Dying Embers

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen: Kailangan

ᯓ★ play this while reading: heavenly — cigarettes after sex 𝄞 ⋆ˎˊ-

It's been two months since Chance and I became official. And honestly, those days felt like a dream I didn't want to wake up from. Hindi niya ako pinapabayaan pumunta sa school mag-isa, ni umuwi ng walang kasama. Para siyang personal driver slash boyfriend na may halong pagiging stage mom. He'd scold me whenever I ate something I wasn't supposed to — parang siya pa 'yung may diet.

He'd tag along whenever I did groceries, teaching me how to pick the best fruits, the freshest meat, the ripest tomatoes. Minsan naman, nagiging tatay ko siya — nonstop ang texts at tawag kapag ginabi ako ng uwi, lalo na kapag hindi niya ako nasusundo dahil may baseball practice sila for City Meet.

At times, he's a doctor when I'm sick, a brother when I'm moody, a tutor when I'm lost in my notes, and a therapist who listens to my weirdest rants and overthinking at 1 a.m. He becomes everything when it comes to me — and I couldn't be prouder to call him mine.

"Good morning, my sleepyhead. How's my baby's sleep?" His voice was low — deep but soft, laced with that morning tenderness that made my heart melt every single time.

I groaned under my sheets. "Chance, it's three o'clock in the morning. Ang aga mo akong ginising," I mumbled, eyes still shut tight.

He chuckled softly on the other line. "Love, exams day ngayon, remember? Sabi mo gisingin kita ng maaga para makapag-review ka."

I grunted, pulling the blanket closer. "But not this early! Grabe ka."

"Sorry, hmm?" he said, amusement clear in his voice. "Sige na, bumangon ka na."

"But I'm still sleepy," I complained. "Kasalanan mo 'to kapag nakatulog ako mamaya sa exam."

"That can't happen," he teased. "I'll just have to kiss away your sleep para maging energetic ka ulit."

God. He's been getting way too clingy lately. And I'm not even complaining.

"Korni mo," I muttered, though the smile tugging at my lips betrayed me.

"Alam mo bang wala pa akong tulog ngayon?" he said after a moment, his tone suddenly soft.

My eyes flew open. "What? You were up all night again? Chance, it's not good to overexert yourself," I scolded, instantly sitting up.

He just chuckled, that low familiar laugh that always made my chest ache in the best way. "I love you."

I fell silent. He says it so often, but it never loses its meaning. Hindi lang kasi siya puro salita — he always makes me feel it. In every small gesture, every look, every late-night call.

"Nakakainis ka," bulong ko.

He laughed gently. "Anong ginawa ko?"

"I hate how you always catch me off guard," I admitted. "Palagi kang nambibigla, tapos ayun, I end up smiling like an idiot. But... I like it. I like how you make me feel that I'm worth loving."

"And I'll never get tired of loving my best weirdo girlfriend ever," he said.

Napatawa ako, kahit halatang inaantok pa. "Sira ka talaga."

Sinundo niya ako nang mas maaga pa sa seven, kahit 7:30 pa lang magsisimula ang exam namin. Paglabas ko ng gate, agad kong nakita ang pamilyar niyang kotse — at siya, nakasandal sa hood nito, arms crossed, nakaayos nang maayos sa uniform niyang mukhang bagong plantsa. The morning light hit his face just right, making him look effortlessly clean and manly. Slightly nakapandekwatro pa ang mga paa niya, relaxed pero may dating.