All Over Again

CHAPTER 24: Good Night, GOOD NIGHT

Venice's POV

I laid on the bed, silently counting the number of times na nag-tturn si Jerwin. He's trying to find a comfortable position. Nakakaasar na kaseh kanina pa sya nag-ttwist and turn, pero, at the same time, I guess I kinda understand.

The bed is made from bamboo. It's a little bit smaller than a queen-sized bed. The mattress is not the softest, most comfortable mattress in the world. You can almost feel the hardness of the bamboo beneath it. It's kinda cold; may mga butas dun sa bintana -- we can even hear the wind whistling through the holes..

We're sharing a blanket that's too small to be shared.. The pillows are almost flat. It also doesn't help na the room is really cramped. It's everything a rich kid like him has never imagined he would find himself into.

After he turned to his side one more time, umikot na rin ako, and I found myself face to face with him. He has his eyes shut closed, pero halata naman na pinipilit nya lang na isarado ung mata nya. Siguro iniisip nya baka sakaling makatulog rin sya kung pipikit nya ung mata nya..

Ako: Jerwin...

He opened one eye.

Jerwin: Hm?

Ako: Di ka makatulog?

This time, both eyes opened and even in the darkness, I could almost see him looking at me.

Jerwin: *sigh* Yea.. It sucks coz I'm exhausted and we have to wake up early tomorrow...

Ako: Relax.. Well, I know, medyo nahihirapan kang mag-relax kasi kamusta naman.. Di ka naman sanay na matulog sa ganito katigas na kama.. But, just stop thinking about tomorrow, ok?

Jerwin: Easy for you to say. Mr. Gordon almost had a panic attack when I called him and said we'd be spending the night somewhere else. I better make sure that I'm not late for the photoshoot daw.

Ako: Well, why didn't you ask him to come and pick us up then?

Jerwin: You crazy? And let him know we got lost.....

Ang pride mo Kuya.. Di mo naman kasalanan na nawala tayo -__-

Ako: Okay.. Well, just don't worry about it. Sabi naman ni Aling Marie, gigisingin nya tayo around 7 AM, di ba? That's good enough.

Jerwin: *sigh* I know.

Ako: You know, you really interacted well with those people.

Jerwin: Hm?

Ako: Sina Manong Ben.. May sarili ka rin namang kaartehan sa buhay, lam mo? Pero tonight.. You talked with Manong Ben na parang ka-level mo sya.. Tapos, di ka pa nagreklamo nung binigyan tayo ni Aling Marie na pamalit na damit, although di mo alam kung anong detergent yung ginamit panglaba.. I mean, tinikman mo pa ung lambanog. Samantalang nung dinalhan kita nung minsan ng kwek-kwek, halos mamatay ka na sa intensity ng pagtanggi mo.

He rolled over and looked at the ceiling. Nahiya?

Ako: Tapos, you listened patiently dun sa mga drunk rantings ni Manong Ben tungkol sa economy, sa hirap ng buhay, at chuva-chuva.

Jerwin: Weren't you tutoring Jose during that time?

Ako: Kasalanan ko bang may tenga ako? Natawa si Jerwin, then he shifted his position and faced me again.

Jerwin: You know, it'd be really cool to stay here for a few more days. Kung pwede lang, I would really want to know how their lives work.. They can barely live through every day with the little pay Manong Ben gets from the farm. Tapos, pinag-aaral pa nila si Jose. I just realized how blessed I am to be born into the "luckier" level of society.

Natulala ako.

O_o

Si Jerwin ba itong kausap ko? O_O

Bakit parang ang profound ng pinagsasabi ni Kuya? Nalasing kaya sya dun sa kakapiranggot na lambanog na ininom niya?

Nagiging profound siya pag lasing? O___O

Jerwin: What? Why are you looking at me like that?

Ako: Wala lang. Ang profound ng mga pinagsasabi mo eh. Gusto mo nang maging Philanthropist?

Jerwin: Hmmmm... That doesn't sound so bad.

Ako: Really?

Jerwin: Venice, maybe I can help families like this one. I can put aside some of the money I make, and then donate them to charities.. or.. or.. maybe help poor kids get to school.

Ay, nagiging santo si Kuya..

O__O

At na-eexcite sya sa idea nyang maging santo.

Who would've thought na may "Good side" din pala 'tong taong 'toh...

Ako: That'd be nice... Pero, for now, how about you get some sleep.. Baka mabugbog pa ko ni Mr. Gordon pag umappear ka sa photoshoot na may mala-backpack na eyebags. Ok?

Jerwin: But.. you don't think it's a good idea?

Ako: Adik ka ba? I think it's the best idea you've ever had!

Jerwin: What's that supposed to mean? -___-

I smiled at him, and brushed a stray strand of his hair to the side. He looked kinda taken aback by the sudden show of gentleness.. nyahahaha

Ako: Just get some sleep, ok? If you still want to talk about that thing tomorrow, I'll listen.

Jerwin: Okay...

He shut his eyes. I stared at him for a few moments.. How come people always look so vulnerable and peaceful when they're sleeping? Kaya maraming pinapatay habang tulog eh..

I rolled over on my side and closed my eyes too. I felt Jerwin shift.. I ignored it. Baka trip nya lang humarap dun sa kabilang side.

Then I felt him shift his position again.. and again.. and again.

PANO KA BA NAMAN MATUTULOG NG GANITO?!?

Umikot ako and found myself looking at his back. Naka-sleeveless na shirt lang sya -- pahiram ni Manong Ben -- and it was a little loose kaya medyo naka-expose yung muscles dun sa arms nya andBparang ang strong-looking nung likod niya.

I wriggled my hand out of the blanket, and lightly traced shapes on the part just below his shoulders then I slowly eased myself palapit dun sa likod nya para ipatong ung ulo ko dun sa likod nya..

Jerwin: What are you doing?

I stopped.

Ako: O___O Uh.. Nag-cchant ng spell para makatulog ka na.

What kind of excuse is that, Venice!?!?

He turned around and faced me. Napabalik kagad ako dun sa dati kong pwesto, sabay smile.

Jerwin: Chant? What are you, a witch?

Ako: Bakit ba? You'll never know unless you tried noh.

Jerwin: So, is that why you're drawing weird shapes on my back?

Ako: Yea~ Hay nako, never mind na nga lang.

I turned over to the other side to hide my face from him. My golay, buti na lang at may pagka-madilim, kung hinde, kamusta naman ang pula ng face ko.

Ano ba naman 'tong pinaggagawa ko?!?

Jerwin: If you really wanna help me go to sleep... How about a song?

Ako: Ano?!?

Jerwin: Not too loud though.. I think the walls are kinda thin.

Hay. -__-

Umikot ulit ako and faced him. Mas mabuti nang rebound toh, kundi, baka asarin nya pa ko hanggang bukas tungkol sa pag-cchant ko.

Ako: *sings softly* Rock-a-bye, baby--

Jerwin: Ano naman yan?

Ako: Sabi mo, kantahan kita?!? Rereklamo ka pa dyan.

Jerwin: Sing the other one.

Ako: Anong "other one"? May iba pa bang rock-a-bye baby?

Jerwin: No. Sing "You Are My Sunshine"

At may special request pa pala talaga.. -___-

Ako: *sings softly again* You are my sunshine

My only sunshine

You make me happy, when skies are gray

You'll never know, dear

How much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away..

Pagdating ng second verse, I stopped singing. Jerwin was already snoring lightly.

Jerwin's POV

-___-

Dammmnnn.. It's cold.

I tried to open my eyes from my slumber, and realized na kaya pala malamig, eh dahil nakahilata ako sa kama without a blanket. I pulled myself up and looked at Venice. Angkinin ba naman yung kumot?!?! And really, konting ikot nya na lang, mahuhulog na sya sa kama.. Her legs are all over the place.. And is her mouth partly open? O_O

How can a lady sleep like that?

*yaawwwwwwnnnn*

I wonder what time it is.. It looks like it's still pretty dark outside..I tried to pull the blanket off of Venice para naman may protection din ako from the cold.. Then I scooped her up gently and inusog sya dun sa gitna nung kama.

I slid back down the bed facing her. She looks like an angel deep in her sleep. I took her arm, and then gently pulled her closer to me. Her weight shifted and she sleepily turned towards me. I felt her wrap an arm around my waist. She buried her face on my chest, and I buried my face in her hair. And I went back to my sleep.