Chain of Restrictions

Kabanata 18

Surprise

When my brain processed what is happening, dali-dali ko siyang tinulak. Agad akong napatayo at kinuha ang bag. Maglalakad na sana ako when he held my left hand.

"L-Leigh." Nahihiya ako ngayon sa nangyari, and I don't know how to face him!

"Let's t-talk later, H-Hugh." Nauutal at di tumitingin na saad ko. I then gently remove his hold out from my wrist, at naglakad pa aalis.

I mindlessly walked along the crowd. Habang ang utak ko naman ay parang sirang plaka na paulit ulit na pag rewind sa nangyari. Nanginginig ang kamay na hinawakan ko ang aking labi. Dama ko pa rin ang kanyang labi sa akin. How soft his lips were when it touched mine. How warm it is kahit panandalian lamang.

Shit! I can't deny to myself na nagustuhan ko iyon!

While still thinking about it. I wasn't looking when I strongly bump into someone with my shoulders. Our crash was very powerful making me fall on the ground. Nabitawan ko naman ang pagkakahawak ko sa aking bag. Mahina akong napadaing ng maramdam ang sakit sa aking puwetan.

"Sorry, miss. Di ako tumitingin." Inangat ko ang aking tingin. It was a guy na nakasuot ng itim na hoody na jacket, at nakamask. He gave me my bag and let his hand out. I was about to hold his hand when someone held both of my shoulders and carefully made me stand up.

"It's fine." Mahinahong saad ni Hugh as he looks at the guy. Pero it was weird when the guy just instantly turned his back after he saw Hugh. He acted like nothing happened at nakihalo sa mga tao sa paligid. I didn't even get to say my thanks.

I felt Hugh dusting off the back of my skirt, making me slightly feel his hand on my butt. I immediately pushed him away, just enough for him to stop what he's doing.

"A-Ako na." Di pa ako naka move on sa nangyari kanina, and now he's touching my butt?

Sinuot ko ang bag ko pagkatapos kong pagpagin ang dumi.

"Are you okay, Leigh?" Nag-aalalang sabi niya. Napatigil ako sa aking ginagawa at napatingin sa kanya, na agad na bumaba sa kanyang namumulang labi. Di ko na naramdaman ang sakit sa aking puwet, instead I felt butterflies ng bumalik sa akin ang nangyari kanina. I felt myself turned red and was about to walk out again when he grabbed my waist, this time he tightened his hold on it. No plans of letting me go.

"Let's talk, okay?" He pulled me to a place where there are trees and benches. Hindi masyadong ma-tao dito, siguro dahil nanunuod sila sa fireworks doon sa open space.

"About what happened, it was accidental. You know that." Wala sa sarili akong napatango as my eyes fixated on his lips while he talks.

It was like everything then turned slow motion for me, as his voice was also fading into the background. All I can see is the way he parted his lips to talk, how his tongue flicked everytime he said something, and how he sexily closed it again.

"Baby, are you listening?" I was cut off from my reverie when he whisperly ask. When he saw the confusion in my eyes, he chuckled softly. He slightly leans his head to the left as if he finds me amusing.

"Why is my baby, so cute? Hm? Come here." Lumapit siya sa akin and with a cute smile on his lips, he pulled me in for a hug. I smiled as his manly cologne hit my nose.

Damn, Hugh. And your effect on me.

After that everything went back to normal but we still caught each other's looks whenever we think about that kiss. We then called Manong Roel and went home. He even sent me in front of my room.

"Okay, class next week will be your semester break so you need to finish what is needed to be finished. And about your research I talked to your teacher about it. And he agreed to check it online. That's all, class dismissed." Maam Castillo said and went out of class.

It's finally December! It means a break from studying!

"Hey, Kars. I didn't know you have a younger brother?" I asks as we walked towards the Cafe. Nagkita kami sa daan papuntang Cafe. Umuna si Hugh sa Cafe, said he has something to say with Katalina. Kinausap pa kasi ako ni Mayor, about our research.

"Yeah. He's a pain in the ass. But we're doing fine, naman." Napatawa ako ng para siyang napipilitang sabihin na okay lang. She then laughs along with me. Nang tanaw na namin ang salamin ng Cafe and saw our friends sitting. We wave our hands when Carter finds us outside of the Cafe's glass. It was weird when they dispersed from what they were doing. They even stopped talking and were just doing their own business.

What's happening? They're quite suspich.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Karsyn. She also finds it weird but we just shrugged our shoulders. We forgot we are a bunch of weirdos. We then continued walking and entered the cafe.

"Hugh." I called his attention. We are currently here in his room's veranda, just relaxing, while Hugh is busy with his phone. He stopped what he's doing and gave me his full attention. I felt my heart fluttered by what he did.

He set aside what he's doing... for me. Aww.

"Yes, baby?" He sweetly asks as he sits beside me on the excess chair.

I really want to ask him if he forgets about something. But nah. I'll let him figure it out.

"I want cuddles." He chuckled and with his left hand, he caressed my hair softly. Hinawakan niya ang aking kamay and what he did shocked me. Facing the right side. He pulled me in and made me sit on his thighs!

"There. Cuddles." He cutely said on my right ear as his arms then went on the side of me and warmly hugged me. I raised both of my eyes and encircled it on the back of his neck. I leaned in, my head is just right below his neck, where I can clearly hear the solemn beat of his heart.

Gumalaw siya at kinuha ang baso na naglalaman ng orange juice mula sa mesa. I can see how his adams apple, as it move from his every gulp. Naubos niya ito at binalik ito sa lamesa.

In the silence he softly hummed as he gently sway me back and forth. Napangiti naman ako when he hummed our favourite song 'Tonight' by FM STATIC. 'Di ko napansin na sa mahina niyang pag indayog ay nakatulog ako.

Nagising akong nasa higaan ako. Did he carry me here? I look at my bedside clock, it's 5:05 am. Maaga akong nagising maybe because I slept early. Naagaw ng pansin ko ang isang bagahe.

Is that my luggage?

Tumayo ako at tiningnan ito sa malapitan. It 'is' my luggage. I was about to open it to check kung ano ang laman, when someone knocked. I opened it.

"Morning, baby." Hugh greeted me as soon I opened the door. I smiled and greeted him too.

"Where are you going?" Nagtataka na wika ko when I saw him wearing a white shirt with prints on it, his casual black shorts and a black shoes. He winked at me and mysteriously smiled.

"It's where 'we're' going, baby." He then went to my room and grabbed my suitcase. He went down after he told me to change my clothes and wear a red shirt. Bumaba ako after just wearing a red off shoulder with long sleeves crop top, black high waisted jeans, and a pair of comfortable sandals.

I saw Mom and Dad, weirdly smiling at me.

What's happening people?

"Enjoy, sweetie." Mom said as she enveloped me with a hug. Dad just patted my back.

Enjoy what?

Manong Roel drove us to somewhere. And by the road. I think we're going south?

"W-What is this all about, Hugh?" Takang saad ko as he put a blind fold on me a while ago, and he's now guiding me to somewhere I don't know.

"Shush... baby. You'll see." I felt his left hand on my waist as he guided me to a staircase? Napahawak ako sa kanyang braso. He chuckled when I almost tripped. Naiinis ko naman siyang kinirot sa braso.

"Kreia! What is this?" Wait. Is that... Karsyn? And who? Kreia?

"Okay, baby. On the count of three remove your blindfold, okay?" He whispered in my ear. Tumango naman ako.

"One... two..." I heard voices counting.

"Three!" Tinanggal ko ang pagkakapiring ko.

"Happy Birthday! Dana and Karsyn!" I felt emotional with what I saw. It was my friends! They are gathered around a table with many dishes. Meron ding dalawang chocolate cake with two layers, where one cake has a photo of Karsyn and the other cake has mine.

Para kaming nag eendorse sa picture.

'Bili na kayo!'

Nagkatinginan kami ni Karsyn, who's also very surprise. Dahlia surprised us with a hug, muntikan naman kaming mapatumba.

"Happy 17th Birthday, bitches!" She greeted us happily and hugged us, I laughed as I hugged her back. Sumunod naman si Nicholette na tinakbo kami at hinagkan. Kreia, Katalina and Mika felt somewhat jealous then went to us for a group hug.

So, this is why they are acting weird for the past few days, huh.

"So we figured it out na ipag sabay na ang mga birthday niyo since same month naman. And di naman kasi tayo magkasama pag pasko na at sa new year. So yeah." Kreia explains while were on the same table. Tama naman.

Karsyn's birthday is on December 21, whilst mine is on December 29. She's a week older than me.

Napatingin naman ako kay Hugh when I felt him hold my hand under the table. He gave me an affectionate smile as soon as I looked at him. I happily smiled back and I tightened my hold on his. I felt his other hand on the back of mine and drew different shapes with his thumb.

Napabaling ako kay Mika when I felt her slightly nudge my feet under the table. She signaled someone across me. Napatigil ako when I saw Kreia looking at us, eyes full of questions. When she noticed that I was looking at her, she instantly smiled at me. She then looked at her left and watched Nicholette with her phone.

Does she know?

We all decided na mag-ayos muna ng mga gamit sa room. Habang papunta doon, I can see how big the Resort is. It has 5 pools and even has two long slides, sa malayo ay kitang-kita ang asul na dagat.

"Sa inyo talaga ang resort na ito, Katalina?" Mangha at di makapaniwalang tanong ni Karysn kay Katalina.

Kay Katalina to?

When I looked at Hugh for verification, he nodded his head. Nganga naman akong napatingin sa likuran ni Katalina. That's why alam niya ang pasikot-sikot dito. We actually have the whole resort for us.

Iba talaga kapag kaibigan ang may ari.

"N-Not really. Kay Daddy to, and he knew that Dana and Karsyn's birthday is up. Actually siya ang nagsabi sa akin na why not sa resort dawng ito ganapin. I was shocked pero sinabi ko sa mga kaibigan natin tungkol doon and that's how Kreia came up with a plan." I can't believe it. Alam ko naman na mayayaman to ang mga kaibigan ko but damn.

We girls will be staying in a one Villa, where Katalina's Dad had provided for us. As Hugh and Carter are also on the Villa next to ours. The villa actually has three rooms.

As for Hugh and Carter, it only has two rooms, just enough for them. Mika, Dahlia, and I will be sharing the one room. Katalina and Karsyn. And Nicholette with Kreia.

Since we have four days to spend here. We decided na bukas na lang namin enjoy-in talaga ang pagligo. Kasali na rin ang mga rides at sa dagat. At sa ngayon, we will just take photos for our social medias.

"Ilabas mo ang pwet mo, Nicholette!" Sigaw ni Dahlia, as Carter takes her photo with his DSLR camera. Nagpose naman si Nicholette at pilit na hinuhubog ang katawan para maganda sa litrato.

"Taena naman yan! Litrato na nga lang pahirap pa!" Naiinis na wika ni Nicholette as she stopped posing and just sat on the ground and continued posing. While Carter is taking her photos.

"Ikaw naman birthday girl." Mahina akong tinulak ni Katalina. Wala akong magawa kundi ang mag pose. They already have their photos taken already a while ago, ako na lang ang wala pa.

I place my left leg on front my right one and strike a pose. And for the next pose, I turned my back on them. And with the nice blow of the wind, I looked back on my left side, making my hair flawlessly flipped. Using my right fingers I purposely messed my hair, dagdag ganda sa litrato. Nakita kong napatigil si Carter sa pagkuha sa litrato at tumitig na lamang sa akin.

"Oy! Naku! May naaakit!" Kantyaw ni Nicholette. Mika slightly nudge her to make her stop. Sumunod naman sa pagkantyaw sina Dahlia, at Karsyn. I stopped posing at agad namula ang aking mukha, kita ko rin ang pamumula ng mukha ni Carter.

Napunta ang tingin ko kay Kreia where I saw her looking away. Nakaramdam ako ng matiim ng titig, sinundan ko iyon, and it was Hugh with a dimmed expression. Damn.

While we're in our room. My phone made a sound, it's a text. When I opened it, it was Carter.

Carter: Hi Dana. Can I have a talk with you? I just wanna give you something.

Me: Okay, no problem.

Carter: I'll wait near the first pool area.

I wear Hugh's hoody na nakita ko sa bagahe, at lumabas na rin. I went to where he is at. I then saw him standing near the pool and was somewhat checking his reflection on it.

"Hey." Mabilis naman itong napalingon sa akin. He happily smiled at me.

"Hi. Thanks for coming." He nervously said while his left hand is at his back. I smilingly nodded at him to make him feel that it's fine.

"I just wanna gave you this... as a birthday present. Happy Birthday, Dana." He removes his left hand from his back. Nagulat ako when it was a square white box.

"Nakita ko kasi na you have a single bracelet. So, I want to gave you another one. I hope you like it." Napatingin naman ako sa aking kaliwang pulso kung saan suot ko ang bracelet na bigay ni Hugh.

I was hesitating to get it from his hand, but that would be rude since it was a gift. I opened it and it was a beautiful silver Pandora bracelet.

"T-Thank you, Carter." Even though it was already night, kitang kita ko ang pamumula ng kanyang tenga. He just nodded.

"Then s-see you tomorrow." He said and immediately walked away. I watched his back hanggang sa di ko na siya makita.

I was rooted in my place. I then looked at the bracelet that I'm holding.

Is this just a gift, though?

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sshandi

A long update for you guys.