FLAMING LOVE [GxG]

Chapter Twenty-Eight: I'm sorry

I'm here now at a convenience store near my apartment building. I've been craving ice cream since earlier, pero ngayon lang ako nagkaroon ng time para makabili dahil marami ako ginawa kanina na kailangan ipasa bukas.

Pagkatapos ko bayaran ang binili kong matcha ice cream ay hindi muna ako umalis, gusto ko kasi muna tumambay dito kahit saglit lang. Wala rin naman masyadong tao rito kaya nakahanap agad ako ng bakanteng table.

I opened my phone and saw a lot of messages from my friends.

Oo nga pala, may one week break kami. Sa sobrang dami ko kasing iniisip nakalimutan ko na.

Pagkatapos ko mag reply sa kanila ay umalis na ako sa convenience store para umuwi na. While I'm walking I can feel someone eyeing me, I looked around but no one was here, only me. I shrugged it off and continued walking until I came to my apartment building.

Pagkabukas ko palang ng pintuan ng apartment ko ay sinalubong na ako ni Evy, she is a Chartreux cat and has been my pet since my high school days.

I carry Evy and put food on her plate. Binaba ko ulit siya para makakain dahil mukhang gutom ito kahit pinakain ko siya kanina pagdating ko ng bahay galing sa campus.

I rubbed the top of her head gently as she continued to eat the food I had given her. Her ears twitched with delight as I massaged the base of her ears. Before I left, I leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, feeling the softness of her fur against my lips.

Binuksan ko ang flat screen tv sa sala at umupo sa malaking sofa. Hindi ko pa kasi natatapos yung isang series na pinapanood ko at ngayon lang ako may oras para tapusin iyon.

While I was busy watching, I heard the doorbell ring.

Sino naman kaya ang nambubulabog sa akin sa ganitong oras?! Daig pa walang sariling buhay!

I looked to my digital door view first before opening the door, halos malaglag ang panga ko ng makita si Miss Montivera.

Anong ginagawa niya rito? Hindi naman 'to ang apartment ng mapapangasawa niya.

Inayos ko muna ang sarili bago buksan ang pintuan. I looked at her blankly.

"Wha-Hey!"

Nagulat ako ng biglang bumagsak ang katawan niya sa akin, wala akong nagawa kundi hawakan ang beywang niya para hindi siya tuluyan mahulog.

"Miss? Are you okay?" Inayos ko ang buhok na nakaharang sa mukha niya at teka....

Nakainom ba siya?!

My heart skipped a beat as she suddenly pulled away from me. The swiftness of her action caught me off guard, and I watched in surprise as she teetered slightly on her high heels. Before she could fall, I rushed to catch her, my hands instinctively grasping her waist in an attempt to steady her.

She pointed at me using her index finger, her eyebrows knitted.

"You! How dare you ignore me for a damn month?!" She drunkenly said. "Let go of me!"

Nagpupumiglas siya pero hindi ko siya binibitiwan dahil kapag tinanggal ko ang dalawang kamay ko sa beywang niya ay tuluyan na 'tong matutumba.

"Ma'am! Stop!" Hindi siya nakinig sa akin, I have no choice but carry her in bridal style.

Pumasok kaming dalawa sa loob, nilagay ko siya sa sofa at pinatay ko muna ang TV gamit ang remote bago siya harapin at kausapin.

"Are you drunk?"

"So what?" She answered.

I massaged my forehead using my finger tips.

"Just tell me your reasons why you came here."

"I don't know." Sagot niya agad.

Huminga ako ng malalim at pumunta sa kusina para kuhaan siya ng tubig. Ayoko na makipagtalo sa kanya dahil alam ko siya rin ang mananalo sa away namin.

Nagulat ako ng makita siya hindi ko alam na nakasunod pala ito sa akin, she then leaned on the wall watching my moves.

"I can't help but wonder what the taste of your water is like. You see, I have a thing for sweet things. I bet your water has that special touch of sweetness that I crave."

Muntik ko na mahulog ang hawak kong baso dahil sa narinig.

I looked at her and she just smirked at me.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang gusto niyang palabasin, para sa akin laging may double meaning ang sinasabi niya pero hindi ko nalang pinapansin.

Hindi naman siya ganyan sa akin dati.

"This is not as sweet as you like, it's just normal water." I replied, not showing emotion.

Binigay ko sa kanya ang isang basong tubig at iniwan siya roon. Bumalik ako sa living room at umupo sa malaking sofa.

As she sat down next to me, I was suddenly overwhelmed by her presence. The air around her carried a tinge of her distinct perfume, which mixed with the slight scent of alcohol. Her favorite rose perfume had a gentle, sweet flowery tone that blended well with the other scents.

I breathed deeply, I felt my senses heightened and my heartbeat began to increase as I realized how much I had missed her familiar scent.

I can't believe it's been so long since we've been able to be this close.

"You changed." I heard her talking.

I turned my head to her. "What do you mean?"

Matagal siya bago sumagot parang madaming tumatakbo sa isip niya ngayon.

"I'm sorry, Eris." I was shocked at what she said.

Parang sinaksak na naman ng libo libong kutsilyo ang puso ko ngayon, and every breath I take is a painful reminder of the person I long for but can't have.

"Don't apologize, hindi mo 'to kasalanan" I told her and looked away. "It's my fault, ako ang unang nanggulo sa buhay mo."

"Don't say that, please." She softly held my hand, the reason why I turned my head to her.

I forced a smile as I felt a lump growing in my throat. My eyes brimmed with tears as I looked at her, and I could barely choke out the words.

"Please just be happy with him," I told her, trying to put on a brave face despite the pain gnawing away inside me.

"He's a good guy and a loving person... I know you deserve nothing less." Despite the hurt, I couldn't help but wish her happiness, even if it meant sacrificing my own feelings.

I didn't know that my tears were already falling on my cheeks, she wiped it with her hand.

"I'm really sorry... don't cry please,"

I couldn't stop the tears from flowing as I shook my head at her apology. She wrapped her arms around me, holding me tightly. I buried my face in her neck, stifling my sobs until I had no tears left to shed.

As I tried to regain my composure, she tenderly wiped my tears away with her fingers, her touch sending a shiver through me.

Then, unexpectedly, she leaned in and gave me a soft, lingering kiss, stirring a fresh wave of longing inside me.

I couldn't help but want more, to feel her lips on mine again and let the world disappear around us.