Hurricane (Disaster Series #1)

Kabanata 44

Work

Tahimik lang akong kumakain habang paminsan-minsan siyang sumusulyap sa akin. Namumula ang pisngi ko kahit pa isang oras na ang nakalipas. I don't know. I feel so corrupted and right now, even when we're eating our lunch, I can't get over it.

"You tired?" he asked before lifting the glass onto his lips.

Bahagyang nagtagal ang tingin ko roon bago ko iniangat muli ang tingin sa kanya. My cheeks eventually flushed when his question just registered inside my head. Of course I'm tired! Ikaw ba naman tumayo roon sa hagdan ng mahigit isang oras. But I don't wanna voice that out though so I just remained tongue-tied.

Nang napansin ang reaksyon ko ay unti-unting sumilay ang ngiti sa labi niya. He leaned on his chair and crossed his arms. His forearms got defined because of it. He seems relaxed and casual. Habang ako dito'y parang malalagutan na ng hininga. Damn, I'm not sure which one I like more, his man bun or his hair down that defines his jawline even more, like how it is right now.

"You're going to Herrera International Inc. at three right? Hatid na kita, I'm off to Donahue Alcuesta too."

Right, muntik ko nang nakalimutan na pupunta pa pala ako sa company tapos may aasikasuhin pa ako para sa modular classes ko.

Now that I remember about class, I just remembered that Luci's not taking classes anymore. He got accelerated. Hindi pa ako makapaniwala nang nalaman ko ang tungkol dito. But oh well, he's an achiever ever since.

And guess what? He's my boyfriend. My boyfriend...

Nagpakurap-kurap ako. I probably look so stupid in front of him right now. I can't help it, waves suddenly went crashing into my stomach violently.

"Okay... sabay na tayo," I muttered my very late response. Daig ko pa ang chat na na-traffic dahil sa sobrang bagal na internet.

We then finished our lunch after a few staring and gazing moments. Nagtalo pa kami sa kung sino ang maghuhugas. I volunteered to wash the dishes but he won't let me. But of course I didn't let him stop me from doing it. Siya na nga ang nagluto ng tanghalian namin tapos siya pa talaga ang maghuhugas.

"Come on, I know you're tired. Ako na diyan. You can rest for a while in my room," masuyo niyang sinabi habang nakadungaw sa akin sa sink.

I shot him a side glance and chuckled.

"Luci, kaya ko na 'to. It's not like I'm going to collapse out of tiredness."

Pero ang totoo, hanggang ngayon, ramdam ko talaga ang pangangalay sa binti ko. It felt like I just ran a marathon. And the meat in my bones felt like it just got tortured too.

"Fine. But let me wipe it dry at least," he continued insisting.

Nagkibit-balikat ako at hinayaan na siya sa gusto niya. Akala ko aalis na siya kung saan dahil tuluyan na siyang tumayo sa pagkakasandal sa sink pero umikot lang pala siya sa likod ko.

I felt him untie my slightly messy hair. His fingers then massaged my scalp soothingly. Sinuklay niya ang magulo-gulong kong buhok gamit ang mahahabang daliri niya. When he was satisfied with combing it after a while, he then started tying my hair back slowly.

"I remember when I first tied your hair..."

Napangiti ako nang narinig ang sinabi niya pero unti-unti rin itong nabura nang naalala ang pagkakataong 'yon.

"I'm sorry..."

"Hmm?" He sniffed the base of my right ear that kind of made me tingle.

I sighed and rinsed off the bubbles from my hands before facing him. Hindi siya umatras para mabigyan ako ng space kaya napasandal na lang ako sa sink habang nakakulong sa gitna ng mga bisig niya.