Beneath the Stars (UNDER REVISION)

31

"Where have you been?"

Eksaktong pagbaba ni Leandro sa hagdan ay ang pagbukas ko ng pintuan. He was wearing a dark green shirt, it hugged his body perfectly and those glasses again.

"I met up with my Aunt." I said. "I hired a private investigator and then found out that she was just living nearby."

Napatango-tango siya. "How did it go?"

"Fine." I pursed my lips.

"You don't look fine, though." pansin niya sa akin. This man really knows me.

I shrugged as I looked at my wristwatch. "Dinner?" pag-aaya ko and he just gave me a quick nod.

Habang kumakain kami ay doon ko sinabi sa kaniya ang lahat ng nangyari. From my father to my aunt... not all, though. I just didn't disclose my conversation with the agent I hired pero sinabi ko lang ang theories namin.

Inilabas ko sa kaniya lahat ng frustrations, inis, at galit na nararamdaman ko. I ranted about everything.

"Well, we really need solid evidence for that. I obviously think that your aunt is really not a great mastermind. I mean, sobrang halata niya... she can get easily caught because of what she's doing." naiiling nitong tugon.

"I know, right? I really think that she's the one who wants me dead and had been targeting me for how many months... I mean, putting a tracker on me is already enough proof. What else could she want?" I massaged my temples.

He pressed his lips together and tapped my shoulder. "Please don't stress yourself out like this... I'll help you with the case, okay? You really need to take care of yourself."

Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya na nakapatong sa balikat ko at tumango-tango sa kaniyang mga sinabi.

"Anyway, my parents called earlier and said that they wanted us to visit them. They want to talk about the... wedding preparations." Humina ang boses niya sa pagbanggit ng 'wedding'.

Saglit akong natahimik, napansin niya naman kaagad iyon.

"I can just tell them to reschedule—"

"No..." I cut him off. "I mean, ayos lang sa akin. Why wouldn't it be?" I smiled.

"Are you sure you're ready? I don't want to pressure you, though. You also need to recover... the wedding isn't really the most important thing right now, it's your health."

I nodded. "I'm fine, don't worry. I was just thinking..."

"Hmm?"

"About our future... your future. I have cancer and they can not guarantee that they can fully remove those cancerous cells from my body. I'm not healthy, as you can see. I can't promise that I can stay by your side—"

"Baby, we are going abroad and get you treated. Gagaling ka, okay?" Hinawakan niya ang magkabilang balikat ko habang nakatingin sa akin ng diretso.

Umiwas ako ng tingin.

"Look at me... look at me... we'll get through this together. You're not alone, you have me."