He Was My Cousin

Chapter 20

Chapter 20
The Romualdes

"Thank you for tonight, Jiro..." malambing kong sabi kay Jiro nang ihatid niya ako matapos kaming lumabas kanina. It was our advance celebration for our eighth month being together. Busy kasi siya next week sa pagpa-finalize ng kanyang proposal at matapos iyon ay mamamalagi siya sa Leyte ng dalawang linggo.

Binitiwan niya ang steering wheel at hinawakan ang kamay ko. Pinaling din niya ang kanyang katawan sa aking direksyon.

"Lagi na lang hindi sakto... last time dahil sa kasal ng pinsan mo, ngayon dahil sa trabaho ko." He sighed.

Ngumiti ako, "Sabi mo nga we still have a lot of monthsaries and anniversaries in the future to celebrate... missing one or two wouldn't be so bad."

He intertwined his fingers with mine. "I'll make it up to you. 'Pag natapos ko na talaga 'tong sa Leyte..." He looked into my eyes and then he suddenly said as if he was seeing my every thought through them, "I love you. Alam mo naman 'yon, 'di ba?"

Umakyat ang isa niyang kamay sa pisngi ko at hinaplos niya iyon pababa sa aking panga. "I might have been busy but you are all that I am thinking of..."

Hinawakan ko ang kamay niyang nasa aking pisngi. "I love you too, Jiro. You should know that well, too."

Bumalandra ang ngiti sa mga labi niya. The next thing I knew, his wet, soft lips captured mine while one of his hands was cupping my cheek and the other was still intertwined with my fingers. Without a second thought, I kissed him back.

And as I kiss him, our lips crushing to each other, the reasons why I loved this man came to me. Kung gaano ako kaswerte sa kanya, kung ano kaya ang nagawa kong tama para lang ma-deserve siya... And even as his lips dance with mine, I was questioning if I'll ever deserve him. Or of I'll ever be enough for him.

But then I felt his tongue seeking entrance to my mouth, his lips reminded me of the feeling of finding safety and comfort in someone... and so my questions faded into the void, my doubts sank into the pits.

Hanggang sa binaba niya ang kamay niyang kanina'y nasa pisngi ko. His hand rested on the top of my thigh as his lips continue to claim me.

Nang gawin niya iyon ay parang naputol na lang bigla ang isang magandang panaginip na unti-unting naging bangungot. I wondered if Paolo has kissed Yumi's lips, too. Did he kiss her in his car before going to Vienne's place? Whose kiss did he like better?

Napapikit ako nang mariin. I just found myself getting Jiro's hand that was resting on my thighs to intertwine my fingers with his instead. Kasabay no'n ay ang pagputol ko sa aming halik.

"It's getting late..." sabi ko sa kanya. Bigla kong naramdaman ang init na nagkumpulan sa aking mukha nang makita ko ang pamumula ng labi ni Jiro.

Hindi niya ako matignan sa mata. "Yeah, right, it's getting late."

Umalingawngaw sa loob ng sasakyan ang tawa ko. This was just so awkward. Nginisihan ko na lang siya. "Good night. And perhaps... dream of me?"

Umiling-iling siya nang natatawa at dumukwang pa ng isang mabilis na halik sa labi ko. "Dream of me, too."

--

"Good morning!" bati sa akin ni Paolo. Matamlay ko siyang tinanguan. I still haven't forgotten what I've heard last week...

"Bad mood ka yata ngayon?" nakangiti niyang tanong sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung nang-aasar ba siya o ano. Tinignan ko ang wall clock. It's 10:23 AM.

Umupo siya sa kanyang pwesto at nilabas ang laptop. Naglabas din siya ng plastic container mula sa bag niya. He extended his arms to my desk. Ipinadulas niya 'yon sa mesa ko hanggang sa nasa harap ko na iyon.