30: sleep
#DWTDWP

RYU

Halos ala singko na ng madaling araw nang makabalik kami ni Poseidon. We closed the deal and fixed the current situation. For now everything was smooth sailing. Ilang beses akong napahikab and it reminded me I haven’t gotten sleep yet. I was supposed to rest when titless called yesterday night, and then it happened.

One hella unforgettable night. But unfortunate things happened, like Cooler getting shot.

Poseidon pulled the car to stop. “Nandito na tayo,” anunsyo niya at pinatay ang makina.

Agad akong bumaba ng sasakyan at pumasok sa loob. The others must be asleep by now.

Napatigil ang tangka kong pagbukas sa doorknob nang makarinig ako ng halaklak ni Cooler.

Uh, he’s still awake?

Tuluyan kong binuksan ang pinto and found him on the long couch at nasa tapat niya si Titless. His eyes were a bit teary, probably due to excessive laughing.

Seriously, at this hour?

“So I let him taste dried dog poop!" Muling tumawa si Cooler at napatingin naman sa dako ko si Titless. "Oh, rocket is here!” sabi ni Titless nang makita akong pumasok. Hindi ko siya pinansin at napatingin kay Cooler. Napangiti siya nang malawak sa akin.

“So... how was it?” tanong niya.

“Done.”

Tila mas lalo siyang napangiti at tiningnan si Titless na nakatingin nang masama sa akin.

“Hey hey you bad bad devil!” she pointed at me.

“What?”

“Why did you take Cooler’s car?” tanong niya na nakataas noo.

Ah, Cooler told her about it. Wow, they’re close now. It’s been only more than three hours.

“That’s none of your business Titless.”

“Of course it is, it’s Cooler’s car, not yours. Why are you taking things na hindi naman sa’yo ha? Alam mo bang ‘yong feeling na inaagawan?!”

I stared at both of them, unsure what emotion I had in me right now. I don’t know what exactly I feel. Maybe I’m tired, sleepy and all. Right now all I wanted to do is ripped them apart even if their distance isn’t really that close. Ewan, magulo ang isip ko.

Pagod ako.

Inaantok.

Nag-aalala.

Whatever.

So I slowly nodded in response to her question. “Yeah, because I think that’s what I exactly feel right now.”

Saglit na tumahimik ang paligid. I don’t know why I voiced out what was on my mind at the moment but it’s all been said and done. No taking back. Cooler’s smile faded and he had that worried expression on his face. So I turned at titless who looks like a confused idiot right now.

“We’re leaving in an hour,” sabi ko. “If you want, pwede kang magpaiwan at sumabay na lamang kina Cooler.”

Pagkasabi ko niyon ay agad akong tumalikod at tinahak ang daan patungo sa silid na nakalaan sa akin sa resthouse na iyon. For now I really wanted to take a nap to clear things in my mind.

***

Pi

“Hindi ba kulang sa buwan ‘yang si Ryu?” tanong ko nang tuluyang mawala sa paningin namin si Rocket.

“Ha? Bakit naman?” Cooler asked.

“Look at him, minsan na nga lang ngumiti parang bagot na bagot pa sa buhay. Maybe side effect iyon kapag halimbawa, instead 9 month ka sa sinapupunan, naging 4 months ka lang, ganoon.”

Cooler laughed a bit. “He’s just like that but he’s someone with a good heart.”

I cringed. “Wala nga yatang puso ‘yon eh.”

“Well that’s what he wanted everyone to see but if you get to know him, he’s selfless and willing to do everything for people he cared the most kahit buhay niya pa ang kapalit.”

I shook my head. “Uh, he doesn’t look like that type of man. Parang siya ‘yong tipong pagnagka-zombie apocalypse, tatakbo siya at ililigtas ang sarili.”

“Nah, if that happens he’s the time who fight zombies just to save you.”

“Malabo,” tutol ko. “He’s mean, he loves smirking, he isn’t nice at all! He’s a devil! Seriously, who would call a woman titless?!”

Napangiti si Cooler sa rant ko. “It’s like he gave you a pet name.”

“And my name is Lennon, not Lemon!”

Mas lalo lamang siyang natawa. “Ryu is bad with names, that’s it.”

“Still, I hate him,” buo ang boses na wika ko.

“Can I ask a question?”

Matamis na ngumiti ako. “Sure.”

“Are you really sure about how you feel about me?” tanong niya.

Hey hey, tinatanong niya ang ungkol sa nararamdaman ko? Dalawa lang ‘ya eh, he will accept or reject. Last time he turned his back, which means he rejects.

“Of course! I was convinced before na tanging si Harry Styles lamang ang mamahalin ko, until you came. I saw you in that party one time at hindi na kita makalimutan. The signs and symptoms I felt when I  saw you is similar to what I felt with Harry Styles!”

Mahinang tumango si Cooler. “But what if it’s only admiration. Crush?”

I rolled my eyes at him. “Hey my feelings, my say.”

“I have a gutfeel that you’re not really in love with me,” sabi niya at hindi ko maiwasang taasan siya ng kilay. Can I just smack his face for deciding for me? Hello, alam kong gusto ko siya at mahal ko siya, duh. End of argument.

“Cooler if you wanted to reject me again, so be it basta ‘wag mo lang akong pangunahan sa mga desisyon ko sa buhay,” wika ko sa kanya at mahinang hinampas ang braso niya na walang sugat. “Don’t make me pissed right now, baka nakakalimutan mong hindi ka sumipot sa date natin.”

He looked apologetic. “Sorry about it.”

Matamis na ngumiti ako. “Okay babe, apology accepted.”

“That fast?” tanong niya.

“Hey I love you kaya bakit ko pa patatagalin?”

He just chuckled and shrugged. “So... you coming home with me?”

Oh speaking of that. Napabuntong-hininga ako at napatingin sa direksyong tinahak ni Rocket kanina. “Rocket seems mad. And tired.”

“Yeah, he is tired. He went somewhere for some matters at malamang wala pa siyang tulog nang pumunta kayo rito. Oh, bakit nga pala kayo magkasama?” tanong niya.

My eyes widened in shock. I surely cannot say rocket and I had a nice time. It was great great great, alright but telling him that would only ruin the development of romance between us. No way!

“He... Uhm, he’s kind to help me with some matters,” sagot ko at tumayo. As much as I wanted to stay with Cooler, I cannot act recklessly! I have to orient Rocket that what happened in that cottage stays in that cottage! Agad akong napatayo at nagpaalam kay Cooler. “Uh... I’m going back with Rocket! Bye!”

Hindi ko na siya nilingon at agad na hinanap si Rocket. I need to brief him not to say a word about what happened!

I found Rocket in one of the rooms. I was expecting him to be lying in bed and probably snoring the hell he could but he just sat on the window sill, particularly staring at nothing. Dahil binuksan ko na ang pinto ay saka lamang ako kumatok nang makalapit ako sa mesa niya.

And that's when he noticed me. He sort of stared at the table where I knocked.

"Uhm, rocket, you... Okay?" awkward na tanong ko.

He looks... sad. That's all I could see. Kung ibang pagkakataon ay malamang masama at nakakamatay na tingin na ang natanggap ko dahil sa pagpasok ko sa silid na 'to.

Mahinang tumango siya, his facial expression didn't change at all. Now this is making me guilty.

Going back, he had some errands to do.

He's tired.

I called him.

He came even if he's tired.

I'm a bitch, I know.

He was kind while I was crying.

He removed my damn smudged make up.

...but insulted me why I didn't use a waterproof one.

Huh can I just shoot him on the face?

But still he was kind to me.

He bathe on the sea with me.

It was fun.

Then we had sex.

More fun than anything.

He had me shaking in orgasm.

Damn this man for being huge and satisfying!

Then he brought me to see Cooler.

Yes it was a long battle of nerves but he let me win.

And yup, I was able to see Cooler.

That made me happy.

Tapos ngayong malungkot si Rocket wala man lamang akong gagawin para pawiin ang lungkot niya?

Yes I'm a bitch, no need to remind myself twice.

So I cupped his cheeks and made him face me as I closely examined his face.

"Rocket you look tired."

He tried to pull away but I didn't let go. Instead, I squeezed his cheeks.

"I am tired," walang kabuhay-buhay na sabi niya.

Napaisip ako. "How are we supposed to go back? Is Red  in charge again?" Nang papunta kasi kami rito ay si Red ang nasa cockpit ng helicopter. I was so afraid at first dahil baka hindi ko na masisilayan si Cooler. Seriously that damn reaper is young to be in charge of the flight!

"They prepared us a boat."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Please don't say it's literally a boat where I have to row, because if so I am telling you, I am so not going to row a boat!"

He still looked blank. "It's a yacht. Pagdating sa port ay may susundo."

That was a relief. "Good. So when are we leaving?"

Bahagya siyang nagtaka. "You're coming with me?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yup."

"Why?"

Natampal ko ang noo. "Are you seriously asking that?"

"May mali ba sa tanong ko?" he asked.

Wait, rocket is different. I expected him to raise a voice, growl and threaten me or insult my tits and patronize my hips but he was rather different. He sounded dull. Pagod nga yata siya.

I sighed deeply. "Are you good? Tara na?"

"I said we'll leave in an hour--"

"What difference does it makes? Hindi ka naman nagpapahinga, so tara na at sa byahe ka na lamang matulog."

He didn't say a word at sa halip ay tahimik na tumayo. He grabbed his phone and walked straight to the door.

Something is really off with him.

Sinundan ko lamang siya hanggang sa makarating kami sa sasakyan na maghahatid sa amin sa port. I bid goodbye to Cooler bago sumunod sa sasakyan.

It was a short trip towards the port kaya habang naroon ay pinakiramdaman ko siya. He was simply sitting there, eyes looking outside the car.

Hindi ko na rin siya ginulo pa at hinintay na lamang hanggang sa makarating kami sa yate. It was a small yacht, probably used for their small trips.

He silently walked towards one of the cabin at nang akmang isasara niya ang pinto ay iniharang ko ang katawan ko.

He coldly looked at me. "Out."

"No."

He sighed. "There's another cabin for your ass to settle down."

Huh, he's annoyed. I think that's better than the silent Rocket a while ago.

"My ass wanted to be here. With you."

Akala ko ay makikipagtalo pa siya ngunit tumahimik lamang siya at binitiwan ang pinto, letting me waltz my amazing ass in.

It was a bedroom with velvet sheets. Ah, perfect to sleep. He yawned and walked towards the bed, completely ignoring me.

"You're sad," komento ko.

He shrugged.

"You're quiet."

He nodded.

Now this isn't really the Ryu I knew!

"Sleep rocket," sabi ko at nauna sa kama, tapping the space beside me. "Here. Sleep and I'll pet you."

He looked like he didn't hear me but nonetheless he walked towards the bed at komportableng nahiga habang humihikab.

For once I thought that a sleepy Rocket is actually a cute rocket.

He laid down and pressed himself on the pillow before he yawned again.

Then I started smoothing his hair until he fallen asleep in sheer bliss.

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ShinichiLaaaabs✒️