In the Shadow of Diamond (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 21

Kabanata 21

Tumitig ako sa kisame upang mawala ang tama ng sikat ng araw na tumama sa aking mata. Hindi ako makagalaw dahil nakatanday pa rin sa akin ang braso ni Cronus. Mukhang komportable siya sa ganitong posisyon at ayaw ko naman siyang gisingin. I could feel the rise and fall of his breath against my shoulder. I dared a glance at him.

He was still asleep. He looked younger or gentler, even. His dark hair was slightly tousled, falling across his forehead in loose strands. The lines of his jaw had softened, his features smoothed by sleep. His brows were relaxed now, no longer furrowed in thought like they so often were when he was awake. Long lashes rested against his cheek and his lips usually firm, sometimes even grim were parted slightly in the kind of sleep that comes only when you're safe.

Something deeply human about seeing him like this. Inangat ko ang aking kamay at hinaplos ang kaniyang pisngi gamit ang aking daliri. Peacefully handsome, I wondered what he was dreaming about, if he even let himself dream anymore.

Namilog ang mga mata kong nang unti-unting dumilat ang kaniyang mga mata. Tumama agad ang titig niya diretso sa mga mata ko, ilang minuto bago iyon bumaba sa aking mga labi.

"Good morning, wifey," napapaos na sabi niya.

I cleared my throat. "Uh, good morning."

Napangiti siya, tamad at inaantok pa rin, at bahagyang humigpit ang yakap niya sa akin. His arm pulled me a little closer, and I felt the warmth of his breath on my neck.

"You were watching me sleep," he murmured, voice still rough with sleep but laced with amusement.

"Hindi naman sa gano'n..." I mumbled, uminit ang pisngi ko. "Nasilaw lang ako sa araw."

"Sure," he chuckled. "Then why were you touching my face?"

Umiwas ako ng tingin dahil sa kahihiyan. "Akala ko tulog ka pa."

"I was," he admitted, his hand found mine under the blanket and laced our fingers together. "But it felt nice."

"You don't always look this peaceful," I whispered.

"That's because I'm not always this peaceful."

I turned to face him more fully, our foreheads nearly touching now.

"But you are... now."

He opened his eyes again. "Because you're here."

Napalunok ako. I didn't know what to say back, not really. So instead, I reached up again and brushed my fingers through his hair, gently pushing it away from his eyes.

"Do we have to get up?" I asked.

Cronus gave a lazy smile, shaking his head. "Not yet. Stay a little longer."

Bumuntong-hininga ako at nagpasakop sa kaniya. Hinayaan kong matunaw ako sa init ng kanyang yakap, ang ulo ko'y kusa nang sumandal sa dibdib niya kung saan naririnig ko ang tibok ng puso niya.  His fingers absentmindedly traced patterns on my back.

Gusto kong tanungin kung kailan ko makikita ang pamilya ko, hindi kaya masisira ang umaga naming dalawa? Hindi naman siguro. Kasi pumayag naman siya kagabi noong sinabi kong gusto ko silang makita.

"Uh, kailan ako puwedeng pumunta sa amin?"

Hindi agad siya sumagot. I felt his hand slow on my back.

"Tomorrow," he whispered and sniffed my neck.

Kumislap ang mga mata ko. "Tomorrow?"

"Hmm..." he nodded. "Pagkatapos ay babalik na tayo sa Yukon."