Chapter 48

Naalimpungatan ako dahil sa tunog ng gitara, unti unti kong minulat ang mata ko at nakita sa screen si Coltrane na hawak ang paborito nyang gitara na galing sa akin last month. He loves that guitar so much, mas baby na nga nya yan kaysa sa akin.

"For whatever might have been

And all that it never was

Whatever I couldn't see

And all that I didn't want

There was a method to my madness girl

That wasn't clear to me

Until the day I saw your face

When I saw everything

For I saw us dancing through sunshine and rain

And I saw us laughing through joy and through pain

And I saw time passing but we did not change

And I still saw us together at the end of every day

Whenever you want it

Whenever you need it

Whatever you feel like, it's gon' be like

You better believe it

Whenever you feel like dancing

You don't have to dance alone, no

You know, you know, you know

You should already know

I choose you"

Pasimple akong nagpunas ng luha habang magiliw na pinapakinggan ang pagkanta nya. This man never fails to surprise me with his sweetness.

"Sorry to wake you up, baby. Happy monthsary" sinulyapan ko ang wall clock at nakitang alas dose na ng madaling araw.

"Happy seventh monthsary, love." Ang bilis nga pala talaga ng oras. I still can't believe we've been together for seven amazing months!

And yes I call him Love now, sometimes boo boo bear!

"Open the door"

"What? Are you outside?" Tumango sya kaya kahit inaantok ay bumangon ako. I saw him holding a cake and a balloon.

"Sino nagpapasok sa'yo?" Napalingon ako nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses sa likod ko.

"Me, little sister!" Nakita ko si Kuya. "Kakadating mo lang?" Tumango sya at yumakap sa akin.

"See I told you, you'll end up loving your favorite kupal" bulong nya sa akin habang nakayakap pa rin sa akin.

"Kaya dapat mag girlfriend ka na din" I joked. He told me he's dating someone pero hindi nya sinabi kung sino. Kaya pala hindi siya umuuwi! Nagpaalam na syang matulog and he reminded us to behave, mabait kaya kami ni Coltrane.

It wasn't the first time that they allowed him to sleep with me, we're legal and he asks for my parent's approval first.

"Alas dose na nagmaneho ka pa"

"Kanina pa ako dito actually, I fetched your brother and played mortal kombat with him for an hour"

"So you lied to me?" Taas kilay kong tanong. "I only lie for the success of my surprises for you"

"Aww" I hugged him and kissed his cheeks. "Thank you, happy monthsary, love"

"I love you, baby" he kissed my forehead and tucked loose strands of my hair behind my ear.

"Anong gusto mong pasalubong?" He asked, ngumuso lang ako at sinubsob ang mukha ko sa dibdib nya. He's leaving for a week, kailangan nya kasing umattend sa birthday ni Mamila. Sinasama nya ako pero hindi naihabol ang passport ko, nag expire na pala kasi hindi ko na matandaan kung kailan ko siya huling ginamit, parang five years ago na.

"Azrielle, babalik rin ako. Don't be too sad, I'll chat and call you."

"I'll miss you so much" humalik sya sa sentido ko at niyakap ako ng mahigpit. "I'll miss you too baby, so much. I'll be back before you know it"

"Yeah, because we'll celebrate our eight monthsary together, and also your birthday" next week is our eight monthsary, and the day after that is his birthday! My baby is turning twenty two!

"Uwi ka kaagad okay? Wala akong review buddy" he chuckled and pressed his lips on mine. "Oh, don't cry Azrielle. I don't want you crying." Hinalikan nya ako saka nya hinalikan ang mga mata ko.

Kinalma nya ako at niyakap ng mayakap. Nang kumalma ako ay tumulong akong magayos ng gamit nya. Magkahawak kamaynkami habang papunta sa airport.

"I love you so much, baby girl. I have to go now" paalam nya. Siya lang ang aalis, sila Tita, Tito at Suzette ay maiiwan. "Hey mom, take care okay"

He kissed his mom and sister, he kissed me too before leaving.

Pigil luha ako habang pinapanuod syang naglalakad palayo, nakakainis I'm such a cry baby! One week lang naman, pero kahit na! I'll miss him so much. I think I'm crazy!

Walang gana akong naglalakad sa hallway ng school, first day na wala si Coltrane na kasabay kong naglalakad dito habang hawak ang kamay ko.

Hindi pa siya nagcha-chat, maybe he's still on his way to Spain, or baka kakarating nya doon at pauwi na sa bahay nila Mamila.

"Wala si boyfie?" Tanong ni Amerie. I sighed heavily and nodded my head. "Spain." Maikling sagot ko. I opened my book and played with my pen. How to function?

"Oh, Coltrane texted me to check on you. Kumain ka daw" pinakita sa akin ni Amerie ang message ni Coltrane. Bakit sa akin wala pang chat?

My heart jumped when my phone vibrated, He's calling! Nag ayos ako at ngumiti bago sinagot ang tawag nya.

"Baby, say hi" agad akong nag hi nang makita sa screen si Mamila. Miss na raw ako ni Lola at sayang dahil hindi ako nakasama. Nagpaalam na ako nang magsabi si Coltrane na aakyat na para magpahinga

"Sorry kakarating ko lang" he brushed his fingers to his tousled hair and smiled. "You should rest" sabi ko saka sumimsim sa milktea ko.

"You should eat too. Watch me sleep?" Tumango ako at binantayan syang matulog habang kumakain ako.

"I love you" I whispered softly before ending the call, nakatulog na sya at papasok na ako sa susunod kong subject. Hindi kami classmates ni Amerie sa subject na yon kaya mas lalo akong nalungkot.

"Hey" nilingon ko ang nagsalit sa tabi ko, si Eros. "Can we talk?"

"Of course.... not." Binilisan ko ang lakad ko pero dahil mas malaki ang hakbang nya ay nakakasabay parin sya sa akin.

"What do you want?" I scowled at him. "I just want to talk. I have a proposal" I looked at him puzzledly. Proposal? Business proposal?

"No"

"Just listen to me Azrielle and I'll stop bothering you and Coltrane" napatigil ako sa paglalakad at nilingon sya. "I stopped bothering you when I found out about you and Angeline, how about do the same thing and show us some respect, Eros?"

"Just this once, Azrielle. I just want my mom to be happy"

Humalukipkip ako at pumamewang "Three minutes" his eyes twinkled when he smiled.

"You know my mom likes you, and her birthday is tomorrow. Please be with me, pretend that we like each other. We don't have to touch or hold, just look at me sweetly, the way you look at me when you still love me" napailing ako at nagtangkang aalis pero hinila nya ang braso ko.

"Do you hear yourself, Eros? You're seriously asking me to cheat on Coltrane. If you don't want to stop bothering us, then don't. Just bring Angeline, be honest and be the perfect son that you are. Don't put me in that kind of situation, ayokong masira kami ni Coltrane. Masyado ko na syang mahal"

Hinila ko ang braso ko at nagmamadaling umalis. Crazy!