𝙇𝙤𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙈𝙧. 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙝𝙞𝙙

22. Sleeping Together

I woke up in the middle of the night because of the intense heat in the room.

Bumangon ako para buksan ang ilaw.

I tried to lower the temperature, pero walang nangyari.

Sira ang aircon.

Lumabas ako ng kwarto at kumatok sa kabilang room.

Ilang minuto bago binuksan ni Zayne ang pinto.

"Belle, what's wrong?" he asked, concern evident in his voice.

"Sobrang init sa kwarto ko. Sira yata ang aircon."

"What? Wait, I'll check," he said, and without hesitation, he stepped out, heading towards my room.

At nagulat ako nang makitang naka-boxers lang siya.

Napatalikod akong bigla, my heart racing at the sight of him.

Thank God I was wearing a set of pajamas.

"Sira nga ang aircon," he confirmed after a quick inspection.

He stepped out again, his demeanor calm despite the situation.

"You can sleep in my room. Sa sofa nalang ako matutulog," he offered, trying to make the best of a hot situation.

Pumasok uli siya sa loob ng kwarto niya at may dala ng unan at kumot paglabas.

"You can come in now."

"Okay lang ba sayo? I'm so sorry, Z," I said, feeling guilty for intruding on his space.

"It's okay. Tatawag ako ng aircon technician bukas para maayos yung aircon. For now, sa kwarto ko muna ikaw matulog."

I felt a wave of guilt wash over me.

Nakitulog na nga lang ako, ako pa mang agaw ng sarili niyang bedroom.

"You can sleep with me if you want," I blurted out before I could stop myself.

Wait! Why did I say that?!

Shit, Belle, part of your seduction ba yan?

Natahimik si Zayne, pinagmamasdan akong maigi.

"Okay lang ba sayo?" tanong niya, uncertainty in his eyes.

I couldn't say no, kaya tumango ako, even though my heart raced at the thought of being so close to him.

"Sige, maglalapag nalang ako ng extra mattress sa sahig."

Naiwan ako sa labas nang mawala na naman siya at pumunta sa guest room.

Dala na niya ang single mattress at ipinasok sa loob ng kwarto.

"Belle, help me switch the light sa guest room. Then you can come in now."

Sinunod ko ang utos niya, my heart fluttering with anticipation.

Pagpasok ko sa kwarto niya, nakahiga na siya sa higaan sa sahig katabi ng kama.

Naka bukas ang night light sa bedside table, kaya hindi ganon ka dilim sa loob ng kwarto.

After ko maisara ang pinto, lumapit ako sa gilid ng bed at umakyat sa kama.

"Okay lang ba sayo ang unan? Hindi ba matigas?"

"It smells like you," ang sagot ko bigla, surprising even myself with my honesty.

"Mabaho ba?" he asked, a playful glint in his eyes.

Natawa ako. "No, it smells good actually."

I saw him smile, and it warmed my heart.

Nadismaya ako nang makitang naka-tshirt na siya, feeling like I’d missed a chance for something more intimate.

We fell into silence, a comfortable yet charged atmosphere enveloping us.

I was staring at the ceiling, wondering what to say next, grappling with the tension between us.

A few minutes later, I heard him sigh.

He's still awake.

"Belle?" he called softly, breaking the stillness.

"Hmm?" I replied, turning slightly to face him.

"Are you still mad at me?"

Nagulat ako sa tanong niya.

I lie down on my side so I could look down at him.

He was staring at me with a look I couldn't quite figure out.

"Why would you ask that?" I inquired, confused.

"Were you not mad at me before you left?"

Umiling ako.

It wasn't his fault that I had been madly in love with him before. And it wasn't his fault that I was heartbroken.

He smiled, a hint of relief crossing his face.

"Then who was the bastard who broke your heart?"

Bakit ba siya nagtatanong ng ganito?

"Why? Anong gagawin mo kapag nalaman mo kung sino siya?" tanong ko, amused by our playful banter.

"I don't know, maybe punch him in the face?" he said, chuckling lightly.

Natawa ako. How could he punch his own face?

"I'm sure pinagsisihan niya na binasted ka niya."

"But I didn't tell him about my feelings though."

"Why?"

"I was about to, but I couldn't bring myself to tell him about my stupid love."

"Stupid love?"

Kitang kita ko paano biglang nag-iba ang expression ng mukha niya. Parang nasaktan siya?

But why?

I was confused when he turned his back from me, facing the other side now.

"Matulog na tayo," he said, his voice suddenly cold and distant.

Even his voice sounded angry, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment.

What's wrong with him?

As if alam niya kung sino ang lalaki sa nakaraan ko?

I turned my back from him too, annoyed by his sudden shift in mood.

Buti nalang I could smell his scent on the pillow, the lingering warmth of him a comfort in the darkness.

Nakatulong sa akin para muling makatulog ng mahimbing, even with the swirling thoughts and emotions still dancing in my mind.