Trapped with the Cactus-Lover

Chapter 30

Samantha

Was she hurt? Will she still accept me?

I was agitated with the thought of losing Terry just because of my quirks.

Damn! Should I now consult a psychiatrist?

But Leigh told me that I am just a neat freak. That I'm just obsessed with certain patterns. Genius types normally have unusual quirks that suit their satisfaction because their minds are working too much. So it's creating a pattern in which way they could make things easy and convenient.

On my case, that's it.

But who would arrange picture frames at 90° slighted towards right?Who would constantly change her bedsheet everyday?  Who would buy just all white sneakers? Who would just use only tailored-fit clothes and would arrange it by color and type? Who would buy RTW clothes and designer shoes but never wear it? Well, that's given because I'm supporting Leigh's clothing line. But I never wear any of it.

Even my books are arranged by catalogue. The way it will be usually arranged in a library.

Just because it's the way my mind deems easy for me.

I grew up in an environment that everything was fixed. At what time I'll wake up. At what things I'll do first. It's like a routine in my head.

I stared at Terry who is sleeping peacefully beside me. I'm relieved that she's falling asleep at peace too habang katabi ako. Atleast on this, the feeling is mutual.

Dahan-dahan ang ginawa kong pagtayo sa kama. Nilagyan ko yung side ko ng unan para kung sakaling gumalaw si Terry ay hindi nito mapansin na wala ako sa tabi nito.

Binuksan ko yung closet ko at naghanap ng damit na susuotin. I pulled another towel because I'm not using the same towel twice.

Matapos ko makaligo ay dire-diretso na akong nagwork out. Thirty minutes sa treadmill, another thirty minutes sa weights.

Saktong katatapos ko lang ng bumukas yung pinto ng kwarto at bumungad yung pigura ni Terry.

"Ang aga mo naman gumising?" Kinusot nito yung mga mata. Halatang inaantok pa.

Dinampot ko yung nakaready kong face towel. Sweats forming on my forehead.

"Good morning. I haven't prepared breakfast yet. Gutom ka na ba? Give me fifteen minutes."

To my surprise, lumapit sakin si Terry at niyakap ako kahit pawis na pawis ako.

"Terry, let go. Amoy pawis ako. Magpapahinga lang ako ng onti tapos maliligo ako ulit at magpapalit ng damit."

She sniffed my scent.

"Hindi ka naman mabaho e. Kahit yata pawisan ka na, amoy marshmallows ka pa din." mas lalo pa nitong idinikit yung mukha sa likod ko.

Natatawang kinalas ko yung pagkakayakap nya sa bewang ko.

"No, microorganisms like moist. They build up kapag ganito na basa yung likod at masyad—"

Terry leaned forward at iniharap ako dito. Hinatak nito yung leeg ko. And with a tiptoe ay hinalikan ako.

Not just a normal smack. Yung kiss na kagaya ng lagi naming ginagawa.

Kung hindi pa kami mauubusan ng hangin ay hindi pa sya kakalas.

"So how was it, doctor? I haven't brushed my teeth yet." Ngumiti pa ito at kumindat. "There's microorganisms living in my mouth na napasa ko na sayo."

Tila dazed naman na unti-unting nag register iyon sa utak ko.

Terry's right. Hindi pa sya nag to-toothbrush. Did I find it gross?