My Lola insisted that Thomas should stay for the night. Hapon na kasi siya pinakawalan ng mga pinsan ko. Actually, hindi na nga masyadong nagpapilit, um-oo naman na agad.
We will be staying in my grandparents’ house. Tyrone and I will be in the guest room while Thomas will sleep in the living room. He borrowed some clothes from my cousins.
Lola and I prepared the living room for Thomas. We laid out some comforter on the floor. Pinatulog ko na rin si Lola nung okay na ang lahat, ako na bahala kay Thomas.
“Oh, kumot at unan.” I handed him the stacked pillows and blanket.
“Thanks,” he said. “Magpahinga ka na.”
“Sige, ikaw din,” I said.
“Goodnight Ara,” Thomas said and laid the pillows on his makeshift bed.
“Goodnight.” I said. I was about to turn but Thomas called again.
“Ara?”
“Hmm?”
“Thank you,” he said.
“Para san?” I asked
“For the warm welcome here, just like before,” he said with a sincere smile.
“Ba’t sakin ka nagpapasalamat?”
“Dahil kung hindi ka pumayag, di rin naman ako makakabalik dito,” he said. “You just came home and my days became shades brighter.”
I felt my blood rush to my cheeks, not because of what he said but because of his sincere eyes.
“Eto naman, drama mo. Pagod lang yan. Matulog ka na nga,” I said when I got back my wits.
He just smiled, “Si Ty? Tulog na?”
“Knocked out,” I agreed.
“He’s good. In basketball. Very good ball handling skills” Thomas remarked.
“I’ll make sure he considers that,” I said.
“And he looks like he enjoys the game too,” Thomas commented
“That, I agree, “ I nodded and smiled. “Sige matutulog na ko.”
“Ara?” Ano ba yan!
“Hmmm?”
“Can I at least give you an awkward hug?” He shyly said. Shy Thomas is extremely and dangerously cute. I didn’t realize I agreed.
He moved closer and engulfed me in his arms. This ain’t an awkward hug. I remember these arms, the smell, this hug. I feel like I’m home.
Shoot! I politely broke the hug. I don’t want to go somewhere I can’t think.
“Sige tulog ka na,” he said. I wasn’t able to say anything. I just turned and walked away.
Kalma Ara.
Knock… knock…
I woke up because of the knock on the door. I got up and saw my son still sleeping.
“Ara?” I heard someone from the other side of the door.
I stretched and tried to fix my hair. “Bukas yan,” I said. The door slowly opened. Thomas poked his head inside.
Nagulat po ako. Sabog na sabog pa po yung mukha ko. Eto naman kasi si Thomas. Ang aga-aga namang nanggigising.
I fidgeted. “Ara, you are beautiful no matter what time of the day,” he commented as he fully enters the room without closing the door.
