Hiding Behind the Lenses (Arte del Amor #3)

Chapter 26

"More coffee, love..."

Hinampas ko ng mga papel ang ulo niya, "You've already had four cups of coffee since earlier tonight! If you still wish to see tomorrow, just go to sleep! Huwag mong ipipilit!"

It's 2 A.M. and we're pulling an all-nighter. I don't mind because having graduated already and I don't want unnecessary attention, I'm currently just helping with our company — nothing to worry about except this stubborn boy.

Ilang araw ko na siyang hindi nakakasama dahil sa mga plates niya kaya minabuti ko nang ako ang pumunta sa kaniya dito sa bahay nila.

I also volunteered to help him with his worksheets for the other minor subjects while he's busy working on his outputs.

"I am so going to drop this subject."

I chuckled, "It's a major subject, you idiot."

Kahit anong reklamo niya ay alam kong gusto niya ang ginagawa niya. Sadyang masyado siyang metikoloso sa mga ginagawa kaya natatagalan, pero dahil naman doon ay laging bongga ang mga pinapasa niya.

I have an album in my phone full of photos of his plates and other projects. My baby's so talented kaya! I'm so proud of him!

"Give me a power hug then."

Since he's seated on a high stool for his drafting table, and being a whole lot taller than me, I could never snuggle him completely in my arms but I still try. Parang koala ako na niyakap siya mula sa likuran habang patuloy siya sa pagguhit.

"Thank you, Lumi." bulong niya.

Alas kwatro na ako natulog dahil hindi ko na kaya, pero iniwan ko pa si Nikolai na gising. Pagkagising ko ay nakita kong nakayuko na siya sa lamesa niya, natutulog.

Goodness. He never really sleeps beside me, not even once. Ang laki naman ng kama niya. Mukha ba akong may nakakahawang sakit?

I looked at his work and I think he's done. Nakita ko ang baso ng kape sa tabi at agad kong inilayo iyon bago ko pa nasagi.

Noon kasing first year siya, natapunan ko ng inumin ang plate na pinaghirapan niya buong gabi. It would have been okay if he got mad at me, pero nanahimik lang siya at inulit iyon!

"It's not your fault. It was an accident." I felt so bad! Sana sinuntok niya na lang ako! Huhu.

Kaya ngayon, I do my best not to get in the way and instead help in any way I can. Lalo na ngayon na sobrang hirap na ng mga ginagawa niya at hectic pa ang schedule.

Hindi kaya madali ang mag-aral. Adults often make fun of students who are struggling, but it really is hard and is not something to belittle.

We all have our struggles and no matter how grave it is, we have no right to say that our problems are bigger than those of others. This is one of the many things that Nikolai taught me in all our years together.

I glanced at the wall clock above his television and saw that it's still morning. Mamayang hapon pa ang pasok niya kaya hindi ko na muna siya gigisingin.

He looks so uncomfortable in his position but I do not have the heart to wake him up.

I tiptoed my way outside of his room because he is such a light sleeper and the faintest noise would wake him up.

Before I could even make my way down the stairs, I heard a few familiar voices. Nangibabaw doon ang masiyahing tinig ni Kenjiro.

Napangiti ako at na-excite. I haven't seen that boy for a while! I wanted to go down and greet them but stopped myself.