Always

Part 2: Who owns this?

I groaned and pulled the pillow back to me. I don't know what time is it and I am not even hungry. All I know is that I am tired since yesterday and decided to take a nap here. 

Ang sarap ng tulog ko ng biglang may humatak ng unan ko kaya kahit nakapikit ay hinatak ko ito pabalik. Then a couple of seconds ng biglang may dumantay sa bewang ko.

I instantly pushed it away pero bumalik din ito agad and the worst is merong kasamang kamay na yumakap sakin. 

Agad akong napaupo sa gulat at konting hilo ang naramdaman ko. 

In my peripheral view I saw him on the other side of the bed. Eye closed at malalim ang kanyang paghinga, indication na natutulog siya ng mahimbing.

Quite have a dirty mind ng mapatingin ako sa polo niyang naka unbuttoned pero nakasuot siya ng sando sa loob kaya hindi ko nakita ang bare skin niya. I smiled and instead na magreklamo, humiga ako uli at nakangiting pumikit hanggang sa nakatulog uli ako.

All you can hear is the sound of wind coming from the opened window and fan. 

Halos blinded ako sa sarap ng tulog ko especially knowing that I am safe cause I have him beside me. In fact, it's our first time to sleep together that's why I have this little flying butterfly in my tummy. 

I unconsciously touches the other half of the bed to feel him pero kunot noo kong naramdaman na wala na akong katabi, I think it's almost an hour since na kita ko siy and in just a millisecond ay narinig kong tumunog ang school bell.

Yes, nasa school kami and it's year 2009. 

I'm at my 2nd year junior highschool and supposed to be at my classroom pero hindi ko kinaya ang hilo that's why they advised na magpunta ako sa clinic to take a rest and I knew that I am alone in the sleeping quarter at nasa table naman ang nurse in charge.

I opened my eyes to check dahil baka nasa dulo lang siya ng higaan pero wala. 

"Hija, kamusta ka na? Nahihilo ka parin ba?" Sipat ng school nurse ng buksan niya ang curtain na nagde divide sa bawat higaan at para hindi naka expose ang mga student na narito sa loob. I told her that I'm already fine and asked kung pwede na akong magbalik ng classroom. She was about to say no pero lunch break na at mas maganda daw kung makakain na ako dahil baka fatigue, gutom plus weather condition kaya nahihilo ako.

While on my way back to classroom, I simply looked around for him. Hoping na makasalubong ko siya, I just want to ask if he's ok kasi nasa clinic din siya kanina. Pero hindi ko siya nakita, not even his back or his presence ay wala. I even tried to glimpse on their classroom pero wala siya. 

At the cafeteria, I saw a group of teacher eating together sa dulong bahagi ng room. 

"Ah! They're late for the competition." Dissatisfied na sabi ng homeroom teacher namin na nag train ng Section 1 for the National Earth Science competition.

"Buti hindi sila na disqualified?" Randomly heard someone asked. 

"Buti nalang hindi. Imagine, dahil sa kaba madidisqualify ang team na binuo ko? Aba! Hindi ata papayag si Brix nun." Mayabang na saad ni Sir Villa. 

Maybe I'm hallucinating earlier. Possible na malate sila, yes. Pwedeng traffic or di kaya ay naligaw sila on their way, knowing Manong Severio, lagi siyang naliligaw, siya lang kasi ang driver ng school namin kaya no choice din. At isa pa impossible na magpapalate siya just to sleep in the clinic, beside me.

Thinking about it lalo akong naistress, paano kung talagang may sakit siya? Para sa honor ng school ay tumuloy parin siya. That makes me sad. Pero di ko rin mapigil na kiligin kung nakatabi ko siya kanina. I know we're still young but I can't help it.

I can't help it because he's my boyfriend and we barely have that sweet connection, pwera lang kanina sa clinic that's why I am really profound to know the truth.

I'm disappointed though pero those ideas should be the last thing na mapapasok sa utak ko and I swear that it will be the last time na iisipin ko yun. 

"That will be the last!" I said to myself habang kinakapa ang panyo sa bulsa ko. Agad ko 'tong kinuha at pinunas sa bibig ko pero napahinto ako upon realizing that it's not my hanky.

I opened the hanky incase it has a name on it para mabalik ko pero wala or itapon dahil di ko alam kung kanino ito. Nakakadiri lang din kasi it's not mine. Very unhygienic pa na pinunas ko sa bibig ko kanina. 

But then, I suddenly stopped and almost skipped a heart beat ng parang nostalgic na naalala ko kung saan ko naamoy yung perfume na naka dikit sa panyo. 

I knew it! 

I grabbed my drinks and threw the disposable plate, spoon and fork at agad na tumakbo pabalik ng clinic. 

I must do and confirm if he's with me earlier. I know I'm young, naive but inlove too kaya wala naman sigurong masama to know and it's big deal for me. It's my first time to have someone hugging me while I am sleeping. 

I grab the door knob and was about to open it when I overheard the conversation of the people inside the room

"I'm pretty sure I left it here sa bed ng magpahinga ako kanina." Sabi ng familiar na boses.

"Are you sure? Kayo lang kasi ni Yana ang nandito kanina sa clinic. Check mo nalang sa kanya." Sabi ng school nurse. 

I am about to open the door when someone approached and suddenly hugged me from the back. 

Those tender and warm hug that I received is what I've been longing for and I know that this is the moment to hug back and explode all the feelings and thought na kanina pa tumatakbo sa isip ko. I know that spilling it will surely help me and answer my questions. 

I turn and hugged back.