ABDUCTED, AGAIN

Kabanata 15

Kung noon, sa unang pasok sa kwarto niya ay masasabi mo nang pang-isahan lamang iyon. But the moment we entered the room, I knew already that this belongs to the two of us. That we won't be sleeping in two separate rooms, that we won't be spending the rest of the weekend separately.

The huge vanity at the side that I knew was made only for me confirmed those those thoughts. Unlike before that his room was always colored in gray or black, this room is painted with beige. Like it is still waiting for me to decide for the color.

Lumapit ako sa kama at naupo roon. When I looked up at him, I saw a smile of satisfaction drawn on his face. Nahawa na rin ako ng ngiting iyon. He walked towards me and as he towered in front of me, napatingala ako sa kaniya at mas nagulat nang matanaw ko ang kisame.

Doon ako pinakahumanga, doon ako pinakanamangha. A part of the ceiling is made of glass and instead of plain paint, the sea of stars in the dark sky is what I am staring at. I looked at him again and his eyes became hopeful.

"Did you like it?"

Bago sumagot ay tinapik ko muna ang kama sa tabi ko, gesturing him to sit beside me. Nang makaupo siya ay wala na akong sinayang na segundo upang isandal ang ulo sa braso niya habang pinapagapang ang mga daliri papunta sa kamay niya.

"Thank you," mahinang sabi ko habang nilalaro ang aming mga daliri.

"This brings so much memories, doesn't it?" dagdag ko.

"Us having one the same room, sharing the same bed, and holding each other like this." Napangiti ako pagkatapos ng sinabi.

"Noong mga araw na iyon, habang hinihintay kitang makauwi, I've always wondered what will happen if everything comes back to normal. Magiging kagaya pa rin kaya tayo non kahit na wala nang dapat na pagtaguan at takbuhan? I've always asked myself that. And when you left, maybe that the hardest and most painful part for me, that we won't be able to do the things we used to do before.

"While I was waiting and hoping for you to come back, I've never missed a day thinking what would we be like if you hadn't left. I've also never missed a day thinking if we would ever be the same before too."

Pinunasan ko noon ang bumagsak nang mga luha.

"Kaya sorry kung umiiyak ako, ah? Sobrang saya ko lang kasi talaga. I just can't believe the we are back here, that we are back to the old us."

Sa sinabi ko ay tila bigla siyang naalarma. Hinawakan niya ako sa magkabilang braso at tiningnan ang aking mukha. Bumakas ang pag-aalala niya nang makitang umiiyak nga ako subalit ngitinitian ko lamang siya.

Binagsak ko ang sarili sa kama at muling tumitig sa kisame, sa dagat ng mga bituing tila ba pinapanood kami, ang napakagandang sandaling ito. He lay beside me and did the same. Sa pagdidikit ng aming katawan ay siya ring paggapang ng mga daliri niya sa kamay ko.

"For those months that we were apart, I built this thinking that someday, we could live here together. Build a family here, have meal with our kids and just watch the stars and wonder about everything."

Napangiti pa ako ng sinabi niyang iyon bago unti-unti ay naramdaman ko na ang mga matang pumipikit. Gusto ko itong labanan, gusto kong magtagal pa ang aming gabi subalit tuluyan na itong sumuko.

Kaya naman halos mapatalon ako nang magising kinabukasan. I felt bad for sleeping after telling him I'll cook dinner and prepare a hot bath for him. Sinabunutan ko ang sarili habang nangangapa ng tingin sa bahagyang madilim pang silid.

I am still in my uniform but now under the blanket. Wala na ang dapat sana ay katabi ko at kasamang gigising. I went to the bathroom first thing and when I came back, a golden light coming from the thick and long curtain caught my attention.