Saving Love (Salguero Siblings Series #4)

Chapter 21- Resuscitation

Hindi agad ako nakasagot. I was surprised by everything he was saying. Halo-halo ang nararamdaman ko.
 
Hindi rin ako makapaniwala na ang kutob ko na pilit ko na iwinawaksi sa isip ko ay totoo.
 
Ang mga kilos niya at ang mga sinabi ng senyorita London, it's all because he loves me.
 
"I-I don't know what to say, senyori-"
 
"Just call me by my name, Lean, and it's okay if you don't answer now. I'm sorry if it's too sudden, I just couldn't stop myself. Wala na akong rason para pigilan ang sarili ko." Natulala ako.
 
I bit my lip as I couldn't stop my tears. He wiped them with his thumb.  
 
"You're so beautiful, you're so kind, you made people that surround you happy, even though you have so much pain inside. You are amazing. You are so genuine, and you keep thinking about other people despite them doing bad things to you, and I love you for all those. I love every detail I saw in you that even though I try to fight, I still lose. I love you, Leandra Leigh." 
 
Napapikit ako nang halikan niya ako sa noo.
 
"I'm scared," pag-amin ko. 
 
Hinarap niya ako sa kaniya at tiningnan sa mga mata.
 
"It's okay. I'll just be here," umiling ako at napahawak sa hita niya.
 
"I-I'm scared, Jesian," my tears fell once again.
 
"I'm scared because I love you too," 
 
I don't want to hide it as well. Ang mga sinabi ni senyorita London noong nag-usap kami, alam ko na direkta niyang sinasabi mismo sa akin.
 
Falling in love with him is not the thing I should do because he's my boss, but falling in love with him is the best thing that happened in my life.
 
"I'm sorry if I did, but I just did," pinakawalan ko lahat ng emosyon na matagal kong itinago sa kaniya at hinayaan ko na makita niya ang mga iyon sa mga mata ko.
 
"You accepted me for who I am. You made me feel safe just by looking at you. I don't know how you did it. I thought at first that it's just a shallow infatuation, 'til I slowly feel a deeper feeling toward you. Tuwing malapit ka o tuwing tinitingnan mo ako, iba ang pagtibok ng puso ko," 
 
"Jesian, natatakot ako. I'm scared not for myself, but for you. I know how much being a doctor means to you, and if it will be gone because of me, I couldn't bear it. Ayoko na masayang lahat ng pinaghirapan mo dahil sa akin," sinabi ko ang tumatakbo ngayon sa isip ko.
 
Hindi ko alam ang kayang gawin ng pamilya nila Celine, pero base sa nakikita ko, gagawin nila ang lahat para lang mawalan ng lisensya si Jesian. Ayoko na ako ang maging dahilan ng tuluyan niyang pagbagsak.
 
"Shh, walang masasayang kapag ikaw ang kapalit. Lean, I've been working all my life, I put everything into being a doctor, and now that I found the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, I'm willing to do whatever it takes," umayos siya ng upo at hinawakan ng mahigpit ang kamay ko.
 
"Ang mga Salguero hindi basta-basta napapabagsak. Dadaan sila sa butas ng karayom para magawa iyon, I don't care if they target my license, basta huwag lang ikaw. You have gone through a lot of pain, and I won't ever let them hurt you again," he put the strands of hair behind my ear.
 
He looks into every corner of my face.
 
"Baka hindi na ako maging ganito ka-kalmado," nakikita ko sa mga mata niya na nakahanda siyang harapin ang pamilya ni Celine sa anumang paraan.
 
"Mahal mo talaga ako?" I asked. Gusto ko na makasigurado. I'm too overwhelmed by everything.
 
Ngumiti siya.
 
"Mahal na mahal," itinaas niya ang mga kamay ko at hinalikan pareho.
 
"I-I'm just your maid, Jesian. Paano mo ako nagustuhan?" Tanong ko pa rin sa kabila ng lahat ng sinabi niya.

Gusto ko kasi na makasigurado. Baka panaginip lang lahat ng ito.

His jaw moves.
 
Napabuntong hininga siya.
 
"To be honest, I hate it whenever you belittle yourself. I love you because you are Leandra Leigh, the strong, kind, beautiful, and genuine soul woman I know. Ang sabi noon ni dad ang pag-ibig daw dumadating ng hindi natin namamalayan, pero iba ang naramdaman ko sayo. In the very beginning, I'm aware of my feelings, I'm aware that I'm falling into you. Hinayaan ko lang, kasi gusto ko na ikaw ang mahalin ng puso ko. Ikaw ang gusto ko na pag-alayan ng pagmamahal ko," niyakap niya ako at ikinulong sa mga bisig niya.
 
I rested my head on his chest.