17
"I will not let you take care of me again when I'm sick." Arthfael told me this seriously while putting a wet towel on my forehead.
I pouted my lips and stared at him. "Galit ka?"
"Hindi," sagot niya saakin at tinaasan ako ng kilay nang salubungin ang tingin.
"Why do you look mad?" I asked.
He pursed his lips and sat beside me. "Hindi ako galit. Nag-aalala lang ako dahil alam kong nagkasakit ka dahil saakin tapos pumunta ka pa kahapon sa laro ko. Mas lalo ka tuloy nagkasakit."
"Ayaw mo ba na nagpunta ako kahapon?" Mahina kong tanong dahil ang seryoso niya talaga.
Arthfael sighed and stood up. He placed both of his hands on his waist and shook his head. "S'yempre hindi. Gustong-gusto ko nga na nandoon ka eh."
Tumango ako.
"Nag-aalala lang ako dahil alam kong kasalan ko nang nagkasakit ka at mas lalo ka pang nagkasakit dahil sa panonood mo kahapon..."
"It's not your fault if I get sick. It's my choice to take care of you and it's my choice to go to your game yesterday because I promised and I wanted to watch it."
Slowly, Arthfael smiled at me. He sat beside me again while half of my body was lying on my bed. He placed his hand on my forehead and took the towel that he had put on earlier. He leaned a bit.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, even though there was nothing to be sorry for.
"I'm sorry too..." I whispered back.
Tumitig s'ya saakin at nanatiling nakangiti.
"Bakit ka nag-so-sorry?" Tanong niya.
Ngumuso ako. "Why are you saying sorry too?"
His smile turned into a laugh and he slowly leaned forward to kiss my forehead. I didn't expect it. My heart started throbbing, and it was the a familiar feeling I felt with Arthfael.
"Sobrang saya ko pa rin hanggang ngayon..." Bulong niya. "Girlfriend na kita..."
I licked my lips, stopping myself from smiling so widely.
"Ramdam ko nga. Sobrang saya mo," Sagot ko pabalik.
Arthfael chuckled. "Araw-araw kong ipaparamdam sa 'yo kung gaano ako kasaya na girlfriend na kita."
I can't hide my smile anymore. Tumayo si Arthfael at ibinalik na sa basin iyong towel. Binasa at piniga niya ulit.
"May kailangan ka pa ba? May gusto ka bang kainin?" Tanong niya at muling humarap saakin.
Arthfael was wearing a gray cotton shirt with the adidas logo and Maong men's shorts. He was always wearing his cross-silver necklace around his neck. On his wrist were the pair of bracelets that he gave me on my eighteenth birthday and a black hair tie.
I never saw him take it off. Every time he's with me, I can always see that necklace and bracelet. The hair tie has been on his wrist since my hair got longer.
"I think I need a-- what do you call it? Yakapsul?" I exclaimed, my voice teasing him.
I saw how his lips parted. Arthfael's cheeks reddened and he looked shocked. His eyes even widened.
"Gusto mo ng yakapsul?" Tumango ako at ngumisi sa kanya.
I opened my arms widely and waited for him to come over me and hug me. I don't feel awkward asking him if he could hug me since I've been wanting to be hugged by him. I don't know why, but last Sunday, at his game, when he hugged me I felt so warm and safe. I felt so secure and calm in his arms. I liked how he claimed me and how he hugged me so tightly. It feels good to be in his arms.
