Best for Us (GU #3)

thirty-six

Kumunot ang noo niya. "What do you mean?"

I took a deep breath, remembering what happened last night after the talk that we had on the rooftop.

Hinayaan kong mahulog ang katawan ko sa kama. Past eleven na pero hindi pa rin ako makaramdam ng pagod o antok.

My heart, it kept beating fast. My mind, felt like it had been energized. My body, it was fully alive.

Everything that happened earlier when I was with her still plays vividly in my mind. It still felt like I was still holding her, I could still hear the song playing.

Napapikit ako, hindi na gumawa ng anupaman para pigilin o iwasan ang kasalukuyang nadarama. I just let it flow easily this time. And even this still felt strange because it was the first time I've ever felt this way, this also felt natural. Na para bang ito ang dapat na laman ng puso ko ngayon.

And this damn feeling was too strong. Too strong not to let me sleep tonight. Napailing ako, may ngiting sumilay sa labi saka binuksan ang mga mata.

I stared at the white ceiling, my heart still felt like it wanted to burst. And I knew I had to settle this now. Hindi ko na magagawa pa ang maghintay ng susunod na pagkakataon.

I reached for my phone and looked for that one number I knew who can help me right now and dialed it.

Matagal na puro pagring lang ang naririnig ko hanggang sa magsalita na iyong voice operator. And I thought if this was not the best time to do this. Sobrang late na ba? Tulog na kaya siya?

I tried again. At kung ngayon ay wala pang sagot ay hindi ko alam ang gagawin. Wala na akong ibang alam na maaring makatulong sa akin tungkol dito.

And when I thought it would go to operator once more, I finally heard the voice I was waiting for. "What's up?"

Napangiti ako sa tunog ng boses niya. It sounded somehow irritated. "Did I wake you up or did I disturb you with something?" Walang sumagot sa kabilang linya. So, I went on. "Okay lang naman sigurong hiramin muna kita kay CN diba?"

Slade made a chuckling sound. "She's already sleeping." Then his tone changed instantly. "And I am about to lay next to her but you freaking called."

"Sorry na," agad kong sabi. "Saka hindi naman mawawala si CN kung hindi mo matatabihan agad. Kailangan ko lang talaga ng tulong mo ngayon, Slade."

"So, what's up? Don't tell me you get someone pregnant."

A sordid laugh escaped my lips as I shook my head at that. At iyon talaga ang naisip ng lokong 'to.

"Don't worry medyo naging idol kita kaya't imposibleng makabuntis ako," balik ko sa kanya.

He snorted at that and I forced myself not to laugh. Ever since he kind of slipped that he stopped getting some bed action, I started joking about it.

And as always, he answered, "You know relationships aren't always about getting physical. There's a right time for that."

I smiled at that, heaving a sigh. "Noted po, St. Slade."

"Shut up!" came his retort. "And I thought kailangan mo ng tulong ko? Nagagawa mo pang mang-asar dyan."

"Sorry na. Ito na nga," another sigh from me again. "But first, promise me, you won't judge me."

"Okay."

"Say promise first."

Slade grunted. "Okay, promise. What is it?"