Ears and Rhymes

Kabanata 15

Kabanata 15: Tugma

"Shhh. Continue sleeping, mahal." Aniya habang hinawi niya sa mga palad ang buhok ko.

"What time is it?" I asked, with a deep and sleepy voice.

"It's almost six-o-clock na." She replied. Ngumiti ito.

"What? Napahaba ang tulog ko, sorry mahal." I replied, regained my senses.

"No need to apologize. Isa pa, I already cooked for us so don't worry na."

"I love you." I uttered. Niyakap ko siya at ibinaon ang mukha ko sa leeg nito.

"Oh, may problem ba?  You look malungkot, aren't you?" 

"No, wala naman. Habang natutulog lang kasi ako, may napaginipan ako kanina."

"What was it? Would you tell me?"

For a moment, my world paused. I gazed straight at her, hindi ako nakasagot sa tanong niya.

"Mahal? Crux? Hoy!" Ang lakas ng sigaw nito ang gumising sa tulala kong kamalayan. Bigla ko na lamang siyang niyakap,

"Akala ko..." Hindi ko na naituloy aking sasabihin at napaluha na lamang at hinigpitan ang yakap sa kaniya.

"Shhh, enough. That was just a dream, mahal. I will never stray far from you, hinding-hindi kita iiwan, okay?"

"Talaga?" Marahang hinga ko mula sa kanyang dibdib. I looked up, her eyes twinkled.

"Of course, I won't." Ngumiti ito. I leaned closer to her as the hug gets a little tighter.

"Teka lang, magluluto lang ako." Uunat na sana ako patayo mula sa pagbangon ko nang pigilan niya ako,

"Shh, I already cooked for us. I'll help you get up, okay? Kumain na tayo." She lifted my arms through my elbows and slowly elevated me. Doon niya ako niyakap ulit at hinalikan sa labi.

"Hindi na sana kailangan. Baka mabinat ka pa sa ginawa mo." Pag-aalala ko.  My eyes are still half-closed, inaantok pa.

"I'm okay, mahal. Refrain from drinking too much coffee, nininerbyos ka tuloy d'yan." She chuckled.

"Tch. Nakakapagbiro ka pa n'yan ha?" Kamot-ulo kong sabi.

"Eh kasi you're too serious over things about me." She pleased, lips are pouted. 

"Because I do care for you." I held her cheeks. Gently rubbed my finger in it. Biglaang uminit ang pisngi nito,

"You're way off the line again, masyado kang nagpapakilig." I love how her conyo accent makes me smile.

"The way you make and interpret things exaggerated, pushes me to do so."

"Shut up." Her smile went from ear to ear. "Puro ka banat! Makakain ba natin 'yan?" She tried to lure me and believe her na naiinis nga siya.

"Hindi?" Sagot ko, unti-unti itong lumapit. Akala ko ay makakatikim nanaman ako, she was about to hold my wrists pero naunahan ko siya.

"Andaya! Kiss-bait lang sana 'yun eh."

"Kiss-bait? Saan mo nanaman nalaman 'yan ha?"

"Shut up and yes, kiss-bait lang dapat 'yun pero madaya ka!" Inis na inis nitong tugon. 

"Maka-ilang beses mo nang natikman ang halik ng isang Jimenez tapos nirereklamo mo pang nauunahan kita? Sige, isa pa nga."

"Hoy, Crux! Titigil ka o pupunuin ko 'yang bibig mo ng niluto kong ulam para sa'tin?" Namangha ako nang tuwid nitong nasabi ang wikang Filipino.

"Wow! Just wow, it's just lovely hearing you in a Filipino accent tapos tuwid na tuwid pa ang pananagalog mo."