Broken To Make Wishes

Chapter 10

I raised my hand and was about to knock at the door but I stopped myself, again. Bumuntong-hininga ulit ako at naglakad ng paulit-ulit sa harap nito. I counted my steps to ten then raised my hand, sighed, and knocked.

Holy finally, Sitara.

I tilted my head when the doorknob twisted. I waited for the door to open in anticipation. Kinagat ko ang aking pang-ibabang labi at hinigpitan ang kapit sa kumot na tanging nakatakip sa nanginginig kong katawan. My dress wasn't helping at the moment.

When the door in front of me opened, my eyes widened and I almost dropped my blanket at what I saw.

Placido, still shirtless, stood straightly in front of me. Dahil naka-on ang ilaw sa kwarto niya raw, kitang-kita ko kung anong kayamanan ang tinatago niya sa ilalim ng kaniyang mga tee. Magulo ang buhok niya at parang hindi rin nakatulog gaya ko.

Tinakpan ko kaagad ang mga mata ko gamit ang dalawa kong mga kamay, ang kumot na hinahawakan ay tuluyan nang nahulog. No peeking. All I saw was darkness. Tumalikod na rin ako nang uminit ang magkabila kong pisngi dahil bumalik sa isipan ko ang obra maestra na nakita.

Goodness gracious, Placido...

"Lyss?" Placido's soothing voice was mixed with confusion. "What are you doing here?" he gently asked. Then I heard him stepping forward or back.

"Um... I just... well, can you..."

Paano ko ba kasi sabihin? Ang ganda ng katawan mo pero pwedeng mag-shirt ka? Parang stupid lang.

"Err, are you out of tee shirts?" I finally asked.

Silence enveloped us then he awkwardly laughed. I pursed my lips, still wrapped in darkness.

"Oh... right."

I heard footsteps again, obviously in haste. Ilang minuto akong nakatayo sa labas at muntik nang napatalon sa gulat nang nakaramdam ng kamay sa balikat.

"Sorry," he apologized and laughed again. "I'm wearing one now. You can face me."

Tumango ako at ginawa ang sinabi niya. I took a peek and removed my hands when I saw that he's finally covered. That's a relief.

"What are you doing here?" tanong niya ulit. He picked up my blanket and put it on my shoulders.

"Well..." I licked my lower lip and bit it. "Sinakop na nila Dara ang bed and there's no couch there for me so..." I awkwardly smiled.

The corner of his eyes narrowed before he nodded. Binuksan niya ng malaki ang pinto ng kwarto at pinapasok ako. I straightened when I heard the door got shut.

Okay... we're alone now.

Dumiretso si Placido sa kama kaya namilog ang mga mata ko. I thought he's going to lie down there but he just grabbed one pillow and his blanket. I saw him glancing at me as he walked towards the couch. Nilagay niya ang mga gamit niya doon at lumapit sa switch. Nilingon niya ako.

"Are you going to stand there all the time?"

I rolled my eyes and walked towards the bed. I made myself comfortable there while he turned the lights off. The lamp on the bedside table was already off kaya ang tanging ilaw ng kwarto ay ang liwanag ng buwan.

"You okay there?" he asked as he went to the couch. Humiga siya doon at muntik ko na siyang masabihan na tumabi na lang sa akin dahil halos 'di siya nagkasya.

Ugh, control yourself, girl!

"Yeah..."

Niyakap ko ang isang unan at ipinikit na lang ang mga mata, avoiding an awkward conversation with him.