Heart in Disguise (Heart Series #2)

T H I R T Y - S E V E N

I felt an arm snaked around my waist and a lip touched my temple.

I am on the veranda watching the stars again. The babies are now sound asleep.

After I saw Philip’s post on his social media accounts, something’s pushing to be real. To be honest with my feelings towards him. I don’t want to give him more painful feelings. He doesn’t deserve that.

After everything that we’ve been through, Philip deserves to be loved. Palagi ko siyang nasasaktan noon nang hindi ko sinasadya at sinasadya man. Ayokong saktan na naman siya ng paulit-ulit. I don’t want him to feel a redundant pain.

I know that in his situation right now, nasasaktan siya. He keeps on telling me how much he loves me, how much he loves us. Yet, hindi ko siya sinasagot nang kung ano nararapat na isagot sa kanya.

I felt him kissed my temple again. His arms on my waist became tighter.

Sumandal ako sa katawan niya. We both look above us.

The stars that witnessed our love story. How it started and how it would end.

The feeling we have now… it’s so tranquil. So unbelievably believable.

“I was planning to reveal to your parents the thing between us.” Bulong niya.

He got my attention.

Simula nang tumira siya nang tuluyan sa amin, hindi pa namin nasabi sa mga magulang namin ang tungkol sa totoong mayroon sa aming dalawa. All they knew was Philip and I are just two people who mistakenly made a baby. Wala nang iba.

“Philip, we have to cogitate things. My parents are surely not yet ready,” I said.

“Z, I’ve been into a lot of cogitation these days. Things are quite fiddly but I managed to make things clear.” He paused. “I know that if ever we tell them about us, things will become light. Gusto kong ayusin agad for us, and for our babies.”

Napabuntong-hininga ako.

He’s right. If we tell our parents about us, things will not remain unclear between us.

He continued. “I know they’re in bewilderment why I stayed here with you. Why we act like couples when in fact we told them that there’s nothing going on between us. I do not want to make more confusions.”

I sighed. “I… I understand.”

His hug tightened. His face went to the crook of my neck.

“Thanks. Thanks, mare. I just really wanted so badly to unravel everything. Ayokong mas lalo pang gugulo ang buhay natin. We’re together now. Me, you, and our babies. Let’s stop this chase, mare. Let’s end this game and let’s start a new life with a happy ending.”

Napangiti ako. My heart beats fast more than it could surpass. Lahat ng sinasabi ni Philip sa’kin, nagbibigay ng kiliti sa puso ko.

Humarap ako sa kanya. Ipinalibot ko ang mga braso sa batok niya. I smiled at him softly.

“Uhm… Philip?”

“Hmm?” His hands caressed my waist.

“Have I already told you how much I love you?” I asked in a tiny voice.

Nahihiya ako, e!

His smile froze. His tiny eyes widened. His smile slowly faded.

But then bigla siyang umirap sa akin.

I blinked. Tinanggal ko ang mga brasong nasa batok niya saka humalukipkip sa harap niya. “Why are you rolling your eyes at me?!”

He stared at me blankly. Kinamot niya ang kilay niya.