Love Deferred

Chapter 34: Sunrise

Steven's POV

Bigla akong naalimpungatan and was delighted to feel warmth against my skin. Galing kay Dani pala ang init na yon. Nakasiksik ang ulo nya sa leeg ko and her hand is on my chest near my heart. I smiled as I saw our position. Anghimbing ng tulog nya.

I savored the feeling na ganito sya kalapit sa akin. I can feel her breath fanning my collar. I inhaled the scent of her hair and kissed the top of her head. I don't know but I want her closer. It's like I can't get enough of this feeling--of her.

Maya-maya pa ay naramdaman ko ang paggalaw nito. She rubbed her cheek against my neck.

"Are you awake, My Love?" Mahinang tanong nya. Her bedroom voice sounds seductive but that's not what captured my attention. It's how she addressed me. She called me 'My Love'? Hindi naman siguro ako nananaginip. Tama bang dinig ko?

I felt her move her head to look at me and I met her gaze.

"What did you call me?" I asked while trying to suppress a huge smile.

Ngumiti naman ito bago sumagot. Without a warning she gave me a peck on my lips. "My Love." Sambit nya.

I felt my heart skip a beat from those two words that came out from her pretty mouth.

"Ulitin mo nga?" I asked habang pinipigilan ko ang kilig.

"My Love." She whispered in my ear and I felt goosebumps on my back. Matapos nyang sabihin yon tinitigan nya ko ng matagal. I felt hypnotized from the way she looks at me.

"Okay ka na?" She asked worriedly and I nodded while smiling.

It's true. Hindi ko na maramdaman yung bigat na nararamdaman ko kahapon. Parang nawala yung nakabara sa dibdib ko at mas nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Ramdam ko ang pagpayapa ng puso ko dahil sa ginawa ko kahapon. I finally stopped running away and it felt good to let it all out. Para kong pinalaya ang sarili ko sa mga bagay na matagal kong kininkim.

Ang pinagtatakhan ko ay ang biglang pagbabago ni Dani. Parang mas sweet sya bigla plus she called me her 'Love'. Is that her endearment to me?

"Anong iniisip mo?" Her voice still sounds husky.

"Ikaw." Simpleng sagot ko. Ikinangiti naman nya iyon.

"Let's cook?" Aya nito.

"Gutom ka na?"

"Malamang. E kagabi pa ko di kumakain. Inuna ko kaya pagsunod sayo kesa sa gutom ko kahapon." kunwaring maktol nya.

"Sorry. I'm sorry sa inasal ko kahapon." Hinging paumahin ko at humalik sa ulo nya.

"Okay na yon. Gets ko naman." She said casually as if its nothing. Napaka-understanding nya talaga.

Bigla syang tumayo at tumungo sa CR. "My Love, you have extra toothbrush?" Sigaw nya mula sa CR. Hindi ako agad nakasagot dahil sa pagtawag nya nanaman sa akin ng ganon. Ang aga-aga kinikilig ako sa kanya. Naiihi tuloy ako.

"My Love? Extra toothbrush mo, nasaan?" Dungaw nito mula sa CR.

"Ah, sandali. Nasa may upper cabinet." Tumayo na ako para kunin iyon dahil siguradong hindi nya abot yon.

"Here." I gave her an unused toothbrush. I always have some spare which she knows coz I once gave her before.

Sinabayan ko na sya sa pagsipilyo at paghilamos ng mukha. Nang matapos ako ay sa labas ng kwarto na ko nagCR. Inumpisahan ko naman ang pagprepare ng makakain namin.

I was preparing pancakes and brewing coffee ng daluhan nya ko sa kusina.

"Hmm...ambango naman ng kape." Literal na nakiliti naman ako sa sinabi nya.