Paper Promises

Chapter 10 - Deal

I never dared to dream that last night would happen. Last night was the best night of my life... I hope it was the same for her too.

Papasikat pa lang ang araw nang magising ako. Aliyah is still sleeping like an angel beside me. Maybe she's tired from last night. Hahayaan ko na lang muna siyang matulog. I looked at her intently. Para akong sira-ulong bigla na lang napapangiti kapag naaalala ko ang mga nangyari kagabi. She's wearing my shirt, her head is on my chest and her left arm resting on my lower abdomen, almost touching my...

Fuck! Why would I think about that, this early? I took a deep breath.

"Andrew, calm down," I whispered to myself as I slowly moved away from her.

Dahan-dahan akong umalis sa pagkakayakap niya kahit na ayaw ko pa. But I stilled when I suddenly heard her whisper something.

"Andrew... ba-by..." Her eyes are still closed.

Is she dreaming?

"So, you're only calling me baby in your dreams, huh?" Ngumisi ako. Para akong tangang nakikipag-usap sa tulog. Natigilan ulit ako nang makita ang unti-unting pagguhit ng ngiti sa mga labi niya. Narinig niya ako?

I smiled at that thought. I slowly bent down to see her beautiful face clearly. I sniffed her hair and kissed her forehead. I also tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear, taking a moment to admire the masterpiece in front of me. Gently, I touched her cheek before planting a soft, warm kiss on it; I'll never get tired of mornings like this.

While walking towards the kitchen, I realized that I don't know how to cook, but I want to cook for her. Kaya kong mag prito, that's easy enough. So, I decided to whip up some bacon and scrambled eggs. But then I scratched my head, realizing I'd added way too much salt to the eggs and burned the first batch of bacon. But it's for her... so I tried again.

"Done!"

I checked the time and my brows furrowed when I saw that it's already 7:00 AM.

"What?! Isang oras akong nagluto?!"

 Really, Andrew? Gaano ka ba kapalpak sa pagluluto?  

I took a deep breath. Bigla kong naalala ang niluto kong sinigang for Aliyah and how I traumatized her friends because of it. I knew it tasted awful. Halos mabuga pa nga ni Jasper 'yong sabaw noong unang beses niyang matikman ang sinigang ko. But I had no choice—they knew Aliyah so well and they knew exactly what she likes. So, for five days, wala silang ibang lunch kundi ang palpak kong sinigang. Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na buntong hininga. Babawi na lang ako sa kanila pagbalik namin ni Aliyah sa Manila.

When did I even start to feel this way? I never knew that I could love this hard. 

Pilit kong inaalala kung kailan ko na-realize na mahal ko na si Aliyah... noong birthday ba niya? When I saved her from that incident? Or maybe when I first saw her? Shit! I really don't know when.

So, maybe, I just need to stop thinking about when it all started. All I know is that I don't want this to end. Even if it's just a deal for her.

***

I can still vividly remember that rainy afternoon. Nauna akong dumating sa restaurant kung saan kami magkikita ni Aliyah. She said we need to talk about something urgent. I had a hunch that it's about our photos that night, from her 25th birthday. Halos tatlong araw na ring pinag-uusapan iyon online. People were thinking that I'm Aliyah's other man while she's engaged to Marcus. Which, of course, is completely false.

I waited for fifteen minutes or so, then she arrived. She's wearing a yellow hoodie and shades. Umuulan pero naka-shades siya.

"Hi, Andrew. Sorry late ako," she greeted as she removed her shades, pero suot pa rin ang hood ng jacket niya. She slowly sat on the chair in front of me.