The Fall of Alexander the Great (Monteverde Series 3)

28

Chapter Twenty Eight

    I drifted back to consciousness when my back touched the soft mattress. I opened my eyes just in time to see Alexander lowering my body on the bed. Napasarap pala ang tulog ko sa kotse kaya hindi ko na namalayan na nakauwi na kami.

    The light from the living room provided enough luminance for me to see his face. He smiled and kissed my forehead. "I didn't want to wake you. You looked so tired. Go sleep some more, love." Pumunta siya sa paanan ko at sinimulang tanggalin ang heels ko. Parang may natunaw sa puso ko ng dahil sa ginawa niya.

    "I'm not sleepy anymore," I replied after he unstrapped my stilettos. He removed his shoes and socks before he joined me in bed. He stretched his arms and I used one as a pillow.

    It's been a few days since he asked me to be his girlfriend, and so far everything is going well. We still argue sometimes, but not the kind of arguments we've had before. We are slowly learning how to be patient with one another.

    "You look tired yourself," puna ko.

    Kanina pa siya tahimik sa kotse. Nang pumunta siya sa Coffee Palace para sunduin ako ay napansin ko na agad na iba ang mood niya. Dahil ayaw ko naman siyang pangunahan ay hindi ko siya kinulit tungkol dito.

    "I'm a little stressed," he admitted. "Ang dami kong iniisip."

    "Do you want to talk about it?"

    He reached for my hand and interlaced our fingers.  "It's about Daze."

    "What happened? Is Daze okay?"

    His face was stone-cold, guarded. "Hardly. She tried eloping with her boyfriend! Dad got so angry when he found out that he sent her to Bicol as punishment. So my younger sister is in another region, harboring a grudge against my father for going between her and Ian, and my mother is brokenhearted about the entire thing. Kanina lang sinabi sa akin ni Dad. Even Alexiana kept her mouth shut. Apparently, it was that big."

    "I hope everything gets better." 'Yun na lang ang nasabi ko. Nararamdaman ko kung gaano niya kamahal ang pamilya niya. Halata sa bigat ng buntonghininga niya kung gaano siya nababagabag sa nalaman.

    "I hope so." I draped a leg over his legs and I saw him smile a little.

    "She needs time to heal, I guess."

    "I texted Daze the moment I found out, but she didn't respond. I tried calling her, but she doesn't answer. Mom said the fight between the two was big. I'm worried."
    "She seems like an intelligent lady. Maiisip niya rin na mali 'yung ginawa niya. She will mature, Alexander. In no time, babalik din 'yung masiglang Daze na kilala natin."

    "You think so?"

    "I know so." I like Daze so much. She has a quirky personality. Nakakahawa ang kakulitan at ang mga ngiti niya. Kapag tumawa siya ay ubod ng lakas na akala mo ba ay walang ibang tao sa paligid. Nalulungkot ako na hindi man lang kami nakapagkita uli.

    "Thanks you." Kinintalan ng halik ni Alexander ang noo ko. "That made me feel better."

    "You're welcome. Malakas ka sa 'kin, e."   

    He smiled a little. "You're my ball of sunshine, Blythe. Don't you dare leave again."

    "Never."

    "I'm serious." He rolled his eyes heavenwards.

    Napanguso ako. "Ako rin naman."

    "This is really stupid, but I'll do it anyway." Itinaas niya ang hinliliit at iniumang sa akin. Tinakpan ko ang bibig dahil nagpipigil ako ng pag-alpas ng tawa ngunit hindi ito nakaligtas sa kanya. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay.