The Calm and the Storm

19

19

After the dinner, bumalik din kaagad si Jeno Emmanuel sa kanyang meeting habang ako naman ay dumiretso na sa kuwarto. It was already 9 p.m. when I was getting ready for bed, but I could not sleep. Kaya naman ay nanood na lang ako ng palabas.

Around 11, Jeno Emmanuel came home. He looked tired and weary, but his face lit up when he saw me.

"Why are you still awake?" he asked and kissed my cheek.

Tumabi siya sa akin sa paanan ng bed at bumaling sa TV. His side profile looked immaculate.

"Hindi ako makatulog. Tsaka, I decided to wait for you."

He sighed and stood up. "I should get dress. Inaantok na ako."

Ginulo niya nang marahan ang aking buhok bago nagtungo sa banyo. I smiled because he was so cute—like a puppy. Nagligpit na rin ako ng ilang gamit at ang mga basura ng chips na kinainan ko habang naghihintay.

He was wearing a white shirt and a brown casual khaki when he came out. Halata sa mukha niya ang pagod at antok.

Dumiretso siya sa kama at humiga. He looked at me and tapped the space beside him.

I chuckled. "Yeah, wait. I'm gonna turn off the TV and the lights."

Jeno Emmanuel nodded, looking so sleepy. I smiled peacefully as I climbed unto the bed with him. He opened the comforter and welcomed me underneath it. Namula ang mga pisngi ko nang pinaikot niya ang kanyang braso sa baywang ko.

His aftershave smelled like strawberries. Mas lalo ko itong naamoy nang mas sumiksik siya sa akin.

My tears were starting to build up because I feel so happy. As I watched him sleep, my smile never left.

It was 6 a.m. when we woke up and ate breakfast. Jeno Emmanuel did not let go off my hand as we wander around the streets of the unfamiliar city. Tawa roon, tawa rito. Bulungan dito, bulungan dito.

Everything felt new. Our intertwined hands. Our conversations out in the public. Eating outside without anxiety. It's like I don't want to go home.

But everything must come to an end.

Tanghali nang makarating kami sa Pinas. We were silent, but we knew what we were both thinking.

The freedom is done.

"Text me 'pag nakauwi ka na, okay?" I said when the car stopped in front of my place.

"Yep, I will."

I kissed his cheeks once again before I went out of the car. I waved and watched it go away before I went to the condo.

When the weekend finished, I got up to work. Habang nagbihis ay hindi ko mapigilang mapangiti habang iniisip iyong out of town na trip namin ni Jeno Emmanuel. It even felt like we never went to Thailand at all. But it felt so amazing.

We should do that often.

Mr. J: Morning. Going to work?

Before I started the car, I sent a reply to him.

Me: Yep. How about you?

Mr. J: Nasa office na ako

Me: How about breakfast?

Mr. J: Kakain pa lang. You?

Me: Done. I had coffee and bread

Mr. J: Not enough

Natawa ako at napailing habang nagtipa ng mensahe pabalik sa kanya.

Me: I will eat if nagutom ako haha. Sige na, magda-drive ako