Buying Love (Published Under UMPRINTABLES!)

Thirty Six

Wala silang imikan noong pumasok sila sa motel. They had to go somewhere dry kasi basang-basa silang pareho. Even after the kiss, ayaw pa ding umuwi ni Hana sa condo. She insisted that he should go home alone. Siyempre, 'di siya pumayag. They ended checking in to the nearest motel. Malakas pa din ang ulan sa labas.

"Bakit mo ako dinala dito?" she said. Nakaupo ito sa couch, yakap-yakap ang nakataas na mga tuhod. Katulad niya'y naka-bathrobe lang din ito, kasi nga nabasa ang suot nila kanina. She looked like a child. A scared child. Para itong batang takot na ma-rape. Lol.

"You said you don't wanna go home yet. We cannot stay under the pouring rain forever," aniya habang ini-inspection ang palibot. Malinis naman pala ang loob ng motel na napasukan nila. It was his first time to step inside motels.

Not bad, he thought.

"Ayokong umuwi doon, 'di ko naman kasi bahay 'yon. Pero hindi iyon nangangahulugang hindi ka na rin uuwi doon. Bahay mo nga 'yon, 'di ba? Doon ka nakatira," anito.

"Hindi ako uuwi doon nang hindi ka kasama. And it's your home, too. Conjugal property. We're married, right? Hindi pa naman tayo divorced," he said in a dire attempt to make her smile. He failed. She just smirked.

"What do you want to eat?" aniya.

"Wala."

"No. You have to eat anything."

"Di ako gutom."

"C'mon, Hana. Please don't make this too hard for me."

Nagtaas ito ng tingin upang salubungin ang mga mata niya. "Pwede kang umuwi kung gusto mo. Walang pumipigil sa'yo."

"Ayoko ngang umuwi."

"At bakit?"

"Because you're here. And... and.. it just doesn't feel right --- going home without you."

"Nagi-guilty ka lang," anito bago ibinaling sa ibang direksiyon ang paningin.

"Yes, I am. Everything you said makes me feel guilty. I didn't even know that I am capable of feeling this way but I am. I felt guilty for everything." Lumapit siya dito at saka lumuhod sa harapan nito. "Am I that bad, Hana? Tell me. Ganoon na ba ako kasamang asawa?"

Pilit nitong iniiwas ang paningin kaya wala siyang choice kundi ang hawakan ang magkabilang pisngi nito.

"C'mon, Hana, look at me," he said while keeping an eye contact with her. "Answer me. Ganoon na ba ako kasama?"

Namulang bigla ang mga mata nito pero hindi ito umiyak this time. Muli lang nitong iniwas ang paningin mula sa kanya.

Hinila niya ang isang kamay nito at saka dinala iyon sa kanyang mga labi. He kissed it and it felt so right. Pilit nitong binabawi ang kamay nito pero hindi niya iyon pinakakawalan. Sa halip ay idinampi niya doon ang kanyang pisngi. It was the least that he can do to make her feel better. He was hoping it works.