ALEJANDRO 4: Chasing Kisses

Chapter 10

CHAPTER 10

          "YOU know what? You are so lucky." 

Safiyah looked at her older sister who's helping her build a sand castle. It was such a bright day, the sun is out. They were in the shore while their parents were in the cottage, taking care of their things. It's summer and it's her 10th birthday which they decided to celebrate at the beach. 

"Why, ate?"  she asked with innocence 

Her sister just gave her a smile "Because everyone loves you, little sister. Ever since you came to this world, you became everyone's favorite." 

Safiyah tilt her head "Pero, love ka din naman nina mommy ate. They always tell me pa nga that you always do good sa school" 

Her older sister just nod and didn't say anything else so she thought that everything was fine. 

It was a very nice day for her. Everyone was present and she played with her friends too. They gave her presents, they danced and enjoyed the water. It was so fun. Everything was fun. 

Until it happened….. 

HINIHINGAL na bumalikwas ng bangon si Safiyah. Nanginginig ang kanyang mga kamay habang nakatingin sa dilim. It's coming back again. Her nightmare. It's starting to eat her again. Why? She was trying to forget it but why? Bakit kailangan niya pa ulit itong maalala? 

She was breathing heavily until she finally came to her senses and calmed down. Nasapo niya ang kanyang noo. She bit her lip when she felt a tear fell from her eye. Kaagad niya itong tinuyo. 

The memory from her past is still haunting her. Ang pangyayaring iyon ang pinakagusto niyang kalimutan sa buhay niya. Everything started because of that. Ano bang kailangan niyang gawin para makalimutan ito? 

Pumasok siya sa loob ng banyo para maghilamos. Sure siyang hindi na siya makakatulog pa ulit. She checked the time. Bumuntong-hininga siya nang makitang alas-kwatro pa lang ng madaling araw. 

Bumalik siyang muli sa higaan. Out of nowhere, napatingin siya sa kanyang palasingsingan. Naroon pa rin ang singsing sa kaniyang daliri. Kumikinang ang diyamanteng nasa gitna nito. 

Kagabi ay tinawagan niya si Adi dahil hindi niya maalis sa kanyang daliri ang singsing. Pilit niya itong tanggalin pero nasasaktan lang siya. Para itong nakaglue sa kaniyang daliri na hindi na matanggal. At ang baliw na lalaki, tinawanan lang siya! May sumpa daw kasi itong ginawa sa singsing kaya ayaw matanggal. But shockingly, hindi siya nagalit. 

Napangiti siya. Baliw talaga ang lalaking 'yon. 

Inabot niya ang kanyang cellphone upang tawagan ang binata. Gising na kaya ito? She dialled his number pero nakailang ring na ay hindi pa rin ito sumasagot kaya in-end niya na ang call. Ngunit wala pang isang minuto ang nakalipas ay biglang nagring ang kaniyang cellphone. Nagulat siya ng makitang tumatawag si Adi. Agad niya itong sinagot. 

[Baby... ]

Parang biglang tumalon ang kaniyang puso. Nakagat niya ang labi nang marinig ang boses nito. His voice was so deep and husky. Mukhang kagigising lang nito. 

"I'm sorry, nagising ba kita?" she asked softly 

[It doesn't matter, babe. I'm fucking happy you called me. Anyway, what's the matter? Bakit ang aga mong nagising?] he said with his baritone voice.