She's the Legend

Book2 ~Aftereffect~ 12

Welcome back Esmé.

Pagmulat palang ng mata ko, may ngiti na sa mga labi ko. Now that I've found myself again, the happiness inside me overflows. Naaalala ko na ang lahat. Ang bahay, ang mga magulang ko, sina Titus at Iñigo. Natatandaan ko na rin ang pangyayari kung paano kami nagkahiwalay ni Orion.

All thanks to Leo. He gave my memory back.

I looked down to see his masculine arms wrapped around my torso. Hindi ako iniwan ni Leo. Sinamahan niya ako magdamag. And I know for a fact that nothing happened between us. Letting him hug me won't do any harm.

Dahan-dahan akong umikot para makaharap siya. Ayoko siyang magising.

His long hair neatly place to where it won't hide his face. Maamo pa rin ang mukha niya kahit pa tulog siya. Hindi ako makapaniwala sa kabaitang meron si Leo.

He had loved me for so long. Matagal na niya raw akong kilala at noon pa man mahal na niya ako. Hindi ako makapaniwala noong una. But what he did made me realize, he really do loves me. I felt sadness. Sana palang noon pa man nagpakilala na siya sa akin.

Hinawakan ko ang nanlalamig niyang pisngi. Nakakumot naman kami pero malamig maging ang katawan niya. I warmed my hands and place it once again against his face. Hindi naman siya ganito kahapon.

Bahagya niyang iminulat ang kanyang mga mata. He was so happy to see me beside him.
"G-good mornin-g beautiful." Aniya. The smile plastered in his face caused a beautiful momentum inside me.

"Good morning," Ang saya-saya ng pakiramdam ko. Walang bigat sa dibdib. Walang kahit na anong problemang iniisip. "You're so cold."

He pulled the sheets and covered the rest of his body. "Oo nga eh. I don't know why."

Nanginginig siya sa sobrang lamig. I had to give him the whole sheets to cover him. Pero nakikita ko pa rin ang panlalamig ng katawan niya.

"Meron ba kayong heater or fireplace around here?" I started to worry. He couldn't even open his eyes.

"T-the w-wall." Utal niyang wika habang turo ang dingding sa paanan namin.

Dali-dali akong nagtungo roon. There was a crevice on the wall but I'm not sure how to operate it.

"J-just put you palm a-against it." Ani Leo. And so I did.

The wall started to open. It was a fireplace hidden behind the wall.  Mayroon ng nakahandang kahoy doon pero wala akong nakikitang sindihan.

'C-come back here. Its a-automatic." Pinilit ni Leo na tignan at tulungan ako kahit hirap na siya.

I went back to bed and sat beside him. Sinugurado kong walang balat niya ang naka-expose sa hangin. Pero inilabas niya mismo ang kamay niya para yakapin ako.

"S-stay beside me." He lifted the sheets. He wants me beside him, under the sheets.

Tumabi ako bilang pasalamat sa utang na loob ko sa kanya. I even hugged him tight.

"Are you starting to feel better?" I had to ask him. Hindi kasi siya nagsasalita.

"Nagamit ko ang halos kabuoan ng lakas ko kagabi kaya siguro ako nagkakaganito." He said. This time he didn't stutter. I guess he is starting to recover.

"About last night, I haven't said thank you." His face rested on my shoulders. "Thank you Leo, for bringing my memories back." Sandali kong hinigpitan ang yakap ko sa kanya. Tapping his back.

"All for you Esmé. All for you."

As time goes by, the coldness of his body dissappears. Umiinit na rin kasi maging ang kwarto.