College Series #2: Finding My Sanity

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WARNING: THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS SHORT SCENE THAT MAY NOT BE SUITABLE FOR SOME READERS. PLEASE READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

YOU MAY SKIP THE PART WHERE YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE. YOU CAN STILL UNDERSTAND THE STORY WITHOUT READING IT.

Buong gabi, all I was thinking was how did Lucius handled everything? He even slept peacefully after our conversation. Habang ako, I wanted to go out and find Brianna to drag her off and put her to jail.

3 AM and I still couldn't sleep. Everything is haunting me. The way he was talking about everything a while ago, he was feeling so scared and uncomfortable.

I held his cheek to check if he was really asleep. I gently caressed it, silently apologizing for having to experience it all.

I suddenly remembered when I first saw him, looking strong and confident.

Compared to the present, he looks gentle and softer.

It was weird that I felt more energetic after three hours of sleep. Pagtingin ko kay Lucius, he was still sleeping. Bumangon na 'ko agad para unahan siyang gumawa ng almusal. 

"Ma, punta kayo rito. Magluluto ako." I told Mama when she answered my phone call. I went to the balcony first to get some fresh air.

Dinig ko naman ang excitement sa boses niya nang sumagot siya. "Aba, sige. Isasama ko silang lahat. Nandiyan pa rin ba si Lucius? Kayo na ba uli? Ano ng balita?"

"Ma, kalma lang." Mahina akong natawa dahil sa sunod-sunod niyang tanong. "Opo, nandito pa rin po siya. Pero grabe naman, ang bilis naman kung magbabalikan na agad kami. Hindi ba pwedeng. . . mga dalawang linggo pa?" I jokingly answered.

Lumakas naman ang tawa niya. Halatang botong-boto sa lalaking 'yon. "Basta, pupunta na kami agad diyan. Kami na bahalang mag-ayos sa inyo."

"Mama naman." Napaikot ako ng mga mata dahil sa pang-aasar niya.

I immediately ended the call para hindi na masayang ang oras namin. I still need to prepare breakfast dahil medyo mali ako sa part na nauna ko silang papuntahin kaysa magluto muna.

My soul almost left my body when I saw a man leaning on the bar counter while sitting on the stool. He was still wearing his pajamas but he was already topless.

"B-Bakit gising ka na agad?"

"Fabio called." He showed me his phone. "I need to fetch him sa clinic, doon na lang kami magkikita."

"Well, I don't mind if you want to invite them for breakfast."

"I have no plans to do it." He held my hand and pulled me inside back to the kitchen. "Anyway, who were you calling?"

"Si Mama lang 'yon." Bumitaw na ako sa kaniya. I went to the fridge to get something to cook.

I felt him standing sa likuran ko, medyo iniipit niya pa 'ko para hindi ako makawala. "I think Tita misses me na."

"Assuming mo naman." Bulong ko.

I heard him chuckled. Mas lumapit pa siya sa akin dahilan para magdikit na kami nang sobra. "I wouldn't assume if I didn't hear something that would feed my delusions."

Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko dahil sa gulat. I couldn't speak after feeling shy. I didn't know how to defend myself.

"I-I was joking." I slightly pushed him para makawala na ako. I went to the stove to fry some chicken nuggets for Fabio and Steven.

"I don't believe you." Sumunod pa rin siya sa akin at tumayo uli sa likuran ko. He placed his hands sa magkabilang side ko at pinatong iyon sa counter. "Turn around. I want you to tell me that you were not serious about it. I want you to tell me na ayaw mo na 'kong bumalik."