Losing Control

Labing Tatlo

Habang buhat buhat ni Ashton si Stephanie, nakatitig lang ang dalaga sa kanya.  She had her arms wrapped around his shoulders while she openly stared at him, studying his face while her eyebrows were knitted.

"Ano?" Ashton asked as he made his way up the stairs.

"Am I delirious?" nagtatakang tanong nya habang nakatitig pa rin kay Ashton.

Natawa ang binata.  "Bakit?"

"Why are you being so nice to me?"

"Because I like you."

"Eh bakit binuhat mo pa ako?  I have two feet.  Ubo lang ang sakit ko, hindi ako invalid."

"Wala kang suot na tsinelas."

"It was just by my bedside; you didn't give me the chance to put my tsinelas on."

"Mas gusto ko to, buhat buhat kita," he winked at her.

They reached his room and he carefully laid her down on the bed.  He turned his airconditioner off just in case lamigin si Stephanie.  "Kumain ka na ba?"

"Uh..." aayaw sana si Stephanie, na huwag ng magabala ng biglang nag growl ang kanyang tiyan.

Tumawa si Ashton sa tunog ng tiyan ni Stephanie.  "There's my answer.  I'll be right back."

Hahalikan na sana ulit ni Ashton sa labi si Stephanie ng umiwas ang dalaga.  She faked a cough before speaking.  "May ubo ako, remember?  Baka mahawa ka.  And pwede naman akong kumain sa baba..."

"No, you stay put.  It's my fault kung bakit nagkasakit ka, ako ang nagyayang magswimming," he looked at her guiltily.

"So nagiguilty ka lang?"

"No, but that's part of it.  Basta, dito ka lang.  I'll be back."

Ano ba naman yan, Abo?  Baka mainlove ako sa yo ng tuluyan nyan eh!  Be strong, Stephanie!  Your life is already complicated enough as it is; you don't need Abo to be mucking it all up even more.  I know maganda ako, maraming naiinlove sa akin, pero my gosh, hindi pwede to.  Naguumpisa ka pa lang, Abo, pero basted ka na, I'm sorry.

Pinainit ni Ashton ang kanin at curry na niluto Stephanie kanina.  Nagdala rin sya ng orange juice para sa dalaga.  Pagpasok nya ulit sa kwarto ay nakita nyang nakakunot noo si Stephanie na parang ang lalim ng iniisip.  Nakapout pa nga ang labi ng dalaga while she played with her lips with her thumb and pointer finger.  

"Ang cute cute naman ng baby ko," sabi ni Ashton habang nilalapag ang tray na dala nya sa bedside table.

"Tse, 'baby ko' mo mukha mo..."

"Sooner or later, you will be," he winked at her and picked up the plate of curry.

"Akala ko ba pinatay mo na ang aircon?  Bakit ang hangin hangin pa rin dito?" 

Humalakhak si Ashton and scooped up some rice and curry onto the spoon.  He made a move to feed her and umilag ulit si Stephanie.  "Bakit?  Ayaw mo ba ng curry?"

"It's not that.  I can feed myself."

"O sige..." he handed the spoon to Stephanie.

"Basted ka na," walang prenong sabi ni Stephanie.  "Huwag mo ng ituloy ang panliligaw mo or whatever."

Ashton's jaw dropped.  "Bakit?"

"You don't beg, remember?  And ang panliligaw is kind of like begging isn't it?  So many girls would kill just to be with you, and unfortunately, I'm not one of them."

"Gigi..."

"Dun na lang ako sa baba kakain, you're room will smell like food..."

"Gigi, kahit ngayong gabi lang, pwede bang huwag ka munang magtaray.  Just let me take care of you.  Kumain ka na dyan at pagkatapos, matulog ka na."