Double Take (Lovesick Fools Series #1)

Chapter 37

Cold

The blinding light disappeared and I was welcomed by something else. Something I can hardly tell if it is a dream or just a lingering memory from the past.

It feels strange... It feels like I was currently trapped between a dark tunnel and a cascading light and I had to choose which way I would walk through.

"Benj... wake up." Rael's voice soothingly called me, pulling me from a deep slumber. "It's almost dark. You need to go home..."

Napaungot ako nang mapagtantong nakatulog ako sa gitna ng session namin at baka inis na siya sa akin ngayon. Ilang oras kaya ang nasayang ko?

"Benj... Uuwi ka pa." he reminded me.

Alam ko naman 'yon. But... I don't want to go home yet. I wanna stay here... just here. With him.

"Baby..." he gently called again.

Halos pigilan ko ang paghinga nang marinig ang itinawag niya sa akin. Gago, nananaginip nga yata ako. Tinawag ba naman akong baby? Ano ako, sanggol?

But, yeah, sure, he can baby me if he wants.

I felt a gentle tap on my cheek. And then his fingers lightly crawled to my neck, trying to tickle me before it moved back up to trace my nose and playfully pinched it after.

It's obvious that he's trying to get my attention.

Why don't you kiss me instead, huh?

Mas mabilis akong gigising kapag gano'n, Rael.

"Hoy..." Naramdaman ko ang bahagya niyang pagpisil sa magkabilang pisngi ko.

I wanted to smile but I stopped myself. Kunwari'y mahimbing pa rin akong natutulog kahit na gising na gising na ang kaluluwa ko.

"Hindi ako nakikipagbiruan, Benj. Iiwan kita rito, bahala ka..."

That made me snap out of my pretense of sleeping.

"Talaga? Kaya mo?" Malambing na hamon ko habang nakapikit pa rin. Narinig ko ang marahan niyang pagtawa dahil doon dahilan para mapangiti na rin ako.

Mahina niyang pinitik ang noo ko.

"Kaya nga ginigising kita... kasi ayaw kong iwan ka rito..."

My lips curled for a crazy suggestion. "Next time, if you wanna wake me up easily, you should kiss me..."

He chuckled. "Ano ka? Si Snow White?"

Mabagal kong idinilat ang mga mata ko at ang unang sumalubong sa akin ay ang nakangiting mukha ni Rael. He was crouching above me while my head was resting on his lap. We were inside the tree house, the place where we always hang out to have my tutorial sessions.

"Should I bite a poisonous apple then?" I bargained.

Napailing siya. "Siraulo... Eh di namatay ka no'n."

Napasimangot ako at nagdesisyong bumangon na. Umupo ako at nakahalukipkip siyang hinarap. He smiled and fixed some strands of my hair that is messily covering my forehead. I let him do it while I indulged myself in staring at him closely.

We were both quiet and I'm afraid he could hear my loud heartbeats.

"Ang gwapo mo..." Wala sa sariling sambit ko habang nakatitig sa kanya. Agaran naman ang pagtaas ng isang sulok ng labi niya dahil doon. He then held my gaze before he raised a brow.

"Talaga?"

I swallowed hard before I gave him a short nod.

"Gwapo ka rin naman..." he suddenly said. Napanguso ako at mabilis na nag-iwas ng tingin. I could feel my cheeks burning and it's a shame that he could see it closely. Tanggal na talaga angas ko. Wala nang natira. "The first time I saw you, I could already tell that you are my type." he added confidently.