Fruitcake Sanctuary (GL)

Chapter Twenty

"Cinderella married the prince and they lived happily, ever after" Sabi ko, closing the book at pinatay ang ilaw.

Nakahiga Cece at nakangiting nakatingin sakin, a toothy grin brightening her angelic face.

She suddenly frowned, appearing to be deep in thought.

I braced myself, questions from her strangely enough, tough to answer.

"Does everybody get a happy ending? I mean, ikaw Panda. Do you still belive in happy ending" Tanong ni Cece, gazing up at me with curiosity shining in hazel brown eyes.

'Pwedeng happy lang wala ng ending?'

"Oo naman" Sagot ko. "I guess..I just have to be patient enough and be able to wait for it...because alam kong everyone, everybody and us has a happy ending in ourlives, and we really want it to happen though" Sagot ko, but my mind drifting.

Alam ko na, that was rarely true because a lot of people die unhappy. For example, victims of war, or victims of suicide or victims of crimes and victims of unwanted death.

"Let's sleep Panda.." Sandali itong ngumiti sakin "Goodnight"

"Goodnight, Cece"

12:00 mn, pero nanatili parin akong gising, napalingon ako kay Cece mahimbing na itong natutulog.

Her eyelids closed against the dim light of the room and her breathing was deep and relaxed, all the muscles in her face and body were totally at peace, para siyang sanggol na natutulog.

She twitched her nose, and I find it cute. Innocence showed on her sleeping face, the peaceful and serene dreams blocking out the dangers of the outside world.

Her soft breathing, making the world seemingly standing still.

Dahan-dahang akong tumabi sa kanya at hinatak ang kumot sa katawan naming dalawa

I wrapped my arms around her and I felt complete. 

She fits exactly in my loving arms habang nakatitig parin ako sa mukha niya. Sa maganda niyang mukha.

Bigla naman akong napatigil sa pagmamasid ko dito, nang ang makakapal at mahahabang mga pilik mata ni Cece ay unti-unting dumilat, and reveal her sleepy hazel brown eyes.

"Beautiful..." She whispered in my ear.  "Panda, bakit gising ka pa?" Her voice sounded angel-like and her sleepy state coaxing it.

Napasiksik naman lalo siya sakin.

"Uh k-kasi, hindi ako makatulog"

"Let's sleep" Napatitig siya sakin, her pink lips pulled up in a small smile and I saw adoration in her eyes. I closed my own eyes, resting my chin over her head, but sleep seemed to be impossible.

"Panda.."

"Hmm?"

"I'm so happy." Bulong niya. "I never knew it, but I wanted this my whole life. I never knew it, but I wanted you so much.. I'm in cloud nine. I never want this to end. Please don't leave me. I never want to lose you.." Mahinang sabi nito at ramdam ko ang takot na mawala ako sa buhay ni Cece.

"Cece..."

I gazed back at her in wonder, realizing how much of her, there was still to discover. Like the small secret places of her, her unseened scars, I wanted to know all of them.

"Cece, gusto ko ding malaman mo kung gaano ako kasaya ngayon, mas sumasaya ako kapag kasama ka... Hindi ako mawawala"

I didnt know how far things would go tonight. I wanted to be slow...and I wanted to go fast.