Bedroom Negotiations - Gold (Self-published)

12

I want you to know that I'm all yours...

I couldn't get those words off my head and I had to admit that it was the icing on the chocolate cupcake called Dustin Montemayor.

But I have heard a more intense confession years ago which turned out to be the biggest scam of my life.

Mahal na mahal kita...ikaw ang una at huling babaeng mamahalin ko. I want you to stop worrying kasi kahit kailan ay hinding-hindi mangyayaring magbabago 'yung pagmamahal ko sa'yo. Continue trusting me, okay? I will never leave you. Ipaglalaban kita. Ipaglalaban ko ang pagmamahal ko sa'yo...

I pushed away from him then took a step back as I laughed softly. "Tang-ina..."

Dustin looked confused. "What's wrong, Babe?"

"Nothing..." I said. "Pasensya na...malapit na yata akong mag-menopause," I lightly added as my eyes stung with unshed tears.

Shit, why am I having these flashbacks lately? Ano bang meron at tu-mu-throwback ako kahit hindi naman Thursday?

"Anong problema?" he asked.

I forced myself to smile as Dustin's frown deepened. "May naalala lang ako..."

"Pwedeng malaman kung ano?"

"Hindi. Besides, napakawalang kuwenta ng tagpong 'yun ng buhay ko. Ewan ko ba, inilibing ko na 'yun sa limot, eh, pero nagmumulto na naman. All Saints' Day na ba?"

I laughed again. "Hindi ko alam kung anong meron sa'yo at mula n'ung naglandian tayo ay naaalala ko 'yung mga hindi ko dapat alalahanin."

He stepped forward to pull me into his embrace but I pushed him away again. "Tama na nga, Dustin. Pucha naman, eh, ang tanda-tanda ko na para d'yan sa happily-ever-after na inilalako ng fairytales. Pwedeng h'wag mo na akong utuin and let's just call this for what it is?"

He let out a frustrated groan. "Ano pa bang pwede kong gawin para maniwala kang sincere ako?"

"Sincere saan? Sa ungulan ba?"

"Lia...please..."

"Alam mo ito ang ayaw ko sa'yo, you're into sugarcoating things. Hindi mo naman ako kailangang bolahin, eh. You don't have to do that elaborate engagement party thing. Kung gusto mo akong ikama ay sabihin mo lang nang diretso para maliwanang 'yung intensyon mo. Hindi 'yung kung anu-anong pasakalye pa ang ginagamit mo."

"Hindi ka pangkama lang—"

"But isn't that why you're here?"

"Lia..."

"Pero, okay, tagtuyot din ako ngayon. Naghahanap din ako ng magbibigay sa akin ng satisfaction and fortunately for you, ikaw lang ang nandito."

He looked offended and he momentarily closed his eyes. "Shit..."

"Oh, come on. Do you really expect me to believe na kaya ka nandito ay para lang makausap ako?"

"Hindi ba pwede na 'yun nga ang rason kung bakit ako nandito?"

"Sinong ginagago mo? Come on, Montemayor, actions speak louder than words. Ano, one round ba?" I asked.

He searched my face.

"Ano?" I repeated. "Do you want to fuck me or what?"

He shook his head. "No..."

"Excuse me?"

"Ayokong isipin mo na lumalapit ako sa'yo kasi gusto lang kitang ikama. Ayokong isipin mo na 'yun ang rason kung bakit ako nandito kasi kung kama lang naman ang habol ko ay ang dali lang maghanap ng iba, 'di ba?"