Rebound

Chapter 2

Ang aga aga hinihila nanaman ako ni Gio. Mukhang bad trip. Nakasimangot eh. Mukhang galit pa. Tsk. Napano 'to?

He pulled me to the corner of the school and pushed me to the wall. Nilagay nya ang dalawa nyang kamay sa pader.

Nanlaki ang mata ko at namula. Pano ba kase ang lapit lapit ng mukha nya >\\\<

"What did I just hear from the people? You talked to a guy, and kissed him while I'm not there, am I right?"
Calm ngunit diin nyang sabi.

I talked to Raf, but we didn't kiss! He just hugged me to comfort me!

Huminga ako ng malalim. "I didn't kiss him"

"Okay. But you talked to him" Seryoso nyang sabi.

Yumuko ako at tumango.

He hugged me tight. "Don't talk to other guys except me, okay? I'm your boyfriend now. Remember that" Tumango ulit ako.

"Now, let's go to my condo"

We rode his car to his condo.

Nilibot ko ang paningin ko sa buong bahay nya. Ang laki!

"Dyan ka na muna. Magbibihis lang ako" sabi nya at pumanik na sa taas.

Something attracted my attention, which are photo frames of his family and him. and his..Ex-Girlfriend.

Kinuha ko ang photo nilang dalawa. Si Gio nakangiti pero si Sophia nakasimangot sa picture na 'to.

Gio looks so happy. I've never seen him smile like this before. Will Gio smile like this someday because of me? Napangiti ako ng mapait.

Binalik ko lang ang picture frame when I heard footsteps.

"Hey, I'm done. What do you wanna watch?" Lumapit siya sa'kin.

"Ah..pwedeng 'Coco' ?" Nahihiya kong sabi.

"Coco? You watch that? Isn't that cartoon only for kids?"

"H-hoy! Adults can watch cartoons, too you know!"

He shrugged at dumiretso na sa couch.
Umupo rin ako sa couch ng mag-start na yung Disney intro.

---------

2 hours later

Umiyak ako ng nakita ako si Hector na nanghihina na. "Hector, nooooooo! Bilisan mo kasi, Miguel! Dali na! Umuwi ka na sa bahay nyo! Pag namatay si Hector bahala ka na sa buhay mo! Hmph!"

Lalo akong napaiyak ng narinig ko si Miguel na kinakantahan si Mama Coco ng 'Remember Me' It was just like how Hector sang 'Lil Coco that song before! Nakakatouch :<

"HAHAHAHAHA" Kanina ko pa naririnig si Gio tumatawa. Napatingin ako sakanya at sumimangot. I finally made him smile, but not gonna lie, his laugh is annoying me.

I ignored him. Pinunasan ko yung luha ko gamit ang sleeves ko at pinagpatuloy sa panonood. Kinikilig ako kay Mama Imelda at Hector! Yiiiiieeee!

I sobbed nung ending na. Mama Coco died, but he's with Mama Imelda and Hector. They held their hands together and crossed the flower bridge.

"Our love for each other will live on forever. In every beat of my proud corázon" Kanta ni Coco.

Napapalakpak ako at nag standing ovation pa. I just get hyped pag happy ending.

I heard Gio laugh. He pulled me to him kaya napaupo ako at napasandal sa dibdib nya. Ang lapit ng mukha namin >\\\< I tried to escape, but he was hugging me tight so I finally gave up. Ginulo nya ang buhok ko and kissed my forehead. "Ang cute mo talaga" He chuckled and hugged me tight again. Nag-init ang mukha ko sa sinabi nya. Psh. Whatever.

Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog na pala ako sa couch. I gasped when I saw him sleeping on the couch too. Nakahiga kaming pareho sa couch. Nakasandal ang ulo ko sa left arm nya. He was sleeping soundly. Sana lagi nalang tong tulog. Mukhang anghel eh. I looked at the time and saw that it's already 8 PM!

Dahan dahan akong tumayo at pumunta sa kusina. I opened the fridge to look for ingredients. I will cook him...Adobo!

Nagsaing muna ako ng rice. Ginisa ko muna ang bawang at hiniwa ang manok. I gasped when I felt a warm embrace on my waist. Mas lalong namula ang mukha ko ng ilagay nya ang chin nya sa balikat ko.

I shook my head and continued cooking the Adobo.

When I was finished nilapag ko na ang ulam sa table. He prepared the plates and our spoon and fork. Kumuha ako ng pitsel ng tubig sa fridge at baso at nilapag rin yun sa table.

We sat and prayed to God. To thank him for this food infront of us.

Before I eat I watched him eat his food first to see his reaction.

At first, he was eating slowly. But after awhile he started eating it na parang mauubusan na siya ng Adobo. Nabulunan siya at uminom ng tubig. Nanlaki ang mata ko at pinalo siya ng mahina.

"Dahan dahan kasi! Tsk!"

He chuckled. "Sarap kasi ng luto ng asawa ko" he smirked.

This time pinapalo ko na siya ng malakas.

And he just kept laughing as if it didn't hurt at all. Palibhasa may muscles kasi.

We finished eating. Niligpit ko na ang mga plato, kutsara at tinidor at nilagay sa lababo.

Huhugasan ko na sana ng..

"I'll wash the dishes. Just sit on the couch and relax"

Umiling ako. "No. We'll wash the dishes together. Ako maghuhugas, ikaw naman
ang magsasabon" he agreed.

After namin maghugas nag-paalam na ako sakanya. Sabi ko late na at baka mag-alala pa si Mommy.

"I'll drive you home"

Wala akong nagawa kundi pumayag sa gusto nya.

Nang makarating na kami sa harap ng bahay namin, he kissed my forehead and whispered 'I love you' to my ears. Napangiti ako. He went to his car and waved goodbye. I waved back. "Alis ka na" sabi ko sakanya. "No. Pasok ka muna sa bahay nyo" Napahinga ako ng malalim. Hindi talaga magpapatalo. Gusto laging nasusunod. Pumasok na ako sa bahay namin.

I saw my mom laying on our mattress. Asleep. I kissed her on the lips at humiga na sa tabi nya. Nung bata pa ako I always slept with my mom. Why? 'Cause after I wake up from a nightmare I get anxiety. Whenever I hug her nawawala ang takot ko. I feel safe and secured. Like nothing bad's going to happen to me. That God is protecting me from the monsters in my nightmare.

----------