Breathless (Book 1&2)

Harder to Breathe #22.1

Harder to Breathe #22.1
Cloud

"Noreen, I still hate seeing you cry."

I looked directly into her eyes, she's obviously holding her tears back but after hearing that, she wasn't able to control it anymore.

She cried a river. She's always been like this. I'm used to it but I still hate it.

Noreen is a real crybaby but this time, her cry means a lot. It was a kind of cry that carries a ton, a heavy cry, an endless cry.

"Shh..." I caressed her back while gently hugging her.

I missed her smell, the sweet flowery scent coming from her hair.

I missed the softness and warmth of her body, and just like before, I'm afraid that I might break her when I squeeze her too tight.

"S-Sorry," she kept on saying.

I know, maraming tumatakbo sa isip niya ngayon. There's a lot of things going on and she barely got control over it. It's obvious, it's obvious that she's having a hard time.

Kumuwala siya sa pagkakayakap ko at pilit na inayos ang sarili. Her eyes were bloodshot red and she's obviously crying for a while now.

It wasn't just because of Keysha, right?
There's more behind it, right?

She's sniffing hard that's why I handed her my handkerchief, she accepted it and tried to return it to me but I refused.

"Keep it Noreen," I told her, tumingin siya sa akin habang nakakunot ang noo. "Well, keeping a handkerchief is better than hiding a used underwear."

I saw how her face turned red. I wanted to laugh but I couldn't because of her next reaction.

"JERK!" sigaw niya sa akin sabay hampas sa dibdib ko. It hurts dahil medyo mabigat ang kamay niya but I don't mind.

She can hurt me all she wants. It's okay. I don't really mind.

I managed to chuckled at her reaction. We're obviously thinking the same right now.

Eight years and yet nothing much has changed. She's still the same Noreen I've met before. Crybaby. Fickle-minded. Immature yet really-,

"Beautiful..." I blurted out without much thinking. She clearly heard it kaya nakita ko ang mabilis na pag-iwas niya ng tingin.

Her ears turned really red and I badly want to touch it. She blinked too fast as I move a step near her again. Noreen seemed restless but she's not moving too. She's just standing there as if waiting for me to get closer to her.

You're still affected, aren't you?

I slowly reached for her right cheek. She's not wearing any make up and yet her face is really blushing right now. It's warm and soft too.

Nervousness was written all over Noreen's face. She seemed astonished but she's also letting me move my face near her.

You still feel the same, right?

I saw how she bit her lower lip and tried to look down pero sinalubong ko ang titig niya.

"Cloud..." she whispered the same time I felt her hand on my chest as if trying to push me away.

I scoffed.

Right. It's not the same anymore.

"Don't worry, I don't kiss married woman,"

Her face changed after hearing that. She deliberately walked two steps backwards to make a distance between us.

"P-Please leave," she said while looking away.

I wanted to hurt myself for not thinking again. She's hurt, she's obviously hurt with what I said. Pero sa tuwing maiisip ko na may ibang lalaki na sa buhay niya. May ibang lalaki ng humahawak, yumakayap at humahalik sa kanya, my head always goes blank.

Eight years and yet it's still there, the wound she left me is still there. The betrayal I felt, it's clearly still there.

And despite all of that, I love her all the same.

"If you decided to stop being strong, I'm just here,"

To be continued...