One Step Closer (COMPLETED)

Chapter 22

Amelia Martini

I BLINKED once and then twice. Minsan ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na nandito si Blaine sa harap ko at wala ng kahit ano mang galit at pagsisisi sa puso ko. I used to hate him and now I regret it already. That wrath made me forget how calm my heart gets when I am with Blaine.

Walang mapagsisidlan ang kaligayahang nararamdaman ko ngayon. No, I am not on my dream destination nor at home with my bed but I am happy. The kind of happiness that gives you peace of mind. Sa loob ng ilang taon, kung saan saan ko hinanap ang kaligayahan na natagpuan ko kay Blaine. Yes, I found it by being me and prioritizing myself above anything else but its a different level of happiness when you get to love someone wholeheartedly after loving yourself first.

This isn't my ideal kind of date but its more than that. It's eleven in the evening, almost half of the city asleep and here we are, on his kitchen relieving the old times.

I was slicing some hotdogs when I smelled his aftershave. Ilang segundo lang ay naramdaman ko na ang paglapat ng dibdib niya sa likod ko.

"I still can't believe you're back." he whispered so close to my ear, it made me shivver.

"Ako rin." napatigil ako sa paghihiwa at sumilip sa kanya sa gilid. "I am so happy you still love me."

Dinikit niya na ng tuluyan ang pisngi niya sa pisngi ko at hinigpitan ang yakap niya sa akin. "It's so ironic."

"What is?"

"I was the one who left but I've always felt like you were the one whose not coming back."

"Even when you told me not to wait, I still did. Even when you asked me to let you go, I was still holding on. Even when you left, my heart was with you. Pakiramdam ko hindi naman ako tuluyang lumayo sa iyo. I may be miles afar but you flew away with my heart. Hindi ko maisip kung paanong ikaw pa rin ang mahal ko sa loob ng pitong taon but I guess that is how love works, if its for you, it'll stay."

Bumaba ang mukha niya sabay nang pagpatong ng baba niya sa aking balikat. "Don't worry, this love will stay."

"Hopefully, our love will stay, baby."

Ngumisi siya at huling huli iyon ng aking mga mata. "You called me baby. I shouldn't tell you this but everytime you do that, I feel the damn butterflies inside my stomach." he kissed me on my shoulder blade. "I love you, all of you."

"I love you too. Pero pwedeng mamaya mo na ako lingkisin? I am starving and I want to eat already."

"Okay." unti unti siyang umalis mula sa pagkakayakap sa akin pero nanatili siyang nakatayo malapit sa akin. "What does my baby want?"

Napairap ako sa hanging dahil para bang lumipata ng mga paroparo sa aking tiyan. Why does it have to sound like that? Why does my heart flutter everytime he calls me 'baby'. Wala naman akong panama dahil sa mga titig pa lang niya, nagpa-party na sa tiyan ko.

"Magluluto lang ako so we could it." Binaba ko ang kutsilyong hawak at lumingon sa kanya. "Can we talk after?"

His brows furrowed. "Talk about what?"

"About us. I just want to know everything that happened with you. Pwede ba iyon?"

Mahina siyang tumawa at hinalikan ang tuktok ng aking ulo. "Of course. You are part of my book."

"Oo na, just stay there and don't come near me again!" banta ko sa kanya. "Let me cook for you this time."

Sumunod naman siya at pumwesto na lang sa harap ng breakfast table. Nakaharap siya sa akin habang patuloy ako sa ginagawa ko. His arms crossed and here I am with half of concentration almost gone. Naiilang pa rin ako sa mga titig niya. Para bang mayroon akong supervisor na nakamasid sa akin habang naghihiwa ako ng mga sangkap.