Losing Control

Dalawampu't Lima

"Love, I am so glad na you weren't hurt!" he touched her cheek.

"Ano ka ba? Ako pa? Strong kaya ako," she laughed.

"I know, I know kaya mo naman ipagtanggol ang sarili mo, pero Love, lalaki pa rin yun. Mas malakas sa yo yun."

"Hindi naman sana ako matatakot sa kanya kung wala syang dalang knife."

"Ano?!" nabahala nanaman si Ashton. "Steph!"

"Ash, dun lang yun. Alam mo naman I usually have a driver with me and everything. Okay naman ako. I came out of it unscathed, for the most part," she looked at him pointedly.

"Steph," he took the bottle of water and can of macadamia nuts from her and placed the items on the side table sa tabi nya. Hinapit nya ang dalaga papalapit sa kanya. He laid the both of them down and embraced her. "I love you. I really, really do. And also, I am sorry. I am really, really sorry."

"I know. I can feel your sincerity naman eh. Ash, I love you, too. Kaya lang, I still feel like I was betrayed, alam mo yun?"

"Kaya nga I am so sorry. Pero I hope you believe me na I have no bad intentions ng itago ko kung sino ako from you."

"Okay. Let's just take it slow. Let's just take it back to the beginning."

"All the way to the beginning?"

"Hindi naman ALL the way...kasi gusto ko tong niyayakap kita," she smiled at him. "Dito ka ba matutulog?"

"Might as well, I already paid for this for the night."

"Okay. I wonder kung nasa baba pa sila Rachel. Sasabay na lang siguro ako sa kanya o kaya kina daddy pauwi."

"Dito ka na lang."

"Hello, ano na lang sasabihin nila daddy if I stay here? O worse, what will your parents say?" she pinched his side.

"You and I are getting married soon, and for all they know, hindi tayo magkakilala...we need to get to know each other, kumbaga," he kissed her forehead. "Ako na ang bahala magpaalam sa kanila."

"Okay."

"Okay?" his face lit up.

"Yup, pero dun ka sa couch matutulog."

"Huh?" he furrowed his eyebrows.

"Galit galit pa tayo."

"Akala ko ba okay na tayo?"

"Okay na tayo na manligaw ka ulit," she stuck her tongue out at him. "May bathrobe pa ba?"

"Nandun sa banyo."

"Sige, I will just freshen up."

"You're really hell bent on torturing me all night, aren't you?"

"Hindi naman. Nagkataon lang," she giggled.

"I love you."

"I know...and that's why I love you," she teased him and blew him a kiss and went inside the bathroom.

***

Tanghali na ng nagising ang dalawa. Nagusap lang silang dalawa hanggang hindi nila namalayan na alas tres na pala ng umaga. They talked about their lives before meeting each other; kung saan sila nagaral, anong mga hobbies nila, at kung ano ano pang mga topics na they never broached before. As promised, natulog nga si Ashton sa couch dahil naguumpisa pa lang sya maging good shot sa fiancee nya at ayaw nyang gumawa ng isa pa nanamang wrong move. Sinuot na lang nila ulit ang mga damit nila from the night before at nagcheck out na si Ashton bago mag noon. Kumain na lang sila sa restaurant sa hotel ng lunch. Si Stephanie ay kumain lang ng house salad with the dressing on the side dahil nagpapapayat daw sya for their upcoming wedding. Nagorder tuloy si Ashton ng steak and lobster para pagselosin ang magiging asawa.