Ponzu's Prison (COMPLETED)

17

For the first time since they vacated the house, Cain allowed Ponzu to go out and explore the lawn.

He's not ready to allow her to step outside the gates. His insecurity is still through the roof, but he's willing to take small steps at a time.

Ponzu immediately stepped barefoot on the grass before running around a little. She enjoyed the feeling of short bermudas beneath her feet.

With her short yellow dress and hair tied up in a bun, she looked like a princess playing in her own garden.

"Careful," Cain commanded. He remained standing in front of the door, watching Ponzu from a good distance.

"Okay!" Ponzu answered happily. She walked back to Cain and held his hand, then pulled him with her so they could lie down in the middle of the garden.

The sun was up, shining almost blindingly. Cain hated the sun, but he was sure that Ponzu missed it so much, so he just stood still beside her.

"Thanks for letting me out."

It didn't seem like Ponzu was being sarcastic or angry, but Cain's chest throbbed at what she said. He had kept her in a house for months just because he wanted to, yet she was still the one thanking him because he freed her.

"You're welcome." He couldn't find the right words, so he responded like an idiot.

Ponzu smiled and kissed his cheek, then closed her eyes again to feel the sun on her skin. She looked happy and contented in Cain's eyes.

Yet there he was, struggling not to hit himself because of how dumb he felt. He knew that Ponzu should not be thanking him for allowing her to go out, but all he said was "you're welcome."

He kept his grip on her hand firm. He closed his eyes tightly. She's thanking me for allowing her to step out a little, not knowing that I am not yet ready to give her old life back.

"Namumula ka na, I think nasusunog na ang balat mo. Let's go back."

Ponzu tugged at the hand she was holding. Because he had closed his eyes for so long, the sun was extra blinding. But in his eyes, she shone brighter.

"Your face is red, too," Cain commented, touching Ponzu's flushed cheeks.

"Yeah." She smiled and pulled his hand again, but he didn't move. Instead, he pulled her back down so that she was lying on top of him.

"You're so beautiful," he whispered in her ear. Their chests were pressed together, and he felt her heartbeat quicken.

"Thank you." Ponzu hid her face in his neck.

Cain inhaled the scent of her hair, hugging her waist tighter. Her body pressed even more into his.

This moment, her feelings—he missed it so much. He could never live without her anymore. He wanted her back.

It was the perfect time for him to ask her to return to him. He had taken so much time already—he was done messing up.

He kissed her head.

"I'm going to make it up to you," Cain promised, caressing Ponzu's back. "I'm not ready to give you everything back just yet. I'm still a very jealous man, and I will still want to keep you here, in our little place, for myself. But I will work hard to change, and I want you to be here with me while I do it."

Ponzu nodded, her tears pooling up.

"I'm going to love you more than I ever did. I'm going to respect you and never hurt you anymore." Cain kissed her head once more.

"I will, too, Cain." Ponzu lifted her face so she could see him. "I will never, ever do anything to deliberately hurt you. I am not going to be perfect, but I will work hard to be good to you." She cupped his face and pressed their foreheads together.

"Thank you for giving me a second chance," she whispered.

Cain shook his head. "Thank you for staying with me after everything I did."

"I forgive you, Cain." Ponzu smiled, her eyes blind with tears.

"I forgive you, too, baby." Cain smiled, too. Then, he sealed their new beginning with a kiss.

A kiss blessed by the warm rays of the sun.

Napahawak ako sa pisngi ko habang parang tangang naka-upo sa sofa.

"...But I will work hard to change, and I want you to be here with me while I do it."

Kinuha ko agad 'yong throw pillow at ibinaon ang mukha ko doon, sabay tili.

Cain! Nakakakilig naman, e. Gusto ko na namang umiyak. Finally, napatawad na namin ang isa't isa. Sabay naming gagamutin ang mga sugat ng nakaraan.

"Ahh.." Sumandal ako, yakap pa rin ang unan. Tapos, naalala ko na naman 'yong kanina sa garden.

"I love that man so muchhhhh!" bulong ko na pasigaw. Nabaliw na yata talaga ako.

"Me?"

Agad akong napatayo nang marinig ko si Cain na nasa likod ko.

"A-Andyan ka pala?" Mukhang fresh na siya ulit. Basa ang buhok at nakasuot ng simpleng puting sando at asul na shorts.

"Yeah." Lumapit siya sa akin at inakbayan ako para mapaupo sa sofa.

"So, you love me so much?" He smiled and kissed my temple, inhaling the scent of my freshly shampooed hair.

"Y-Yeah." Sino pa ba?

I hit his thigh when he laughed. Ikinatutuwa talaga niya kapag nahuhuli niya akong napapahiya.

"I love you, too. So much." He kissed my cheek, then leaned back on the sofa.

Casually, he grabbed a throw pillow and placed it on his stomach. Ako naman, halos manigas na sa tabi niya.

'Yong halik niya—sa pisngi nga, pero ang lapit naman sa labi. Somehow, I feel frustrated. Bakit kasi sa pisngi lang?

Ako na lang ang hahalik sa kanya! Girlfriend naman niya ako, e.

"C-Cain—"

Napatigil ako when I saw him clutching the throw pillow in front of him.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

Pero bago pa niya matapos ang sagot niya, I had already absentmindedly taken the pillow from him. Napanganga ako.

"P-Ponzu..." Binawi niya sa akin ang unan at ibinalik iyon sa pwesto.

"Don't look," sabi niya.

But I can't. I am looking...

May tent na nakatayo sa shorts niya.