WE WEREN'T SAYING

Kabanata 23

The Time I Thought That Belonged To Us

Pinunasan ko ang mga kamay ko sa kitchen towel na nakatali sa towel holder na nasa gilid ng countertop table.

After drying my hands, I glanced at Van who's now lying on the sofa but still looking in my direction.

Nagkatinginan kami at sabay na ngumiti sa isa't isa.

"Tapos ka na?" He mouthed.

"Yes. Do you want snacks? Let's watch a movie."

Mabilis siyang umiling saakin at tinapik ang mga hita niya. Natatawa akong lumapit habang siya naman ay bahagyang bumangon at sinandal ang kanyang likuran sa kaliwang braso ng sofa. His legs are spread widely as his right leg is hanging and touching the floor.

Pabagsak akong umupo sakanyang hita. He groaned jokingly kaya mabigat ang mga kamay ko nang hinampas ko ang braso niya. So dramatic as ever...

Natatawa lang siya habang ginagawa ko 'yon kaya naman mas lalo ko pa siyang pinalo but then, he caught my hand and sneaked a quick peck on my nose.

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa ginawa niya at agad namang napatingin nang pinagsalikop niya ang mga kamay namin.

I looked at our intertwined hands and I wonder how perfect they lock on one another? I wonder why my hand perfectly looks the best if it is intertwined with him.

Napatingin ako sakanya nang diniinan niya ang hawak sa kamay ko. It didn't hurt and instead... pakiramdam ko ay mas nag-init ang buong katawan ko nang ginawa niya 'yon.

"You were staring at our hands too much... bakit? May problema ba?"

Nakangiti akong umiling sakanya at walang balak sabihin ang nasa isip ko kanina.

Tinagilid niya ang ulo niya na parang sinasabing hindi siya naniniwala.

"Oo nga... seriously, why don't we watch movies?" I suggested but he just shrugged me off.

Mas hinapit niya ako papalapit sakanya dahilan para tumama ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya.

I glared at him after facing him again.

He just smiled and kissed my ears.

Since he didn't want to watch any movies, we were only on top of one another as we sneak to each other kisses from time to time.

Our silence is fluent but it's enough for me to know that we both exist at the same time and at the same place. This is enough for me, regardless of what anyone else thinks.

"What are you thinking?" I asked, breaking the silence.

"You," Sabi niya bigla kaya napatingin ako sakanya. "Iniisip kita." Dagdag pa niya at tinignan ako nang magtama ang mga mata namin sa isa't isa.

Napangiwi ako sakanya. "I am just here. Why would you think of me? Pwede mo naman akong kausapin."

Nakita ko ang pagsilay ng ngiti niya. He lifted his hand and suddenly traced my face with his finger kaya napapikit ako sa ginawa niya.

Nagmulat ako ng mga mata nang maramdaman ko ang daliri niya sa labi ko. Nang muling magtama ang tingin namin sa isa't isa, hindi ko maiwasang malunod sa mga mata niya.

"Hindi ka pa ba inaantok?" He asked while he was softly caressing my hair.

Napansin niya yata ang paghikab ko kanina.

"Hm... medyo but I want to stay with you here longer," I stated groggily as I snuggle into his chest.

"You should go to your room now. Kate... really. Halika at ihahatid na kita."