Man in Moon

Chapter 35. Last

Sol

Saturday.

Please let this last day last forever...

Tinignan ko ang orasan at nakitang alas-tres na ng umaga. Kumurap-kurap ako sa bintana na nagsasabing madilim pa sa labas.

I just can't bring myself to sleep.

Pinagmasdan ko ang katabi king si Aku na nakapikit ang mga mata, mukhang mas nauna pa siyang matulog kaysa sa akin.

Lumapit ako sakanya at sumiksik. I embraced his warmth and stared at him.

I tried to memorize every single detail of his face. From his eyebrows to his pointed nose, his heart shaped lips, the barely visible laugh lines on his face, his long eyelashes, his charming and soft scent, the feel of his soft hands...

Lalo akong sumiksik at niyakap siya, careful not to wake him up. Nang sumandal ang pisngi ko sa kaniyang dibdib ay narinig ko ang tibok ng puso sa loob nito.

Nagsimulang mamuo ang mga luha ko. I never knew listening to a heartbeat can be this agonizing.

Kinuha ko ang kaniyang kamay at dinala ito sa pisngi ko.

"Why can't you just stay?" I whispered despite knowing he dosen't hear me.

Hindi ko na napigilan at ang mga namumuo kong luha ay tuluyan nang nagsibagsakan.

My whole body crouched in a fetal posistion as my arms tried to dry the flowing tears.

Hindi ko na rin napigilan ang panginginig. It seems like every emotion I bottled up for the past week is now pouring wholeheartedly.

Tinalikuran ko si Aku at kinagat ang aking kamay para wala akong ingay na magawa. I don't want to wake him up and see me crying so I tried my best to be as silent as possible.

Nang maya-maya ay maramdaman ang paggalaw ni Aku sa likod ko ah mabilis kong pinunasan ang aking mga luha. I breathed deeply to calm my racing heart and my uncontrollable shivering.

"Sol?" Rinig kong tanong niya pero hindi ko siya nilingon.

Naramdaman ko nalang ang pagharap niya sa akin at ang pag-suri niya sa mukha ko.

"Were you crying?" Kunot noong tanong niya.

I shook my head stubbornly. Hindi na ako umiiyak pero namumula parin ang aking mata at tuloy parin ang aking panginginig.

His eyes softened as he pulled me closer to him. Naupo siya at binuhat ako na parang sanggol. Napapikit ako at sinandal nalang ang aking kaliwang pisngi sa kaniyang dibdib. He rocked me slowly and covered me with a blanket.

We didn't say anything, he just held me.

Nang maramdaman ang paghinto ng aking pagnginig at ang pagkalma ng aking paghinga, dumilat ako para tignan si Aku.

He was staring at me intently while gently caressing my cheek.

Napalunok ako.

"What happens now?" pabulong kong tanong.

He stared at me before an answering "I need to be under the moonlight to teleport back. The Opaques will be waiting for me there to freeze my heart and.."

And then you will forget me..

Hindi ko na nagawang sabihin ito.

"You will be a guardian again?" Tanong ko.

He gave me a small smile. "Just until after the Dimgrims' peak season. Z also promised to let me rest"

Nang maramdaman ulit ang pagkirot ng dibdib ko ay pumikit nalang ako at niyakap siya.