Her Prince

- 55 -

- ADDYSON LOPEZ - 

Song for the Chapter: You'll be safe here by Adie

I had a dream.

In it, I woke up a few times.

Every waking moment, Julien was there, taking care of me, softly talking, coaxing me to sleep.

The first time, I felt a gentle caress on my face. Pagmulat ko, he was there, seating on a stool beside the mattress, rubbing his thumb on my cheek, while his other hand was holding mine. His tone and smile were gentle too, albeit the worry in his eyes. "You're okay, Addy. It's alright, I'm here..."

The second time, there was a cool and soothing sense on my face, neck, then my arms. As I opened my eyes again, Julien was delicately dabbing a damp towel on my limbs, cooling my temperature down in the process. When he saw me, he once again stroked my cheek. "Sleep, Addy. Rest, I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."

The third time, I'm not so sure if it was a dream anymore. He was checking my temperature, and sighed in relief after. He smiled at once when he noticed me watching him. "Hungry?"

"Thirsty." I croaked, throat dry and voice hoarse. Inabot niya sa'kin ang nakahandang baso ng tubig sa nightstand. Immediately, I gulped it down.

"Hey, take it slow." He protested, lightly rubbing my back.

Emptying the glass in just a few mouthfuls, I looked around. Julien took the glass from me and set it back down on the nightstand.

I was not inside Hana's condo.

I was inside Julien's... resting on his bed.

Right, this had to be a dream.

Julien stood up, padded to his kitchen and came back with a tray; on it was bowl of a still warm porridge. "You need to eat."

Ever so gently, inalalayan niya akong maka-upo. My stomach growled and Julien chuckled. I reached for the spoon, but he beat me to it. Scooping a spoonful, he aimed it to my mouth.

"I can do it—"

"Let me." He insisted, eyes pleading. Only then did I noticed the exhaustion in them, and the growing dark circles under.

With a huff, I opened my mouth and accepted his spoon. Its warmth felt like heaven in my stomach as I swallowed. Sinubuan niya ako, hanggang sa maubos ko ang lugaw, not letting me do anything at all with my hands. Kahit sa pag-inom ko ng gamot, naka-alalay siya.

"Nanaginip ba ako?"

Setting the tray aside, he smiled. His eyes were tired, but somewhat bright as they gazed at me. Inabot niya ang kamay ko, at bahagyang pinisil. "This is real, Addy."

"Then why am I here?"

With his thumb, he soothingly rubbed my knuckles. "You fainted, and gave me the scare of a life time. I called for an ambulance, but you suddenly regained consciousness and begged me not to take you to a hospital..."

"Sorry for bothering you like this." Dejected, I looked down at our hands.

"You are never a bother." He pledged, gently squeezing my hand once more. "I called Hana too, I told her you're with me."

"Thank you..."

"Addy, do you," Julien hesitated, his expression solemn. "...hate hospitals?"

Tumango ako. He waited for me to explain, so I did.

"I got sick one time," I began with a sigh, "Hindi ko alam exactly kung ilang taon ako. But I knew I was too young. My parents... they just left me alone there. They probably paid a nurse or something to act as my guardian. I was so scared, all alone in huge, dark room. I stayed there for a few days, at gabi-gabi akong umiiyak. Ever since then, I tried so hard to stay healthy, para hindi ako magkasakit, dahil baka ibalik nila ako sa ospital."

"I'm here, Addy. You're not alone anymore." He murmured, an earnest look in his tired eyes that I wanted to believe him... kahit ngayon lang.

We were silent for a moment, a pause, to take in each other's presence. That I was with him, and he was with me.

Julien gazed at our hands as well, he let go for a second, just to clench and unclench them, as if holding my hand wasn't enough.

He saw my hesitation, and with a final squeeze, as if he never wanted to, dahan-dahan niya akong binitawan, at buong pag-iingat na inalalayang humiga. "Let's talk tomorrow. I'll tell you everything then. For now, rest and go back to sleep."

"Ikaw?" I asked as he sat back on his chair.

Softly, he ruffled my hair. "Babantayan kita, matulog ka na."

"But you're tired too..."

"I'll rest later, okay?"

"And you obviously need sleep."

"I will, later—"

"Your bed is big enough for the both of us."

Julien's mouth dropped in shock, but closed them again in an instant. His wet his lips as his throat bobbed, avoiding my eyes. "Addy—"

"This is your bed and you're too tall for the couch, hindi ka rin makakapagpahinga o makakatulog ng maayos hangga't nandito ako, at kung naka-upo ka lang dyan." I tried to explain but he made no move to comply. "Takot ka bang mahawa? Ayaw mo ba kong katabi—"

"Don't you ever think that." He was right beside me, bago ko pa matapos ang sasabihin ko. Umusog ako, to give him more space. Bago siya tuluyang humiga, he checked on me again. "Are you sure you're okay with this? With me here?"

I nodded, and only then did he fully lie down. As he moved and tried to get comfortable, madiin akong napapikit. We were inches apart, and it did not help that I was too aware of him. His sweet scent was all over my nostrils, I could feel him breathe, see his chest rise and fall from my peripheral, parang gustong sumakit ulit ng ulo ko.

This was a bad idea, what was I thinking?!

Julien shifted again, settling down on his side... paharap sa'kin.

Gustuhin ko mang talikuran siya, ayoko namang isipin niya that he had a strong effect on me! Pumikit na lang ulit ako.

My heart, you can do this...

"Addy." His soft voice called.

"Hm?" I replied with a start, not daring to open my eyes.

"Can I hold your hand?"

Naka-ilang lunok ako bago tumango. He sounded so weak, I feared I might break him if I refused.

And then I felt him... unhurriedly intertwining our fingers, as if he was savoring every second. "Good night, Addy."

I did it again, just casually jumping right into my doom. Paano ako ngayon makakatulog?!