Loving a Believer

Chapter 20: The Prayer of a Servant

I struggled to move when I woke up, because Storm was hugging me. He was sleeping. Why was he here?

It was a little bit dark here in the tent because evening was approaching. Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog pala ako kanina habang umiiyak. I pinched my nose because I couldn't breathe well. Barado ang ilong ko ng sipon dahil sa pag-iyak ko kanina.

"Storm!" I heard someone calling outside. It was one of Storm's male cousins, Sean, I guessed. "Storm! Are you there?" Tila nagising naman si Storm dahil doon.

"Yeah! Why?" inaantok pa na tugon ni Storm. Nakasara kasi ang tent kaya hindi kami makita ng pinsan niya.

"Come on, let's eat barbecue!"

"I'm not hungry yet."

"Just come outside. We'll be having a bonfire."

"Okay."

Hindi na namin muling narinig ang boses nito kaya paniguradong umalis na ito.

Napaiwas ako ng tingin nang mapansin kong nakatingin sa akin si Storm. "Do you want a barbecue?" he asked in a gentle voice.

I shook my head although I was starving.

I remembered everything I had heard before I fell asleep a while ago. Naramdaman ko na naman ang pagbigat ng dibdib ko, ngunit nagambala iyon nang maramdaman ko ang paghalik ni Storm sa ilong ko, dahilan para mapatingin ako sa kanya.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

I didn't know why I suddenly felt like I didn't want to share my burdens with him. I was doubting that he would believe me. Baka isipin lang niya na nagseselos at nai-insecure lang ako kay Demi. Tila ba wala akong karapatan na makaramdam ng selos.

"I-I'm okay," I said and lowered my gaze.

He just heaved a sigh and then sat up. "Let's eat. I know you are hungry. You didn't eat well a while ago."

"I'll just stay here. I don't want to walk. My ankle is still painful," I excused.

"Okay. I'll just get you a food," he said and then unzipped the tent.

I was left alone in the tent when he went outside. I could hear his cousins' voices outside; they were having fun. I took a deep breath when I felt sadness and burden in my chest again.

A few moments later Storm came back to the tent holding two plates that had barbecues and rice. He handed me one.

"Don't you really want to go outside? They are having fun," he told me.

I shook my head. Bukod sa ayaw kong makaharap ang mga pinsan niyang babae, ayaw ko ring ma-OP sa kanila. "Ikaw na lang. I'll be fine here," I replied.

He gazed at me. "I don't want you to be left alone here."

Umismid ako. "I don't wanna be around your annoying cousins. I wanna go home now," sabi ko at saka kumagat sa barbecue. Hindi ko na natiis na hindi sabihin sa kanya 'yon kahit na alam kong magmumukha na naman akong masama sa paningin niya.

"We'll stay here until tomorrow," he said.

I dropped my eyes and didn't reply. Wala naman kasi akong magagawa. Hindi ako makakauwi nang mag-isa sa mansion. Nalungkot ako lalo nang maalala ko si Eli. Namimiss ko na siya. Naiwan ulit siya kay Tita Marie sa mansion. Pero sa pag-uwi namin sa syudad, isasama na namin siya.

"Storm! Come on, join us! Let's jam!" dinig naming tawag kay Storm mula sa labas ng tent. It was Breyden's voice. They were calling Storm again. Hindi ko alam kung bakit narito ngayon si Storm sa loob ng tent samantalang nagkakasiyahan ang mga pinsan niya sa labas.