Our Universe

Eighteen

I felt the sun rays hitting my face which made me open my eyes. My vision is still blurry but I felt someone's touching my face.

I saw James beside me caressing my cheeks and he smiled at me when he saw that I am awake already.

"Sorry. Did I wake you up?" He said with his bedroom voice.

I shook my head and smiled at him. He's topless and I am so close to him to the extent that I am feeling his hard chest to me.

Wait. D-did we just?

"What's with that sudden face babe?" He asked. "Mukhang may naalala ka yata? Hmm?"

I glared at him and I know he's trying to play with me. Aaminin ko na medyo lasing nga ako kagabi pero kailangan kong marinig sa kanya kung ano talaga ang nangyari kagabi at kung bakit kami nandito ngayon magkasama sa kama niya at magkahati sa comforter niya.

What the fuck Nadine?! Wake up!

"D-did we?"

Parang hindi ko kayang tapusin ang sasabihin ko kasi nahihiya ako na kinakabahan. Ano nalang ang iisipin ni James na dahil lang lasing ako kagabi ay ganun ganun nalang kung ibigay ko ang sarili ko sa kanya?! Baka isipin niyang easy to get ako.

Or worse, marupok.

"Hey baby chill okay?" He laughed and he tried to embrace me more "No we didn't make love last night. Almost but you know I don't want to do it especially when you're drunk and when we're not in good terms." He said cooly.

Ah okay. Medyo naliwanagan na ako ng konti. Naningkit ang mata ko habang pilit na binubuo ang mga nangyari kagabi sa utak ko.

Okay from now on I won't get drunk anymore. Promise.

"Sorry about what happened last night. I won't get drunk anymore. Last na yun."

"Well, I think you should not get drunk anymore babe. You look ten times hotter than you're sober. Nahihirapan ako."

Uminit ang pisngi ko dahil sa sinabi niya. Siraulong James ang aga aga bumabanat na! Dahil dun, tinakpan ko kaagad ang mukha ko gamit ang dalawang kamay ko. Tumawa lang siya at pilit na tinatanggal ang kamay ko.

"You're so cute Nadine. I want to marry you already."

This time hinampas ko na siya dahil sa mga pinagsasabi niya. Kainis! Hindi ba niya alam na kinikilig ako ang aga aga pa!

"Stop it James." I said while my hands were still on my face. "Baka maniwala ako sa mga sinasabi mo."

Hinawakan na niya ang kamay ko and this time ay binaba ko na ito. Walang pakialam kung makita niya ang sobrang pamumula ng mukha ko.

"Then believe in it Nadine." He said while he's eyes were looking intently at me. "Believe in every words I'll say because I mean it. I mean it baby."

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng kiliti sa tiyan ko at biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Bakit ganito si James? Hindi ba niya alam na nakakamatay ang sobrang kilig? Pakiramdam ko hindi ako makahinga dahil sa sobrang saya.

"After our graduation, I'll look for a job. We will work hard together for our future and if we are both stable already, I'll marry you and have our own family."

Hindi ako nakaimik dahil sa mga sinabi ni James. Hindi ko inaasahan na ganito pala ang gusto niyang mangyari sa buhay niya pagkatapos naming grumaduate. Hindi ko inaasahan na kasama pala ako sa magiging buhay na pinaplano niya.

Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili ko at napaluha na ako. I've been into some relationships before but this is the first time that I experienced this kind of love. A love that is pure and genuine. With James I felt valued and secured whenever I am with him.

"I love you Nadine. Always." He wiped my tears and kissed me on the lips. I closed my eyes and felt every jolt of love that James have for me.

"I love you too James. Ikaw lang."

He smiled and kissed me on my forehead. He held me close to him and gave me a tight hug. Kung pwede lang sana na hindi lumabas dito ay gagawin ko. Pero alam naman namin na hindi pwede. We need to see and experience the reality of life before anything else.

Buong araw ay nasa condo lang ako ni James. He cooked food for us and we played games on his PS4. This day might be simple but I enjoyed spending my whole day with him. Sometimes it's the little things in life that will bring genuine happiness and contentment.

Little things are big things.

"Babe?"

I am lying down on his lap while he's playing with my hair. Katatapos lang namin mag dinner at napagod na din sa kakalaro ng games niya.

"Hmm?"

"What will be your plans after you graduate?" He asked.

Napaisip ako sa biglaang tanong niya. Ano nga ba ang gusto kong mangyari pagkatapos kong makapagtapos?

"Hmm maghahanap din ng trabaho kagaya ng gagawin mo." I said.

"I'm sure the biggest company will hire you babe because you have a great credentials."

Tiningnan ko siya at ngumiti dahil sa sinabi. Masyado talagang malaki ang bilib niya sa akin at sobrang supportive niya din pagdating sa mga gusto at plano ko.

"Thank you baby." I said. "Sobrang bilib mo sa akin minsan tuloy parang hindi ko deserve."

Tumayo ako mula sa pagkakahiga ko nung naramdam ko ang pagkilos niya. Humarap ako sa kanya at nakita ko ang pagtitig niya sa akin. Hinawakan niya ang balikat ko saka ako tiningnan sa mata.

"I will always be your number one supporter Nadine. Don't say you don't deserve it because everything that you have and is happening in your life right now, lahat yan deserve mong makuha."

Ang sarap pala sa pakiramdam ng may naniniwala sayo. Pakiramdam mo lahat nang ginawa mo ay tama at walang nasayang kasi may nakakaappreciate.

Sometimes all we need is just a little appreciation from the people who are dear to us because it feels like everything makes sense.

"I love you." I said and gave my sweetest smile to him.

"I love you too. I love you Nadine. More than anything else."

With that, he gave me a soft and short kiss. I saw how he smiled playfully because of my reaction. He's now teasing me because of the way he kissed me. Alam niya na nag expect ako ng mas matagal na halik mula sa kanya pero hindi niya binigay.

"Sorry baby but that would do for now. Baka kasi hindi ko matupad yung sinabi ko na not until we get married."

I bit the inside of my cheeks at tinampal siya. Siraulong James kung anu-ano ang sinasabi!

"You're driving me crazy Nadine that sometimes I can't take it anymore."

I smiled with what he said and hugged him. Bumitaw ako mula sa pagkakayakap at hinawakan ang pisngi niya.

"Let's just wait for the right time James. Sayo lang naman ako." I said to him which made him whisper curses.

"I love you. Sayo lang din ako."

I smiled and he kissed my forehead. I just hope we can stay like this forever. Me staying in his arms and talking about random things.

Sometimes it's the simple things that matters the most coz after all, little things are big things for me.