Crashing into Love

Chapter Fifteen

RAVEN

"Claire Faith!" My voice boomed all over the beach. Some people who were sunbathing even turned their heads in my direction. Nagmamadali akong lumapit kay Claire at dun sa foreigner na kasama niya at hinatak siya palapit sakin.

"Hey, man. Do you have anything else to say to my girlfriend?" I asked, eyes narrowing in deep annoyance. God, it felt so good to call her my girlfriend. It's been three days since she let go of the red balloon but it's still here. The happiness is still here.

The american guy laughed and patted my shoulder. "Nah, dude. Calm your t**s, was just askin' for direction. Anyway, thank you miss! You're of big help." Tapos tumalikod na ang lalaki, kasabay nun ay ang mahinang pagtawa ni Claire sa tabi ko. Kinunutan ko siya ng noo at lalo lang siyang napangisi sakin. Namangka kami kanina, ayaw niya raw kasi magswimming kaya namangka nalang kami. T

"Possessive." She mumbled and I parroted her. "Possessive nya nya nya." I rolled my eyes and we went back to our cottage. I laid the food I bought for us on the bamboo table.

There was bangus and also pusit. May rice na rin. Nilapagan ko na ng plato ang side ni Claire ng table pagkatapos ay sinalinan ko na ng kanin. Ang sarap niyang pagsilbihan. Nakakataba ng puso na makita siyang kahit ngumiti man lang. Nababaliw na nga siguro ako pero ganon talaga ang nararamdaman ko.

"Ikaw rin!" She beamed before doing the same thing I did for her. Nilagyan niya rin ng kanin ang plato ko at napangiti naman ako sa simpleng gesture niya na yon. I found it sweet. It might sound gay but I'm in love. It's acceptable to say mushy things.

"Anong uulamin ng mahal na reyna?" Tanong ko sa kanya. She pouted and I just had to resist the urge of tasting her lips.

"Fish. Gusto ko ng fish." Aabutin niya na sana ang isda ng unahan ko siya rito. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay pero nginitian ko lang sya. Ipinaghimay ko sya ng isda at siniguradong ni isang pirasong tinik ay wala ito. Mahirap na, ayokong mabulunan ang mahal ko.

I smiled like an idiot again. "Mahal ko.." I murmured to myself but she overheard. "Ano yun?" She asked with twinkling eyes.

"Wala po. Oh, tapos na. Kain ka na mahal ko." f**k, that sounded so gay! But I don't give a damn, as long as she stays with me I don't care if I sound gay. What's important is her happiness.

Her face flushed and I grinned. "Tawa ka?" She spat and I just shook my head. "Eat." I once again said. Nagsimula narin akong kumain, pusit ang inulam ko. Parehas kaming nakakamay at ang angas nga dahil may mga pagkakataong magkakatinginan kami bigla at mapapangiti nalang kami.

This is what I've been missing all my life. I've been missing a person who loves me the way I needed to be loved. I guess Cassidy loved me only as a friend. The only thing that matters now is that I'm happy with Claire and Cassidy's happy with Aaron. A win-win situation for both of us.

Totoo nga. Totoo nga na pag wala ka ng nararamdaman para sa isang taong dati mong minahal ay makakaya mo ng maging masaya para sa kanila ng walang halong bitterness. Anagapesis.

"What do you wanna do today?" I queried after we finished eating. She shrugged before scooting closer to me and burying her face on my chest. I protectively put my arms around her.

"Will you miss me if I die?" She asked out of the blue. I tightened my hug on her. She's becoming more moody and emotional these past few days.

"If you die then I'll die too. I can't even imagine life without you.." I replied but she didn't answer.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit grabe ang epekto sakin ni Claire. If she jumps off a cliff then I'll follow her without further hesitation. I don't believe in what other men say, na nagising nalang sila isang araw na mahal na nila. Because that's not what happened to me. Kasi araw araw unti unti akong nahuhulog kay Claire, hanggang sa naramdaman ko nalang na dependent na ako sa kanya.

If she leaves me then I'll be functionless. I will be reduced to nothing. Hindi ako nakaramdam ng ganito kay Cassidy dati. Oo, mahal ko siya, pero hindi umabot sa puntong gusto ko lahat ng oras niya nasa akin lang. I always let Cassidy socialize with other people, pero kay Claire.. Damn, I feel like I want to hide her in a tower so no one could discover her, so no one could discover us. Gusto ko siyang ipagdamot sa buong mundo. I want her mine, and what's mine should be mine alone.

The love I have for her is a thousand times greater than the love I once had for Cassi.

Hinaplos ko ang buhok niya at naramdaman ko ang paghinga niya sa gilid ng leeg ko. Napapikit ako at napangiti. "I want to spend every single day of my life like this. Nothing compares with the feeling I get when you're in my arms." I whispered before kissing the top of her head. She shifted and looked up. Her eyes were glassy with emotion. And everytime I look at those dark circles, I get hypnotized.

"Malapit ko ng matapos yung drawing ko sayo. Lips nalang ang kulang. Gusto ko kasing macapture don yung ngiti mo eh." She said while her lips curved. Inayos ko ang buhok niyang nililipad ng hangin.

"I'm excited to see it, my love. I'm pretty sure you did a bang up job with it." I gave her a radiant smile, a smile only she has the capability of giving me. Muli nalang siyang sumandal sa dibdib ko. I hope she could hear my heart because it beats for her.

"Take me home, Raven Andrei." She said softly. Lumuwag yung yakap niya sakin kaya dahan dahan kong inayos ang dalawang braso niya. When I cupped her face, I saw that her lips were pale. Hinaplos ko ito at masuyong hinalikan.

"Bakit maputla ang labi mo? Are you sick, Claire? Masama ba pakiramdam mo?" Nag-aalalang tanong ko. She gave me a faint smile before shaking her head.

"Blame the vinegar." She replied apathetically. Tumango nalang ako. Iniligpit ko muna yung pinagkainan namin bago ko siya binalikan. She was already standing outside the cottage. Inakbayan ko siya at sabay na kaming naglakad palayo.

I stopped in front of my house. Nagkunot noo siya. "Sabi ko take me home, bat nandito tayo sa bahay mo?" She inquired with that cute expression on her face. "This is our home." I answered.

Napailing nalang siya kahit halata namang nagpipigil siya ng ngiti. "Baliw." She muttered.

"Baliw sayo." I shot back. Her face turned crimson and she lightly punched me while I just chuckled. Binuksan ko ang pinto at ng makapasok siya ay sinara ko na uli. I opened the windows para pumasok ang hangin. She sat on the couch and hugged a throw pillow. Umupo rin ako sa couch and patted my lap. She opened her eyes to look at me.

"Kandungin kita." I grinned but she threw the pillow at my face. Direct hit. "What? Nagsasuggest lang!" I caterwauled. She rolled her eyes at me while I tugged at her arm.

"Wala ka na naman ba sa mood?" I asked gently while she played with my fingers. Umiling iling siya. "Not really, just tired."

I scooped her up, she was protesting but I held her firmer. I carried her to my room and placed her on my bed. I turned the airconditioner on before sitting on her side. "Tulog ka muna. I'll still be here when you open your eyes."

She looked doubtful but she lied down. "Please sing for me." She requested. I smiled before singing my favorite song. Maya maya ay biglang may tumulong luha sa mga mata niya. I quickly wiped it in panic. "Hey, something wrong?"

She gently slapped my hand away and laughed. "Inaantok lang, ang OA mo!"

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag, akala ko kasi may nagawa akong hindi niya nagustuhan eh. She yawned and clutched my pillow towards her chest. The sight of her sleeping on my bed gives me a weird sense of happiness that I can't quite explain.

I caressed her face. "Sleep, my love." She nodded before finally closing her eyes. I kissed her forehead and was about to go out of the room when she called my name. It rolled off her tongue and I gotta admit that I've never loved the sound of my name, until now..

"Yes?" I answered.

She spoke in a sleepy voice.

"I love you, Raven. Whatever happens I want you to always keep that in mind."