Strings and Chains (The Frey, #1)

1. Who swiped the v-card?

"Nasarapan ka?" tanong niya ulit. Tumango ako.

"Anong ginawa niyo before bago penetration?" tanong ni Ura.

"Well, we kissed, of course. We did foreplay. He also did oral."

"And?"

"It was good," pag-aamin ko.

"Malaki ba ang mahiwagang batuta?"

Napahinto ako ulit. "Well..."

"Well..." sabay na banggit ng dalawa habang nag-aabang sa isasagot ko.

Bumusangot ako at umiling. Sabay na natawa si Ura at Ginger sa akin. Halos manakit na ang mga tiyan nito sa kakatawa. Sunod-sunod naman pinalo ni Ginger ang lamesa habang si Ura ay napatayo na dahil hindi niya makayanan ang sinagot ko sa kanila.

"That makes sense!" sagot ni Ura habang tawa pa rin ito ng tawa.

"Maru, don't stress about it. You both did foreplay and he did oral. So matik 'yon na you cummed and had an orgasm. That helps you calm and stretch your insides. And you already heard about this, the hymen isn't the same for all women. It differs! That's just one of the reasons why you didn't bleed and felt any pain. In fact, you should be glad. First times don't always have a good ending or experience for other women," paliwanag ni Ginger.

"I still remember mine though. It really hurt, like a lot. My first time wasn't good. There was no pleasure. And my partner was inconsiderate. So you're lucky," wika naman ni Ura.

Well, I guess I should be really glad.

"On that part, maybe I should. But he still assumed that I was not a virgin when we did it and now my reputation here in school hit rock bottom. Not that I care about it, but just look at the stares the whole student body giving me every time they see me."

"They'll lose interest in you once they found another interesting topic. So keep it cool. Don't mind them," payo ni Ginger.

I can only sigh. It's uncomfortable, but I had to endure this. And yet Matt can do anything and people wouldn't accuse him of such things. Bakit ako lang? Bakit ako lang dapat ang magdusa? Habang siya harap-harapang binabalandra ang bago niyang girlfriend. Why is it only me that has to suffer? Bakit ako lang dapat ang nasasaktan?

***

Pagpasok na pagpasok ko ng bahay ay sumalubong sa akin si Rai. Tahimik itong nakaupo sa harap ng pinto habang winawagayway ang buntot niya sa akin. Badtrip na ako sa school kanina pero nang makita ko 'tong alaga ko, napalitan ng tuwa 'tong nararamdaman ko. Makikipaglaro na lang ako kay Rai para mawala inis ko.

"Rai, baby! Kumain ka na ba?" tanong ko sa kanya. Hindi siya lumapit sa akin para maglambing na madalas naman niyang gawin tuwing uuwi ako.

"Ate Tek, pinakain niyo na po ba si Rai?" sigaw ko kay Ate Tek. Sumilip naman sa akin si Ate Tek na may hawak-hawak pang sandok.

"Nako! Ayaw kumain n'yan! Kanina ko pa pinipilit na kumain!" sagot naman sa akin ni Ate Tek kaya napakunot-noo na ako.

Dala-dala ko ang bag ko at dumiretso sa kusina. "Rai, tara na dito, kain na," aya ko pa sa kanya pero tinignan niya lang ako at sinungitan ako.

Hala, may topak?

Tignan ko lang siya na dahan-dahang maglakad paakyat sa taas. Ano'ng problema ng asong 'yon?

"Kanina pa po hindi kumain Ate Tek?" tanong ko ulit.

Tumango naman sa akin si Ate Tek habang nagluluto ng ulam. "Aba, ang tigas ng ulo! Ayaw kumain! Kanina pa ata hinihintay n'yan at pabalik-balik sa pintuan."