Riding the Skies (Isla de Vista Series #4)

Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Mad, Dox

I tied my hair unto a messy bun as I was writing a summary of my notes on my iPad and some diagrams and equations on my physical notebook. Nakalatag ang mga gamit ko sa aking coffee table habang nakaupo lamang ako sa furry mat sa sahig.

Tomorrow is the last day of the exam with two 3-unit subject. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. I inhaled a deep breath as I tried to absorb what I had read. Inuulit ko ang isang sentence ngunit wala akong naiintindihan. I am mentally exhausted but I am pushing myself.

Binaluktot ko ang mga tuhod habang nagbabasa sinulat. I am wearing my ash-gray comfy shorts and a white crop top hoodie and some pink socks. Kanina pa ako nagbabasa ngunit walang pumapasok sa isipan ko. Gusto kong hayaan na lang kung ano ang lumabas bukas at ano ang kaya kong sagutan pero hindi pwede. I need to maintain my grades.

Napatingin ako sa aking pintuan nang narinig ang pagbubukas ng pinto. Para akong naibutan ng tinik ng nakita ang mukha ni Maddox. He is carrying a tray in his hand. I am used to seeing him in simple white shirts or hoodies nowadays.

"Hi, beautiful." bati niya habang lumalapit.

I let my knees drop on both sides, letting myself sit in a lotus position. Binaba ko na rin ang hawak na notebook. Because nothing is absorbing inside my mind, notebook and hawak ko at sa kabila ang pen ng iPad, I just want cuddles. Lutang na lutang na talaga.

Ngumuso ako kay Maddox habang nakatingala. He gently placed the snacks on the small vacant spaces in the table before sitting down on the mat with me.

"I'm tired..." paos kong pagsusumbong. "I'm tired, Dox."

Agad niyang sinalubong ang nakaangat kong kamay. Walang kahirap hirap niya akong inakay patungo sa gitna ng mga hita niya. He is sitting with legs wide apart while I am in the middle, my legs went over his right thigh.

"Take a rest, dewdrop..." masuyo niyang bulong.

Gusto kong maiyak sa pagod. Niyakap ko lang ng mahigpit ang leeg niya at sumiksik doon. Marahan niyang hinahagod ang aking likod at balikat pagkatapos humalik sa aking ulo.

"How about I read your notes for you?" bulong niya.

"Nothing is retained in my mind."

"Baby, it's okay, alright?" masuyo niyang agap. "Don't push yourself. I'll just read your notes slowly like a lullaby. If you want to sleep just sleep,"

Sumilay ang ngiti sa aking labi. "Okay..."

"Alright..."

Maddox started reading my notes in a slow and calm way. His baritone voice is making me sleepy. This is not the first time he did this. Palagi niya akong tinutulungan sa pag-study ko sa upcoming exam. He kept coming here everyday kahit busy siya. He always finds time. It's incomparable.

Sa huli, nakatulog ako. And I woke up because I felt a soft poke on my cheeks. Unti unti akong dumilat at agad sumalubong ang mukha ni Maddox. Nasa kama na kami ngayon. I snuggled closer to his chest, feeling the comfort from the soft bed and his warm chest.

"I don't have the heart to wake you up but you need to finish studying," marahan niyang bulong.

Tumango ako ng tipid.

"Come on, let's study..." aniya at umupo.

Maddox carried me into his arms and brought me back to the furry mat. Umupo siya sa aking likod, kinulong ako sa mga binti niya na nasa bawat gilid ko. I am still taking my time to gather my interest to study again.

It is already 8 in the evening. Kanina pa akong tanghali nag-aaral kasi half day lang ang exam kanina kaya umuwi agad ako para mag-aral.

I sighed and reached for the milk on the table instead of the iPad or notebook. Si Maddox na mismo ang nag abot sa iPad at binuksan. Binaba niya ang kanyang panga sa aking kaliwang balikat at pumulupot ang mga braso sa aking katawan habang hawak ng mga kamay ang iPad.