Yours to Hold (Louisiana Series #4)

Kabanata 36

36 – Remember 

Patuloy ang pagtulo ng mga luha ko habang hawak niya ang pisngi ko. I said I wouldn't cry but I can't help it. This has become the most vulnerable interaction I have with him since after six years. Anim na taon.. 

I don't know how to deal with it. Hindi ko alam kung dapat bang sabihin ko na lamang ang lahat, o hayaan siyang umalala nang kusa dahil hindi magandang ipilit sa kaniya ang mga alaalang nawala. I just know that he's going to be here, with or without memories 

"Señorita!" 

I heard a baritone voice from afar. My eyes widened and immediately removed Calum's hands on me. Bahagya siyang umatras upang pakawalan ako. 

"Si Ysmael." ani ko. 

I started wiping my tears away. Pinanonood niya lamang ako na para bang nasasaktang kailangan naming itago ito kay Ysmael. I sniffed and continued drying my cheeks. Peke akong ngumiti nang tuluyang dumating si Ysmael. 

"You're looking for me?" 

"Yes. Sir Gordon is asking for you." 

I nodded and went to him. Kumunot ang kaniyang noo at hinawi ang buhok ko. Lumipat ang mga mata niya kay Calum bago bumalik sa akin. He lifted my chin and saw my swollen eyes. 

"What happened to you?" bulong niya. 

"Nothing, Ysmael. Let's go?" 

He cleared his throat and led me the way. Palihim akong bumaling kay Calum bago tuluyang maglakad patungong golf cart pabalik ng mansyon. Ysmael didn't ask about what happened and respected my silence. Mas mabuti na ngang ganoon dahil hindi pa ako handang magpaliwanag. 

Tito Gordon wasn't really looking for me when I got into the mansion. Ysmael just wanted to get me out of that situation. Hindi ko alam kung dapat ba akong mainis o magpasalamat pa. Yohan slept in my room but no matter how silent the surroundings were, I couldn't drift myself to sleep. 

I went to the terrace late night to relax myself before going back to bed. Natutok ang mga mata ko sa langit habang pinagmamasdan ang bituin sa langit. No wonder everyone loves Louisiana. Bukod sa mga bulaklak, magaganda rin ang mga bituin. 

"Hindi ka makatulog, señorita?" 

I felt my heart fluttered when I heard his voice. Huminga ako nang malalim nang tuluyan ko siyang makita dahil sa pagsunod sa akin sa terrace. He was already on his simple shirt now that it's time to sleep. 

"Yeah.." sagot ko. "Ikaw? Bakit gising ka pa?" 

"Hindi rin makatulog." 

I nodded and pointed at the chair beside me. Agad siyang sumunod at umupo ro'n. We fell silent as we both admire the stars. Malakas ang kabog ng dibdib ko, lalo na nang mayroon siyang ibot sa akin. 

I frowned. "What is this?" 

"Ointment.." 

"For what?" 

"Humigpit yata ang hawak ko sa'yo kanina.. Baka lang nagkaroon ng pasa." 

Umawang ang labi ko at naalala ang ganitong eksena. He did the same when he saw my chapped lips at the beach. From nowhere, he just handed me a lip balm. Ngayon naman, ointment. 

"I'm fine. Hindi naman ako nasaktan." 

"Lagyan pa rin natin kung sakali." 

Marahan niyang hinawakan ang braso ko, tila humihingi ng senyales kung tatanggi ba ako. Hinayaan ko na lamang siyang ipagpatuloy ang ginagawa. He tried to locate where he touched me and applied the ointment there.