Mending Heart's Affliction [Phoenix Countesses: ETHEREAL MAIDENS SERIES I]

Chapter 18

With him

When I returned to the country, I realized one thing about a person's life. It's that you can forgive some people without having to welcome them back into your life.

I wonder if this will hold true for me. Can I forgive even if I haven't heard a single apology?

Nagising ako nang maramdaman ko ang masakit na sikat ng araw sa mukha ko. Ang kurtina sa terrace ay sumasayaw nang dahan-dahan dahil sa hangin na umiihip doon. It was already noon.

"Arik?" Tawag ko sa kanya nang hindi ko siya natagpuan sa aming silid.

Saglit na natulala ako at naalala ang mga nangyari kagabi. I am still sore but it was so fucking good. I want it to happen again.

It all happened so fast, just like how everything between us happened years ago. But this is real. I'm not just dreaming. After six years, I got to hold him again. I could still taste his kisses...

I quickly took a shower while waiting for Arik, but he still wasn't there when I finished, so I decided to go out.

Napaatras ako nang makita ko siyang may kausap na babae't lalaki na tingin ko'y nasa mid 40-50s na.

"Oh, there you are, dear. You must be tired from last night, and you woke up late," the woman said when she saw me.

Agad na uminit ang pisngi ko. Tiningnan ko si Arik at nilapitan siya. I hesitated because of the embarrassment I felt, but he insisted.

"Good morning," he mumbled. "I'm sorry I didn't wake you up. Kanina ka pa ba gising? You've already taken a shower."

I nodded and gave a slight smile. "Who are they? Nakakahiya, Arik."

"Well, don't be." Arik paused and then looked at the two.

"Auntie, Uncle, this is Celeste, my girlfriend," Arik introduced me to them. I looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

"Girlfriend mo ako?"

Arik chuckled and seemed to have a mischievous thought in mind. "Isn't that right? After what happened last night..."

"God, shut it," I interrupted him immediately and turned to his aunt and uncle.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Celeste..." I greeted them.

The look in the woman's eyes was so genuine that it brought a smile to my face. The man had the same expression.

"Of course. Sino pa ba ang hindi nakakakilala sa nag-iisang anak na babae ng mag-asawang Fuentebella? Nice to meet you too, finally, Celeste." The woman greeted me and then hugged me.

"Girlfriend ka na kamo nitong pamangkin namin? Why does it seem like things are moving so fast? Are you sure about this guy, Celeste?" His uncle said, followed by laughter.

"Uncle, stop."

"Hon, come on, it's not that fast. Arik has been waiting for Celeste for so long that we can't say what's happening between them is too fast. You know that," the woman said, laughing.

"Yeah, yeah. I was just kidding. Anyway, we just came here to check on you two. Bigla kasi kayong nawala kagabi at hindi na bumalik. We thought something might happened."

We decided to continue the conversation at the Aomori Resort restaurant where we also caught Aurora and Oliver having a meal. I could see the glare Aurora was giving me, so I glared back at her. They decided to join our table as well.

"I heard you didn't make it back to the event last night. Where were you?" Oliver whispered to me.

I nudged him. "We just had something to discuss. Akala ko ba ay hindi ka makakapunta rito?"