Eyes On Me, Baby (COMPLETED)

Chapter 38

Chapter 38

I woke up because of the sound from my phone. Naupo ako sa kama ko at kinuha iyong cellphone ko na naka-lagay sa nighstand. Austin Archangel's phone was flashing on the screen. My forehead creased upon seeing that it was 38 minutes past 4AM.

"Hello," I said upon answering the call.

"Hey..." sagot niya. "I know I woke you up."

"Good," I said. "Why are you calling right now?" tanong ko sa kanya dahil madaling araw ngayon. Mamaya pang 7AM ako dapat gigising. Pero ngayon na ginising niya ako, makaka-tulog pa ba ulit ako? O baka gising na ako buong araw? I was yet to find out.

"I know I said we don't need to meet before my flight but..." Huminto siya. "I need to see you one more time."

"Okay," I said.

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Good," sagot niya. "I'm actually outside your house."

Tumayo ako mula sa higaan ko. Naglakad ako hanggang sa makarating ako sa veranda sa second floor. Nakita ko na nandoon nga si Austin Archangel sa labas ng bahay namin. He was standing outside his car. Nang makita niya ako ay kumaway siya sa akin.

"Lalabas ba ako?" I asked him because he only said na gusto niya akong makita. Nakita niya na ako ngayon. Hindi ko pa nasusubukan na lumabas ng bahay ng madaling araw. Tulog pa lahat ng tao sa bahay.

"Can you go out?" he asked.

"Hindi ko pa nasubukan," sagot ko dahil hindi ko alam kung pwede akong lumabas.

"Just stay there," sabi niya.

"Okay," sagot ko. "Ano'ng oras ang flight mo?"

"7:15," he said. "I should be on my way to the airport now."

I nodded. "Two hours before the flight ang check-in kapag international travel," I said.

"I'll take my chance," he replied. "I'm sorry for waking you up."

"I'm sorry, too," sabi ko dahil ngayon ay parang hindi na talaga ako makaka-tulog pagkatapos nito. Maaapektuhan kaya nito ang buong araw ko? Sanay naman akong gumising ng ganito kaaga... pero kailangan iyon dati dahil sa training. Ngayon lang ako nagising ng wala sa plano.

"Do you wanna go back to sleep?" he asked.

"I don't think I can," I replied.

Naka-tingin kami sa isa't-isa habang magkausap sa cellphone. The wind blew against my skin. Ang lamig. Sanay ako sa malamig, pero iba talaga iyong lamig kapag ganito na madaling araw. It's colder.

"Okay," he said. I heard him sighing. Medyo madilim at medyo malayo siya. I couldn't exactly see the expression on his face. But even from afar, matangkad pa rin siyang tignan. "I should leave."

"You should."

He chuckled. "I know..." he said. "I should've asked your parent's permission to bring you with me to the airport."

"Tulog pa sila."

"I know."

Hindi ako nagsalita. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko. He wanted to see me—nandito naman ako. Naka-tingin lang siya sa akin. I could hear his steady breathing from the other end of the line.

"I'll miss you," he said.

"I will miss you, too," I replied because I figured that that's the expected response. And I would really miss him. I wondered if I would feel different later when he's in Japan. Nasanay ako ng dalawang linggo na kasama ko siya palagi. Would I feel any different? Was longing for someone real? Would I really feel a void because of his absence?