Madaling-araw pa lamang ay nagising na si Fresia dahil sa gutom. Hindi pa siya nakakapaghapunan. Bullet was still fast asleep next to her. Nakatagilid ito, nakaharap sa kanya.

Gusto sana niya itong hayaang matulog hanggat gusto nito, kaso ay nagrereklamo na ang tiyan at pantog niya.

"Bullet..."

Tinapik niya ang pisngi nito.

"Hey, wake up. Gutom na 'ko."

Umungot lang ito.

"Bullet!" Niyugyog niya ang balikat nito. "Gumising ka muna at magluto! Mamaya ka na lang ulit matulog!"

Hindi niya ito tinigilan hanggat hindi ito bumabangon. Simangot itong tumingin sa kanya, eyes still half-closed. She pushed him off the bed and out of the bedroom. Habang naghihikab ito sa kusina ay tinungo niya ang banyo to freshen up.

When she got back, he was already making coffee. Hikab ito nang hikab, mukhang antok na antok pa talaga.

"Fried rice ang lutuin mo, ha."

"Wala akong sinaing," sabi nito. "Buttered toast na lang, gusto mo?"

That won't satiate her hunger, but it will do. Kesa naman walang laman ang tiyan niya. So she told him okay and he made some toast. Correction: he made a mountain of toasts. Halos ubusin nito ang sliced bread. Ang dami pa nitong inilabas na palaman: nutella, peanut butter, butter, sliced cheese...

"Pwedeng sunny-side up egg at bacon ang palaman?" request niya.

Bullet took out eggs and bacon from the fridge. "You cook them."

"Ayoko na pala ng eggs and bacon." Kinuha niya ang peanut butter at iyon ang ipinalaman sa tinapay. "Gusto mo rin?"

"Sure," he answered. Pumunta ito sa living room sandali at pagbalik nito, dala-dala nito ang cupcakes na bigay ni Mona. Nabuksan na nito iyon bago pa niya ma-realize na hindi nga pala siya nakapag-confess dito kagabi.

He frowned when he saw them. What will he think about the tiny hearts on top of the cupcakes? Mabuti na lamang talaga at hindi iyon nilagyan ni Mona ng kung anu-anong sulat.

"Mona asked me to give them to you."

Kumuha ito ng isang cupcake at saka kumagat doon. "Hmm... maybe I should send her something," he said thoughtfully. "What's her favorite food?"

He wants to send Mona something? Pa'no naman siya? She stayed with him the whole night so he could sleep!

"She likes to eat everything," sagot niya.

Bullet chuckled. "Anything then."

She munched on her toast. Since he likes Mona's cupcakes so much, hindi na niya ito ipinagpalaman. He can have the cupcakes for himself. Sosolohin na lamang niya ang mga tinapay.

Sinalinan nito ng kape ang dalawang tasa at ibinigay sa kanya ang isa. He added sugar on his. Tapos ay itinulak nito palapit sa kanya ang gatas at asukal.

"Bakit ka nga pala nagpunta rito kagabi?"

Napatigil siya bigla sa pagnguya. "Ano... to apologize for the way I acted last weekend," mahina niyang sagot.

Bullet nodded. "Okay."

"Okay? Okay na 'yon sa 'yo?"

Ngumiti ito. "Yeah. Thanks to you, I was able to sleep well again. But I'm not done sleeping.... so you can't leave just yet."

"I have work." Which reminds her... she needs to go back to her apartment.

Kagat-kagat ang isang toast na may palamang butter, tumayo siya para kunin ang mga gamit nang humarang ito sa kanya.

"Mamaya ka na umuwi."

"May trabaho nga ako."

"Mag-leave ka."

She rolled her eyes. "Why can't you sleep on your own? Kung hindi mo kayang mag-isa, then call someone to sleep with you. Hindi 'yong ako na may trabaho ang hinahatak mo."

"Nandito ka naman, why would I look for someone else?"

"But I have work," pag-uulit niya.

"Hindi ka naman malulugi kung a-absent ka ng isang araw. Stay and I'll cook anything you like."

Damn her stomach. Ang tiyan na niya ang nag-decide.

"Fine. But I need a change of clothes." Nagdamit-damit pa kasi siya ng maganda, matutulog lang pala sila. In-expect niyang lalabas man lang sila para manuod ng sine. But he was too tired for that.

"My closet is yours," nakangiti nitong sabi.
He took another cupcake from the box. Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng inis. Was it that good? Bakit ako naiinis sa cupcake? tanong niya sa sarili. She must be losing her mind to be jealous of a cupcake!

She must have been gazing so intently at the cupcake because Bullet offered it to her. "You want a bite?"

Kinuha niya iyon mula rito at saka kinagatan. She stopped the moan that almost escaped her lips. Fudge! What is this, sorcery? How can a cupcake taste so good? Kaya naman pala hindi iyon matigilan ni Bullet.

The cupcakes that Mona gave her were off the menu. Tuwing Valentine's lang kasi iyon itinitinda. And Mona only make those para sa mga nagpapa-reserve. Ngayon lang niya iyon natikman. And starting today, she'll probably bug her friend about it.

"It's good, right?"

Wala sa sarili siyang tumango. Mona doesn't realize the magnitude of her power. If she wants to, she could have any man she wants. Kung naging lalaki lamang siya, si Mona ang pakakasalan niya para hindi siya magutom.

She took another bite. Hindi niya alam kung dahil ba gutom lang siya pero gusto niyang ubusin ang natitirang cupcakes sa box.

"I probably need to get that recipe," narinig niyang sabi nito.

"Mona doesn't share her special recipes." Utangan na nito si Mona, huwag lang hingian ng recipe. Saksakan ito ng damot pagdating sa mga pagkaing naimbento nito. Tanging ang pinagkakatiwalaan lamang na empleyado ang may alam ng ilang recipes ni Mona. May confidentiality agreement pa nga ang dalawa!

Bullet grinned. "But I know someone who can convince her to give it up."

--

Hinayaan siya ni Bullet na maghanap ng isusuot sa closet nito. He has a lot of shirts and she was tempted to get one. Pero bigla niyang naalala 'yong time na biglang sumugod si Richard sa apartment niya. Shaking her head, she returned the shirt and took a blue dress shirt instead.

She changed into it and tied her hair up.

"Isasauli ko na lang kapag napalabhan ko na," sabi niya nang makitang nakatingin ito.

"Keep it. It looks better on you."

She tried to ignore the heat on her cheeks. Sumampa siya sa kama at tinakpan ng kumot ang sarili. Nahiga naman ito sa tabi niya. He was already yawning.

"Wake me up when you get hungry," sabi nito sa kanya bago ito pumikit.

Naging normal ang paghinga niya nang tumalikod ito sa kanya. He probably doesn't know his effect on her. And he probably doesn't care. Maybe he only cares for her company and the comfort that it provides, parang extrang unan na hindi nawawala sa kama para mas masarap matulog.

Maybe that's what she is, an extra pillow. And what is he to her? A cook?

Tumihaya siya. Hindi pa rin klaro sa kanya kung ano ang patutunguhan ng setup nila o kung hanggang kailan iyon magtatagal. But maybe it's better that way, not knowing what the future would be like. It could be exciting.

She looked at his back and smiled. Crush pa lang naman kita.

Tumalikod siya rito at saka pumikit. Mabuti pang mag-isip na lamang siya ng ipaluluto rito mamaya para makatulog siya. Ano kaya ang masarap? Fried rice with egg and tapa ulit? Nilaga kaya? Sana pala sinilip niya ang laman ng fridge nito para alam niya kung anong ingredients ang available.

Mamaya na lang siguro siyang magdi-decide. Pero ano naman kaya ang pwede niyang isipin para makatulog siya?

Well, you're on the same bed and he's just inches away from you so... She shook the thought away.

Kinuha niya ang extrang unan sa ulunan at saka iyon niyakap. Maybe she'll just imagine him as the pillow for the time being.

Or so she thought.

Bigla niyang naramdamang yumakap ito sa kanya.

--

When she woke up a few hours later, kumot na lang ang nakayakap sa kanya. Lumabas siya ng kwarto para hanapin si Bullet. She heard the shower running so nag-assume siya na naliligo ito. Meanwhile, she looked inside the fridge to see what's available. Naka-jackpot siya nang makakita ng baka. Inilabas niya iyon mula sa freezer para maluto kaagad pagkaligo ni Bullet.

While she was searching for other ingredients, she heard the doorbell ring.

Sino naman kaya ang maghahanap kay Bullet nang ganitong oras ng umaga? Bubuksan na sana niya ang pinto nang biglang lumabas si Bullet mula sa banyo. Natameme siya nang makitang towel lamang ang suot nito. A smaller towel was draped on his head.

Sinapian yata siya ng espiritu ni Aika. Puro kaberdehan ang pumapasok sa utak niya.

"What?"

She averted her gaze. "M-May tao yata sa labas," sabi niya rito.

Bullet walked towards the door. Sumilip ito sa peep hole. Sumunod siya rito. Napamura ito nang mahina.

"Who is it?" she whispered.

"Mari, I think?"

Kumunot ang noo niya. "Who's Mari?"

Hinila siya nito palayo sa pintuan. He told her about Mari. Ito raw iyong nag-welcome kay Bullet pagkarating nito galing Canada. And by welcome, he meant that he slept with her. Biglang kumulo ang dugo niya dahil sa kwento nito.

"She comes here sometimes. Tinityempuhan ako."

"Akala ko ba mahigpit ang security rito? Bakit nakakapunta sya kahit kelan nya gusto?"

"She made friends with the guard," sagot nito.

"Did you meet with her again?"

Bullet shook his head. "It was just one time."

"Bakit nandito na naman sya?"

"Hindi ba obvious? Mukhang tinamaan sa 'kin, e."

Sinamaan niya ito ng tingin. Conceited talaga ito. Mukhang proud na proud sa sarili si Bullet dahil may naghahabol ditong babae. Kung sabagay, pampalaki nga naman ng ego.

"Gustong-gusto mo naman?"

"Actually, I find her annoying. I just don't know how to tell her that I don't want to see her again."

"Just tell her that you don't like her."

"It's not that simple."

Why? Because you might want to sleep with her again? gusto niyang itanong. "I'll make it simple," she told him.

--

Pagkatapos niyang sabihin dito ang plano niyang gawin, ginulo niya ang buhok at binuksan ang mga butones ng suot niyang damit. Sinilip niyang muli ang babae. Naka-halukipkip ito, mukhang inip na kahihintay. The woman rang the doorbell again.

She opened the door.

Mukhang nagulat ito nang makita siya.

"Yes?" tanong niya.

Hindi ito kaagad nakasagot. Sininyasan niya si Bullet gamit ang kamay na nakatago mula sa paningin ng babae.

"Who is it, Hon?" Bullet hugged her from behind and kissed her neck, before looking at the woman.

Tiningala naman niya ang lalaki. "Do you know who she is?" tanong niya rito.

"Uhm... ano... sorry! Wrong unit yata ako," bulalas ng babae. "Sorry sa abala!"

Dali-dali itong umalis. Bullet pulled her away from the door and closed it. Isinarado niya ang nakabukas na damit at saka sinabing, "See? It's that simple."

Bullet smiled. "Thanks," sabi nito bago ito dahan-dahang yumuko.