Chapter Nineteen- A Nasty Help

After checking out the whole dresser, I decided to wear a white shirt paired with black square pants.

Nilapitan ko ang salamin ang tiningnan ang sarili ko. I tilted my head. Gosh! My skin looks rough and my pores has become visible! My eyebags became saggy too. Nahiya tuloy ako kay Warren, mukhang ako pa yung pagod sa aming dalawa.

I sighed.

Hindi na ako nakakapagpa-derma. Panay ang pagpupyat ko these days kasi naghahabol ako ng deadline sa isusubmit kong manuscript at araw-araw din akong binubuwisit ni Sierra na kinadagdag pa ng stress ko! Isa na rin ang pagka missing in action ni Warren!

I prepped my skin and put on some light make-up. When I think I looked decent, I wore my slingbag, turned off the lights and left the room.

"Let's go." Sabi ko nang isinara ko ang pinto.

Wala akong narinig na sagot.

Sa halip, nadatnan ko si Warren na nakahiga at natutulog sa couch.

Lumapit ako at lumuhod sa harap niya. I pushed away the hair from his forehead.

Mga ilang sandali ko rin siyang tinitigan. Nakaawang ang bibig niya at mukhang ang himbing ng tulog niya. Did I make him wait that long?

Tiningnan ko at wristwatch. Mag 9:30 am na din. So, 30 minutes din pala akong nagpaikot-ikot sa kwarto. Napagod siguro siya sa paghihintay.

I looked at Warren's face again. I just realized that it wasn't perfectly smooth like how I described my male characters in my novels. He has pores and small scars. But, despite having those flaws, it doesn't affect his handsome features. Thick eyebrows, eyes that were equally parted together, sharp nose, smooth lips and perfectly chiseled jaws.

I liked how he takes care of himself now. Unlike dati na halos napuno na ng tigyawat yung mukha niya. Wala kasi siyang time na alagaan ang sarili dahil sa kakalaro ng video games at pagbabasa ng mga comics. Ang dugyot niya talaga noon pero may naririnig pa akong may nagkaka-crush sa kaniya dati.

My fingers are slowly tracing the small scars on his forehead that he got from those bullies!

Nanggigil talaga ako kapag naalala ko ang mga hayop na 'yun! Ilang beses ko na ring sinubukang magsumbong kay Tito Faustino pero pinipigilan ako ni Warren na huwag sabihin sa daddy niya.

What angered me is that why he didn't fight back? Why did he let those boys na apihin siya? He may looked thin and uncoordinated but from what I saw at that alley, he can clearly kill someone with his fists and kicks. It wasn't Warren that I witnessed, it was a beast. Kinakabahan ako kapag naaalala ko 'yun.

"D-dana?"

I took a deep breath when his voice pulled me back from my thoughts. Gising na siya.

Matamlay na minulat niya ang mata niya at umupo sa couch. Tumabi ako sa kaniya.

"Sorry, nakatulog pala ako." He hoarsely said and yawned.

"Sabi ko naman kasi sa'yo huwag kanang sumama." Pagmamaktol ko.

"I'm good." He cracked his neck and stretched his arms. "That was already a nice sleep."

"You sure?" Panigurado ko.

"Yeah."

He leaned and kissed my forehead. Pakiramdam ko, nagising ang diwa ko sa ginawa niya.

"T-Then, we have to go." Tumayo na ako at umalis sa harap niya.

Hinila ko ang kabibili ko lang na puting sneakers sa shoe rack at isinuot kaagad iyon. Nilingon ko ang couch at nandun pa rin siya, nakaupo at tinitingnan ako.

"Malelate na tayo." Paalala ko.

"Help me get up, please." He extended his arms.

I sighed in disbelief. Ano na naman ba etong kaartehan niya?

"Help yourself. We don't have time."

Dinampot ko nalang ang pares ng sapatos niya na magkahiwalay na nakalapag malapit sa front door at binitbit yun patungo sa kaniya. It was an oxford Stefano Bemer shoes.

"Wear this and we're going." Nilapag ko ng sabay ang sapatos malapit sa paa niya. Hanep! Napaka senyorito naman!

"Wait."

He suddenly pulled me back and I lose balanced. Nabitawan ko ang bag at napaupo ako sa hita niya.

My gaze glued to his eyes.

Napalunok ako. My stomach starts to rumble and my heart is palpitating again! We are so close that I feel like I'm suffocating!

Pinulupot niya ang mga braso niya sa bewang ko at sa gulat, napakapit ako sa leeg niya. Parehas kaming nakatitigan.

The sound of my excited heart is deafening. And his eyes could melt me the longer he stare at me.

Nagkahalikan na kami kanina at kung hindi lang nagdoorbell si Tita Marites, who knows what might have happened?

"W-warren.." Napasinghap ako nang bigla niyang binaon ang mukha niya sa leeg ko.

"Can we stay like this for a while?" He whispered under my neck and his breathe electrified me.

Before I gave in to temptation, I pushed his shoulders.

"What are you doing? Sasama ka ba o hindi? Malelate na nga tayo." Pagdadahilan ko.

"I have to recharge." He begged.

I bit my lip and cupped his cheeks. This is the part where the heroine should make the first move. I moved my face and gave him a kiss.

He froze after I parted my lips from him.

"Tara na." May inis na sabi ko. Naalala ko kasi yung pantitrip niya sa akin!

"Isa pa." He pouted.

Napanganga ako. "Warren!"

"Please." Pagmamakaawa niya.

Naku! Napaka-demanding naman talaga!

Nilapit ko ulit ang mukha ko at bago ko pa siya ulit mahalikan, kinabig niya ako at diniinan ang paghalik sa akin. I closed my eyes!

Hindi ako makahinga sa bilis ng paggalaw ng mga labi niya pero sinabayan ko siya. Ano ba 'tong ginagawa ko? Pakiramdam ko, lalabas na yung puso ko sa sobrang pagkabog.

He lifted me up without breaking our kiss and laid me on the sofa.

We continued exploring our tongue and mouths but he suddenly stopped.

"Dana.." Hinihingal na tawag niya.

"O-oh?" I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Damn it!" Binaon niya ulit ang mukha niya sa leeg ko.

"W-what's wrong?" Naguguluhang tanong ko.

Inangat niya ulit ang ulo niya at mukhang nahihirapan siyang sabihin ang gusto niya.

"What?" I cupped his cheeks.

I saw the movement of his Adam's apple.

"You have to help me."

My breathing hitched. I'm not innocent to what he said! Alam na alam ko kung anong tulong ang gusto niya!