Bukas Na Lang Kita Babastedin (Published Under Psicom Publishing, Inc.)

Chapter Nine

"Hindi. Baka kasi maisipan mo na namang dagdagan ang kulam mo sa akin. May sakit ako, wala akong laban." He grinned.

Ikinumot niya hanggang sa ulo nito ang comforter. "Iyang pagpapahinga mo ang asikasuhin mo. Wag mong pakialaman ang pangungulam ko okay?"

He removed the comforter in his face. "May sakit na nga ako, dapat inaalagaan mo ako."

"Kiss na lang kita." She pouted her lips while moving closer to him.

"Ah no!" He pushed her away. "Baka mahawa ka sa sakit ko."

"Wooo! Ang sabihin mo hanggang ngayon choosy ka pa din sa kiss."

"Hindi kaya ako nakatulog noong halikan mo ako," he uttered.

"Dahil sa kilig?"

He looked at her in knotted head. "Dahil sa trauma." He then laughed.

Sinimangutan niya ito. "Ang sama mo." She kissed him on his forehead. "Pero love pa rin kita. Wait there okay?" Tumayo na siya para lumabas ng kwarto.

"Nica..."

"Yes?"

"Thank you for being here."

She smiled. "I should be thanking you for the same reason."

Lumabas siya at pumunta sa kusina para kumuha ng basin. Nilagyan niya ito ng tubig. Bumalik siya sa kwarto. Mukhang nakatulog na si Cielo dala ng lagnat. Kumuha siya ng malinis na face towel. Inilagay niya ang basin sa bedside table. Pinunasan niya ng basang tuwalya ang braso nito at mukha trying to help the medicine ease the fever.

Umubo ito at bigla na lang yumakap sa baywang niya. Napangiti si Nica. She was more than happy that day. The feeling that Cielo needed her somehow made her feel loved by him. Kahit di mo masabi, alam ko naman na mahal mo rin ako. She stayed beside him hanggang siya ay makatulog na din.

CIELO WAS BUSY having a silent conversation with the glass wall window in his office. malapit na ang araw ng kasal nila ni Nica. He witnessed how excited Danica was for the past few weeks. Tumulong ito sa pag-aasikaso ng kasal. She managed to choose her bridal gown and the best suit for him. Nagbago na din ang tingin niya sa state ng magulong relationship nila ni Danica. He knew she really love him so much.

He remembered how she patiently took good care of him in those days that he was in fever. Tumuloy siya sa gig kinabukasan kahit nilalagnat. Nakabantay ito sa kanya para maalagaan siya ng husto. She even turned down some interviews from different writers who wanted to interview her just to be able to take good care of him well. And since that day that he gave his sweetest yes to her, everything between them changed magically. He liked the feeling but he's scared.

"Tulala ang anak ko." His father interrupted.

He turned his swivel chair. "Hey, Pa. Kanina pa po kayo?"

Hinila ng ama niya ang visitor's chair at tumabi sa kanya. They once again faced the glasswall window wherein the scenic view of Manila at night was clearly seen.

"Not much. Lately tahimik ka." His father gave him a bottled beer.

Nagulat siya. He never thought that his father would notice it. Akala niya ay kaya niyang itago na may something na nagba-bother sa kanya. "Just thinking about something."

"Or someone?"

"Both." He smiled and took her first shot of beer. "Pa, what did you feel few weeks before you marry mama?"

"Doubt, fear and combination of both." His father drink some beer. And Cielo was surprised by his father's answer. "Ilang beses kong tinanong ang sarili ko kung sigurado na ba ako? O kung si Zhei ba siguradong makasama ako? Natatakot din ako. You know it, life is not perfect. Marriage is the same thing. It's a lifetime risk that you have to take and be ready for consequences. Paano kung in the middle of journey, hindi na masaya si Zhei sa marriage namin? Or along the way, ma-fall out siya at mag-decide na iwan ako? Or vice versa?"