Going the Distance (Book #1 of Distance series)

9: Rare Moments

"I don't leave her speechless very often. I have to enjoy those rare moments."

-Rick Riordan-

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"Anymore of This"
by Mindy Smith & Matthew Perryman Jones

♪ I don't wanna miss
I don't wanna miss anymore of this
Letting go I wanna feel all of it
I'm hanging on every word you say
I gotta keep goin'
Can't stay where I am ♫

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Nagising na lang ako sa tawag sa akin saSkype. The sound of the incoming call was so distinct to me that it was able to rouse my utterly sleepy head in just a few rings. Dinampot ko ang phone ko sa bedside table at napadilat nang husto nang mabasa ko ang pangalan ng tumatawag sa akin. Almost losing my own balance, I get up to sit on the bed and accept Andy's call.

My Simon's Cat wall clock reads seven o'clock in the morning and in split seconds, my alarm clock rings.

"Andy," sagot ko sabay patay ko sa alarm clock ko.

"Good morning, sleeping beauty! Still feeling sleepy?" Masigla niyang bati. Gusto siguro gusto niya akong hawahan ng pagiging masigla niya.

"Good morning! Uhm, I mean good evening in there," clearing my throat, I greet him back, my voice still wary. Ngayon ko na napagtanto kung bakit siya nagtanong kaninang madaling araw kung ano'ng oras ako dapat na magising. Ito ay para tawagan pala ako at gisingin.

"Go, go... get up now, babe. I'm just right in time to wake you up, isn't it? I was even ahead your alarm clock," natatawa niyang sabi.

Natawa na rin ako habang napapakamot ng ulo at pagkatapos ay sinuklay-suklay ang medyo nagkabuhol-buhol kong buhok gamit ang aking kamay. Humikab ako bago sumagot, "You asked me about the time that I need to wake up so you can call me. But you didn't have to, Andy."

"I just wanna make sure you'll get up on time so you won't be late in school. You slept late," he says.

"My fault," pagtutuwid ko sa kanya.

"Our fault," he asserts.

Napakunot-noo ako. Tumayo ako sa kama, isinuot ang aking tsinelas at umupo sa tukador. "I was the one who called you," pagtutuwid ko sa kanya.

"But I stayed talking with you. I could've reminded you that you have classes."

"I chose to stay on the phone to continue talking to you," pag-amin ko. Ni hindi ko namalayan ang oras kaninang madaling-araw. Nawala na sa isip ko na balak ko lang tumawag para batiin siya ng "Good Night," sabihin pang hindi pa gabi sa kanila. I just simply wanna hear his voice.

Narinig ko ang mahina niyang tawa. "If you didn't call me, I might actually ring you myself. I can hardly put my phone down, to be honest," sabi pa niya.

A silent, sweet joy unfurls deep in my gut. My cheeks are slowly hitting up as I watch them blush jubilant red in the mirror. I fall speechless. Pagkatapos ng saglit na katahimikan, sinabihan ko siyang magpahinga at matulog na.

"End the call, Sophia."

Frozen in my seat for a moment, I look myself at the mirror once again. He waited until he can call me to wake me up first before sleeping. Bakit niya ito ginagawa para sa akin? Is he making me fall for him?