Kabanata 49

He wrapped her in his arms and kissed the top of her forehead. Pinikit niya naman ang kanyang mga mata at bumuntong hininga. Hindi niya alam kung anong oras sila natapos. But she’s here, comfortably lying beside him.

“This will remain between us, right?” mahinang tanong niya rito.

It took Leon moments to answer her question. “Well, yeah. It will.”

That made her smile. “That’s good to hear.”

Hindi niya alam kung ano na ang mangyayari sa kanila ngayon. Something happened between them and none of them are drunk. In other words, pareho nilang ginusto ang nangyayari ngayon. And she’s scared. She’s scared not because of her secrets, but because of her heart.

It’s beating.

Hindi siya tanga para paulit-ulit na i-deny ang mga nararamdaman niya. She can feel it. Alam niya kung ano ang rason ng pagbilis ng tibok ng kanyang dibdib. Alam niya ‘yon. At ito ang kanyang kinakatakutan.

“You’re silent… again,” he said.

Dinilat niya ang kanyang mga mata at nag-angat ng tingin kay Leon. “Mahal mo