Black Blood

Before the Storm

Aaron felt his heart throbbed. He thought it was not a good thing. Thanks to the dark room, it hid his blushes.

“Hindi puwede ito, may girlfriend ako. Mahal ko siya. Hindi, mas mamahalin ko siya kung sakali.” His voice cracked.

“So puwedeng magkagusto ka sa akin?” Sabi ni Kristoff while teasing Aaron even if he still have some bruises. Then he gets starkly serious. “Protektahan mo ako please? Dalawa lang ‘to e, andito ako o wala ako sa tabi mo. Baka hindi tayo puwedeng maging magkaibigan. Lalo na noong nakita mo kung sino talaga ako. Baka puwede.”

“The heck are you talking about?!”sabi ni Aaron, he is visibly annoyed.

“Baka  naman puwedeng maging tayo?” lumakad papalapit si Kristoff sa binata.

Napaurong si Aaron while Kristoff took three steps forward for them to be uncomfortably close with each other.

“Gusto mo bang subukan? Kahit halik lang?”

Aaron cannot reply to his answer at bago pa siya makasagot ay inilapit na ni Kristoff ang kanyang mukha sa binata. Kristoff was about to kiss him but Aaron lost his balance saka napaupo sa silya.

“Fuck. Huwag ako!” Sabi ni Aaron. Kristoff’s will didn’t wane though. Umupo rin ang binata, hinawakan ang mukha ni Aaron saka humalik sa pisngi ng binata.  Aaron was left dumbfounded by what he did. Napansin din niyang medyo naluha ang binata.

 “Hihintayin ko ang sagot mo.” Sabi ni Kristoff, saka siya ngumiti muli. “Salamat sa band aid at sa halik. Hindi lang halata, nagamot mo na ako.” He whispered those to Aaron’s ears while sounding breathy. “Masarap ba?”

Si Aaron naman, nanginginig sa takot. Nakayuko lang siya at ayaw tingnan si Kristoff. Nanatili pa rin siyang nakaupo. For once, he thought he might not be as straight as he thinks. He was left like that – afraid, happy, confused and terrified at the same time.

“Ayoko.” Maikling sagot ng binata. Halos pumiyok siya sa pagkakabanggit nito, much to Kristoff’s delight.

“I will make a way.” Sagot ng kanyang kausap hanggang sa mawala ang anino nito sa dilim. Sinuntok lang ni Aaron ang lupa sa galit nitong nararamdaman sa sarili.

Tinawagan niya si Leila pagkatapos noon. He told what happened saka siya nakitim ng malutong na mura galing sa dalaga.  She advised him to go home by tomorrow and visit his girlfriend thinking that it will clear his mind. Kinabukasan din ng madaling araw, nasa kanila na ang binata.

Now that he went to his hometown, binisita niya si Lara. Malapit na rin ang kanilang monthsary. He still has not thought of a gift but he hopes he could make her happy that day. The images of him having an intercourse with her also circulated in his mind but Aaron supposed he cannot taint his naïve and innocent girl. Alam niyang kaya niyang papayagin ang dalaga na gawin iyon but mas mahal niya si Lara kaysa sa pangangailangang laman niya. Until Kristoff came to his life. Now he is confused as hell.

Aaron can only describe his girlfriend as a rare species of Maria Clara-type Filipina. She was raised in an upper-middle class family and was educated in a Catholic school from her preparatory to secondary education. Ang akala niya ay magmamadre si Lara pero nagulat na lang siya nang sinagot siya nito noong nanligaw siya. Then there they are, waiting for their fourth anniversary.

                Her refined manners contrasted with Aaron’s rowdy behavior but he thought that was for the better since they complement each other. Aaron also thought that Lara has a very temperate mood and her smile alone calms him down.

                “May problema ba?” sabi ni Lara nang mapansin niyang humintong nagkwento si Aaron ukol sa university. She was genuinely concerned about him and she held his hands as if she was telling him that it is okay to confide things with her.

                “May kaibigan ako. Actually, medyo bisexual. Grabe pala nangyayare sa mga ganon ano? Nabugbog siya. Ako nag-alaga. Ang weird ‘Hal. We waited for an hour sa hospital, baka hindi na siya magising.” He can feel his eyes water for a moment.

                “Kawawa naman kung ganoon. Magaling na siya?”

                Aaron just gave her a worried look. He now feels guilty sa dalaga, he just does not know why. It felt like he is more concerned with Kristoff than his own girlfriend.

Lara just smiled at him. Hinawakan nito ang kamay ng binata saka inilapit sa mukha niya.

                “Uuwi ka next week di ba?” nakangiti nitong tanong.

                “Kauuwi ko lang ngayon, baka hindi.” Aaron knew that she was talking about their monthsary. Of course he has to feign he did not know but he cannot hide the growing blushes he has in his cheeks. Pero nagulat ang binata kasi hindi ito dahil sa ginawa ng dalaga. It’s like he remembered someone doing similar things to him. It felt like it was better than what his girlfriend did. Lara felt her boyfriend was distracted by something pouted for a second saka tumalikod sa binata.

“Mabait ka ‘Hal. Alam ko iyon. Baka ma-attach lang sa iyo.” She replied. Aaron can sense jealousy from his girlfriend. “O baka ma-aattach ka.” She delivered it in a very cold manner.

                “Mas straight pa ako sa ruler. At ikaw ang mahal ko.” Aaron said although he was unsure now if he meant those words.

                “Ayos lang. Baka nakakita ka na roon ng bago. Ayos lang, pero huwag naman ‘Hal sa lalake. Mas lalo kitang hindi mapapatawad kung ganoon. Pero mahal kita. Ayun ang mahalaga.”

                Aaron does not know if his girl is too naïve or just dumb yet he felt guilt that time. He just kissed his girlfriend then hugged her.

                “Uuwi ako next week, don’t worry. I’ll make that day a heck of our monthsary.”

                “May ireregalo rin ako sa iyo noon.” Sabi ng dalaga while she smiles in what Aaron could call very mysterious.

                Lara meant what she said. She was to give her virginity sa binata on that day. She took all the precautions for her not to be pregnant by the time they do it. She had shivers whenever she thinks about that but she already committed herself to Aaron.

                “Mahal kita. Mahal na mahal kita.” Sabi ni Lara. She hugged back.

Aaron went back to the university the next day with his mind still unclear of what is happening. Nag-aya si Kristoff na makipagkuwentuhan sa kanila na hindi naman tinanggihan ng