Crashing The Waves (Working Girls Series #2)

Kabanata 13

Storm 

Umuwi na rin kami pagkatapos ng medical mission. Kumain na kami at lahat pero hindi pa rin talaga mawala sa isip ko ang mga sinabi ni Roxanne. What if she contacts Ed? Ayoko pang umuwi ng Manila. Im actually considering not going back at all. 

Malakas ang bugso ng hangin at patak ng ulan sa labas. Sabi sa radyo ay may bagyo raw. Pero kaninang umaga naman ay mainit. Indeed the calm before the storm. 

Cuddle weather at may kayakap ako. Sana all. Panaka-naka ang pagkiliti niya sa akin. Kanina ko pa siya sinasaway. He just told me that he loves the sound of my voice and he adores the way I laugh. Ang lakas nga kasi ng tama nito sa akin. 

We ended up cuddling as he stroke my hair. I didn't know that home can be a person. He is my home.Kahit na komportable ako ay iniisip ko pa rin si Roxanne. Gilitan ko kaya siya bago siya makapagsabi kung nasaan ako? 

"Are you alright? You're spacing out, love." He said as he cupped my face. I kissed the top of his nose. Isiniksik ko ang mukha ko sa leeg niya. He really smells nice. 

"I love you, baby." I heard him chuckled at what I said. Mas hinigpitan niya pa ang yakap sa akin. 

"Where do you used to live in? Before La Cecares?" Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya at nahuli ko siyang nakatitig din sa akin. 

"Manila." I nodded. 

"Don't you see yourself going back?" He licked his lower lip and faced me. 

"Im happy here. Life's simple. Away from all the complications. Back there, I need to be someone I don't want to be." Marahan lang ang haplos na ginagawa niya sa balikat ko habang sinasagot ang mga tanong ko' 

"Is this who you want to be?" He sighed at what I asked. 

"Yes. Back there, daddy pushed me into responsibilities at a young age. Instead of playing with my friends during summer, I took up classes. Instead of enjoying the weekend, I was at our company, studying the ins and outs. I lost my childhood for the sake of our business. Staying there would mean staying alive for the money. Marami ngang pera pero hindi naman masaya. I wasn't living for years. I was merely surviving." Nakita ko ang mapait niyang mga ngiti. I didn't know. 

"Here, acquiring money means blood, sweat and tears. Hard work and labor. Gigising ka ng maaga, uuwi ka ng pagod para sa kakaunting kita. But it's very noble. This is living and I wouldn't trade it for what I left." He doesn't want to go back to Manila. That's for sure. 

"What's the matter? Aren't you happy here?" I wasn't sure if I saw fear in his eyes. Why would he feel scared?

"Of course Im happy. You make me happy." I smiled and touched his cheeks. 

"Thank you for giving me another reason to live. For making me feel alive. You give me purpose." I felt my tears fall. Pinaalis niya ang mga luha sa mata ko. I can't lose him.