Chapter 6

Kung may medalya para sa domestic survival, dapat akin na ‘yung gold. Kasi ngayon, harap-harapan akong nakikipaglaban sa kaaway kong hindi ko alam kung roommate ba o reincarnation ni Marie Kondo.

Literal na giyera ang loob ng closet ni Callisto. Kalahati ng damit ko nagbagsakan na sa sahig, habang ‘yung ibang dresses ko nakikipagsiksikan sa mga coat niya. May scarf pa akong nakalaylay sa gitna, parang white flag na sumu-surrender.

“You realize you’re invading my space, right?” boses ni Callisto, galing sa hallway. Kalmado, pero may warning shot vibes.

“Invading?” tinaasan ko ng kilay habang hawak ‘yung blouse na muntik nang mapigtas sa hanger.

“Excuse me, last time I checked, ikaw ang nagyaya na lumipat ako rito. Shared apartment, ‘di ba? Eh ‘di syempre may gamit akong kasama. Hindi naman ako multo na nawawala bigla pagpasok ng pinto.”

Lumabas siya sa doorway, naka-cross arms, serious pa rin.

“‘Shared, huh? From where I’m standing, mukhang may deposition na nagaganap. ‘Yung mga sapatos mo, tinakeover na ‘yung rack ko.”

“Uy grabe,” sabi ko, sabay turo sa mga heels. “Hindi ‘yan takeover. Exploration ‘yan. They’re just… exploring. Mapping new territory, ganon.”

Tumingin siya sa akin na parang may nalabag akong batas sa physics. “And the mugs in the kitchen? Five in total. Three are yours. Explain.”

“Because one can never have too many mugs,” sagot ko, matter-of-fact. “Isa para sa kape, isa sa tubig, isa para sa existential breakdown.”

“Right,” he said, dry as sandpaper. “Water and coffee, one mug each. The rest are yours for… emotional support.”

“Fine,” I muttered, tumatawa na rin kahit pilit. “Don’t come crying when your only mug’s in the dishwasher.”

He leaned sa doorway, half-smile on his lips. “I’ll survive. Probably.”

Ayun na naman. ‘Yung “probably” niya. Parang every sentence niya may kasamang challenge.

For someone who kept saying he liked peace, ang dami niyang sinasabi kung saan dapat nakalagay ‘yung peace na ‘yon.

--

Sa bathroom, round two ng space war.

Actually, mas intense ‘yung laban doon.

“Callisto, ‘yung toothpaste placement mo nakakabaliw,” sabi ko, nakapamewang habang tinitingnan ‘yung toothbrush namin na black and blue, magkadikit, parang couple goals yung mga bristles. “They’re touching. Unhygienic ‘yan.”

“They’re not,” sagot niya, kalmado pa rin.

“They are!” Ginamit ko ‘yung daliri ko para itulak ang mga ito para magkalayo. “At ‘yung shaving cream mo? Disaster waiting to happen. Chaos incarnate.”

Umangat ‘yung isang kilay niya. “Sabi ng taong naglipat ang razor ko kahapon. Do you know how disturbing that was?”

“It was about to fall sa sink! Paano kung nahulog yun at nasugatan ang paa ko. Gusto mo bang maging madugo itong tiles ng banyo mo?”

Ngumiti siya, ‘yung tipid na ngiti na parang fine, you win but not really.

“Fine,” he said. “Pero toothbrushes stay. Black for me, blue for you.”

“You actually have a color system for toothbrushes?”

“Of course. Hygiene requires order.”

“Of course it does,” I muttered, sabay iwas ng tingin.

Sa isip ko, nagtatally na ‘ko:

Three minor arguments. Zero actual wins.

May weird siyang talent, ‘yung manalo nang hindi mo namamalayan na natalo ka na pala.

--

Later, sa kitchen.

A.K.A. The Next War Zone.

Nag-aayos kami ng groceries.

‘Yung kanya, nakalabel na parang exhibit sa museum. ‘Yung akin, well… free-spirited. May character. May personality. May konting kaguluhan, pero may charm.

“I don’t know why you insist on keeping condiments out,” sabi niya habang tinitingnan ‘yung jar ko ng peanut butter na parang kalaban sa aesthetic niya. “They belong in the pantry.”

“They’re accessible,” sagot ko agad. “Efficient. Kung gusto ko ng flavor, andiyan lang. Hindi ko kailangang mag expedition pa sa pantry mo.”

“Efficiency and clutter aren’t the same,” sagot niya, calm pa rin, like he’s teaching me a TED Talk on kitchen minimalism. “I value aesthetics.”

“Ayan ka na naman,” sabi ko. “Minimalist kingdom mo versus essential chaos ko. Balance ‘yan, Callisto. Yin and yang.”

Sinimulan niyang i-line up ‘yung mga jars in perfect formation. Seryoso. Parang magkaka-medal siya sa grocery arrangement.

“Proud ka dyan?” tanong ko.

“Of course. Small victories count.”

“Wow,” I said. “You really act like I’m some kind of intruder with five mugs and mismatched socks ha.”

“If by invader you mean organized chaos with a hint of charm,” sagot niya, “then yes.”

Hanep, bakit parang compliment ‘yon?

I looked away, kunwari busy sa paglipat ng hot sauce. Pero ramdam ko ‘yung ngiti sa sulok ng labi ko. Hindi ko alam kung inis o aliw ba to. Maybe both.

--

A few nights later, round four.

Fridge edition.

Binuksan ko ‘yung ref at muntik akong mapahiyaw.

He rearranged everything. As in everything.

My snacks? Na-exile sa likod.

His containers? Nakapila parang soldiers in perfect symmetry.

At ‘yung pinaka insulto sa lahat?

May isang sticky note sa shelf:

“DO NOT TOUCH.”

“Seriously?” sabi ko.

Sinadya kong lakasan yung boses ko para marinig talaga nya.

Nasa likod ko na siya, siyempre. Laging tama sa timing. “I let you keep your coffee mugs. That’s enough compromise for one day.”

I turned to him, arms crossed. “Coffee mugs? Yun na ‘yung bragging rights mo?”

“I’m proud of small victories,” sagot niya, nonchalant. “Besides, this setup is more… orderly.”

“Orderly,” ulit ko. “Ah yes, your favorite synonym for control.”

He smirked, ‘yung dila niya saglit lumabas as if fighting a grin. “Control is a strong word, Alex. Let’s call it organization.”

“Sure,” sabi ko, sinara ‘yung fridge. “Next thing I know, lalagyan mo na label yogurt ko.”

“Not my style,” sagot niya, ‘yung boses niya mababa, relaxed. “I prefer subtle victories.”

Nagkatinginan kami. At ayun na naman ‘yung tingin niya, hindi naman intense, pero may kung anong something. Yung tipong hindi mo ma-decipher pero ramdam mo. Nakakainis.

“Okay,” sabi ko, sabay close ng fridge. “Pero wag mong i-try i-label ‘yung toothpaste ha. May limit din yang control mo.”

He smirked, leaning a bit closer. “Noted. Pero baka gawin ko pa rin. Just to be safe.”

Gustohin ko mang pigilan, pero natawa parin ako. “You are seriously impossible.”

“And you’re entertaining,” sagot niya, calm pero may tono. “Mostly because you think you can win.”

“Keep telling yourself that,” sabi ko, sabay kuha ng snack at lakad palayo.

Pero bago ako makalayo, nagtagpo ulit ‘yung tingin namin.

Walang halong romantic drama, walang tension, komportable lang. Comfortable silence na hindi naman awkward.

That night, habang nagliligpit ako ng kalat ko sa kwarto, napaisip ako.

I’ve lived alone for so long.

Nasasanay akong may sarili kong space, sariling mundo, sariling kalat.

Pero ngayon, sa gitna ng minimalist chaos niya at toothpaste wars namin…

This felt closer to home.

And maybe that’s the weirdest part.

Because for the first time,

Sharing space doesn’t feel like losing mine.