Huminga ako ng malalim at dahan dahan na pinihit ang doorknob ng apartment. Dahil bubungad ang sala, nakita ko ang inaasahan at gusto kong makita. Nakaupo si Jackson sa sofa, nakasandal ang ulo sa head rest at mukhang natutulog. Nasa baba nito ang body bag niya na ginagamit lang kapag nag ta-travel siya.
Did he travel? Like out of town or something?
Dahan dahan akong naglakad sa puwesto niya at binaba ng tahimik ang shoulder bag sa lamesa.
He is wearing a black ball cap, black pants, and a black plain shirt. With the sight of his familiar figure, I wanted to jump into him and hug him tightly. I will take the warmth from him to transfer to my cold body in the past few days.
"Jack." I whisper. Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras na siyang natutulog at alam kong ma gi-guilty ako kapag nagising siya... pero gusto ko na siyang makausap, gusto ko ng marinig ang boses niya.
Normally, he will wake up now because I know he is a light sleeper that's why I called him again.
"Jackson." In seconds, he opened his eyes and removed his ball cap.
Our eyes met and my heart melted.
Umupo ako katabi niya at humarap sa kaniya. Umupo lang siya ng maayos at nakatingin lang sa baba.
Strangely, he didn't talk, he was just staring at the floor and his silence was killing me—there is something wrong and I don't know what it is.
Bigla akong kinabahan.
"Jack... are you okay?" I quietly asked, still no response, kaya hinawakan ko ang braso niya, doon siya napatingin sa akin.
He has fluffy eyes, an eye bags—the evidence of the lack of sleep, tiredness and for...
"Are you okay? What about dinner? Kumain ka na?" umusog ako at lalong lumapit sa kaniya. Our thighs touched. The physical contact I had with him now sent a billion shivers in my spine—but he didn't answer again, he was just staring at me silently. Like imprinting my figures in his memory.
"Jackson?" I put my hand on his right cheek, he closed his eyes and leaned to my touch.
"I missed you." He whispered.
"Are you okay? Did something happen?"
He finally faced me, opened his eyes slowly, and I saw the redness of his eyes and the tears on his eyelids—As if trying not to cry.
My heart sank at the sight of him. He looks like his a lost kid with a broken heart. Inalala ko ang huling araw na magkasama kami, habang nagkasagutan, paulit ulit ang tawag ni tita Amanda sa kaniya noon at pagkatapos hindi ko na siya nakita ulit.
May nangyari ba sa araw na 'yon?
"What is it? M-may problema ba?"
With his heavy breathing, the hurt in his eyes and the shaking gripped on my hands—he let out a sobbed, and he cried, the tears fall in his cheeks at kinain na ng tuluyan ng lungkot at sakit ang emosyon niya.
He broke down and cried more.
"L-lola..." ang tanging nasabi at hindi na natuloy ang sunod na sasabihin dahil sa pag-iyak. Kusang bumagsak ang luha sa mga mata ko at niyakap niya ng mahigpit.
I didn't know up until now that a weak and crying Jackson in front of me will be my death—my downfall.
"She... Tita Amanda said she h-had an a-attack in the plane..."
Pumikit ako ng mariin at tahimik na umiyak kasama siya. Mahigpit niya akong niyakap at sinuklian ko iyon ng mas mahigpit, na para bang puwede niya akong kapitan at hindi ko siya bibiguin na hindi mahuhulog.
BINABASA MO ANG
Thorns
RomantikThorns tells the story of a woman who had given up on the idea of love. She had seen too much heartache and disappointment in her life to believe that it was real. But one day, unexpectedly, she met someone who changes everything. He challenges her...
