Palagi (The Art of Loving You) x JHOLET AU

Chapter 16: Cycle

Colet's POV

I felt the early morning light filtered gently through the curtains, nagising ako dahil dito.

I blinked slowly, feeling the comforting presence of Jho beside me. Her hand was still intertwined with mine, and I couldn’t help but smile at the memory of our conversation last night. 'Ang sarap pala sa pakiramdam na gigising ka na kasama mo yung taong mahal mo'

"Good morning, Jho" I whispered softly, careful not to disturb her.

As I stared at her face, I was struck by how stunning she looked even in sleep. Her looks was serene and radiant. The gentle rise and fall of her chest with each breath seemed to match the peaceful rhythm of the room. I marveled at the way her eyelashes rested against her cheeks, and how her lips were slightly curved in a contented smile, as if she was dreaming of something beautiful.

Jho’s beauty was more than just physical; it was in the way she carried herself. And the sight of her lying here, so perfectly at ease, made my heart swell with affection and a deep sense of gratitude for knowing her.

Dahan dahan ko inalis sa yung kamay ko sa pagkakahawak nya, ayaw kong gisingin muna ito.

As I stood up and stretched, a warm, happy flutter filled my chest. It was as if the day itself was smiling at me. 'Bakit ang gaan ng pakiramdam ko ngayong araw' Napalingon naman ako ulit sa kanya. Kinilig naman ako dahil first time namin matulog magkasama.

°

After I showered, I headed downstairs to check if breakfast was ready. The smell of breakfast cooking wafted through the house, blending with the sweet, fresh scent of morning. I made my way to the dining table, where Mikha, Staku, Sheena, Gwen, Maloi, and Aiah were already gathered. They greeted me with sleepy but warm smiles.

"Good morning, Ate Colet!" Mikha said cheerfully, her eyes bright as she sipped her coffee. “Parang maganda yung tulog mo ngayon ah, Hahaha! Parang blooming ka din”

I shake my head, trying to hide the grin that was threatening to spread across my face. “Good morning, girls. As usual ang aga mo na naman Miks. Mukhang kulang ka pa sa tulog” Biro ko dito, natatawa ako sa tukso nito kaya hindi maalis sa mukha ko yung ngiti.

As I poured myself a cup of tea, I noticed how my friends were subtly exchanging glances. They were definitely up to something, their eyes darting between me and the entrance, mukhang inaabangan nila si Jhoanna.

"Ehem. Mukhang may gusto kayong sabihin, sabihin nyo na" I asked them.

Staku raised an eyebrow with a knowing smile. “Colet, nasaan yung bestie ko? Anything exciting happen last night ba? mukhang tulog na tulog pa yun ah, pinagod mo ba?"

Muntik ko ng mabuga yung iniinom kong kape. Nagtawanan naman sila.

I felt my cheeks flush slightly but tried to play it cool. “Hahaha, nandoon, tulog pa. Siguro gigising narin yun. But nothing special. Just had a nice chat with her before kami matulog.”

Sheena, who had been quietly nibbling on a piece of toast, suddenly looked up with a wide grin. “Ate Colet, sure ka nagkwentuhan lang kayo? Baka naman may iba pa, kasi iba tlaga yung aura mo ngayon. Paki share naman para updated kaming mga shippers nyo. Hahaha!" panunukso nito.

My heart skipped a beat at the thought of them noticing. I tried to maintain my composure but couldn’t suppress the warmth spreading through me.

“Epekto yan ng hang over Shee, kung ano ano napapansin mo. We just talked last night, I swear” I said, trying to sound casual but failing to mask the happiness in my voice. “We just chatted then natulog na kami”