Hold Me Close (Azucarera Series #3)

Kabanata 38

Or maybe, I waited for him. Unconsciously.

"Help comes, or I suddenly find a way to escape, or there is a new strategy... tuwing naiisip kita." He chuckled, like he's not taking it seriously but I can sense that it was true.

Ngumiti ako habang pinagmamasdan siyang medyo nahihirapang magkuwento.

"Tuwing naiisip kita, parang laging nagpapakita ang pag-asa."

Sumikip lalo ang dibdib ko at nag-init ang mga mata. I felt guilty that I really didn't think much about him all these years. And here he seeing hope in my eyes, even in my absence.

"Like a lucky charm," aniya at ginalaw ang bangle sa palapulsuhan niya.

I sighed and nodded. "At simula ngayon, hindi mo na kailangang umasa roon. You said it's a bit of luck, and prayer, right? I will be your luck, and prayer, Alvaro."

He smiled but his eyes sparkled. Ngumisi na lang ako lalo para itago ang nagbabadyang luha sa mga mata ko.

"Ipagdarasal kita lagi. Isang bagay na... pinagsisihan kong hindi ko ginawa sa nagdaang taon."

His brow shot up again, a menacing and teasing smile is on his face. I sighed.

"Bakit? Ano ba ang ginawa mo sa nagdaang taon? Hindi mo na ako naisip?"

"Minsan lang," I said in a small voice. "I know you're in the army but..."

Humalakhak siya at hinigpitan pa lalo ang salikop sa daliri ko.

"I guess I just didn't think so much about how dangerous it really is out there. O siguro dahil masyado lang akong abala sa ibang bagay."

"Gaya ng mga naging boyfriend mo?" he sounded playful now.

Sinimangutan ko siya pero hindi ko maipagkakailang tama siya ng kaunti roon.

"At pag-aaral."

"At mga manliligaw."

I sighed and frowned at him.

"You have six ex boyfriends. Let me guess, one for each year in college?"

"Bakit? Ikaw nga nakakailan noon sa isang year ng high school?"

Namilog ang mga mata niya at natawa na.

"I didn't judge you for your exes, Yohan. Nagtatanong lang naman kung isa ba kada taon 'yon?"

"Oo!" iritado kong sagot.

"Well, that's why there was no space for me on your mind through the years."

"Naiisip din naman kita minsan," giit ko.

Nagtaas ulit siya ng kilay. "Sa anong pagkakataon naman?"

An image suddenoly flashed on my mind. I remember my first kiss with Angelo. I couldn't kiss him seriously because I was thinking about Alvaro! At pati noong sa ilan kong ex na tuwing hinahalikan ako, kung saan saan lumilipad ang isipan ko.

I even wonder if Alvaro could kiss better or what?!

"Uh... Minsan lang kapag naiisip k-kita..."

"Sa anong pagkakataon nga?" ulit niya at ngayon may puwersa na.

I was very pressured. Kinakabahan ako at pinagpapawisan na. I feel like a cornered cat. My eyes narrowed at him and reminded myself that he was a playboy. Was.

Kinakalawang na ang skills niya at baduy na kaya bakit ako magpapatalo sa kanya?

"Kapag kasama ko ang boyfriend ko..." I bravely said kahit na may kaunting hiya na namang gumagapang sa sikmura kol.