Miara's Mistakes: Part Two

(266) - September 22, 2020

Rest
Miara's POV

I twisted and turned on the bed, trying to get rid of the extra weight on my belly. Kanina ko pa ito nararamdaman at hindi ako mapakali. It felt like my pillow turned into a rock.

Nang hindi na talaga makayanan ay bumangon ako. Dalawa kaming nagulat. Ako, dahil sa kaniya. Siya naman ay dahil sa biglaan kong paggalaw.

"Primo?!" Gulat kong sambit at saka inalis ang kumot na nakatabon sa akin. It turns out that the extra weight I felt was his arms.

Sa sahig siya nakaupo at mukhang nakatulog na. Kinusot-kusot niya ang kaniyang mga mata bago ngumiti sa akin. His lazy smile was enough to bring that comforting heat to my chest.

I pulled him to the bed and we both lay down. Hindi pa nga ako nakakapag-ayos ng higa ngunit nasa braso na niya kaagad ako. I snuggled on the curve of his neck and kissed his jaw. I felt his arms tighten around me.

"I missed you," aniya sabay halik ng tuktok ng ulo ko. "Did I startle you? Your mother let me in... I'm sorry I couldn't wait for tomorrow."

His words reminded me of our text conversation. Biniro ko siya na baka sorpresahin niya ako sa dis oras ng gabi. And here he is, in the middle of the night, surprising me with his presence. It's a welcome surprise, though.

"Hindi ka talaga mabiro," I said teasingly, which made him chuckle.

Umalis ako sa pagkakahiga sa kaniyang braso para maayos ko siyang matitigan. My hand automatically went to his face, then gliding my palm to caress him. Napapikit pa siya ng mga mata na para bang ninanamnam niya ang hawak ko.

We stayed like that for a few moments that I honestly thought he fell asleep already. But then he caught my hand then brought it to his lips. Marahan niyang hinalikan ang likod ng kamay ko habang ang mga mata ay titig na titig sa akin.

Dahil sa kaniyang tingin ay parang biglang lumaho ang antok ko. Tinago ko na lang ang nararamdaman sa ngiti.

"I'm sorry you got dragged into this." His facial muscles stiffened and it's showing.

His heavy sigh was enough to tell me that he really is sorry. That even though this isn't his fault, he's distressed by what happened too.

He doesn't have to apologize. The mere fact that he was honest with me was more than enough. That instead of hiding because of the complexity of the issue, he faced me instead.

"I'm sorry this added to your plate," mahina kong sabi.

He has enough already because of his parents' situation. Imbes na makatulong ako sa kaniya ay dumagdag pa 'to.

Umiling siya at lalo akong pinalapit sa kaniya. In one swift move, his hand on my waist scooped me up to move me.

"Don't be..." his mouth opened as if he wanted to say some more but no words came out. Instead, he enveloped me in a hug. Mas mahigpit ang pagkakayakap niya sa akin ngayon.

It was just an embrace but I could feel his emotions as if they were mine, like there's some sorcery with this simple hug. Ramdam ko ang pagod at panghihina niya. His frustration and worries and all the weight. And I think he feels mine too.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Miara... you don't deserve to go through any of these," he uttered the last word in a whisper, like he's disgusted with what he's pertaining to.

"I wasn't aware of what's happening online until my cousins told me," napasinghal siya at mag humigpit lalo ang yakap niya. "If I had known..."

"Okay na, Primo... I'm good, okay?" I assured him.

I know that it would take more than my words to make him believe that I am, in fact, unbothered. But I still want him to hear it from me. Na kahit hindi man kapani-paniwala, narinig niya mismo sa akin na okay ako.

"I'm here now, Miara," he whispered weakly. It gave me both goosebumps and heart-flutters. "You won't have to go through it alone again."

Napangiti ako ngunit napaluha rin dahil sa kaniyang mga salita. His words were like a promise to me. It feels so good... really good... to hear it. Na hindi ako mag-isa. Na kung ano man ang mangyari, may kakampi ako. May kasangga at karamay ako.

Of course, Cleo and everyone else are uncontrollable. They're free to do whatever they want. But I also know that I can trust Primo. Ayaw ko nang magtanong pero sigurado akong may ginagawa siya. And I know that he'll share it to me in time.

"I'm here for you too, Primo." He has to know that it's not only him who cares.

I care for him too. I got his back too. I may not be as powerful and well-connected as he is and his family, but he can lean on me too. He can cry on my shoulders too. He can trust me too. He can bare his heart and soul to me too.

I want him to feel how he makes me feel. I want to reciprocate the love he shows me and I want him to see it... and feel it. Na kahit ano man ang nararamdaman niya, may matatakbuhan siya.

"You can share them with me, Primo." I cupped his cheeks and kissed his now-red nose. "Makikinig ako."

He's crying on my arms and it's making me feel a number of complex and unexplainable emotions. I never would've imagined that my mistake of going inside the wrong car would lead me here.

That the serious and unsmiling guy whom I got isolated with because of the lockdown will end up on my arms, showing me his most vulnerable and imperfect side.

"I know, Miara..." he smiled and nodded his head. Kahit pa basang-basa na ang kaniyang mukha dahil sa mga luha ay alam kong hindi pinilit ang ngiting iyon. "I know..."

I adjusted my position so I could reach his face. I planted soft kisses on his forehead, down to the tip of his nose, then to each of his cheeks, and finally on his lips.

He smiled contentedly after that. "Let's talk tomorrow?"

Tumango ako at saka inayos na ang kumot sa aming dalawa. Ngunit nang pahiga na ako ay bumangon siya at mukhang aalis pa.

I thought it's known to the both of us that he can spend the night here. But then I remembered it's Primo and his mind doesn't work that way.

"Stay here, please?"

Pinanliitan niya ako ng mga mata, tila tinatantya at sinisigurong hindi ko siya tinutukso.

"Hindi mo ba 'ko na-miss?" I raised a brow and smirked. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili at tuluyan nang napangiti. Ganoon din siya. Ang pogi talaga kahit namumula pa ang ilong at pisngi!

I tapped the bed and reached for his arms. "Halika na! Ayaw mo nito? 'Yong crush mo na ang nag-aaya sa 'yo! Dapat kiligin ka!"

Hindi na siya nagpapilit at bumalik na sa kama habang umiiling ngunit ngumingiti rin.

"Yes, crush, I like this." Parang hindi man lang siya nahiya!

Nakatalikod ako sa kaniya ngunit nakaunan ako sa braso niya. Dikit na dikit ang aming mga katawan at parang natatakot siyang bigla akong kumawala.

"Rest na, pogi..." pinipigilan ko lang humalakhak dahil sa sa kiliti. Kanina niya pa hinahalik-halikan ang balikat at leeg ko. Paano na lang kami makaktulog kung ganito?

"Yeah, yeah... finally, I can rest, Miara..."