🐰12TH Charm🐰

From mixing the porridge I'm trying to cook, my eyes darted towards the kitchen's entrance when I sensed someone standing there.

"Carrots!" I nearly leaped up in shock when I saw him. He appeared to be supporting his weight by holding against the side of the bookshelf. He was still looking weak but his color has improved. His hair was messy from sleep and his shirt a bit wrinkled. And when I landed my eyes on the part of his flat tummy, my throat suddenly went dry. Why do he have to suddenly looked so hot? He's a nerd! A freaking nerd who wears thick eyeglasses and always carries his thick Biochem book around, talking with plants, but why does he look so hot right now?!

Bigla kong ipinilig ang ulo ko para iwaksi ang naiisip. I'm not a pervert! Not a pervert! I agitatedly approached him wanting to check his temperature.

"How's your temperature?" Wanting to check his temperature, I reached one hand to stroke his forehead but he quickly put his index finger on mine to push me away.

"Go home." Paos na aniya. Napasimangot ako. Ang hirap talagang makalusot sa lalaking ito. Kapagkuwa'y itinuro niya ang iniluluto ko. "Are you really planning to burn my kitchen?" It was then that I finally realized that I was cooking something!

Natatarantang nilapitan ko ang stove at pinatay iyon. Naramdaman ko ang pagdaan niya sa likuran ko at nang lingunin ko siya'y kumukuha siya ng baso sa cabinet. Lumapit siya sa island counter kaya mabilis kong kinuha ang pitsel ng tubig at nagsalin sa baso niya. Nagtatakang tumingin naman siya sa akin, marahil ay nawiwirduhan sa mga ikinikilos ko. Matamis ko lang siyang nginitian pero halos wala man lang siyang reaksyon. Uminom siya ng tubig saka inilagay sa sink ang basong ginamit. Aalis na sana siya ng kitchen nang pigilan ko siya sa braso. Tila napapasong agad niyang hinila iyon palayo.

I grimaced. Kung makaiwas naman siya parang may something na mabaho sa akin! Chanel kaya ang perfume ko kaya I know that I'm mabango! Pero nagluto ako kanina, baka nangamoy usok na nga ako? Pasimple kong inamoy ang sarili, mabango pa rin naman. Pero nang maalala kong ni hindi pa ako nag-aayos o nagpa- powder man lang mula kanina ay nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Gosh! How do I look now? I had my hair up in a messy bun and several strands were now falling. Mukha na akong losyang!

"Umuwi ka na." Patamad na sabi niya na nagpagising sa lumulutang kong diwa. Inismiran ko siyang muli.

"Bakit mo ba ako pinauuwi?"Naiinis na tanong ko. Naiinis din siyang pumalatak. Hinila ko siya patungo sa nag-iisang high stool na naroon at tila alam na niya ang sunod na mangyayari dahil tumayo din siya agad.

"Swear, kapag umalis ka d'yan, dito talaga ako matutulog tonight." I threatened and he threw daggers at me.

"You can't make me eat something you cooked again." He said gravely.

"Tinikman ko na, promise! May lasa na talaga this time." Paniniguro ko saka nagmamadaling naglabas ng bowl at spoon mula sa cabinet. Ipinagsalin ko siya sa daming sa tingin ko ay kaya niyang ubusin. I put boiled egg in it then served it to him.

"Look o, I even boiled you an egg." Proud ko pang sabi sa kanya.

"I'm not hungry." Malamig na sabi niya kaya tiningnan ko siya ng masama.

"Masama daw ang tumanggi sa grasya." I looked sternly at him.

He snorted, "As if you're cooking is some kind of grace."

"You're so salbahe talaga!" Naiinis na bulalas ko.

"I won't eat that. Just go home." He impassively said as he pushed away the bowl. I was so disheartened that he didn't even get to taste my porridge. Huminga ako ng malalim para mapigilan ang mapaluha. Lagi na lang niya akong nire- reject. Nakakainis na talaga siya.

Bigla siyang pumalatak kapagkuwa'y inilapit din ang bowl ng porridge. My mood perked up when he held the spoon. Halos pigilan ko ang paghinga nang tikman niya ito. I felt like some kind of suspect waiting for jury's decision.

"How is it?" I asked anxiously, my heart thumping wildly against my chest. He looked at me blandly.

"Wala ka bang nahanap na asin sa cabinet?" Sarkastikong tanong niya.

"I'm afraid that I'll get to make you eat something salty kasi may colds ka kaya kaunti lang talaga nilagay ko." I replied hesitantly. Gosh, this is so not me. Never pang nawalan ng confidence ang isang Oreonina Acosta!

Ibinalik niya ang atensyon sa porridge at napangiti ako. At least he's eating it.

"How's your cut?" He asked in a nonchalant tone, his eyes never leaving the porridge. Napatingin ako sa daliri kong may band aid.

"I got nervous when it bled but I'm fine now." I shrugged but secretly celebrating for his concern. He disinterestedly looked at me.

"I'm asking about the cut not about you." Aniya at umawang ang aking mga labi. Hmpf! Kung hindi lang ako mabait ngayon ay kanina ko pa nilayasan ang sadistang lalaking 'to! Pero weh? Gusto ko ba talagang umalis?

"Then you should've asked my cut, baka sakaling sagutin ka." Matabang kong sagot but he just snorted.

Maya- maya pa'y tumikhim siya, "I had a change of shirt." Aniya sa mahinang tinig na agad na ikinainit ng buong mukha ko.

"Hindi naman ako tumingin nang binihisan kita kaya swear! I really didn't see your abs—" Nanlalaki ang mga matang nasapo ko ang sariling bibig samantalang siya ay naubo na tila nabilaukan. Heck! What did I just say?! So embarrassing! I wanna die! I wanna really die!

Kumuha ako ng baso sa cabinet at sinalinan iyon ng tubig saka maingat na itinulak iyon palapit sa kanya. Uminom naman siya doon at nang mahimasmasan ay pinukol ako ng napakasamang tingin na tila ba'y lalamunin ako ng buhay. My god!

I nervously smiled at him. He was still looking at me suspisciously like he was waiting for my explanation. Crap! "Uhm, I—I mean—y-you know, I really haven't seen anything k-kasi nga 'di ba, w- wala naman akong makikita?" I nervously swallowed.

Nanatili lang siyang nakatingin sa akin na tila ba'y nananantya kung may katotohanang pa ang pinagsasabi ko. Sa labis na kaba'y wala sa sariling kinuha ko ang baso niyang may laman pang tubig ngunit bago ko pa mainuman iyon ay mabilis na niya itong naagaw sa akin. Pumalatak siya saka tumayo at lumapit sa mga cabinet. Pagbalik niya ay may hawak na siyang baso. Sinalinan niya iyon ng tubig at walang salitang iniabot sa akin. Mabilis ko iyong tinanggap saka ininom ng isang lagukan lang. That was totally unfabulous and poised but you can't blame me for being so nervous under this sadist's hawk eyes!

Naupo siya ulit sa nag-iisang high stool at tila wala sa sariling hinalo- halo ang kinakain. I groaned inwardly. Dahil may sakit siya ngayon ay palalampasin ko muna ang pagiging ungentleman niya.

"You should have left when I slept." Aniya sa usual na impassive tone pero nakahinga na rin ako ng maluwag dahil siya na mismo ang nag- iba sa usapan.

"I got so worried lalo na nang kinumbulsyon ka. I even accidentally called Giro to ask him what to do—" Muli akong natigilan nang tumingin siya sa akin. Me and my big mouth. "Accident nga lang 'di ba?" Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata.

He snorted, "Who cares?" Aniya at naiinis na napabuga ako ng hininga.

I pressed my side against the counter, "Bad ka. Alam ng pale girl na 'yon ang number mo pero ako hindi?" I confronted him. He stopped eating and looked at me again. "You even called her pala!"

"Pale girl?" He frowned.

"'Yong timid girl na kasama mo sa lab the other day."

"Oh, it's Riza." Sagot niya. Lalo akong napasimangot.

"Sa kanya ko pa nakuha number mo at memorized talaga niya huh?"

"Makes sense." May halong kaunting ngiting aniya na ikinainis ko.

"Do you like that Riza?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

He looked boredly at me, "You don't have to know everything."

"Ang daya!"

"Ba't 'di ka na lang bumalik sa school kaysa nag-iingay ka dito?" Masungit na taboy niya sa akin.

"I've already ditched classes na kaya what's the sense of going back?" I shrugged and propped my elbows against the counter.

"Tch! Noisy." Iritadong sabi niya.

"So gusto mo nga 'yong Riza na 'yon?" Pangungilit ko pa. Naiinis na pumalatak siya. "So gusto mo nga?"

Tiningnan niya ako ng masama, "Do you really want me to eat or not?" He grimly asked.

"Fine!" Naiinis na tumuwid ako ng upo. Magwo- walk out na sana ako nang maalala kong kailangan niya palang uminom ng gamot. Padabog na kumuha ako sa medicine cabinet niya ng paracetamol at padabog ding inilapag iyon sa harapan niya. Amused na nakatingin lang siya sa akin. Inismiran ko siya at nagtungo sa sala. Nakakainis!

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"C'mon, ihahatid na kita." Iyon ang unang- unang narinig ko kay Vitto paglabas na paglabas pa lang niya ng room niya. He had just finished showering and was now wearing a large long sleeves white shirt and jogging pants. He had his thick eyeglasses on already and a mask covering the lower half of his face. Lihim akong napaismid. Back to the usual nerdy get up na naman. Pero mabuti na rin siguro iyon nang hindi ako pinagtataksilan ng puso ko kapag bigla siyang nagtratransform.

I was squatting on his carpet at the small living room, my things scattered on his coffee table. I was trying so hard to solve my Math assignment but to no avail. I wanna cry!

"Ihahatid mo 'ko wala ka namang car." Pabulong na ismid ko sa kanya. Nanatili siyang nakatayo sa harapan ng pintuan ng room niya.

"Ihahatid kita hanggang sa elevator. Don't assume too much." Masungit na sagot niya saka nagpatiuna na sa pintuan.

"Ayaw!" Nagmamaktol kong sagot na nagpahinto sa kanya. Inis niya akong nilingon.

"I want to rest and I can't do it with you here. Not with the banging volume of the TV!" Yamot na aniya. I grumpily clicked my tongue and lowered the volume of the TV.

"Happy?" I sarcastically asked.

"I'd be happier if you leave." He crossly replied.

"Nakaka- hurt ka na a!" I exploded as I slammed my hand against the table, "Kanina mo pa ako tinataboy. Ganoon mo ba talaga ka- ayaw sa akin?" My lips trembled.

"Ba't ka umiiyak?" He asked in utter amusement.

"Ikaw kasi e! Siguro kapag 'yong pale girl na 'yon ang nandito okay lang sa'yo noh?" Naghihinanakit kong sabi.

"Tch! I like being alone, okay? I'm not used with people hanging around me. I like silence and you are the very opposite of it." Iritadong sagot niya.

"E 'di I'll keep quite na." I sulked and then ignored him as I focused my attention on my assignment but in reality, I just couldn't function well as I felt this heavy emotion inside me. He didn't want me here. He didn't want my presence. Hindi ko namamalayang tuloy- tuloy na pala ang pagpatak ng mga luha ko kung hindi lang natutuluan ang papel ko. I heard someone sat on the sofa behind me.

"Tch! Iyakin." Bulong niya kasabay ng paglanding ng panyo sa papel ko. Nakairap na tumingin ako sa kanya. He was seated in a generous distance from me.

"I won't say thank you. I hate you!" Naiinis na bulalas ko.

"Feels the same." He answered coolly and I glared at him even more.

"You know that I don't mean it! It's just an expression. Ang salbahe mo!" Nanggigigil na sabi ko.

"Too loud, Oreo. You're piercing my eardrums, dammit!" He irritably snapped but my jaw dropped as I heard my name. All my tampo was suddenly gone. Parang may fireworks pa nga sa dibdib ko ngayon.

"Okay, carrots. You're forgiven." Nakangiting sabi ko na siya namang ikinaawang ng mamula- mulang labi niya.

He incredulously shook his head, "You're crazy." He muttered.

I just smiled and shrugged happily as I turned my attention back to my assignment. I felt him scoot closer behind me and I bit my lip to stop myself from grinning like crazy.

"What the hell are you writing?" He muttered. I turned my head to look at him and we were both surprised how our faces were so near with each other because he was leaning forward as he looked at my paper. He immediately pulled his body back and I felt my whole face heated up, my chest thumping like a frantic woodpecker. Bakit gano'n? Be it the hot or nerd Vitto, pareho pa rin ang epekto sa akin? I couldn't get a grip. I'm doomed!

I saw how his Adams apple moved. He suddenly looked so manly in my eyes. I blinked upon the realization and immediately covered my lips with my palm as I hitched a breath. I'm not a pervert! I really am not!

"Tch! Don't worry, 'di kita hahawaan." Malamig na aniya saka ipinihit ang ulo ko paharap sa papel na nasa mesa. I wanted to explain myself but chose not to. Mas mabuti ng ganoon ang isipin niya kaysa naman maisip niyang pervert ako. No way! "You're just writing a whole load of crap and not solving it." Dugtong pa niya.

"I don't understand anything." I helplessly admitted and he clicked his tongue.

"Scoot over." Utos niya na mabilis ko namang ginawa. Umisod pa siya palapit sa mesa. He's on the sofa while I'm still on the carpet but the distance between us now was minimal. I'm afraid that he can hear the loud thumping of my heart so I adjusted the TV's volume again so much to his irritation.

"What are you doing?" he asked, annoyed.

I swallowed, my tension rising. "I—I am more comfortable with some loud sound on. I will not feel alone."

"You're not alone. I'm here." Sagot niya, and I was really overwhelmed. He was looking at me and though his eyes were as cold like the way it always was, weird but I can feel warmth all over me. I smiled.

"Okay." Sagot ko at pinatay na ang TV.

"I will show you an example of the same problem then maybe you can solve your homework." Aniya, hawak na niya ang ballpen kong may feather. I crinkled my nose then beamed at him like a kid. I reached out for his arm and clung on it.

"Answer my homework na lang." Paglalambing ko pero masungit na inalis niya ang kamay ko sa braso niya.

"Hindi ka matututo kung ako ang gagawa. You can't bring me in your classroom during exams, can you?" He challenged and I fell into deep thinking.

I shook my head like a kid, "I can't."

"That's why you need to do it by yourself." Aniya, "Watch me solve and listen as I explain." Sabi pa niya at napangiti ako. Nagsimula siyang mag- explain habang nagsusulat. At wala man ako masyadong maintindihan sa mga sinasabi at isinusulat niya, masaya pa rin ako dahil natawid ko na naman ang isa pang tulay na nakapagitan sa aming dalawa.