Laments of Broken Strings (Arte del Amor #1)

Chapter 28

"I'll come back home tomorrow."

Yan ang mga salitang hindi ako pinatulog kagabi! I went home very tired and I answered his call half-asleep, pero agad niyang ibinungad ang balita ng pagbabalik niya rito!

Ngayon ay nakahilata ako sa kama, barely surviving on two hours of sleep. I am just so excited to see him again, I want time to pass by quickly.

Nang marinig ko na bumukas ang gate ay mabilis akong tumakbo pababa ng hagdan. Halos matapilok pa ako nang makalapit na ako sa pintuan. Labis ang pagkalabog ng puso ko sa dibdib ko dahil sa labis na saya na nararamdaman.

"Ashriel!" I exclaimed when he's finally in front of me. He's very much real. Ashriel is here.

He pulled me into a hug before I was able to move, "I missed you."

He is actually here! I touched his face just to make sure that I am not dreaming. The longing that I felt for him was indescribable. I was aware that I would miss him without him here, but I had no idea it would be that hard.

Hinuli niya ang kamay ko na nasa pisngi niya. "I am very real, Lyrica." natatawang sabi niya.

Hindi matanggal ang ngiti sa labi ko habang pinapapasok ko siya sa apartment. We sat on the sofa without him removing his arms around me. Hindi parin nawawala sa kanya ang hilig niya sa pagsiksik ng mukha niya sa leeg ko.

I suddenly felt all cuddly and mushy in his arms. "You must be tired, kumusta ang byahe mo?" marahan kong tanong, tila inaalo ko siya gamit ang boses ko.

"The traffic was hellish. I wanted to get here earlier."

I glanced at the wall clock mounted just above my television, it's already 11 A.M. Kaninang umaga pa nga siya nagsimulang nagbiyahe.

"What do you want to do today?" I asked him. I'd understand if he just wants to take a rest. His eyes look tired, he could barely open them.

"May pupuntahan tayo..." bulong niya.

As soon as he finished saying that, nakatulog na siya. Natawa ako dahil parang ang himbing na kaagad ng tulog niya. I wonder if he didn't get enough sleep last night too?

Nanatili muna ako sa pagkakaupo, sa gitna ng yakap niya para damhin ang sandali na ito. I miss being this close to him, and I am just glad that he's here again after so long of contenting myself with just his voice.

I would have wanted to just stay here and not move but I'm worried that he's hungry. He's been driving for hours and there's no way he wouldn't be hungry after that. I also doubt that he stopped to buy some food.

I tried to remove his arms snaked around my waist but he didn't budge, imbes ay humiga siya sa malawak na couch at nasama ako doon. "Hey, I have to make lunch."

Umiling siya sa sinabi ko at mas lalong binaon ang mukha sa leeg ko. Nakasandal naman kami sa malambot na upuan kaya komportable kaming pareho. He's liking this a little too much, and I do too.

Ilang minuto pa akong kunwaring nagreklamo para patayuin niya na ako pero hindi siya nakikinig. Tulog na tulog na nga yata talaga sa puntong ito.

We ended up sleeping for the rest of the day.

"Ashriel!" Pilit akong humaharap sa kanya kahit mahigpit ang yakap ng braso niya sa maliit kong katawan.

Naririnig ko ang mahihinang tunog ng paghinga mula sa kaniya. Nagsisimula nang dumilim sa labas, kulay kahel ang liwanag na sumisilip mula sa bintana. The breeze of the afternoon air tells us that it really is time for us to get up if we want to get things done.