Coldest War (War Series #2)

Chapter 33

#war2wp

Chapter 33

Own Pace

I raise my gaze to Hiel's hair and I notice the snowflakes stuck in them. It's December and the snow has been pouring since yesterday.

He looks taller and leaner than before—maybe that's why I didn't recognize him when I tried to peek at the peephole of my suite's door. He looks more mature than before—maybe because his features got more defined.

His hair is in a mess but it gave him more appeal. His ears and nose are red, probably because of the cold. He only has a denim jacket on and I know how cold it is in New York tonight.

I walk to him and I raise my hand to reach for his right ear and I feel how cold it was. Hiel leans his head to my hand and he closes his eyes. He looks so beautiful.

"I miss you, Rinnah," he almost whispers, and my lips quiver.

I pull his neck towards me and I hug him tight. Hiel wraps his arms around me and he buries his face at the crook of my neck, breathing in as if that helps him relax.

"I miss you, Rinnah," ulit niya na para bang parati na niya 'yong sinasabi at normal lang na ulitin ngayon.

My heart flutters. "I missed you, Hiel," I mumble, my voice breaking.

Tiningan ko ang isang maliit na maletang nasa gilid at biglang natauhan na tanging denim jacket lang ang soot niya. Kumalas ako sa yakap at tiningnan ang soot niya. Hiel watches me as I start to worry.

"Bakit jacket lang ang soot mo?" I ask him and I look at his eyes. "It's cold, Hiel," nag-aalalang sabi ko at tumingkayad nang kaunti para alisin ang ilang niyebeng nasa buhok niya.

Tiningnan ko ulit ang jacket niya at napansin ang mukhang unipormeng nasa ilalim no'n. I open his jacket and I saw Torrero University's logo embroidered on the left pocket of his polo.

"Hiel," reklamo ko.

"Sorry," he smiles. "I took the last exam before I went here."

I pull him inside the my unit and I close the door behind him. Itinabi na muna niya ang maleta sa gilid ng pinto at pinaupo ko siya sa sofang nasa sala.

Agad akong dumiretso sa kusina para kumuha ng mainit na maiinom. I take a pot and boiled some water. Kumukuha pa lang ako ng baso, narinig ko na ang pagpasok din ni Hiel sa kusina kaya napalingon ako sa kaniya.

"Rinnah," he calls.

"This won't take a while—" I start to say but my words hang when I see him walk towards me.

Uminit ang mga pisngi ko nang tuluyang makalapit si Hiel. I raise my gaze to look at him and my eyes meet his solemn gaze. He watches my face carefully as if he's observing me keenly. 

Minutes passed and it was ghost-quiet. Kinakabahan tuloy akong baka naririnig niya ang tibok ng puso ko. 

"Can I?" he asks.

I don't know what he's asking for but I nod. 

He slowly raises his hand and reaches for my hair. He tucks them behind my ear and he holds the tip of it. He sighs and he brings his hand to my arm. Lumapit siya ng isang hakbang at idinikit niya ang pisngi sa sentido ko. Naamoy ko kaagad ang pabango niya.