Chapter 25
Chance

I stared at Gael who's now sleeping peacefully. Nang dahil sa pagkalasing at pag-iyak ay nakatulog siya ng mahimbing.

I smiled while staring at his rosy red cheeks, lips and even his ears. Never thought that a drunk guy can be this cute, specially when asleep. He looks like a candy. Para siyang Pochi.

I looked around his room once again and I can't help but to admire its neatness. Pero kadalasan na talaga ngayon ay mas masisinop na ang mga lalaki kaysa sa babae.

Knowing Gael's personality, hindi na ako nagulat na isa siya sa mga lalaking masinop at malinis sa gamit. He's very meticulous pero alam niya kung saan ilulugar ang pagiging metikuloso niya.

My mind suddenly wandered to Gael's dad. If he only knew his son's achievements and what kind of man he is, I'm sure that he won't regret that he is his son.

Napangiti naman ako nang makita ko ang picture ni Gael at ng mama niya na naka-picture frame sa may lamp desk niya. I bet it was Gael's high school graduation because he's wearing a graduation cap and holding a diploma. May nakasabit din na tatlong gintong medalya sa kaniyang leeg. No doubt that he's really an achiever.

Halos mapatalon naman ako nang biglang tumunog ang aking cellphone. Napatingin naman ako kaagad kay Gael at nang makita kong hindi naman naabala ng pagtunog ng cellphone ko ang kaniyang pagtulog ay mabilis at tahimik akong lumabas ng kaniyang kwarto upang masagot ang tawag.

Nanlaki naman ang aking mga mata nang makita ko kung sino ang tumatawag sa akin.

It's mommy!

"Hello, Mom?" mabilis kong sagot.

"Where are you, Blair Alcoberes?" pambungad na tanong sa akin ni Mommy. "I called at home. Sinabi sa akin ng katulong na wala ka pa daw sa bahay. Nasaan ka?"

"I'm sorry, Mom. Nasa labas po ako ng bahay." sabi ko naman.

"I know. Kaya nga wala ka sa bahay at tinatanong kita kung nasaan ka." sabi ni Mommy at mukhang alam ko na kung saan ko namana ang pagiging pilosopo ko.

"Uhm... Well, I'm at Gael's unit. Remember him?" I told Mom at ilang sandali siyang nanahimik sa kabilang linya bago muling nagsalita.

"You're where?!" medyo tumaas ang tono ng kaniyang boses. "Why are you in a man's unit at this time of the day?"

"I swear that we're not doing anything. Gael's drunk at ako ang tinawagan ng bartender because he asked the bartender to call me. I have a good heart that's why I went to take him home because he's drunk. I was suppose to go home already but..." I suddenly stopped talking when I realized something.

"You're suppose to go home but?" pag-ulit ni Mommy sa aking sinabi, tila may panunuya ang himig ng kaniyang boses.

I was just going to drop him off, but I ended up escorting him to his unit because he can't handle himself anymore. Nang maihiga ko na siya sa kaniyang kama ay pwede na akong umalis pero hindi ko ginawa. Instead, I decided to scrub his arms with a damp face towel and stared at him, while he sleeps.

"Blair?..." maingat na pagtawag muli sa akin ni Mommy.

Napabuntong hininga naman ako.

"Because I want to take care of him and I don't want to leave him alone." I admitted to my mother.

"I trust you, Blair. I trust you in everything that you do and your decisions." sabi naman ni Mommy. "Just message me if you're already home, okay?"

Napangiti naman ako. "Okay, Mom. I will." sabi ko at pinatay na ni Mommy ang tawag matapos naming mag-usap.

After the call, I slightly opened the door of his room to check on him.

He's still sleeping so serene. Mukhang malakas talaga ang tama ng alak na ininom niya kanina.

I got my phone and alarmed it 7AM in the morning. For sure, he will wake up late. Ipagluluto ko siya ng soup para mahimasmasan ang pakiramdam niya mamaya at pati na rin ng heavy breakfast para mapalitan ang alak sa kaniyang sikmura.

Hininaan ko rin ang aircon upang hindi ako masiyadong malamigan dahil wala namang kumot.

When I'm all set, I laid down on the sofa and used the cushion to support my head. Nang mahanap ko na ang komportableng puwesto ay dire-diretso na akong nakatulog.

I woke up at exactly 7AM as soon as my alarm alerted me. I tied my hair into a bun and washed my face in the bathroom. I went to the kitchen, afterwards and stared at the fridge and the pantry for a long time to decide on what kind of soup to cook.

I'm sure Gael wouldn't mind if I crash into his kitchen. I'm cooking for him. He should be thankful and pleased.

Napagdesisyunan kong magluto ng crab and corn soup at pati na rin nang fried bacon, eggs and rice. I even toasted some bread with butter. This is just going to be a simple american breakfast.

"Who are you?!"

Napatalon ako sa gulat at itinapat ang kutsilyo na pinanghihiwa ko sa bawang kay Gael na bigla-biglang sumisigaw.

His jaw dropped when he saw me. Maybe because I'm pointing a knife at him.

"Ano ka ba?! Bakit ka ba sumisigaw? Nagulat ako!" sigaw ko pabalik sa kaniya.

Kumurap-kurap ang kaniyang mga mata at kinusot-kusot niya pa ito. It's not because I'm point a knife but because he couldn't believe that I'm here in his unit, crashing his kitchen to cook for him.

"B-Blair?" he sounded so dumbstruck.

I grinned at him. "Good morning, Gael." I greeted him. "Umupo ka lang diyan, fried rice nalang ang lulutuin ko tapos kakain na tayo."

I turned my back on him and continued to minced the garlic for my iconic fried rice. Kapag mas marami ang bawang, mas nagiging malasa ang fried rice.

"You were so drunk last night, Gael." bungad ko bago pa siya makapagtanong dahil nararamdaman kong malapit na siyang magtanong sa akin kung bakit ako nandito. "I was just suppose to drop you off pero hindi mo na kinakaya ang alak sa sistema mo't bumagsak ka na."

"So, you really came for me last night... It wasn't just a dream." he said and I stopped from mincing the garlic.

Para bang sinasabi niyang sa panaginip lang niya pwedeng mangyari ang magkaroon ako ng pakealam sa kaniya. Na para bang kahit anong mangyari sa kaniya ay hinding-hindi ko siya pupuntahan. Ganoon ang tingin niyang tingin ko sa kaniya.

"I am not that cold hearted, Gael." sabi ko nalang at kinuha na ang pan saka nilagay sa gas stove.

I started sautéing the garlic in the pan before putting a right amount of rice that's enough for the both of us.

"Do you really know how to cook?" bigla niyang tanong sa akin habang nagluluto ako.

"Of course, I can." I proudly answered him.

"You sure?" halatang nanghahamon ang tono ng kaniyang boses. "Just tell me if you need any help."

"Need any help my ass. I'm almost finish." naiinis kong sabi.

Remind me why I'm falling for this man again? He's sometimes conceited. So full of himself like the first time we met.

I heard him chuckled. "I'm just teasing you." bigla niyang sabi. "You're really cute when you're pissed off."

"Excuse me, Gael. Cute is an understatement. It should be beautiful." I rolled my eyes kahit na hindi niya naman 'yon nakita.

Mas lalo naman siyang natawa. "Why do I believe that beautiful is still an understatement?" he said. "You're a goddess."

"Now, that's an overstatement." sabi ko nalang at nilagay na sa malaking bowl ang fried rice na aking niluto.

Nang hinarap ko si Gael upang ilagay na lamesa ang pagkain ay nakita ko siyang nakapangalumbaba habang diretsong nakatingin sa akin. Ang magulo niyang buhok kagabi ay mas lalong naging magulo. Akala ko'y mawawala na ang pagkapula ng kaniyang labi gaya ng pagkawala ng pagkapula ng kaniyang pisngi at tenga ngunit hindi.

"Uhm... Kumain ka na." sabi ko nalang at nilapag na ang mga pagkain. "You try the soup. It'll be good for your stomach."

Ngumiti naman siya habang tinitignan ang mga nakalatag na pagkain sa hapagkainan bago nagsimulang kumain.

I grabbed a plate and food for myself and started to eat. Napatigil lang ako nang maramdam ko ang pagtitig sa akin ni Gael.

"Nasabi ko na ba sa'yong ayoko ng may tumititig sa akin kapag kumakain ako?" tanong ko sa kaniya nang hindi nag-aangat ng tingin.

"I'm sorry." he apologized. "I just can't help it. Hindi talaga ako makapaniwalang kasama kitang kumain ngayon. And to top that, ikaw pa ang nagluto ng mga kinakain natin. It feels so surreal."

Napatigil naman ako sa pagkain at siya naman ang nagpatuloy. Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya't nakita siyang tuwang-tuwa habang kinakain ang mga hinain kong pagkain.

Come to think of it... It's the first time I ever cooked for a guy. Seeing his expression while eating made me feel so appreciated.

I don't know how I was able to hurt the guy who can make me feel happy with just a simple act of appreciation that he's showing me by eating the food that I made wholeheartedly.

"I am a straight forward person." I told him.

Bahagya naman siyang napatigil sa pagkain ngunit agad din namang nagpatuloy.

"I know..." he simple said.

"Sa sobrang pagiging straight forward ko, minsan ay wala na akong pakealam sa nararamdaman ng iba basta masabi ko ang gusto kong sabihin. Mahilig din akong manghusga." I elaborated more. "When we first met, I immediately indirectly judged you without even knowing you. Basta ang alam ko lang non ay ikaw ang boyfriend ni Darlene."

"Ex." he corrected.

Napangiti naman ako. "I mean, ex na pala." pagbabago ko. "I'm a very rude person, Gael. I've hurted you a lot of times and I know that I will still hurt you throughout the way. Ganoon kasi ako."

"I know..." muling sabi niya habang tumatango.

"I don't love you at all..." sunod kong sabi.

This time, he really stopped eating. He's staring at his food but I know that his attention's directed to me.

"Alam ko." he said.

"And I don't think I ever will—"

Napatigil ako sa pagbagsak ng kubyertos at ngayon ay nag-angat na ng tingin sa akin si Gael. Sa sobrang lalim at talim ng kaniyang pagkakatitig sa akin ay kung di ako nakaupo, paniguradong bumagsak sa ako sa sobrang lambot at panginginig ng aking tuhod.

"Why are you suddenly telling me this?" mariin niyang tanong sa akin.

"Because I'm falling for you!" I exclaimed with full conviction.

Napaawang ang kaniyang labi na para bang may gusto siyang sabihin ngunit hindi niya ito mabigkas at mailabas.

"I didn't think that I will ever fall for you, but I am..." sabi ko. "I am falling for you and I want to give you a chance to catch me."