Forever and Always BOOK 1 ( a sequel to As Long As Forever)

Forever and Always - CHAPTER 16

"Five minutes' up!" biglang sambit ni Alex sabay tayo. Muntik na siyang mapasubsob sa sahig sa ginawa nito. Gusto niyang magdabog. Can't they have a few cuddle moments more? Doesn't he miss her? Because she does and she doesn't mind if they cuddle the whole night. In fact that's the only thing she had in mind.

"Come, magluluto na tayo," anito sabay hila sa kanya.

Natigilan siya nang maalalang hanggang ngayon, pancake lang ang kaya niyang lutuin.

Nakataas ang isang sulok ng labi nito nang mahuli ang reaksyon niya. "Hanggang ngayon wala ka pa ring alam lutuin?"

"Two months ka lang nawala, Alex, hindi two years," she reminded him. Which suddenly hit her hard when she realized what she just said. She felt her own heart is bleeding. Hindi 'lang' ang two months. It was the longest, saddest and darkest two months of her life. The hardest part was missing Alex every single second. And now, she missed him more. How can she still miss him this much when she is finally here with him?

"It felt like two years though," halos sabay nilang bulong.

Nagkatinginan sila dahil doon. Was it pain she saw in Alex's eyes? Or was it her own pain reflected in his?
Tumawa siya bigla dahil tumambol ng malakas ang dibdib niya nang magpang-abot ang mata nila.

"Huwag muna tayong magdrama," aniya sabay iwas ng tingin. "Magluto na muna tayo. I'll be your sous-chef," prisinta niya.

Tumawa ito saka tiningnan siya na tila hindi pa rin makapaniwala. "I still can't believe you're here. Everything feels surreal." Pinisil nito ng malakas ang pisngi niya.

"Ouch! Alex!"

Tumawa ulit ito. How she missed the sound of his laughter.

"Totoo nga. I still feel like I'm in a dream."
Kinurot niya ng pino ang tagiliran nito.

"Pepper! That hurt!"

Bumungisngis siya. "There. Pag masakit, totoo."

"Parang pag-ibig din 'no? Saka mo malalamang totoo kapag nasasaktan ka na." aniya sa sa isip.

"True," ani Alex na napatitig sa kanya.

Natampal niya ang bibig. Did she really think that loud? Hindi niya alam kung bakit siya biglang nailang. This is Alex, for goodness sake! Hindi siya kailanman naiilang kay Alex. "Magluto na tayo," aniya at inunahan ito sa pagtungo sa kusina.

"Umupo ka lang, kamahalan. Ako na ang bahala sa ating hapunan."

And there he goes again, teasing her heart with that playful smile. Itinaas niya ang noo. She should set aside all these weird feelings. "Salamat magiting na alipin," aniya.

"I'm not a slave, I'm a knight!" anitong sumimangot.
Tumawa siya para itago ang kilig na nararamdaman. Why does Alex have to be so cute? Wait, she never find him cute! "Fine, magiting na kabalyero, sarapan mo ang pagluluto."

Nginitian siya nito at ganoon na lang ang pagkabuhol-buhol ng hininga. "Basta para sa'yo, kamahalan." Yumukod pa ito. "Well, why don't you watch a movie? Tatawagin na lang kita kapag handa na ang hapunan," suhestiyon nito.

Sinuklian niya ang ngiti nito sabay iling. "We'll do that later. Mas gusto kong panoorin ka."

Mas lumapad ang ngiti nito. "I'd prefer that, too."

And with one swift move she is inside his arms, squeezing her into a tight hug. "I just want to feel once more that this is real," bulong nito.

Niyakap niya rin ito ng mahigpit. Her eyes begin to sting. "I don't mind if we stay like this the whole night, Alex."