Lawrence, The Hotelier (Published Under POP FICTION)

TWENTY TWO

"Lawrence, I'm here...." I whispered.

Lumapit ako sa kanya. Unti-unti niyang inangat ang isa niyang kamay at nilahad sa akin. Hindi siya kumukurap. Hindi ako nagdalawang-isip at inabot iyon. Napatili ako sa bigla niyang paghila sa akin dahilan para bumagsak ako sa dibdib niya.

God! But he's so hot! Pakiramdam ko'y malulusaw ako sa tila nag-aapoy niyang balat. The aircon of his room was centralized pero pinagpapawisan ako.

Ilang minuto akong nakadagan sa kanya at pareho naming pinakiramdaman ang isat-isa. Silence that was broken only by our ragged breathing. He then spoke softly.

"I hate you for hurting me, but I love you for being here. Baby, if this is all a dream, please don't wake me up. I want you beside me like this, I want to feel you like this. Forever." He whispered and I swear to God I heard his voice break

Hindi ko napigilan ang paglandas ng luha sa aking mga mata.

"I also want to be with you like this forever." I said and kissed his bare chest. Napaungol ito.

"I'm so cold." At naramdaman ko ang paghigpit pa lalo ng yakap niya. Niyakap ko rin siya pabalik. Dobleng comforter na ang gamit niya pero giniginaw pa rin siya. I can feel his body shivering.

"Let's go to the hospital, Lawrence." Puno ng pag-alala ang boses ko.

"No. I'll be okay because you're here now. Just hold me tight, Emerald.' Nanginginig ang boses nito.

Napalunok ako sa ideyang pumasok sa isip ko. But I guess I have no choice. If this is the only the way to keep him warm, then I will do it.

Inangat ko ang sarili ko at nakarinig ako ng pagtutol mula sa kanya.

"Don't go!" He cried while his eyes close.

"Hush Lawrence, give me a minute." I replied. Tumayo ako at unti-unting hinubad ang suot kong damit. Tinira ko lamang ang under garments ko.

I hope my warm body can make him feel better.

Bumalik ako ulit sa kama at pumaloob sa mga yakap niya. A sigh of contentment escaped from his lips. He moved and spooned me.

"Emerald, my Emerald." Bulong niya sa bandang itaas ng aking tainga. Humigpit ang yakap nito sa aking bewang at mas lalo akong hinapit sa kanya.

He threw his one thigh over me at kahit nabibigatan ako ay hindi ako nagreklamo. Hindi ako magrereklamo dahil para sa akin, masaya akong nadadama ko siya. If he wanted to put all his weight on me fo days, I woundn't mind at all.

"I love you, Emerald." Ang sabi niya na siya. I changed my position at humarap sa kanya nang tuluyan.

Did he just say he loves me? Hindi ba ako nadadaya lamang ng aking pandinig?

"I love you too much that it hurts. I hate seeing you with another guy. It was so painful that I couldn't bare it any longer. And I swear to God, I wanted to kill him for touching you. I feel cheated. I never knew such pain existed until that one sight of you with him hugging each other. You were happy with him. I saw you smiled at him oftentimes. And I hate it. I hate the idea of knowing that there's another man out there who can make you smile like that. You are for me, alone, Emerarld." Madamdaming wika niya.

Nakapikit pa rin siya. Nagha-hallucinate na ba siya? What the hell is he talking about?

"Hindi kita maintindihan, Lawrence." I was confused. Was he jealous? Of whom? This happens because he's jealous? Damnit!

"Yesterday. Lunchtime. I saw you with another man." His voice still trembling. Napapikit ito at napaismid.

Napakunot-noo ako until pumasok sa isip ko ang tagpong nagkita kami ni Nathan sa lobby! Lunchtime! Yes, that's it!

"You were here in the city all the damnest time! But you didn't even give me a call? I've been waiting for you to call me! And you were just here all the fcking time! Shit Lawrence!" I was fuming mad at hindi ko mapigilang sumigaw sa inis.

"You engaged yourself into this mess because you were jealous? Without even asking me?! Without even giving me time to explain myself! You judged me just like that? Oh god, I can't believe you!" I'm so pissed right now! At kahit pa may sakit siya ay wala akong pakialam!

At kahit pa sinabi niyang mahal niya ako ay hindi iyon sapat para maibsan ang inis ko sa kanya! For sure, he just said those words because he's sick.

Umungol ito marahil sa lamig na naramdaman dahil lumayo ako sa kanya. Damn him!

"I'm sorry. I don't know what to do. Ang alam ko lang ay nasaktan ako sa nakita ko. I was supposed to surprise you. I was excited to see you. I was longing to have you in my arms. But that scene makes me want to hang myself, Emerald. It's too painful to look at. I'm sorry because I had no idea how to handle the pain I felt when I saw you with him. This is the first time that I feel like this. You are the first one who made me feel so special, yet you're also the first one who made me feel like shit. I feel like I was stabbed through my heart, to the depths of my soul, million times over. It's crazy. I was so jealous. I'm so fucked-up. Forgive me, please." He reached my hands and kissed them.

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang maramdaman kong namamasa ang aking palad. His shoulders were shaking! Is.....he.......crying????

Lawrence......