Tempted Heart (FREE TO READ)

Kabanata 8

KABANATA 8

WALA sa sarili akong nahiga sa kama ko. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa sinabi niya. Kahit ang makinig sa kanya kanina pagkatapos ng sinabi niya ay hindi na halos pumasok sa isipan ko.

He just confessed at me. But I don’t know how to handle his confession.

I surrendered. I realized that I like him too. I’m not that vocal to just say it to him because that was maybe embarrassing. I just knew him but I think that is not the condition for him. It’s like he knew me for a long time. I shifted on my bed uncomfortably. This is not good.

Naputol ang pag-iisip ko ng tumunog ang cellphone ko. Agad ko itong inabot at tiningnan ang caller.

It’s Achilles.

Bumangon ako at piniling maupo sa kama bago sinagot ang tawag niya.

“H-hello.”

“Are you okay? I’m sorry about earlier.” His rough voice lingers on my ears.

I bite my lips. “I’m good.”

Marahas siyang bumuntong hininga sa kabilang linya.

“I meant what I said, Bree.” He seriously said.

“I don’t know what to say.” I replied immediately.

“You don’t have to say anything. I’ll wait..”

Pumikit ako ng mariin.

“I—Okay..” Tanging nasabi ko.

My heart is beating non-stop.

“Will you sleep now?” He asked again.

“Yeah.”

“Okay. I’ll hang up now. Goodnight.” He was about to end the call but I stopped him.

“Achilles..wait!” I stand up to support my words.

“What is it?”

Natahimik ako, pilit na pinapatatag ang sarili sa mga sasabihin pa.

“You don’t have to wait.”

“What do you mean?” His voice was so heavy right now.

I readied myself. “I like you too, Achilles…”

Wala akong narinig na sagot sa kanya. Bigla akong kinabahan dahil tumahimik siya bigla.

Then suddenly I heard his silent and slow curses. Agad akong nag-alala.

“A-achilles? A—are you fine in there?”

“Yes.” Huminga siya ng malalim. “Yes, my Bree.”

Napangiti ako sa tawag niya sa akin.

“I’m going to personally asked you tomorrow again. I don’t want to just ask you over the phone. Thank you for this...”

Hindi ako makasagot dahil sa tuwa. Kinikilig ako at gusto ko nang sumigaw.

“Goodnight, Achilles.” Tanging nasabi ko nalang.

“Goodnight, my Bree.”

I felt like I was in the air, floating above the sky. Hindi mapuknat ang ngiti sa aking labi habang naiisip ang pinag-uusapan namin kanina. I never like a guy like this before. I was not sure at first because I think it will be too early for me, but I can’t seem to find a fault on that.

It’s just liking him is just the end point of all my possible irrational thoughts. I can’t even object about it.

“Nak?” Napabangon ako ng wala sa oras ng marinig ang katok ni Mama sa labas ng kwarto ko.

“Bukas po iyan, Ma.” Sigaw ko.

Pumasok si Mama at kaagad humiga ng tabi sa akin.

“Kakauwi mo lang, Ma?”

Tumango siya. Nakabihis na siya ng pantulog. Hindi ko napansin ang ugong ng sasakyan kanina. Am I that happy to not notice my mother’s arrival?

“I will sleep here now. Miss ko na kasing makatabi ka, nak.” She said softly at me.

Agad akong ngumiti sa sinabi niya. Humiga ako at mas sumiksik sa gilid niya. She then wrapped her hands around my shoulders.

“Ma, may itatanong ako.” Saad ko sa kanya sa ilang minuto naming pananahimik.

“What is it?”

“Paano po kayo nagkakilala ni Papa? It’s okay if you don’t answer it.”

Ngumiti siya sa akin ng matamis. Hinawakan niya ang pisngi ko at kinurot ng marahan.

I giggled at that.

“Ikaw talaga..Well, your father and I meet accidentally. Halos malapit kaming magkabanggaan ng sasakyan niya noon noong unang kita namin. He was actually your lolo’s godson and he was visiting him at that time. Dahil hindi pa ako masiyadong bihasa mag-drive that time kaya napagalitan ako ng lolo mo. Your father was mad at me that time too but when he saw me clearly he looked so shocked. I don’t know if he was shocked at my beauty or something.” Humalakhak siya sa huling sinabi.

She looks so happy while recalling everything about their past.

“I just don’t know where did I start liking him. Umabot nalang sa panahon na gusto ko siyang makita araw araw. I always need his presence everyday. I don’t even like him the first day I saw him. Your father was a gorgeous man, Bree. One thing I like about his face is his gray eyes. The same eyes with yours. That’s why I always like staring at it, I always love staring his eyes. It feels like I am staring at him too.”

I felt the lump on my throat. “Is that the reason why you can’t hate him?”

She then looked at me and smiles again.

“There are thousands of meanings when it comes to love, Bree. There’s love that’s too much, that it can even kill you. But there’s also love that was unconditional and full of understanding. And I choose that love, Bree.”

I felt the heaviness of her words.

“Why, Ma?”

“When you love, you must understand each other too. In my view, I choose to understand him and never planted any hatred towards him. I wanna live my life with so much happiness with you. I have you already when he left me. Kung kinamumuhian ko siya hanggang ngayon, hindi ko alam kong paano ka aalagaan ng tama ngayon. I know he loves me, Bree. And I thank him every day for giving me the precious fruit of his love to me and that was you, nak.”

Halos madurog ang puso ko sa sinabi niya.

All this time, the love she wanted me to understand was that. It was the love that was above all. The greatest love of all indeed.

I don’t know what I will do without her.

“I’m sorry, Mama.” My voice cracked.

She hugged me tightly and hushed me for crying too hard.

“Ang iyakin naman ng anak ko.” Malumanay niyang saad sa akin.

Kahit may kaunting luhang bumabadya sa pisngi ko ay napatawa ako sa sinabi niya. She immediately wiped those tears away.

“I’m sorry for everything I’d said against Papa. I may not fully understand everything now, but I know in myself I can forgive him.”

I said honestly.

“That’s my baby.” Then she hugged me again.

“I love you, Mama.”

She kissed my forehead. “I love you too, my Braises.”

Masarap ang naging gising ko kinaumagahan. Wala na si Mama sa tabi ko dahil maaga na naman ang duty niya pagkagising ko. I felt so alive more than ever. Nagawa ko na ang assignment ko kagabi at ibibigay ko nalang ito kay Achilles. Speaking of that man, I can’t wait to see him too. I’m excited and a little bit nervous.

“Bree!” Tawag sa akin ni Maria ng makita akong papasok sa library.

“Good morning…” I greeted her.

“Aga natin, ah!” Puna niya sa akin. Lumapit ang mukha niya sa akin kaya napaatras ako. “May something sa iyo today.”

I arched my brows.

“Ang ganda mo ngayon. Well, maganda ka naman talaga. Pero mas blooming ka today.” She eyed me suspiciously.

“Kayo na ni Achilles no?”

Namilog ang mata ko sa sinabi niya.

Napanganga siya sa reaksiyon ko. “Kayo na?!” She asked shocked.

Urgh! I can’t stand her high pitch voice. Nag-iinit ang mukha ko. Iniwan ko nalang siya at naunang mag-log in pero nakasunod siya sa akin.

“Namumula ka, Bree?!!” Mahinang sabi niya sa akin.

I rolled my eyes at her.

“Oh my Gosh! News flash, dalaga ka na.”

Naloloka akong tumigil sa paglalakad at nilingon siya. I glared at her.

Tumawa lang siya. “Walang kang kinwento sa akin, Bree.”

“Wala namang dapat ikwento dahil hindi kami.” I said straightly at her. “You are just assuming, Maria.”

Umismid lang siya sa sinabi ko.

Pero agad din siyang natigilan ng may makita sa likod ko.

“Is that Rossette?” She suddenly said.

Napabaling ako sa itinuro niyang direksiyon.

My heart sunk when I saw Achilles and Rossette sitting right next to each other. Rossette is leaning to him like she’s whispering something but Achilles didn’t even move while still staring at the papers his holding with. Ilang beses itong kinausap ni Rossette pero hindi man lamang ito lumingon kaya naiilang at nahihiyang umalis na lang ito sa table na kinauupuan niya.

I felt relieved after seeing that.

“Wow! Loyal ang asawa mo ha?” Maria said.

Hinigit niya kaagad ako patungo sa table ni Achilles.

“Hi, Achilles!” It was her who greeted him first. Achilles then lifted his face to us.

“Good morning.” Saad niya kay Maria bago ako binalingan.

Kinakabahan akong yumuko at iniwas ang tingin sa kanya. Why does he look so handsome today? Pati tuloy ako ay naco-concious sa sarili.

“Ipapasa na sana namin iyong assignment namin.” Maria said.

Inilahad niya ang sa kanya, kinuha naman kaagad ito ni Achilles. I was about to hand mine too but Maria already bid her goodbye.

“Mauna na ako, Bree. May pupuntahan pa ako, eh. Kita nalang tayo sa room mamaya.” She said then immediately walked away.

“Ha? Hintayin mo nalang ako, ipapasa ko lang naman din to.” I said pero iniwan niya na talaga ako.

Kaya wala akong nagawa kundi ang tahimik na ibigay kay Achilles ang akin.

“Sit here first.” He said before eyeing me sharply.

Hindi ako tumitinging sumunod sa sinabi niya.

“B-bakit?” Tanong ko ng makaupo. “M—may mali ba sa sagot ko?”

He put down the papers his holding with and focuses his all attention on me. He even shifted his body parallel to mine. Naramdaman ko ang init sa buong anit ko ng makita siyang parang lawing nakatutok ang mata sa akin.

“Why are you avoiding me?” Malamig niyang tanong sa akin.

“I’m not!” Sabay angat ng tingin sa kanya.

His brows twitch in a manly manner. “Really, huh?”

Tumango ako.

He licked his lips. “Umupo ka dito.” Utos niya sa akin.

Nilingon ko siya. Akmang tatanggihan ko siya pero hindi ako nakaalma ng tumaas ng bahagya ang kilay niya.

“You are staring too much at me, Braises.” He smirked.

Napaawang ang labi ko sa kanya. “Y—you were just in my line of my vision. Hindi ako nakatitig.” I lied.

I saw him put down his red pen. Malutong na halakhak ang pinakawalan niya.

“You could have just denied it in a convincing way though. You shouldn’t lie with your boyfriend, Braises.”

Namilog ang mata ko sa sinabi niya.

“You are my girlfriend now. You don’t have to be nervous when you’re around me.” He whispered that made me breathless.

So, this is the confirmation he wanted to talk personally? I was never prepared. I thought he would ask me first. Ganito ba iyon?

Namulusok ang panibagong init sa aking mukha.

“I’m not nervous.” Saad ko sa mahinang boses.

He chuckled at me.

“So beautiful.”

Nang hindi nakatiis sa titig niya ay nanahimik na lang ako sa tabi niya. Siya naman ay tahimik ring nag-checheck ng mga papel.

I can’t believe he’s my boyfriend now. Well, actually he is my first. Still, I don’t know how it works.

“Can I go now?” I asked an hour later.

Nilingon niya ako.

“Why?”

“May klase pa ako.”

He eyed me suspiciously.

“You don’t have classes this morning, baby.”

Naiiskandalo akong tumikhim. What the heck? B—baby? Para akong nilalagnat sa init.

“H-how did you know?”

He winked at me. “You’re my girlfriend, I should know.” He said seriously like it was the perfect answer.

I can’t say a word. Ganon ba iyon?

Then…

“Can I see your schedule too?” I said without thinking.

Natigil siya sa ginawa niya at mas naging malalim ang paghinga niya ng bumaling sa akin.

Did I do something wrong? Patay ka, Braises!

“Achilles?” Tawag ko sa kanya ulit.

Natauhan siya at tumitig sa akin ulit.

Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at mahigpit na hinawakan iyon. Mas nag-init ang pakiramdam ko dahil sa ginawa niya. I felt like I was about to explode!

“You’ll be the death of my weak heart, my Bree.” He said. “Sadly, you really looked innocent while saying it. Should I ready my meds now, huh?” He whispered at me.

Napatingin ako sa kanya.

“W-what? May sakit ka?” I asked him worried.

Natawa na siya ng tuluyan sa akin.

“I’m so really in love with you.”