Photos And Canvases

8

1:54am

Feeling tired Zach stops at the door of his bedroom. Ali's peacefully sleeping at his bed. Lumapit sya at hinawi ang buhok na tumataklob sa mukha nito.

She stays.

His head's in pain. His body tired and spent. But a part of him is happy. He couldn't deny it. Just Ali being around, she can make everything ok.

He's out from shower but she's still deeply asleep.

She covers her body with a duvet.

What would I do to you Ali? Kanina lang I was so mad at you for leaving me. Pero bakit ngayon wala na. Ok na ko. Just seeing you here,lying on my bed.

Zach kisses her forehead.

'Hmm!?'

'Shhh,sleep baby.'

But she opens her eyes.

'Hey? Zach??'

'Tulog ka na ulit.' he wraps his arms around her. She hugs her back tighter.

'Sorry na. Sorry!!' Ali snuggles at his neck.

'I was mad. Kanina. Pero ok na ko. Sorry din. Ang OA naman ata ng naging reaksyon ko,given no pressure at demands nga tayo. Wag mo na isipin yun.' he hugs her back even tigther.

'No. Zach, I was unfair. I was so unfair.'

'No baby. Una palang naman,you already laid out what you can and what you can't give. Ako lang naman tong umaasa na may magbabago. Ngayon kung hanggang dito lang naman talaga ang kaya mo,ok lang. Ok lang Ali.'

'I can't promise anything. Natatakot pa rin ako. But I don't want to lose you Zach. I want you like this. I want us like this.'

'I want this too!'

'Sorry for everything. Sorry kung basta-basta na lang ako tumatakbo. But i'll try. Promise I'll try,next time pag may nangyari I'll tell you. Pag-aalis ako magpapaalam na ko.'

'Pagbubuksan mo ko ng pinto. Sasagutin mo yung tawag ko. Re-replayan mo yung text ko. Kasi nakakabaliw. Sobra akong nag-alala  sayo.' she kisses his cheek..

'I will. Sorry na.'

'Pero I don't want to pressure you Ali. Kung hindi mo kaya. Kung ayaw mo wag mong gawin. Nag promise ako that I'll stay. Siguro minsan magagalit ako o hindi ko maiintindihan pero hindi ako aalis. Dito lang ako.'

'Hmm.' she's lost of words. Zach was so much of what she wishes to have. Sobra sobra na pag intindi at pag pasensya ang ginawa nito sakanya. Sobra-sobra na kahit alam nyang nasasaktan nya na ito, andito pa rin ito at yakap-yakap sya.

'Sleep baby!?'

'Aren't you going to kiss me?' her voice teasing but he just shook his head, no.

'No. Parusa mo yan! Wala kang kiss ngayon.'

***

Zach woke up without Ali on his side. He's starting to feel that pinch again when he smells something from his kitchen. He rushed to his bathroom to fix himself then goes straight to kitchen.

'Hey goodmorning! Nagluto ako.'

'Ha?'

'Come here. Sit! And we'll eat.' Ali energized by her deep and comfy sleep. Prepares breakfast for the both of them.

'San galing yang mga niluto mo?' he asked because he has nothing on his condo.

'Sa bahay ko. Maaga ako nagising e. Mag-grocery sana ako kaso wala pang bukas na malapit. So ayun. Kaen ka na.'

'Hmmmm..'

He looks so happy!

'Zachary,bacon at ham lang yan. Yang mukha mo para kang kumakain ng steak.'

'Walang basagan ng trip. Masaya ako e. First time may gumawa saken nito.'

He looks so genuinely happy. Parang gustong maiyak ni Ali,sobrang saya nya just looking at Zach. Sobrang saya nya na sa mapaka-liit na effort napasaya nya ang taong pinaka nagpapasaya sakanya.

'You know what. I'll trade everything for the world,just to have a breakfast this good.'

There's nothing special with my breakfast. But there something special with the one who prepares it. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam she made an effort like this.

'Mas masarap pa sa pancake with honey syrup?'

'Pagsama-samahin mo pa lahat ng syrup sa buong mundo.'

'Hahahaha! Ewan ko sayo Zach.'

'Seriously baby. Thank you.'

'Youre welcome. Maliit na bagay kumpara sa dami ng stress na binibigay ko sayo.'

'I just love seeing you at mornings Ali. You're like a ray of sunshine. Pag nandyan ka,ok na lahat.'

'Ang chessy mo no? Alam ko na iprepare kung breakfast sayo bukas. Haha.'

'What? I'll have a breakfast like again tomorrow? Yes!!'

'Oh God,para kang bata. Umayos ka nga. Haha. Aalis ka ba? May shoot ka ba? Out of town?'

'Sa studio lang. Print-ad shoot. Ikaw?'

'Nothing. Sa bahay lang. Sana maging productive mga kamay ko.'

'Come with me.'

'HA?'

Is he inviting me? Parang first time to. He never invites me out.

'Ahh, kung ok lang. Sa shoot lang naman. Gusto ko lang makita mo yung lugar na ginagalawan ko. Kaso baka ma-bore ka dun,wag---'

'Ok. I'll go.' hindi na sya nag-isip pa.

I want to be with you Zach. Not just here in the four corners of your unit,but also to your other home.

'You will?'

'Yes. Pero kiss muna.'

'Maliit na bagay. Halika sa kwarto!!'