YOU ARE MY HOME

Chapter 33

I know his voice so well. I turned around to look at him and it was indeed Marcus, just as I thought. Kumurap nang ilang beses ang mga mata ko habang nakatitig sa kanya.

Nabato ako sa kinatatayuan. I thought he left with Katrina. Bakit nandito siya ngayon?

"And now you wouldn't speak?"

He drew himself closer to me. And, now he's just inches away. The light of the moon illuminated his face and I couldn't tear my eyes off him. Pakiramdam ko ay mawawala agad siya sa harap ko kapag pinikit ko ang mga mata o kahit kumisap man lang.

"M-Marcus?" I asked nervously. Malalim ang bawat paghinga ko.

"Yes," tipid nitong sagot, at lalo pang lumapit. I can smell his cologne. The wind was blowing gently. Nililipad ang buhok niya.

Napaatras ako pero hinapit ng isang kamay niya ang baywang ko dahilan para mapaliyad ako. Awtomatikong napahawak ang mga kamay ko sa kanyang mga braso.

"Don't even think of leaving again," seryosong sabi niya. My forehead lightly creased.

"L-let me go, Marcus!" hiyaw ko, nagpupumiglas sa kanya. "Ano ba!"

Mas lalong humigpit ang pagkapulupot ng kamay niya sa beywang ko. Ang isang kamay niya ay nasa bandang batok. He pulled me closer and my head slammed against his chest. I can feel his heart beating. Malakas ang tibok, katulad ng sa akin.

He embraced me and I feel the warmth as his arms encircled around me.

"Please, listen to what I have to say, Azie," masuyo niyang sabi. He rested his chin on top of my head.

"Marcus, itigil mo na 'to! Bakit ka ba nandito?" hagulgol ko. "Diba, dapat umalis kana?"

"I'm not gonna leave you here. Not after I heard everything from you," malamyos niyang sabi. "Sa'yo na din nanggaling na hinihintay niyo ako ng anak natin."

"Huwag mong obligahin ang sarili mo, Marcus. Hindi tayo nag-ingat ng gabing iyon but it doesn't mean that you need to change your plans now that you know everything," sabi ko sa namamaos na boses. "Hindi ko ipagkakait si Kio sayo. You can still be a father to him." I looked up and stared at his face.

Dinungaw niya ako at sa hatid na liwanag ng buwan ay naaninag ko ang kanyang mga mata. He clenched his jaw and roughly took a deep breath.

"But, I love you, Azie..." malambing niyang sabi, "I always have and always will."

Hindi ko nahinuha ang mga sinasabi niya. I just shook my head. "Hindi, M-Marcus."

He loosened. Bumagsak ang kanyang mga kamay. That's when I managed to break free. I took a few steps backwards. "I love you so much, Azie. Don't you feel the same way about me?" nanghihina niyang sabi at lumapit sa akin. Now, my feet were soaking on the water.

I didn't respond. I locked my eyes on him.

"Nagbago na ba ang isip mo? May iba kang mahal?" sunud-sunod na tanong niya. "Do you love that engineer?" He pointed his finger to the direction of hotel. "Kaya kayo magkasama dito?"

"Huh?" pagtataka ko. Kumunot ang noo ko at nagsalubong ang dalawang kilay ko.

Naalala ko si Brent. Marcus was referring to him. Nakita na pala niya akong kasama si Brent kanina. Why would he think that I love Brent?

Ibig sabihin ay nakita niya ako. Ngunit hindi niya ako nagawang lapitan dahil kasama niya si Katrina.

"Hindi ka nakasagot dahil totoo?" himok nito at mas lalong lumapit pa dahilan para humakbang ako patalikod. Seryoso ang boses niya at tila galit. Nabasa ang laylayan ng damit ko dahil lampas tuhod ang tubig at pagsalampak ng alon.