Prologue
Pagkatapos kong basahin ang natanggap na text, tumalon ako mula sa kama at inayos ang sarili. Humarap ako sa salamin bago lumabas ng kwarto. Sa sobrang excitement, nakarating ako sa front doors nang nakayapak. I couldn't care less anymore.
Hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti nang mamataan ko ang pamilyar na sasakyang pumasok mula sa gate at pumarada sa tapat ng aming bahay. Mabilis na bumukas ang pinto ng itim na Range Rover sa may front seat at iniluwa nito ang isa sa mga inaasahan kong tao.
"Ely!" tili ng best friend kong si Natalie.
"Natty!" tumakbo ako papalapit para yakapin siya.
She hugged me back. "I missed you."
"Me, too," I said.
Then, I heard the car door opened from the driver's seat. My eyes instantly found a pair of intoxicating hazel eyes. I could feel my heart pumping in a crazy beat. Parang nagtaasan din lahat ng balahibo ko sa katawan nang makita siya.
One month lang silang nagbakasyon sa America, pero pakiramdam ko ay isang dekada na ang nakalipas. I truly missed my best friend, though I wouldn't deny the fact that I missed him more than anything.
I watched him sauntered toward us in his stoic demeanor. His jet-black hair is in its usual mess. So ruggedly handsome in that heavy stubble of his, I couldn't help but swoon inside. Pakiramdam ko ay mas lalo pa siyang naging gwapo sa paningin ko. It only took me a second to fall into his spell all over again.
"Kuya Nathan," I smiled sheepishly at him. Binigyan niya ako ng isang matipid na ngiti. Sa simpleng ngiti na iyon, natunaw agad ako.
"Tita Marj!" bumitiw sa pagkakayakap si Natalie at dumiretso kay Mama na nakatayo sa may pinto.
Saglit na nag-beso ang dalawa. "Natalie, sweetheart, how are you?"
"I'm great, Tita. Just craving for your special adobo! Alam n'yo naman po, wala pa ring alam si Mommy sa kusina."
"Don't worry, katulad ng promise ko sa'yo, pinagluto kita ng marami."
Nagtawanan sila. We all knew that Tita Abigail was sort of a kitchen jinx. Binati din ni Mama si Kuya Nathan at inanyayahang pumasok sa loob. Nauna silang pumasok ni Natty habang magkaakbay sa isa't-isa.
Bumaling ako kay Kuya Nathan na nakatingin sa mga paa ko. My toes curled from his gaze which slowly turned to meet mine. He took a step closer so I ended up taking the advantage of studying his beautiful face, and inhaling his manly scent.
Nakasalubong ang kanyang makakapal na kilay. I also noticed his perfect jaw clenched. He looked a bit pissed, and I had no idea why. I found myself staring at his reddish lips as it started to move.
"Why are you barefooted, Eloise?" I snapped back from my trance as my name came out of his mouth. Blood rushed to my cheeks. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin dahil sa mga mapanuri niyang titig. I could stare at him all day long, but I didn't think I could handle his.
"Um..." I couldn't admit that I was too psyched to see him that I forgot to wear my slippers. That would sound way immature. Kuya Nathan's type of girls were smart and sophisticated. I didn't want to be a disappointment.
I bit my lower lip, looking to the ground in process. The rough cement didn't seem to touch my soles because I was completely floating on cloud nine. I loved it like this. I loved this kind of attention he was giving me. I just wished this wouldn't end. I just wished he would see me differently. I wanted him to see me as a woman. Not some fragile, little girl.
Inangat niya ang aking baba gamit ang kanyang kamay. It sent millions, yet familiar sensations throughout my body. Hindi mapakali ang aking tingin sa mga titig niya. Dumapo ito sa aking labi pabalik sa aking mga mata. Nanlalambot din ang mga tuhod ko sa sobrang lapit ng aming distansya.
Bakit ba niya ito ginagawa sa akin? Bakit ba hindi ko magawang turuan ang sarili kong magmahal ng iba? Bakit ba kahit anong pagtataboy ay hindi ko pa rin magawang umiwas?
I slowly closed my eyes instead, relishing his warm touch lingering on the fragment of my skin; anticipating what I had been aching to have. But then I was caught off guard the moment I felt two strong arms slid through my back and calves. I was suddenly swept off of my feet, literally.
"Kuya Nathan!" I shrieked as I held onto his broad shoulders for support. His muscles flexed beneath me. "What are you doing?"
"What do you think?"
Natahimik na lang ako at hindi na umangal pa. Nagawa ko pang ipulupot ang aking braso sa kanyang leeg. I longed for him too much that I would never get tired of his protectiveness over me even on such petty things. Tinungo niya ang hagdan paakyat hanggang marating namin ang aking kwarto. Dahan-dahan niya akong inupo sa kama dahilan ng pagkalas ko sa kanya.
Lumuhod siya harap ko para lumebel sa akin. Kinuha niya ang tsinelas sa may ilalim ng kama at marahan niya itong isinuot sa akin. I really, really wished this wouldn't end.
"I missed you," sabi ko at nilapat ang aking palad sa kanyang pisngi. Suminghap siya sa ginawa ko. "D-did you miss me?" Hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili kong itanong.
"Yes," aniya. Something warmed up inside my chest.
"Kuya Nathan, I still feel the same." I waited him to say something―anything. "I still―"
Nagulat ako sa bigla niyang pagtayo. Pero sa ginawa niyang iyon, parang unti-unting nabasag muli ang puso ko. Hindi na siya makatingin sa akin. I wanted to scream at him and beg for answers. Why did he have to be so cruel? Why couldn't he love me back?
"Kuya..."
"I need you to forget about it, Eloise."
And just like that, he shattered me once again.
