Flowing Through Pages

Chapter 13

Chapter 13.

Clingy

Nagising ako sa biglang pagyakap ng mahigpit sa akin ni Yael. Pilit ko siyang tinulak palayo. Balak pa ata akong lagutan ng hininga.

"I can't breathe. . ."

"Hmm. . ." dahan-dahan siyang lumayo sa akin at bumangon, magulo ang buhok at nakapikit pa.

"Don't you have work?" I asked.

He shook his head. "My head hurts. I don't want to work," he said in his raspy morning voice.

Hindi ko maiwasang magulat dahil sa sinabi niya. Himala, may araw palang hindi niya gusto mag trabaho? That was surprising, given that he's a workaholic.

I didn't respond and closed my eyes again. I felt his body suddenly collapse on top of me, but he didn't put any weight on me.

"Get off, Yael."

Sumiksik pa siya sa akin. "I don't want to." I heard his stomach growl. "Kalli, I'm hungry and my head hurts."

I arched my brow and pushed his shoulder to get off me. "So? Go downstairs and ask Nay Flor for food."

He pursed his lips. "I want to go with you."

My brows furrowed. Kagabi pa 'to—I mean last night, I thought his clinginess was just because he was drunk. But now, seeing him still act this way despite being sober confirms he genuinely feels this clingy toward me. What's up with him?

"Kalli, come on," pilit niya pa.

Tinalikod ko ang katawan sa kaniya. "I don't want to."

"Bubuhatin kita," pagbabanta niya.

I rolled my eyes. "Stop being cringe."

My eyes widened when he took a peek at me. I pushed his face away in annoyance. He's so persistent! Inis akong nag tanggal ng kumot at bumangon. I gave him a stern look while he smiled innocently.

Tumayo na ako at naglakad palabas. Agad naman siyang humabol sa akin. He suddenly wrapped his arms around my shoulders and rested his chin on top of my head as we continued walking.

I nudged him. "Get off, Yael."

Naramdaman ko siyang umiling. "Don't want."

Napabuntong hininga ako. Why is he so clingy today? He didn't even notice that I'm getting a stiff neck from him hugging me all night.

I stretched my neck, feeling the stiffness setting in.

"Is your neck hurting?" he asked, his breath close to my neck. For the second time, I pushed his face away. Too close!

"Aw," daing niya. He suddenly massaged my shoulders while we were walking. Hindi ko na siya sinuway dahil kailangan ko rin 'yon. It's his fault anyway.

Pagdating sa kusina ay natagpuan namin si Nay Flore kasama sina Ugo at Flare. Napakurapkurap silang lahat, nagtataka siguro kung bakit nasa likod ko si Yael habang minamasahe ang aking balikat.

Ugo's face turned into a teasing expression. I wanted to wipe the smirk off his face every time he looked at us like that. Si Nay Flor naman ay napangiti, habang si Flare ay umiwas ng tingin.

"Nay, alis na po kami ni Flare," pagbabasag ni Ugo sa katahimikan.

Flare cleared her throat. "Opo Nay, alis na po kami."

Oh. They probably have class.

Ugo and Flare approached us. He fist-bumped Yael. "Una na kami, p're."

Flare forced a smile onto her face—a fake one. "Goodbye, Ma'am and Yael."