Love Me Too

Chapter 39

"But that's unreasonable...Don't you think I'll be unfair to you?"

"I won't feel being treated unfairly. Besides, nakapasok ka na sa kasunduang yan bago pa man ako dumating sa buhay mo. Among Pierce, you and me, ako pa rin ang lumalabas na outsider..."

Clarisse wasn't amiable to what he said. "Don't look at yourself that way. Mahal kita at mahalaga sa akin anuman ang sabihin mo. You're not an outsider. I'm the bad woman who dragged you into my messy life."

"I'm not talking about feelings. Sa sitwasyong ito, kailangan ko pa ring mag-ingat bilang respeto sa pagkalalaki ng taong sa tingin ng lahat ay asawa mo." Lance paused and cleared his throat. "Nasabi ko na ang mga plano ko... it's my turn to ask you. What's your plan now Clarisse?"

Nablangko si Clarisse sa tanong. Nakatulala't nakatingin lamang siya kay Lance habang kukurap-kurap. Hindi niya alam ang isasagot. Parang napakabilis ng itinatakbo ng kanilang pag-uusap. Ang totoo'y hindi pa nga siya tuluyang nakakarecover sa matinding pagkasurpresa sa pagsulpot nito.

"I-I don't know what to say. I guess I don't have plan yet... T-This is too sudden a-and to be honest I'm still in state of shock for the turn around of events. K-Kanina lang I was battling whole day against my daily pain in imposing to myself the fact that I needed to forget you but now you're here kissing me and telling me you'll love me again... Aside from teaching myself how to get rid of my feelings for you, I didn't really have a plan B," nalilitong paliwanag niya.

Lance took a piece of paper out of his pocket and gave it to her.

                                                         

"A-Ano to?"

"I checked from Karen your schedule and she gave me your available days this month," he answered.

Sinuri ni Clarisse ang papel na ibinigay sa kanya. "T-This is a roundtrip ticket for me going to Thailand. W-Why would I go there?"

Tumitig ng seryoso ang binata sa naguguluhang babae. "Let's have a short vacation there..." He held her hand and stroke her palm gently. "Clarisse, can we start dating....secretly?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Clarisse. "Lance..."

Muling siniil ng binata ng malalim na halik ang kanyang mga labi bago pa man siya makapagbitiw ng susunod na mga salita. And when their lips parted, niyakap siya nito ng mahigpit.

"What I meant by waiting patiently is about loving you openly... Sorry kung nagmamadali ako. Ayokong mawala ulit sa akin ang pagkakataong mahalin ka kaya kahit nasa kasunduan ka pa rin na yan, I want to nurture our feelings for one another... Let's go to places kung saan malaya nating maipaparamdam ang pagmamahal sa isa't isa. In places where we can hold hands anywhere, laugh together and kiss anytime. Kahit maiiksing panahon lang Clarisse, let's give freedom to our feelings once in a while."

Dahan-dahang naglaho ang kalituhan kay Clarisse. Her eyes start beaming at ramdam niya ang unti-unting paglutang ng kanyang pakiramdam as she imagines themselves in a place where they can express their love freely. Ito ang isang bagay na halos gabi-gabi niyang iniisip ngunit inaakalang hanggang sa panaginip na lang pwedeng mangyari. Kumawala sa yakap si Lance at tumitig sa kanya. He stared at him waiting for what she'll say.