Buy Me

CHAPTER 52

The next morning was kind.

Ironic to how she was last night, magaan ang pakiramdam ni Ella nang tumama sa kanyang mukha ang manipis na liwanag na tumatagos sa blinds ng glass wall. She scrunched her nose before slowly opening her swollen eyes. She didn't make it past wincing, but then she didn't feel rushed to wake up either.

She cried a lot. Far more than all her short, sad moments combined in years. Hindi naman kasi siya iyong iyaking tipo ng tao at mas lalong hindi siya madaling masaktan. She wasn't even aware that she had been holding up that many tears until Constantine came into the bathtub and held her close.

That could have been a hilarious moment if only her soul wasn't breaking up badly. She perfectly knew that Constantine's goal was to calm her down and stop her from crying more, but then she just couldn't stop going even louder. It amazed her how she completely turned into a helpless child in his arms. If it wasn't for her throat still aching, she would deny that she was that hysterical b*tch screaming inside the bathroom last night.

'Sht...' Ella shut her eyes back when embarrassment flooded her. Pagkatapos ay patamad na ibiniling niya ang kanyang ulo nang hindi ito inaangat sa kanyang unan. One more deep breath, and she opened her eyes again, finding the brute still sleeping.

Far from many cliche' lovers waking up in movies, ni-hindi sila nagising na magkadikit man lang ng umagang 'yon. He was laying a valid arm-stretch away with one of his arms covering his exhausted face. His hard, broad chest was on display as it heaved evenly to the sound of his almost soundless snore.

A sad smile curled Ella's lips. Then, even before she could control it, she already found herself crawling towards him across the sprawl of satin covers.

Napapakalahati na niya ang distansya nila nang unti-unti ay bumagal ang kanyang mga kilos. She couldn't tell what had gotten to her when her gaze settled on his face. Parang namamalikmata pa siyang napakurap nang paulit-ulit habang nakatitig dito.

Was it just her eyes? Or was it Constantine's who turned more vivid? It was by pure instinct that she lifted a hand and gently, almost as if she were scared, touched the tip of his hair.

Her eyes heated behind its sockets when she caught a few strands of it. She didn't know that his hair was that soft. More so that it wasn't as black as she always thought, but rather a darker shade of brown.

Takot na pinagpatuloy niya ang pagtitig rito. She felt like she was seeing a whole new person, and she just couldn't get enough of her discoveries. From how long his lashes were, to his prominent cheekbones, and finally to the manly yet very sensual veins webbing from the back of his wrist up to his elbow.

She held her breath before lifting a nervous finger to him. Trembling, she traced his most prominent vein with the tip of her cold fingers until..

"Umh..." the brute stirred from his sleep.

Daig pa ni Ella ang napaso nang mabawi niya ang kanyang kamay mula rito. Then, with her mind still disheveled, she took a deep breath, dragged herself away from him, and continued for the bedroom door.

'New day...' She tilted her head before pushing the door open and turning to Constantine one last time. Isang malungkot na ngiti muli ang namutawi sa kanyang labi. 'Thank you for picking me up. It's time to restart my life, love. I guess...'

.

.

"Oh, gising ka na!" Boses agad ni Aling Pacing ang bumungad kay Ella oras na marating niya ang dulo ng pasilyo papunta sa living room. Nakaupo ito sa mamahaling couch habang nagkakape at nanonood ng telebisyon.