After We Ended

29.

"I missed holding you like this."

Hinigpitan ko ang yakap ko kay Jace at mas sumandal sa dibdib niya. "I missed us." I mumbled and leaned to kiss his cheek.

"Are you sure you're not drunk?" pinaningkitan ko siya ng mga mata. He chuckled and shook his head, pulling me even closer kaya siksikan na kami sa sulok ng sofa.

"I'm not. I'm 100% sober. Medyo may sakit pero I know what I'm saying."

Tumango ako. "Kain na tayo? Para makainom ka na ng gamot." sabi ko at humiwalay sa kanya. He nodded and stood up, following me towards the kitchen.

We ate happily. Sobrang gaan ng dibdib ko at sobrang saya ko. Everything's okay now. And after seven years of being indenial, I finally found my way back to who I really love.

"Bakit ka pala nagpaka-lasing kagabi? Buti at nag text sa'kin si Ma'am Lena na 'wag muna akong pumasok, nabantayan kita."

"I was jelous." he rolled his eyes.

Napataas ang dalawang kilay ko. "Oh? Kanino?"

"Sa co-teacher mo. Mas pogi naman ako doon." he muttered.

Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata at matamang tinitigan. "Sabi mo bigyan ko siya ng chance!"

"Sinabi ko lang! Bawal ba maging plastic? Siyempre, kunyari concerned friend ako. Pero gigil ako doon, Eli."

Mahina akong natawa at napailing. Inisod ko ang upuan ko papalapit sa kanya at sinundot ang tagiliran niya.

"Dami mo kasing alam. Sa susunod 'wag ka nang iinom ha? Alam mo namang hindi ka p'wede sa alak, sige ka pa'rin nang sige." panenermon ko. Parang bata siyang tumango at nag-iwas ng tingin.

"'Di na po mauulit."

I sighed and opened my bag to look for medicine. Palagi kasi akong may baon, in case of emergencies.

"Drink this and rest." sabi ko at inabot sa kanya ang Biogesic. Kumuha ako ng isang basong tubig at inilapag sa harap niya.

Nang mainom niya 'yon ay pinabalik ko na siya sa kwarto but he kept refusing, hindi naman daw siya inaantok.

"Jace, magpahinga ka na." I groaned frustratedly.

"B-Baka umalis ka kapag natulog ako." mahinang sabi niya.

Napatungo ako. He's scared that I'll leave?

I licked my lower lip and reached for his hand. "Maghuhugas lang ako saglit ng pinagkainan natin tapos tatabihan kita doon. I promise." I assured him.

"Promise?" he asked softly.

"I promise. Bibilisan ko, humiga ka na doon."

Hesitant at first, he managed to turn his back on me to go to his room. Kaagad ko namang inasikaso ang lamesa at lababo para kaagad din matapos.

Naabutan ko siyang gising pa 'pag pasok ko sa kwarto. He was preoccupide, staring at the frame he's holding.

"Why do you have a picture of me here?" tanong ko nang makapasok ako. Napalingon siya sa'kin bago dahan-dahang binalik ang frame sa nightstand niya.

Lumapit ako at umupo sa kama. He reached for me and pulled me closer, hugging me.

"I look at it everytime I miss you." he mumbled.

"Well, you won't have to anymore. I won't leave you again this time, Jace. I'm sorry." I said softly and hugged him back. He nodded and buried his face on my neck, his hand was wrapped around my waist.

"I love you, Eli ko. Mahal na mahal kita."

Napangiti ako at yinakap siya pabalik. He's calling me his Eli again. "I love you too, Sorin ko."

"Sorin mo... it feels good to hear you say that again." he mumbled.

Napangiti ako at hinaplos ang buhok niya. "Pahinga ka na po, para gumaling ka na kaagad tapos makapag-date tayo." I muttered softly.

We fell asleep cuddling each other. I woke up around 3 in the afternoon. Jace was nowhere to be found so I stood up and tried looking for him.

"Magaling ka na ba?" tanong ko nang makita ko siyang nanonood sa salas.

"I'm good now. Thank you for taking care of me." he smiled. Tumango ako at ngumiti bago tumabi sa kany at niyapos ang baywang niya

Hinaplos niya ang buhok ko at hinalikan ang noo ko. "Thank you for staying, Eli ko."

"Thank you for taking me back, Sorin ko."

"I always will, Eli." he said softly and hugged me even tighter. I giggled when he started showering my face with his kisses.

"Date na tayo? Magaling na ako." aniya. Ngumisi naman ako at tumango.

"Chowking." I told him. He kissed my cheek soundly and nodded.