Chasing Astrid

Chapter Seventeen

         It was light that woke me, I didn't moved and just feel the warmth of the morning sun. Maganda sa pakiramdam and I'm feeling good dahil narin maganda ang naging tulog ko.

          A smile formed my lips then as I felt arms around my waist. I think of Betchay but I sucked in a disbelieving gasp as I looked down to see broad arms. Even without looking I knew it was him.

          I clenched my teeth as I  pulled from his embrace which I hadn't successfully done as he held me fast and pulled me around to face him. I almost jump out of my skin when he closed his arms around my waist again. He took full advantage of having me pinned against his body. I could hardly breath as he was close enough.

          "Let me go, Kaegan." I managed to say in a normal voice even something in me wanted to burst.

          I told him to locked the door not locked me into his body.

          "Hmm." he groaned. "It's too early, matulog muna tayo.

          Napataas ang kilay ko. I glanced up to see his eyes still closed. At mas inihapit lang ako sa kanya, tuloy parang mahahalikan ko na ang dibdib niya. I wanted to deny his effect on my senses, but crushing against his chest felt like a caress.

          I came back to myself and pushed him, pressing my hands against his chest. "Di ako nakikipagbiruan sayo, Kaegan. Pakawalan mo na 'ko."

         Sa halip na bitiwan ako, bigla niya akong hinila pataas. I seemed weightless when he pulled me up. Nakita ko nalang ang sarili ko na nakipagtitigan sa kanya. 

          "Pa'no pag ayaw kong pakawalan ka? Pa'no pagsinabi kong liligawan kita, pipigilan mo ba ako?" biglang saad nito, looking at me with so much intensity in his eyes. "But I'm telling you, Astrid. Kahit ilang ulit mo man akong ipagtulakan, 'di ako susuko. I won't let you go ever again. At gagawin ko lahat makapasok muli sa buhay mo. Bubuin ko ang pamilya natin."

         Umiwas ako ng tingin bago pa 'ko tuluyang malunod sa mga titig nito. "Bitawan mo nga sabi ako! Ano ba!"

          "I won't."

          "Kaegan!"

          "Ayoko nga." giit nito.

          "Di ako nakikipaglaro s--"

          "I'm not playing either." he interrupted me. "Seryoso nga akong ligawan ka."

          "I won't let you so don't trouble yourself." I tried letting out from his hold. "Let go of me once, Kaegan!"

          "Well see about that." ngisi lang niya.

          I looked at him incredously of how he's acting right now.

          "Come on. Don't look at me like that. It's not like I did something wrong. Niyayakap lang naman kita."

          "And that's the problem because you're hugging me without my consent!" I retorted back.

          "Beatrize gave me her consent already, and it's more than fine." kibit-balikat nito. "You know, she's very supportive daughter and she adds to take our time here while she's preparing our breakfast."
         
          "What?" I exclaimed in so much disbelief. How could he let her burn the kitchen? "Bitiwan mo 'ko ngayon din at pupuntahan ko si Betchay."

          "I'm just kidding." tawa niyang muli. "Besides she knows how to take care of herself so don't worry. She won't go out the house. And she's probably eating right now till her heart's content."