IKAW LANG ANG MAMAHALIN (ASHRALD)

Chapter 20A

Fred's birthday party. Overnight.

Gaganapin ito sa isang private resort sa Laguna. Malaki ang lugar. May pool, bahay, at two-story pavillion sa loob ng compund. After lunch na dumating sina Gerald at Sarah kasama si Rachelle. Mga close friends and family lang ang invited.

"Bro! Sarah! Pasok kayo! Hi Rachelle!" Bati ni Fred. "Happy birthday Fred!" Bati nila at inabot nila ang ang mga regalo. Maraming handa na niluluto pa lang at may barbecue din. "Gusto niyo bang kumain? May luto ng barbecue at pasta?" "Sige bro, ayos lang. Kami na bahala." Gerald replied. "Dito yung mga kwarto. Mga single beds lang, okay lang bro?" Fred guided them inside the house. " Sa loob ng isang room may dalawang double deck at isang queen bed. "Okay lang yan bro, si Sarah and Rachelle sa bed sa bunk na lang ako." Gerald looked at Sarah and Rachelle. They both nodded.

May nakaset up na malaking table sa pavillion. Nagdala ng pagkain si Gerald. "Babe, share na lang tayo sa isang plate ha." Inabot ni Gerald ang isang plate kay Rachelle. Sarah and Gerald are sitting close to each other eating in one plate. "Uy sweet niyo naman!" Tukso ni Rachelle. "Shempre naman!" Sabi ni Gerald sabay kindat kay Sarah. Tinapik ni Sarah sa braso si Gerald habang pinipigilang ngumiti.

After nila kumain, nagkwentuhan muna ang magkaibigang Sarah at Rachelle sa pool side at sina Gerald, Fred at iba pang friends nila ay nagswimming na. "Babe! Swimming ka na!" Tawag ni Gerald habang nasa pool. "Sige Ge, sunod kami later." Nakita ni Sarah na nakatitig si Rachelle kay Fred. "Sis, ano nakamove on ka na ba? Kala ko ayaw mo sumama today." Tanong ni Sarah kay Rachelle. "Madali lang yang moving on. Eh ininvite naman niya ko eh so gow lang!" Rachelle replied. Natawa sila pareho.

"Bro, ano musta kayo ni Rachelle?" Jalal asked Fred. "Okay naman. We're friends ininvite ko nga siya di ba?" Tumingin sila kina Sarah at Rachelle. Kay Sarah lang tumingin si Gerald. Napatingin din si Sarah sa kanya at gumanti rin siya ng titig. "Sarah, something is different with you. Hindi ka gumaganti ng titig sakin, ngayon lang." Naramdaman ni Gerald na uminit ang pisngi niya.

Sarah changed to her swimwear, a pink swimshirt and white bikini, and went outside. "Babe nasaan si Rachelle?" Gerald asked. "Inaantok eh kaya ayun natulog na lang muna." Inalalayan ni Gerald si Sarah makababa ng pool. "Babe ang sexy mo naman!" Lambing ni Gerald. "Ano ka ba! Bolero!" And Sarah playfully splashed water on his face. "Ouch!" "Ay babe! Sorry, Sorry!" And she was touching Gerald's face.

Nagulat si Gerald. "Anong sabi mo?" He looked at Sarah with a huge smile on his face. "Did I just said babe to him? Oh well, huwag na ideny!" Sarah thought. "Sabi ko, babe, sorry sorry!" May diin sa salitang babe and Sarah laughed. She looked at him and Gerald was just staring at her. Siya lang pala yung tumawa. "Wala ng bawian yon ha." He said seriously and brushed his hand on her chin. Sarah was speechless.

After their swim, Sarah went back to their room but Rachelle is not there. She checks her phone. "Babe?" Papasok ng pinto si Gerald. "Ge, nakita mo ba si Rachelle?" "Hindi eh." Paglingon ni Sarah, nasa likuran na niya si Gerald. Nagkatinginan sila. "Babe, may dumi ka sa cheek mo." Gerald held out his hand and touched Sara's cheek. Nailang siya kaya ibinaba niya yang tingin niya ngunit napatingin naman siya sa dibdib ni Gerald. Wala itong suot na pantaas. She stared at his sculptured chest and toned muscles. "Kahit saan ka tumingin sa kanya, nakakailang parati!" She thought.

"Ayan wala na." Then Gerald touched her hair near her ears. Sarah gazed at him. Their eyes met. They both felt that connection between them. Their faces are getting closer. "Babe." He said softly. He was still caressing her cheek. Sarah knows the next thing that will happen, but she felt she wanted it too. Their lips are just an inch apart. She closed her eyes.

Someone opened the door, "Sars?" Nagulat silang dalawa at biglang lumayo sa isa't isa. "Ooops sorry guys!" "Rachelle! Kanina pa kita hinahanap eh." Sarah then went to Rachelle to ease the tension. Gerald was still standing there, speechless. "Sorry!" Rachelle whispered to Sarah. Sarah gave her thumbs up sign. Lumingon si Gerald sa dalawa and matipid na ngumiti. Hindi makatingin ng diretso sa kanya si Sarah. "Ge, labas lang kami ha. Kita na lang tayo doon." Mabilis na sinabi ni Sarah and both left the room.