Kinapos ako ng hininga sa pag-gising. Para akong naalimpungatan mula sa napaka habang bangungot. I blinked away hot tears as I got up and mindlessly led my feet towards the bathroom to pee.
It took me a while to remember where I was. Tumunganga pa ako ng ilang segundo bago nagdesisyong magsepilyo at hilamos. I was in the middle of drying my face when the bathroom door swung open.
I glared at Sir Killian when he entered like it was what he's used to doing. I set aside my more violent thoughts when I took a longer look at him. That maybe he was just too groggy to grasp that I was still inside.
At baka ihing-ihi na.
Walang imik ko na sana siyang lalagpasan nang hawakan niya ang palapulsuhan ko. I sighed.
"Sabay na tayong bumalik..." he croaked.
I twisted my lips.
"Ano? Tatayo ako dito at mag-aantay sa'yo? Aabangan kita habang umiihi?"
He pursed his lips when I told him off.
"Labas na ako."
He let me go.
I crawled back to bed. Nagtalukbong ako at mabilis na ipinikit ang mga mata. 'Yon nga lang, matapos ang ilang sandali at nang umuga na ang kama ay sumuko na ako. Bahagya kong ibinaba ang duvet para makahinga.
"Anong oras na ba?" tanong ko sa dilim.
"Four in the morning..." he whispered.
Nilingon ko siya.
"Ba't gising ka na?" I whispered back.
"I can't sleep without you."
I felt him inching closer even when we're already laying on either side of the bed. Marahil ay naramdamang lalayo ako, hinawakan niya ang braso ko para pigilan ang plinanong pagitan. I made at face at him.
It was dim, and the only thing that lit our room was the light peeping from the cracks of the built-in closet. I didn't think it was good enough to illuminate the stern look on Sir Killian's face when he's moved closer to me. But it was.
Kahit sa dilim, nakakaakit pa rin.
Kaya ayoko sanang magtabi kami. Hindi ko masabi 'yon sa harapan ng nanay niya. Nang nasa loob na kami ng kwarto at nag-usap ng kaonti, siningit ko nang pabuksan nalang 'yong kabilang suite ng parehong floor.
Ngunit, hindi pa man nangyayari, ay nakahanap na siya ng mailulusot.
"I'm still going to sleep there too you know..." he languidly informed me as he sat on the edge of the bed.
I whipped my head to look at him. Natigil tuloy ang pagtatali ko ng bathrobe.
"At bakit?!"
"We need to talk—"
"Hindi ba 'yon naman ang gagawin natin mamaya—" I sucked in breath. "Kung abala ang pagbabayad sa kabilang room... ako nalang ba-bangka. Magkano 'yon? Twenty thousand?" napunta ulit ang pag-iisip ko sa bill na hindi niya pa binibigay sa akin.
Nagkatinginan kami. Nakita kong bumagsak ang mga mata niya sa ayos ko. Tumikhim ako para makuha muli ang kanyang atensyon. I even took subtle steps away from the bed, from where he was.
Even as he comfortably sat, I can feel his body tensing for some reason.
"Saan na nga pala 'yong bill nung mga dapat ko bayaran sa'yo?" sinikap kong walang emosyon ang pagtatanong habang halos idikit na ang sarili sa dingding para lang tumungo sa kabilang dako ng kama.
BINABASA MO ANG
Behind Curtains (COMPLETED)
Fiksi UmumLayla Lagdaméo was her parents' biggest investment, and their biggest flaw. Panganay, matalino and belonged to a working middle class family, Lala was well-informed of her parents' daily sacrifices just to prioritize her comfort. Ngunit, anong ginaw...
