#NewClassicNRO

Chapter 30
Offer

The cold suddenly woke me up from a deep sleep, but I refused to open my eyes and start the day. I tightly wrapped myself with the thick comforter but it wasn't enough. I wriggled on the bed to find a warm and comfortable position, until I realized that something didn't seem right.

My eyes shot wide open as scenes and memories of what happened the night before rolled like a film―on a fast-forward motion―inside my head. I sat up and looked around the cozy bedroom. I checked my clothes and saw that I was still wearing jeans and a tee.

I had no idea what time it was. There was no window inside the bedroom. I found my bag on the side table and got my phone but there was no battery left.

Bigo kong binitiwan ang aking cellphone. Isang malalim na paghinga ang aking pinakawalan at tiningala ang kisame. Muling naglaro sa aking isipan ang mga nangyari.

I read books and watched movies where most people who got drunk tend to have no recollection of what happened or what they did before passing out. But that wasn't the case for me. I could still remember how clingy I was to Jirro. I could hear myself saying the words which encapsulated what I truly feel about our parting and my longing for him.

Indeed, reality is different from fiction.

While reminiscing, my eyes drifted on the settee where a dress and undergarments were placed. Tumayo ako sa kama upang lapitan 'yon. It was a brown cotton skater dress. I checked the size of the undies, especially the brassiere. I was a bit surprised that it was exactly the same size as mine.

Sigurado akong si Jirro ang naghanda noon para sa akin. He also prepared a satin pajama for me, but I was too drunk and weary to get up and wear it. Naalala kong pumasok siya sa parang walk-in closet dito. It seemed to be packed with women's clothes.

That was when I remembered that I wanted to ask Jirro about the unit. I also needed to give him Ivory and Brad's wedding invitation.

Lalabas na sana ako ng kuwarto upang tingnan kung nandoon si Jirro, ngunit nanlalagkit ako sa aking sarili. Napagdesisyunan kong maligo na muna. I went to the bathroom adjacent to the walk-in closet. Mabilis akong naligo at nag-ayos ng sarili. Pagkatapos ay agad akong lumabas ng kuwarto.

I heard movements from the kitchen. The aroma of the dish being cooked was also circulating around the unit. Tahimik akong tumungo roon. Nakatalikod si Jirro sa akin habang nagluluto. He seemed to have washed up already. He was wearing light blue denim jeans and a white shirt.

Feeling nervous, I pursed my lips tight. Will he ask me about all the things I said? He did tell me that we would talk about it once I was sober.

To be honest, I had no idea how I should act around him after what happened. Should I pretend that I couldn't remember anything? Should I just be casual around him?

Bago pa ako makapagdesisyon ay hinango na ni Jirro ang kanyang niluto. Our eyes met the moment he turned around. The cold and indifferent façade he used to show me since I came back was finally gone. He looked just like my Jirro years ago―but still with reservations.

"Mornin'," he casually greeted me, then placed the entrée on top of the kitchen island.

"Uhm, good morning," medyo nahihiya kong pagbati.

He blinked up at me from the food. "Are you hungry?"

Tipid akong ngumiti at tumango sa kanya.

"Let's eat."

I carefully took my steps close to him. There were two stools, so I sat on one. Pagkatapos magsalin ni Jirro ng juice sa aming mga baso at naglagay ng pitsel ng tubig ay umupo siya sa tabi ko.

His fresh after shower scent enveloped my nose. I bit my lip because he smells really good.

I wondered if he went home to take a bath and change his clothes. His scent was different from the shower gel available at the bathroom. I also didn't know where he got his clothes. But it was also possible that he only asked someone to bring his things for him.

Nang matigil ako sa pagpuna sa kanyang amoy ay inilipat ko ang mga mata ko sa nakahain na pagkain sa aming harapan. The dishes served weren't just simple fried foods for breakfast. There was a bacon and mushroom omelette with corn and carrots as a side dish. Mayroon ding nakahain na cheese quesadilla bilang appetizer siguro.

The dishes looked appetizing visually but I slightly doubted how they would taste. Jirro wasn't talented at cooking. Noong leadership training, he confessed that he didn't know how to cook. I only taught him basic cooking skills. And we always ate out during our dates back then. Walang oportunidad na matikman ko ang kanyang luto pagkatapos no'n.

"Would you eat the omelette first or would you like to try the quesadilla?" Jirro asked me.

Nilingon ko siya sa aking tabi. "Iyong omelette na muna siguro."

Jirro was about to get quesadilla but he stopped himself and nodded. "Okay, let's eat the main dish first."

Muli akong tumango at sabay kaming nagsimulang kumain. Kahit taon na ang lumipas simula ng huling beses na kumain nang kaming dalawa lang, hindi ako nakaramdam ng pagkailang. I comfortably picked up the utensils and started eating.

Medyo nanlaki ang aking mga mata nang natikman ang luto ni Jirro. Since I doubted his cooking, it was unexpectedly very delicious. I wasn't exaggerating but if his omelette was served in a restaurant or café, no one would guess that it was cooked by a non-professional.

Kagat-labi kong nilingon ulit si Jirro. He was already looking at me, though. He must be expecting me to assess his cooking and tell him my reviews.

"Is it good?" he probed.

"Oo, masarap..." nag-aalangan kong sagot. "Kailan ka pa natutong magluto?"

I saw his lips twitch while forcing himself not to smile. He looked away and replied, "After signing the contract, I moved out from our home and started living independently. And since I'm on my own, I know I have to learn how to cook for myself and do household chores."

Hearing Jirro telling me a piece of his life after I left, I couldn't help but get too interested. I wanted to hear more. I wanted to know more. I wanted to touch his life that I missed. I wanted to hold it. I wanted be acquainted with it. I wanted to feel like I was never away by knowing everything about him and his life without me.

"I failed a few times before. I had to eat burnt, bland, or almost inedible foods. But I can confidently say now that I'm already good at cooking," he told me with a small proud smile on his face. "Mom wanted to drag me back home when she tasted my cooking. But dad helped me convinced her."

When he mentioned his parents, I suddenly felt the urge to ask about them. Napaisip din ako kung ano na kaya ang tingin nila sa akin. They cherished and cared for me like their own daughter because I was dating their son. They must felt betrayed and hurt when I broke up with Jirro.

"Kumusta na sina tito at tita?"

"They're doing great," he answered right away. "Nasa New York sila ngayon. They're staying there for a month, visiting my sister."

Napatango-tango ako.

"What about your parents?" He sounded very careful and conscious. "Lalo na si Tito Carlo, kumusta na siya?"

My lips parted. I could see in his eyes that he genuinely cares for my parents.

"Okay lang din sila," sagot ko. "Nagma-maintenance pa rin si daddy ng gamot niya."

"That's good to know," he said while nodding his head. "Susunod din ba sila sa 'yo dito sa Manila?"

"Uhm, hindi namin napag-usapan pero hindi siguro. Wala silang balak. They're already settled in our province. Mom also has a stable job there. Mas mainam din kay daddy ang environment doon," paliwanag ko.

"Will you eventually go back to your province and work there?" he asked next. "Where are you planning to settle down?"

Medyo nabigla ako sa sunod-sunod na tanong ni Jirro. It felt like I was being interviewed. Mas kabado pa ako rito kaysa sa mga pinuntahan kong job interviews.

"I have no plans to go back yet, uhm, gusto ko munang makaipon. Wala rin masyadong job opportunities doon na ayon sa kurso ko," sabi ko. "But if I want to settle down, gusto ko sa tahimik na lugar. Not here in Manila. Pero matagal pa naman 'yon..."

Though I found his questions a bit odd, I was still answering everything he asked.

Muling tumango si Jirro bago nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Sandali ko pa siyang tinitigan bago naalala ang tungkol sa invitation ng kasal nina Ivory at Brad.

"Nga pala, nasalubong ko sina Ivory at Brad noong isang araw."

Jirro's eyes slightly widened. He snapped his head back to me, looking anxious and troubled. I saw his eyes wavered like he was panicking.

"You did?" His voice was loud and clear.

Feeling hesitant, I nodded. "Pinapaabot nila sa akin 'yong wedding invitation nila sa 'yo," pagpapatuloy ko. "Mahirap ka raw kasing i-meet ngayon dahil busy ka."

His eyes narrowed. "Did they tell you something else, aside from the invitation?"

"Wala naman..." agad kong sagot, ngunit huli na nang bigla kong naalala ang huling sinabi sa akin ni Ivory.

Iyong tinutukoy niya ba ay ang sinabi ni Ivory na hindi talaga kami naghiwalay ni Jirro?

Although I wanted to learn the truth behind the words Ivory told me, I also couldn't find the courage to confront Jirro about it. Baka mamaya ay binibiro lang ako ni Ivory at baka kung ano ang isipin ni Jirro.

Mas lalong naningkit ang kanyang mga mata nang makitang napaisip ako. "May naalala ka?"

Umiling ako agad at saka nag-aalangang ngumisi. "Wala."

Jirro whispered something once he got the assurance from me. Hindi ko nga lang 'yon nadinig dahil sa sobrang hina ng kanyang boses.

"Anyway, I'll take you to your bed space after eating," he immediately shifted our topic. "Are guys allowed to visit or not?"

His question made me feel puzzled. But nonetheless, I still answered it like what I did to his previous questions.

"Hanggang sa living area lang puwede..." sagot ko.

"Do you have a lot of things to pack?"

Napakunot na ang noo ko. "Ano'ng ibig mong sabihin?"

"Sasamahan kitang bumalik doon para kuhanin ang mga gamit mo," kaswal niyang sabi na para bang hindi iyon importante. "I want you to live here."

It was my turn to panic and get surprised. Naisip ko nang ayon ang gusto niyang mangyari noong una palang, ngunit hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala. He bought the condo for me! I was sure of that. But I didn't know what to feel. I felt grateful but ashamed at the same time.

Jirro was always two steps ahead of trying to make my life better. As long as he has the means to do it, he will not hesitate at all.

"Ha?" Sa sobrang pagkabigla ay iyon lamang ang lumabas sa aking bibig.

He stopped eating and turned his body to my side, looking at me properly. "The condo's closer to the company than your bed space," he told me one advantage. "You'll also be more comfortable here. The security's also great. You can have all the privacy that you want. You don't need to share."

I had to agree that all the advantages Jirro mentioned were promising. However, I couldn't find it in me to just easily accept it without any conditions.

Alam kong alam ni Jirro kung ano ang pananaw ko patungkol sa ganitong bagay. I saw it in his face, especially when he exhaled a deep breath.

"But I know you will not accept this easily..." He murmured softly, sounding like he was talking to himself. "So, I have an offer to you."

His preparedness somewhat caught me off guard, but it also piqued my interest.

With my brows furrowed, I leaned my head on one side, looking curious. "What offer?"

"You can pay me monthly rent, if you don't want to live here for free," he told me. "Five thousand a month should be good, including monthly dues."

"Five thousand a month?" He must be joking. "Nagcanvas ako ng condo unit, Jirro. Kahit sa maliit na studio unit sa low-end na condominium tower ay hindi kakasya ang limang libo. Sure akong nasa three million o mahigit ito kung full payment ang ginawa mong pagbili."

"Then, let's say that I lent you a loan to pay for the condo in full payment and you will have to pay for it in a monthly basis without interest." He grinned playfully like he was trying to test my patience. "What do you think?"

"Magkano naman?"

"I told you already. Five thousand a month."

"At kailan ako matatapos magbayad niyan?" I mentally calculated for a few seconds to get an estimation. "Next 50 years pa?"

Jirro smiled meaningfully like he had an evil plan under his sleeves. "You should finish your food. It's getting cold," he told me instead of addressing my concern, like he was purposely avoiding the topic.

And without saying a word, he averted his gaze away from me and continued eating his breakfast in a very good mood.

Why does it feels like I'm about to be trapped?