CHAPTER FOURTEEN

PAREHONG TAHIMIK ang dalawa habang kumakain. Parehong nagpapakiramdaman, at parehong hindi malaman kung ano ang gusto nilang pag-usapan. Hanggang sa inabot sila ng dessert ay nanatili silang tahimik.

Wynter was enjoying her mango graham when she stopped midway and opened her mouth to talk. "About what happened in Thailand—"

"Ayos lang," agad na pigil ni Daniel sa sasabihin niya.

Wynter slightly shook her head. "No, it's not okay. So hear me out." He showed a small smile before nodding at her. Wyn took a deep breath before continuing. "It was too much of me to lash out at you like that, and I apologize." She gave him a serious look. "But please do know that I really don't want us to have something more than what we already have." Wyn laughed without humor as she shook her head again. "You... You deserve more, Daniel. So don't settle for me. I might—or you might be just a flavor of the month."

Daniel remained smiling at her. Nang hindi na ulit siya nagsalita ay umimik naman ang lalake. "Can I say something now?" Wynter blinked numerous times before carefully nodding. "First of all, gusto ko munang humingi ng tawad dahil ulit-ulitin man natin ang nangyari, I really did step out of the line. And finally, I just want to let you know that I'll respect your decision regarding not wanting to enter a relationship, but please also respect my decision about pursuing you. Kasi siguro ako, Emy. Sigurado akong you're not just a passing fancy."

"But how about you, Dan? Like what I've said, you might just be my new toy if I ever get tired of Mike or any other guy. You may not have seen it yet but playing with men has always been my stress reliever." Seryoso na namang tiningnan ng dalaga ang binata. "I badly want to respect your words—your decisions, but Dan... Do I even deserve your affection? Your respect?"

Daniel showed her a genuine smile, which stunned her for a moment. How can this guy be so good to be true? "I don't care about what you did in the past or do in the present, as long as we're not together, I'll let you be on your own. Kung 'yan ang nakasanayan mo bago pa ako dumating sa buhay mo, bakit naman kita patitigilin? I'll just make you see my feelings for you clear enough for you to have a change of heart on your own." His smile grew wider. "Hahayaan na lang kitang gustuhin din ako nang hindi ko ipinipilit ang sarili ko sayo. The last thing I wanna do is pressure you."

Hindi makapaniwalang tiningnan niya ang lalake. "I wanna respect your decision, Dan. I really do. But wouldn't that hurt you in the process?"

His smile never left his lips. "You taught me... back in high school that love is like a gamble. You may not win at every try but at least, alam mo sa sarili mong ibinigay mo lahat ng kaya mo." Daniel reached for her left hand, resting on the table. "Emy, wala na akong pakealam kung paulit-ulit akong matalo, ang mahalaga alam kong ibinigay ko lahat ng kaya ko. Sa ganon, kung mapagod man ako't napagdesisyunan nang huminto, wala akong pagsisisihan." He gently squeezed her hand as he smiling stared straight into her eyes. "I like you, Emy. Ever since high school."

Naramdaman ni Wynter ang pagtigil ng paghinga niya. Akala niya ay hanggang doon lang ang sasabihin ng binata pero nagkakamali siya.

He took a deep sigh before letting the surprising words—for Wynter—leave his mouth. "But I have loved you ever since college."

Alam na alam ni Wynter na mabilis ang tibok ng puso niya. Maybe because she's too surprised with what's happening at the moment. Nahihirapan din siyang huminga na ayaw niya sanang ipahalata sa lalake pero napatigil siya sa pag-iisip nang mahina itong tumawa.

She was ready for him to take his words back but looks like he has no plans to do so. Daniel slowly rubbed his thumb on her hand, as if he were trying to calm her down. "Breath, Emy. I know these are shocking words but since we're into it, napagdesisyunan ko na lang din umamin. Para na rin malinawan ka."

Wynter took a deep breath before slightly opening her mouth and trying to say something but failed to do so. Inulit niya ulit iyon pero hindi na naman siya nagtagumpay na makapagsalita. Daniel seemed to find it funny which made him chuckle once again.

"Hindi ka nakakatawa, promise. I just find you cute. The speechless you is really adorable." He stopped chuckling but still smiled warmly at her. "Pakiramdam ko kakaunti lang ang taong nakakakita ng side mo na 'yan. I actually feel great seeing you like that. It makes me feel special." Akmang babarahin niya ang binata nang unahan siya nito. "Alam kong hindi ako special sayo, pero hayaan mo na lang ako, hmm?"

Wynter breathed heavily. "Fine. If that's what you want."

Mas lumaki ang ngiti ng binata. I think I made the right decision... even in the meantime, Wynter thought. Muli siyang bumalik sa pagkain ng mango grahams, at 'yun na lang din ang ginawa ni Daniel.

Napagdesisyunan nilang sa sala na lang tuluyang ubusin ang ginawa ni Dan na dessert habang nanonood ng pelikula. Aayaw pa sana si Wynter pero naisip noyang magkaibigan pa rin naman sila at kailangan niya pa ring bumawi sa lalake dahil sa ginawa niya noon sa Thailand. Lulubusin niya na lang ang pagiging mabait ngayong araw at bukas na lang niya ulit tatarayan.

PAREHO SILANG nakatutok sa pinapanood nang magpaalam saglit si Wyn para mag-CR. Iniwan ng dalaga ang purse at phone nito sa coffee table.

"I-pause ko muna yung movie," suhestyon ni Dan.

Umiling naman ang babae. "Nah. Let it be. Saglit lang naman ako."

Tumango na lang si Dan saka hinayaan ang dalagang mag-CR. Siya naman ay tuloy sa panonood nang mag-vibrate ang phone ni Wyn. Hindi niya ito pinansin pero ilang beses pa itong nag-vibrate hanggang sa biglang nag-ring.

Sa isiping emergency o pamilya ni Wyn ang tumatawag sa babae ay agad itong kinuha ni Dan saka tumayo para i-abot sa dalaga. Kaya lang nang makita ang caller ay natigil si Dan sa paglalakad. It was Mike calling her. Nang mawala ang tawag ay nakita niya ang message ng lalake kay Wyn.

He was telling her that he was outside of her unit and that he was stressed and needed attention.

Agad pumasok sa isip ni Daniel ang sinabi noon ni Emerald tungkol sa relasyon nito kay Mike. Eto ba ang sinasabi nila sa isa't isa kapag gusto nilang—Umiling si Dan.

Bigla naman ulit tumawag sa Mike at hindi niya napigilang sagutin ito.

(Hey, babe. I thought you were asleep already—)

"Natutulog nga siya."

Saglit na nanahimik ang nasa kabilang linya bago ito muling nagsalita. (Dan?)

"Yeah."

(Bakit nasa'yo ang phone ni Wynter?)

Daniel's voice became colder. "She's in my unit. Specifically, my bedroom—my bed, actually. I think you get the picture, Mike. So please, let her sleep peacefully with me. Bye." Agad na pinatay niya ang tawag saka bumuga ng hangin.

Babalik na sana siya sa sofa nang may biglang nagsalita. "You know... it's rude to answer someone else's call." Wynter entered the living room while drying her hands with a towelette. She then seriously stared at him. "It's also rude to lie to a friend, Dan."

Ngumiti naman siya sa dalaga. "My bad. Pero mukha ka kasing pagod na at imposible naman sigurong may mangyari pa sa inyo ni Mike ngayong gabi katulad ng gusto niya, diba?" he reasoned out.

"Bakit hindi na lang 'yun ang sinabi mo sa kanya?" Her voice seemed a lot colder than usual.

Napakamot naman ng batok si Dan. "I ahm... sa totoo kasi ano... g-gusto sana kita y-yayaing matulog dito." Umiwas siya ng tingin sa dalagang nakatitig sa kanya. He then cleared his throat. "'W-Wag kang mag-alala. Hindi naman talaga ako nag-eexpect."

Daniel heard her sigh so he slightly turned his head in her direction. Seryoso pa rin naman itong nakatingin sa kanya. "Okay. But this would be the last day that I'm favoring your wishes and doings. Gusto ko lang makabawi sayo dahil kaibigan pa rin naman kita."

Hindi naman maiwasan ni Dan na mapangiti. "Salamat, Emy!"

Napailing na lang ang babae. "Are you sure that you only want us to sleep?"

Bahagyang natigilan si Dan saka nag-iwas ng tingin at nagsimulang maglakad pabalik sa sala. "Ahm... tapos ka na ba kumain ng dessert?" Nilingon niya ang babaeng nakasandal sa pintuan. "Pati sa movie?" Tumango naman si Wyn kaya nagsimula na siyang magligpit. "Mauna ka na sa kwarto. Susunod na lang ako, tatapusin ko muna itong paglilinis."

Muling tumango ang babae saka dumiretso sa kwarto niya. Napabuga naman ng hangin si Daniel at napailing na lang bago tinapos ang kailangang gawin.

Nang maayos niya na ang lahat ay pumasok na rin siya sa kwarto niya. What he saw made him smile. Wynter was peacefully lying on the right side of his bed while her eyes were closed. Typically, that's his favorite spot but he'll adjust tonight.

Maingat siyang pumasok sa bathroom ng kwarto niya't nagligo. Nang makalabas ng CR habang nakatapi lang ng tuwalya sa ibaba niya ay nakita niyang nakaharap sa direksyon niya si Wynter at nakatingin sa kanya.

"Akala ko tulog ka na," nakangiti niyang saad sa dalaga.

Her eyes were still staring at him. "Nah. Nakakahiya naman kung mauna pa akong matulog sa may-ari."

Daniel couldn't help but softly chuckled. "Magbibihis lang muna ako saglit tapos matutulog na rin ako. Alam kong pagod ka simula pa kanina, kaya naman mauna ka nang matulog."

Akmang tatalikod na siya nang muling magsalita ang dalaga. "Are you sure?"

Muli siyang tumingin dito't ngumiti. "Yeah. Mauna ka nang matulog—"

"I mean are you sure you still want to get clothed?"

Bahagya na naman siyang natigilan sa sinabi ni Wynter bago umiling at ngumiti. "Nang ayain kitang matulog, tulog lang talaga. Pagod ka na nga, papagurin pa lalo kita. Plus, I only wanna sleep and wake up next to you. Even just for a day."

Ilang saglit pa siyang tinitigan ng dalaga na para bang iniisip kung totoo ang sinasabi niya, hanggang sa pumikit ito at umayos ng higa. "If you say so. G night, Dan."

That once again put a smile on his face. "Goodnight, Emy. Rest well."