Hiding the Green Carnation's Heirs | ✔︎

20

Ngumisi siya sa akin. "Hentea."

Napasimangot ako. "Gago ka talaga. Anong nahithit mo? Nakahithit ka ba ng shabu ha?"

"Hindi, rugby lang," sagot niya bago muling ibinaon sa aking tiyan ang kaniyang mukha.

Napairap ako at pinigilan ang sariling sabunutan siya. Kalaunan ay nagtataka akong nagbaba ng tingin.

Nakakahinga kaya siya riyan? Hindi na ako nagsalita at hinayaan siya. I continued stroking his hair when he moved a little.

Napangiwi ako nang kaunti noong nagalaw niya ng bahagya ang aking hita. Punyeta.

"Huwag kang malikot, Lurusus. Masakit pa rin," saad ko sa kaniya.

"Sorry," he whispered as he tightened his hug on my waist.

Two days have passed and still, my body is aching. Sunday ngayon at Monday na bukas. Nag-aalala ako kung paano ako makakauwi ng hindi umiika-ika.

Kailangan ko rin pumasok bukas sa trabaho. Pati ba ro'n iika ulit ako? Baka makita na naman ni Aadavan at baka magtanong. Napabuntong hininga na lang ako at sumandal sa sofa.

I stared at the wall in front of me before dozing out. Seconds later, I came back to reality and my eyes dropped on the side of Lurusus' face. When I said yes to him, I had already created a schedule in my mind.

I would stay with my children from Monday to Friday and I would stay with Lurusus from Saturday to Sunday afternoon, and go back home before eight to play with my kids and prepare myself.

Nagtanong pa siya no'n kung bakit weekends lang kung pwede naman kaming mag-live in para araw-araw kaming magkasama. His question caught me off guard at matagal bago ako nakasagot.

Naghanap talaga ako ng rason at nagsinungaling na kailangan ng pinsan ko ng tulong habang binabantayan ang mga anak niya dahil sa iniwan siya ng asawa.

I know I'll probably go to hell for lying and I would accept that wholeheartedly.

When he heard my reason, he didn't say anything aside from 'Okay, I understand'. Ni hindi na siya nagtanong pa at nirespeto ang sinabi ko.

I even asked him if he's okay with that arrangement and he said that it's fine as long as I'm with him and we get to spend time with each other for one and a half days, it's more than enough for him.

Sinabi rin niya na siya itong kailangan mag-adjust kasi kakapasok pa lang niya sa buhay ko at boyfriend ko lang naman daw siya, mas kailangan daw ako ng pamilya ko. He said that family is more important. Blood is thicker than water, ika nga nila.

I suddenly felt bad about him mentioning those words and I just realized that there's another thing that I've learned from him as we spent our time together and getting to know each other.

Even though his family did something horrible to him, he still cares and loves them nevertheless. His family is still special for him no matter what happens.

Despite the cold and icy façade that he always shows, his family will perpetually hold a special place in his heart and it will never disappear.

I came back to reality when he snuggled on my lap comfortably. Sometimes, he would rub his face on my stomach, tickling me and making me chuckle. Minsan ay pabiro niya ring kinakagat ang damit ko at hinihila iyon kaya naman sinusuway ko siya.

All we did was lay down on the couch as he slept on my lap and nothing more. I even thought that it would bore me out but it didn't. I'm enjoying the simple gestures and the affection I am receiving from him. It's the kind of silence that is comfortable and enjoyable.