Chapter 13

Favorite

Ethan and Janine announced their formal engagement party. Pumunta kaming lahat ng mga kaibigan ko pati na rin sina Mommy. Janine's parents and Ethan's looked happy. Mukhang gusto rin sila ng parents nila para sa isa't isa. Ethan was actually a good guy at matalino rin. And Janine's a reserved girl. Ethan's Mom liked her, too.

Nandoon kaming lahat nina Bianca and we also took pictures that they posted online. I received a chat from Kalyx while I was at the party.

He was asking me kung nasaan daw ako and he's seen Bianca's post. I replied that I was at the engagement party of Ethan and Janine. After that he didn't reply anymore...

Medyo nagtaka pa ako pero binati ko na rin sina Ethan at Janine.

"Congratulations to you both." I smiled at them.

Ngumiti rin sila pareho sa akin.

"Thank you, Rin." Janine smiled at me.

"We will get married right after graduation." She said.

"Oh." Ngumiti ako. Mukhang napagplanuhan na nga rin nila ito.

I also heard Ethan's parents talking earlier. That they're looking forward to having a grandchild. Ethan's an only child. At medyo may edad na rin both ang parents niya. May business din ang parents niya na mamanahin ni Ethan. So I guess him and Janine would be fine even if they marry early.

After the party I went home together with my friends. Ang mga matatanda ay nag-stay pa doon. Especially the parents of both Ethan and Janine dahil mag-uusap pa siguro sa mga detalye ng magiging kasal nila.

Ilang buwan na lang din ay graduate na kami. Kahit medyo matagal pa naman. But I understand that they must plan for the wedding as early as now.

I sent a message to Kalyx after I was already home. Hindi ko nga alam kung gising pa ba siya. Pero ilang sandali ay nakapag-reply naman siya. And he even called.

"So, you also attended their engagement? Will you attend the wedding, too?" He asked me on the phone.

"Uh, yes..."

I heard him sighing. "Are you all right now?"

I smiled a bit. "Of course. They are both my friend, Kalyx. So we will stay supporting each other..." I said.

"Okay..."

"Are you in your condo now?" I asked him.

"Yeah. It's a bit boring." I heard him sighing.

Napangiti naman ako sa boses niya na mukha ngang bored. "Gumawa ka na ba ng assignments mo?"

"Yes, already did."

"How about dinner?" I actually worry kung ano ba ang kinakain niya kung nasa condo niya lang siya at mag-isa. He doesn't know how to cook.

"Already had. You? Kumain ka na kanina sa party na in-attend mo?"

"Yes..."

"So... you don't like your friend anymore?"

"Huh? You mean, Ethan..."

"Uh, yup..."

"I still like him... but as a friend. It's not like that anymore...." Umiling pa ako.

"Okay..."

I thought if he'd ask me if I like someone else now... But he didn't. At iyon na lang ang huli niyang sinabi.

I also heard a knock on my door. Kaya agad ko na rin binaba ang tawag kay Kalyx.

I went to open my door and saw Mommy there.

"Uh, Mom..."

"Rina... were you on the phone and talking to someone?"

My lips parted. Pero mabilis din ako sumagot. "Uh, yes, Mom. I was just taking to Kassie..." I said.

Tumingin sa akin si Mommy. Pagkatapos ay tumango naman siya. "Matulog ka na. Maaga ka pa bukas at may pasok ka pa sa eskwela."

Agad na rin naman akong tumango sa sinabi ni Mommy. "Opo, Mom. Goodnight, po." I said.

Tumango si Mommy at tumalikod na rin na bumalik sa kwarto niya.

I sighed after I closed my door.

I went to bed and decided to follow what my mom said and I slept right away. At hindi na rin nagpuyat pa.

Kinabukasan ay may message pa pala sa akin si Kalyx kagabi. He told me na wala rin pala siyang pasok ngayon. While I have just one subject in the morning at sa hapon pa ang isa.

I asked if what's his plan today na wala siyang pasok sa university. At kung may pagkain ba siya sa condo niya. Sinabi niya lang naman na he can buy food sa convenience store sa baba ng condo niya or order food online.

I sighed. And then I decided na pupuntahan ko siya mamaya sa condo niya just after my one class this morning. At mukhang wala rin siyang plano na lumabas ngayon. Sinabi ko sa kaniya na pupunta ako and he said that he'd wait for me.

So after my one morning subject, I got out of the campus and went to his condo. Hindi rin naman ganoon kalayo ang condo niya sa university namin.

But before going there I passed by the grocery store first. I bought some essentials at mga kailangan ko rin para sa lulutuin ko mamaya. I also thought of asking Kalyx of his favorite ba na ulam.

I went up to his unit with the groceries I bought from the supermarket. Medyo nagulat pa si Kalyx nang pagbuksan niya ako ng pinto ng condo niya at nakitang medyo marami rin akong dala. And he helped me with the plastic bags right away.

"You went grocery shopping?" He asked while we put the goods in his kitchen.

I nodded. "Uh, yeah. I'll cook us lunch today. At baka ipagluluto na rin kita ng dinner mo mamaya bago ako bumalik sa university." sabi ko.

"Are you sure?"

Bumaling ako sa kaniya at tumango. "Yeah. It's fine. Ano pala ang paborito mo? Like gusto mong ulam? I should've asked you bago ako namili sa grocery para nakabili na rin sana ako ng ingredients." I sighed a bit.

He was looking at me. "Uh, nothing in particular... Eggs?"

"Huh?" Napatanong naman ako sa sinabi niya.

And then he shrugged. "I like it whether it's boiled or fried..."

Nakatingin lang ako sa kaniya. And then I shook my head. "Do you know how to fry some eggs?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I learned it here in the condo."

I sighed. At napailing na lang ako. Maybe since he lived here alone he only learned to cook eggs, kaya naman iyon na lang din ang naging paborito niya...

"I'm serious. I like eggs. It's pretty easy to prepare, and it's good, too." He said.

Nagbuntong-hininga na lang ako.

And then he also told me a story from his childhood. "My Mom actually wasn't a very good cook. But she still tried to feed me with her home cooked... and at least she can prepare me scrambled egg, so..."

Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa.

And I noticed that it was the first time he talked to me about his mom...

I nodded after that. And then I smiled at him. He wasn't joking when he said that he liked eggs. "All right. I also bought a tray of eggs from the supermarket. Nakapag-breakfast ka na ba?" I asked him.

Tumango naman siya. "I had coffee from the coffee shop d'yan sa baba." He said.

Iyon na ang breakfast niya? Napailing na lang ako.

I looked at the time on my wristwatch. Maaga ang class ko today at hindi iyon umabot ng 2 hours ang class namin. And I came here early so papasa pang late breakfast lang kung ipagluluto ko siya ngayon.

"Okay. I'll prepare you some omelette. Okay ba sa 'yo?"

And then he smiled widely at me. And thumbs up.

He's cute. I remained looking at him for a few moments before I woke myself up and nodded then went to the sink to wash my hands first.

At habang hinahanda ko ang mga itlog ay doon ko pa lang din yata na realize na marami rin palang klase ng luto ang pwede kahit itlog lang. So no wonder if Kalyx likes it.

So I made him some simple omelette for his late breakfast. At nakita ko na mukhang nagustuhan naman niya 'yon. Napangiti na lang ako habang nakikita ko siyang kumakain ng luto ko.

"Won't you eat? Masarap. I can share this with you." He said.

Umupo naman ako roon across him sa dining table niya at kumain na rin. At parang ngayon ko lang din mas na appreciate pa ang itlog.

After having breakfast with him, that I don't usually do. Hindi ako masyadong mahilig kumain lalo na kapag maaga pa. I can eat konti lang. Pero medyo naparami rin ang kain ko ngayon kasama si Kalyx. Iba lang din siguro talaga kapag may kasabay ka na kumain at lalo ka nagkakagana kahit pa simple lang ang pagkain n'yo.

I also cooked him Chicken Adobo dahil nakabili rin ako ng manok kanina sa supermarket at ito ang pinakamabilis na lutuin for me with only very few ingredients needed. At hindi pa madaling masira kaya kahit hanggang dinner na niya mamaya.

"Thank you for the food." He told me.

Bumaling ako sa kaniya at ngumiti bago ako umalis. "Basta kumain ka nang maayos mamaya pagkaalis ko. I have to go back to the university now." I said to him.

Tumango siya sa akin. "Are you sure hindi na kita ihahatid?"

Umiling ako sa kaniya. "Huwag na." And he looked lazy today. "Just do your assignments and prepare for your classes tomorrow. See you tomorrow at the university."

"Okay..." He said.

Ngumiti pa ako sa kaniya bago ako umalis na. Sana nga ay mamaya pa ako babalik ng university kahit mga past 1:00 PM na sana kaya lang ay tinawagan ako ng kaklase ko at group mates dahil gagamitin na raw namin ang free time namin ngayon para ipagpatuloy iyong sa group project namin.

Kaya rin siguro mukhang pagod at tinatamad din si Kalyx ngayon kasi may mga projects din sila sa course nila. Napagod din siguro siya na humabol lang din talagang magseryoso. Kaya tuloy ang dami niya rin ginagawa ngayon since we're all graduating students. Kailangan matapos na lahat ng school stuffs before graduation.

But I know that he can do it. And I'm glad to see that he got motivated a bit to finish his studies... Unlike the last time when he told me that he didn't care if he graduate or not.