REMEMBER (R SERIES #1) COMPLETED

C H A P T E R 17

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"Tara sa taas?" pag-aaya niya sa akin. We walked the stairs and up there laid three big rooms. On the left and right side was black and white doors and the center has a pink door.

Ang sa kaliwa ay naka-lock at may nakasabit na "NO ENTRY" at mukhang naku-curious ako pero hindi na lamang ako nagtanong. Naka-lock din ang pink na kwarto kaya sa binuksan niyang pinto kami pumasok.

Nauna siyang maligo at pagkatapos niya ay naligo na rin ako. I finished taking a bath and the whole room was silent. Pagkalabas ko ng banyo ay nakita ko siyang pinapalitan ang bed sheets dahil baka may alikabok na ito at pati na rin ang mga pillow case.

Nahiga na siya sa kama at ako rin ay nahiga na ngunit hindi yumakap sa kaniya na palagi kong ginagawa kapag kami ay natutulog. I didn't faced him and faced the wall instead. Minutes later, he hugged me at the back.

"Ba't ang tahimik natin?" he asked and his breathing fanned my bare neck, sending shivers down my spine. I didn't replied and acted sleeping dahil nao-awkwardan ako. He hugged me tighter at kinuha ko ang kamay niya dahil hindi ako makatulog ng maayos.

"May problema ba tayo?" he asked concerned. "Wala," simple kong sagot. "Avani," he called in authority but I didn't mind him at all. "I'll sleep, g'night." Pinatay ko na lamang ang lampshade sa tabi ko at nagkumot. Ipinikit ko na ang mga mata ko at sinubukang matulog pero niyakap niya parin ako ngunit hinayaan ko na lang dahil ayoko na ng ingay at gusto ko nang matulog.

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Kinabukasan ay nagising ako na wala na ang tao sa tabi ko. Bumangon ako at umupo saglit para matulala sa bintana at ilang minuto ang ginugol ko para maging lutang.

Bumalik na ako sa reyalidad at inayos ang aming tinulugan bago bumaba. Napatingin akong muli sa kabilang mga kwarto at nilapitan iyon para buksan ngunit hindi ako nagtagumpay dahil naka-lock kaya hinayaan ko nalang.

"Breakfast is served. Please be seated," bungad niya nang makita akong pababa sa hagdan at hinain ang niluto niya. Kumain kami pero napakatahimk ng buong silid at tanging mga ingay lang nga kutsara't tinidor and maririnig.

"Hey, are you okay? Why aren't you talking to me?" he asked with a sad face towards me. Ba't nga ba ako ganito? I pity his sad face pero wala namang lumabas na expression sa mukha ko at wala ding lumabas na salita sa aking bibig. Baka pagod lang ako?

I proceeded to eating and he also did but a moment passed when he drink water at inilapag yon ng malakas sa mesa na ikinagulat ko. "You're noisy," I tried to remain calm while eating. "Tell me, what's your problem?" tanong niya at halata ang pagpigil niya sa pagtaas ng boses.

"Wala," I nonchalantly replied. "Wala? Kagabi ka pa. Ano bang problema? Ba't 'di moko kausapin ha?" saad niya kaya hindi ko na napigilang hindi sumigaw pabalik. "Wala akong problema!"

"Meron! I can feel it! And your actions are telling me that you have a problem! Tell me!" he began shouting. "Did my family treat you wrong? Is it because I said that I have a girlfriend? Tell me--" Pinutol ko ang sinabi niya. "Okay fine! Galit ako dahil may girlfriend ka! Ano ako? Rebound? Kung may girlfriend ka, eh ano ako?! Ha? Ano mo ako?!" I shouted and I can't help but to cry.

"I don't understand Zach, please tell me. Kaano-ano mo ako?" He halted talking and looked at me surprised. "You got it all wrong Avani. I have no girlfriend. She... left," he sadly uttered and then went my direction to hug me tight because I was sobbing. He was just hugging me and all I did was sob.

"Eh yung sinabihan mo ng I love you sa tawag noong nasa meeting room tayo?" I asked once more. "That was my mom," he explained. "I'll go upstairs," I announced and left the room.

Tang*na! Ba't ko nasabi 'yon?! I can't understand why am I crying. Iyak ako ng iyak at hindi ko alam kung bakit. Oo, mabuti na tinanong ko siya kung may girlfriend siya o wala and then he replied "no" pero bakit parang hindi ako masaya?

Someone opened the door kaya pinunasan ko ang aking mga luha at umaktong hindi umiiyak. He approached me and then hugged me in an instant. "I'm sorry for shouting. Did I scare you?" he said in remorse and I replied, "Hmmm... a bit."

"Galit ka pa?" tanong niya. "Hindi naman ako galit e. Nadala lang sa-- yeah, galit," natatawa kong tugon at pati siya ay napatawa na rin. "Wala akong gìrlfriend ha, kung nagtatanong ka kung ano kita, pwede ikaw nalang girlfriend ko?" he asked like a baby and then looked at me with a pleading and sparkling eyes.

I was stunned. "This might not be the best proposal with a great venue and with flowers but I'll ask you once again. Will you be my girlfriend?" he said in a serious tone and fixed himself to sit properly beside me and I don't know what to respond.

Totoo ba 'to? Tanong ko sa sarili ko. "Totoo to, ano ka ba," he chuckled and messed my hair a little. And again, here I thought I'm just saying that on my mind. "Hey! Are you for real? This is not a joke right?" Hindi ko pa rin makapaniwalang sambit.

"Ayaw mo? O edi wag," he acted serious and about to leave but I stopped him. "No!" Bigla naman siyang ngumiti na parang loko. "Yieeeee. Gusto mo naman pala e," he teased and I gave him a glare.

"Fine. Whatever," I simply said and then went quickly to the bathroom to take a bath and locked the door. "Hey Avani! You're not joking right?!" He shouted outside the door and I just laughed. I proceeded to taking a bath and it's like a smile was glued on my face because I can't stop smiling like a fool.

"Ang saya naman natin ano?" Bungad niya pagkalabas ko sa banyo at nakabihis na ng pambahay. Naka-upo siya sa sahig at tila inantay akong lumabas. Pumunta ako sa isang vanity mirror at kinuha ang suklay ko sa bag at nagsuklay. Tumayo siya sa sahig at inagaw ang suklay at siya na ang nagsuklay sa buhok ko.

"So, ano plano natin?" he asked. "Ba't mo naman tinatanong?" ani ko. "I'm asking as your boyfriend, my girlfriend," he looked at me in the mirror and our eyes met. "Eew Zach! CRINGE!" I laughed and he also laughed at my reaction.

"Silly, pero ano nga? Ano gagawin natin?" pagtawa niya. "Ewan ko? Wala akong alam e," I said frankly. "How about decide an endearment first?" he suggested and I laughed. "We're not teenagers Zach." I opposed with the idea.

"Duh, it makes the bond between couples much enjoyable. You don't want to?" He informed. "Hmmm, How about babe-- too common, honey-- we're not married--" sambit ko at pinutol niya ang sinabi ko. "Let's be married then," he cut my words off and I just gave him a glare and he possessed a peace sign and smiled awkwardly.

"Aha! How about Lauv? Not Love with L-O-V-E ha! Lauv as in L-A-U-V!" I exclaimed with such cute idea. "Cool! Lauv?" he tested and I ignored him so he grunted. "You're supposed to reply. I called you just by now. Bingi ka ba?" Naiirita niyang sambit kaya natawa nalang ako.

"Ang bakla mong pakinggan Zach. Fyi lang," I laughed at him. "Lauv not Zach," he corrected and then rolled his eyes on me. "BAKLA!" at tinawanan siya kaya naman ay tinignan niya ako ng napipikon at mukhang galit kaya nagsimula na akong tumakbo at siya naman ay sinundan ako ng takbo.

I think this relationship will be fun.

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