;
Chapter 13
I woke up to the warmth invading my skin, to the blatant sound of the alarm, and to the feeling of an aching stiff neck. All in one setting. I slowly opened my eyes only to be welcomed by Suriel's peaceful visage in the morning. I could clearly examine how beautiful his features were because our distance was so close.
I cautiously moved my head away from his shoulder.
Hindi na pala ako lumipat sa bedroom.
Iginala ko ang mga mata sa maliit na living area ko. Naiwan na niyang bukas ang laptop niya katulad noong akin.
Suriel's arm was circling my waist so I had to shift quietly to reach for my phone to turn it off. I chose to idle beside him. Mas pinili kong titigan si Suriel sa'king tabi. I wanted to admire how my morning became extremely different.
Unlike mine, Suriel doesn't have chinky eyes. He has soulful ones and his lashes are nicely carpeted on his lids. Kahit hindi naiinitan o umiinom ng alak, sadyang mamula-mula ang pisngi niya. Bumagay din sa kanya ang tangos ng ilong at ma-kurbang labi; mukha ngang halos pareho kami ng iilang features maliban lang sa mga mata.
I was just awake and conscious about how I was feeling as I cherished the moment.
Ilang sandali ko siyang pinagmasdan ngunit naputol din nang tumunog ang phone alarm niya. He moved a bit and scratched a portion of his face. I was about to turn off his alarm when his arm tightened around me. Bumalik ako sa dating posisyon.
"Good morning..."
"M-Morning."
Suriel snaked his other arm on me for an embrace.
I blushed. Buti na lang nakapikit pa rin siya.
"I only had a two-hour sleep," he whispered in my ear, voice was a bit raspy. "But I want to get up this early to drop you off."
I cleared my throat. "You don't have to. Malapit lang naman, halos isang tawid lang," sabi ko na para bang may pinapatunayang punto.
Totoo namang malapit lang. Kaya minsan ay 'di na 'ko takot umuwi nang mag-isa pag gabi na ang dismissal.
"Kahit na, Rinoa," aniya sabay sisik pa ng sarili sa'kin kaya yumakap na rin ako pabalik.
We stayed in the living area for a couple of minutes before I decided to stand up. Tumayo na rin siya para maghanda ng quick breakfast naming dalawa at ako naman ay mabilis na gumayak para sa unang klase.
Hanggang sa gate na lang niya ako hinatid dahil kailangan niya nang bumalik sa Taft at buong hapon ko naman siya hindi inistorbo dahil alam kong tuloy-tuloy din ang klase niya. We just texted a few messages for each other to get quick updates, pagkatapos no'n ay hindi na dumagdag pa. I was just with my friends during short breaks and discussed important details with some of my groupmates.
A few of our professors opted to have an output-based finals examination. Lahat ng output-based exams ay groupings kaya 'di pwedeng 'di bigyan-pansin.
The whole month became so tiresome for me. Pati na rin siguro kay Ahia at Suriel. Pareho kaming walang oras para magkita ngayong buwan dahil biglaang hindi tugma ang schedules namin. Kung noon ay may oras pa para bumisita si Suriel sa condo, napalitan pansamantala ng maikling tawag at texts mula sa kanya.
He would sometimes update me with pictures— while eating, meeting with his thesis group, cooking food, studying, or playing some random online games. Na-impluwensiyahan niya 'ko sa mga pakulo niya kaya kahit pagkain ko ngayon ay kinuhaan ko ng litrato.
