Theodore

AINE 9

"You scared me." Finally, he broke the long silence. "When I knocked on your door and you did not reply on my first call, I thought gusto mo lang mapag-isa. But on my second, third and after that, hindi ka pa rin nagsasalita, I felt like all my worst nightmares came into reality."

Hindi niya alam kung saan nanggagaling ito pero isa lang ang alam ni Olivia, may sakit at takot sa boses nito.

"When I saw you floating on your tub, you were not moving, your eyes were closed and you looked lifeless, gusto kong patayin ang sarili ko. I know whatever happen to you, ako ang dahilan nun." He sniffed.

Olivia did not speak. She just listened to him and she knows she'll lose it if he won't stop talking.

"Please don't do that again. Don't scare me like that." He whispered to her ear and hugged her so gently na para bang isang babasagin ang dalaga at ayaw niya itong mabasag.

She just closed her eyes so tight and felt his embrace. In that instant, somehow, she felt good.

Sa tuwing mami-miss niya ito ay iniimagine niya ang mukha ng lalaki. She memorized every part of him and that makes the situation even worse because no matter how hard she tried, she cannot forget him.

"You are staring." In other circumstances she'll get offended but now it's different. It's the truth and she wants to stare at him for a longer time, kahit five minutes man lang.

Kapwa nakahiga na sila sa kanyang kama. He insisted on tucking her to bed because he can't let her sleep alone tonight. Masyadong itong emosyonal para iwan niya. She saw how vulnerable she was earlier on his parents' mansion and every tear that fell off her eyes is a needle pricking his heart. Sobrang sakit sa kanyang Makita ang babaeng labis na nasasaktan dahil sa kanya. He's an asshole, he knows it that is why he is doing his best to make it up to her... even if it seems impossible.

Hindi nagsalita ang babae, nakatitig lang ito sa kanya.

"Please tell me you're okay." He said. She only smiled at him but that smile was not genuine. Halatang pilit lang ito.

"You're real." She started touching his face as if she's memorizing it over and over again. "You're here." Hindi pa nakontento ay dalawang kamay na ang ginamit niya sa paghawak sa mukha nito. At sa bawat galaw ng mga daliri niya, ramdam ni Theo and panginginig ni Olivia.

"You are really here. You're not just my imagination." Sabi niya at nag-uunahan na sa pagtulo ang kanyang mga luha."

Sobrang higpit ng mga yakap ni Theo sa kanya. Kahit ngayong tulog na siya ay yakap pa rin siya nito.

"I am so sorry." Bulong ni Theo sa natutulog na si Olivia. "I am so sorry for hurting you back then. I am very sorry." Umiiyak na siya ngayon. Kahit ilang oras ng tulog ang babae ay hindi siya makatulog. He's too hurt to sleep. Ang tanging gusto niya ay bantayan siya at punasan ang bawat luhang papatak sa mga mata ng babae.

"You're crying even in your sleep." Bulong niya at pinunasan ang luha nito. Kahit tulog ay umiiyak ito and it breaks his heart in to million pieces. He's such a jerk for doing this to her.

He kissed her forehead and hugged her even tighter.

She moved.

Akala niya ay naalimpungatan lang ito dahil sa kanya pero nagulat siya ng bigla itong umiyak.

"Theo... please maawa ka wag mo kong iwan." Paulit-ulit nitong sabi habang patuloy na umiiyak habang tulog. Parang hindi siya makahinga sa nakikita niya.