The Villainess Ran Away

XXXVII

Naalimpungatan ako sa sinag ng araw na sumisilip mula sa bintana ng aking kwarto at napagtanto ko na I was clinging onto something— rather someone. I looked up to find a familiar crimson eyes staring at me.

"I didn't expect you to still be here," I blurted out.

"I believe you're meant to say good morning," he stated as a matter of fact.

I can't help but to crack a smile at his sassy retort, "Good morning, love. How's your sleep?"

"Unexpected yet unsurprisingly the best one I had in years," he answered.

"Are you sure? Hindi ka ba na ngalay? Buong gabi pa akong nakapulupot sa 'yo," nag-aalalang saad ko ngunit kibit balikat lamang ang natamo kong sagot mula sa kanya. I untangled myself from him and fixed my unruly hair. God, I must've looked awful and I don't even know how long he's been observing me. Nakakahiya! Kung alam ko lang inunahan ko sana s'yang magising tas nagpaganda muna ako bago bumalik kuno sa tulog.

"Hinintay mo ba akong magising? Y'know, you really didn't have to. We have a busy day ahead of us," mungkahi ko. I know for a fact na mas maaga siyang nagigising kaysa sa 'kin. He's always been such an early bird and is constantly busy. Seriously! Before all the ruckus occured, even on normal days he'd still have so much to do. Kung gaano yung tinagal kong idukdok yung mukha ko sa libro maghapon walang-wala sa kanya. Minsan nga naiisip ko na ginagawa niya lang restaurant at motel 'tong bahay niya. Tuwing kakain lang sumusulpot at sa gabi 'pag matutulog.

"I saw how comfortable you are sleeping in my arms so I didn't have to heart to disrupt it," ani niya. Na-touch ako, grabe na talaga 'to. Sumusobra na siya. Kung marupok lang ako edi sana kahit ako pa ang nag-aya ng kasal pero buti na lang din ay hindi. He's just being nice, I'm pretty sure he treats everyone else the same.

‘Stage one: Denial’, my subconscious mind chirped in. Of course, I hushed it down.

Sabay kaming dalawa na bumaba para kumain ng agahan.

"Sa susunod pang ipatong mo 'yang paa mo sa mukha ko 'pag natulog tayo, ilalaglag kita mula sa kama. Sinasabi ko sa 'yo, sa sahig kita patutulugin. H'wag mo 'kong subukan," rinig kong banta ni Derrick.

"Arte mo naman, bakit? Gwapo ka ba? Palibhasa kasi porke hindi talaga tayo magkadugo pinag-iinitan mo na ako dahil mas makisig ako sa 'yo," ani naman ng boses ni Reagan.

"Taran—", hindi natuloy ni Derrick ang balak na pagmumura.

"Bunganga mo," striktong saway ni Felix. Tsaka ko lamang naintindihan nung nakalapit kami ni Dion, Amber's already there sitting with them.

"Tarantula," pagpapatuloy nito, "Hindi niyo kasi pinapatapos yung sasabihin ko."

Good thing, Amber didn't mind it since napunta sa 'min ang atensyon niya. As always she immediately greets us with a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

"At least some of us had a good night sleep," Slade teased.

"Nothing happened," I was quick to defend.

"I wasn't implying anything but if you say so," he shrugged. Blast! It felt as if I willingly jumped onto a trap right then and there.

I opted to change the topic, "Man, I don't know about you but I'm famished. Kain na tayo, bago pa lumamig ang pagkain."

After a while, Amber was the first to leave the table since may tutoring session pa sila ng my least favorite person in the world. Hinatid naman siya ni Lyliane dahil iniiwasan ko na magkita kami ni Tatiana lalo na sa nangyari nung nakaraan. Naghahanap lang siya ng away na ayoko naman patulan.

"Love, can we talk?" pukaw ko sa atensyon ni Dion bago pa sila umalis ng mga kaibigan niya.

Nagpaiwan siya at hinayaang mauna ang mga kaibigan, "Sure, what is it about?"