ako sa edge ng kama. I look at him and then I just realized that I'm completely in a stranger's house and here I am, trying to comfort him. Ano nga ba 'tong ideya na pumasok sa isip ko? Bakit kailangan ko siyang bantayan? He's not my responsibility naman and surely, hindi naman niya ako sugar daddy... but then I felt like, I needed to be there for him kahit kakikilala lang naming dalawa.

"Oh!" his body jerked, waking himself shocked.

"Did I wake you up... or a bad dream already?" I questioned.

He breathes out and shook his head, tired of saying a word. At naiintindihan ko naman 'yon. May kinuha ako sa bag ko at inabot ko sa kanya 'yong gamot na dala ko. Lagi akong may dalang Biogesic sa wallet ko, for an emergency lang and I think that suits to this day for him to be better.

"Bago mo inumin 'yan, luto na 'yong mushroom soup... higop ka muna habang mainit-init pa then inom ka na ng gamot right after, okay?"

He slowly nodded at my request. Dali-dali akong pumanik sa kusina at kumuha ng bowl saka sinalinan ko ng mushroom soup. I grab a spoon and then scurried my way back to his place. Inabot ko sa kanya ang bowl and then he started sip slowly. Nakangiti lang ako habang pinapanood ko siya. Though he eats slowly pero ayos na iyon at nakahihigop siya ng sabaw.

Just a few sips, give up na si Heikenz.

"I'm sorry... I couldn't finish it... I'm still feeling..."

"No, that's okay," aniko, hinawakan ko ang kamay niya so he knows that I'm not taking it personally. "Inumin mo muna 'yong gamot bago ka magpahinga para paggising mo, you would feel a little bit better kahit papaano, alright?"

He gave me a nod then followed what I said. Pagkatapos niyang inumin 'yon ay nagpadausdos siya sa kama at binalot ang sarili ng kumot kahit na medyo mainit. I just watched him and found myself sitting on the couch keeping in touch with Caro's tour today.

Caro was having a lot of fun today. Base sa mga voice message na sine-send niya sa akin, kahit hindi niya raw maintindihan mga sinasabi ni Bon-Mee sa kanya, push na push lang daw siya since it's her chance to tour around. Iniinggit naman niya ako, but since I am with someone na gusto ko rin makasama today.

Traveling doesn't always mean checking out historical places or experience some kind of wonders.

***

"Andrew..." pagtawag nito sa akin habang inaalog ako para magising.

Para bang alarm clock na gumising ang katawan ko nang pagkamulat ng mata ko ay nakabungad na sa harapan ko si Heikenz. Literal na nag-vibrate ang katawan ko sa pagyugyog niya sa akin.

"Okay ka na?" tanong ko nang umayos ako sa pagkauupo.

Tumango-tango naman ito. "I'm a little okay... but you shouldn't be here, you are supposed to be enjoying your stay here in Bangkok, not in this cheap, small room."

"Ketchup, I don't have a problem with it at sa tingin ko kami pa ang mako-konsensya ni Caro if we let you tour us na masama ang pakiramdam mo. At least, you're feeling a lot better na naman ano?"

"Yes, thanks for your help. I didn't expect someone will look after me the way you do."

Kilig bilat!

Kinimkim ko muna ang nararamdaman kong nag-uumapaw na feels. I tried to act normal and show to him na walang malisya sa akin iyon. I'm just here to help him and nothing more at mukhang iyon naman ang nakikita niya ngayon. Okay lang naman ang ma-friendzone o kaya naman tourist-guide-zone, walang problema... I'm only here for a week... makalilimutan ko rin naman siya.

"So, what do you plan after Bangkok?" he asked, shifting the topic.

"Oh, balik work na rin kami ni Caro, of course. Pero baka dumalaw muna kami sa Vegas dahil iyong frenny naming motherlalu na ay kailangan ng help namin so I guess mga three days or one week din kami ro'n. Hindi pa naman sure, bahala na kung anong mangyari."

"I envy your job," pag-amin nito. Bahagyang kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. Pero napangisi rin ito para baliin ang pagkaseseryoso nito. "Well, honestly, the fact that you've been travelling the world because of your job, that's such a fulfilling dream to have. But I don't regret what I took back then, it kinda builds my reputation as a tourist guide here in Bangkok though."

"Ah... I see... but I think your job is more delicate than us," sagot ko na ikinanoot ng noo niya. "You're telling people who have no idea about the history of your country. You're bringing them into a new world regardless of what's happening. I think you're smart, kind, and a nice person. You make people comfortable around you. Ramdam na ramdam ko rin ang dugong Pinoy sa 'yo."

Heikenz giggled. "That's nice of you... well, that's the first time I've heard someone said those words. I really appreciate it, Andrew. You're a nice person, too. And thank you for taking care of me, you don't actually have to do that."

"But I did." Ngisi ko pa. "And now you're feeling a little better so I guess that's my kind of magic, right?"

"I guess so?" he wondered then laughed.

"Anyway, okay lang sa akin to stay here all day if you don't mind."

His laughed broke when I said that. Para bang gulat na gulat pa siya. "What do you mean?"

I shrugged off. "So... I can still look after you?"

He shook his head furiously. "You don't actually have to do that. I'm gonna be fine," he said, coming at me and putting his hand on my shoulder. Nagkatitigan pa kaming dalawa at ewan ko ba, bigla na lang bumilis ang kabog ng dibdib ko.

Kabang-kaba ang bilat.

"But I wanted to," halos pabulong kong sagot sa kanya and then he nodded, pressing his lips together. "But as you can see, I don't have stock of foods here so I'm afraid I'll make you hungry."

"Pwede namang ikaw."

"Huh?"

Umiling ako. "Wala. Sabi ko we can order naman. Accessible naman ang food delivery rito, right?"

He nodded. "Right."

Lumayo na naman siya sa akin kaya nakahinga na ako ng maluwag. Napansin ko naman na nagkikilos na agad siya kaya sinuway ko siya. He looked at me like he busted himself out. Muli ko siyang pinagpahinga kahit na parang ayaw niya, I tried to order him to get a rest so he can fully recover.

"You don't have to do that," pagpapaalala niya sa akin nang ayusin ko iyong gamit na nakahilira sa sahig. "Please, Andrew..."

"Don't be embarrassed, Ketchup! Ganito rin naman ako kakalat sa condo namin ni Caro so keri lang 'yan."

"Still, you're my guest here. That's not your job."

"Ganito na lang," panimula ko saka ako pumaywang sa harapan niya. "Isipin mo na lang na parang nanay mo ako. Aalagaan kita all day at hindi kita pababayaan. Just don't mind me. Pahinga ka lang diyan."

The creased on his forehead isn't going anywhere. "Have you done this before?"

Gusto ko mang umamin na hindi ko pa nagagawa sa isang lalaki 'to dati, tumango na lang ako para hindi na siya umangal pa. Nang wala na siyang magagawa pa dahil sobrang mapilit din ako. While I was cleaning and fixing some of his stuff, inutusan ko na rin naman siyang um-order na ng food namin since he knows what's best for us this lunch.

Hindi rin katagalan ay dumating na ang food delivery. Heikenz was going to sneak and pay for the delivery pero inunahan ko na siya at ako ang nagbayad.

"I'm so... I think thank you wasn't enough," he said as we started preparing for the food.

"So, we have rice bowls here, fried fish, Natto, and Takana menma, right?"

"Tama," sagot ni Heikenz and it's cute to here na marinig siyang mag-Tagalog, but then his accent is making him sound funny, but it's actually making me giggle.

Punyeta kilig bilat na naman.

"I hope you enjoy all of this," he said.

"Of course, mukhang masasarap, e... parang ikaw. Charot lang!"

He laughed. "What's charot? Is that the chicharot?"

Hindi ko napigilang humalakhak nang sabihin niya iyon nang patanong pa. Sobrang inosente pa nang pagkasasabi niya.

"No, charot means just kidding! Ewan ko kung anong origin ng salitang 'yon. Chicharon naman ang tinutukoy mo. Iba 'yon. Kinakain 'yon. Ikaw papakain ka ba?"

Napangisi na lang si Heikenz sa akin and I tried my hope pero ignored! Girl, hindi ko kinaya! Sabi ko na nga ba, straight 'tong si Heikenz so trying my chance here is out of million chances ay wala akong mapapala. But good thing, alam kong wala akong aasahan so I'm just gonna leave my asang-asang heart here,

"So, how's Caro and Bon-Mee doing now? Have you heard where they are now?"

"No, I haven't got a response from Caro since when we got here. I think she's enjoying Bon-Mee's company as well so ignore na ako buong araw. Anyway, okay lang 'yon. Ikaw ba? Why are you staying here alone? Nasaan ang family?"

"Oh, they're in Krabi. They lived there. It's a province here in Thailand and because of college and my program in the United States before, I have to live in the city. I wasn't able to come back home for a few years now though... don't pity me though, I just don't feel like going home yet."

"I understand, no problem, and thank you for answering it though."

He smiled, only his kind of response. "Thanks for the food... I think I'm gonna have a full stomach today."

"Push! How do you prepare your food ba? I saw some cup noodles there. 'Yon ba ang madalas mong kainin?"

He shook his head. "Not really, but sometimes when I'm too short to buy anything, that's my last resort of food so when I've got a lot of booked tourists, I've got foods to take home."

"I see... but you have a degree and you're so good in English, why don't you teach? Your knowledge in history could be put into young's mind and a new generation."

"I tried teaching when I graduated, but it was only for six months and then I stopped. I feel like something's wrong with me and then I have to look it elsewhere. I'm still looking for it though, but being a tourist guide brought me to my position now. Wasn't a stable job, but enough to support myself."

"Nice to know that... hindi naman sa pang-aano, why don't you try na mag-flight attendant? You're pretty handsome, you've got the height, and the way you treated people is one of your big assets. You can be a flight attendant. You should apply."

"I have no background in it..." Napakamot pa ito sa kanya ulo.

"Oh, that's okay. Sa Pinas, okay lang kahit anong course ka graduate. Kahit nga highschool graduate ka lang ay pwede na. Just to meet some requirements like 'yong height and such. May training din naman so even if you have no idea, you can still learn. Kung bet mo, I can teach you so if you applied in the future ay may ideya ka na."

He nodded, might be considering the option I suggested.

"Yeah... that's cool. Is that fine with you? And you're only here for a week, how can we do that?"

"We'll manage," aniko. "Ako pa ba?"

"I don't think I couldn't ask for more, you're the best, Andrew..."

I tried to hide my smile when he said that, hindi pa siya fully-recovered niyan, but he's already making me feel so good. I think it was really a good decision for me to be with him today. I can tour around Bangkok some other day, but knowing someone on a deeper level means something lalo na't stranger kami sa isa't isa.

That's something... I know it is something.

***

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Let me know your thoughts! I would appreciate it so much

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