Man in the Rain

Chapter 32

Chapter 32

The Past: Defeat

Luke could really run fast kaya kahit anong bilis ang gawin kong pagtakbo ay hindi ko siya mahabol. Nasa beach na kami ng huminto siya sa pagtakbo.

I still wanted to slap his arms because of his earlier remark on how he knew my size, pero sobrang pagod ang pakiramdam ko. It's like I ran a ten kilometres marathon kahit ang totoo ay hindi naman ganoon kalayo ang tinakbo ko. I put my hands on my chest as I gasped for air.

Tuluyan ng lumapit sa akin si Luke. "Hey, are you okay?" He asked. He rested his hands on my shoulder.

I nodded. "Ang bilis mo tumakbo," hinihingal ko pa ring sabi.

"At ikaw naman, ang bilis mo mapagod."  To my surprise, bigla niya akong binuhat.

"Hey, what are you doing... Put mu down, Luke." I demanded but he did not listen.  He started walking toward the water and I had an idea kung ano ang binabalak niyang gawin. Pinalo ko siya sa may dibdib. "Don't you dare, Luke," my voice was full of warning.

But again, hindi niya ako pinasin. Kahit na nagsimula na akong kumaeag sa kanyang mga braso ay hindi pa rin niya ako binitawan. He olny stopped walking when the water was already up to his waist. Nababasa na nga butt ko.

And without any warning, he tossed me up high in the air. I fell and sank on the water. Nakainom ako ng tubig dagat at may pumasok din sa ilong ko. When I resurfaced, I was coughing and Luke was laughing. Mukhang  masayang-masaya siya sa ginawa niyang kalokohan.

Ah ganon ha!

I splashed water on his face. He stopped  laughing and he gave me a menacing look. Gumanti siya!

Soon, we were splashing water in each other faces.  We were laughing like kids. And seeing Luke this careless and free made my heart jump with joy.

At hindi pa siya nakuntento, he pounced on me and then he wrapped his arms around my waist. Inihagis na naman niya ako sa ere. But I couldn't be mad at him kahit na baka magka-infection ang kidney ko dahil sa dami na ng naiinom kong tubig alat. Kahit na ginagawa niya akong bola na inihahagis-hagis ay masaya ako. I've never been this happy my whole life. Not ever. Not even the designer bags and clothes made me smile and laugh like this.

Akma lalapit ulit si Luke sa akin and I hurriedly swam away from him and to the shore. Mabilis akong tumakbo palayo but I forgot na mas mabilis pala siya sa akin. He caught me in no time. But instead of throwing me again in the sea, he hugged me tight.

Dahil nagulat ako sa ginawa niya ay nawalan ako ng balanse. I feel on the sand and I took him with me. He was on top of me. And before I knew it, he was already kissing me. Thoroughly.

His tongue slid inside my mouth as he deepened the kiss. I raked my fingers through his wet hair. I closed my eyes and marveled by this feeling that I was feeling at the moment.

I was utterly and genuinely happy. At dahil lahat iyon kay Luke.

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We were sitting on the sand, by the bonfire. I was watching the flame danced, I was somehow hypnotized by it.

Nakaupo ako sa pagitan ng mga binti niya at nakasandal ang likod ko sa matigas niyang dibdib habang ang mga braso niya ay nakapulupot sa  sa bewang ko. His  chin was resting on my shoulder.

Nakaligo na kami, nakapagbihis at nakakain na nang hapunan. But we decided to go and outside again, sit by the bonfire and watch the stars.

Luke nuzzled into my neck and I couldn't help but smile.