He Stole My Last Kiss

Move Nineteen

The Last Kiss
~•~•~•~•~•~

I woke up to the sound of the waves. Dahan-dahan akong napangiti at napatingin sa bintana. I breathed in deeply at medyo napangiwi ako nang sumikip ang dibdib ko. Pero hindi ako nagsalita. It's pretty normal.

Ate Vicky was outside in my room's veranda. May hinahanda siya at alam kong breakfast ko 'yon. I told her many times na kaya ko namang bumaba sa umaga para kumain. Pero she insists on making it lighter for me to eat. Simula nang dumating siya galing ibang bansa ay wala na siyang ibang ginawa kundi alagaan ako at umakto na parang personal nurse ko. I love her, she's my sister after all, but if she doesn't stop hovering over me every fifteen seconds talagang mababaliw na ako sa presensya niya. She's too clingy.

"Vanny, gising ka na pala," aniya at lumapit sa'kin.

I nodded and sat up, leaning against my headboard. "Morning, ate. Asan si mommy?"

"Lumabas lang..." sagot niya at umupo sa gilid ng kama. She smiled. "How are you feeling today?"

"Same as yesterday." I smiled at her reassuringly. "Ate, I'm fine. The air here is doing wonders to my lungs."

"I'm not worried about your lungs." Mabilis siyang napailing tapos ay humiga sa hita ko. She was staring at the ceiling now. Bumuntong-hininga siya. "It's your heart..."

"My heart is still beating," mariin na sabi ko. Sinuklay ko ang buhok niya. "You need to start conditioning your hair again, ate. Ang dull na."

Mahinang natawa siya at napapikit. "They don't have the brand that I like here."

"Then go back," mahinang sambit ko.

"I can't," mabilis niyang sabi. "I won't."

"Ate..."

Nagdilat siya ng mga mata at kita ko agad ang mga namumuong luha doon. Tiningala niya ako. "I want to spend every moment I can steal with you, Vanessa. Leaving won't allow me that."

"Mas lalo ka lang nade-depress dito..."

"So?" She rolled her eyes and wiped her fallen tears. "Mas made-depress ako doon kung alam kong hindi kita makakasama. Besides, I missed you guys. I missed you, mom, and Vin. I belong here."

Hindi ako nakasagot sa sinabi niya. "Where's kuya Vin pala?" tanong ko nalang. I didn't see him yesterday and this morning. Usually pareho sila ni ate na inaalagaan ako.

"He went to get some....thing."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Ano?"

"Nothing," mabilis niyang sabi at tumayo na. "Come on, Vanessa. It's time to eat breakfast. P'wede tayong pumunta sa beach later. You need a tan dahil maputi ka na masyado."

Sumimangot ako sa sinabi niya pero sumunod din papunta sa veranda. "We're all born light-skinned, ate. Maputi ka din naman."

She just shrugged and we both sat down. Agad niyang tinulak papalapit sa'kin 'yung salad. "Eat up. I'm sure Vin will be here any moment now. Pati na si mommy."

I started eating as I stared at the beach.

Unti-unti ay bumabalik na naman sa'kin. Pero imbes na ipakita ko kay ate ay nagpatuloy nalang ako sa pagkain. She doesn't need to know how much I'm missing Zane.