Binaba ko ang libro ko saglit hanggang sa ilalim ng mga mata ko para tumingin kay Hurricane. Kanina pa siyang tahimik. Nakakapanibago talaga.
His brows furrowed, his lips were slightly moving from memorizing quietly. This is one of the few moments na he's really serious and looks very intimidating. Kung ganyan lamang siya ka-seryoso noon siguro matagal ko na siyang gusto but well, whatever, he's my only crush and boyfriend now.
I blinked and straightened nang bigla siyang mapatingin sakin. Damn, nahuli niya akong pinapanood siya!
Slowly, his lips formed a curve. He's smiling now as he gave me a wink. Inikutan ko lang siya ng mata bago binalik ang tingin kay Williams, my Ob book. After a couple of minutes hindi ko mapigilan hindi ulit siya silipin. Argh! He's back with his codal again.
Ganito ba nararamdaman niya kapag hindi ko siya pinapansin tuwing mag-kasama kami dahil sa pag-aaral? Gusto ko ulit kulitin niya ako or tabihan man lang but nothing. Ugh! I am turning clingy, am I?
I just miss him. Hindi kami madalas mag-date, yong ilan pa sa dates namin dito lamang sa condo. Delivery food and one movie then pag-uusapan namin yong napanood namin like a freaking review before heading back to study na ulit. I just recently found out na may mine maintain na grades si Hurricane and one of his goals is to top the Bar. So I really do understand nang bigla talagang wala kaming masyadong oras.
Almost every day nagkikita kami para lang mag-aral. It's fine. Actually, focus ko din naman ay studies ko.
At least, nagkikita kami.
I heaved a sigh as I rested my head on the headrest of my couch; maybe I am just too stressed. I should take a nap nalang kesa mang-istorbo kay Hurricane.
Wala pang ilang minuto akong nakapikit nang maramdaman ko ang pag-dampi ng labi niya sa pisngi ko.
I opened my eyes and met his gaze; He softly smiled as he tucked a few strands of my hair behind my ear. We stayed looking at each other's eyes for a few more minutes, thinking nothing just appreciating the damn beautiful view before he stooped down to kiss my jaw.
Isa pa to, hindi naman sa nag-mamadali ako ha? Pero he's kissing me anywhere in my face except for my lips! Like, hindi ba siya marunong or what? Ilang months na kaming mag-on kaya.
Ugh, Chandy you're too stressed!
"You hungry love?"
I looked at my watch. It's 12 midnight already. "Apparently,"
He chuckles before helping me stand up. Kinapa niya ang bulsa niya bago bumalik papunta sa upuan niya kanina para kuhanin ang wallet sa bag niya.
He smiled at me as he extended his arm, offering his hand to me. I accepted it before grabbing his hoodie na nasa couch at sinuot, sniffing it secretly. I really do love his scent, not just his perfume. But the mixture of his body and perfume scent. Ang bango!
"Tapos ka na sa readings mo?" I asked nang makalabas kaming elevator.
"Break time and you really looks so stressed."
"Sinabe mo pa."
He chuckles as he squeezed my hand. I smiled at him.
"What do you want to eat?"
"Ice-cream." I said already heading to the freezer as we entered the convenience store. "Ikaw?" I asked, getting a solo pack.
"Make it two, babe."
"Okay."
He let go of my hand, hinayaan ko lamang siya nang makuha ko ang flavor na gusto niya inikot ko ang tingin ko kung saan siya nag-punta. Sumunod ako kung nasaan si Hurricane. He's standing by the row of chocolates.
"Do you want one?" I asked pertaining to the kisses he's looking at.
"Are you free tomorrow?"
"Ano ngang araw ngayon?"
"Friday, baby." He answered chuckling, looking at me.
Minsan talaga hindi ko na alam kahit araw. May isang beses naka-pasok ako kahit Linggo, kumusta naman. Tawang tawa tuloy sakin si Manong Guard! I told Hurricane about it na kinadagdag na naman ng kasiyahan niya sa buhay but ever since that day nagising na talaga siya ng five am to remind me what the day is kahit seven ang normal niyang gising.
I really do appreciate him. It's the little things he does that make an impact, I guess.
"I'm free." Thankfully. Most of my Saturdays kasi napupunta nadin sa school.
"Can you go with me somewhere tomorrow?"
I tried containing the excitement that surged inside my chest but I already beamed kaya napatawa siya. He pulled me in his arms kaya agad ko siyang sinaway! I mean, yeah wala naman kaming pake sa iisipin ng iba but this is still PDA. Kapag sa labas ng coffee shop keri lang kasi madilim naman pero dito talaga sa loob, silaw na silaw ako sa liwanag!
"You still don't know where we are going yet you're already happy."
"I need relaxation, babe."
Tinalikuran ko na siya para mag-bayad. Matutunaw na'tong ice-cream namin! Bumalik tuloy ulit ako sa freezer para kumuha ng bago nang maramdaman ko si Hurricane sa gilid ko. Ngiting ngiti.
"You look stupid," kahit hindi. He's too adorable.
His eyes glimmered as he looked at me. Like I did something good to him, hala, may ginawa ba akong maganda?
"Hey, what the hell? OA mo ngumiti."
"Love.."
"Oh?"
"It's the first time you called me 'babe'."
My brows furrowed before it all sank in! Oh! So dahil lamang doon? Pero.. first time ko pala? Minsan naman tinatawag ko siyang babe or baby.. sa utak ko. Ata.
But this boy! Yon lamang talaga masaya na siya? Napangiti nalang din ako, siguro dapat dalasan ko ang pag-gamit ng endearment sa kanya? Ah! Bahala na.
I don't know but him—seeing this happy because of that simple thing makes me so happy too.
Eight in the morning nasa condo ko na ulit si Hurricane. Minsan iniisip kong dito nalang siya patulugin kapag Friday since tuwing umaga naman ng Sabado lagi siyang naderetso dito kapag wala akong lakad.
Maybe someday in the near future, I'll let him.
Pag-labas ko ng room naabutan ko lang siya na nakapikit, he's still sleepy. He's not a morning person, hindi din siya sanay sa puyatan. Kalokohan talaga nong sinabi niya dati sakin na maaga siya gumigising.
I walked quietly to him as I stooped down, placing a peck on his right cheek. Slowly he opened his eyes; I gave him a smile, "Good morning."
He spread his arms before pulling me onto his lap, enveloping me to his embrace! Grabe siya makayap! Parang isang taon hindi nag-kita.
"I can't breathe."
"I'll breathe for us," he answered instead kaya kinurot ko. Napaka! Tatawa tawa lamang siya bago sumandal sa couch, nakayakap padin sakin. "Good morning too, doc."
"Did you have your breakfast already?"
"Drive thru nalang tayo."
I shrugged before finally wrapping my arms around his shoulder. Inayos ko ang buhok niya kahit ayos naman na, gusto ko lang hawakan. Bakit ba? "Let's go?"
"Can we stay like this for another minute?" his voice was too tired. Parang ayoko na tuloy tumuloy at pag-pahingahin nalang siya.
"We can cancel if you want, tulog nalang tayo." I suggested softly.
He smiled at me before shaking his head slowly. "No, just give me a minute."
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
I nodded before tightening my hug at him. Hindi ko alam kung kagaya ko din ba ang nararamdaman niya.. pero siya ang pahinga ko. Sa kanya, umo-okay ako. Kahit sobrang busy namin at nagkaka-inisan minsan, masaya ako sa kanya.
He makes everything lighter. He's my breath when everything around me suffocates me. He's not my spine.. but he has my heart. And I want him to not just know that.. but feel it too.
"I love your smell," I said. I heard him chuckling, his shoulder were slightly shaking. "Yeah, I really do."
"I know, you're always sniffing me."
I tried pulling away for my violent reaction but his hug was too tight kaya tinapik ko na lamang ang balikat niya, "Hey! Assuming ka."
"No babe, I always caught you closing your eyes and placing your nose on my shirt." He said entertained!
Nakakainis! Ganon ba ako kahalata? Akala ko pa naman never niya napansin. Nakakahiya tuloy!
"Don't be shy."
"I'm not."
"Your scent's my favorite too."
Automatically, my heart started beating wildly. Pakiramdam ko tuloy maririnig niya yon kaya kinurot ko nalang siya sa tagiliran. He laughed as he placed a peck on my jaw, sending tingling sensation down my body. My hold on his shirt tightened.
Gosh, does he have any idea how he affects my entire system?
"You're warm." He whispered as he rests his head at the crook of my neck. I smiled.
He's warm too.
**
"Hurricane.."
I looked at him, totally stunned after realizing where we were going. He's just smiling while his eyes were still on the road. I.. I can't even find my voice.
I really don't know what to say..
We stopped sa isang heritage house. Natanaw ko kaagad ang familiar na sasakyan sa may labas. Omg..
I looked at my boyfriend before throwing myself at him, "Love.." his embrace tightened, rinig na rinig ko ang lakas ng kabog ng puso niya. I rolled my eyes, fighting the tears.
"You said you missed them.. they're waiting for you now."
I pulled away at him, tinititigan ko lang ang mga mata niya. This guy.. I tiptoed as I cupped his face and gave him the kiss he don't want to give for some unknown reason! Mabilis lang pero parang sasabog ang katawan ko sa halo halong emosyon.
I hardly felt his lips sa sobrang bilis.. it was soft, but that wasn't what I realized..
It's just a split second..
But that kiss.. it all said everything.
I opened my eyes as I straightened my back. He still looks so shock, huh! Sobrang bagal kasi.
He was about to open his mouth pero agad na akong tumakbo papasok sa bahay and as I entered.. I felt complete once again..
Right, nagkikita kami ni Cy everyday sa school and hospital but it was really different without Ansel. And every time dinadalaw ko si Ansel, hindi din kumpleto kapag wala si Cy.
I am beyond happy right now. I'm in my joyous state.
"Wohoo! Look who's late!" Cy teased, holding a plate of sweets in his hands. Agad niya yong binaba bago lumapit sakin at yumakap. "You know, hugging you felt wrong without Ansel watching us."
"Chandy!!!"
Cy and I both spread our other hand as we welcomed her for a group hug. It's been months.. finally, kumpleto na ulit kami. They're with me again.
I tried stopping my tears, because truthfully speaking, the two of them are my constant. We've been each other's back.. hindi ko lang talaga inasahan na darating kami sa phase na magkakahiwa hiwalay kami, living our own lives and dealing our own problems.
It was so hard.
Sanay ako sa ingay nila, sanay ako sa kulit at away nila. Sanay akong nanjan sila. That's why I was never prepared of having a life without them in it every single day.
"Omg! I hate you, madami kang utang sakin na kwento!" Ansel told me nang mag-bitaw bitaw kami.
"Yeah, like, mag-kasama kami everyday at school but not a single time she gave a hint about my twin."
"Huh, look who's talking." I shot back.
"Woah! Nasagot ka'na!"
We all laughed, ang nakakairita para silang nakakita ng multo nang makitawa din ako! Guard, never ba ako nakitawa sa kanila before? Grabe yong luwa ng mga mata e!
It was a day of laughter and catch up. It's like we completely forgot every problems we have for a while. And I am very happy to see the two of them very carefree. This was one of the priceless moment.. seeing them winning their own battles. It is still a long road ahead, but we will reach what was meant for us.
"I told you right, kapag may nawawala may dumadating." Ansel joked, I reached for her hand as I slowly shook my head.
"No one can replace you as my best friend." I said tenderly. Bigla siyang napaiyak at yumakap sakin. "Hush, love."
"Ako? I'm your best friend too, right?" Cy asked, may tampo sa boses. I only rolled my eyes on him. He knows the answer to that naman.
"Ikaw, Hurri ha! Kapag sinaktan mo'to lagot ka talaga sakin."
"As if I can."
"Just make sure. Kahit ganito condition ko, susugudin talaga kita."
My boyfriend just laughed at my best friend's remark. It was already seven in the evening when we decided to say goodbye. Gusto kong isama pabalik si Ansel but iba na lahat ngayon..
At least.. we got reunited again.
Hurricane took a photo of us three, nang makita kami ni Tita Monique, kinuhanan naman niya kaming apat. Hurricane wrapped his arm around me while I wrapped my arm around Ansel's waist, Cyclone on the other side snaked his arm around her shoulder.
"Hurricane.." I called him nang makabalik ulit kami sa Manila. We're already inside my condo unit.
"Hm?"
"Thank you, love."
His eyes glimmered as he held my hand, "Anything that will make you happy."
My heart was beating fast.. I am about to do something..
I've been keeping this for a while now, but I am sure. I am sure with him.
"Hurricane.."
"Hm?"
His eyes were tender, yet it also held fire. It's the flame we've both denied for quite some time now.
I cupped his face using my right hand while the other combs his hair, his arm snaked around my waist. I can sense him holding his breath, and if it is possible.. I can hear our heart beats synchronizing.
My eyes dropped to his lips before slowly lifting it up to meet his gaze.
He's so beautiful.
"I love you,"
It wasn't fast.. it was so slow.. how he stoop down to claim what's his.