Leave to Live Long for Love

Chapter 21 : Addicting

ADDICTING

Magkahawak-kamay kaming naglakad sa dalampasigan habang unti-unti nang lumalamig at lumalakas ang ihip ng hangin. Kaunti na ang mga tao sa parteng 'to dahil lagpas na rin ng nilakad namin ang mga hilera ng kainan.

I saw a hammock hanging in between the two coconut trees just in front of a big Spanish colonial-style house. Nasa labas naman iyon kaya't naisipan kung lapitan at upuan.

Cleon silently sat beside me and we just both admired the beauty of the sea despite the outraging call of the skies. My eyes are as content as my heart at the same time, I can't still believe and my mind is still in doubt about whether this moment is really happening or if I am just dreaming.

"What are you thinking?" Cleon asked.

I just stared at him for a while - adoring his handsome face. I can finally praise him without questioning my intentions and my feelings.

"Magugustuhan pala kita?" Natawa ako sa sarili kong tinuran. "It is true that you have the face, you have the brain, and-" I scanned his body to state a point. Nang bumalik ang tingin ko sa mukha niya'y halata na rito ang malisyoso niyang mga titig sa'kin. I rolled my eyes out of disbelief. "But you're also playful. You play with women's hearts."

"That's what they want. Una palang, malinaw nang hindi ko sila kayang bigyan ng kaseryosohan." He explained.

"Wala ka bang naramdaman sa kahit na isa sa mga babaeng 'yun? Hindi ka nakaramdam ng pagmamahal sa kahit sino sa kanila?"

"My past relationships are all physical, baby. Nothing's serious."

Biglang lumipad ang isipan ko dahil sa sinabi niyang 'physical relationships'. Nagpakita ang iba't-ibang imaheng kailanma'y hindi lumitaw sa utak ko. Nawala lamang ang mga iyon nang muli niya 'kong yapusin.

"Remember, no withdrawal. You look so disappointed," aniya.

"Ha? W-wala."

"I won't stop proving myself to you even if it takes time, you're worth my time anyway. I always thought about how hard it is to destroy your trust and I swore to myself that I won't ever do anything for it to be put to waste."

What he's saying right now shocks me. He really has a lot of surprises - he, himself is a surprise that I never thought would come into my life.

"May tiwala ako sa'yo." Iniwas ko ang tingin ko sa mga mata niyang mariing nakatitig sa'kin na naglalaman ng emosyong hindi ko maintindihan - emosyong nagpapalakas ng pintig ng puso ko. "Nang mapagdesisyonan kong patuluyin ka, nasa sa'yo na ang tiwala ko. It'll depend on you if you'll take good care of it or leave it broken."

He made me look at him by holding my face with both of his hands and squeezing it. "Thank you for trusting me even if it is hard for you to do so." Lumapit siya at hinagkan ang noo ko.

Mabilis ding kumalat ang dilim sa kalangitan dahil sa nagbabadyang pag-ulan. Dali-dali kong ginuyod si Cleon dahil abala siya sa pagkakayakap sa'kin.

"Hoy, tara na!" Umalis na ako sa pagkakayapos niya at hinila na siya patayo. "Kailangan na nating umalis. Mukhang uulan na ata."

Napilit ko rin siya at mabilis na kaming naglakad pabalik sa kung saan kami nanggaling. Tinungo na namin ang parking lot at saktong bumuhos ang napakalakas na ulan nang tuluyan na kaming makapasok sa sasakyan.