Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero I stood there frozen yet unstable by the stove. First time akong niyakap ni Agnes and that hug sent a different kind of sensation down my spine. I felt her head drop down on my shoulders. I can hear my heartbeat in the silence.
"I just really need this. Kahit few minutes lang please."sabi niya. I tried to steady myself with one hand then I softly scratched her head with my free hand. I felt her shift her head so now her head stayed secured by the crook of my neck.
I am not sure if Agnes is aware but yung lips niya dumidikit sa balikat ko. Nag-uumpisa na rin akong maconscious cause I can feel her warm breath down my shoulders but I can't seem to move. Pinatay ko na muna yung kalan and I was supposed to face her pero for some reason hindi ako makagalaw. She just sort of anchored me there and I feel like all my energy left me kaya I just held my position and continued to lightly scratch her head.
Pinapakiramdaman ko if she was crying, but I didn't hear her sniff or I didn't feel tears so I assumed that she wasn't. Pero she wasn't moving too and I don't even hear her breathing. Luh. Nakatulog na 'ata si Agnes or dead.
"Agnes."
"Hm?"sagot niya pero hindi pa rin siya nagbabago ng pwesto.
I guess she really is tired and confused. Though I don't really understand bakit siya namomroblema when in fact she should be relieved that she's finally over Raisa. I wanted to tell her to let go of me kasi I'm not sure how we both can hold our position. I've been clinging on to the counter for support but I can start feeling that my knees are already wobbly. I'm not even sure if it was because of my awkward stance or because of our interaction. Tinapik ko yung braso ni Agnes and I think she understood. Bumitaw siya at pagharap ko, unang sumalubong sa 'kin yung mga pagod na mata ni Agnes. All of a sudden, all train of thought I had just disappeared. Hindi ko napansin na sobrang lapit pala namin.
"Sorry."sabi niya.
"Okay lang. Upo ka na. Kumain ka muna, baka nagutom ka nga lang kasi hindi ka naman kumain ng maayos."sabi ko sa kanya. Umupo din siya at nilagay ko na sa harap niya yung noodles. Umupo na lang din ako sa tapat niya. I think I'm still trying to gather all my thoughts.
"Pat."
"Yes?"
"Maligo ka. Amoy pawis ka."sabi niya.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit, but when she said that I felt a wave of relief. And like an idiot, I did the strangest thing...
I stood up and hugged her from the back.
