Lena didn't expect Cyrus to visit again any time soon. Noong huli kasing usap nila through phone, he sounded angry again. She didn't know if it's because of something that she said or because he's just not feeling well. She certainly didn't expect him to be outside her house the next morning. May dala pa itong pagkain. Padala raw ng daddy nito.

Her mouth watered when she saw the food she ate the last time they went to his father's restaurant. May bonus pa na chocolate cake. She wished Nikola was there to share it with. He'd be delighted for sure.

"How's your foot?" Cyrus asked as he placed the food on the table, away from Bailey's hungry stares.

"Uhm... okay naman." Idinaan siya ng daddy niya sa ospital kahapon para patingnan kung gaano kalala ang pilay niya. It wasn't that bad, but her dad's overreaction was expected. Isabay pa rito ang pag-aalala ng mommy niya. All because she didn't tell them sooner.

She uses the crutches to maneuver her way around the house. Palaging nakabuntot sa kanya si Bailey, nakabantay kung sakaling mahulog na naman siya. Natumba kasi siya kahapon dahil hindi siya sanay gumamit noon. Mabuti na nga lamang at sa kama siya bumagsak.

The said crutches were now placed against the wall half a meter away from the dining table where Cyrus was laying the food. He already seemed to know where everything was.

"Eat," he ordered. Inilapit nito ang plato sa kanya at binigyan siya ng kutsara at tinidor. He didn't need to tell her twice. She was already chewing on a chunk of meat. It was heavenly done. Parang lalo pa iyong sumarap dahil nagkataong gutom siya.

"Ikaw?" She offered to share her food but he shook his head.

"I already ate."

He seemed distant that day. Parang napilitan lamang itong dumalaw sa kanya. That scowl from the other day was still evident on his face. Parang inis ito sa kung ano. Kung tinutopak nga lamang siya ay pauuwiin niya ito, but she can't be rude to him because he brought food.

She ate in silence habang ito naman ay ipinaghanda ng pagkain si Bailey. Hindi ito kagaya noong mga nakaraang linggo na makwento. Maybe he's still sick?

--

"Wala kang work?" tanong niya maya-maya. Cyrus was sitting on the opposite end, sipping the coffee that he made earlier. Siya naman ay cake na ang kinakain.

"Naka-sick leave ako," sagot nito.

That made her worry. He's already four days sick? "Are you still sick?"

"Tinatamad lang."

Napangiti siya sa sagot nito. "Pasaway ka ha."

He smiled back. "I was told to rest, anyway."

"Tapos nandito ka."

"This is rest." He raised the coffee mug in a manner of salutation. She raised her fork.

After eating, Cyrus insisted that he wash the dishes. Kaya bumalik na lamang siya sa gilid ng kama kung saan nakakalat ang mga alambreng pinagkakaabalahan niya bago ito dumating. She's making a chandelier out of thin steel wires. Naisipan niyang gawin iyon dahil sa pagkabagot. It's already halfway done now.

Pinuntahan siya ni Cyrus at pinanuod habang gumagawa nang matapos itong maghugas ng pinagkainan. Napatigil siya sa ginagawa.

"Manuod ka na lang ng TV," she told him.

"I want to watch you work," he replied. He sat on the edge of the bed and waited for her to resume working, which she didn't.

"Do'n ka na lang," pagtataboy niya rito.

"Bakit mo ba ako pinapaalis?"

"Ayoko kasing may nanunuod habang gumagawa ako. Naiilang ako."

He studied her face as if to see if she's kidding. She wasn't. It's one of the things that made her decide to move out. Palagi kasing may nakanuod sa kanya sa bahay nila kapag gumagawa siya. It's making her uncomfortable. The world isn't allowed to see her art in its unfinished form. Hindi pa kasi iyon perpekto.

"You're really not going to let me watch?"

She shook her head stubbornly. Sa huli ay sumuko na rin ito at hindi na nagpumilit pa. Dragging Bailey along, he headed to the living room and turned the TV on.

--

Lena's oblivious of the time when she's working on something. Hindi siya nakakaramdam ng gutom o antok. Kaya nagulat siya nang gabi na pala. She's about to finish the chandelier when Cyrus came up to her with a plate of food.

She removed her headphones (she always wears a pair when she's working).

"You've been working for hours."

"I didn't notice," she replied. "What's that?"

She was pointing at the plate. Hindi niya alam na may gulay pala siya sa fridge. Hindi naman kasi siya mahilig sa gulay. Kapag nagdadala ng gulay ang parents o lola niya, nabubulok lamang iyon dahil hindi niya kinakain. She only eats potatoes and squashes.

"Ginisang kangkong."

She wrinkled her nose. "Di ako kumakain nyan."

"No wonder you're so thin." Kumuha ito ng gulay at kanin gamit ang kutsara at tinidor saka iyon inilapit sa mukha niya. "Just try it."

"I don't want to."

"Masarap 'to." He ate it and chewed enthusiastically to support his statement. Pakiramdam tuloy niya, ginagawa siya nitong bata. Did he honestly think na mauuto siya nito? "Come on. Kapag di mo nagustuhan, I'll order pizza."

She raised an eyebrow. Mukhang kampante itong magugustuhan niya ang niluto nito. Naengganyo tuloy siyang sumubok. Dalawa lamang naman ang pwedeng mangyari: magustuhan niya iyong kangkong o mag-order ito ng pizza.

She took the spoon and fork from him and tried the dish. She ate it thoughtfully. Hindi naman lasang damo. In fact, wala namang lasa 'yong kangkong. Parang iyong sahog ang nagpapalasa roon.

"Well?"

"It's not bad," she admitted. "But I still prefer pizza."

"But you did not dislike it so you have to eat it," he insisted. He didn't heed her complaints. He even offered to feed her just so she'd agree to eat the food. Dahil pareho nilang gustong masunod, they decided to compromise. Kakain siya, pero kalahati lang. She has to start small anyway. Ayaw naman niyang biglain ang sarili.

--

After finishing the chandelier, Cyrus helped her hang it up. He was pretty impressed with what she did and even asked if he could take it home. He almost convinced her. Hindi lamang niya ibinigay dahil ramdam pa niya ang pananakit ng kamay dahil sa maghapong paggawa noon. The more elaborate the artwork, the harder it is to let go.

"Bilhin ko na lang kung ayaw mong ibigay ng libre."

She looked up at the chandelier. "Gagawa na lang ako ng isa pa. I'll give you this... kapag mas maganda 'yong pangalawa."

Cyrus shook his head, grinning in amusement. "So sa 'yo 'yong mas maganda?"

"I don't know if I'll be able to make another one. Usually kasi, spur of the moment thing lang 'yan. And sometimes, I can only make one piece. For some reason, hindi ko ma-replicate, especially the ones with complicated designs," she explained.

"But you were able to replicate The Thinker for him, from memory."

He didn't need to mention his name. She already understood who he's talking about. Hindi niya maipaliwanag kung bakit bigla siyang nakaramdam ng guilt. The Thinker was a complicated art, yet she was able to replicate it with only her memory of it. Ang nasa isip kasi niya noon, gustong-gusto iyon ni Martin kaya kailangan niya iyong magawa. Maybe if Cyrus could motivate her like that, then she could do it again.

"Anyway," he started, a little perkier, "Julie was asking kung sasama ka raw sa HK. Kasi kung hindi, she may have to cancel the trip or find a new photographer."

"I'm not sure yet."

"You better give her your answer today or tomorrow. Kukulitin ka lang nang kukulitin no'n hanggang hindi ka sumasagot."

Tumango siya. Magtatanong muna siya sa parents niya. Kung papayagan, kakailanganin pa niyang umutang ng pambili ng plane ticket at pang-allowance.

"Kelan daw ba tayo aalis, if ever?"

Nagpamulsa ito at saka tumingin sa sahig. "I'm not going."

"You're not? Why?"

He scratched his nape. "I'm just... busy."

Sumimangot siya. "Pa'no ako? I mean, you said you'd help me, remember? I only agreed to do this because of that."

"I'm sure they could help as well. Saka wala na namang isi-set o aayusin, di ba? You only need to take candid photos."

"So hindi ka talaga sasama?"

"Do you want me to go?" nag-aalangan nitong tanong.

"Of course!" mabilis niyang sagot. Third wheel ang labas niya kung hindi ito sasama. Saka paano siya makakagala ng siya lang mag-isa? Mabilis pa naman siyang maligaw kapag hindi siya pamilyar sa lugar.

Cyrus smiled. "Really?"

"Yeah. I'll need a tour guide."

He reacted like she just delivered a punchline which he didn't find funny. But he quickly recovered.

"If I go, will you go?"

"Maybe," she answered with a shrug.

"Ano ba 'yan. Dapat sigurado ka na."

"I'll sleep on it. And then I'll tell you tomorrow. Pero dapat sure na rin na sasama ka."

"Bukas." He said the word like a promise.

--

Happy New Year!