Flower of Youth (Youth Series #1)

Chapter 18

Months went by smoothly. Malamig na ang simoy ng hangin sa labas dahil halos kakapasok lang ng buwan ng Disyembre. At siyempre, dadaan na naman ang pasko at bagong taon na magkasama kaming dalawa ni inay.

Nakaisip na ako ng regalo sa kanya dahil gusto kong maaga ko siyang mabigyan ng kanyang gusto bago ang kaarawan nito sa susunod na buwan. Kapag nakuha ko na ang sahod ko sa linggong ito ay ibibili ko agad siya ng bagong damit at ilang mga kailangan namin na handa para sa Noche Buena.

After what happened, we decided to distance ourselves for the better. The incident, though painful, served as a turning point that made us realize how much we had changed.

Bawat araw ay nagiging masakit para sa akin dahil hindi na kami sabay-sabay pumapasok.

Nagtataka na nga rin si inay dahil napapansin na rin niya ang hindi pagdalaw ni Caleb sa bahay namin. Palagi ko na lang dinadahilan na busy ito at maraming ginagawa sa buhay, pero ang totoo, ayaw na rin nitong pumunta.

Ang isyu tungkol sa kumalat na video ay na-take down na matapos ng ilang linggo, at napatawan sina Caleb at Sam ng suspension nang dalawang linggo.

We didn't talk about it. Hinayaan na lang namin ang isa't-isa na parang bulaklak na malapit ng malanta at tuluyang bumigay ang bawat talulot nito.

I bit my lower lip when I remember everything that happened that day. It was the most blissful day for me. 'Yun bang kahit na anong problema ang mayroon ako ay hindi nito mapapawi ang saya na nadarama ko.

He was everything to me... but it was also the beginning of a tremendous hurricane, and chaos of our friendship.

''Itulak mo man ako palayo...'' he trained off and slowly kissed my temple. Muling nagtama ang aming mga tingin na puno ng saya. ''Ikaw pa rin ang pipiliin ko. I'm ready to commit everything for you, Sol. Handa akong ligawan ka at maghihintay ako hanggang sa tuluyan kong makuha ang matamis mong pagtanggap sa akin,'' marahan niyang sambit.

A soft smile curved on his lips. As he slowly leaned closer to me I could feel his breath on my lips again. It was warm, deep, heavy and inviting.

Muli niya idinampi nang marahan ang kanyang labi sa akin. His gentle kiss with a silent promise of affection and longing.

I slowly closed my eyes, leaning into his touch, feeling the warmth of his palms against my skin.

''I will never get tired of loving you,'' he added, kissing me more intimately.

Mas lalong nagsalo ang malalim naming paghinga na para bang walang katapusan ang kanyang halik sa akin. Without uttering a single word, we knew that something had changed between us, it was beautiful and undeniable.

''Gano'n din ako, Leb. Ikaw lang ang mamahalin ko't pipiliin hanggang sa huli,'' I said, soft and gentle.

Ramdam ko ang mainit nitong hininga na parang gusto pa niya akong halikan ulit.

He cupped my face. ''I was able to reach you while walking on a thin thread that caused me to bleed that much... and yet, I'm still here. Bleeding for your love and attention. Ikaw lang ang tanging babae na nagparamdam sa 'kin ng gano'n,'' he mumbled. ''Even though I doubted myself many times, I know that I'm still longing for your presence... at ayoko ng mawalay pa sa 'yo.''

Those words are still echoing through my mind like a haunting melody that refuses to fade quickly—and remembering it all feels like peeling away a layer of myself, revealing more raw parts that are still healing from the actions he did a few months ago.

Ang hirap kalimutan ng tulad niya.

I heave a sigh. I don't want to think about it, but I can't avoid it. Sa puso ko, mahal ko pa rin siya. Pero... ang sinasabi ng isip ko ngayon ay tuluyan ko na siyang layuan at kalimutan.