IN THE PAST 3 days, he can really see that she is exhausted. Fauzia slept for 2 days after he gave her the special medicine.Hindi na siya magugulat pa kung matagal pang magigising si Fauzia. Bumabawi na ang katawan niya sa tulog.Pinakatitigan lamang niya ang dalaga hanggang sa napagpasiyahan niyang suklayin ang buhok nito.Hindi pa man umiinit ang kamay siya sa buhok nito ay napahinto siya nang gumalaw ito bahagya pero hindi naman nagising.Halos isang oras lamang siya doon at ang ginawa niya ay suklayin ang buhok nito habang iniisip ang lahat ng nangyari sa dalaga. Iyon na ang hinding-hindi na maalis sa isipan niya na hindi niya matanggap.Yesterday, he finally has the guts to know her history. And that was very traumatic for him, there’s no word to describe how much pain she must’ve felt and it’s making him so angry even if the happening itself didn’t came from Fauzia’s lips.After a minute or so, he gently remove her arms that was wrapped around him.He, then, go down to see his f

AFTER their dinner he asked his friends to play another game to pass the time, Fauzia is still asleep when he entered the room.Good thing she’s resting, he’s aiming for her to get better momentarily. No more doubts, worries, and pain that’ll aggravate her. He yearned for Fauzia’s gazes, that will gaze at him without fear. “So, what are we gonna play?” Helios was clapping avidly.“Let’s group into three first, I pick Efron and Lark in my team ‘Austin the great’.” Hinila niya ang dalawa.“Then we are the Tres Mario’s.” singit naman ni Lysandros, tinuturo si Anthony at Lawrence.Nagkatinginan naman ang tatlong natira.Sila Lazzini, Lennon at Helios ay parang diring-diri sa mga pagmumukha ng isa’t isa. “Ant! Let’s switch up. I don’t like these two.” Lennon cringe.“Don’t worry, L. We don’t like you too,” balintuna ni Helios, hindi siya pinansin ni Lennon.“Sorry, bro, we don’t accept bad players in our team,” tudyo pa ni Lawrence.Lennon dramatically sat on the couch. “Fine! Explain the

HINDI niya alam kung anong isasagot. Nagpatuloy pa rin ang binata. “Fuck, I may not know you completely but I’m willing to take care of you.”“You’ll take care of me even if….” She trailed off, thinking carefully to what she will going to say.“I don’t even know myself anymore…. I don’t even love myself. And yet you’re saying these things to me?” she scoffed.“Wala kang mapapala saakin, sinasayang mo lang oras mo saakin.” Sa katunayan ay nagulat siya sa sarili, naituwid niya ng ayos ang gusto niyang sabihin. Dahil na rin siguro sa emosyon na nag-uumapaw sa kaniyang dibdib.“This may be cringe but I will shower you with my love. Your soul may be scattered but please let me fix it until you can be able to love yourself, to know your worth. It’s okay if you’re struggling for trusting me, I’ll work harder to open your eyes that not everything around you is a threat,” mahabang sabi niya, hindi man lang pinansin ang salungat niyang pananaw. Hindi siya natinag, iisa pa rin ang nasa isip ni

HE CLEARED his throat to asked again. “Are you scared when I touch you?” nakita niyang sinilip siya ni Austin, hinawi ang buhok na tumatabing sa mukha niya.“Sometimes, but let me know if you’re going to touch me. Okay lang ba?” tanong nito. Iwas ang mata kay Austin.“Yea, I can do that.” Silence filled the room, wala na muling nagsalita sakanilang dalawa hanggang sa naramdaman ni Austin ang pantay na paghinga ng dalaga.Tulog na ito, maingat na inayos ni Austin ang nakabaluktot na higa nito, tumagili siya habang nakatungkod ang kamay sa ulo niyang para panuorin ang dalaga na mahimbing nang natutulog.Pumasok lang sa isip niya na hindi nakainom ng gamot ang dalaga, umusal ng panalangin si Austin na hindi siya dalawin ng bangungot.She got out of her room, since her room is locked her only option was the window.It’s already past midnight when she weakly run away, she’s thankful. There’s no one outside the house.Nasa harapan na siya ng gate, nag-iisip kung paano makakalusot doon, masya

NOONG napansin siya ni Austin, mabilis na pinunasan nito ang luha at ngumiti sa kaniya na parang walang nangyari.“Why did you run? You scared me.” He tried to laugh but failed. “May nagawa ba ako na hindi mo nagustuhan? Tell me babaguhin ko.”Bago pa man siya nakasagot dito bigla nalang nitong ipinatong ang noo sa balikat niya, iniyakap nito ang braso sa kaniyang bewang.Hindi siya gumalaw, tumigil ang kaniyang paghinga sa bilis ng pangyayari.They stayed like that for a minute until Austin spoke. “I saw you froze when you looked at my parents.” Nagulat siya sa sinabi nito. “You know them?” tanong pa ulit nito. “If you can’t answer me it’s okay. You have your reasons.”Halos mapahiyaw siya ng binuhat siya ni Austin hanggang sa ilapag siya nito sa kama. “I’ll let you rest. Gagawa lang ako ng hapunan natin.” Saka ito lumabas at naiwan siya doon na malalim ang iniisip.As Austin got out of the room he let out a deep breath, his back pinned on the wall while his hands are on his eyes rubb