His Beautiful Redemption (Beautiful Trilogy #3) (To be published under PHR)

Kabanata 20

Kabanata 20

HINDI alam ni Patty kung bakit siya nakakaramdam ng ganito. Was it restlessness? Loneliness? Homesickness? Habang nakatingin sa malawak at madilim na karagatan, pilit niyang kinakapa ang damdamin.

She had been so happy this past few days. She felt so alive. But now...

Kinapa niya ang scar sa dibdib habang nakatingin sa kalangitan. Nasa balkonahe siya habang ang mga paa ay nakalublob sa swimming pool.

Memories from the day after the surgery were flashing in her mind.

Her first breath after the surgery. Her first smile. Her first cry because of too much happiness and relief. Her first time running. Her first time riding a bike. Her first day of going back to school. Her life without thinking when her heart would finally fail her. Her life without death hanging on her shoulder. Her first trip. Her first swim. Her first sunrise. Her first sunset. Everything was crushing down on her right now it hurts to breathe.

Sapo-sapo niya ang dibdib kasunod nang pagpatak ng mga luha. It finally dawned on her how she was really, really alive. She never thought she would reach this point. She always believed she wouldn't make it. But she did.

Because of someone's heart.

"What's wrong, Patricia?"

She knew Caleb was talking to her. Hindi niya namalayang nakalabas na rin ito sa balkonahe ng suite nito. Hindi makasagot si Patty. Parang may nakabara sa kanyang lalamunan at dibdib.

"Open your door, Patricia. Now!" matigas na utos nito kasunod nang pagkarinig niya sa mabibigat nitong yabag palayo.

Nanginginig ang katawan na tumayo siya at dahan-dahang pumasok sa suite at binuksan ang pinto. The next thing she felt was two arms being wrapped around her body. Nasandal ang kanyang mukha sa matigas na dibdib ni Caleb. The cold she felt when she was outside was slowly diminishing while inside his arms.

"It's okay. It'll be okay," pang-aalo nito sa kanya. From her waist, his hand trailed up until it reached the back of her head. Masuyo nitong hinaplos ang kanyang buhok. "Stop crying, Patty. What's wrong?"

Umiling lang siya. Paano niya sasabihin na kahit siya, hindi alam kung bakit siya umiiyak? Narinig niya ang pagbuga ng hangin ni Caleb kasunod nang paghigpit nang pagkakayakap nito sa kanya.

"Are you hurt? Is your heart hurting?"

Sunud-sunod ang pag-iling ni Patty. Humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa damit ni Caleb saka isinibsob pang lalo ang mukha sa dibdib nito. She wanted to feel more of his warmth. It felt like the hard feeling that was squeezing her heart was slowly receeding because of him.

Napabuntong-hininga si Caleb. Kasunod niyon ay ang pagpangko nito sa kanya. Nagitla si Patty at kaagad na ipinulupot ang mga braso sa batok nito. She pressed her face against his neck. She knew he was wet with her tears but it seemed as if he didn't mind.

Naramdaman niyang umupo si Caleb. He sitted her on his lap while his arm was still wrapped around her body. She could feel the wind and she could hear the waves of the sea. Sa balkonahe pala siya nito dinala at sa reclining chair siguro ito umupo.

Isinuklay nito ang mga daliri sa kanyang buhok. His action was soothing. Unti-unting humina ang kanyang pag-iyak hanggang sa tuluyan nang huminto sa pagpatak ang kanyang mga luha.

"Are you calm now?" anito sa kanya, hindi pa rin tumitigil ang mga darili sa pagsuklay at paghagod sa kanyang buhok.

Tumango siya. "S-sorry for suddenly acting like this. Hindi ko rin alam..."