Going the Distance (Book #1 of Distance series)

Interlude: Slowly

"Gosh, I'm sweating all over, Andy," saway nito sa kanya habang inilalayo nang bahagya ang mukha. "You can kiss me later," pahabol pa nitong biro.

"I love to kiss those sweats, anyway." Patuloy pa rin ang paghalik niya sa mukha ni Sophie, hanggang sa ang labi niya ay dumampi na rin sa tenga nito, sa batok at sa leeg. Naaamoy niya ang naghahalong pawis at cologne nito. Her scent is tugging in his senses like a baited hook.

Maya't-maya ay tila nagugulat si Sophie ngunit hindi naman nito mabitawan ang sandok at hawakan ng Chinese wok. "Stop it, Andy! It tickles."

"Really! So I'm motivated to do it more," he says in between his kisses.

Binitiwan ni Sophie ang niluluto at siya'y hinarap. Hinawakan nito ang magkabila niyang pisngi saka tumingkayad, hanggang ang kanilang mga mukha ay isang pulgada na lamang ang pagitan. "You don't listen to me," she says softly, but eyeing him.

Before Andy can even speak, she leans over in a swift and kisses him on the lips. Her act freezes him on the spot and takes his breath away. His heart thumps as she continues to aggressively claim his lips, then he lets out a soft moan. When his hands starts to tunnel on her back, Sophie lets go.

"Would you mind to take out the breads from the oven? They're ready."

He feels he has lost some air. Bumuntong-hininga siya nang malalim at pagkatapos ay napahawak siya sa kanyang labi. "Whoa! Is that your way of punishing me?"

"No," natatawang sagot ni Sophie. "Your parents will be going down soon so we better get prepared." Bumalik ito sa pagluluto at maya-maya lamang ay hinango na niya nakasalang at isinalin sa isang serving plate.

"What kind of breads are these?" takang tanong ni Andy. Inilapag niya ang tray na naglalaman ng mga tinapay sa mesa. "They smell good!"

"Pandesal. It's a native bread from in country." Isinalin niya ang bagong hurnong mga tinapay sa isang basket serving tray. "Wait 'til I'll amaze you more." Kinindatan nito si Andy bago tumalikod upang ihanda na ang mga pagkaing ihahatid sa dining room.

"Yeah, you do not seize to amaze me!"

~~~~~~~~

"My parents enjoyed the food you prepared." Sa gitna ng kanyang pagmamaneho ay nilingon ni Andy si Sophie. "My mom is used to preparing the breakfast for everybody on a daily basis. So waking up finding the table all set and all she had to do was to eat is something very new to her. And she loved the chocolate porridge. What do you call that again?"

"It's champorado," sagot niyang pinipigil ang tawa. "How about you? What did you like best?"

"That sirloin with the fried rice and egg is superb! Tap---taps---" Nasa dulo na ng kantang dila ang pangalan ng pagkain ngunit hindi pa rin niya ito maalala. O mabigkas.

"You mean that Tapsilog! It's called Tapsilog, babe!" naaaliw nitong sagot. There are other varities to that dish, actually. There are pork, chicken and fish dishes too while the fried rice and egg remain. Thus, we just substitute the prefix before the si-log."

"I'm beginning to love the Filipino foods now."

"I promise to feed you with the best Filipino dishes while I am here, Andy."

His eyes soften. "Please don't make me be used to that, though. I might struggle to find my feet again with the change when you go back to the Philippines."

The smile that has played at the corner of her glossed lips fades. "I have two long weeks to spend with you."

Dinampot niya ang kamay ni Sophie at hinimas ito, na siyang ginantihan naman ng huli.