Over Me (COMPLETED)

Chapter 18

Ives never let go of me up till I finally calm myself down. Hindi rin siya nagsalita o nagtanong sa kung anong dahilan ng pag-iyak ko pero alam ko na sa kabila ng katahimikan, ay ang pagpigil ng parehong damdamin naming dalawa.

"Ang tagal tumila.." he mumbled through my ears. "Hindi ka pa ba hahanapin sa inyo?"

I silently shook my head and relish my moment on his lap, especially the warmth steaming out of the holes from his jeans.

"You? Hindi ka pa rin hahanapin? O... baka may trabaho ka ngayon?"

"Wala... Pero siguro hinahanap na ako ni nanay. Lalo na ni Inton... Nasa akin na iyong laruan niya.."

Kinyha ko 'yun na pagkakataon, "Why are you here?"

"Hindi ba dapat ako ang nagtatanong niyan?" he chuckles.

"You can ask me later, ako unang nagtanong." sinubukan kong tumayo dahil ramdam ko na nanginginig na ang binti niya but he pushed me down until I'm back from where I was.

"Okay, sabi mo, e." he paused. "May mga naiwan kami... Saka lang namin napansin noong natapos na maglinis sa bahay kaya.. I came back here.."

"'Yun lang?"

Ives nods. "Akala ko naman kung ano pa.."

"Why? Are you expecting me to go here without any reason?"

"Puwede rin. Baka may dinadalawa ko or something."

My eyes is half-closed but I still see him staring down with a shocked eyes. "Bakit?" I ask.

"Wala.. Wala... May mga naiwan din akong gamit, mabuti walang kumuha.."

Walang nagsalita pagkatapos. "Ikaw? Why did you come back?"

"I don't know." I shrug. "Basta nalaman ko na lang na nandito ako 'nung kinausap ako ng guard.."

"Hmm.."

"You're not gonna ask me if I'm saying the truth or nah?"

"Hindi na.. Bakit? Hindi ba totoo iyon?"

"Totoo naman.."

My heart melts more when he smiles. He's growing comfortably smiling at me now. Malayong-malayo sa kung anong simangot na binabato niya noon sa akin.

"Totoo pala e. And I know that it's your reason.. Kaya hindi na ako nagtanong pa.."

Kumulog uli at naging sign iyon para manahimik kaming uli. He's humming a familiar tune that I couldn't tune out what song it is but I let myself indulge in it.

Mahina akong nagdadasal na sanang walang makakita sa amin ngayon. I wanted to be here. In the dark room. In the middle of sounds from the skies. But with him. With Ives himself.

With him, I felt a safety I never felt to anyone from before... Even Weslee.. Even my own...

"Eoghan Reed," tawag nito. "Can I sh—"

"Eoghan Reed talaga?" namula ang pisngi ko. No one dared to call me by my two names until now.

"Sabi mo ayaw mo na tinatawag kita na Eoghan lang so.." he stoop down to flick the mosquito out of my cheeks. Papaluin ko sana pero nakita na niya pala. "Unless there's something you want me to call you, hmm?"

"Sira ulo.." tawa ko at umiling. "But what? Ano sabi mo?"

I watch his chest descending from breathing, his daunting mien in spite of the darkness around us, and his troubled eyes staring at nowhere.

He seemed pretty reluctant continuing what he had done.

"Kung ayaw mo na sabihin, okay lang." sabi ko. "Hindi naman kita pinipili—"