A Setback Beauty

Kabanata 54: THE PEACE OFFERING

The Peace Offering.

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WITH EYES FILLED WITH TEARS, Raki rushed towards me and hugged me tightly the moment I stepped inside the mansion.

"I missed you, Ate..." she muttered between her sobs, even hugging me tighter like she didn't want to let me go. Na parang anumang oras ay mawawala ako.

Nanginig na ang labi ko at napahagulgol na rin. "I-I missed you too, Baby Girl. I'm sorry if I left you just like that...I'm so sorry..."

I hugged her tightly and caressed her back. I even shut my eyes, feeling the warmth of her body while I held her in my arms.

I genuinely smiled inside my head. There aren't enough words to fully describe how satisfied and felt relieved I was. Her presence filled the emptiness and depression I felt after being away from her for so long. Now that I'm holding her, everything feels complete. It's comforting, like a place where I belong.

Mayamaya' y naramdaman ko ang pagpilig ni Raki ng ulo, "Hindi mo kailangang mag-sorry, Ate. Naiintindihan ko kung bakit mo nagawa 'yon. Ako dapat ang nagso-sorry sa'yo dahil nasaktan kita sa mga nasabi ko ng gabing 'yon."

I pursed my lips while reminiscing about what happened that night. Gusto kong malaman kung ganun pa rin ang nararamdaman ko, kung masasaktan pa rin ako.

I didn't feel anything, as if it hadn't happened. I guess I'm really over it.

Natigil ako sa pag-iisip nang maramdaman kong mas lalong binaon ni Raki ang mukha sa balikat ko. Now I could feel her hot tears dripping on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Ate. I'm really sorry..." puno ng pagsisisi ang boses niya habang paulit-ulit na sinasabi ang mga 'yon.

"I-I was just frustrated that time..." she trailed off kaya hindi na ako nakatiis.

Hinawakan ko na siya magkabilaang balikat niya at marahang inilayo sa'kin. "Stop crying. It's okay, Raki...it's okay."

"Pero, Ate nasaktan kita. I made you feel like I hated you."

I hushed her by cupping her face with my hands, making her meet my gentle stare. "Kalimutan na lang natin ang bagay na 'yon. Let's pretend it didn't happen and..."

Tinitigan ako ni Raki gamit ang nangungusap na mga mata. She's eager to hear those words that I wanted to say.

Napangiti na lang ako nang matamis. "I love you. No matter how big a fight we have, always remember that you're my Baby Girl, okay?"

Raki's eyes glistened in delight. "Really?"

I chuckled. I extended my hand to reach her chin. Pinisil ko 'yon. "Silly. Of course that's true. Now, pwede na ba tayong matulog? I'm still exhausted from the long flight," ani ko na kunwa'y humikab.

Raki clung onto my arm with a big smile on her face. "Let's sleep, Ate. Tabi tayong matulog," Raki exclaimed at inakay na ako patungo sa hagdan.

Nakakailang hakbang pa lang kami nang makarinig kami ng malakas na pagtikhim na nagpatigil sa'min.

I slowly gazed in her direction. Shoot! We totally forgot about her.

I WOKE up from my phone's alarm. Idagdag pa ang ingay mula sa panaka-nakang paghilik ni Raki. Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko sa ibabaw ng bedside at pinatay ang alarm.

Sinulyapan ko si Raki sa tabi ko. I can't help but smile as I watched her sleeping soundly. Napakapayapa at napaka-inosente ng kanyang mukha. She looked like a very obedient child, which is slightly opposite when she's awake.