Beneath the Clouds (Beneath Series 1) - COMPLETED

Kabanata 29

Kabanata 29

Office

Hindi pa rin talaga rumirehistro sa utak ko kung paano ako napasok sa sitwasyong 'to. Ang ginawa ko lang naman ay bisitahin sina Russell para sana sa plano sa darating nilang kasal, pero hindi ko alam na darating sa punto na makakasama ko si Nova sa pagtulog! Sa iisang kwarto! Na kaming dalawa lang!

Tell me, how did it turned out like this?

I swallowed hard. Pinakatitigan kong mabuti ang cabinet na nasa harap ko. I was facing the other side of the bed habang pinapakiramdaman ang aking katabi. I was wide-awake the whole time, at hindi ko alam kung dahil ba 'to sa presensya ni Nova o dahil namamahay ako.

I tried to close my eyes again, hoping I'll finally drift to sleep, but I failed to convince myself. It's been an hour as we went to the room. Kumuha si Nova ng mga hindi pa gamit na pajamas at mga hindi pa gamit na underwears nina Russell at Chloe roon sa cabinet. He told me that he texted them. At nakakahiya naman din kung basta basta na lang kaming kumuha nang hindi nagpapaalam.

Hindi talaga ako dinadalaw ng antok. I looked at the side table at nakitang ala-una na ng madaling araw. Hindi na rin gumagalaw ang katabi ko, so I'm certain he's asleep. I bit my lips, and decided to face the opposite direction dahil sumasakit na ang leeg ko.

I slowly turned back, pero agad ko ring pinagsisihan nang masalubong ang isang pares ng mata. It was reflected by the dimmed lights. I held my breath away and swallowed.

He licked his lips as he watched me silently.

Ilang pulgada na lang ang layo namin. Sa sobrang lapit namin, para akong maduduling. Sobrang kabog ng dibdib ko as if it'll going to explode. It was palpitating so hard, at hindi ko na kayang sundan pa.

"Hindi ka rin makatulog?" he asked in a hoarse tone.

"Yeah," ako sa napapaos na boses.

Dahan dahan niyang inunan ang kanyang kaliwang braso. In that angle, napagmasdan ko siyang maagi. He has changed physically throughout the years. Mas nagmature ang mukha niya. Mas madilim na tumitig. The was he stared was like ordering someone with authority. Parang kada salita niya, wala kang magagawa kundi ang sumunod. His thick brows reminds me of a Hollywood actor. Matangos ang ilong, at manipis ang labi. Pero ang mas napansin ko ay ang perpektong hulma ng panga niya. I've read some wattpad stories about this, at hindi ko alam na may ganito pala sa totoong buhay.

Natahimik kaming pareho. We just watched each other's eyes like a madly in love couple. Sobrang rahan ng mga matang niyang 'yon. It was too gentle. At may kung anong tumatarak sa dibdib ko. Nasasaktan ako sa mga matang ipinapakita niya.

While looking at him, our memories flashed on my mind. Ilang buwan lang kaming naging mag-on pero hanggang ngayon malinaw pa lahat ng ala-ala namin. How I confessed to him, how he confessed back, and how we shared our first romantic kiss with stars as our witnesses.

Those moments we have was both in pain and happiness. We hurt each other and drifted apart. We separate ways and create our own path. Tinahak namin ang magkaibang daanan na dapat sana magkahawak naming binagtas.

Nova's eyes softened and reached my hair with his right hand. It was a gentle caress, the one that I longed to feel. I didn't have the courage to protest dahil ultimo kamay ko'y hindi ko magalaw.

"What happened to us, Railey?" bigla niyang tanong sa mararahang boses habang titig na titig sa akin. Those words of his were like confused, but with longing ang sadness.

Hindi ako nakasagot dahil hindi ko rin alam kung anong nangyari sa amin. Ang huling naaalala ko lang, ang masaya kong highschool days na naging masalimuot na lang na memorya. It was so dark and bitter. Para akong binawian ng paningin, dahil noong namatay si Mama, wala na akong nakita kundi dilim. There's not even light even if I wander around. Kahit pa tumakbo all para maghanap ng liwanag, wala akong nakita. Muntik ko nang sinukuan ang buhay ko kung hindi lang dahil sa tulong ng mga taong may malasakit sa akin. Kung wala sila, baka ngayon, e, sumunod na ako kay Mama.