CREAM OF THE CROP

Chapter 41

Kanina pa kami nakaalis sa shop. Pagkalabas ko ay parang first time kong makalanghap ng sariwang hangin dahil sa sama ng amoy sa loob.

Naglibot-libot kami sa area hanggang sa mapadpad kami sa isang children's park. May limang bata na naglalaro sa slide. Napansin ko ang bakanteng swing sa gilid.

I held Corbyn's hand. "Tara dun," I said excitedly and pointed my index finger at the vacant swing. Ngayon lang ulit ako nakapunta sa park. Somehow, I miss being a kid.

Nagpahila naman si Corbyn kahit yung mukha niya hindi ko na mabasa dahil sa sari-saring emosyon. Noong una ay akala ko hihindian niya ako. But after giving me the are-you-serious-look, he just smiled, pinched my nose lightly and ran towards the swing. Cute.

"Come here, ako magtutulak," sabi niya noong nakarating sa likod ng swing.

I smiled and sat down. Marahan lang at ramdam ko yung ingat niya bawat tulak.

"You always liked swings among the others," he said after a while.

"Did I?"

"Yeah. You said, it's the only thing that allows you to fly and not minding your fear of heights," he said. A scene from my childhood flashed in my mind. And for the first time, I didn't try to push it aside.

"I remember saying it," I said.

He was silent after that. Yung mga bata kanina sa slide, umalis na.

"Alam mo ba kung paano ako noong bigla kang nawala?" I suddenly asked. Tinigil niya ang pagtulak. Naglakad siya papunta sa harapan ko at nag-squat. Magka-lebel na ngayon ang tingin namin.

"I thought you left me completely. It was crazy. My parents know the reason, even Toffer, but they won't tell me a thing. I even begged them to give me a clue."

He held both of my hands and played with them. "I'm sorry, baby," he said very softly I think I melted. Yung pagkakasabi niya noon ay parang gugustuhin mong gawan ka ng kasalanan para marinig lang ulit yun. Gah, I'm doomed.

"I'm not saying these things to awake your conscience. I want you to show me your scars. I want to know how many times you needed me and I wasn't there," I said.

He didn't say a thing. He just looked with those beautiful eyes that never failed to drown me. Madalas, blangko ang mata ni Corbyn. He's the type that keeps his walls firm and steady. That's why it makes my heart flutter, seeing those blank eyes full of emotion when they meet mine.

"Can I hug you right now?" I asked. Habang tumatagal, mas nagiging clingy ata ako. Parang gusto ko lang siyang yakapin maghapon.

He opened his arms and said, "All yours, baby."

I ignored the heat that's building up in my cheeks and jumped into his arms.

"I like you being clingy," he said. "But sometimes I don't like it. It's testing my self-control, big time."

Dahil sa hiya at kilig ay isiniksik ko pa ang sarili sa dibdib niya. "I missed you," I whispered.

He wrapped his arms around me tighter in response. When I thought hindi na siya magsasalita, he said, "You change when you miss me."

He chuckled and I felt him kiss the top of my head. Ang sweet niya. Nakakainis.

We stayed like that for minutes. Noong medyo dumilim na ay inaya niya akong mag-dinner. I refused. He needed a rest. Sinabi ko na lang na sa bahay na lang kami magdi-dinner if he wants to. He said yes.

Habang nasa biyahe pay pinilit ko na hindi makatulog. Yan ang turo sakin ni Mama. Kapag daw nasa shotgun seat ako ay hindi puwedeng matulog. Kausapin ko daw yung nagda-drive para hindi antukin. Lalo na kapag mahabang biyahe.