Simply The Best

49

EMBER immediately felt weird waking up. She was enveloped in a warmth that felt so cozy. Parang hindi sigurado ang sistema niya kung ano ang unang mararamdaman. Iba rin ang kanyang pakiramdam. Parang mas komportable ang kinahihigaan. Iba ang amoy na nanunuot sa kanyang ilong pero pamilyar naman. That smell also gave her some comfort.

But a part of her body was throbbing. The pain was tolerable but it couldn't be ignored.

Unti-unti siyang nagmulat ng mga mata. Noong una ay parang hindi mairehistro ng isip niya ang mga nakikita. It took a little while to realize what she was seeing was not familiar. Ganoon din ang naramdaman niya noong unang beses siyang nagising sa kuwarto na ginagamit niya sa penthouse ni Ivo.

Ivo. Yes, she was in Ivo's penthouse. Her wound was what was throbbing. She had been shot. And Ivo was back in her life.

Nang mas mahimasmasan ay nakilala niya ang pamilyar na amoy. It was Ivo. He smelled so wonderful. Clean and manly. Then the realization dawned. She was on his room. She had a nightmare and she went to him.

Na-realize rin ni Ember na halos kalahati ng katawan niya ay nakadagan sa lalaki at nakapulupot sa kanya ang mga braso nito. Nagkukumahog na bumangon siya. Mas naramdaman niya ang pagkirot ng kanyang wound site.

Napaungol si Ivo. Mas pumulupot sa kanya ang mga braso nito kaya mas nahirapan siyang makawala. Hindi rin naman siya sigurado kung gusto talaga niyang makawala. He felt so nice. So warm and so safe. It almost felt like heaven. Being caged to those arms felt like nothing in the world could get to her. She wanted to snuggle and—

Bigla na lang bumukas ang pinto.

"Are you awake?" walang pasintabing sabi ng bagong dating. She took in the scene and said, "Oh" as if she didn't disrupt anything.

Nanlalaki ang mga mata na napatingin si Ember sa matangkad na babae na basta na lang sumugod sa kuwarto ni Ivo. She was so beautiful and so sophisticated. Ang unang dumaan sa isip niya ay ito ang girlfriend ni Ivo. Pero may kung anong pamilyar sa babae. She had seen or met her before.

Pinagmasdan din siya ng babae. Bahagyang naningkit ang mga mata nito.

Habang nakatingin pa rin sa babae, halos wala sa loob na niyuyog niya si Ivo na napaungol. "What? Is it morning already?"

"Wake up."

"What?" He opened his eyes and he saw the woman in the bedroom who looked like she was not leaving them alone any time soon. "Dahlia? What are you doing here?"

Ibinalik ni Ember ang tingin sa babae. Dahlia? This was Dahlia already? She was barely a tween when she met her the first time. Dinala siya ni Ivo sa isa sa mga okasyon ng mga de Miguel. She couldn't believe how much Dahlia had grown.

Dahlia was Ivo's cousin. Ang bunsong kapatid ng Kuya Gene ni Ivo. She was the princess.

"Get up. I'm joining you for breakfast," sabi ni Dahlia.

"Ano ang ginagawa mo rito, ang aga-aga," reklamo ni Ivo na bumabangon na.

"I need something from you. So hurry up so we can have breakfast then we can talk." Tinalikuran na sila ni Dahlia at akmang aalis.

"Did you say hi or good morning to Ember?"

"Hi," walang anumang bati nito nang hindi man lang siya nililingon.

Napakurap-kurap na lang si Ember habang nakatingin sa papalayong si Dahlia. Ganoon na talaga ang babae kahit na noon pa. She didn't treat her bad, but she was not exactly nice either. She didn't snob her but they were not best of friends. Ang totoo, medyo intimidated siya kay Dahlia kahit na noon pang dalagita ito.