see you later

epilogue (3/3)

Adi.

"Ao," I called her name. Even with eyes closed, I spread my arm towards the other side of the bed to search for her warmth. When I felt nothing, I felt my heart beating fast. This never happens. She's always been here.

We have our necessities in my room, she won't left at the middle of the night. And if she wants something downstairs, I could feel that she's leaving and I'd always get whatever it is for her.

I immediately sat up and stretched a little. I slept a little but I have never slept too deep tonight. Ao and I aren't really so well right now. Whoever can sleep well while their partner is kind of ignoring them? Because I cannot do that and I will never be comfortable doing that.

I tried talking to Ao earlier to patch things up but her doors are really locked. She seems exhausted too and I knew I really fucked up. We fix our fights, everytime we have one, before the day ends but this time, she seems really tired to even look at me. Even if I do not want this to still be here until tomorrow, I gave her the time and space she needed. But now that I am awake and she's not here, I can't take it anymore.

To make myself feel better, I reminded myself that before sleeping, she still hugged me and told me that she loves me. She even stayed by my side, on this bed.

I stood up and combed my hair while walking toward the door. I felt a little bit dizzy for standing up too fast but I don't care a bit now. I have to see Ao.

I was about to open the door when it opened from the other side. Ao looked startled when she saw me. Good thing she didn't bump her head by the door. Through the years, she has clumsy moments, and there were times I was scared senseless because of her fun actions, her words.

"Nagising ka ba? Mahihilo ka, tulog ka na ulit," she said, immediately looking away from me. Fuck. I don't want this cold treatment anymore.

But I didn't have the gut to talk and ask her here, right now. I know I messed up. Is she getting tired of me? Please, fuck, I hope she won't. She told me that she loves me earlier, right?

She was about to go out and that's when I realized that she's holding up a pillow and she only picked her laptop from my room.

"Ao," I called her name as I reached for her hand. She stopped walking.

"Irvin, tulog ka na ulit. Maaga ka pa bukas." Fuck this surname. She tried pulling her hand away so, with no choice, I let her go.

When I called her again, she stopped walking again. "Have you been sleeping downstairs? Ao?"

She didn't answer and left me alone in my room. In our room. The room felt colder and that fucking hurts. I don't know if I will be able to go back to sleep, like what she've told me, after that, that.

I drew a deep breath. I was about to leave the room when I went back to get us some blankets and more pillows. Ao can be persistent sometimes in a funny way, and so I can.

When I was on the stairs, I saw her sitting on the sofa at our living area with her laptop open. She's just wearing a silk night dress and she doesn't even brought down any jacket, or so a blanket. Damn, Aowen Croce.

"Ano bang ginagawa mo?" she irritatingly asked while trying to move away from me as I sat down beside her and placed a blanket around us.

"I can't sleep alone, let me sleep beside you." I leaned my head on her shoulder and watched whatever she's watching too.

"Umakyat ka na nga roon, parang sira naman." She rolled her eyes and I tried my best to hide my smile. She looks so goddamn beautiful. I just moved more toward her so that we're side by side, with no space in between. I love hugging her. So much.