It Started in the Library (Completed and Editing)

Chapter 46: Gathering Storm

I moved extra slow. I don't want her to bolt away like a wild animal, or worse, baka upakan na naman niya ako without listening to me.  

The water is freezing and I'm sure she's soaked. Tiny droplets collected like diamonds on her skin and on the tips of her hair.The air is humid. Parang ang hirap huminga, o ako lang yon dahil sa paghabol ko sa kanya?Or maybe because I want time to freeze right now.

She looks so beautiful in the moonlight.

I want to preserve this crystal clear moment.

I knelt down beside her, she didn't move away. We stayed that way for long moments until her sobs ceased.

"I'm not gonna say sorry anymore." She peered at me. "I realized, I don't actually regret it."

"Adam..." I closed my eyes at that scratchy-soft utterance. Hindi makatarungan.

"Don't use my name, please?" I couldn't look at her anymore. The simple sound of my name on her lips are making my hands shake. "I might do something na talagang pag-aawayan natin." 

"Okay...okay..."

"Z..."

"Hmmm...?"

"Wag kang magalit, please? I won't steal anything from you, unless you want me to."

"Huh?"

"Galit ka parin ba sa'kin? I don't understand."

"Um, ano... kasi..." she sounded unsure. It's not like her. She's usually full of witty comebacks.

"I wasn't doing anything malicious, akala ko kasi tinulugan mo ako so I kissed you goodnight."

"Shit." She cursed softly. "Bwisit ka A."

"Ano na namang ginawa ko?" 'Takte, ang hirap talaga intindihin ngayon nitong zebrang 'to.

"Nakakaasar ka, ginawa mo pa akong mukhang assuming!" She hit me repeatedly on the shoulders and I couldn't help but laugh.

"Yun lang? Grabe ka, muntik na akong magka-brain hemmorhage sa 'yo."

"Bwisit, bibigyan kita talaga ng hematoma diyan eh," she splashed water on my face.

"Oy, tama na nakakarami ka na! Z!" I tried to dodge her attacks and we chased each other around the low pool. She splashed me repeatedly and soon we were both laughing, soaking, and shivering in the darkness.

"Lechugas, ang lamig!" She breathed on her hands. "'Langya, b-balik na t-tayo..." I can hear her teeth chattering.

"'Kaw kasi bigla ka na lang tumakbo. Tara, Z." I put an arm around her shoulders and she buried her cold nose on my shoulder.

"S-sisipunin ako. Bukas b-boses-palaka ako..." she mumbled softly.

"Ako rin. Di bale, palaka-twins na tayo hindi lang barf-brothers." I patted her head. "Mas lalong nagiging malalim ang ating samahan."

"Buset." Binatukan niya ako. Mahina lang naman at parang mas feel ko na sign of affection yun kaysa pagka-asar niya. "Di ko a-alam kung dapat s-sweet yun o pambwi-swit."

"Dear, take it anyway you like." I kissed the top of her head. "You have to admit, it was extremely fun. Although it hurt a lot on my part." She blushed deeply and I suppressed a chuckle. Mamaya dagdagan pa niya yung pambabatok niya.

"A!" She pouted.

"Hindi na nga po." I pulled her closer when a cold wind started to blow. "Malapit na tayo."

"Ang d-dilim, paano mo alam kung s-saan tayo p-pupunta?"

"This is our usual camp site way back nung andito pa si Kuya Alejandro. I've been here countless times whenever I wanted a quick escape to nature."