Chapter Twenty-Nine: Unlimited Cheese
The bird's chirping greeted my ears when I regain consciousness from sleeping. I opened my eyes and immediately looked to my right where the open balcony is situated. Napangiti ako sa liwanag na dala ng umaga. In my bare feet I stood and approach the balcony. Hinawakan ko kaagad ang barandilya at tinanaw ang magandang hardin ng mga Teroi. Mrs. Teroi is fond of flowers kaya ibat-ibang klase ng bulaklak ang makikita sa hardin nila.
Waking up and seeing these felt so surreal. Like living a dream...
The sky is clear, wala na ang kulimlim na dulot ng bagyo. I even saw flock of birds flying.
Naputol ang paghanga ko sa paligid nang tumunog ang ringtone ng cellphone ko. Pumasok muli ako sa kwarto at nilapitan ang mesa na katabi ng kama kung saan ko nilagay ang bag. I fished for my phone and answered Ginger's call right away.
Yesterday, tinadtad niya ako ng tawag at text. Sinabi ko na magpapaliwanag ako pag nagkita ulit kami. I also apologized for the postponed lunch with them.
"Hey, Luya. Good morning!" I greeted in all smiles.
I heard her scoffed in the other line. I chuckled.
[Uuwi ka ba ngayon o magbahay-bahayan pa kayo ni Doc. Teroi diyan?]
Natawa man ay kampante kong hinayaan ang pag-init ng aking mga pisngi dahil sa sinabi niya. Bahay-bahayan talaga? And how does she knows that I'm with Vince?
"Did you used your boyfriend to get that information?"
Exaggerated itong umingos. Natawa na naman ako at umupo sa kama habang pinapalibot ang mga mata sa kabuuan ng kwartong pinagdalhan sa'kin ni Vince. This particular room is beside his. Gising na kaya siya?
[Excuse me? Of course not! I asked Tita, we're friends na kaya.]
Mom and her talkative nature...
"Anyway, to answer your question. Siguro mamaya ay makakauwi na kami tutal maaliwalas na ang kalangitan."
[Kami? So, magkasama kayong uuwi? Ikaw ha! Madami kang utang na kwento sa'kin! Si Doc Yummy pala ang type mo! Naku, balita ko ay madaming may gusto riyan na mga nurses saka interns.]
Napaingos ako habang naaalala ang dalawang nurse na nakasabayan ko sa elevator kahapon. Si Vince pala ang crush nila na Doc Yummy pa ang inaalyas!
"They can drool all they want, ako naman ang gusto ng pinapantasya nila. "
[Oh my! The Great Angelie Ascod!] Tawang-tawa si Ginger.
I stood when I heard a faint noise coming from the outside of the door. Patuloy kong pinapakinggan ang tawa ni Ginger habang nilalapitan ko ang pinto at unti-unting binuksan.
Napamulagat ako nang mabungaran ang pabalik-balik sa paglakad na si Vince na nakayuko at parang malalim ang iniisip.
"Vince?" Tawag pansin ko sa kaniya.
[Vince?! Who's that? Nagtataksil ka ba—]
Gulat na napatigil sa paglakad si Vince at agad na tumayo ng tuwid habang kumakamot sa batok nito at parang nahihiya.
"Talk to you later." Saad ko kay Ginger saka binaba ang cellphone nang mapatay ang tawag.
Sinalubong ko ang nagtatanong na mga mata ni Vince. Napansin ko ang pagtingin nito sa hawak kong cellphone. His lips are in thin line as if suppressing himself to asked.
"It was Ginger." Kusa kong pag-i-imporma.
"Oh..." Mahina nitong sambit saka dahan-dahang tumango at nahihiyang salubungin ang mga mata ko.
He's so adorable. I want to hug him so bad.
Mahigpit akong napahawak sa cellphone para pigilan ang sariling dambahin si Vince.
"Good morning..." Pagbati ko saka ngumiti rito nang lumingon sa akin.
He's acting so shy...he was like this when he admitted that he has a crush on me before.
I stepped forward making his eyes widen. I contained my laugh seeing him being so alarmed.
Four years ago, everything that reminds me of him gained a hatred from me. Months ago when I saw him again, I still loath him to the bones. I hate how he talks, how he walks, how he looked at me, how he looked so good—I loathed everything about him...and now, I couldn't believe that I hate even a second to this guy. Because right now, everything that reminds me of him will always throw me on a bed of feathers. It always makes me smile in warmth.
"Chill, I just want to kiss you good morning." I bit my lower lip as his face turns red.
I remembered when he told me last night that he wanted to kiss me and he did. Now, where was that Vince go?
"N-Now?" Di makapaniwalang sambit nito.
I nodded as I approached him. He's acting so shy yet he is not backing away, nanatili ito sa kinatatayuan at hindi umaatras.
Ah...gusto niya rin.
Tumigil ako sa mismong harap niya at tumingala sa kaniya. Lumunok ito at ang mga mata'y palipat-lipat sa mga mata ko at sa mga labi.
I held my breath as I tiptoed and placed a gentle peck on his right cheek. Umatras agad ako saka nginitian ito ng matamis.
His eyes are confused. His brows are furrowed and his mouth is parted. He did not expect that kiss...
"Di mo ba ako babatiin ng good morning?" I teasingly asked him as I'm stepping away.
Sinusundan ng tingin nito ang pag-atras ko hanggang sa bigla itong humakbang ng napakabilis at agad akong hinigit sa beywang. Napahawak ako sa dibdib nito at gulat na napatingin sa kaniya.
He smirked.
Oh...here is the playful Vince.
"You're teasing me." Saad nito.
I blinked and looked at him innocently. "D-Di kaya..." Kinakabahan kong sambit.
My confidence awhile ago just evaporated. Now I'm feeling ashamed of what I did. Ako pa talaga ang nanghamon? Kay aga-aga, Angelie!
"That was your good morning?" He cocked his head and stare at my lips, "My morning is beyond great, love. Very great..." Dahan-dahan nitong sambit habang nilalapit ang mukha sa akin.
Napakuyom ang mga kamay kong nakakapit sa damit na nasa may dibdib niya. My eyes closed and anticipated his greeting...
Until I felt a kiss on my forehead and he set me free.
What?
Napatuwid ako ng tayo at minulat ang mga mata. Seryoso ang mukha nito salungat sa mala-dagat na mga mata nitong madaming emosyong lumalangoy.
"B-Bak—"
"Behind you is a bedroom, beside us are still bedrooms..." He combed my hair at the side and tucked then behind my ear. "You're wearing my shirt," He rasped and kissed the top of my head, "you smelled so good, and I love you so much..." He stepped back and closed his eyes.
Ngumiti ito nang magmulat saka inilahad ang kamay sa harap ko. "Let's eat breakfast, okay? I'll kiss you later in...a safer place." He winked and took my hand.
~✧~
"Do you still like them?"
I looked at the plate he placed in front of me with chunks kiwis and a twigs with fresh leaves beside it.
"That twigs are just from the tree on our garden." Imporma nito saka umupo sa tabi ko.
I forked one chunk and offer it to him. "Gusto mo rin 'to, diba? Let's share." Inilapit ko ang tinidor sa bibig nito.
He looked at the kiwi and then to me. He chuckled as he took the kiwi from the forked and chew it.
"Masarap?" Nakangiti kong tanong.
He swallowed as he nodded and took his fork and forked a chunk too, and offered it to me.
"I badly want to feed you like this. We should do this often..." Saad nito saka pinunasan ang bibig ko pagkatapos kong kainin ang prutas.
The feeling of floating is so addictive. Staring at his eyes is like I'm swimming at the sea. Happily flapping on the water. His hair is like the shining sun, it always give me a warm feeling. He's like my personal nature...he's a nature himself, that's why he gives me peace...
"I love you, Vince. Have I told you that?" I muttered.
He chuckled and leaned forward. Hinaplos niya ang baba ko at inangat saka ako hinalikan ng marahan sa mga labi.
It feels enchanting whenever we kissed. Like we're teleported to a magical realm.
"Have a date with me..." Agad na usal nito nang maghiwalay ang aming mga labi.
"Wala ka bang shift ngayon?" Tanong ko at inabot ang siit na bigay niya at inamoy ang preskong bango nito.
Inumang muli nito ang kiwing tinusok niya sa tinidor sa aking bibig. Masaya ko naman itong tinanggap.
"I already served my required hours for this week. So, I'm all yours..."
Nilingon ko ito saka pabirong tinampal ang siit sa mukha nito. He laughed and continue feeding me the fruit and then our breakfast after.
As we went to the places that we used to go before those things from the past happened...di ko mapigilang di maging emosyonal habang nakatitig sa magkahugpong naming kamay. In every step, each memories of us are veiled in light. Lumilitaw at lumilinaw sa isip ko. These places are the witness of our love...
Who would have thought that I'll be holding his hand with so much love and gratefulness after what he purposedly did and said to me. Akala ko yon na ang katapusan ng storya namin. Hindi talaga kami para sa isat-isa...and I deserved someone better...
Little did I know...he doesn't deserved every bad thoughts I had towards him. Pero muhi ang gusto niyang maramdaman ko sa kaniya, iyon nga ang namahay sa puso ko patungkol sa kaniya. But now that the truths behind of those pain surfaced and known...I thank the Almighty for making me understand Vince's reason. I thanked the Almighty for making my heart be freed by the hatred and give forgiveness to Vince.
I thanked the Almighty for this another chance with the one I love, for having him again with me, his hands with mine...and him as mine.
"We're here..."
Mula sa mga kamay namin ay nalipat kay Vince ang mga mata ko. I smiled of his sight. His golden-brown hair softly swinging by the gentle breeze of this park. Nakatuon ang mga mata nito sa harap, may munting ngiti sa mga labi.
I transferred my sight to the reason of his amazement. At katulad niya ay tila kuminang rin ang mga mata ko sa natanaw.
We're here... sa lugar kung saan namin unang binigkas ang nararamdaman namin sa isat-isa.
The Heart of the Woods, the eco-park in Centro. Kung saan nasa pinakagitna ng park ay ang payapang lawang hugis bilog. Vince informed me before that the pond is not man-made. It is really created naturally, which is more amazing.
Humigpit ang hawak ko sa kamay niya dahil sa tuwang naramdaman nang makita ang iilang sisne na nasa lawa. Dati wala namang mga sisne pero nakakatuwa at ngayon ay mayroon na.
"May mga swans na!" Bulalas ko at lumingon kay Vince na nakangiting nakatingin na sa akin. I avoided his eyes and bit my lower lip as I watched the swans again.
Gosh, I could feel my cheeks heating up.
"I'm glad we're back here..."
Lumingon muli ako sa kaniya. Inangat nito ang kamay kong hawak niya at hinalikan ng marahan. "I'm glad you're with me."
My smile instantly showed and in instinct I stepped closed to him and kissed his cheek. Saka bumulong sa tenga nito. "We're getting so cheesey but I'm also glad that I'm with you. Thank you for coming back..." I looked at him.
His hand released my hand and snaked around my waist to pull me for a hug.
Gosh, ang tanda na namin para sa PDA!
"Thank you for believing and accepting me again." He whispered on my ears and kissed my temple. "And I agree, we're so cheesey."
Sabay kaming natawa.
~✧~
"Is this enough?"
"Hm?" I transferred my eyes from the stars to Vince who's laying beside me.
Lumingon ito sa'kin sa mga malamlam na mga mata. He stare at me for a minute and then he finally smiled and chuckled.
Naguguluhan naman akong nakatingin sa kaniya. "Why'd you asked?" Tanong ko dahil di niya pa nasasagot.
Umusog ito nang mas malapit sa akin. "Come here..." He tapped his arm that is laid straight.
"Baka langgamin na tayo nito. Buong araw ata tayong matamis." Biro ko saka ipinatong ang ulo sa braso niya. His arm instantly embraced me.
"They'll consider. We missed each other. Bumabawi tayo." Sagot naman nito saka hinagkan ang noo ko.
"I could imagine Ginger's furious face right now." I muttered as I closed my eyes.
He chuckled and caressed my hair. "She'll understand. She knows you love me so much that you don't want to be apart with me for a second."
I chuckled and slapped his chest. His laughter rumbles.
"You lured me to stay with you. Kung saan-saan mo ako dinadala para di ko maisipang umuwi. You conniving twig." I spat in humor. Di naman ako nagrereklamo dahil gusto ko rin siyang makasama pa ng matagal.
Before we started our day with our date. We already informed our parents, and I also informed Ginger that we won't be back to Beachwood yet. Then, we turned off our phones after that para walang disturbo. It's just a day with only the two of us. Maiintindihan naman siguro nila iyon.
At hanggang sa naubusan na kami ng lugar na papasyalan kaya para sa panghuling lugar bago kami umuwi sa bahay ng mga Teroi rito sa Centro, we chose the hill.
"It's because I love you so much that I don't want to be apart from you even for a second. Kung pwede lang na dito na lang tayo, magkayakap."
"H-Hey!" I slapped his chest again as I buried my face on it. I'm ashamed that he'll see my tears. Masyado akong emosyonal! "Stop being so c-cheesey!" I said in a muffled voice.
"Nah, I love making your heart pump's crazily. Since you always making mine every time. It's only fair."
I groaned and silently let my tears wet his shirt.
I heard him take a lungful of air as he cleared his throat. At dahil malapit lang sa tenga ko ang dibdib niya, rinig na rinig ko ang bilis nito.
"Love?" He rasped.
I only hummed.
"Look at me, please?"
I raised my head from his chest and met his beautiful eyes. Umangat ang isang kamay nito at pinahid ng marahan ang pisngi ko.
I gulped as his eyes conveyed poems of his love to me.
"Let's make us official, please?"
I blinked. "We are already official, right?" Akala ko okay na. Kami na ulit. Di pa ba?
He gently combed my hair. I rested my chin on his chest.
"In the eyes of God, love. Let make this official in His eyes, please?"
My ability to breath just stopped as if my heart stopped beating. His face became blurry in my eyes as my tears are forming fast.
I want to answer but when I opened my mouth to speak, mga hikbi ang lumabas. I crawled on him and clung my hand to his neck as I buried my tearstained face on his right shoulder.
"Take your time... there's no rush, I'm just here...take your time..." Mahinang bulong nito habang hinahagod ang buhok ko.
God, thank you.