Arken Needs

42

Reihan's

"The both of you should stay for dinner, I'm cooking!" Masayang sabi ng step-mother ni Arken na si Tita Nesha.

"Yup, I called Ainee to come home to meet your boyfriend, son." Ngiti naman ni Tito Aiyden. Ngiting aso lang ang naihahandog ko sakanila dahil nahihiya pa ako lalo na sa ginawa ko kanina sa loob ng kotse ni Arken. I can't believe I was being jealous towards his sister. Hindi kasi agad ako nagtanong.

Dinala niya ako dito sa bahay nila at nandito ang Dad at step-mother niya. Mukhang kilala na ako ng step-mom niya dahil tuwang-tuwa ito nang ipakilala ako ni Arken.

"I saw her earlier in the mall, she didn't want to ride with us tho." Sabi naman ni Arken na nakaakbay saakin habang kaharap namin ang mga magulang niya. Hindi naman ako makapagsalita dahil first time itong nangyari saakin. No one had ever introduced me to their parents like this. Kinakabahan tuloy ako at nahihiya.

"Anyway, we'll be going upstairs in my room, dad, tita. Call us when dinner is ready." Paalam ni Arken at iginiya niya nga ako pataas sa kwarto niya. Nang makapasok kami sa malaki niyang kwarto ay nagtanong agad ako.

"Bakit tita lang ang tawag mo sakanya?" I asked. Pinaupo niya naman ako sa kama niya bago siya tumalikod para pumunta sa closet niya.

"I don't want to call her mom, dalawang mama na ang meron ako, my biological mother and your mother, speaking of mama, did you visit her?" Paliwanag niya habang naghahanap ng mga damit sa closet niya at inilalagay iyon sa isang malaking bag.

"No, we still haven't talked, I'm still pissed about what I learned. I didn't know she threatened you like that before." Mahina kong sabi bago ko inilibot ang mga mata ko sa loob ng kwarto niya. Napangiti pa ako nang makitang may ilang picture framed sa bedside table niya at ang mga litratong iyon ay pictures ko na kasama siya.

"Love, you shouldn't dwell in the past, I'm already here, there's no point getting mad at her, she apologized to me already." Sabi ni Arken. Napabuntong hininga naman ako at napasang-ayon na lang. Hindi naman ako ganon kagalit kay mama. I was just a little upset that she could do that to Arken.

"Let's visit her then, soon." Sabi ko na lang bago ako humiga sa malambot at mabango niyang kama. Isinubsub ko ang mukha ko sa unan niya dahil kaamoy niya iyon. Maya-maya ay naramdaman kong sumampa din siya sa kama at niyakap ako. Tumihaya naman ako para umunan sa braso niya.

"I've missed you, Reihan." Biglang sabi niya bago hinalikan ang gilid ng ulo ko. Ipinatong ko naman ang kamay ko sa dibdib niya bago napatulala sa kisame ng kwarto niya.

"Arken, I can't believe I begged you like that earlier, I didn't know I can be so stupid for love." Napapanguso kong sabi. I didn't really like the feeling of being helpless. I didn't want to lose him again and I just started crying and begging. That was the first time I was like that and I don't want that to happen again.

"Love," Humigpit ang yakap niya sa ulo ko. "You don't need to beg like that again because I'll never leave you for someone else, in fact, I'll never leave you again even if you'll be the one to tell me to." He said and kissed me on my temple. Napangiti naman ako.

"I also don't think I can beg like that again, I'm not doubting you but if ever you really cheat on me, you'll regret it for the rest of your life, Arken. You will lose me." Mahina kong sabi at tumingala sakanya. Nakatingin naman siya saakin nang seryoso.

"You can doubt everything about me but not my affection for you, love, it's undying and faithful, and you only deserve that kind of love." He sincerely said and faintly smiled at me. Napatitig naman ako sakanya. This man really knows how to make my heart flutter. He's the only one who can make my heart beat so fast like this. I know he's not bluffing because he had always treated me right and make me feel so loved. He even sacrificed his studies because of me. I don't think I can find another man like Arken. He's one of a kind and he's all mine.