Mamihlapinatapai

Chapter 17

Cray

"Take the bed. I'll just sleep in the couch."

Mula sa pagpupunas ng mukha ay napaangat yung tingin ko dito. Is she just ordering me inside my parent's house?

"No." I replied, matching her tone. "You'll sleep on the bed beside me."

Umiling lang si Ember habang nakatingin sa kama ko. If she's worrying that the bed won't fit us two, she's just overreacting. My bed can even fit four people.

"I can't." Pagtanggi nito ulit. "I have an unusual sleeping set up. We can't share the same bed."

Kusang humagod ng tingin yung mga mata ko sa katawan nito. She's wearing my oversized Patrick Tshirt. Sa haba at laki niyon, halos umabot na nga iyon sa gitna ng hita nito. Wala na kasi akong ibang maipasuot dito dahil nga mas matangkad ito sakin. My nighties and silk pajamas are purposely made for me. It won't surely fit her. Kaya ayun na lang talaga ang naiabot ko dito. I've already ordered clothes for her para may maisuot ito bukas kaso bukas ng umaga pa yata darating yung inutusan ko.

After the Board meeting, my mother invited Ember to spend the night with us. Hindi kasi ako maaaring sumama sa unit nito ngayon dahil nakapangako na ako kay Elle na sa bahay ako magdidinner. Elle and Mommy Alli prepared our dinner. Hindi din naman makatanggi si Ember sa imbitasyon ni Momma dahil ayaw nitong isipin ng mga magulang ko na may problema sa aming dalawa.

"Just toss that shirt away if you're not comfortable." Naalibadbaran na sabi ko at itinuro yung malaking damit na suot nito. No matter what she wears, kahit yata punit punit, magmumukhang elegante pa din dito.

Why is she still looking so damned hot in that oversized shirt?

"You may not want to see me wearing nothing, Cray." Kaswal na sabi nito at saka naglakad papunta sa kama. Kumuha ito ng dalawang unan. Wala itong mahahagilap na kumot dahil sa duvet ko ibinabalot yung sarili ko pag nilalamig ako.

I put my hairbrush down on top of the vanity table at saka hinatak yung unan mula dito.

"Just tuck yourself in, Ember." Naiinis na itinuro ko yung higaan. Para namang may nakakahawa akong sakit kung makaayaw ito na tumabi sakin. "Are you afraid that I might let in a guard here to fuck you as you sleep?" Dagdag ko pa para takutin ito.

I guess it didn't work dahil umangat lang yung gilid ng labi ni Ember.

"You can't do that, Cray." Matapang na sagot nito. "If there's any place that I am safe to sleep in, this will be this place. Takot mo lang na mahuli ka ng mga magulang mo sa ginagawa mo. What will they feel if they learn about it, hmm?"

Umangat lang yung kilay ko. How could I ever forget that I am talking to a Silva?

"Alam mo naman pala, nag-iinarte ka pa." Umismid ako at saka padabog na nahiga sa kama at tinapik yung bakanteng space sa tabi ko. "Take this vacant space, Ember. I am not feeling any anxiety or depression right now. I'm perfectly fine. Kahit maghubad ka pa sa tabi ko, you're perfectly safe."

Ilang segundo din ako nitong tinitigan na para bang tinitimbang yung mga sinabi ko bago nito tuluyang hinubad yung malaking T-shirt ko. She folded it neatly at saka ipinatong sa couch.

I silently watch her as she's still on her underwear when she slipped herself inside my duvet.

"I prefer if you'll turn the lights off. I can't sleep pag maliwanag. Thank you." Pagkasabi niyon ay tumalikod na ito sakin.

Ako naman ay bahagyang natawa dito. I remember the first and the last time we slept together before I was admitted abroad to play Tennis. She still haven't change this part of her at all.