The Boundaries of Abyss

Kabanata 17

Clueless

They say that the most beautiful moments tend to hasten the time just when you wanted it to stop ticking. But if those wonderful moments happen every day, I won't mind. I'd even hope for the next day to come flying just so I could spend more of it... with him.

"I have something to give you," Hedeon was sitting on my sofa. I told him I can cook but he insisted that we should just order, lalo na't mahaba ang naging araw ko sa clinic. Sinundo niya ako at nagpahinga muna kami saglit roon bago tumulak paalis.

"What is it?" He turned his whole attention to me. Pumasok muna ako sa kwarto kasi naroon ang ibibigay ko. I was supposed to give it to him during the new year's, pero hindi ko dala iyon noong bigla siyang pumunta sa bahay ni Papa. Naiwan sa Leynes.

He spent an hour or so kasama ang pamilya ko. Madali niya ring nakapalagayan ng loob ang pamilya ko. Lalo na ang Tita Alejandra, dahil kilala raw ni tita ang mama ni Hedeon. It's just my titos and Papa who's still doubtful. Pero nakita naman nilang masaya ako. At nalaman pa nilang si Kuya Matthias mismo ang nagsabi kung nasaan kami kaya hindi na sila nagialam pa.

"Sorry it's late. Don't worry it's not the boxers..." I said and handed the box to him. Umupo ako sa tabi niya at inilagay ang baba sa balikat niya.

"Can I open it?" He asked pero nauna na niyang sinira ang wrapper. I nodded and chuckled at him.

"That's something funny... but useful."

"Sunglasses?"

"Yeah..." tumawa ako at kinuha iyon para isuot sa kanya. Humarap naman siya sa akin at hinintay na mailagay iyon sa kanya. I pouted when I saw that it fits him too well! Kaya ko nga binili para hindi siya makilala at hindi pagdiskitahan ng mga babae pero... parang mas lalo siyang pagtitinginan!

"Why? Does it not look good on me?"

"No... it looks too good. You're always out, so..." naghanap ako ng palusot, "I wanted to give you something to protect your eyes..."

"Hmmm... really?" hindi niya naniniwalang tanong. Pinapairal na naman ang pagiging abogado niya. I sighed in defeat.

"And because... I want your eyes only for me... at para hindi ka nila tignan," pero mukhang mas titignan siya dahil sa bigay ko! Tinanggal ko iyon at ibinalik sa lalagyanan.

"This is a bad idea... I'll just buy you another one. Like a belt or mug or... something," he just laughed and and settled his face on my neck.

"D-Dapat talaga 'yung boxers nalang..." I was trying to lighten the mood because I was very much distracted. Nakasuot ako ng paborito kong hoodie at pajama dahil malamig pero umiinit dahil sa mga yakap niya.

Kinuha niya ang hawak kong box at itinabi, "You're greedy," aniya at pinatakan ako ng halik sa ilong.

I softly smiled. Trying to push lewd things running on my head. Iniwas ko ang tingin at tumayo para kunin ang isang box. Para na rin malayo sa temptasyon na katabi ko.

"Here..."

"Another one?" aniya at pinilit akong tumabi ulit sa kanya pero nanatili akong nakatayo.

"Open it..." ani ko at umupo sa carpet para makitang buo ang reaksyon niya. I gestured him to open it.

It was the same picture of us noong sunrise. It wasn't folded. I really don't know what to give him. Kaya't naisipan kong ilagay nalang 'yon sa frame. I think it's personal and sweet... I put words surrounding the wooden frame.

"Is it cheesy?" Ani ko noong hindi man lamang niya inalis ang tingin doon. "I remembered you saying that... you like seeing the sunrise with me... I think that picture is perfect..."