A Week in Bangkok

Chapter 21

Chapter 21

"Good morning, Andrew," pagbati sa akin ni Heikenz.

Kamumulat pa lang ng mga mata ko, ang ganda kaagad ng bumungad sa akin. Ang ikinagulat ko pa, lumapit si Heikenz sa akin. Inilapit pa niya ang mukha niya sa akin at hinalikan ako sa pisngi ko. That was quick, but it never felt good. Napangiti na lamang ako sa ginawa niya. I do really appreciate his kind guesture... it somehow made me forget what happened last night.

"Good morning din," pagbati ko rin kanya. "Kanina ka pa ba gising?"

Tumango-tango siya sa akin. "Yeah, I woke up early. How's your sleep?"

Umayos naman ako sa pagkauupo at saka ako sumandal sa head board. "I actually had a good sleep. Thank you for letting me stay here. I appreciate your kindness."

Nagulat naman ako ng bigla niyang kinuha 'yong unan tapos binato niya sa mukha ko. Nanlaki na lang ang mata ko tapos biglang tumawa si Heikenz na parang tanga. Bigla naman naman siyang tumalon papunta sa akin at niyakap ako. He put his head on my waist and he was just hugging me tightly.

"Heikenz?"

"Yes?" he mumbled.

"Totoo ba 'yong nalaman ko kagabi?"

"Uh... what is it?"

"That person... that guy who found your phone last night was your ex-boyfriend?"

Sa tanong ko na iyon ay iniangat niya ang tingin niya sa akin. Isang mabilisang tango saka niya muling inihiga ang ulo niya sa baywang ko habang nakahilig ang tingin sa kabilang direksyon. Sa pagtango pa lamang niya, wala dapat akong ikaselos o kung ano man. I really don't have a right to do so, nagtatanong lang din naman ako. Bawal assuming.

"Who told you?" he asked.

"Ah, si Tanya... nabanggit lang nila no'ng una kasi nga nagkahiwalay tayong dalawa. Tapos nag-usap sila ni Miles nab aka pumunta ka na naman daw sa kung sino na 'yon. Hindi naman nabanggit sa akin at first, but when he showed up, do'n lang ipinalaam sa akin ni Tanya. 'Wag mong sisihin si Tanya, ha? Nagtanong lang din naman ako."

Natawa si Heikenz sa sinabi ko. "Yeah, of course. Why would I do that? Rune and I are just friends now. There's nothing to worry about. If you think he's coming back for me, I assure you that's not the point why we talked last night. I'm sorry for leaving you alone last night. My bad."

"Ah, yeah about that, I really don't understand what you said to me because the place was so loud so I didn't get it. When you let go of my hand, I actually panicked. I almost cried last night."

Inangat niya 'yong tingin niya muli sa akin saka mas humigpit ang pagkayayakap niya sa baywang ko. "I'm sorry if you felt it that way. I didn't mean to do that."

"Ayos lang..." aniko. Hinagod ko naman ang likod ko and that made him feel better. "Saka nagtatanong lang din naman ako. That really doesn't mean anything. Nagpapasalamat lang talaga ako na pinatuloy mo ako rito sa room mo. Feeling ko nakikisiksik lang ako, e."

He laughed. "No, you're not. You can stay here anytime you want. Even when you go back to Manila and then have a vacation here, you don't have to stay in hotels. You can stay in my place."

"That's so sweet..." Hagikgik ko pa. "Do you know why I stayed, Ketchup?"

He furrowed his brows. Umayos na siya ng pagkauupo at sinamahan ako sa pagkasasandal sa head board. Inilusot pa rin niya ang kamay niya sa likod ko so he could wrap his arms on my waist. Ang kulit talaga.

"I don't know why you really stayed? Is there something I should know?"

I took a deep breath. "Well, you kissed me and that's the reason I stayed."