I fell in love

Chapter 3

I woke up to the sound of rain still falling, but now, it's way softer.

The thunder rumbled in the distance, quiet and low, no longer demanding attention. The room felt colder, but not empty.

Beside me, Althea was still aslep. Her breathing is calm and steady. When I glanced her way, all my worries and sadness just flew away.

She seemed peaceful.

There was only the quiet comfort of her presence, the warmth between us, and the strange, unfamiliar peace that came with knowing I wasn't alone.

She suddenly started making subtle moves, giving signs that she would wake up soon. And instead of looking away, I decided to keep staring at her.

I turned slightly, resting my head on the pillow as I looked at her.

Then, slowly, her eyes began to open. It was unhurried, like her body was still halfway between dreaming and waking.

I stayed still, watching her take in the quiet around us.

When our eyes finally met, something settled in me.

There were no words, just the silence of two people who somehow knew that this moment meant more than either of them could explain.

And if I'm not mistaken, it all began with that curious gaze.

"Ano bang magandang panoorin?" Tanong ni Althea.

She decided to make breakfast for the to of us. Kahit pa nag prisinta naman akong sumama, pinili niyang sarilihin ang gawain sa kusina.

As she set up the food on the small table inside my room, I stayed focus on looking for a movie that the two of us could enjoy.

"You know what?" Kuha ko sa atensyon niya bago tuluyang ilapag ang remote sa aking gilid.

"Hm?" She looked at me as she stopped midway from preparing our breakfast.

"I could actually sleep more..." Marahan kong sambit. Still feeling a little too sleepy.

"It's already 9 in the morning. Hindi naman kita pinag prepare ng breakfast para matulog lang ulit..." pinahaba pa niya yung nguso niya pag tapos niyang sabihin 'yon.

"May pasok ako mamayang 11." Marahan kong sambit.

Gusto ko ang manatili dito sa unit at mag pahingi kasama siya, hindi 'yon pwede. Ayaw ko naman bumalik sa Laguna, nandun yung ex-boyfriend ko na kinukulit ako.

"Don't you want to stay here?" She asked.

I wasn't expecting it.

The way her voice sounded so quiet, almost careful, as she asked me to stay home.

For a moment, I didn't know what to say.

There was something in her tone that felt fragile, like she needed me in a way she couldn't quite explain.

"Kailan ka pa natuto mag pa-cute?" Medyo natatawang tanong ko. Totally ignoring what I felt from her request.

"Wag ka na pumasok, please?" Sambit pa niya.

Lumapit siya sa higaan at humiga sa gilid ko.

Nag sumiksik siya sa akin at niyakap yung isang braso niya sa tagiliran ko. Hindi ko alam kung anong tumatakbo sa isip niya at kung nararamdaman din ba niya yung nararamdaman ko.