?? ??????? ????

Marahan akong inikot ng aking kasintahan paharap sa kanyang gawi. He gently got hold of my shoulders and looked me straight in the eye.

"Are you sure, Mielie? Aren't you worried? I might lose control..." Sinsero at puno ng pag-aalala niyang tanong sa akin.

"A bit worried, not gonna lie. But... I trust you — I know you'll keep your promise..."

Ngumiti naman ako nang taimtim at banayad na hinaplos ang kanyang kaliwang pisngi gamit ang aking kanang kamay.

He endearingly smiled and caressed my right hand back. "Thank you for your trust, boyfriend. That means so much to me."

"You're welcome... Though I'm not forcing you or anything. Pwede ka namang hindi matulog here tonight..."

Umiling-iling naman siya bago humalik sa aking noo. "No. I'd love to sleep here with you — Don't worry about me..."

"Alright, sige... Tabi tayong matulog."

"Just wait for me here. I'll clean up first then wash up right after."

"Can I help? It's the least I could do since you prepared everything yourself earlier. Gusto ko namang bumawi kahit papa'no..." Nangusap ako sa kanyang mga mata, sana lang talaga pumayag siyang tumulong ako.

"I told you I do everything for love. You don't need to return anything."

"Then, I'm doing it for you — Para sa'yo. Gusto kong tumulong dahil sa'yo. Please?"

"Boy, you really know how to get me..." He let out a deep sigh. "Fineee. You can help. But don't overdo it, okay?"

"Okay. Got that, boyfriend."

"Good boy." Ubod ng giliw siyang ngumiti before gently patting my head.

•───────•°• ꒰ა∞໒꒱•°•───────•

Gaya ng napagkasunduan, magkasama kaming naglinis at nag-ayos sa aming dining area. Kung iisipin, pwede namang ipagpabukas na lang. But... Knowing Miah, hindi 'yun makakatulog — I swear! Kahit na pagod na pagod 'yun, he'd still clean up. It's like his mind wouldn't calm down if he knew there's a mess lying around.

Oh! About the petals scattered earlier? Kaya pala familiar siya kasi they were of Austrian Roses — The same flowers I gave him during the fansigning event. He remembered, as usual... This man... Basta talaga tungkol sa akin at sa aming relationship hindi nakakalimot... Tanda niya hanggang sa pinakamaliit na bagay. 

Kasalukuyan akong tambay mode at the living area while waiting for my boyfriend. Since sa kwarto ko kami matutulog, minabuti ko nang antayin siya — Baka kasi mag-back out eh. Jk! Ayun pa ba? Eh alam ko namang matagal na niyang gustong matulog kami nang magkatabi. Hindi lang nagsasabi kasi nga ako lagi ang inaalala niya. Hayyy. Napaka-gentleman at thoughtful kahit kelan — How could you not fall in love with all that?

After a while, I heard a door open towards his room. He's done washing up. I quickly got up from my seat to greet him. Though, I was a bit surprised. First time ko kasi siyang nakitang nakasuot ng pajamas — usually kasi naka-plain shirt lang siya tapos shorts.

"You waited for me? You didn't have to, I could've knocked on your door." Nagtataka niyang bungad nang nakalapit ako sa kanya. He was drying his hair off with a white towel.

Ngumiti naman ako nang matamis sa kanya. "It's okay... I wanted to wait for you... Though, it's my first time seeing you wear pajamas. Anong meron?"

Napaiwas naman siya ng tingin sa akin. Uhm. What's going on?