Take Me Down, Professor (El Profesor #1)

Chapter 47

"Nasa'n tayo, Ismael?" malambing kong tanong.

"Here in the parking lot, sa hotel ko," sagot niya.

"Why are we here?"

"I just want to suggest that you live here for a moment. If you don't want to stay at my penthouse, you can stay in my hotel rooms. Your house is still not safe for you."

Muli kong naalala ang tungkol doon. Wala pa akong natatanggap na update mula sa mga pulis kung ano na'ng nangyari sa imbestigasyon nila, pero sandali, paano nalaman ni Ismael ang tungkol do'n?

"How did you know what happened to my house, Ismael?" nagtataka kong tanong.

"I went there to see you. I wanted to apologize for what I did, but a bunch of police welcomed me. They told me what happened. I was really worried, Jothea." Kita ko sa mga mata niya ang pag-aalala. Kahit na humingi na siya ng tawad at pinatawad ko na siya, bakas pa rin sa kaniyang mukha ang pagsisisi.

I nodded and simply smiled at him. "I'm sorry, I did not inform you about what happened. I was scared that you'd just reject me again." Nangilid ang luha sa mga mata ko. Nakita kong ganoon din siya. Hinawakan niya ang pisngi ko at sa sandaling iyon, napakagat na lang ako sa labi habang pinipigilan ang pagluha.

"No, it was my fault. You don't have anything to be sorry for, Jothea. It was me who told you before that you could call me whenever you needed me, but I made you feel like I wasn't reliable enough to be called for help. I'm really sorry."

My tears fell from my eyes. Just like how my heart falls for him multiple times. I can't believe that this day will come when I can accept to myself that this guy truly made me under him. Hindi pa kami ganoon katagal nagkakakilala, at hindi pa nga namin kilala ang isa't isa nang lubusan, pero bakit ganito na ang nararamdaman ko? Tinalo niya ang pag-ibig na nararamdaman ko noon kay Professor Sybill. I can feel now what's real, even the difference between love and lust, and I can say that lust was never the answer.

He wiped my tears, just like he always does. His warm hands always comfort me.

"Your tears can make every guy fall for you harder, Jothea. Even your crying was overly taking my breath away. You are so beautiful, even when you cry."

Lalo akong napaluha sa sinabi niya. Hindi ko na alam kung paano pigilan. Pakiramdam ko lahat ng problema ko ay nawawala dahil lang nakatingin ako sa kaniya. Hindi ko na naiisip ang iba.

"My feelings for you run deep, deeper than the thoughts you could ever think about."

Lumapit siya sa akin upang halikan ang noo ko. Ramdam na ramdam ko sa puso ko ang bawat salitang sinabi niya sa akin. Kahit ang mga sumunod na salita ay ang mas lalong nagpalakas ng iyak ko.

"I love you, Jothea. I really love you," he confessed, making my world bloom. His eyes tell me the same words his lips did. "God knows how much I do," dagdag pa niya.

"I love you too, Ismael. I really do."

His eyes spark a tear. He was never prepared to hear it from me, either. What can I do? I can no longer hide it.

"What did you say?" he mouthed.

"The feelings are mutual, Ismael." A smile played on his lips while his eyebrows are raised in amusement. Like he was folded by my words.

"Ismael..." pagtawag ko sa kaniya. Kita ko pa rin sa kaniyang mukha ang reaksyon na nagpapangiti sa akin. Mukhang nagulat talaga siya. "About your question earlier, if I wanted to marry you, what if I said yes?"

Ilang segundo siyang tumitig sa mga mata ko. Mas hindi yata siya naging handa sa sunod kong sinabi. He was still out of words. "I am not after your riches, nor did I want to hinder your plans to disagree with your parents. I am on your side in every decision you make, and if you really want to ask me for marriage, I will say yes."