Baby Madness

Chapter 44

"Sorry, I can't remember you."

My eyes fluttered open and it felt like Mom was just right here, saying those words to me. It wasn't like a nightmare but a slap of reality. It was a terrible feeling.

Ilang minuto akong nakatulala lang sa kisame habang pinapakinggan ang ingay ng mga manok sa labas. It was still dark but I got up since I couldn't sleep again. Pagtingin ko, tulog pa sina Czanelle at Clark kaya dahan-dahan akong lumabas sa kwarto. Sa kabilang kwarto naman natulog sina Nanay Fe at hindi ko alam kung paano nila napagkasya ang mga sarili nila ro'n. Mukhang tulog pa rin silang lahat.

I carefully opened the front door and was welcomed by the pastel-colored sky. The sun was starting to rise.

Pupunta sana ako sa papag para magpalipas ng oras pero napahinto ako sa paglalakad nang makita ko si Jazer na nakahiga ro'n. After a few seconds of hesitation, I decided to approach him. It turned out that he was sleeping. Napaisip tuloy ako kung anong oras nagising ang isang 'to.

Napakunot naman ang noo ko nang may nakita ako sa tabi niya. Umakyat ako sa papag at umupo malapit sa kanya sabay kuha ko sa bagay na 'yon. It was my ring.

"He really searched for it," I muttered while looking at his sleeping face.

Kinuha ko ang singsing at sinuot sa ring finger ko. Bigla naman akong napangiti nang maalala ko ang flower ring na ginawa niya kahapon. This guy really knows how to make me feel better.

Nilabas ko ang phone ko at kinuhanan siya habang natutulog. He looked like an innocent kid when sleeping. Kind of different when he's awake. And I already noticed it before but his eyelashes are seriously long. Maybe even longer than Czanelle's. His tanned skin also complemented his strong features.

Maybe if the circumstances were different, I would choose to stay like this forever. He was one of the reasons why I got through the predicaments that life threw at me.

"Thank you," I murmured.

I was about to move away when he suddenly wrapped his arms around my waist. He curled up his body and I didn't know what to do. I was in the middle of having a mental breakdown when he woke up and our eyes met each other. He just stared at me for few seconds and he jolted back when he realized what was happening.

"Chloe?" paninigurado niya na para bang hindi ako totoo. "S-sorry. Hindi ko sinasadya—"

Hindi ko na siya pinatapos at tinulak ko ang noo niya para bumalik siya sa pagkakahiga. I don't want to talk to him with our eyes on the same level. That would be disadvantageous for me.

He looked lost but he didn't argue and lay down quietly. Mukhang gising na ang diwa niya pagkatapos no'n pero ako naman ang hindi mapalagay dahil nakatitig lang siya sa akin.

"You found it," sabi ko na lang at itinaas ko ang kamay ko para ipakita ang singsing.

He smiled in return. "Yeah. Buti na lang." Damn that distracting dimple of his.

"Where did you find it? I thought we're going to find this together."

"Sa may daanan. Buti nga at walang nakakuha. At akala ko tanghali ka pa magigising," sabay ngiti niya ulit kaya inirapan ko siya.

"Wait, anong oras ka nagising at anong oras ka naghanap?"

"Importante pa ba 'yon?" he asked while rubbing his eyes. "Ang mahalaga, nandyan na ulit 'yan sa daliri mo. Regalo niya sa'yo 'yan, 'di ba?"

Natahimik naman ako sa sinabi niya at bigla kong naalala ang nangyari kahapon. He was still treating me the same so I guess he believed what I said. That was too close.