Chapter 82 #3
"I wasn't confiscating your hands," Gianna said, laughing at herself. "I got carried away because may naisip lang akong ibang way to structure the sentence."
"You were one suggestion away from taking away my keyboard privileges."
"That seems dramatic."
"Feeling ko, accurate naman."
Umiling si Gianna, still smiling. "Fine. I'll be more careful."
Bumalik ang tingin ni Kairi sa laptop, pero hindi pa rin siya agad nag-type. Sa halip, sumandal siya sa sofa at tumingala kay Gianna.
"You know what I think? That you're aiming for perfection."
Sandaling pinag-isipan ni Gianna ang sinabi bago siya ngumiti nang bahagya na parang may naalala. "Wasn't that you?"
Tumahimik si Kairi.
Napunta ang tingin niya sa screen, then down to her hands. This time, hindi na siya nag-isip nang matagal bago sumagot.
"Not anymore. There was a time na gusto ko perfect lahat. Or at least gusto kong isipin na kaya kong gawing perfect."
She paused, her fingers loosely resting against her knees.
"Ngayon, gusto ko na lang matapos ang isang bagay and know na ginawa ko ang best ko."
Gianna's expression softened. "That's probably healthier."
"I think so too," Kairi agreed, shrugging. "Napilitan din akong matutunan na hindi lahat ng bagay nangyayari the way you expect them to."
Dahan-dahang tumango si Gianna. "You've learned."
"I've been forced to."
"I can see that."
Napalingon si Kairi sa kanya with a faint smile.
"Ang bilis mong nag-agree. No lecture?" Kairi narrowed her eyes playfully. "Suspicious."
Gianna smiled. "You should take the win."
Napatawa si Kairi. "Fine. I'll take it."
They returned to the thesis for another few minutes before Gianna finally closed the laptop halfway.
"I think we've done enough for today."
Kairi glanced at the clock on the wall and stared. "Have we really been doing this for more than two hours?"
"Closer to three."
"Seriously?" She looked down at the laptop as though it had personally deceived her. "It doesn't feel that long."
"You've been productive."
"I've been bullied."
Napatawa si Gianna. "You've been edited."
"Same thing."
Gianna laughed again before tuluyang isinantabi ang laptop.
"Are you hungry?"
Napaisip si Kairi, saka lang niya napansin kung gaano na pala katagal silang nakaupo roon.
"Actually, yeah. Gutom na ako."
"So am I." Tumayo si Gianna at nag-stretch bago tumingin sa kitchen. "Let's take a break."
"Finally," Kairi muttered as she stood. "Akala ko thesis na ang magiging dinner ko."
Gianna glanced back at her with an amused smile. "I wouldn't let it get that far."
Sabay silang pumunta sa kitchen and without the laptop between them, the whole apartment suddenly felt quieter.
Binuksan ni Kairi ang refrigerator at ilang segundo siyang nakatayo roon, scanning everything inside.
"We have bread," she announced.
"Good."
"Ham."
"Also good."
"Cheese."
Lumapit si Gianna at sumilip over Kairi's shoulder.
Napataas ang kilay niya nang mapansin ang mga gulay na nakatago sa likod ng ibang containers.
"You even have vegetables."
Napalingon si Kairi sa kanya. "We do."
"Actual vegetables?"
"Yes, actual vegetables."
"I was expecting instant noodles."
"We still have those," Kairi admitted habang kinukuha ang lettuce at tomatoes. "Pero we're trying to be responsible adults now."
Gianna smiled. "Trying?"
"That's the important part."
Inilapag ni Kairi ang ingredients sa counter at isa-isang inayos ang mga iyon.
"Maya's actually good at cooking," sabi niya. "Zoe and I are still trying to catch up."
"That sounds like progress."
"It is. Mabagal nga lang, but still progress."
They settled on simple sandwiches.
Nothing fancy. Toasted bread, ham, cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, and kung anu-anong condiments ang makita nila sa refrigerator door. Neither of them bothered making anything more complicated.
Paminsan-minsan, sabay silang aabot sa parehong ingredient. Minsan naman, nagkakabanggaan ang mga siko nila kapag pareho silang gumagalaw sa maliit na space sa counter.
A few minutes later, magkatabi na silang nakasandal sa counter, sandwiches in hand.
For a while, tahimik lang silang kumain.
Then the front door unlocked.
Narinig nila ang boses mula sa entryway bago pa tuluyang lumitaw sina Zoe at Maya.
"I'm telling you, that professor definitely changed the deadline."
"No, ikaw lang talaga ang nakalimot ng date."
The apartment door swung open, and Zoe stepped inside with Maya close behind her. Both stopped almost immediately when they noticed Kairi and Gianna standing in the kitchen.
Biglang tumahimik ang buong apartment.
Napatingin si Zoe kay Kairi, then kay Gianna, then sa sandwiches na hawak nilang dalawa, before returning slowly to Kairi's face.
Tumaas ang isang kilay Zoe.
"Oh," she said, placing a hand dramatically over her chest. "So this is why may in-invite kang guest without warning us."
Maya glanced at the scene once, immediately catching the implication behind Zoe's words.
She pressed her lips together to keep from laughing as she quietly closed the door behind them.