My Boyfriend is a Freak (Published under Pop Fiction)

28: Vren

"As usual," she echoed with a smile.

I waited until she's already inside her apartment before climbing back into the car. But to my greatest annoyance, its engine wouldn't start.

"Oh, come on. I'm really tired so let me drive home in peace," I whined. After several unsuccessful attempts, though, I was forced to get out of the car again to inspect its engine bay.

Bigla namang bumuhos ang malakas na ulan nang akmang itataas ko na ang hood ng kotse ko.

"Seriously?" I groaned as fat water droplets started to hit me on the face. "This is fucking ridiculous."

Patakbo kong tinungo ang apartment ni Mira at kinatok ang pinto nito.

"Mira! It's me, Vren. Please let me in!" I had to raise my voice to make it audible. Even from here, the sound of rain spattering the roof of the house was deafening.

After what felt like eternity – I was already dripping wet from head to toe – my girlfriend finally opened the door for me. Even in my pitiful state, I had to smile at the sight of Mira wearing pink PJs and cuddling the teddy bear I gave her more than a year ago – the one she named "MB".

"O, akala ko nakauwi ka na?" gulat na sambit ni Mira. "Anong nangyari sa'yo? Bakit basang-basa ka?"

"My goddamned car won't start. I went out to take a look at the engine bay, and that's when it started to rain," I explained to her. "Can you lend me an umbrella? I'll just leave my car parked in front of your apartment and take a taxi home instead."

"Okay. Pasok ka muna, kukunin ko lang ang payong ko." She opened the door wider to let me in. "Kukuha na rin ako ng towel para makapagpunas ka."

"Don't bother. I'm already soaking wet."

"E bakit magpapayong ka pa?"

I sighed. "Mira..."

She giggled and raised her hands in surrender. She then headed to her room, and after a minute or two, came back carrying a baby pink umbrella adorned with yellow and purple dots.

"Do you have something else I could borrow? Something more... manly?" I asked, staring down at her umbrella with a frown.

It was Mira's turn to sigh. "Vren, 'yan lang ang payong na meron ako. Kunin mo na 'yan nang makapag-abang ka na ng taxi. Gabi na."

"Fine. Thanks." I gave her a grudging smile. "Good night, Ms. Custodio."

"Good night, Mr. Montevilla." She smiled back at me. "Text me when you get home, okay?"

****

After an hour of standing in the rain, feeling cold and miserable, I failed to hail a taxi that would take me to my place. And what's even more annoying, the rain seemed to grow stronger with each passing second.

"What now, Vren?" I muttered. "Are you just gonna stand here until this stupid rain stops?"

The tiredness from work, frustration from failing to hail a cab, and irritation from getting soaked up in rainwater soon grew too much for me to bear. Nagsimula akong maglakad pabalik sa apartment ni Mira.

"Mira!" I called out, hoping that my girlfriend was still up. "Sorry to disturb you again, but I can't get a taxi."

I knocked insistently on her door, but gave up after about five minutes or so. Sumakit na lang ang kamao ko kakakatok sa pinto pero hindi pa rin ako napagbubuksan.

I tried calling Mira next, but all of my attempts went unanswered. At this point, I was forced to conclude that my girlfriend was already fast asleep.

"Mira, let me in!" I yelled again in a desperate attempt to wake her up. "I'm freezing out here!"

Still no Mira. Tumalikod na ako para magpalipas na lang ng gabi sa loob ng kotse ko.

Hahakbang na sana ako palayo nang sa wakas ay bumukas na ang pinto ng apartment.

Fina-fucking-lly.

"No taxi?" Mira asked before letting out a yawn.

"Obviously." I sighed. "You sleep like a log, Ms. Custodio. Hindi ko alam na ganito ka pala kahirap gisingin."

"Sorry," she replied, stifling another yawn. "Kanina ka pa ba kumakatok?"

"Yep. Can you please, please let me in now? I'm already shaking from the cold."

She stepped aside, eyes still half-closed from sleep. "Dito ka na matulog. Uwi ka na lang bukas nang maaga."

"Right, 'cause that's not what I'm here for," sarkastiko kong sagot sa kanya. "I'll take it that we'll sleep next to each other?" nakangisi ko pang dagdag habang naglalakad papasok sa kanyang sala.

"Asa ka!" Nandilat ang mga mata ni Mira na kanina ay halos pikit pa. "Dito ka lang sa sofa, 'no? 'Wag kang excited. Mag-jowa pa lang tayo. Bawal pang magtabi sa kama."

I laughed. "Calm down, I'm only kidding. Say, where should I put this umbrella?"

"Iwan mo na lang sa labas," she instructed. "Maghahanap lang ako ng pwede mong ipalit diyan sa suot mo. Baka may naiwan pang damit dito ang kapatid ko. Magdasal kang kasya sa'yo ang t-shirt ni Myron Theo."

"But what if Myron didn't leave anything here?"

"E 'di pahihiramin kita ng night gown ko." She giggled, surely picturing me wearing her nighties.

"Thanks, but no thanks. I'd rather sleep in my wet clothes," I replied with a disgusted frown. "Or naked, for that matter." My frown gave way to a naughty grin.

"Anong naked ang sinasabi mo riyan?" Mira asked, scandalized. "Baka gusto mong sa labas magpalipas ng gabi?"

"Oh, come on. I'll let you feast at the sight of my abs." I winked at her before starting to take off my dripping suit.

"Pwede ba, Vren Andrei? 'Wag mo akong kindat-kindatan diyan. Sisipain kita!"

She glared at me, cheeks already a vivid red, before marching to her bedroom and slamming its door shut. I was left alone in the living room, laughing my head off.

Sorry, male hormones, I thought with a snicker. It looks like no amount of seduction could dissolve Ms. Custodio's self-control.