Rembrandt Must Die

RMD XXIII

/celestine abcde's/

Nagising ako sa tila sikat ng araw na tumatama sa mukha ko. Tinalikuran ko ito bago bahagyang dumilat, at kahit malabo pa ang paningin ko ay naaninag ko na si Klyde na nakatitig sakin habang salo ng kamay ang ulo nito at siko na nakatukod sa kama.

"Psh. Seduce who now?" Natatawang bulong ko bago pumikit ulit at yakapin yung unan na pumapagitan samin.

"Tss." He softly snickered before letting out a small yawn turned to sigh.

I snuggled more to the pillow, burying half of my face. Hindi ko alam kung gusto ko pang matulog o sadyang natitinag ako sa topless Klyde na nakatitig sakin ngayon. I know I've seen him topless multiple times, but after what happened, it just hits differently.

Pero bakit parang ako lang affected sa nangyari samin?

C'mon Celestine: it's just sex, but he made me feel otherwise.

Mag-fofour-seven-eight breathing technique na sana ako to grasp more sleep nang tumunog ang intercom signaling for an announcement.

"Good morning everyone, this is your Captain Lemarck speaking. I am happy to announce that after one day, we have finally arrived and are now cruising on the southernmost part of the world, Antarctica. We are greeted with a ray of sunshine-"

Hindi ko na naintindihan yung mga sumunod pa dahil pagkatapos na sabihin na nasa Antarctica na kami ay nakaramdam ako ng pagtalon paalis sa kama, narinig ang mabibigat na yabag ng paa at pagbukas ng sliding door sa private balcony.

"Celes- Celestine come out! Whoo!" Rinig kong nanginginig na singhal niya. At kahit ako nakakumot ng makapal na blanket ay ramdam ang hampas ng lamig sa likod ko.

Dahan-dahan ay napa-upo ako sa kama at idinilat ang mga mata. Tumambad sakin ang malawak na ngiti ni Klyde at ang buhok niyang ginugulo ng hangin.

"You should come see this!" He exclaimed with unexplainable excitement written all over his face, as he looked at me, and back the view outside going back and forth as he rubs both of his hands together to gather heat. Majestic view indeed.

I shook my head in disbelief, with a denial smile for his handsomeness. I jumped out of the bed and wore my bathrobe. I then walked towards him after grabbing his bathrobe for him to use.

"Wear this; mamaya di tayo i-welcome ni Antarctica e." I joked as I handed him his bathrobe. Wala pa akong kape at hindi na ako natutuwa sa view.

I made my way to the ramp and placed my elbows to the railings, taking a look at what he was so excited about, and as much as my jaw wanted to drop, I tried to suppress the excitement.

"Beautiful isn't it?", rinig kong tanong niya sakin. Sumulyap ako para makita siyang naka-ngisi at titig na titig habang sinusuot ang bathrobe niya.

Tumango naman ako bilang sagot at ibinalik ang tingin sa karagatan na napapalibutan ng maliliit hanggang sa malalaking iceberg. It's now kicking in that this is officially our first day on this trip. Although there's not much to see, the thought of voyaging through the white continent alone is madly splendid.

"Sit here," utos ni Klyde at tsaka niya hinila ang upuan na nasa tabi ko. Pagkatapos ay inayos ang unan na nakalagay don.

I gave him a small look, a kind of look that is questioning his action, pero imbis na sagutin ako ay kinindatan lang ako sabay ngisi. Harap-harapan ay inirapan ko siya at naupo na lang dahil ayaw ko na makipag-talo pa.

"Stay there; I'll make us coffee, love," he softly said, and then chuckled softly enough for me to hear. Hindi na ako nag-abala na tignan siya, at ibinalik ko na lang ang paningin ko sa mapayapang karagatan.