Sandwich

I looked at him in the eyes. Sometimes, I am also wondering kung nagbabago nga ba talaga ang nararamdam ng tao. Base sa mga nakikita at nakakasalamuha ko. I think yes, besides there is no permanent in this world. Lahat ng bagay at pangyayari ay panandalian lamang.

"It is, feelings changes. Like a fine weather," I slowly caress the petal of the flower. "Nagbabago ang nararamdaman ng tao base on his or her experiences." I added and smiled at him.

"How sure are you?" he asked with his baritone voice. I pouted.

"It's just merely my opinion! You are not interrogating me right?"

He let out a many chuckle. "You're too precious to be a criminal,"

"Everyone can be a criminal. Hindi dahil maganda o gwapo ang isang tao, ligtas na sa kalupitan ng mundo." I said before smiling sweetly.

I tapped the space beside me, urging him to seat. He shook his head for disapproval.

"And you are trying to say?" His brow creased and I can't help but to laugh at his question.

"Not because I have the beauty, doesn't mean I have the good personality. Remember, looks can be deceiving." I smirk while he's intently staring at me.

"So criminal ka?"

Sa puntong ito, malakas akong tumawa. Nakatingala pa rin ako sa kaniya because I am sitting while he's standing.

"Do I look like a criminal?" I fired back.

"Exactly, that's my point. Sadyang, pinapahaba mo lang ang usapan." Aniya, may himig ng pagkairita.

"But what if I am?" I curiously asked. His lips turn into thin line. I then bite my lips. Kailan kaya siya magiging pangit sa paningin ko? "I am not afraid though, I have you." Pagbibiro ko.

He cocked his head sideways. "You are not certain if I will bail you out on jail." Napangisi ako sa naging sagot niya.

"You will for sure. Right kuya?"
I saw his eyes darkened, for I don't know why. I tapped my finger on the chair. Completely satisfied with his reaction.

"You will defend me in court if the time comes," I trailed without breaking the eye contact. Nakatitig lang ako sa mukha niya. His perfectly angled jaw, thin lips, pointed nose, thick lashes and eye brows. Plus his hazel eyes that captures my interest. "You will do that, because I'm your baby." I continued.

Siya mismo ang nagsabi niyan. Kaya dapat lang 'no! And in fact he study law, kaya natural lang na ipaglaban niya ako. Saglit siyang natigilan like he didn't expect me to say those words.

He cleared his throat. "I-If, if that time comes. I will go berserk just to prove your innocence."

Ngumiti ako sa naging sagot niya. He looks dangerously serious right now, with his clenched jaw.

Does he take my question seriously?

"Wait, I am just kidding okay? I'm not criminal or what!" I chuckled.

Hindi siya sumagot at mabilis akong iniwan. I pouted ang played with my fingers. Nagbibiro lang naman ako ah! Hindi niya naman kailangan seryosohin iyon. Napailing nalang ako bago tumayo at pumasok ng bahay. I remember hindi ko pa naayos ang mga gamit ko.

Pagdating ko sa living room, walang tao. Saan naman kaya ang room ko?
Umupo muna ako sa single sofa and decided to brows my Instagram. Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto akong nakaupo, good thing ay dumaang maid.

"Ah.. Miss?" I hesitantly called her attention. May dala siyang pamunas.

"Ano po 'yon Ma'am?" Ngumiti ako bago lumapit sa kaniya. Agad naman siyang umatras na parang may nakakahawa akong sakit.

"Alam mo po ba kung saan dinala ang mga gamit ko?" I asked with a smile.

"Iyong dalawang yellow na bagahe po ba Ma'am?" She asked, I nodded in response. "Iyong pangatlong room po sa third floor." She answered. Ngumiti ako sa kaniya at nagpasalamat.

I immediately take the stairs. They have third floor. The second has four rooms while the third has only three. So I guess yung last na nasa corner ang akin? Malaki ang bahay nila for a four person. Sayang ang space though, at 'yong rooms. I'm sure naman tito ang tita has only one room. While my cousin are only two. Nagkibit balikat na lang ako.

I open my room, I guess. Nang makita ang dalawang maleta ko, means I am in the right room. I lock the door behind. Lagi ko iyon ginagawa even with my own parents. Hindi sa wala akong tiwala sa kanila, I am just used to it. Gano'n talaga ang buhay diba? Mahirap balewalain ang mga bagay na nakasanayan na.

I unzip my luggage and get my things. Nilibot ko ang tingin sa buong kwarto. It has a queen size bed with white sheets. While a black and white tantra sofa was placed near the window. I silently chuckled.

May malaking walk-in closet din and a full length mirror. The room also has tv and set of sofa, napailing ako. They are indeed a wealthy family.

I arranged my things properly. I entered the bathroom to place my necessities. Napatulala nalang ako sa ganda at laki. It has an effing Jacuzzi! Sa bahay namin sa bicol, I only had shower. Malaki rin naman siya pero hindi ganitong kalaki.

Agad kong nilagay ang mga gamit sa dapat na lalagyan. After that I took a shower. The day was tiring kaya hindi na ako nagtaka ng nakatulog ako pagkatapos maligo. When I woke up, it was around 4 o'clock in the afternoon.

I immediately fix myself and go downstairs. Kagaya kanina, wala pabring tao sa sala. See, dapat hindi nalang ganito kalaking bahay ang tinayo ni tito.

I marched into the kitcen to get some water, only to see Kuya Drake making sandwich. Ngumiti ako sa kaniya pero hindi man lang niya nagawang suklian ang ngiti ko. Ang suplado. Kumuha nalang ako ng pitsel at baso.

"Para kanino 'yan kuya?" I asked him, nakasandal ako sa counter while holding the glass of water. But he didn't bother answering me. Linapag ko ang baso sa lababo bago umupo sa harap niya.

"It looks appetizing. Can I have one?" I sweetly ask.

Pero hindi pa rin ako sinasagot! Nakakunot ang kaniyang noo na parang hindi ako naiintidahan. Or maybe, galit pa rin siya sa naging pag-uusap namin kanina?

"You know kuya, I was just joking earlier. I did-"

I was cut off when he harshly put the knife down. Nanlalaki ang mata kong tumingin sa kaniya. He is completely pissed! The way his jaw clenched and his cold eyes. Bakit naman siya nagagalit?

"Gano'n ba ako katanda for you to call me that?" Kunot noo niyang tinuran. Umawang ang labi ko sa naging tanong niya. Galit siya dahil sa pagtawag ko ng kuya?

"It's a sign of respect k-kuya."

His expression darkened. I bite my lip nervously. He should be grateful I addressed him that way. Kasi ngayon, karamihan sa kabataan nawawalan na ng respeto sa mas nakakatanda sa kanila.

"I don't want to be respected then," I crossed my brow at his response. He don't want to be respected? Seryoso ba siya?

"Are you out of your mind?" Naiinis kong tanong.

Everyone deserve the word respect. Iyong iba nga nagagalit kasi hindi nererespeto ng kapwa tapos siya hindi gugustuhing i-respeto?

He put both of his hands on the table and slightly bend. Nakatitig lang ako sa mukha niya-sa mata niya.

"If it is you, the hell with that respect." he whispered with a husky voice.

Hindi ako makasagot. Nanoot sa akin ang kaniyang tingin. The way his gaze meet mine feels like I'm in cloud nine.
Napatingin ako sa labi niya'ng mapula. Why do I feel this way? The urge to kiss him, is running on my system.

Kabaliwan man pero lagi akong natutulala sa labi niya. What's wrong with me?

Umiwas ako ng tingin at bahagyang tumikhim. "Ang galing! You know how to make sandwich pala. Can I have a taste?" Pag-iiba ko ng usapan.

Ramdam kong umayos siya ng tayo bago magpatuloy sa ginagawa. I sighed, bakit niya kailangan sabihin 'yon.

Silence overwhelmed us in the next minutes. Na tanging ingay lang mula sa paghihiwa niya ng mga sangkap ang naririnig. I remained sitting in front of him. Paminsan-minsan, kumukunot ang kaniyang noo na parang hindi niya alam ang ginagawa. While I let my fingers drum the table.

Finally, after an awkward silence and moment. Pumasok si Dwayne, sukbit sa balikat ang bag.

"What the fuck! Hindi yan para sa'yo!"

Nanlaki ang mata kong nakatingin sa kanilang dalawa. Kuya Drake was holding Dwayne's hand na susubo sana ng sandwich.

"Don't be selfish bro, gumawa ka nalang ulit ng isa." si Dwayne.

Kuya Drake didn't answer and his hold on his hand tightened. Sa paraan ng pagngiwi ng kapatid.

"No, no, don't give me that bullshit. Gumawa ka nang sa'yo." Seryosong aniya. Nanatili lang ako sa harap nila at parang nakalimutan nilang nandito ako.

Dwayne tried to put the sandwich in his mouth. Malaki ang pagkanganga habang dalawang kamay na ni kuya Drake ang pumipigil dito. But, Dwayne put his left hand on his brother's face. Na parang inilalayo niya ang kuya niya.

I silently chuckled, naririnig ko pa ang ilang pagmumura ng dalawa. I glanced at the table, only two sandwich was left. Pwede namang mag share ah.

"Don't you dare eat that!"
Nahihirapang ani ni kuya Drake, dahil sa kamay na nakaharang sa mukha. Nanlilisik ang kaniyang mata, habang ang kapatid ay marahang nakasimangot.

"Isa lang bro, promise isa lang." Dwayne plead.

Nawiwili ko silang panoorin. Para silang magkapatid na kinulang sa aruga. Especially the eldest, tatlo naman ang ginawa niyang sandwich ah.

I was about to interrupt them, nang unti-unting nalaglag ang laman ng sandwhich. My eyes widen a fraction. They are both staring into the wasted food. Umiling-iling si Dwayne saka tumalikod at kumuha ng baso. Habang si Kuya Drake, mukhang binagsakan ng langit at lupa.

"I told you so," sabi ni Dwayne habang papalabas ng kusina.

I bite my lower lip, watching kuya Drake comb his hair in frustration. Kunot noo niyang tinanggal ang apron.

"Hey ku-Drake, may dalawa ka pa dito oh," I cut my Kuya when he suddenly glared at me. Na parang alam niyang iyon ang sasabihin ko. I slightly push the plate.

He look at me seriously. And I don't know pero kinabahan ako. Ang seryoso niyang tingin ay hindi ko matagalan. He slowly walk over me until I can feel him at my back. Lumakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko, especially that I can feel his minty breath fanning in my neck.

Natulos ako sa kinauupuan ng maramdaman kong bahagyang niyang linagay ang mukha sa gilid ng mukha ko. Like he's about to whisper.

"The food only belongs to my baby." His voice came out hoarse. Wala sa sarili akong napalunok.

"Kumain ka nang marami at nang hindi ka magmukhang kawayan."