A/N: Serving 2 Chapters today. Let me know what you think po. :)

I was used to waking up alone hugging my favorite plushie but the moment I opened my eyes, I found myself hugging and looking at the most beautiful person in the world. With her eyes closed and her soft breathing on my neck, I've never felt so lucky to be waking up beside an angel. I stared at her for a while and almost memorized every part of her face. Ethereal. That's one way to sum it up. My eyes went down to the mole on her chin and just above that are her lips. I remembered the feeling of having those against mine and I couldn't resist doing it again. I kissed her forehead then her eyes then her nose then her cheeks and finally her lips.

She stirred a little before opening her eyes and I greeted her with a smile.

"Good Morning Karina"

She snuggled closer then looked at me.

"Good Morning Winter"

We would have stayed in bed all day but unfortunately our tummies betrayed us and started to riot. I grabbed my phone and saw that it was already eight in the morning. I don't even remember what time we finished drinking or when we slept.

"Nagluto kaya sila?" I asked.

Hindi parin kumakawala sa pagkayakap si Karina. "Probably. Ayoko na sanang tumayo eh. Ang comfy kasi eh"

Natawa naman ako sa kanya, ang cute niya kasi eh. Pero hindi pwedeng magutom ang mga food babies kaya dahan dahan ko naman kaming inupo. Nagpout pa nga siya and hindi ko ulit mapigilan na halikan siya.

"Nakakarami ka na ah"

"Ayaw mo ba?"

"Gusto siyempre"

"Tara na?"

Tumayo na ako ng kama pero ayaw pa din niyang gumalaw. She raised both her hands as if telling me na buhatin ko pa siya.

"As much as I want to, I'm still slightly injured po"

She pursed her lips again bago tumayo na din sa kama. Naglakad naman ako papunta ng cr para magwash ng face at magtoothbrush at sumunod lang siya. May spare naman kasi na provided since pinaparent nila yung house.

After nun, bumaba na kami at naabutan namin si Ate Mark na nagpapalit ng water sa dispenser.

"Magandang umaga sa inyong dalawa. Kaen na kayo"

Binati din namin siya bago kami umupo. Inunahan ko talaga siya abutin yung serving spoon at ako naman ang naglagay ng kanin at ulam sa plato niya. Tinanong ko din kung anong gusto niyang inumin. Muntik pa nga ako mgpaka.flight attendant.

After filling our tummies, I helped her clean up. Pagkadala namin ng mga ginamit sa kitchen, she told me na siya na ang maghuhugas. Hindi na rin ako umalma.

I leaned on the kitchen table and just watched her wash the dishes then a thought came to mind at niyakap ko siya from the back.

Mas matangkad siya sa akin kaya nakapatong lang ang ulo ko sa balikat niya.

Mabilis lang siyang natapos maghugas at umikot siya para magkaharap kami bago niya pinatong ang mga kamay niya sa batok ko.

"What do you want to do today?" Tanong niya.

"My friend Lia said something about checking out yung mga falls"

"Ah yes. We can go there but is it okay if we drop by the inn first? I have to get my stuff kasi"

"Ligo lang ako then we go?"


 

Pagakyat ko, I saw my mom requesting a video call so I answered right away.

"Good Morning anak. I just wanted to check on you"

"Good morning din my. I'm fine naman po. Just finished eating breakfast din po. I'm going to check out the falls that Lia recommended pala"

"I see. Are you going alone or is there anybody coming with you?"

"Ugh. Yeah. I'm going with Karina po. She's the daughter of the owner of the house. Just a year older lang"

Napataas ang kilay ni mommy pero nakangiti pa din ito.

"Is she the same girl na palagi mong kasama sa mga pinopost mo?"

"Yes po"

"I know that look Winter. Don't even try to deny it. You like this Karina noh?"

Buti na lang talaga out na ako sa parents ko. "I do my. And before you say anything, she likes me too"

"Who wouldn't like my baby? Anyway, just be careful ha. And I expect to see you by Monday" may unting pagdiin sa huli niyang sinabi.

I sighed but made it look like a cough. "Yes po"

Binaba nadin niya ang call and I couldn't help but feel sad. Today is my fifth day and two more days and I have to leave.

But I don't want to. Not yet at least.

Pagbaba ko ay nakita kong kausap ni Karina ang magasawa. Nakita nila ako at sinabing sasama na din daw sila sa pupuntahan namin para maging guide at hindi din masyado familiar si Karina. Wala namang problema kaya hinintay namin silang magayos ng gamit.

Once we were all ready, I gave my car keys to Karina then she drove us to the inn she was staying in which was just a few blocks away sa bahay. Kuya Mark helped her out na din with her stuff then nilagay na sa car before we proceeded to our plans.

When we got there, we had to hike para mapuntahan ang falls and although my ankle is looking better and hindi ko na rin kailangan ang crutches, Karina made sure I was okay. She never let go of my hand when we started the trail with Kuya Mark as our guide.

We had to stop along the way para magpapicture. Tuwang tuwa naman ang magasawa at ngayon na lang din daw nila ito nagawa.

May naririnig na akong tunog ng tubig and I asked kung yun na ba yung pupuntahan namin. I was told na hindi pa at ibang falls daw yun. Hindi din daw siya advisable para sa mga turista talaga dahil delikado daw ito. I was curious pero siyempre sa safe side pa din tayo.

We finally reached our destination and wala din masyadong tao. Namangha ako sa ganda nung falls. May apat na falls na nafoform at sa bawat level ay may basin na suitable for cliff jumping. The water was crystal clear kaya I can't help but get excited. Bago pa ako tuluyang ma-excite at tumalon na lang, binaba muna namin ang mga dalang gamit. In a short span of time kasi na nagaayos sila kanina, nakaluto na din si Ate Linda ng food namin.

Nakabihis na din naman ako before we left and Karina did the same nung dumaan kami sa inn kaya naman hinila na niya ako para magswimming. Pinaalalahanan naman kami ni Ate Linda na magiingat.

Since wala masyadong turista, malaya kaming nakapagswimming. Hanggang ayain nga niya akong umakyat sa jump off. Medyo nalula ako nung sinilip ko yung tatalunan namin at parang gusto ko na lang magback out.

But then she held my hand and asked, "Do you trust me?"

"I do" mabilis kong sagot.

At bumuwelo na nga kami para tumalon.

We did it a couple of times pa before we got tired and hungry kaya bumalik na kami. Nakahanda na din ang pagkaen kaya we started eating na.

"Sa dagat naman tayo bukas Winter?" tanong ni Kuya Mark.

"Ay sige po. Game lang naman po ako kahit saan. Ang daming magandang pwedeng puntahan parang kulang na kulang ang isang linggo para sa mga iyon" sagot ko naman.

"You can always extend your trip naman" biglang entry ni Karina.

Ngumiti na lang ako pero at the back of my mind, no matter how much I wanted to just stay here, I know eventually I have to go back to Manila.

Nang bumaba ang mga kinaen namin ay sumama na din sa amin lumangoy si Kuya Mark at naiwan si Ate Linda para magbantay ng mga gamit. Hindi rin daw kasi ito marunong magswimming.

After ng ilang oras ay may nagdatingan na ding ibang grupo kaya umahon na kami. Kumulubot na din kasi ang mga fingertips namin sa tagal din naming nagbabad.

We walked back kung saan namin iniwan si Ruby at natuyo na nga kami sa paglalakad namin. Pinasilip na din kasi kami ni Kuya Mark dun sa isang falls na narinig ko kanina.

We stopped over sa isang gasoline station para makapagpalit ng damit at magmu.museum tour naman daw kami.

It was an eventful day and I enjoyed every moment of it. Madilim na ng makabalik kami sa bahay. Pinagpahinga muna kami ng magasawa at sila na daw ang magaayos ng mga nagamit namin kanina. We went up to the room and kahit sinabi pa ni Karina na sa next room na lang siya magsstay, I insisted na she stays with me.

The moment we closed the door, I pinned her to the wall and kissed her. Hindi rin siya nagpatinag at binaliktad pa ang pwesto namin. She started kissing my neck at napatakip na lang ako ng bibig to suppress any sound.

Nanginig ang buong pagkatao ko when she whispered, "My room is sound proof"

We got to the part where we got rid of our tops and natulala pa ako when I saw her in her bra. Damn!

Hindi namin parehong namalayan at nasa loob na kami ng shower in our birthday suit.

I did not mind earlier when she dominated me against the wall but this time, I made sure I get the first taste.

We went down a few hours later and just in time lang dahil tatawagin pa lang daw dapat kami ni Ate Linda.

Whew! Buti na lang pala medyo natagalan silang magluto at nawalan daw ng gas kaya lumabas pa si Kuya Mark.

"Mukha maayos naman ang pahinga niyong dalawa ah" sabi ni Ate Linda.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Karina at sabay na natawa.

"Ah opo. Nakakapagod din po kasi yung ginawa kanina" sagot ko naman at sumimpleng kindat pa ako na thankfully si Karina lang ang nakakita. Ramdam ko din na pinatong ni Karina ang left hand niya sa right thigh ko.

Nako Karina, don’t start something you can’t finish ah.

Para bang alternate kami sa pagserve ng food sa isa't isa at nilalagyan na nga ni Karina ang plato ko. Every time din may ilalagay siyang serving, she'll check with me kung enough na yun and I would just nod.

Nakipagusap pa muna kami sa magasawa at tinanong ako kung ayos lang sa akin ang mga naisip nilang ihahandang pagkaen.

“Mayroon namang ihawan dun na pwedeng rentahan para makapag liempo tayo. Masarap magtimpla yang si Karina. Mayroon ding mga cottage na pwede nating pagiwanan ng gamit" sabi ni Kuya Mark.

"Pwede po ba tayo mag-ensalada at kilawin?" tanong ko sa kanila. Yun kasi madalas kong nirerequest pag nagbebeach kami.

"May palengke din naman tayong madadaanan. Pwede tayong mamili na lang kung may maisip ka pang kainin" sagot naman ni Ate Linda.

Maaga daw kaming bibiyahe kaya after ng paguusap namin ay nagpaalam na din sila kaya umakyat na din kami ni Karina.

Hindi pa naman din sobrang late and may enough time pa to sleep kaya lumabas muna kami ng veranda.

Since I arrived here, the weather had been nothing but nice except for that day I sprained my ankle. Weird as it may sound, I am thankful that it rained that day. Kasi kung hindi, hindi ako maiinjure at hindi rin ako matutulungan ni Karina which would mean na everything that happened yesterday and today, did not happen at all.

She back hugged me this time and I held her closer. We were contented by just looking up at the sky which is now full of stars.

"I wish the sky's always like this in Manila. It's very calming" sabi ko while leaning my head closer to hers.

"Can I just keep you here with me?" mahina niyang sabi at hindi ako nakapagsalita.

What if siya na lang kaya ang isama ko sa Manila? She can continue her studies there as well. I remember kasi sabi sa akin na graduating na din dapat siya.

"I know you have a life here Karina and andito din sila Ate Linda. But...would you like to go home with me sa Manila?"

"I would love to be wherever you are Winter...but...I...I don't know" sabi niya then let out a sigh.

Umikot ako para humarap sa kanya at niyakap ko lang siya ng mahigpit.

Bumigat ang mood and I hated it. I hated how we both know that our time is running out. And what we have right now will soon turn into memories.

And I don't want her to be just a memory to me.

Tinamaan na ako ng antok at pagod kaya niyaya ko na din siyang matulog pero sabi niya hindi pa daw siya inaantok at mauna na daw ako. Nagpaiwan din siya sa labas at nakita ko ngang nagsindi siya ng yosi. Hinayaan ko siya at pilitin ko man ang sarili ko, bumabagsak na talaga ang mata ko.