Not Over You Yet (Senior Years Series #1)

22

I groaned when I felt somebody shaking me awake. "Love, your back will hurt if you sleep like that." 

I slowly sat up as I heard a familiar voice whisper to my ear. I was sleeping beside my mom and was using my arms as a pillow. 

I don't know when I had fallen asleep, but I guess I have. Ang huling naaalala ko ay kausap ko si Tino sa phone.

Nang maka-upo ako, I stretched my arms but stopped when I felt his thumb on my cheeks. I touched the part he had wiped and felt that it was wet.

Bumuntong hininga si Theo bago niya haplusin ang likod ko, minamasahe iyon. "The same dream again, love?"

Matipid akong ngumiti at tumango. "It's not just a fragment anymore.. It's the whole thing." pagkuwento ko.

He gave my hand a squeeze as he knelt on one knee, binabalot nanaman ng pag-alala ang kanyang mata. "Do you want to talk about it now?"

Umiling ako kaya napa-buntong hininga nanaman siya. He got up and pulled on my slightly, asking me to get up. 

Nang hindi ako tumayo, binuhat niya ako, bridal style.

Lumaki ang mga mata ko. "Love!"

Umupo siya sa sopa habang naka-kandong ako sa kanya. I squirmed to get out of his touch but he kept me on his lap by wrapping his arms around my waist.

Tinignan niya ako nang masama kaya napatigil ako sa paggalaw. I just gave up knowing I wouldn't be able to get up.

I pouted. "Love, I'm smelly." sabi ko sa kanya, nahihiya. I haven't taken a shower in two days, I felt so conscious. Well three na siguro, umaga nanaman eh.

Kumunot lalo ang noo niya bago niya inamoy ang leeg ko, making me flinch dahil nakiliti ako. "Anong mabaho?" he sniffed me again. "Eto?" And again "Hindi man." And again. "Ang bango-bango kaya." And again.

By the time he was done, tumatawa na kaming dalawa. When we both had calmed down, I looked at him who was now admiring me. He sighed, "I missed the sound of your laugh so much." 

I gave him a genuine smile before wrapping my arms around his neck. Huminga ako nang malalim, calming myself down as he rubbed my back, before pulling away.

I was so thankful I had him to lean onto. "You should've never sent me away yesterday." sabi niya sa akin habang inaayos niya ang buhok ko, I just gave him a soft smile.

Simula nung ma-admit dito si mama, hindi na niya ako iniwan. He brought some clothes for himself at dito na rin siya natulog for a few days.

We'd both sleep on the mattress my father brought for me at nagi-guilty ako dahil pang-isang tao lang yun, it's uncomfortable too.

"It's New Years Eve tomorrow." pag-remind niya sa akin as he tucked my hair to the back of my ear. Tumango lang ako dahil wala naman akong balak i-celebrate yun. I don't want to leave my mom.

Maybe I'll just watch the fireworks from the hospital window.

I decided to change the subject. "Bakit nandito ka pala? Isn't today Christmas Party day?"

He scratched the back of his neck with his free hand, yung isa nasa beywang ko pa rin. "We canceled it. Wala namang may balak pumunta eh, at least without you." 

Nang marinig yun, napasimangot ako. "You guys didn't have to cancel it."

"We didn't want to have fun without you, hindi rin naman yata namin kayang sumaya kung alam naming mag-isa ka dito. Dapat kumpleto, diba?" He answered with a smile on his face.

I nodded and bit my bottom lip, suddenly getting emotional again.

"Did I do something wrong?" tanong niya, nagaalala dahil sa bigla kong pag-iyak. "Sige, kung gusto mo itutuloy na namin, I'll call them. I'm sorry, I didn't know you wanted us to—"