Way Back Into Love (Back Again Series #2)

14

"Tangina."

Halos ipanalangin kong hindi na sana ako nagising nang maramdaman ang sakit ng ulo ko. Minulat ko ang mata ko at mas lalo lang napamura nang makita ang paligid. Agad akong napaupo mula sa pagkakahiga.

I tried recalling what happened last night, but my memories were fragmented. Ang huling malinaw sa akin ay ang ingay ng club, ang malakas na tunog ng speakers, ang init ng dance floor habang hinahatak ako ni Claire sa gitna ng sayawan, at ang boses ni Phoebe. Pero pagkatapos noon ay wala na akong matandaan.

Napalunok ako habang pilit kong iniisip kung may nagawa ba akong kahihiyan. Tangina, sana wala.

Huminga ako nang malalim at pinilit na bumangon mula sa kama, na dapat hindi ko ginawa dahil agad akong nakaramdam ng hilo. Napahawak ako sa gilid ng kama para hindi matumba.

Gusto ko nang umalis. Kailangan ko nang umalis. Hindi ko rin alam kung kanino ang kwartong 'to. Baka mamaya, sa kawatan na pala ako natulog!

Nilingon ko ang paligid para tingnan kung may gamit ba ako roon kahit isa. Nang makita ang purse at phone ko sa side table, agad kong kinuha 'yon. I searched for my shoes, but they were nowhere to be found, so I decided to just go barefoot.

At least makaka-uwi ako! 'Di ba!

Dahan-dahan akong naglakad papunta sa pinto. Pero bago ko pa man mahawakan ang doorknob, biglang bumukas ito mula sa labas.

Parang biglang tumigil ang puso ko nang makita kung sino ang nasa harap ko.

"Bakit ka nandito?!"

I took a step back. Hindi ko alam kung anong nararapat kong maramdaman. Takot? Pagkabahala? O hiya?

His presence alone was enough to send my mind into overdrive. My heart pounded wildly against my ribcage, and I instantly hugged myself as if that would protect me from whatever this situation was.

"I took you home," he answered curtly. Nang mangunot ang noo ko, nakita ko ang mapang-asar na ngiti niya. "Why? Can't remember anything?"

"Wala," obvious na sagot ko. I walked past him and started heading out of the room. I heard him call my name, but I didn't turn around. I couldn't. I didn't want to see his expression while he said my name... because if I did, I might fall for him again.

I spotted my shoes on the shoe rack. I grabbed them, and quickly put them on. My headache was already bad enough, and now he was here too?! Ano ba 'to? A test of patience?

Sinundan naman ako ni Benj. "Aalis ka agad? Crisandy, at least have lunch." Tiningnan niya ang relo niya. "Miryenda, rather. Close to three o'clock na."

Nangunot ang noo ko. Close to three na?

Nang makita niya ang reaksyon ko ay tumawa siya. "Yeah, it's almost three. I prepared soup for you. You can also take a shower. I bought you some clothes while you were asleep."

I hated how casual he sounded. But maybe, just maybe, whatever happened between us didn't matter to him. So I pushed my feelings aside. If I acted the same way he did, maybe I could be casual too.

Maybe that way, I'd eventually forget. Maybe I wouldn't spend nights overthinking, trying to erase the weight of what he had said that night. Maybe I'd finally be able to look at him without hiding or feeling nervous that he'd catch me staring.