"I know the place Dad," aniyang pinilit maging mababa ang tinig. She's too excited about seeing Alex that she can't control her pitch. Daig pa niya ang soprano singer dahil palaging nasa high note kapag nagsasalita siya. She needs to calm herself. "I will be fine."
"I will call Alex," anang Daddy niya.
"Dad!" protesta niya. Hindi niya napigilan ang panunulis ng nguso. "Paano magiging surprise iyon?"
"I just can't let you on your own with this kind of weather, Erika," mariing sambit nito.
"I have my phone," aniyang iwinasiwas iyon sa harap ng Daddy niya.
"Let her be," anaman ng Mommy niya.
"Thanks, Mom!" aniya at niyakap ang Mommy. Hindi naman maipinta ang mukha ng Daddy niya, halatang nag-aalala. "Dad, I am very capable of taking care of myself." She assured him. "And it's not like it's my first time here."
Tiningnan muna nito ang Mommy niya at ilang saglit na nagtitigan ang mga ito. Napaangat ang kilay niya kasi nagtetelepathy na naman ang dalawa.
"Fine." suko ng Daddy niya na napa-iling. Halatang napilitan lang. "Give us update from time to time."
Ngumiti siya. "I will. And I will bring Alex with me for dinner." Nakagat niya ang dila nang biglang nag-high pitch ang boses niya. Buti na lang hindi iyon napansin ng mga magulang. Muli niyang niyakap ang mga ito at nagmamadaling lumabas ng pinto bago pa magbago ang isip ng Daddy niya.
She felt like her heels have wings. She was bouncing while walking along the hotel's lobby. She never felt so alive knowing she'll see Alex very, very soon. Kaya nga hindi niya napigilang mag-post pagdating na pagdating nila sa airport kanina.
On my way home. I'll come running to you. ♥
And she definitely will.
Napangiwi siya nang makalabas sa hotel na tinutuluyan. Tama ang Daddy niya. The weather looks really bad. How can she run towards Alex without slipping? Napangiwi siya. She loves snow. But not when it is wet and very cold. Still, it won't stop her from running to him.
She took a cab and prayed hard that Alex will be happy in seeing her too. Her palms were sweaty despite the cold weather. She was tensed and excited at the same time. Kumakabog ng malakas ang dibdib niya. Ilang beses ba niyang hiniling na makita ulit ang kababata simula nang umalis ito? Hindi na niya mabilang. Kagaya ng hindi niya mabilang kung ilang beses na hiniling niyang gusto rin siyang makita ng kababata.
Nanginginig ang kamay niya nang buksan ang pintuan ng taxi nang huminto iyon sa isang apartment building. At alam niyang walang kinalaman ang panginginig ng kamay sa lamig ng panahon.
Ilang beses niya munang inayos ang sarili bago nag-doorbell ngunit nagtaka siya nang walang sumasagot. Ganoon na lang ang pagkadismaya niya. Ang alam niya'y walang pasok si Alex kapag Biyernes ng hapon. Saan naroroon ang kababata? Napahalukipkip siya. Ang lamig pa naman.
He should be here anytime now. Kumbinsi niya sa sarili.
Gusto sana niyang pumasok sa cafe na nasa sulok pero nag-aalala siyang baka dumating ang kababata at magkasalisi sila. It would be the worse surprise if she had to call him. Matigas siyang umiling. No, she planned this already. She just have to come running to him. Iyong wala itong pagpipilian kundi salubungin siya ng yakap. Iyong hindi ito makakapag-isip kung makikipagkita ba ito sa kanya o hindi. Hinding-hindi niya ito bibigyan ng pagkakataong tumanggi. Hindi siya nagbiyahe ng ganito kalayo para lang tanggihan nito.
Sampung minuto lumipas. Wala pa ring Alex na dumating. Naglakad siya ng paroo't parito.
Unti-unting nabawasan ang excitement niya. It seems like her plan isn't going to work. Napabuntong-hininga siya. Paano kung may lakad ang kababata? Baka may barkada na ito. Or worse, baka may girlfriend na ito. Pilit niyang iwinaksi ang nasa isip lalo na ang huli dahil may dala iyong pinong kurot sa dibdib. Was he too busy enjoying his life here that he totally forgot about her? Kaya ba hindi man lang nito nagagawang mag-reply sa mga email at chat messages niya?
Habang tumatagal ay bumibigat ang dibdib niya. She rang his doorbell again hoping he just slept and wasn't able to wake up with her first ring. Ngunit wala pa ring sumasagot. Tumawag siya sa mga magulang at sinabing nakarating na siya. Nang kakausapin ng mga ito si Alex ay nagdahilan siyang nagbibihis pa ang kababata at mabilis na nagpaalam bago pa siya mabuking sa ginawang kasinungalingan.
Napatingin siya sa bumabagsak na niyebe. Parang damdamin lang niya. Ang bigat. Another ten minutes passed, and her energy went drastically down. It's too cold. She kept her hands in her pocket. It's freezing cold. And she hates the wet snow. It made her boots dirty and wet.
Alex, please dumating ka na. Piping bulong niya. She is now freezing to death. Namamanhid na ang pisngi niya at hindi na rin niya maramdaman ang daliri sa paa. Should she call Alex? Umiling siya. Gusto niyang maiyak. Her vision got blurry. Can this day get any worse?
Biglang natawag ng pansin niya ang binatilyong nagmura. Natalsikan kasi ng putik ang jacket na suot nito. Sumikdo ang dibdib niya. He looked and walked like Alex. He cursed like Alex, too. Hinintay niyang mapalapit ito nang muling may dumaang sasakyan at natalsikan ang mukha nito. Gigil na napamura na naman ito. Hindi niya napigilan ang sariling matawa. And because she's freezing it came out as a rough giggle. Unti-unting napalingon ang binata sa kanya. Natigilan siya saka kumurap-kurap. Ganoon na lang ang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib niya. It is Alex! It really is Alex! Her adrenaline suddenly pumped up. Yung papaubos na energy level niya, biglang nag-refill. Nakalimutan na niya lahat ng alalahanin. Happiness surge through her veins making her want to fly. Automatikong umangat ang paa niya para salubungin ito. And before he could say anything, she came running to him and jumped into his arms.
"I missed you!" aniya sabay napahikbi. "Oh, God, Alex, I terribly miss you!" muli niyang sambit habang yakap niya ito ng mahigpit.
Para itong natuklaw ng ahas. Disbelief was written all over his face.
"P-Pepper?" his voice was hoarse and he looked at her like she was some sort of miracle.
Tumango siya. "You're one and only." Tila tuod pa rin itong nakatitig sa kanya. He looked at her like she is the only thing that mattered in the world. "Hindi mo man lang ba ako-" yayakapin? Hindi na niya naituloy ang sasabihin dahil niyakap siya ng mahigpit ng kababata. A tear rolled from her eyes. And then another. This is what she came for. She was smiling while she was in tears because she could not contain her happiness. He may not say it but he missed her too... More than she thought he did.
"This is not a dream," aniya habang nakatitig sa gwapong mukha ng kababata na namumula sa lamig. Hinawakan niya ang mukha nito at bigla na lang itong napaiktad.
"Damn it! You are freezing!" Galit na saad nito. Mabilis na kinuha nito ang kamay niya at binugahan ng mainit na hininga. She couldn't help but widen her smile. Her Alex is back. Iyong Alex na nagagalit kapag nag-aalala. Iyong Alex na may pakialam sa kanya. Iyong Alex na mahal siya. His warm breath brought life back to her palms and it warmed her heart too.
"How long have you been standing here?" tanong nito na bakas ang iritasyon sa tinig. Hinila siya nito at nagmamadaling binuksan ang apartment.
"N-Ngayon lang," pagsisinungaling niya. Umakyat sila sa second floor at napangiti siya nang makitang masinop iyon. Ever since, Alex was a minimalist.
"You still suck at lying, Pepper. You're drenched and freezing, damn it!"
She giggled. Namumula ang mukha nito hindi lang sa lamig kundi dahil sa galit. Nagmamadali nitong tinanggal ang suot niyang jacket pati bonnet na basa na rin.
"And you find it funny!" He was still furious. How she missed that face.
Niyakap niya ito at pinupog ng halik ang mukha. Nang tiningnan niya ulit ito, wala na ang galit sa mukha nito. Parang niyebe rin sa labas, biglang natunaw. Napabuga ito ng hininga saka nailing.
"Come here," anitong pinaupo siya sa harap ng fire place. He took the duvet and put it all over her and lit up the fire place. "Make yourself warm," anito. He went to the kitchen and when he came back, he brought two mugs of hot chocolate.
Napangiti siya at bigla itong natigilan. Nang umupo ito sa tabi niya'y kaagad niyang inihilig ang mukha sa balikat nito sabay pulupot ng kamay sa bewang nito.
"Feeling better now?"
Tumango siya. She snuggled and breathed that musky scent she missed for so long. She felt so happy, she can burst out crying. "Let's stay here forever..." wala sa sariling bulong niya.
ALEX could not believe his eyes. He had been yearning to see her, to hear her voice but his pride kept him from contacting her. And now, he is holding her close. Just like the way he used to. Just as what he wished for every damned night. His heart is ramming at his chest. Does Pepper have any idea how much he missed her? Did she know that's why she came?
He literally froze as he stared at her earlier. Hindi siya makapaniwalang ang laman ng puso't isipan niya ay nasa harapan niya. Ang lakas ng kabog ng dibdib niya. Natatakot siyang baka dinadaya na naman siya ng paningin niya. Dahil maraming beses nang nangyari ang ganoong pagkakataon. Nakikita niya ito palagi para lang madismaya dahil pinaglalaruan lang siya ng sariling imahinasyon. He was missing her so much. And now, she's in his arms... Biglang sumakit ang ilong at lalamunan niya. Napatingala rin siya dahil naghahapdi bigla ang mga mata.
Hinila niya ang katawan nito palapit. His face burried into her hair. How he missed this. This closeness. Her skin touching his. Her sweet intoxicating smell that drives his thoughts wild. But much more he missed the way he is whenever Pepper is around. He missed how he is unable to control his emotions whenever she is concerned. He missed how she can calm his nerves whenever she is this close. How they seem to be unaware of the time and space whenever they are together.
He stared at her. It is the same beautiful face he fell in love with. Ngunit halatang nahuhulog ang katawan ng kababata. "Hindi ka ba kumakain? Mukhang nangangayat ka ah. Bakit ang gaan-gaan mo na?"
"Homesick," anito.
Tumawa siya. "Hindi ba't ako ang dapat magsabi niyan?"
"Home was never the same without you, Alex." Niyakap siya nito ng mahigpit. "This is what feels like home."
Saka niya naalala ang post nito na nakapagbagabag sa kanya buong araw. At nag-flashback sa kanya ang pagtakbo nito papunta sa kanya para sugurin siya ng yakap. Was she referring to him in that post? He muttered a silent curse. Pinigilan niya ang sariling kuyumusin ng halik ang bibig ng kababata. Kapag ganitong kinikilig siya'y kung anu-ano ang naiisip niya. F*ck! Sinabi ba niyang kinikilig siya?
"What's that smile for?" tanong ni Pepper na nakatingala pala sa kanya.
Hindi niya alam na nakangiti pala siya. Sumeryoso siya ulit. "Nothing."
Tumaas ang kilay nito.
"Just happy," aniya na ikinangiti nito.
"Me, too, Alex." Napabuntong-hininga ito. "The past two months was... almost unbearable."
Napakurap siya dahil nanghahapdi na naman ang mga mata niya. He cursed himself silently for letting Pepper bear all the guilt and regret for the past two months.
"I want to undo those things I've done Alex... Gusto kong bumalik yung dating tayo." Tiningnan siya nito na tila nagsusumamo. "If that night didn't happen we won't be in this situation, Alex. I just want you back. The old Alex back."
The old Alex is long gone, Pepper. I can no longer be your bestfriend anymore. Dahil ayoko na sa dating tayo, Aniya sa isip ngunit pinigil niya ang sarili dahil ayaw niyang masaktan ang kababata.
"I will think about it," napipilitang saad niya. Lumiwanag ang mukha nito at niyakap siya ng mahigpit.
"I missed you, you know," anito.
"I missed you, too, silly." Ginulo niya ang buhok nito para mawala sa isip niya kung gaano kalapit ang mukha nito sa kanya. He was fighting hard not to capture her lips and kiss her senseless. How can he give in to what she, wants when he can't even control himself for wanting her so bad?
"I came with Mom and Dad. Dad is having an exhibit right now," anito na nilingon siya. Her face is too close for comfort. Her lips looked inviting it made his mouth dry. "I promised to bring you with me for dinner."
Napatingin siya sa labas. "We can't go out with this kind of weather."
Biglang nag-ring ang phone ng kababata.
"Hello, Dad," sagot nito. Naka-loudspeaker iyon kaya dinig niya ang boses ni Tito Gino.
"Stay with Alex, huwag muna kayong lumabas Delikado ang panahon."
"Okay, Dad. Are you and Mom, okay?"
"We're here at the gallery. But they have made arrangements for our stay. Don't worry about us. I need to talk to, Alex." Lumapit siya kaagad sa kababata at kinuha ang cellphone nito.
"Yes, Tito."
"Stay at your place. You both have to keep safe. And take care of my daughter. I entrust her at your hands."
"Don't worry, Tito. I'll take good care of her."
"She has not eaten in two months so please feed her," boses iyon ng Tita Mushroom niya na ikinapadyak ng kababata sabay sigaw ng 'Mommy naman!' na ikinangiti niya.
"Yes, Tita. Papatabain ko po ulit."
"Thank you, hijo. You enjoy your evening. Stay inside, okay? Love you both."
"Love you, Mom and Dad!" ani Pepper.
"Seems like it's just you and me," anito.
Bigla siyang kinabahan. Can he still stay close to her after all this raging desires pent up inside him?
Ipinilig niya ang ulo. "Let's cook dinner."
"Five minutes," ungot nito at yumupyop sa dibdib niya.
He groaned inwardly. Yes, this will be the death of him!