Kahit Kailan

Chapter 24 Steps

Mitsuyado, Makati 6-7pm

It was past 4 am but the nocturnal Kathryn is still up. Hawak hawak niya ang kanyang cellphone at nakababad sa Instagram.

"Too common..." she muttered as silent as she can. She didn't want to wake JA up who was sleeping soundly beside her. Nakadantay pa ang isang paa nito sa binti niya. She could hear and feel his gentle breaths. Ang himbing ng tulog niya.

Paano hindi hihimbing ang tulog nito eh halos gawing playground nilang mag ama ang sala kanina. Panay ang habulan at kulitan. Pati nga siya ay nadamay sa laro ng mag ama.

Kunyari siya daw ang princess at pinagaagawan siya ng dalawa. Hila hila siya ni JA pero hindi nagpatalo si Daniel dahil hinabol niya ito saka binuhat at dinala sa kunwari ay kampo niya.

"Daddy not fair!" the little one complained. "I'm not big enough, I can't carry Mommy." nagpaawa ang mukha. Kaya ang ending sa kanya sumama si Kathryn para hindi sumama ang loob.

After she helped him washed up, JA was already feeling very sleepy and tired. He didn't even managed to watch a movie with Daniel and Kathryn. Ilang minuto pa lang mahimbing na ang tulog nito.

"Alis na ako." bulong niya kay Kathryn.

"Hatid na kita." she was whispering as well.

She shook his head telling her "Huwag na, baka magising pa yan mahirapan ka ng makatulog." he saud with concern.

She nodded in agreement "Sige. Ingat sa pag ddrive ha?" bilin niya.

"Yes po." he smiled before going to the door.

Sinundan niya ng tingin ang papalabas na Daniel hanggang sa magsara ang pintuan.

Matagal pang nakatitig si Kath sa may nakasarang pintuan at parang may hinihintay na pumasok muli. Pero hindi iyon bumukas.

Umayos na siya ng higa at tumabi pa lalo lay JA. Kath slowly closed her eyes trying to get her self some sleep because she also have a full sched tomorrow. Literally the whole day ang photoshoot for two new endorsements. Ang sabi sa kanya from 8am to 5pm daw.

She covered herself with the comforter and shifted a bit to face JA. Kakapatay niya lang sa lamp ng magbukas uli ang pintuan.

The dim lighted room showed only his silhouette from the door but Kathryn knew exactly who owns that shadowed figure standing by the door. He seems to be trailing on his steps back to the bed.

"Deej?" Kathryn rose sitting down on her bed. "Bumalik ka? Bakit? Did you forgot something?" 

"Yeah." lumapit ito "My kiss." ramdam niya kahit sa dilim ang titig ni Daniel.

Aminin ni Kathryn, nabigla uli siya sa kanyang sinambit. "Parehas na naman to nung storycon, keys Kath, susi ha hindi kiss, halik." she reminded her internally screaming self.

"Ahh...saan? Teka buksan ko ilaw? Where'd you left your keys? Baka nasa may tabi ni JA where you stayed kanina..." sabi ni Kathryn trying to search for the missing keys.

Daniel was both finding it amusing and frustrating to see Kathryn not getting what he's trying to say. "Di ba niya makita ang susi na hawak ko? How cute."

"Kath, I have my car keys here." he showed it to her.

"Ahh...so anong keys--" her question was left unspoken when she felt his warm lips touch the side of her lips. It was a miss or an intention to plant it just centimeters away from her mouth. He lingered for a bit longer before pulling away.

"I mean this kiss." he said afterwards.

"Goodnight Mommy." he said smiling. Kath wasn't able to say another word before he walked to the door again and left taking all the beating of her heart with him.