Halata ang pagkagulat niya sa sinabi ko at napatitig lang sa 'kin. Nabalot kami ng katahimikan kaya umiwas ako ng tingin dahil nahiya ako sa sinabi ko. Nagulat ako sa biglaang paghila niya sa kamay ko at kaagad na pinaikot ang kamay niya sa 'kin. Yinakap ko din siya pabalik at binaon ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya.
"Why do you want me to hug you?" he asked and started to caress my hair. I feel comfort again.
"I told you, it was cold" I answered, sounding serious to hide my nervousness. Nakabaon ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya kaya rinig na rinig ko ang pagtibok ng puso niya sa sobrang lakas. Ang lakas din ng kabog ng puso ko sana naman hindi niya marinig.
"Is that it?" he asked. He's not convinced by my answer. I feel more nervous. I sighed heavily before answering
"I can't sleep" I answered honestly. Hindi ako makatulog kagabi pa dahil sa 'yong busit ka! Gusto kong sabihin sakanya 'yon kaso baka magtanong siya kung bakit
"Why, is there something bothering you?" he asked again. Gosh, can't he stop asking?
"Why didn't you call or even text me earlier?" I asked unconsciously. I need to zip my mouth sometimes!
He didn't answer that's why I glanced at him. Baka nakatulog na pala 'tong kausap ko. I saw him biting his lower lip to stifle a smile but I can see it. I was about to look down because our eyes met but he held my chin and made me face him, our eyes stared at each other. Naiilang ako sa mga titig niya pero nakipaglaban pa rin ako ng titigan.
"Why are you waiting for my message?" he asked and raised a brow. His smile turned into a smirk.
"Ano.. k-kasi ano.." shit ako din nga hindi ko alam e!
"That's good enough,no need to explain" he said. Hinila niya ang kumot pataas hanggang sa balikat ko at mahigpit akong yinakap. Nakapatong ang ulo ko sa braso niya at ang isang kamay niya ay nakapaikot sa bewang ko.
"Let's sleep. Masyado mo 'kong pinapakilig baka hindi na 'ko makatulog" he chuckled. He kissed my forehead and pulled me closer to him. Pinapakilig huh? Ano bang ginawa ko para kiligin siya?
Akala ko makakatulog na 'ko pero mas lalo ata akong hindi makatulog. Ang lakas talaga ng tibok ng puso ko, hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa kaba o ano.
He hugged me several times already but this hug feels different. I feel secured and I feel that no one can ever harm me.
I buried my face more to his chest, getting sleepy already.
Katulad ng inaasahan ko, pagkagising ko wala na siya sa tabi ko. I feel so energized today. I don't know why I'm so happy like nothing could go wrong.
Masaya kong linigpit ang pinaghigaan namin pagkatapos non ay naghilamos na. Pinuntahan ko si Lia sa kwarto niya at nagsalubong ang kilay ko nang hindi ko siya matagpuan doon. Bumaba ako sa kusina at natagpuan siyang kumakain doon kasama sina lola at lolo. Tumakbo ako palapit sakanikla at kaagad ko silang niyakap. Mukhang hindi pa nila inaasahan ang paglapit ko sakanila at nagulat pa.
Nakapagluto na sila kaya umupo nalang akong umupo para kumain. Namiss ko ang luto ni lola!
"Mukhang masaya ka Shalian" nakangiting kumento ni lola. May ibig sabihin ang mga ngiti niya na para bang mayroon akong hindi sinasabi sakanila.
"Syempre nakita ko kayo" nakangiting sagot ko bago sumubo ng kanin.
Pagkatapos naming kumain, nakipaglaro si Lia ng puzzle kay lolo habang si lola naman kinukulit ako para magkwento kung anong mga nangyari sa pagsasama namin ni Ian. Napapailing nalang ako sa mga sinasabi ni lola
Iniwan ko muna sila doon na naglalaro ng puzzles para umakyat sa taas dahil nandoon ang phone ko. Kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko para pigilan ang pagngiti nang makakita ako ng mga messages
From: the jerk
Good morning love. Did you eat already?
From: the jerk
How's our daughter?
From: the jerk
I'm so stressed out, I need your kisses. Kindly send them right away... just kidding but if you want to, you can kiss me anytime
From: the jerk
Te quiero mi amor
I licked my lower lip before typing. I can hear my nails making sound while typing and ...send
To: the jerk
We already ate, eat too. Go back to work now.
To: the jerk
And don't stress yourself. Take care
I was about to go down but I'm surprised to see a follow request from Dash. Kakangayon lang nagnotif. Since kilala ko naman siya kaya inaccept ko.
Dash_Legaspi sent a video
My brows furrowed but still clicked the video anyway. It's a video of Ian. Dash silently recording a video while Ian's doing his work.
"Baka mapunit na labi mo kakangiti" pang aasar ni Dash sa video. Tinignan siya ni Ian at sumandal sa swivel chair. Kinagat niya ang labi niya para pigilan ang ngiti niya at pinaglaruan ang ballpen na hawak niya gamit ang mga daliri.
"Fvck man! She made me go insane!" I chuckled about wha Ian said
"Lakas ng tama" bulong ni Luis at umiling. Nakita siya sa video dahil nasa sofa siya habang si Dash naman ay sa tingin ko, nakaupo sa armchair
"Puro ka kasi babae!" masungit na sabi ni Ian at hinagisan ng folder si Luis kaya natawa si Dash
"Ano ba kasing sinabi sayo? share naman bro" pangungulit ni Dash sakaniya. Sinandal ulit ni Ian ang likod niya sa swivel chair bago tinignan si Dash. Pinatong niya ang siko sa armrest at pinaglaruan ang labi gamit ang daliri.
He's so damn hot
"Last night, she said it was cold so I stood up to turn off the aircon but she pulled me that made me lay down again" pagkukwento niya. Tumigil siya sa pagkukwento at kinagat ang ibabang labi para pigilan ang ngiti. Ang ulol naman
"She said she needs me to hug her! Damn, she hugged me back!" pagtutuloy niya. Ang sigla ah
"We need Shalian here to calm him down" Luis shook his head and sipped at his coffee while Dash is laughing at the background.
"Bro that's not it. She texted me and said eat too and don't stress myself. She also said take care. Nawala bigla ang sakit ng ulo ko kanina" natawa ako dahil sa sinabi niya. I didn't know he will make it big deal.
"Malala na siya" bulong ni Dash para hindi marinig ni Ian bago inend ang video.
Dash_Legaspi
Tell your boss to focus on his work
I replied to Dash before going down bringing my phone with me just incase someone will call.
"Mommy swim!" Lia said cheerfully. Gusto na naman niyang magswimming. Meron kasing swimming pool sa backyard katabi ng mini playground. Last time na nagkwentuhan kami ni Alexi, sinabi niya na pinlano daw nang maayos ng kuya niya ang bahay kaya hindi na 'ko nagtaka kung bakit maraming area sa bahay na hindi naman gaanong nagagamit.
Mukhang bored na din si Lia kaya pinayagan kong magswimming. Merong pambatang swimming pool kaya siya nalang ang nagswimming at binantayan ko nalang siya. Habang naglalaro si Lia sa pool chineck ko ulit ang phone ko nang magvibrate 'yon. Dali dali kong pinindot ang message ni Kianna
From: Kianna babe
BABEEEEE!!
From: Kianna babe
Someone liked the picture you captured and they asked me who took those pictures so nirecommend kita. Gusto ka nilang maging photographer for billboard are you G?
Paubos na din ang savings ko at ayaw ko din namang iasa kay Ian ang lahat kahit sabihin pa nating mayaman siya. I replied to Kianna saying that I want to take the opportunity. Kianna send me the details, where to meet and some stuffs. Sa wednesday na pala at wala pa yung mga gamit ko sa bahay. Nagcall kaagad ako kay Rave para humingi ng tulong
[Oh ano? Miss mo 'ko agad? sus, miss you too] kaagad na bungad niya sa 'kin. Kung wala lang akong kailangan pinatayan ko na ng tawag 'to
"Marami ka bang ginagawa?" tanong ko, mamaya ko na lang biglain.
[Sorry, bawal akong makipag date. Strict parents ko] malokong sagot niya. Ang kapal talaga ng mukha!
"Hindi ka talaga aayos?" pananakot ko.
[Ano ba kasi 'yon? Bakit hindi mo nalang kasi diretsuhin para hindi ka nahihirapan. Rave, miss na kita. Meet tayo, libre ko. Ganon dapat para mabilis] napahawak ako sa ulo ko dahil sa sagot niya. Pinagtiya-tiyagaan ko lang talagang kausapin 'to pero hindi siya matinong kausap.
"Ravien ayusin mo ah"
[Ano ba kasi? bilisan mo na marami akong ginagawa]
"Kailangan ko yung DSLR camera ko na nasa bahay ni Kianna sa pangalawang drawer ng kwarto namin ni Lia" dire- diretsong sabi ko bago ko siya pinatayan ng tawag. Bahala siya
Pagkatapos kong patayin ang call, nakatanggap ako ng call mula kay Ian
[Your phone was busy, sinong kausap mo?] tanong niya.
"Si Rave" maikling sagot ko.
[I see. Did you eat?] he asked. Himala, hindi niya sinabing nagseselos siya.
"Hindi pa. Papaliguan ko pa lang si Lia. Sina lola pala andito" I informed him
[Yeah, I know. I'll hang up now, I love you] he said before ending the call. He didn't wait for me to say I love you too... well hindi ko naman sasabihin 'yon
Inakyat ko na si Lia sa taas habang si lola, nagluluto sa kusina. Habang hinihintay kong maligo si Lia, nakita ko ang sunod sunod na text ni Rave
From: dumb Ravien
Hoy teka ano?!
From: dumb Ravien
Hoy tanga anong gagawin ko??
From dumb Ravien
Hindi ba sinabi ni Kianna na busy kami?? pero sige dalhin ko nalang sa Wednesday
To: dumb Ravien
Yay thank you! don't worry libre kita
Pagkatapos magbihis ni Lia bumaba na kami para kumain. Nag stay dito sina lola hanggang 3pm bago napagdesisyonang umuwi. Yinaya akong manood ng disney movie ni Lia at pumayag naman ako. Dapat talaga may isa pang bata sa bahay para hindi malungkot si Lia.
Nagmamadaling tumakbo papuntang pintuan si Lia nang makarinig siya ng kotse. Alam niya na kaagad na daddy niya 'yon. Sinalubong niya ang daddy niya sa pinto, kaagad naman siyang binuhat ni Ian.
"Did you eat already?" Ian asked Lia. Lia nodded and kissed his daddy's cheek. Ian also kissed Lia's cheek that made Lia giggle. Lumapit sa 'kin si Ian at hinalikan din ako sa pisngi bago umupo sa sofa.
"Did you eat?" I asked Ian. It made me confused when he bit his lower lip and shook his head. Hindi ko nalang pinansin at dumaretso sa kusina para ipaghanda siya.
Iniwan ko muna siyang kumakain doon para samahang maghilamos si Lia. Nagpapasama lang si Lia sa 'kin kahit hindi niya naman hinihingi ang tulong ko para hilamusin siya dahil kaya niya na daw.
Naligo na din ako pagkatapos ni Lia. Si Ian ang sumalubong sa akin pagkalabas ko ng banyo. He looks so tired
"Lia's already sleeping" he informed me. Hindi pa siya nakapagpalit kaya pumunta muna siya sa closet para kumuha ng pantulog at pumasok sa banyo para maligo.
Natapos siyang maligo nang inaayos ko ang kama. I felt his presence behind my back and as I expected, he hugged me from behind and put his chin on my shoulder.
"You're my stress reliever" he whispered and kissed the side of my neck. Tumaas ata lahat ng balahibo ko nang halikan niya ako
I held his hands that encircling my waist and slowly removed them from hugging me. I faced him and held his cheeks using both of my hands
"Take a rest" I whispered to him. "Uhm" I unconsciously kissed his cheek! I looked down and let go of him out of embarassment. I fake coughed and exit myself from awkwardness by walking away from him but he held my hand.
He gently pulled me towards him, facing each other again. He held both of my cheeks and made me looked at him and of course I can't look at him! I avoid my eyes from meeting his.
"You should inform me next time so that I can bring parachute with me. It will protect me from falling" he chuckled.
Hinila niya ako at pinaupo sa armchair. Hinila niya ang upuan na nasa tapat ng vanity at kinuha ang gitara niya
"Hindi ako makatulog kaya kantahan nalang kita. I can't sleep when I hear loud noises" he said that made me confused
"Loud noises? I can't hear any" I said in confusion. He reached for my hand and held it, placing it to his chest. I can feel his heart beating so loud. It's like vibrating or what. Tumakbo ba siya ng ilang kilometro para tumibok ng ganito ang puso niya
Title: If Ever You're In My Arms Again
It all came so easy
All the loving you gave me
The feelings we shared
And I still can rememberHow your touch was so tender
It told me you cared
We had a once in a lifetime
But I just couldn't seeUntil it was gone
A second once in a lifetime
May be too much to ask
But I swear from now onIf ever you're in my arms again
This time I'll love you much better
If ever you're in my arms again
This time I'll hold you forever
This time we'll never end
We had a once in a lifetime
But I just didn't know it'Til my life fell apart
A second once in a lifetime
Isn't too much to ask
'Cause I swear from the heartIf ever you're in my arms again
This time I'll love you much better
If ever you're in my arms again
This time I'll hold you forever
This time we'll never end
He sat next to me after singing that. I can feel his skin touching mine since the armchair is kinda small for the both of us to sit on.
"I promise not to break your heart again" he whispered. His hand went to the back of my head and pulled me gently. I thought he was going to kiss me on my lips but I felt his lips on my forehead. Why am I expecting?
Just like last night, we slept facing each other. He's facing me and I'm facing him. My head is resting on his arm while his other arm is aready encircling me. My face is being buried on his chest. We're sleeping so close to each other, I can feel his breath reaching my hair.
Nagpaalam na 'ko kay Ian na aalis sa wednesday at pumayag naman siya. Nagpaalam lang ako dahil walang magbabantay kay Lia. Gusto ko man siyang isama kaso baka ayaw nilang may bata. Susunduin na lang daw ni Alexi para ipasyal sa mall pag aalis na 'ko.
Ginawa lang namin ang araw araw naming ginagawa. Aalis si Ian nang umaga at maiiwan kami ni Lia. Hanggang sa Wednesday na
Naunang umalis sa 'kin si Ian at hindi muna ako umalis hanggat wala si Alexi. Napag usapan namin ni Rave na dalhin na lang sa location na isesend ko ang camera since mag aayos pa naman kami ng gagawing background.
Nang dumating si Alexi, umalis na din ako kaagad dahil baka malate. I went straight to the photo studio and took a deep breath before holding the door knob to open the door.
"Wait, ikaw?!" I asked glaring. Ian just throw a smirk. What the hell?
"Let's start, shall we wife?"