"Once upon a time, there was a young pretty girl who lives alone in a very deserted place. At first she felt so lonely, since all she have with herself, is her self. But time passed by and she gain to embrace the feeling of being alone. She did accept the fact that she's alone and always will be."
"But more years had passed of being used to it. Something happened that she never thought that will ever happen. And that is..."
"Someone came to rescue her. Someone came to be with her. To let her know and feel that no one should live thier lives all alone. Everyone needs someone to be their companion. It may be an animal, a thing, a person or even the God himself."
Pagkatapos ng madamdaming pagsalaysay niya ng kwento ay sabay sabay na pumalakpak ang mga batang nakikinig sa kanyang kwento.
"That was a very great story. Is that the end, Ma'am Aika?"
"Yes. Do you want me to read another book for you, babies?"
"Yes! We love to hear ano--"
"Knock knock?"
Agad namang napunta ang atensyon ng mga bata sa kakapasok lamang na lalaki na may napakalaking ngiti sa mukha.
"Hello, children."
"Sir Pogiiiii!" sigaw ng mga batang babae bago tumayo at nag-unahan na magpakarga sa lalaki.
"Careful girls." sabi naman ng kanina lang ay nagkukwento.
"Ma'am Aika? Look at them, they are taking Sir Pogi from you!" reklamo ng isang batang lalaki na lumapit sa kanya at yumakap. Natawa naman ang dalawang nakatatanda.
"Don't worry, Ash. Just take me then from Sir Pogi. Isn't that a great idea?"
"Yes! Yehey! You are mine now Ma'am Aika? Mine alone?"
"Yes baby. I am yours, al--"
"We will not agree!" sabay sabay na sabi ng mga batang lalaki kasama na rin ang tinatawag nilang Sir Pogi.
"Seriously, Wint? Makikipag-agawan ka talaga?"
"Of course. I should fight for something that I want for myself. Lalo na't kalaban ko ang mga bubwit na ito."
"Ma'am Aika! I thought you are mine!"
"Sir Pogi! You're making us jealous!"
Sobrang ingay sa loob ng silid dahil sa sunod sunod at sabay sabay na pagsasalita ng mga bata. Natatawa lang naman ang dalawang nakatatanda.
Ngunit natigil ang ingay sa silid ng may pumasok sa silid.
"Children. Time to take a shower! Let's go! Let's go!" masiglang sabi ng madre.
"No! We will not allowed to make Sir Pogi and Ma'am Aika be alone together!" sabay sabay muling bigkas ng mga bata.
"Nako! Kayong mga bata talaga abala sa pag-iibigan nilang dalawa. Halika na."
"Mother Neth!" sabay sabay na sabi ng mga bata at Aika.
"That's why you're my favorite here, Mother Neth." saad naman ni Winter.
Muli ay nagtawanan na naman sila.
"Bilis na bata. Hayaan muna natin sila Ma'am Aika at Sir Pogi. Babalik naman sila sa susunod na linggo."
Yun lang ang sinabi ng Madre at sumunod na rin naman ang mga bata. Naiwan lang sa silid ang dalawang nakakatanda at ang batang si Ash.
"She's mine. Huwag mo po siyang aagawin Sir Pogi. Magagalit po ako. Akin po si Ma'am Aika. Okay po?" natawa naman ang dawang na tinuran ng bata.
"No promises baby Nash."
"Hhmmp." yun lang at naiwan na silang dalawa sa sa silid.
Ilang segundo pang pumalibot sa kanila ang katahimikan bago ito putulin ng lalaki.
"You're so happy. I hope I can make you that happy too when we're just alone together."
"Winter I don't want to start. I just had a great time. Please."
"Am I ruining your mood again? Tsk. Let's go." sabi lang nito saka siya hinila palabas ng silid.
"Come on. Talk. I'm not with a mannequin in my car, right?"
"Stop it, Winter."
"George, I'm tired."
"Then drive fast so we can rest."
Winter did release a heavy breath.
"I'm tired of your delay. I am losing my grip. It is slipping already, George."
"Then tighten it. Hold it."
"I already did. I always did. But it always slips a--"
"I told you already. It will never happen. So stop."
"Why? Why the he--"
"Stop the car, if you won't stop."
And so he did. Itinigil niya ang kotse sa gilid ng kalsada ngunit naka-lock lahat ng pinto. He will never give her a chance to go.
"Open it."
"No."
The atmosphere is getting heavier and both of them are breathing as heavy as it is.
And in a split second, he already pulled her and make her sit on his lap, facing him.
"Fuck this Winter. I told you it will never happen. Never." she said in a very serious tone but she didn't try to move and stayed in her position instead.
Again, Winter did release a heavy breath and leaned his head on the headrest before closing his eyes.
"Why? George. Shit. I'm getting crazier as the day goes by. Thinking about what happened last mo--"
"We already talked about it, right? We both agreed to forget it. Please, Winter. Don't push it. It will never happen, and that's final." she said before trying to sit back on the passenger seat but he didn't let her go. He tightened his grip on her. He made her stay.
"Just. One reason George. Give me one fucking and acceptable reason and I will stop this madness."
"Winter. We're bestfri--"
"Bestfriend?" he chuckled "How I hate that word. Is that your reason? Let's stop being friends then. So that you won't have your reason to tell that we can never do it."
"Winter, are you out of your mind? Get yourself together! We've been friends since we were young. We can't just stop of being fri--"
"I'm sorry," he said before hugging her real tight as he rest his head on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. But I'm really slipping now. George, sorry."
"Winter." yun lang ang sinabi niya bago pabalik na niyakap ang lalaki.
"Sorry." and with that, in just a second, not knowing the reason his lips find their way to claim hers.
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Enjoy Reading!
