TWELVE

“Good morning.”

I was feeling heavy the moment I woke up but hearing his voice, it’s as if something tugged on my chest. I drew in a long breath as I rose up from the bed. Sumandal ako sa headboard at ibinalot ang kumot sa hanggang ngayon ay hubad ko pa ring katawan.

“Kanina ka pa gising?” kalmadong tanong ko sa kaniya.

He yawned as he got up to bed. Ginaya niya ang puwesto ko kaya’t napalingon ako sa kaniya. “Kani-kanina pa.”

“Bakit hindi mo agad ako ginising?” I immediately asked and glanced towards the wall clock. Bahagya akong napangiwi nang umikot ang paningin ko marahil ay dahil sa pagod at gutom o kaya naman ay dahil sa alak na ininom ko kagabi. “Tanghali na.”

“Nah. I was enjoying watching you sleep.”

Hindi ko mapigilang matigilan nang marinig ang sinabi niya. I bit my lower lip as I inhaled a large breath on my nose to calm myself down. Bahagya kong ipinikit ang aking mga mata bago ko ibinalik ang aking tingin sa kaniya. “Can I charge you more for that? You stayed for too lon