Going the Distance (Book #1 of Distance series)

Interlude: Slowly

Pagkalabas ng guest room ay sumalubong kay Andy ang aroma ng inihahandang almusal sa kusina. It smells different. The air carries the scent of meat, beef probably, overlaid with a rich, garlicky scent. His mother must've prepared something special for them. Humikab ito at iniunat ang mga braso bago tumuloy sa pasilyo papunta ng hagdan.

Sleepily, he climbs up the stairs going to the second floor to where his room is. Gigisingin na niya si Sophie. Ngunit pagkabukas niya ng kanyang kuwarto ay natagpuan niyang wala ito sa higaan. Maayos na rin ang kama at nakatiklop na rin ang kumot.

He tries to knock on the bathroom door but he halts when he founds it slighlty opened. Maingat niyang sinilip ang loob pero wala rin ito roon. Nawalang bigla ang kanyang antok. "Where could she be?" tanong niya sa sarili.

Nauna na nga itong nagising sa kanya at hindi na lang muna siya inistorbo sa kanyang pagtulog. Nabanggit kasi niya rito kagabi na gusto niyang matulog nang mahaba upang bumawi sa puyat ng nakaraang gabi. He rushes to the stairs to go down then he goes straight to the living room. She's not there. He peeps through the screen door but she's not in the patio as well.

Pupunta na lamang siya sa kusina upang itanong sa kanyang ina kung nasaan si ito. But when he reaches the kitchen he find her there unexpectedly. Nakatalikod ito kaharap ang lutuan at kung anong may hinahalo sa nakasalang na Chinese Wok sa burner.

Sumandal siya sa gilid ng bukas na pintuan. He stands there for awhile, and couldn't place his gaze away from the petite figure not so far from him. Her hair is tighlty tied up with loose strands kept behind her ears. On her bare neck hangs an oversized apron that's wrapped around her waist, contrary to the skimpy shorts she's wearing.

Can he blame himself if he cannot take his eyes off those perfectly shaped thighs and legs? Dahil sa liit ng baywang nito, kinailangan pang ipaikot ang tali ng isa pang beses ang suot nitong apron. He cannot deny the fact that right at this very moment, he is so attracted to her. He couldn't help himself imagine being closer to her... what's it like to be more intimate with her.

Kagabi lamang ay pinadalhan siya ng text message ni Bruce. "Did you get laid?" tanong nito, na hindi naman niya sinagot. Paniguradong tatawanan lang siya ng pinsan kung sasabihin niyang "hindi" dahil wala nang nangyari. Sa unang gabi pa lamang na sila'y magkasama, hinangad niyang may mangyayari sa kanila. Hindi man tuwirang sinabi ni Sophie na ayaw nito, nakuha rin niya agad ang ibig nitong ipahiwatig. That's when she insisted that she's not comfortable sharing a bed with the opposite sex.

She's not yet ready. At iyon ay lubos naman niyang nauunawaan. Sa ngayon. Kakakilala pa lamang nila nang personal at ngayon lamang sila nagkasama. Marahil hindi siya ang tipo na hindi man lang muna pararaanin ang ilang araw bago ibigay ang sarili sa lalaki. Ibang-iba sa kanyang nakagisnan!

Kaya nang magtabi pa rin sila habang may malaking unan sa kanilang pagitan ay sobrang pigil niya sa kanyang sarili na ito ay hawakan. He cannot fully understand himself either why does he keep a keen eye on his actions that might upset her, though, maybe because he knows he had hurt her when he almost dumped her.

God knows what she might've thought about him and how jerk he was.... what she might've been doing all the time while he was completely out of the picture. That's why he's thanking all the gods that she's still here. That she went here. She doesn't deserve to be upset and offended.

Nilapitan niya si Sophie at niyakap mula sa likod nito. He curls his arm around her waist and bends a little bit to reach her ear. "What's keeping my baby busy out here?"

Her body stiffens for a second and then she throws out a childish laugh and gently tugs his chest with her elbow. "Good morning, sleepy head."

"Good morning, Chef. I ain't sleepy no more." He gives her gentle little smacks on her cheeks.