Words Written in Water (Loser #3)

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

It was a peaceful moment. All I could hear was his strained, shallow breathing and his heart thumping—loud and rapid. He cradled me closely, cautiously. Almost like I was a frail glass he didn't want to break in his hands.

"Really?" he asked in a low, raspy voice. Para bang hirap na hirap siyang sabihin ang katagang 'yon.

I seized the initiative to squeeze into an even tighter hug, pressing my body against his and feeling his soothing heat seep into my wounds.

"Answer me..." he pleaded.

Tumingala ako sa kanya at nakita ko kaagad ang desperasyon, pagkalito, at nag-aalab na pagmamahal sa mga mata niya.

"Hindi mo ba sinasabi 'yan dahil lang sinabi ko na?" napapaos na tanong niya pa.

I tiptoed, bringing my lips closer to his, and he lifted my waist, knowing exactly what I was trying to do.

I closed my eyes as I gave him a peck. Our lips were a bit shaky against each other. Ramdam ko ang panghihina ng katawan ko. Ngayon, hindi na ako sigurado kung dahil pa ito sa mga sugat ko o dahil na sa paraan ng paghawak niya sa akin.

"Nagtiis ako kasi alam kong pagkatapos ng lahat, makikita na kita..." bulong ko matapos ang mabilis na halik. "For me, you are the reward after the hard times."

His eyes gleamed.

"Miss na miss kita." Muling nanubig ang mata ko. "Gusto kitang tawagan, puntahan, i-text. Kahit ano. Gusto kitang makasama ulit."

Umawang ang namumula niyang labi, parang may gustong bigkasin pero hindi maituloy.

"If that isn't love, then what is it?"

Hindi ako magaling sa malalambing na pangako. Hindi ako mabulaklak. Hindi ako gumagamit ng magagarbong parirala.

Para sa akin, ang mga salita ay matatalas na kutsilyo na handang tumusok sa puso ng mga taong kailangang marinig ang katotohanan. Hindi ako nagsasabi ng matatamis na kasinungalingan para sa kapakanan ng iba.

I was frank and straightforward. I wouldn't adorn my words with flair and roses. I wouldn't want them to be a lyrical melody; rather, I wanted them to cut right to the core.

But at that moment, as I stared deeply into his eyes, I wished I could tell him a flower bed of poetry and a forest full of ballads.

To show my earnest love. To prove the essence of my pledges.

"Please don't take me as a reward," he mumbled, breathless. "You don't have to win to have me."

Yumuko siya at banayad na sumubsob sa leeg ko.

"Baby, what shall I do now?" he asked helplessly. "I don't think I'll ever forget how excited you are while wearing those gears... I don't think I'll ever forget the bruises on your body."

Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi. "Gagaling din 'yon."

"No," matalas na aniya. "I'll sue them."

Humawak ako sa balikat niya at bahagyang tinulak 'yon pero hindi manlang siya gumalaw.

"Everyone who hurt you, even that company... I'll sue them all."

"Bayad ako, Juancho."

"I don't care. They assaulted you. There's no other way to put it."

Umiling ako. "Ako ang lumapit. Lahat ng ginawa nila sa'kin, may kapalit na pera."

Narinig ko ang mahina niyang pagmumura. Para bang nagtitimpi siya ng galit na hindi niya alam kung kanino ididirekta.