TAMED SERIES 3: Rafael Avila (Complete Ver. Is Available In The VIP)

Kabanata 8

Kabanata 8

Caya

Ginawa na yatang goal ni Rafael sa buhay ang mag-send ng videos sa akin na tungkol sa self-worth at cheating. I know he used to be a side boy that's why he's so determined to make me break up with Croft but that's the thing.

There is nothing to break between me and Captain Guevarra. Kaya lang hindi ko naman iyon pwedeng sabihin kay Rafael dahil mabubuko sina Astrid at Croft. 

"Nag-chat na naman?" tanong ni Astrid habang nasa resto kami at kumakain ng almusal. Hawak ko na naman kasi ang phone ko dahil sunod-sunod ang notification. 

I sighed. "Oo."

"Anong sinend niya this time?" usyoso niya. Hindi na mapigilan ang ngisi. 

I showed her the video Rafael just sent me. It was a motivational speech about being aware of your own worth as a woman. May follow up chat pa siya roon na sinabing, "I've been in a pretty bad place because of a wrong love that never felt right but still made me believe it's worth it because I didn't know what's worth risking for and what's not, yet even when I wasn't there anymore, even when my heart is already free from its poison, sometimes I feel that my toes are still dipping in the same waters that almost drowned me. All I wanna say is, make sure the love you let into your heart wouldn't drag you down to the bottom and then leave  you there to die. Alone."

Astrid scoffed. "Someone told me na kapag mahaba mag-chat ang lalake, he's really into the girl." Ibinalik niya sa akin ang phone ko saka ako tinusok sa tagiliran. "Ikaw, ha? Akala ko ba magre-relax lang tayo rito?"

Namumula ko siyang sinipat nang mahina sa braso. "Naku, wala akong balak mag-uwi ng sakit ng ulo sa Pilipinas, Astrid. Alam mo namang taping na ang naghihintay sa akin pagbalik natin."

She laughed softly. "May two weeks pa tayo rito. Maraming pwedeng mangyari sa two weeks. Kami nga ni Croft nagkaayos last few days na ng lock-in taping sa cruise ship nila." She smirked. "Baka swerte sa love life ang mga barko ng Atlantis International Cruises?"

"Kumain na lang tayo, Astrid. Ikaw talaga."

She giggled. 
Mabuti na lamang at hindi na ulit ako inasar. We just finished our food and then headed to our cabins. Doon ako sa katabi ng kay Rafael nagpunta. I brushed my teeth and hopped under the shower. 

I headed to their mini library on the third deck after doing my morning routine. Nagtagal lamang ako roon ng halos isang oras at umalis na rin noong may lalakeng lumapit para makipagkilala.

I've encountered a lot of guys who wanted to hit on me in the first two weeks in the cruise but I wasn't really looking for anything. Kahit hook ups. I would politely decline their invites to come with them in the cruise's night club. Isang beses pa lamang din naman akong nagpunta roon. Noong inimbita kami ni Croft para masubukan namin.

"May party mamaya sa may pool area. Croft said we should probably go," balita ni Astrid. 

"Sure," I said. 

We went to the cruise' souvenir and clothing store to buy our summer dresses. Napili ko iyong maxi dress na backless habang nanguha naman ng skirt si Astrid na ipapares niya sa kanyang two-piece. 

Nagtungo kami sa kanya-kanyang kwarto at nagbihis na. Pagsapit ng alas syete ay sabay kaming nagtungo sa pool area. Nagpapatugtog na ang DJ nang makarating kami roon. The waiter gave us some drinks courtesy of Croft. Hindi na ako tumanggi. Matagal-tagal na rin naman magmula nang huli akong uminom. 

"Look. It's Rafael," ani Astrid saka itinuro si Rafael na patungo sa pool area at nakaakbay sa dalawang babaeng naka-summer dress. 

For some reason, my heart suddenly pounced when I saw Rafael looked at my direction. Halatang aksidente lamang din iyon dahil medyo lumaki ang mga mata niya at natigilan siya matapos magtama ang tingin namin. 

Ako na lamang din ang naunang umiwas ng tingin saka ako sumimsim sa aking Margarita. Sa gilid ng mata ko ay napansin kong dumiretso sila sa gilid ng pool area at sumandal doon sa may railing. 

I tried to ignore his presence. In-enjoy ko na lamang ang gabi, at nang naparami ang inom namin ni Astrid, nagyaya siyang sumali kami sa mga nakikisabay sa sayawan. 

We danced while giggling. I felt so alive and free while I'm throwing my head back and swaying my hips. Malapad ang kurba sa aking ngisi habang sumasabay kami ng indak sa awitin, ngunit nang madama kong tila may mga matang nakamasid sa akin, tumingin ako sa direksyon ni Rafael.

There, I saw him sipping his beer while leaning on the railing. Nakakalso rin ang isang braso sa railing habang ang mga mata ay matamang nakatutok sa akin. 

He didn't look away even when he already saw me looking at his direction. Tila gustong iparating na wala siyang balak tumingin sa iba.

I don't know if it's the alcohol that's already talking but I continued swaying my hips while I'm keeping our eye contact. I did some dance sports when I was young so I know I'm not a bad dancer. Halata rin naman sa paraan ng pagtitig niya sa akin na hindi siya nauumay sa nakikita niyang galaw ng katawan ko. 

The music changed into something more sensual. I felt a rush of adrenaline while dancing to Rita Ora's Body On Me while I'm looking at Rafael. Hindi ko rin maintindihan kung bakit nananatili sa kanya ang aking tingin. It was as if there's this invisible force that's preventing me from looking away. 

My heart jerked when he stood up straight and totally ignored his girls. Napahinto ako sa pagsayaw nang makitang patungo siya sa aking direksyon. His eyes remained glued on mine, and when he reached me, he made me turn and rest my back on his toned chest.

"Such a fucking seductress when you're drunk, huh?" he whispered, his hand rested on my waist. "Go on, Caya. Continue what you were doing. I fucking loved it anyway."

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nangyayari sa akin. Maybe I had too much Margarita already that his words felt like command I had to abide or else I'll be in trouble. 

Sumara ang mga mata ko nang haplusin ng kanyang palad ang aking tagiliran, tila iginigiya akong igalaw ang aking balakang upang sayawan siya. 

Hindi ko na namalayang sumusunod na ako. I let him guide my hips until it sways on its own again. Rafael lowered his head to bury it on my shoulder, but instead of stopping him, I even angled my head to give him more access to my neck.

Nakagat ko ang ibaba kong labi nang madama ang mainit niyang hininga sa aking sensitibong balat. He pecked a gentle kiss onto it then he went near my ear to say something in a sexy tone. 

"Break up with Captain Guevarra. I'll make sure your heartbreak will be worth it."

Napatingin ako sa kanya dahil sa narinig ngunit bago pa man ako makapagsalita ay naibaba na niya ang kanyang mukha upang halikan ang aking mga labi. My eyes widened at first, yet the moment he started kissing me, I found myself closing my eyes as I answered his kisses. 

Bahala na. Isisisi ko na lamang sa alak ito bukas . . .