The Man in Strings

XIV. Rejections

"Maine," I placed her spoon and fork neatly in front of her neatly. "Pwede mo bang 'wag i-bring up 'yan sa almusal?"

"Sorry na, sorry talaga, alam kong nahihirapan ka," she said, obviously worried. Hindi kasi ako nakaharap sa kanya so I was free to roll my eyes. Utang na loob, Maine.

Umupo na ako sa harapan nya at sinimulan na ring kumain. "Sorry ulit," panimula na naman nya, and I was itching to go tell her that everything's okay, I got over my boner, she's a fucking tease and I want to corrupt her mind and body someday, but I know that will never happen unless she comes to me because she's this delicate angel I've described a while ago -

"Sorry talaga," she echoed. "Promise, kapag kasal na tayo, okay lang kahit araw-araw. Hindi pa lang ako ready kasi 'di ba I could get pregnant if we did it carelessly tsaka lagot ako kay Tatay kasi sabi nya kailangan nandito sya para sa mga apo nya - okay ka lang, Rj?!"

It took her seconds of monologue for her to notice that I was coughing - hard. Halos maisuka ko 'yung bawang na nilagay ko sa sinangag sa sinasabi nya. "Are you aware of what you're saying, Maine?!" Napatayo tuloy ako at kumuha sa fridge ng pitsel ng malamig na tubig at umubos ng isang baso. Baka sakaling matauhan naman ako sa sinasabi ng girlfriend ko (promise walang magsusumbong).

She nodded innocently. "Oo. Sabi ko okay lang naman na magse-"

"God don't even say that word!" I hopelessly ran my hands over my face. "Don't you know how hard it is to get rid of a boner knowing na nasa kabilang kwarto ka lang?! Saan mo ba natutunan 'yang mga 'yan?! Who taught you to use the internet?! Ano bang mga sites ang binibisita mo para maipa-ban ko?!"

Lumapit ako sa kanya at humatak ng bangkuan para magamit ko. 'Yung upuan nya naman, pilit kong hinarap sa akin. "Magka-alaman nga tayo, Maine. Do you know how sex is done?"

Tumango sya. "Ipapasok mo 'yung ano mo sa ano ko -"

"Did I tell you to elaborate?!" Natatawag ko lahat ng santo sa babaeng 'to! "Yes or no questions lang, Maine!"

"Uhm, yes."

"Do you know what hand service is?"

She bit her lip. "Handjob?"

Pakiramdam ko nawalan ng kulay ang mukha ko. "Mouth service?"

"Blowjob?"

"Eh momol?"

"Make-out make-out lang?"

"Do you even know what a french kiss is?!"

"I've seen it on TV." She giggled. "Quiz ba 'to, Rj? Perfect ko na ba?"

I was left speechless. I ended up giving away a heavy sigh.

"Anu-anong sites ba ang binibisita mo sa internet, Maine? And how did you even know how to use it?"

"Eh kasi requirement 'yung emails, ganyan-ganyan... so kailangang gumawa." She looked amused. "Rj... twenty-three na ako. Alam ko naman na slow ako minsan pero hindi naman ako ganu'n kawalang muwang... ganyan na ba talaga ang tingin mo sa akin?"

"As much as I hated to admit it straight in yout face, Maine.. oo," I nodded. "You're still that eighteen-year-old kid who asked if she could write about me in that rooftop."

"Grabe ka talaga sa akin," she pouted. "Hindi nga dapat na tinatawag na kid 'yung eighteen, eh. Tsaka malapit lang kaya edad natin. Akala mo naman kung sino kang matanda sa akin ng ilang taon."

"But you'll always be my little girl, Nicomaine," I moved forward and both of my hands trapped her plump cheeks in between. "I'm going to spoil you in every way I can. That's why I'm working hard, okay?"