Every Sunset was Once a Sunrise

20 : A new journey

I woke up the next morning on Raf's bed alone. Suot ko ang plain white V-neck shirt niyang hindi ko natandaang sinuot ko kagabi. With its sleeves reaching my elbows, it's oversized for me and almost looked like a short dress.

Dahan-dahan akong tumayo mula sa kama at pinasadahan ng daliri ang gulo-gulong buhok. Nag-uumpisa na naman itong humaba. At dahil sinabi ni Raf na mas gusto niya ang mahaba kong buhok, hindi ko na ito ulit papuputulan. Guess I'll settle for trimming.

Isang ngiti ang dumapo sa mga labi ko habang pinagmamasdan ang sarili sa harap ng salamin. I hugged myself upon remembering what happened last night.

Pahakbang pa lamang sana ako patungo sa pinto nang bigla iyong bumukas. I stopped on my tracks nang iniluwa nito si Raf, wearing the same white shirt as I am with hair's a bit dishevelled. He immediately greeted me with a sweet smile with his usual tender eyes.

I was usually grumpy if not indifferent in the morning but with the sight of him like this, pakiramdam ko'y kasalanang makaramdam ng alinman sa dalawang iyon ngayon. I mean, how can I possibly not smile back with that face?

"Hey." I tilted my head to the side as an unbridled smile carved on my lips.

"Morning," bati niya sa namamalat na boses. He walked languidly towards me then, not breaking our eye contact. "You hungry? Nagluto ako ng breakfast."

His arm automatically slid on my waist unto my lower back and settled there while his other palm landed on my jaw. And I never thought that staring at his bed hair right now could be this sexy yet cute at the same time, that I wanted to capture it. This moment. The us in the now.

"Pahiram phone mo. I don't wanna think where I left mine."

"Okay." Hinugot niya ito mula sa bulsa ng suot na shorts at iniabot sa akin.

I opened his cam and lift his phone in front of us as I leaned on his chest and him holding me from my back.

"Smile!"

I touched the snap button and took consecutive photos of us with different wacky poses. Tawang-tawa ako sa ilang kinalabasan noon lalo na ang isang litong ekspresyon ni Raf. He looked clueless why I took many snaps kaya ang mga sumunod pa'y halatang mandatory smile na lang ang nagawa niya. He's so awkward whenever he's in front of the camera's lens! Halatang hindi madalas mag-selfie. Cute fiend.

Natatawa pa ako sa katitingin ng mga pictures namin ng bigla-bigla'y marahan niyang hinawi ang takas kong buhok at inipit sa likod ng tainga ko. His hand remained on my face kaya't napatingala na ako sa kaniya. I gave him a tender smile as his eyes lovingly bore into mine. And then there were no words needed. Because we both know what the other is feeling. We both felt it. Everything. Last night. And the remains of those overflowing feelings still linger 'till now.

I tiptoed and reached for his face to plant a kiss on his cheeks. Pinisil ko siya ng yakap mula sa baywang pagkatapos.

I felt him kiss the top of my head as he chuckled while hugging me back. "Alizeh, would you mind wearing regular clothes? Just so you know, you're killin' me here right now with you wearing only my shirt."

I stilled for a moment when my heart boomed with his sudden mention of my second name. Huli na nang napagtanto ko kung ano ang kabuuan niyang sinabi. I giggled some beats late as I burry my face more on his chest. "Try to bear with it, Ellis."

I felt his hands grab a hold of both sides of my waist. And before I knew it, he was lifting me up and all I could do is shriek in surprise as I draped both my arms around his nape.

He moistened his lips as we stare at each other, smiles plastered on both our faces like an idiot. Moments later, I hunched my head a little until our foreheads touch.