Love For Sale Book 1 (Self-published)

CH 27: Novocaine

"Claire...Claire...!" I heard someone call out.

I opened my eyes to find Barry, his face etched with worry.

"Nananaginip ka..." he said, his voice soft, but for the life of me, I couldn't stop crying.

"Sorry..." I sobbed my chest aching with every breath I heaved. "Sorry...sorry...sorry..." I whispered crying louder.

Barry pulled me to his chest, his arms going around me.

"Shh...it's just a dream..."

I shook my head. "It's not..."

"Claire...hey...calm down...panaginip lang 'yun. Hindi totoo kung sino man ang akala mong nananakit sa'yo, okay?"

He held my face with both his hands. "Nandito ako. Kasama mo ako. Nandito tayo sa bahay, you're safe...h'wag kang matakot..."

I stared at him; the fog which had clouded my mind slowly lifted. I pushed away from his chest suddenly embarrassed. "I'm okay now...pasensya na..."

"Are you sure?" Barry asked.

I nodded. "Oo. Masamang panaginip lang. Pagod na pagod lang ako siguro..."

I smiled to show him that I was myself again. "Pasensya ka na, naabala pa kita."

His brows were still furrowed as if he wasn't convinced that I was really fine.

"Okay lang ako, Barry..." I said self-consciously wiping my tear-stained face using the hem of my shirt.

"Teka, ikukuha kita ng tubig..."

He got off the bed before I could protest and was back less than a minute later with a glass of water in hand. "Drink..." he said.

I obeyed.

"You were crying really loudly. Akala ko kung ano nang nangyari sa'yo."

I smiled at him again. "Pasensya ka na talaga. Gan'un ako kapag masyadong pagod, kung anu-ano ang napapanaginipan."

"What was the dream about?"

"Wala, kung anu-ano lang. Hindi ko na matandaan..."

"Give me the glass, ako na ang magbabalik n'yan."

I handed him the glass expecting him to leave but he remained standing beside my bed.

"Sige, matutulog na ako—"

"Claire..."

"Bakit?"

"May gusto ka bang ikuwento?"

I shook my head at him. "Wala naman."

"Kasi kung gusto mong magkuwento handa akong makinig."

"Wala akong ikukuwento, Barry. 'Tsaka alam mo naman na siguro ang tema ng buhay ko."

"I don't want you to see me as someone you just go to work with, pwede kang maglabas ng sama ng loob sa akin..."

"I'll keep that in mind. By the way, you look very domesticated with that light blue apron and light blue gloves on. Seeing you in that fashionable ensemble that makes me feel better," I kidded.

He did not reply. I could sense that he was really worried.

"Thank you for your show of concern, Barry, pero okay lang talaga ako. I swear..."

He looked at me long and hard before he sighed. "Okay..."

Alam kong marami s'yang gustong itanong at alam ko ring may mga bagay na ayaw kong bigyan ng kasagutan. Mas makabubuti para sa aming dalawa kung ang alam lang namin tungkol sa isa't isa ay 'yung mga bagay na handa kaming ipagbigay-alam.