The Exchange Deal (TBS: Book 1)

Chapter 24 - Long Night

Gavin

[Dedicated to all my readers]

Nakailang shot na ako ng alak, hindi pa rin humina yung katawan ko. Anyway, hindi naman ganun katapang yung iniinom ko. Ang gusto ko lang kasi ay yung pampaantok ngunit mukhang walang epekto sa akin to.

"Can't sleep?" Hindi ko ikinagulat nung narinig ko yung malambing na boses ni Sophie. Malayo pa lang siya, agad kong na amoy yung natural niyang bango.

"What are you doing here? It's too early to get up?" I asked, still facing on the empty glass.

"I can't sleep," she retorted with a tone of frustration. I felt her presence, sitting on the empty bar stool right next to me.

Silence took over for a while. After a few seconds, she broke it.

"I tried to close my eyes, ngunit talagang hindi ako dinalaw ng antok," she added. Does it mean that she was still awake when I kissed her on the forehead? Why? What kept bothering her mind? Si Seth na naman ba? That bastard!

"Why?" I looked at her over my shoulder. She stared at me for long, then, looked away.

"I don't know," she spoke coldly.

I let out a hard sigh. I'm not giving up on you, Sophia.

Humarap ako sa kanya at hinawakan ko yung kamay niya. "Come..."

Napatingin siya sa akin. "To where...?"

"I'm not sleepy as well. And it looks like you don't have plan to force yourself to sleep... Will you come with me?" I crossed my fingers, hoping she would say yes to me. It took twenty seconds or more before she uttered a word as I counted. My heart was pounding so hard while waiting for her to say anything. It suffocated me to death.

"Y-Yes..."

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang marinig ko ang kanyang sagot. "Sounds great!" I exclaimed. "Now I want you to trust me, okay? C'mon, magbihis ka na," utos ko sa kanya na may halong excitement yung tono ng boses ko.

"Where are we going?" Her brows furrowed.

"Basta... Just trust me, okay?"

"O-Okay. Akyat muna ako sa taas." She headed upstairs right after she uttered those words.

Sophia actually said yes to me, I couldn't believe it. Did she really mean it? Putting her trust in me? Or perhaps she needed my presence just to forget him?

Bahala na... As long as I know that I am her strength now, right? Everything is becoming smooth between the two of us. Hopefully it would last longer than any existing things in this world. I wanted to have timeless and priceless moments with her, every single day, every breath that I take and even on the last air I sent out from my lungs. Sophia was my life, my angel and my savior.

Kahit gaano pa kalaki yung galit na bumalot sa puso ko dulot ng masamang nakaraan na pilit kong ituwid, sa isang iglap ay kayang pawiin ng babaeng mahal ko. Isang simpleng ngiti at hawak ng mga kamay niya sa akin ay agad ng matutunaw yung bakal na nakapalibot sa loob ng puso ko.

Never thought I still have the strength to love someone after my life broke a long time ago.

"I'm ready..." excited niyang sabi habang papalapit sa akin.

Napalingon ako sa kanya. Ang ganda talaga ng babaeng mahal ko, kahit sa simpleng t-shirt at fitted jeans, with a pair of sneakers lumitaw pa rin yung kagandahan niya. Mas simple, mas nakakaakit. I couldn't help, but gulp with the beautiful view my eyes spotted, her perfect shape, all of her. Damn it, Berrones!