Loving the Dark Sky

CHAPTER 45

All of us were emotional. Na-guilty ako sa ginawa ko dahil hindi ko agad naisip ang mararamdaman nila kapag namatay ako.

"Feeling better?" tanong ni Kuya Adrian bago sumimsim sa kanyang kape. We're now eating breakfast. Pero wala si Dylan.

I gave him a small smile. "Yes, Kuya. Thank you for saving me."

"You shouldn't thank me, Andria. I wasn't the one who saw you first and saved you. It was Dylan."

Natigilan ako dahil sa nalaman. Tahimik lang siya kagabi. Tumingin ako kay Kuya Derrick. "Where is he, Kuya?" Kailangan ko siyang makausap.

"Nasa labas. Kanina pa tapos mag-breakfast."

Pagkatapos kong kumain ay agad kong kinuha sa kwarto ang journal ni Dylan bago siya hinanap. Nakita ko siyang nakaupo sa garden swing bed, abala sa kanyang iPad. Agad ko siyang nilapitan. Tumingala siya sa'kin nang tumigil ako sa harapan niya. Hindi siya nagsalita nang iabot ko sa kanya ang journal niya.

I felt something in my eyes. "Please take it."

Umawang ang bibig niya. "Why?"

"Binigay mo ba sa'kin 'to dahil kasama ako sa memories mo dito? 'Cause I'm one of your bad memories?"

Binaba niya ang iPad niya. "Of course not. What makes you say that?"

"Nagpapasalamat ako kasi niligtas mo ako kagabi pero nasasaktan pa rin ako! Bakit kailangan mo pa akong saktan ng ganito? I already apologized to you! Isn't that enough?"

Kumunot ang noo niya. "What do you mean? Hurting you was never my intention. If you get hurt because of me, then that's not intentional."

He held both of my hands. I tried to let go of myself from his hold, but he didn't let me.

"Let me go!"

"Please calm down, princess. Tell me what's wrong. What is it that bothers you so much?" masuyo niyang sabi. "Sabihin mo sa'kin para maayos ko."

I stared at him when I calmed myself down. "Why did you give me your journal? Of all people, why me?"

"Because I love you. At matagal na akong sigurado sa'yo."

Wait——What?! "What?! Pero may girlfriend ka na, di'ba? You should be happy with her already!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. "Girlfriend? Wala pa akong girlfriend, Andria!" 

Kumunot ang noo ko. "But you said you're already taken!"

He stared at me when he realized something. Then he bit his lower lip, trying to stifle his smile. "Yes, I'm already taken. Because you already got me ever since we met."

Umawang ang bibig ko dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Halika dito..." He pulled me slowly towards him. "You already took my heart, but you're not yet my girlfriend. You're the only one I've been waiting for all this time," paliwanag niya sa'kin.

I looked away. Gano'n pala 'yon? Akala ko may girlfriend na siya because Kuya Derrick confirmed it! Napahiya ako!

"Elle.." Pinaupo niya ako sa kandungan niya at pinunasan ang mga luha ko. Then he wrapped his arms around my waist. "Wala akong girlfriend. Sino bang nagsabi sa'yo na may girlfriend na ako? Sinong nagkumpirma?"

"Si Kuya Derrick."

Natigilan siya nang marinig ang pangalan ng kapatid. He licked his lower lip before he sighed. "Huwag kang maniwala sa kanya. Ni wala pa nga akong naliligawan, eh."

I blinked twice. "Really? Ni hindi mo naisip na manligaw sa kahit na sino?"

He caressed my face. "Naisip ko na noon. Pero umalis ka naman. I was planning to court you once you turn eighteen."