Safe In Your Arms

Chapter 35

Samuel

Funny how the world works. Kung sino pa 'yung taong hindi mo handang makita ulit, siya pa 'yung taong mag bubukas ng pinto para sa'yo, without a warning. It could be any day, on a rainy afternoon or a hot evening. They will just show up without a warning and will just take your breath away.

"Sir, Rafael!"

The staff behind me called. He didn't even bother to look behind me and just focused his gaze on me. I unconsciously bit my lower lip and didn't know what to do. I was lost for words and my brain stopped working. I could even hear my own heartbeat and it made me more nervous.

Should I say hi? Kumustahin siya? Should I ask him how his life went after my family ruined it? After taking away his father?

Rafael. He's standing in front of me right now, giving me a look that can make anyone melt. I stared back, looking nervous. Pero kahit kinakabahan, hindi ko maiwasang purihin ang ayos niya ngayon. He looked so fresh and handsome wearing a khaki trouser pants and a white polo na niyayakap ang nag matured niyang katawan.

He did changed and became a better version of himself. Noon, hindi naman gano'n kalaki ang muscles niya but now, it looked very different from before. He grew taller rin and changed his haircut into a buzz cut. It suits him.

Sa wakas, nag salita si Eva kaya naman ay naputol ang staring contest namin. I felt so relieved dahil pakiramdam ko, pag nagtagal pa ang titigang 'yon ay nasa sahig na ako, tunaw na tunaw na.

"Kilala mo pa naman ako 'di ba?" Eva smiled at him. Rafael gave her a smile and nodded.

"Of course. I'm glad to see you again," he said, turning to me, again. Hindi parin ako nag sasalita dahil sa sobrang pagka-gulat na narito siya sa harap ko, hindi ako sinusumbatan o binibigyan ng suntok pagkatapos ng lahat ng mga nangyari.

"You should try their breads, ang sarap e." Eva suggested making him smile even more.

"Thank you... I'm glad you liked it." He looked happy and... I don't know? It was hard to read him. Noon pa man, hindi ko na talaga alam ang tumatakbo sa isip niya. I think it's impossible to read someone who's not willing to share what's going on in their minds?

Right now, kahit ngayon manlang sana, I want to know what's on his mind. Gusto kong malaman kung galit ba siya sa'kin or if he wants me to get out of his face. I would gladly run out of here but I'll be lying if I'll say na I didn't want to leave yet. Somehow, a part of me wants to see him at ang kapal ng mukha ko para doon.

Why do I want to see him anyway? Pagkatapos ng lahat ng mga nangyari, I'll be the last person he wants to see, right? Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit may mukha pa akong naiharap sa kaniya ngayon after hurting his family.

"What do you mean? Ikaw ba may-ari nito?!" Eva exclaimed. He chuckled at umiling.

"No, my mom owns this place. I help her with baking the cakes..." Tumaas ang kilay ko doon. Marunong siyang mag bake?! Since when? And his mother... Kumusta na kaya si Tita Charlotte?

I felt a pain in my chest. It hurts because I know I will never see tita Charlotte again. Ilang taon ko na ring iniiwasang isipin ang nangyari between me and his family and now, it hit me again. It hurts and want to runaway from this pain.

Agad na akong nag-ayang umuwi.

"May gagawin pa kasi kame... sige, ingat." We immediately left there without waiting for his reply. Hindi niya naman kame pinigilan kaya nakahinga ako ng maluwag.

"Mukha namang hindi siya galit sa'yo... Girl, did you see how he looked at you? At ang pogi niya ha!" Eva grinned. Ni hindi ko magawang maging masaya dahil naaalala ko nanaman ang mga nangyari noong huli ko siyang makita.