"Huy, parang dama na dama mo ata, nangangalay na ako."
Bahagya niyang tinapik tapik ang ulo ko para magising. When I opened my eyes, I immediately distanced from him. Nakakahiya ka, Kiarah! Hindi ko naman namalayan na nakatulog na pala ako!
Tumikhim ako. "Err, sorry?"
He stood up and started stretching. Mukhang nangalay nga ata, dapat kasi ginising niya nalang ako.
"Okay lang 'yon."
I gave him a small smile before checking the time on my phone. My jaw dropped when I saw that it's already 4 PM. We were here at around 2! I fell asleep for that long?! That explains how tired he looked!
Agad akong napatingin sa kanya na hanggang ngayon ay nag-uunat pa rin. Nakakahiya!
"Dapat ginising mo nalang ako," banggit ko.
He shrugged. "Pagod ka, e. Hindi rin kita pwede ibaba kasi matigas 'yung sahig at magigising ka."
I didn't press the topic any further. I'm grateful that he did that although I feel guilty.
"Kailangan ko na makauwi," I told him. If it's already 4 PM, Mom should probably be home right now. Kanina pa kaming umaga magkasama hanggang ala una. I think she's done with whatever paperwork she had to do at siguradong kapag nauna siya umuwi, mapapagalitan ako at anong oras na ako uuwi.
"Hatid na kita," he stated. I shook my head.
"Hindi na kailangan."
"Sa may sinasakyan nalang," he offered. It wasn't such a bad offer, so I agreed.
Walang nagsasalita sa amin habang naglalakad kami papuntang kanto. It was like a comforting silence. I still felt his presence and I knew he was there even if we weren't talking.
Nang makarating kami doon, humarap ako sa kanya at bahagyang ngumiti.
"Thank you for today, sorry kung naabala kita."
Hell, I literally just slept for hours! He's probably smiling at me right now but killing me on his mind because I wasted his time.
Kinurot niya ako sa pisngi kaya nginusuan ko siya.
"Bobo, hindi ka naman abala! Natakbo pa nga ako papunta sa'yo nung chinat mo 'ko, e!" tumawa siya.
"Mas bobo ka, tanga." I rolled my eyes at him.
We didn't talk about what happened. He probably knew something was up but didn't press on it which I'm glad about. His presence earlier-and up to now, is comforting and that's more than enough.
Akmang sasakay na ako sa jeep nang higitin niya ako palapit sa kanya. Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata. He keeps dragging me!
"Just know that I'm here carrying half the burden with you. You don't always have to carry them alone."
Those words served as melodies, dancing gracefully in my ears.
☼
"Kiarah, we'll be gone again. Longer this time," bungad sa akin ni Mama nang makarating ako. Tumango ako sa kanya.
I know how important our business is to them. Our restaurant has grown so much because of their hard work that I just had to understand they weren't always going to be there for me.
"Si Papa po?" tanong ko. She led me to the kitchen to give me something to eat which I politely refused since I'm not that hungry.
"Umalis nanaman. Baka sumama sa mga tito mo para uminom," she sighed.
BINABASA MO ANG
As The Sun Sets (Mi Amore #1)
Romance[ COMPLETED ] 1st Installment of Mi Amore. For Kiarah Nicole, she never hopes for the sun to set. She dreads ending the day and coming home to a household she isn't happy with, to a family that ties and places shackles around her, unable to be set...
