At The Sunrise

Chapter 8

Nagising si Yvonne na nahihirapang huminga. She felt pain in her chest and feels like she is catching her breath. Para siyang hinahabol ng maraming kabayo sa bilis ng kanyang paghinga. She can even feel her heart beating so fast. She is having allergies. Agad niyang hinanap ang medicine kit at kinuha ang gamot at tinakbo ang kusina para kumuha ng tubig.

Hindi niya napansing nagising niya rin pala si Zach na natutulog sa sofa. She is is still trying to catch her breath matapos inumin ang gamot. Pinapakalma niya ang sarili dahil mas lalo siyang nahihirapang huminga. She felt her heartbeat with her hand.

"What's going on?" tanong ni Zach.

"I'm having allergies and palpitation. Nahihirapan akong huminga." sagot niya sa mahinang boses.

"What!? How-- Damn it!" anito habang nag-aalalang lumapit sa kanya.

"Nakalimutan kong may allergy nga pala ako sa oysters." sagot nito.

"What the--!! Do you want me to take you sa hospital?" halos pasigaw nitong tanong.

"No, I'm going to be fine."

"You don't look fine to me, Yve."

"Magiging ok rin to. Normal lang naman to sa akin kapag may allergies. I just need 5 minutes para tumalab ang gamot."

"Are you sure? You're worrying me big time, Yve." anito na halatang sobrang nag-aalala. Inalalayan siya nito hanggang sa makaupo sa sofa.

"I'm sorry, Zach. It slipped off my mind. It's been a long time nang huli akong kumain ng oysters. Don't worry, I'm gonna be fine." aniya habang pinikit ang mga mata. Nakaupo lang si Zach sa tabi niya.

He harshly brushed his hair with his hands. He is too worried pero hindi ito nagsasalita. Maya-maya nararamdaman na ni Yvonne na unti-unting bumabalik sa normal ang kayang heartbeat. And she can breath better now. She is still having short breaths pero mawawala rin ito kapag tuluyang tumalab ang gamot.

"I feel better now, Zach." maya-maya ay paalam niya rito.

"You're making me crazy, Mrs. Valeria. Please don't do this stunt again." anito saka niyakap siya ng mahigpit.

"I'm gonna be ok, Zach. Wag ka nang mag-alala."

"No! Until I can see you breath normally. Kaya pala namumula ka kanina, I thought you were just blushing. Damn it! I should have known, Yve."

"Stop blaming yourself, Zach."

"No, hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko kapag may mangyaring masama sa'yo." anito saka siya binitawan mula sa kanyang mahigpit na pagkakayakap.

"I'm ok, Zach. At kapag nawala ako, masosolo mo na ang buong mana ng pamilya natin. Ayaw mo ba nun?" natatawang biro niya rito.

"Fuck it!" malakas na sabi nito na ikinagulat niya. "Don't ever joke about death, Yve. At wala akong pakialam sa mana. I don't want it kung ikaw ang magiging kapalit. Don't do that again."

"I'm sorry. I did not mean to be insensitive." nakayukong paumanhin niya. Tama ito, masama ang magbiro tungkol sa kamatayan.

"I'm sorry. Hindi ko gustong magalit. You don't know how I feel everytime may nagbibiro ng ganyan." makahulugang saad nito.

"What do you mean?"

He was silent. He was looking straight at her like he was trying to decide something. Then he looked outside the window.

"My bestfriend died when I was 15. He died in my arms, Yvonne." anito sa mahinang boses.

Natahimik siya. She don't know what to say. Kaya pala ganun na lang ang reaksiyon niya kanina.

"We were on a store that night. Bumibili kami noon ng mga pagkain. I was supposed to have a sleepover sa bahay nila. Nagbiro siya na kapag huling araw na niya, masaya siyang nakasama ako. And then a man in a hoodie came in, bumunot ito ng baril at tinutok sa gwardiya. He then declared a hold-up. Kinuha niya lahat ng pera sa cashier pati mga alahas, cellphone at mahahalagang gamit ng mga tao roon. We even gave what we had. Papaalis na sana noon ang lalaki ng aksidente kong matabig ang bote ng ketchup sa isang bahagi ng store. Nagulat ang lalaki at aksidenteng naitutok ang baril kay Clark at nakalabit ang gatilyo ng dalawang beses. He was shot in the chest. Nagulat ako but I managed to catch him. He was still breathing but he couldn't speak. Ngumiti lang sa akin si Clark bago tuluyang nalagutan ng hininga. And that was the most painful thing that ever happened to me, Yve. He was a brother to me. And I was so guilty. Kung hindi ko natabig yung bote, marahil buhay pa siya ngayon. Limang taon kong dinala ang guilt. I even had to go through therapy and counselling para matanggap ang nangyari. It was a hell for me. Siya ang dahilang kung bakit nag chef ako. Cause it was his dream and I wanted to do what he can no longer achieve. Ang restaurant ko sa Australia ang ipinangalan ko sa kanya. He even has pictures all over the place." malungkot na kwento ni Zach.

"I'm sorry, Zach."

"I see that horrible experience when I was looking at you. And I thought, I'm not gonna let that happen again."

"Hindi ko gustong mag-alala ka, Zach. From now on, hindi na ako kakain ng oysters."

"You silly, woman! You scared the hell ouf of me."

"I'm ok now, Zach I can breath fine and my heartbeat's back to normal."

Agad itong lumingon sa kanya at tiningnan siya ng diretso sa mata. She can see the genuine care in his eyes. And before she can stop herself, she pulled him closed and kissed him. He kissed her back. She wrapped her arms around her neck and pulled him even more that he was already on top of her. Napahiga na pala siya sa sofa. He slid his hands on her tops and touched her all over.

"God, you're so beautiful, Mrs. Valeria." anito habang bumababa ang mga labi nito sa kanyang leeg.

She felt an arousing feeling inside her. She felt his hands on her breast and his fingers playing around her crown. She could feel a million volts rushing on her veins. She caressed them gently while kissing her neck. She can even feel his hard manhood against the soft fabric she is wearing.

"Do you want me to make love to you, Mrs, Valeria. Tell me now before I can't stop myself from drowning into you."

Then it hit her hard. She pushed him away.

"I'm not ready, Zach. I'm sorry." aniya habang inaayos ang sarili. He almost got her naked nang hindi niya man lang namamalayan.

"No need for apology. I'm not rushing things between us, Yve." sagot nito habang nakangiti.

"I'm cancelling our plans for today. Magpahinga kana."

Hinawakan ni Zach ang kanyang kamay habang hinahatid papasok ng kwarto.

"Lalabas lang ako sandali, I'll be back." paalam nito.

He kissed her in the forehead and shut the door for her. Napasandal si Yvonne sa pinto. How can she even think of almost giving herself to him? This was never part of her plans. Pero napangiti siya. What are the chances they could fall in love with each other. He's starting to open up with him. They're getting involved in each other. Could this be a start of something romantic? Well, if it is, they'll both have to take it one step at a time.