Lost In Paradise (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 8

IT'S SATURDAY in the morning but I still can't help myself thinking about yesterday. Matapos kong umamin sa kan'ya ay hindi ko inaasahan ang mga salitang lumabas sa kan'yang bibig. I heaved a deep sigh as I recalled it again.

"But I don't," she whispered.

Nangunot ang aking noo at bahagyang kumalas sa pagkakayap ko sa kan'ya. Ang masasayang kislap sa kan'yang mga mata at magagandang ngiti sa kan'yang mga labi ay agad na napilas. Wala na ang mga ito na tila ba kahit kailan ay hindi nagkaroon ng bahid ng kasiyahan.

"What do you mean?" I asked her.

She lifted her gaze at me. In a swift moment, I saw many unreadable emotions in her eyes. Panandalian lamang 'yon ngunit hinding-hindi ko makakalimutan ang unang beses na kinakitaan ko ng takot ang mga mata niya.

"Because I can't fall in love, Leighton. At kung sakali man na mahulog ako, ayokong malaman mo..." A faint smile curved into her lips again.

Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko matapos marinig ang mga 'yon sa kan'ya. I wanted to ask her why would she prevent herself from falling in love? I wanted to demand for an answer, but I opted not to. Maybe, just maybe, there's an answer for all of this. Hindi nga lang sa ngayon.

Hindi na namin hinintay pa na tumigil ang ulan. Dahil basa naman na kami ay naglakad na lang kami pabalik sa cottage. It was one of the best moments of my life. I got the chance to be with her longer and watch her smile more often. She won't stop talking about how she loves nature and the whole world. She's one of the best. I could say that.

"Man, you okay? Akala ko ba ipapakilala mo pa ako sa girlfriend mo, ha?"

Naramdaman ko ang bahagyang paniniko sa akin ni Jorgensen habang kasalukuyan akong nakahiga at nakabalot sa comforter.

Kanina pa nakaalis ang buong miyembro ng Tribunal kasama sina Peony at Buffalo. They're going to tour around Amaranthine. Mabuti nga at pumayag si Peony na manatili na lamang kami rito ni Jorgensen sa camping site at hindi na lang sumama.

"Why aren't you coming with us?" Peony asked. Bahagyang nakakunot ang kan'yang noo dahil sa sobrang pagtataka.

"I don't feel like going out today."

Of course, that was a lie. I just don't want to come with them because I have to go to the cottage. I need to see Monina. I know I'm being unreasonable here, but hey, at least it's still one of the reasons why.

"Is that so? Alright. Mas mabuti na rin at may magbabantay dito sa camping site habang wala kami."

Tumango na lamang ako at matapos n'yon ay bumalik na sa loob ng tent namin ni Jorgensen.

"She's not my girlfriend, Jorge. At least not now," I told him.

Nakita ko ang ngising kumurba sa kan'yang mga labi. I wanted to punch his face for grinning like an idiot. Pakiramdam ko kasi ay nagbibigay siya ng pahiwatig kahit na wala namang katotohanan.

"But at least you have some plan of courting her, right?" Itinaas-baba pa nito ang kan'yang mga kilay. I raised my middle finger on him that made him chuckle in return.

Tumayo na ako at bahagyang nag-ayos. It's already nine o'clock in the morning. Panigurado akong tapos na sa morning routine niya si Monina. Her morning routine is to water her flower garden and always talk to them.

Minsan ko na nga rin siyang tinanong tungkol dito dahil hindi naman magsasalita pabalik ang mga bulaklak na 'yon para kausapin niya pa.

"Why are you talking to them? They won't talk back anyway." I'm currently sitting on the swing just in front of her flower garden while she's busy watering and talking to all of them.