Athena’s P.O.V.
Nasa pinakailalim ‘yon na natakpan na ng iba niyang mga libro at notebook. Luminga-linga ako sa paligid at dahil maraming tao sa loob ng canteen ay hindi ko nilabas ang librong ‘yon.
Oh my God, bawal ‘to dito ha! Nagbabasa pala ng mga ganito si Cristoff? my mind screamed while reading the title of the book.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero parang biglang uminit ang pakiramdam ko. Ayokong pag-isipan siya nang masama pero bakit may ganito siyang libro sa bag niya? Alangan namang hindi kanya ito eh bakit nasa kanya?
My mind was suddenly filled with questions. I looked at Cristoff as he was currently waiting for the one who would lend him a knife… and just by simply looking at him, I believed that he was a nice and innocent person. I didn’t want to accuse him of anything that was why I just forced myself to set aside my thoughts. Kinuha ko na lang ang notebook niyang may mga nakaipit na index card at saka kumopya ng mga formula, then I zipped his bag. Pero ewan ko ba… hindi ko pa rin maiwasang mag-isip nang kung ano sa kanya.
So for me to totally forget the book that I saw as one of his belongings, I focused myself on copying his notes. Habang nagsusulat ako ay hindi ko rin maiwasang tingnan ang baunan ni Cristoff. Curiosity began to eat me. All I could barely see inside was something red and orange.
Ano kaya ‘yong kakainin naming dalawa na hindi ko pa raw nakakain sa tanang buhay ko? Hmm… hindi naman siguro malaking bulate ’yon?
Cristoff came back with a knife and other utensils on his hand. I stopped from copying his notes and placed my things on the side of the table to focus on how he would prepare our lunch.
“Mas masarap kainin ‘to nang nakakamay, Helena… trust me. Pero kumuha pa rin ako ng kutsara at tinidor para sa’yo. Baka hindi mo pa kasi nararanasan ang kumain nang nakakamay eh,” he smiled at me. I found him very sweet and caring, and I just couldn’t help myself but depend on him.
“Alam mo bang kung ano-ano na ang iniisip ko rito sa kakainin natin? All I could barely see was something red and orange from the inside. Buksan mo na kaya?” I looked like being in a rush. Sa totoo lang ay gutom na talaga ako… kanina pa.
“Teka lang, masyado kang excited eh. Akala ko ba, hindi ka pa nagugutom? Ito na, bibiyakin ko pa kasi ito tapos hihiwain at paghahaluhin.” He slowly opened the container and I just couldn’t help but stare at him.
Other than our maids, the last time I experienced someone prepared for my food was when Mommy was still alive. Even at six years old, I kept on staying at our kitchen area as I always wanted to help Mommy cook for our food. Ang kakambal ko namang si Helena ay masyadong antukin kaya habang naghihintay lang ito sa dining table ay hindi maiwasang lagi itong nakakatulog.
When Mom died, Dad would only prepare the table for Helena… as if she was his only daughter. It was a good thing that I knew how to prepare for my own food and being with Ate Paula in the kitchen made me learn how to cook more. Now, aside from Mom and the maids, I had Cristoff.
“Let me help you,” I offered. I was ready to steal the tupperware from him pero pinigilan niya lang ako.
“Hindi na, I can do this. Balot lang naman ito, Helena… kinulayan ko lang para maging pula!”
My eyes grew wide in horror on what I heard. “Balot? Oh my God… no way, Cristoff!” I yelled at him. Because of my scream, almost everyone in the canteen looked at us but I didn’t care.
For Christ’s sake, there’s no way that I would eat a small chick! Isipin ko pa lang ‘yong ulo, nasusuka na ako.
Natawa naman siya. “I just loved your reaction. Joke lang, itlog na maalat lang talaga ‘to!” Sa sinabi niyang ‘yon ay bigla rin naman akong napalagay. But I wouldn’t just sit here without doing anything to get even, kung kaya’t tumayo ako para hampasin siya.
“Aray, ikaw talaga… ang hilig mong manghampas! Just relax, okay? I wouldn’t let you eat something that I knew you wouldn’t like.” Natatawa siya.
I sat down. “I’ll help you. I’ll make sure na hindi nga talaga balot ‘yan…”
“No, Helena… just sit there. You’re my princess for today so let me be your slave.” Nilabas niya sa baunan ang apat na itlog na kulay pula at tatlong kamatis. I must admit that I never tried eating that food combination as I wasn’t good at eating vegetables, but I could give it a try.
“But I don’t want you to be my slave, Cristoff. You’re my rival, remember? Look, when Mommy was still alive… it might not be obvious but I always helped her cook and setup our dining table. I was only four by then,” I smiled while telling him my story.
“But I don’t want you to be my rival, Helena. I want you to be my—” natigilan siya habang nagbibiyak ng itlog na maalat. He looked at me and his mesmerizing eyes seemed to be telling me something he couldn’t say personally.
“What?” I asked. Badly wanting him to finish his sentence to satisfy what I really wanted to hear, my eyes got fixated on his face trying to read him translucently. It seemed like all I could see right now was him, only him, in this almost crowded place.
My heart started to beat fast, and butterflies suddenly fluttered inside my stomach. It felt like the background scenes swiftly transitioned into a slow-motion manner as if an imaginary spotlight was focused on us.