Chapter 35
Nakarating na nga kami dito, and not gonna lie, ang ganda talaga.
This isn’t what I imagined it would be—mas maganda pa.
The sun was already setting at 5:45 PM, casting a warm, golden glow across the horizon.
Tahimik ang paligid, at halos walang tao, na parang kami lang ang nandito.
The soft breeze carried the scent of the ocean, and the sound of gentle waves added to the peaceful atmosphere.
I glanced beside me, and she was still asleep, her face relaxed and peaceful. Napatingin lang ako sa kanya, at hindi ko namalayang napangiti na pala ako. There was something so serene about her in this moment.
"Stop staring, Gomez," she muttered, her voice groggy as she slowly opened her eyes.
"How can't I if you're this beautiful?" I answered, still smiling.
"Right," she replied confidently, making me chuckle even more.
"Should we go now?" I asked, and she nodded, stretching her arms above her head before finally sitting up. Ang cute niyang panoorin habang nag-e-exhale ng malalim, trying to shake off the sleepiness.
Pagkababa ko ng sasakyan, agad kong kinuha ang gamit naming dalawa. Habang inaayos ko ang mga bag, napansin kong nakatayo lang siya, nakatitig sa malayo. She was admiring the view, her eyes reflecting the sunset’s glow.
"The sunset is so beautiful," she murmured, her voice soft, almost like she was talking to herself.
"You're right. It’s beautiful," I replied, though my eyes weren’t on the sunset—I was looking at her.
Bigla naman siyang tumingin sa akin at nagtaas ng kilay. "Can you hurry up?" she huffed, impatience clear in her voice. Para bang may humahabol sa kanya.
"Oo na, boss," natatawa kong sagot habang sinisiguradong kompleto ang gamit namin.
She rolled her eyes pero kita ko ang bahagyang ngiti sa labi niya.
"Follow me," I said after securing everything.
May tinuro nga si Lola sa akin na pupuntahan namin. Sabi niya, may kababata siya rito na pwedeng tuluyan namin. Alam na raw ng taong ‘yon na darating ako ngayon, at inaasahan na nila ako.
Medyo kinakabahan ako habang naglalakad kami, dala ang mga gamit. Hindi ko alam kung anong klaseng tao ang sasalubong sa amin, pero tiwala ako kay Lola. If she said this place was safe, then I believed her.
As we walked further down the quiet path, the sun had almost disappeared beyond the horizon, leaving behind streaks of deep orange and purple across the sky.
The air was cool, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine.
It was peaceful, almost too peaceful, as if the whole place was untouched by the outside world.
Ms. Sanchez walked beside me, her posture relaxed. Pero nahalata kong nilalamig ito kaya inabot ko sa kanya 'yung jacket ko.
"Wear this. Masyadong malamig dito sa labas." sabi ko, offering my jacket. Hindi na ito umangal pa at agad naman nitong kinuha 'yung inabot ko at sinuot.
She didn’t seem the least bit interested in where we were going or what we were supposed to be looking for. It was like she was just passing through, indifferent to the fact that we could easily get lost.
I glanced at her. "You don’t seem worried at all."
"Should I be?" she replied without looking at me.
"Well, we are looking for a house we’ve never been to before, in a place we don’t know, and we have zero confirmation that we’re even going the right way," I pointed out.
She shrugged. "If we’re lost, we’ll just turn back."
"Grabe, nonchalant 'yarn?" biro ko.
She finally turned her head slightly, giving me a blank look. "Panicking won’t change anything."
I sighed, shaking my head. "You're right."
She didn’t respond, just kept walking, her pace steady and unbothered. The silence stretched between us, broken only by the soft crunch of gravel under our shoes.
After a while, I decided to try again. "You could at least pretend to be curious about where we’re staying tonight."
"Why?" she asked, as if the thought had never even crossed her mind.
I scoffed. "I don’t know, maybe because this is an unfamiliar place? And we’re meeting someone I’ve never met before? Isn’t that at least a little bit interesting to you?"
She exhaled slowly, as if debating whether or not she should entertain my question. Then she said, "We walk, we find the house, we sleep. That’s all there is to it."
I stared at her, waiting for more, but of course, that was all she had to say.
We kept moving, the road getting narrower, the trees denser.
The wind picked up slightly, rustling the branches above us.
The further we went, the fewer houses we saw.
For a moment, I wondered if I had really taken a wrong turn.
Then Ms. Sanchez stopped. "There."
I followed her gaze and saw it—a house at the end of the road.
A large tree stood beside it, its branches reaching over the roof like a natural canopy.
The blue door Lola had mentioned was right in front, standing out against the house’s old wooden walls.
A faint light glowed from inside, flickering slightly, as if someone had just walked past a lamp.
She started walking toward it without hesitation.
"Wait, you’re just going to walk right up?" I asked, a little surprised by her lack of caution.
"You’re the one who wanted to find it," she said, not bothering to slow down.
I sighed. "You could at least act a little wary. What if we have the wrong house?"
She didn’t even pause. "Then we leave."
"You know," I muttered, catching up to her, "I was expecting some kind of reaction. Maybe a comment about how eerie this looks, or a joke about how this is the perfect setting for a horror movie."
She glanced at me. "Why would I waste my breath stating the obvious?"
I laughed under my breath. "Of course. Should’ve known better than to expect that from you."
She didn’t reply, just walked up to the door, hands still in the pockets of my jacker. Without hesitation, she knocked twice, then stepped back, waiting.
I stood beside her, glancing at the windows. The light was still flickering inside. Someone was definitely in there.
"Any predictions about what’s behind the door?" I asked, mostly to fill the silence.
Ms. Sanchez barely blinked. "Someone who takes too long to answer."
I chuckled. "You really don’t care about surprises, do you?"
"Not really."
I shook my head with a grin, turning my attention back to the door.
And then, after a long pause, the handle finally turned.
The door opened, revealing an older woman with a warm smile and gentle eyes. Her white hair was neatly tied back, and she wore a comfortable-looking dress, the kind you’d expect from someone who had spent years tending to a home filled with love and warmth.
"Ah, kayo na pala!" she exclaimed, beaming at us. "Halika, halika, pasok kayo!"
Ms.
Sanchez, smiled at nauna na siyang pumasok.
I followed, immediately taking in the comforting scent of home-cooked food, old wood, and something faintly floral.
The house was small but cozy, filled with wooden furniture and soft lighting.
It had the kind of warmth that made it feel lived-in, like a place full of stories.
The woman led us inside, motioning for us to set our things down. Then, she turned to me, studying my face with a curious expression.
"Iha, ikaw ba si Sylvia?" she asked.
I nodded. "Opo."
Her smile widened. "Naku, ang saya ko namang makilala ka! Matagal ka nang kinukwento sa akin ng Lola mo."
Hearing that made something in my chest tighten. I had no idea my Lola talked about me to people I had never met before.
"Talaga po?" I asked, surprised.
She nodded enthusiastically. "Oo naman! Lagi ka niyang ikinukwento sa akin. Sabi niya, matigas daw ulo mo pero mabait ka raw talaga."
I couldn’t help but chuckle. "Parang siya lang po ‘yung matigas ang ulo."
The woman laughed. "Ay, totoo ‘yan! Pero wag mo lakasan boses mo, baka marinig niya, at pagalitan tayo pareho."
That made me smile. She was kind—warm in a way that made me feel at ease, despite this being our first time meeting.
"Sino pala iyang kasama mo, iha? Ang ganda naman! Hindi mo sinabi may kasama ka iha," dagdag pa nito and when I looked at Ms. Sanchez, nakangiti ito sakanya.
"My Profe—"
"I'm her friend poh." sagot nito kaya nagulat ako sakanya.
"Ah ganon ba. Ang ganda naman ng kaibigan mo iha." I smiled in response and she continued, "Ako nga pala si Aling Rosa," she introduced herself. "Matalik na kaibigan ng Lola mo. Noong sinabi niyang pupunta ka rito, natuwa talaga ako! Sabi ko nga, gusto kitang makilala."
I nodded, a bit overwhelmed but appreciative. "Salamat po sa pagpapatuloy sa amin."
"Aba, wala ‘yun!" she said, waving a hand dismissively. "Apo ka ng kaibigan ko, kaya parang anak na rin kita."
Hearing that made my chest feel warm. I never thought I'd be welcomed so easily, especially by someone I had never met before.
"Halika, upo kayo," Aling Rosa said, gesturing toward the dining table. "Sakto ang dating niyo, kakaluto ko lang ng hapunan. Siguradong gutom na kayo."
At the mention of food, I felt my stomach grumble, but I tried to ignore it. Ms. Sanchez, as expected, remained as indifferent as ever, but she still followed when I moved toward the table.
"Anong gusto niyong inumin? Tubig? Kape?" Aling Rosa offered.
"Tubig na lang po," I said, glancing at Ms. Sanchez, who simply nodded in agreement.
"Sus, ang simple niyo namang mga bata," Aling Rosa teased as she walked to the kitchen. "Pero sige, tubig lang daw."
I let out a small laugh, finally feeling the tension in my body ease. It had been a long journey, but somehow, stepping into this house didn’t feel strange. It felt like… home.
As we settled at the dining table, the warm glow from the overhead light made everything feel even cozier. The scent of freshly cooked food lingered in the air, making my stomach grumble again—this time loud enough for Aling Rosa to chuckle.
"Ay, gutom na gutom na talaga ‘tong batang ‘to!" she teased as she placed more food in front of us.
I smiled sheepishly. "Medyo po."
She gestured toward the dishes. "Sige na, kumuha na kayo. Huwag kang mahihiya, parang bahay niyo na rin ‘to."
"Opo,"
"Ikaw iha, kain ka marami. Kuha ka lang dyan ha," sabi nito kay Ms. Sanchez.
"Salamawt poh.." sagot nito kaya halos mabulunan ako sa tubig. It's my first time hearing her talking tagalog! Hindi niya pa ma pronounce ng maayos. Ang cute!
"Ano pala pangalan mo, iha?"
"Cynthia poh." she answered, smiling. This is my first time seeing her smile like this. Na-akala moba ay ibang tao ang kasama ko ngayon.
"Gandang pangalan, kasing ganda mo iha. Sige kain na kayo, pasensya na kung ang dami kong tanong."
I nodded and reached for the serving spoon, placing a generous amount of rice on my plate before getting some fried fish and vegetable soup.
Just as I was about to take my first bite, I heard footsteps approaching.
"Aba, dumating na pala ang bisita natin!" a man’s voice rang out.
I looked up to see an older man, probably in his late sixty's, walking toward the table. He had short graying hair, a sturdy build, and a friendly smile. Behind him followed a younger woman, probably in her late twenties, who had the same kind eyes as Aling Rosa.
"Pasensya na, natagalan kami," the man said as he pulled out a chair and sat down across from me. "May hinatid pa kaming mga paninda sa bayan."
Aling Rosa waved a hand dismissively. "Ay, wala ‘yun! Tamang-tama nga ang dating niyo, magkasabay tayong kakain."
She turned to me and Ms. Sanchez. "Sylvia at Cynthia ito ang asawa ko, si Mang Ernesto. At ito naman ang apo naming si Lea."
I quickly wiped my hands on a napkin and reached out for a mano. "Magandang gabi po."
"Magandang gabiw riwn poh." sabi rin ni Ms. Sanchez at eto ako, nagpipigil ng tawa. Ang cute niya kasing magtagalog.
Mang Ernesto chuckled, "Aba, ang bait naman nitong mga batang ‘to! Ang sabi ni Rosa, galing raw kayo sa malayo?"
"Opo," I nodded. "Ngayon lang po ako nakapunta rito."
Mang Ernesto who had been quietly observing us, finally spoke. "Ilang araw kayo dito?"
I hesitated, glancing at Ms. Sanchez, who didn’t react at all. I realized I wasn’t entirely sure how long we’d be staying.
"Baka po ilang araw," I answered vaguely.
Lea nodded, smiling. "Sakto, marami kayong pwedeng puntahan dito. Kung gusto mo, bukas, itutour ko kayo."
I was about to respond when Mang Ernesto nudged her playfully. "Aba, bago mo ‘yan ilibot, hayaan mo munang kumain!"
Everyone laughed, and the lighthearted atmosphere made me relax even more.
We all started eating, the conversation shifting between stories of the town, updates on relatives, and even a few funny anecdotes from Aling Rosa’s past.
I listened intently as she and Mang Ernesto shared tales about my Lola—how she used to be the fastest runner in their barrio, how she once got lost in the forest as a child and had to be rescued by the elders, and how she had always been stubborn but kind-hearted.
"Ang Lola mo, kahit matapang ‘yan, may ginintuang puso," Aling Rosa said, shaking her head fondly. "Kahit noon pa, handa siyang tumulong kahit kanino."
Hearing all these stories, I felt a strange sense of connection. My Lola never really talked about her past, and I had never seen her in the way they described her. It made me realize how little I truly knew about her.
I glanced at Ms. Sanchez, curious if she was even paying attention. At tahimik nga siyang nakikinig sa amin habang kumakain. Para bang ibang tao siya ngayon.
"Ano nga palang trabaho mo, Sylvia?" Aling Rosa suddenly asked, bringing my focus back to the conversation.
"Ah… nag-aaral pa po ako," I answered.
Aling Rosa's eyes lit up. "Talaga? Marunong ka bang magluto?"
I let out a small chuckle. "Medyo lang po."
"Nako, pag natagalan ka dito, matututo ka," Mang Ernesto said proudly. "Dito, lahat marunong magluto!"
"Ikaw iha Cynthia?" tanong naman nito kay Ms. Sanchez na tahimik na kumakain.
"Opoh." sagot nito.
"Ang tahimik pala ng kaibigan mo, Sylvia. Ang ganda pa. May boyfriend kana?" tanong ni Aling Rosa. Pero hindi agad sumagot si Ms. Sanchez na parang nagdadalawang isip pa kung sasagot.
"Merown poh." sagot nito, pero mga ilang minuto na ang nakalipas.
"Sa ganda moba namang 'yan, syempre may boyfriend kana talaga," Aling Rosa chuckled. "Ay, oo nga," Aling Rosa added, changing the topic. "Si Lea nga, ang galing mag-bake!"
Lea grinned. "Gusto mo, turuan kita?"
I smiled back. "Sige po, mukhang masaya ‘yun."
The conversation continued as we ate, and for the first time in a long time, I felt genuinely welcomed. This family—people I had never met before—treated me like I was one of their own.
As the plates slowly emptied and the laughter faded into comfortable silence, I sat back, feeling full not just from the food, but from the warmth of the people around me.
And for the first time since I arrived, I thought—maybe coming here wasn’t such a bad idea after all.
After dinner, the table was cleared with the ease of a well-practiced routine. Aling Rosa insisted we didn’t need to help, but I still picked up a few plates, earning a grateful smile from her. Ms. Sanchez, of course, didn’t move from her seat until everything was finished.
"Nako, busog na busog ako," Mang Ernesto said, patting his stomach. "Sana nagustuhan niyo ang pagkain."
"Opo, sobrang sarap po," I answered truthfully. "Parang lutong-bahay na matagal ko nang hindi natitikman."
Mang Ernesto grinned. "Aba, ibig sabihin niyan, dapat lagi kang bumalik dito!"
I chuckled, nodding. "Mukhang gano’n na nga po."
As the dishes were put away, Aling Rosa clapped her hands together. "O siya, gabing-gabi na. Siguradong pagod kayo sa biyahe. Kailangan niyo nang magpahinga."
She gestured for us to follow her through a narrow hallway, leading to the back part of the house where the bedrooms were. The wooden floors creaked slightly under our footsteps, and the air was cooler here, the faint scent of aged wood filling the space.
"Pasensya na kayo, ha," Aling Rosa said as she stopped in front of a door. "Medyo maliit lang ang bahay namin, at punuan na ang ibang kwarto."
She pushed the door open, revealing a modest but cozy room. It had a wooden bed covered in clean white sheets, a small window with curtains that fluttered slightly from the breeze, and a tiny nightstand with an old lamp.
"Tamang-tama, may natitirang kwarto pa," she said before glancing between me and Ms. Sanchez.
That’s when I realized—there was only one bed.
I stiffened, glancing at Ms. Sanchez, who remained unreadable as ever.
Aling Rosa, oblivious to any potential awkwardness, continued, "Pasensya na talaga, ha. Ito na lang ang natitira. Kung gusto niyo, may banig naman sa sala, pero medyo malamig doon."
I opened my mouth to speak, but Ms. Sanchez beat me to it.
"This is fine poh," she said simply, stepping into the room without hesitation.
I blinked in surprise. No protest? No complaints?
Aling Rosa smiled, clearly relieved. "Mabuti naman! At least hindi na kayo mahihirapan. May extra kumot diyan sa aparador kung gusto niyong gamitin."
She turned back to me, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Kung may kailangan kayo, sabihin niyo lang, ha? Huwag kayong mahihiya."
I nodded. "Opo, salamat po talaga."
She patted my arm before stepping back. "Sige, magpahinga na kayo. Bukas, ituturo ko sa inyo ang paligid."
With that, she left, closing the door behind her.
I let out a breath and turned to Ms. Sanchez, who was already placing her bag in the corner of the room, acting as if nothing was unusual about the situation.
"So… I guess we’re sharing," I said, awkwardly rubbing the back of my neck.
Ms. Sanchez barely glanced at me as she took off her jacket. "Clearly."
I sighed, walking over to the bed. It was not big enough for two people, "Do you want to—"
"I’ll take the left side," she interrupted before I could even finish my sentence.
I raised an eyebrow. "I was going to offer to sleep on the floor."
"That would be unnecessary," she said simply. "I’m fine with sharing, as long as you don’t move too much."
I scoffed. "I don’t move in my sleep."
She didn’t even look at me as she responded. "Let’s hope that’s true."
"Talaga, baka ikaw pa nga sumiksik sa akin,"
She didn’t respond, already settling in as if this was just another ordinary night for her. Para bang sanay na siya sa ganito, while here I was, barely keeping my heart from pounding out of my chest.
Nauna na siyang mag-shower, at sumunod naman ako pagkatapos. The warm water helped relax my body, but it did nothing to calm my nerves. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could think about was the fact that after this, I’d be lying beside her.
After more than an hour, nakahiga na kami ulit rito, both of us facing opposite directions. She was looking towards the other side, seemingly unbothered, while ako naman, nakatalikod sa kanya, trying my best to regulate my breathing. My heart was beating so fast, parang sasabog na.
I'm sleeping beside her! Hindi ganon kalaki itong kama, kaya halos maramdaman ko na siya sa tabi ko. Every slight movement she made, every shift, I could feel it. The warmth of her presence, the scent of her freshly washed hair—it was all too much. I’m going crazy. Pero siya? Wala lang. As if this wasn’t a big deal at all.
Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko, forcing myself to sleep, but no matter how hard I tried, my mind wouldn’t shut up. I could hear the soft rhythm of her breathing, and for some reason, it made me even more restless. My thoughts were running wild, overanalyzing every little thing.
Would it be weird if I turned around? What if magising siya bigla? Would she be able to tell that I’m so damn nervous right now?
Napailing na lang ako. This is stupid. I need to calm down.
Frustrated, I decided to get up. Wala talaga—hindi ako makakatulog nang ganito. I needed air, space—anything to slow down my heartbeat.
Dahan-dahan akong bumangon, making sure not to make any sudden movements that might wake her. My feet touched the cold floor, sending a small shiver up my spine.
Calm down. Just calm down.
Nakalabas na ako nang tuluyan sa kwarto hanggang sa nakaabot na ako sa kusina. Nakita ko si Lea na nakaupo at nagbabasa ng mga libro.
“Hi, Sylvia,” Sinadya niyang patagalin ang pangalan ko, parang tinatantiya kung paano ako magre-react. “Hindi ka makatulog?” tanong nito sa akin nang makita ako nito.
Napatingin ako sa kanya, saka tumingin sa malayo. “Oo. Kailangan ko lang ng sariwang hangin.”
Tumango siya, pero kita ko sa mga mata niya na hindi siya kumbinsido. “O baka naman… hindi lang basta hangin ang dahilan?”
Napakunot ang noo ko. “Ano namang ibig mong sabihin?”
She smirked, leaning a little closer. “Halata naman, eh. Yung kasama mo sa kwarto…”
I swallowed hard, already sensing where this was going. “Si Ms.—Cynthia?”
Tumango siya, naniningkit ang mata. “Hmm. Siya ba ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ka mapakali?”
Halos mabilaukan ako sa sariling laway. “Ano? Hindi ah!”
She laughed, tilting her head as she studied me. “Sige nga, sabihin mo nang diretso na hindi mo siya iniisip?”
Napatingin ako sa kanya, saka umiwas ng tingin. “Hindi ko siya iniisip.”
“Tingnan mo ‘ko sa mata at ulitin mo ‘yan.”
Pinilig ko ang ulo ko at napabuntong-hininga. “Grabe ka, ang kulit mo pala.”
"Syempre! Kapag may kutob ako, madalas tama ako," sagot niya, nakangiti nang pilya. “Aminin mo na kasi. Mahirap naman talagang makatulog kung ang katabi mo eh ganyan ka-ganda.”
Napairap ako. “Alam mo, ang hilig mong mang-asar, ano?”
"Syempre, feeling close ka agad ako eh." biro pa nito kaya natawa nalang din ako. "Btw, gusto mo tubig?"
Umiling ako, natatawa. “Ayos lang ako.”
“Okay.” Umayos siya ng tayo, saka lumingon ulit sa akin. “So… anong kwento mo?”
Napakurap ako. “Ha?”
“Ang kwento mo,” ulit niya. “Yung totoong kwento mo. Hindi ‘yung basic info na binigay mo kanina sa hapunan. Gusto kong marinig kung sino ka talaga.”
Napatingin ako sa kanya, hindi sigurado kung paano sasagutin ‘yon. “Uh… hindi ko alam kung may interesting akong kwento.”
“Lahat ng tao may interesting na kwento,” giit niya. “Kahit sabihin mong boring, may parte niyan na sigurado akong nakakatuwa.”
Napaisip ako saglit bago natawa nang mahina. “Siguro ang pinaka-interesting na bagay sa’kin ngayon ay napadpad ako dito.”
“Hmm, fair point.” Ngumiti siya. “So, first time mo talagang pumunta dito sa probinsya namin?”
“Oo,” sagot ko. “Hindi ko akalaing ganito kaganda at katahimik dito.”
“Tahimik nga,” sang-ayon niya. “Pero ‘pag tumagal ka, makikita mo rin kung gaano kakulit ang mga tao rito.”
Napangiti ako. “Isa ka na siguro sa mga yun.”
She grinned. “Proud pa nga ako doon.”
Tahimik kaming tumawa, parehas na nakatingin sa labas.
"It's nice meeting you pala, Syl. Ang dami mo nang lupa na nakapangalan sa'yo, pero ngayon ka pa lang napunta rito," she said, shaking her head in amusement.
"I've been busy with life," I replied with a small shrug. "Pero hindi naman ako nagsisi na pumunta ngayon. Maganda rin pala rito."
"Syempre! Dito mo talaga mahahanap ‘yung peaceful life," she said proudly before laughing. "Pero grabe, ang daldal ko pala kahit hindi pa tayo magkakilala nang matagal."
Napatawa rin ako sa sinabi niya. "Kaya nga eh. Pero okay lang naman, sanay na ako d’yan," biro ko pa.
She grinned, shaking her head. That small exchange seemed to break the initial awkwardness, and soon, we found ourselves talking non-stop. We laughed, shared random stories, and before we knew it, halos isang oras na pala kaming nag-uusap.
It was funny how just a while ago, we were complete strangers, yet now, it felt like we had known each other for years. Time passed unnoticed as the conversation flowed naturally, and neither of us seemed to mind.
"Aba aba, nagchismisan pa talaga kayong dalawa d’yan. Anong oras na, matulog na kayo," Aling Rosa scolded us, making me and my friend laugh before finally deciding to go to bed. It was already late, after all.
I walked toward our room, feeling a little calmer now. Slowly, I pushed the door open, careful not to make a sound. The last thing I wanted was to wake her up.
But the moment I stepped inside, I almost screamed.
"Gosh, Miss! You're still awake?" I asked, trying to calm myself down. Who wouldn’t be scared? She was standing by the window, completely silent, in the dark!
"Do I look like I’m sleeping?" she replied, turning her head toward me with a raised brow. "Where did you go?" she asked as she walked back to the bed and sat down.
"I just needed some fresh air outside," I answered, forcing my voice to sound normal. "You should be sleeping, Miss," I added, sitting beside her on the bed.
"Really?" Her eyebrow arched even higher. "Well, I heard how fun your conversation was," she said, her voice laced with something I couldn't quite decipher.
"She’s just really talkative. It didn’t mean anything," I explained quickly, not wanting her to get the wrong idea.
Without another word, I lay down, turning my back to her.
"Okay. Let’s sleep," she said, and I felt her shifting beside me.
"Goodnight, Miss," I whispered, keeping my position. If I turned around, our faces would be too close, and I wasn’t sure if I could handle that.
Silence stretched between us before she spoke again.
"Why are you on the edge of the bed? Come closer, Gomez," she ordered, making my heart race.
"I’m fine, Miss. I don’t want to bother you," I insisted.
But before I could react, she suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me toward her.
I froze. My breath hitched as I felt her arms wrap around me, holding me close.
Now, we were staring into each other’s eyes. Even in the dim light, I could see her face perfectly—her deep, unreadable gaze, the way her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something but chose not to.
"Miss…" I breathed, my heart pounding against my chest.
"Don't call me 'Miss.' Isn’t it strange for friends to call each other that?" she said, still not letting go of me.
I swallowed hard before whispering, "Cynthia…"
"What?" Her tone was sharp, but something in her eyes softened.
"I can’t breathe," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
Only then did she seem to realize how tightly she was holding me.
"Oh, okay," she muttered, finally releasing me.
I turned back around, facing away from her, trying to steady my breathing. But something nagged at me, so I spoke again.
"Cynthia."
"What, Gomez?"
I smiled. "Why do you always call me by my last name? Shouldn’t it be Sylvia?" I teased, glancing at her over my shoulder.
"Okay, Sylvia," she said, and for some reason, my heart skipped a beat at the way she said my name.
"What? I couldn’t hear it well. Say it again," I teased, even though I knew she’d probably scold me for it.
She sighed heavily before repeating, "Sylvia… go to sleep."
"I can’t," I admitted, turning around completely to face her. "I want a hug. You were just holding me a while ago, and now you’re pushing me away?"
"You’re so unfair!" I complained when she turned her back to me.
"You were the one who said you couldn’t breathe earlier. And now you want a hug?" she shot back. "Make up your mind."
I didn't even think about what I was doing next. Without hesitation, I moved—shifting my position until I was hovering over her.
"Sylvia—"
"Can I kiss you?" The words slipped out before I could stop them. My eyes widened in shock at my own boldness. "Just on your forehead," I quickly added, as if that made it any better.
She didn’t say anything. She just stared at me, like she was trying to process what was happening.
I didn’t wait for a response. Slowly, I leaned in, my heartbeat echoing in my ears. My lips brushed against her forehead in a soft, lingering kiss.
She didn’t push me away. She didn’t even move. She just let me do it.
Pulling back, I smiled, feeling warmth spread through my chest.
"Goodnight, Cynthia," I whispered before finally closing my eyes.