The Man in Strings

XVI. Aftermaths

I tried to breathe. "Sorry. You wanted me to speak. There."

"Thanks, about sa shirts mo, nakalimutan ko lang naman magpa-laundry nu'n ng mas maaga," paglilinaw nya. "I was wearing your shirts for a week. You wanted to fuck me for a week?"

"More than that," I avoided her eyes. "I've lost count how many times you seduced me by doing nothing, Maine." Sinubukan ko ulit tumingin sa kanya. "And don't say the word 'fuck' that way. It doesn't help."

Tumayo na naman sya at sobrang hindi ko na naman maunawaan kung anong umiikot sa utak ng babaeng 'to. Wala syang sinabing gawin ko kaya nagpaiwan lang ako sa baba at inintay sya. I really, really can't answer this puzzle (that is called Maine) no matter how many lifetimes would I have. Napaka-unpredictable.

Nagulat na lang ako pagbaba nya na dala-dala na nya iyong mga bag namin. She went near the fridge and scribbled something. Sinundan ko naman sya para tingnan 'yung sinulat nya.

May biglaang meeting si Rj, kailangan na naming umalis. Ingat po. Balik kami bukas. :--) - Maine

May meeting ako? Bakit hindi ko alam?

"Where are we going?" Para akong batang sumusunod lang sa Nanay nya dahil walang magawa.

"Uuwi," simple nyang sagot.

"Bakit? Hindi na natin iintayin parents mo?"

"Bakit pa? Pipigilan lang tayo nu'ng sila kapag nagpaalam tayo ng harapan."

"Anong gagawin natin?"

She shrugged.

"Magse-sex."

I choked.

//

"So paano 'to simulan?" We were in my bedroom, in my bed, to be specific, and I was trying to look relaxed. Hindi ko alam, malapit na ako mabaliw, sa totoo lang. Never in my million lives I imagined Maine initiating this. She's my kid, she's my innocent minion, what happened to her? Did I corrupt her that much?

"I don't know," I answered. Really, I don't know where to start. Parang lasing lang ako tapos ito na. "Maybe we need to get into the mood."

"Sabi du'n sa site..."

"Can you please stop visiting that site?!" Tumaas ang boses ko. "Pakiramdam ko napaka-bad influence nu'ng site na 'yun sa'yo."

"Last time, sabi mo bibigyan mo sila ng five stars," she eyed me. "Maybe we need to... uhm..." Okay, she's hesitating. That's my Maine. Finally. Akala ko ibang tao na ang nasa harapan ko. "Why are you smiling?"

"Wala, nahihiya ka na ulit kasi. Akala ko sinapian ka na ng ibang kaluluwa, eh. Ang out-of-character mo kasi kanina."

"Rj, I'm not the same eighteen-year-old Maine. Ever heard of character development?"

"Okay, okay," I surrendered. Bakit nga ba ako nang-aaway ng writer? Parang ang pointless naman makipagsagupaan pa sa utak nya e alam ko namang wala akong laban. "What were you trying to say?"

"Maybe we need, to, uh... wait... teka lang," mukha syang naguguluhan.

"Ano?"

"Hindi ko ma-rephrase 'yung gusto kong sabihin, baka tunog inappropriate."

Tawang-tawa ako. "Maine," I said when I recovered. "Nothing is ever decent in sex."

She just raised an eyebrow. My. Minion. Raised an eyebrow at me! Is this the real life?! "Daming experience natin dyan kuya, ah."

"Nagseselos ka ba?"

"Hindi," then she looked like she threw all her hesitations away. "Ah, bahala na nga. Sasabihin ko na lang nasa utak ko. Patingin ng thingy mo!"