章 295: Food

Chapter 24. Food

AS much as Nami wanted to go berserk, the moment their eyes met, she stayed still. Romano's sincere apologetic eyes hushed her raging mind. Natapik na lang niya ang kaniyang noo saka sinabunutan ang sarili dahil hindi na niya alam kung kakausapin pa ba ito o paalisin na lang niya.

Sa huli, namayani ang katahimikan sa kanilang dalawa. Saglit lang naman iyon dahil nagsalita si Romano.

"Look, I'm really sorry." He sounded defensive, or more like, he didn't know how to kick off the conversation again.

Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga at nagpasyang isantabi muna ang galit na naramdaman sa kadahilanang kahit paano'y nakahinga siya ng maluwag na nasa mabuting kamay ang kakambal niya.

"I was selfish. I didn't think about how would you feel on what did I do."

Muli siyang napabuntong-hininga. Kahit hindi aminin ay kumalma na siya kahit paano. Bumaling siya rito at hinuli ang mga titig, nandoon pa rin ang pagsisisi sa mukha nito. "Alright. Since it looks like you're regretting—"

"I'm not."

She blinked her eyes twice when she was interrupted by him. "Huh?"

"Sorry for cutting you off, but I don't really regret it."

His eyes were obviously regretful though. Or, did she see it wrong? Sinubukan niyang pagsalitaan ito sa ginawa nito. "Anyway... you know that kidnapping is illegal—" But, she stopped in mid sentence when she realised that she's talking to an agent, who, just like her, sometimes did on-the-ground activities for their clients or if the missions called for it. Napailing na lang siya sa isipang iyon.

"But I regret not telling you about it. And if you feel that I laughed at you the whole day, I didn't. It's the other way around. Nakokonsensiya akong hinayaan kitang mag-alala kahit alam kong wala ka namang dapat na ipag-alala."

So, that's why he's regretful... Pero wala na iyon sa kaniya. At the end of the day, Glaze wasn't in danger and that was the most important to her for now.

"And..." A silent pause. Napapitlag siya kaya bumalik ang atensiyon niya kay Romano. His gazes travelled on the swollen side of her lips, so she unconsciously licked her lower lip because she got conscious if were her lips chappy or dry; then, he genuinely uttered, "I'm also sorry because of that. I did not mean to punch you."

His voice was so hoarse that it sent her some shivers down to her spine. Hindi niya maintindihan ang sarili. Nakasama naman niya noon ang lalaki, nakikita paminsan-minsan, pero bakit laging parang bago nang bago sa pakiramdam niya ang mga mumunting interaksyon nila?

"Does it still hurt?"

Kaagad na umiling siya pero napangiwi rin nang biglang tila nag-inarte ang bibig niya dahil kumirot iyong nasuntok na bahagi.

"I'll just ask for some ointment."

"Sige."

"Mag-o-order na lang din ba ako ng pagkain natin sa room service?"

Automatically, she nodded. He stood up and found a menu near the phone. He went back to seat beside her.

"Anong gusto mong kainin?"

"Just light dinner. Lasagna na lang siguro, if there's chicken, order some."

"Anong manok?"

"Prito. Padagdag ka na rin ng fries, or more chicken."

"Sigurado ka bang light dinner ang gusto mo?" natatawang bulalas nito.

"Mind your own food."

"I'll mind yours. Iyon na lang din ang o-order-in ko para sa 'kin, eh."

"Hey, order some steak!"

"Para sa iyo ulit?"

"Para sa iyo."

"Why would I eat steak though? I prefer the fried chicken more."

"Ayaw mo?" Nag-iwas siya ng tingin. Bakit ba hindi na lang siya nag-stick sa lasagna? Kaya lang kasi, sa pagbanggit ng pagkain, natakam siya bigla sa iba pang mga naisip. Now, she's craving for some steak too.

"Gusto mong makihati, 'no?"

Dang it. He got her. Kaunti lang ang gusto niya, masasayang kung o-order sila ng extra serving tapos hindi naman niya mauubos. At least, if he had steak, he wouldn't mind sharing some to her. Tutal ay hindi naman na siya maarte sa pagkain. Pero syempre, depende pa rin sa kung sino ang kasalo niya sa pagkain.

"Alright, I'll order steak, too. How would you like it to be done?"

"Medium rare na lang."

"Ano pa?"

"Hmm... Order some dessert, too. Ikaw nang bahala roon."

"Okay. Chocolate brownies na lang."

Tumingin ito sa room service menu na nandoon, at nang nakitang may available sa mga pagkaing gusto nila, nag-stick sila roon. Wala nga lang brownies pero may ibang dessert naman na pagpipilian.

"Gusto mo ng ice cream?" he asked her. Lumapit siya nang bahagya pagkalahad nito sa menu, ni hindi namalayang magkadikit na pala sila habang tumitingin ng pagkain.

"Huwag na lang siguro."

"Okay. How about some wine?"

Natatawang tumingin siya rito. "Are you sure you only want to drink wine?" Kahit magaan na ang usapan nila, ramdam pa rin naman niya na hindi pa rin okay si Romano.

"How did you know?" nakangising tanong naman nito sa kaniya.

Just like magic, her anger towards him disappeared into thin air as she chuckled lightly. "Nah, I'm just kidding," dagdag niya.

"I honestly want to drink and get wasted since that incident. But I chose to investigate instead."

"So, hindi ka naman pala pa-strong gaya ng inasahan ko. Gusto mo, lasingin kita ngayon? Don't worry, I won't get wasted. I'll just accompany you. Say, listen to you? Or watch how you cry so ugly?" Inakbayan niya ito dahil gusto niyang tuksuhin. Mas gusto niyang idaan sa magaan na usapan ang sitwasyon kaysa seryoso. Ngayon pa nga lang siya nakahinga ng maluwag matapos ng insidente, e.

"You still didn't see me cry, Nam. At sinasabi ko sa iyo, kapag umiiyak ako, mas gwapo pa ako sa mga nakasama mo nang artista."

"Bakit hindi ka nag-artista, kung ganoon?"

"I'm not good at acting."

"So, may balak ka?" Tinanggal niya ang pagkakaakbay rito at sumandal sa sofa. She crossed her arms as well.

"Wala," tipid na sagot lang nito.

"Weh? Saka hindi totoong hindi ka marunong umarte, 'no! I think you're forgetting that you are an agent. Napakagaling mo kayang magpanggap." She meant whenever he's on undercover for a mission.

Naiiling na tumayo ito at dumiretso sa receiver na nasa bedside table. Tumawa ulit siya nang hindi na ito sumagot, bagkus ay umupo na lang ito sa gilid ng kama habang tumatawag ng room service. Napakurap-kurap siya nang mapagtantong sa isang iglap ay unti-unti nang bumabalik kung ano ang mayroon sila noon.

"Ano bang mayroon kayo?" hindi sinasadyang napalakas ang pagbanggit niya roon kahit pa nga ba sa isipan lang naman niya dapat.