As Long As Forever

CHAPTER 17: As Long As Forever

SHE felt someone's staring at her. Or maybe she was just dreaming. But the tingling sensation was there, alerting her, causing her senses to be awake. Alam niyang imposible ang nararamdaman niya. Ganunpaman, pinagbigyan niya ang sarili at unti-unting ibinuka ang namimigat na talukap upang mapapikit lamang ulit nang sumalubong sa kanya ang sinag ng araw. Ngunit napadilat siya ulit. Someone's really staring at her!

Napasigaw siya sabay atras sa headboard ng kama yakap-yakap ang sarili. Inatake siya ng nerbiyos at ganoon lang ang paghabol niya ng hininga. Who the hell-- Saka lang niya naaninag ng husto ang mukha ng taong nakatayo sa paanan ng kama niya. He was leaning near the window like it's natural for him being there. And he's staring at her! For a split of second tumigil ang pagtibok ng puso niya. Para siyang natuka ng ahas at wala siyang maapuhap na sasabihin. Saka bumilis ulit ang kabog ng dibdib at tila mabibingi siya sa lakas ng tibok niyon. Ilang beses siyang napakurap-kurap at kinagat niya ang dila para masigurong hindi siya nananaginip. It's Gino! What is he doing in her room? Dagli niyang nahila ang kumot sabay singhal, "Ano'ng ginagawa mo rito?"

"I-" Napatitig ito sa kanya saka napangiti nang makita ang reaksiyon niya. "Good morning."

"Why-are-you-here?" she said in gritted teeth. Tumaas-baba pa rin ang dibdib niya sa gulat. He was still wearing the three-piece suit he wore last night. And just like his clothes he looked worn out.

"I found those." anitong inginuso ang silver stilettos na nasa sahig.

Napahigpit ang yakap niya sa sarili dahil sa kabang dulot ng presensiya nito. She remembered kicking her shoes off last night. So he found them. But what is he doing in her room? It's her room! Lapat na lapat ang bibig ni Mushroom at nanliliit ang mga matang tiningnan niya ito. Tumayo siya sa kama, napaatras sa dingding, kipkip pa rin ang kumot para matakpan ang pantulog. She's wearing a night shirt and cotton undies but she felt naked with his stare. Bigla'y tila napakaliit ng silid na iyon. She felt she'll die in suffocation. Her knees trembled lalo na nang maalala ang namagitan sa kanila kagabi. His presence is unnerving her more than ever. Kaya pinilit niyang patatagin ang sarili. What happened last night was a mistake. "And that gave you right to go inside my room? Don't you at least respect someone else's privacy?" aniyang halos sumisigaw.

Napahawak ito sa tenga tila nakukulili sa lakas ng boses niya. "Calm down, will you?"

"Calm down?" aniyang mas lumakas pa ang boses. "You expect me to calm down as I wake up with a man in my room?!" nanggigigil na sigaw niya. Halos mabingi na siya sa lakas ng kabog ng dibdib.

"There's nothing wrong about being calm," kalmadong sabi nito.

Gusto niyang sumigaw. Ngunit ayaw niyang lumikha ng eksena. Nanggigigil na tiningnan niya ito. "How the hell were you able to get inside here?"

"Oh," anito na tila may naalala. "The door's not locked." anitong itinuro ang pinto ng silid.

"You're not funny." angil niya.

"Of course, I'm Gino!" anitong ngumiti. And her heart started to flutter.

"I told you you're not funny!" singhal niya.

He suppressed a smile. "Okay, I asked Dinah where you might be last night and she told me you're already in your room. And since I'm occupying the other room, I--"

Nanlaki ang mata niya. "You--What?" aniyang kumunot ang noo. "No way!"

"I guess we both have no choice. Everything else is occupied."

"It's not my problem! I got here first! You move out!" galit na sabi niya. Nobody told her she's going to share cottage with someone else, much more with Gino!