Chapter 4. Apartment

THE PAST

CHAPTER FOUR: APARTMENT

LOVE ANDREI LEE

Sabi ko kanina gusto ko nang magpahinga, pero hinatid ko pa rin si Aria sa apartment niya. Alam kong hindi ko dapat ‘to ginagawa. Alam kong hindi puwede dahil bago pa man ang lahat, nakaguhit na ang kapalaran ko sa ibang babae.

But no matter how much I reminded myself of that, I just couldn’t ignore her. I didn’t know why.

There was something about her, something intangible, that kept pulling me toward her like a magnet. Even when I tried to resist, it was as if the universe itself was nudging me in her direction.

“Dito na lang, Dr. Lee.” Itinigil ko ang sasakyan matapos niyang tumuro sa tabi, sa tapat ng lumang building. It was an old structure, situated along the highway. Pero base sa mga damit na nakasampay sa maliit na balcony bawat palapag, mukhang maraming nanunuluyan sa building.

As she unbuckled her seatbelt, I glanced at her briefly, a strange heaviness settling in my chest. I shouldn’t have cared where she lived, but somehow, I did. For reasons I couldn’t yet explain, everything about her seemed to matter to me more than it should.

“Salamat po sa paghatid.” Itutulak na sana niya pabukas ang pinto nang bigla siyang natigilan at nilingon ako. Alam ko kung bakit at nakaramdam ako ng hiya kaya ibinaling ko ang tingin sa harap. “Tiyan mo ba ‘yon? Gutom ka?” tanong niya.

Yeah. That was definitely my stomach. She had almost left the car when it betrayed me, rumbling loud enough for her to notice. I hadn’t eaten lunch earlier—I didn’t have time. I couldn’t let my patient wait, not when time was critical.

Bago pa man ako makapag-react, muli siyang nagsalita. “Gusto n’yo po bang sumama sa ‘kin sa taas? P’wede kitang pakainin saglit, pambawi ko man lang sa paghatid mo sa ‘kin.”

I opened my mouth to decline, but she didn’t give me the chance. She had already stepped out of the car and, just before closing the door, bent down to peer back at me with an almost playful smile. “Tara na, Dr. Lee. Huwag ka nang tumanggi, minsan lang ako magyaya kumain dahil sa sobrang pagtitipid ko.”

With a quiet sigh, I unbuckled my seatbelt and stepped out of the car. “Alright,” I said, trying to keep my tone neutral.

She grinned and led the way toward her building. I followed, unsure of what surprised me more—her generosity, despite having so little, or the fact that I was actually going along with it.

May inakyat kaming lumang hagdan para marating ang palapag kung nasaan ang unit niya. Luma rin maging ang mga pinto ng bawat room. When she unlocked her door and pushed it open, she turned to me, motioning for me to step in first. Saglit akong nag-alinlangan bago kumilos. At pagpasok ko, natigilan ako.

Iba ang expectations ko sa nakita ko sa loob. The building might’ve looked run-down from the outside, but her unit was a stark contrast. Maliit lang ang room niya, but it was spotless. Everything was in perfect order, from the neatly arranged furniture to the fresh scent of air freshener lingering in the air.

The walls looked like they had been recently repainted. In one corner was a small square table with two chairs, positioned near a compact kitchenette. Across from it, a single bed was tucked neatly against the wall, and at its foot stood a sturdy study table stacked with books and notes.

“Nice place,” I said, breaking the silence as I took in the room.

Bahagya siyang natawa habang magkakrus ang mga kamay sa harap. “Alam mo bang kalahati lang ang binabayaran kong upa rito? Ito kasi ‘yong pinakalumang kuwarto at sira pa ‘yong gripo sa lavabo pagdating ko dito. Wala sa mga tenants ang gustong i-occupy ‘to kaya nakipagkasundo ako sa may-ari na dito na lang ako at ako ang bahalang maglinis at mag-ayos. Pero ang kondisyon ko, kalahati lang ang ibabayad ko. Noong una ayaw pumayag ng may-ari kaya sabi ko hahanap na lang ako ng ibang apartment. Kaso no’ng paalis na ‘ko, siya rin ang pumigil sa ‘kin. Pumayag na lang siya kaysa raw mabakante ang kuwarto. Tapos, ayun. Nag-general cleaning ko, nagpalit ng pintura, naglagay ng mga gamit, ipinaayos ko ‘yong gripo kaya ngayon mas maganda pa ‘tong kuwarto ko kaysa sa kuwarto ng ibang umuupa rito.”

Nakatitig lang ako sa kaniya habang nagkukuwento siya. Malapad ang ngiti niya at parang nakalimutan na ang dahilan kaya niya ‘ko pinaakyat dito.

“Ah. Oo nga pala. Ipaghahanda pala kita ng pagkain.” Pero mukhang nabasa niya ang laman ng isip ko kaya agad siyang kumilos at tinungo ang maliit na kitchenette. “Ang kaso, kumakain ka ba ng pangat?” Binalingan niya ako matapos niyang isalang sa stove ang maliit niyang kaserola. “Pangalawang init, pangatlong init, pang-apat na init?” Bahagya siyang natawa kaya nahawa rin ako.

“It’s fine kahit pang-ilang init pa ‘yan. Ang mahalaga hindi pa panis.”

“Char lang, uy! Pangalawang init pa lang ‘to. Kaninang umaga ko lang ‘to niluto. Sa school naman ako kumain ng tanghalian kaya ngayon ko pa lang iinitin ‘tong adobo.”

Adobo?

That’s my favorite.

The familiar aroma of soy sauce and vinegar soon filled the air. Lalo akong nakaramdam ng gutom, lalo nang magsimula na siyang maghain habang iniinit pa ang ulam.

Noong maayos na ang mesa, sumenyas na siya sa ‘kin para paupuin ako sa isang upuan. Siya naman doon sa katapat. A moment later, she turned off the stove and brought over the steaming pot of adobo, carefully plating it before us.

“Kain na tayo,” sabi niya. Pareho na kaming nakaupo, magkaharap.

“Thanks,” I replied curtly, keeping my expression neutral, before digging into the food she’d prepared. It was strange, though, how something so simple could make me feel so at home.

Unang subo ko pa lang, hindi nabigo ang panlasa ko. It wasn’t just good—it was incredible. The flavors were perfectly balanced, the tender meat melting in my mouth, and honestly? It might even be better than the adobo my mom and Ate Emy make. No joke.

If she cooked like this all the time, her boyfriend must be ridiculously lucky.

Wait.

Boyfriend? Meron ba siyang boyfriend?

I glanced at her, my curiosity getting the better of me. “By the way, won’t your boyfriend get mad if he finds out you’re letting another guy into your apartment?”

“Kahit naman malaman niya, hindi siya magagalit.”

Natigilan ako sa pagnguya dahil sa sagot niya. So, meron siyang boyfriend?

“Mafia ‘yong boyfriend ko, pero wala kang dapat ipag-alala.”

“Mafia?” I blinked and swallowed hard.

“Yes. Mafia boss. Nakatira sa libro.” She giggles.