Race Against Love (on-going)

Chapter 27

REESE

He'll be gone in a week. And I can't seem to bear the thought of not seeing him every single day. Kung kailan maayos na ang takbo ng relasyon namin, ngayon pa siya aalis. Though he will come back, but God, three years is three years. Kahit na hindi malinaw kung anong relasyon meron kami ngayon, I fear on what's going to happen kapag umalis siya.

Sobrang tagal n'on at maraming pwedeng mangyari habang magkalayo kami. I know this won't be easy. Marami akong kakila na long distance ang relationship, and they're surviving. At naging mas matibay pa ang kanilang relationships. Pero may mga iba naman na nagkakahiwalay. Dahil sa kawalan ng oras sa isa't-isa, o kaya hindi magtagpo ang mga oras nila. Or worst, they found someone new. At ayokong isipin na maari kaming magkahiwalay.

Muli kong pinagmasdan ang maamo niyang mukha habang busy ito sa ginagawa. We decided to cook dinner at focused ito sa paghihiwa ng mga ingredients. He loves to cook and this is what I want to enjoy, these simple moments with him. Though I know this won't last, well for now. But at least, I have something to remind me of the good times we shared.

Napailing ako. Bakit ako nag-iisip ng ganito? It's like when he leaves, I won't see him again. It's like I shouls enjoy these last moments we're sharing. At lalong lumakas ang kaba ko. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Where is this coming from?

"'Something wrong?"

Nagulat ako nang humarap ito at nakangiti. Kanina pa maganda ang mood nito kaya nagyayang magluto. We're supposed to have dinner somewhere but these are few of occasions na may time kaming magluto. I love it when we do stuff like this together. I mean, outside the bedroom. For me, this is more intimate. And personal.

At dahil hindi ako nakasagot agad. Huminto ito sa ginagawa niya at nilapitan ako.

"Hey...ano'ng iniisip mo?" Hinawakan ako sa baba at inangat ang mukha ko.

Umiling ako. Hindi ko pwedeng sabihin kung ano ang kinatatakutan ko. Ayokong masira ang good vibes niya.

"Wala - iniisip ko lang 'yong project namin. Hindi pa pala ako nakakabili ng mga materials," palusot ko.

"Pwede tayong lumabas later. May malapit na bookstore sa office."

Nakahiga ako nang maluwag. I convinced him.

"Uh - baka i-text ko na lang si Chai, makikisuyo na lang ako. Tinatamad din kasi akong lumabas." At lumapit ako sa kanya para yakapin mula sa likuran.

I'm avoiding his gaze. At baka hindi na ako makalusot, mahulaan niyang nagdadahilan lang ako.

"I'd rather stay here all day...and all night", and I gave him sa kiss on his back.

And I slowly ran my hands on his chest, up and down. His slow breathing hitched to deep sighs.

"I'd love that. Pero sana pinapatapos mo muna akong magluto. Because if you keep doing that, wala tayong dinner. Because..."

Tuluyan niya ako hinarap at hinawakan ako sa beywang.

"I'd rather eat you first..." habang nakatingin sa katawan ko "...than cook."

At nagulat ako nang buhatin niya ako ibaba sa ibabaw ng mesa. And his hands are slowly stroking my back.

"Adler, madumi 'yang kamay mo, pinupunas mo sa damit ko."

Naalala ko, naghiwa siya ng gulay at karne. Pero gusto ko lang siyang ma-distract. The truth, I don't care kung madumi ang kamay niya. Mas na-excite ako sa susunod na mangyayari.

"I can do something about that." And he lifted me again, headed to the shower, yanking my shirt off.

***