My Sunshine

CHAPTER 24

It has been a week since I went back at the condo.

I already talked to my friends also for making them worried last time. I thought they will be mad at me, especially Precious but they didn't. Inasar pa nga nila ako pagkabalik ko kesyo daw pinuntahan ako ni Stell sa bahay ni Tita. I didn't tell them na nanliligaw si Stell sa akin, saka nalang siguro.

And si Stell naman, he's busy as of now. He told me that they're shooting something, for their content ata. Hinayaan ko nalang, hindi ko naman siya iniistorbo.

I never expect that something like this would happen, yung may manliligaw sakin. I can see that Stell is serious and persistent on courting me. He always check on me, talk to me, and I remember na pagkabalik na pagkabalik ko rito sa condo, he gave me a boquet of flowers. But there's a little part in my heart and in my mind that is scared kasi paano kung desidido lang siya sa ngayon lang. Paano kapag tumagal, hindi na? Baka magsawa lang siya at tumigil.

I'm just thinking of the truth, the reality. Baka walang tumagal sakin.

I stopped thinking about my thoughts when my phone rang, Stell is calling so I answered it.

"Kumain ka na ba?"

My brows furrowed a little bit. Wala man lang greetings ha, tanong agad. But I answered him anyway.

"Hindi pa. Maaga pa naman ata." sabi ko.

I already cooked lunch just earlier pero maaga pa naman ata kaya hindi pa ako kumakain.

"Azie, alas dose na ng tanghali. Mag-lunch ka na." sabi niya.

"Oh, okay? I'll eat after this call." I said. "How about you, did you ate already?" I asked him.

"Kakain palang din. Kakatapos lang namin mag-shoot ng isang content tapos mamaya may isa ulit." he said.

"Okay, that's good. Just rest if you're tired..." I said in a low voice.

"Yes mahal."

"Mahal?" I asked, confused.

"Bakit Mahal?"

I was lying on my bed but I stood up when I realized that Stell is playing tricks on me. Mahal daw, eh sa pagkakaalam ko callsign 'yon.

"What the hell?!" I hissed.

I heared him chuckled on the other line.

"Joke lang. Sige na, kakain na kami. Kumain ka na rin ha..."

I just said okay before ending the call.

I placed my phone on the side table then I went out on the room and went to the dining.

I cooked Adobo for my lunch pero sinobrahan ko na para meron pa akong ulam mamayang gabi, iinitin ko nalang 'to.

Habang kumakain ay nag-iisip-isip pa rin ako ng kung ano-ano. Then I remember Mom. I haven't talk to her yet formally, hindi ko pa siya nakakausap ng maayos pagkatapos nung pag-uusap namin nung birthday ni Kuya. It still hurts me a little kapag naaalala ko iyon. Maybe Mom was just tired or stressed during that time kaya nasabi niya iyon.

Pagkatapos ay ibinaling ko na ang atensiyon ko sa ibang bagay. I diverted my attention on cleaning my condo, I also washed my clothes in the afternoon pakatapos kong maglinis.

The days passed by so quick. It's a week now before I go to Bicol again, ano nanaman kayang mangyayari? I hope, something good happens, sa bahay...

I just finished my coffee and Stell said that he wants to go here in my unit. Pinayagan ko nalang, tutal wala naman akong kasama ngayon dito. Para na rin may kausap ako atsaka ang sabi niya ay rest day din daw nila. And maybe I'll tell him too na pupunta muna ako sa Bicol next week, but before that, paglalaruan ko na muna siya.

Maya-may lang, I heared someone knocked on my door and I know it's Stell.

As usual, his smile on his face welcomed me. Pinapasok ko nalang siya without even smiling at him. I saw how he got confused but I didn't mind.

I let him sat on the sofa, samantalang kinuha ko muna yung cup ng kape ko kanina at nilagay iyon sa lababo. Pagkatapos ay binalikan ko na si Stell sa sala.

"So, it's your rest day. Nakapagpahinga ka na ba kahit papano?" I asked him.

"Oo naman." sabi niya habang nakangiti pa rin. "Kaya nga pinuntahan na kita rito eh." sabi niya pa. "Ikaw, kamusta araw mo?"

I sighed before answering him. "Nothing new." I said casually. "By the way I have something to tell you." I seriously said.

I stared at Stell because I want to see how he will gonna react on what I'm going to say.

Napaayos siya ng upo at nag-aalangan na makipagtitigan sakin which is bago ngayon para sakin dahil everytime na nahuhuli niya akong nakatitig sakaniya ay nilalabanan niya iyon. Pero ngayon, hindi. I think he's nervous...

"A-Ano 'yon? Sasagutin mo na ba 'ko?" he joked. He even laughed nervously.

I raised a brow.

At iyon pa talaga naisip niya. Dalawang linggo palang siyang nanliligaw eh.

"Aalis ako." I said afterwards.

"Aalis ka? Sama ako..." he showed me a cute face of him. I want to smile but I can't.

"I'll be going abroad." I said. Stell suddenly stopped and stared at me. He's shocked at hindi kaagad siya nakapagsalita. "My flight is scheduled next week. Magtatagal ako roon and I'm not sure of when will I come back, or if I'll be back." I said seriously.

Silence surrounded us both because of what I've said. Parehas kaming hindi kumibo.

Stell is not smiling anymore.

"B-Bakit? A-Anong gagawin mo doon?" mahinang tanong niya kalaunan.

"I have important matters to do." I answered immediately.

Hindi ko alam kung saan na galing itong mga pinagsasasabi ko. Kusa nalang ang mga iyon na lumabas sa bibig ko.

"S-Seryoso ka?" mahinang tanong niya ulit.

I avoided my gaze at him and didn't speak. Hindi nalang ako magsasalita pa.

Just by looking at him now, nakokonsensya na kaagad ako sa pinagsasasabi ko. Ang bilis ko talaga makonsensya pagdating sakaniya. Hindi ko siya matiis.

"So, silence means, y-yes-" I cutted his words off immediately when I hear his voice almost shaking.

I immediately stood up and unconsciously, I went near him to hug him. Nataranta ako bigla kaya ko ata nagawa iyon. "No, no, no, it was just a joke! Stell, sorry. I was just playing tricks on you. Hindi ako aalis, no one's going abroad. I'm sorry..." dire-diretso kong sambit dahil sa pagkataranta.

It's very late when I realized what I did, what I acted.

I'm just standing in front of him while hugging him, or I mean, I leaned his head on my body. Nasa may baba ng dibdib ko ang ulo niya nakasandal. I didn't even know that I'm caressing his cheek while apologizing. Then I just realized that he's also hugging me now. Stell's arm is on my waist and he pulled me which caused me to sit on his lap.

My eyes widened when our faces were almost close to each other.

"Azie naman..." he said.

His eyes are worrying. But then, unconsciously, from his eyes, my eyes went down to his nose, and to his lips.

I stared at it for a moment.

Napakapit ako nang mahigpit sa balikat niya.

But then, I finally go back to my senses when he kissed me on my forehead. Right, he kissed me there...