LAWRENCE AND LINES

maybe

**

HE rested his head in the crook of her neck until he was finished. He left kisses there and she was still panting. "I love you." He said while leaving kisses all over her shoulder. "I love you so much, Lines."

Hinalik-halikan niya pa ang dibdib ni Lines nang may nakakuha ng atensyon niya. "Lines? Ako ba may gawa neto?" He was looking and referring to her arms. May malaking pasa ito. "Am I too aggressive?" He asked again.

Tila nagulat naman si Lines. "Uhm, maybe, I don't know." Hindi niya sigurado kung namumula ito o ano. Madilim kasi at ang lamp lang ni Lines ang nagsisilbing ikaw sa kanila.

"I'm sorry if nasaktan kita." He kissed that part and pulled away. Humiga siya sa tabi ni Lines at niyakap ito. Lines did the same. It wasn't their first time. Nagawa na nila ito dati. Kaya rin siguro masyado siyang agresibo kanina dahil sa matagal na nilang hindi ito nagawa. He just missed her so much.

"Baka hinahanap ka na nila Nate."

Napamura naman agad siya nang maalala. "Sh-t. Oo nga pala. May load ka ba?" He asked. Tumango si Lines at kinuha ang cellphone niya sa side table. "Here.."

Kinuha ito ni Lawrence at hinalikan muna siya sa noo bago magsimulang mag type. Tinext niya si Nate. Telling him not to worry dahil andito siya kay Lines.
Inilagay niya ang cellphone ni Lines sa side table at hinarap itong muli.

"Totoo ba 'yong sinabi mo kanina?"

Napatitig ito muli sakanya. "Ha?"

"You told me you still love me. Is that true?"

Nakita niya na naman yung pinaka ayaw niya. 'Yang mga luhang nasa mata ni Lines. "I'm sorry." He apologized but he needs and answer. He needs an answer now.

"I--" Napabalikwas naman agad si Lines nang magring ang cellphone niya. Naalala niyang tatawag nga pala ngayon si Arthur. "Sh-t." Agad siyang napa-upo at kinuha ang cellphone. "Hello?"

Napaiwas si Lawrence nang tingin. Nakatalikod si Lines sakanya at nagsusuot ng damit. Maybe he should too. Umupo siya at nagbihis pero hindi pa rin umaalis. Narinig niya ang sinasabi ni Lines pero di naman niya naririnig ang sinasabi ni Arthur. Puro, "Yes," "Im sorry." "Ngayon na?" At "okay" lang ang naririnig niya.

Tumingin si Lines sakanya and he was already looking at her. "Lawrence..."

"Papaalisin mo na naman ako?"

"You should go."

"Hindi ako aalis. Kailangan nating pag-usapan 'to, Lines." Matigas niyang sabi. They really need to. After what happened to them and what she said, dapat siyang umalis?

"Not now, okay? You really need to go." Lumapit siya kay Lawrence at hinawakan ang magkabilang braso nito. "Darating kasi si Arthur and ayaw kong mag-away pa kayo."

"Wala akong pake kung darating siya! Mahal mo pa ba 'ko?!"

Parang naistatwa naman si Lines sa pagsigaw ni Lawrence sakanya. The question strucked her as well. Bakit ngayon pa? Bakit kailangan niyang tanungin ngayon at bakit kailangan pang dumating ni Arthur? Kung kelan andito si Lawrence?

"Lines, we need to talk about this--"

"Wag muna ngayon, okay? Paguusapan natin, 'wag muna ngayon. Please just trust me with this." Parang nagmamakaawa na si Lines sakanya pero hindi niya na rin kaya. Hindi niya na kayang lumipas pa ang isang araw na wala pa ring kasiguraduhan, na hindi pa rin tiyak. He's been through a lot already. He thinks that he needs an answer now. He deserves an answer now.

"Lines, mababaliw na ko." He looked at her intently. Making her feel how serious he is with this. All he ever wanted was the truth.

"Lawrence, please." But her eyes are pleading and he can't refuse her.

"Promise me."

"I promise, I will talk to you."

"I love you, Lines."

"I love you, more." And maybe, just maybe that's enough for him to hear. He kissed her quickly and walked away. He used the backdoor because she asked him to. Malapit na raw kasi si Arthur. He just can't imagine what will they do when he gets there.

Pagkarating niya sa bahay ay hindi agad siya nakatulog at tinadtad siya ng tanong ni Nate. Pero wala siyang sinagot. Ang gusto niya lang ay magbukas na para makausap niya na si Lines.

THE next day, pagkatapos nilang kumain, nagpaalam siya sa Daddy niyang lalabas lang siya. Naglakad siya papunta kina Lines.

"Kuya, andiyan po ba si Lines?" Tanong niya sa guard nila Lines.

"Umalis po kanina kasama yung.....boyfriend niya e."

Tumango-tango siya. So he stayed the night.

"Sige, I'll go ahead." Sabi niya nalang at maglalakad na sana pabalik sa bahay nila nang tawagin siya ulit ng guard.

"Lawrence,"

"Manong?"

"Nakausap mo na ba si Lines? Nag-aalala kasi ako sa batang 'yon eh."

"Bakit? Ano pong meron?" Tuluyan siyang lumapit dito.

"Kasi parang lagi siyang inaaway nung boyfriend niya. Kagabi lang narinig ni Tiya Minda tsaka ni Suzette na may nabasag yata sa kwarto niya."

Maybe that explains everything.

**