PAIN crossed Agape's face when she woke up. Parang binibiyak ang ulo niya sa dalawa dahil sa sakit. She groaned in annoyance when she suddenly wanted to puke.
Akmang aalis na siya sa pagkakahiga para pumunta sa banyo nang makita ang nakalingkis na braso at hita ng asawa sa kan'ya. He was towering her with his manly features. Napangiti siya sandali at dahan-dahang inalis ang pagkakayakap nito. Napangiwi pa siya nang maramdaman ang bagay sa may puson niya.
Morning erection?
Nakahinga siya ng maluwag nang tuluyan niya nang maalis ang pagkakaakap nito at dali-dali siyang dumiretso sa banyo. Nasusuka siya ngunit wala namang lumalabas. Kaya't nang marindi na siya sa pagpipilit sa sarili, bumalik na lang siya sa higaan.
Then he saw a white flowers in a transparent glass bottle on top of a small paper. Taka niyang tiningnan ang papel at agad napangiti nang makilala ang pamilyar na sulat. Sa sobrang gulo ng pagkakasulat n'un ay aakalain mo nang reseta galing sa doktor.
There's a medicine for your headache inside the small drawer in the bedside. Drink it and please don't get drunk again without me.
See the flowers, baby? Told you, I'll get whatever my wife wants.
Naguguluhan man ay malawak ang ngiti niyang binuksan ang takip ng bote. The sweet smell of the flowers filled the whole room. Ilang beses pa niya 'yung nilalapit sa ilong niya para mas maamoy.
Naiiling na lang niyang kinuha ang gamot sa drawer malapit sa kan'ya. Sana lang talaga ay effective sa kan'ya ang gamot. She wanted to talk to her mother today. At kapag masakit ang ulo niya, baka mas mahirapan pa siyang makapagpaliwanag.
She wandered her eyes around to see if there's a clothes for her and she just smirked when she saw one. Everything's really prepared for her.
When she can already feel her head getting better, pumasok ulit siya banyo at minadali ang pagligo. She reeks of alcohol! At naamoy pa lang niya ang alak, nasusuka na siya.
She wore the plain peach linen dress and she smiled in contentment. Isinuot na rin niya ang cream strappy sandals na pinahiram ni Clare sa kan'ya kahapon.
Nang matapos siya sa pag-aayos ay napanguso na lang siya nang makitang hindi pa 'rin nagigising ang asawa. He was hugging her pillows with just his.. boxers on. Kung ganitong tanawin ba naman ang makikita niya araw-araw, ewan na lang niya kung hindi pa siya madala sa temptasyon.
Bago pa man siya magkasala ay lumabas na siya ng k'warto para sana puntahan si Clare. Her bestfriend was too fond in drinking alcohol, but hated hangover the most.
Nagbaba na lang siya ng tingin habang naglalakad sa pasilyo. She was too embarrassed to herself. Ang sabi niya ay hindi siya iinom, at hinding hindi niya mararanasan ang malasing. But look at her now? Parang 16 years old na kakawala palang sa hawla.
Worry is visible to her face when she saw Red coming out from her room. Madadaanan ang k'warto nito papunta sa kay Clare kaya't nang makita niya ang dalagang nakakapit sa railings ng second floor, agad agad niya itong dinaluhan.
"Did you drink medicine?" she asked and the girl nodded.
"Ang sakit parin, Ate.. " she murmured.
Agad naman siyang naawa sa dalaga. Halata talagang nasasaktan ito.
Natuwa siya nang may dumaang katulong na may dala-dalang pagkain ni Marina, ang alagang ahas ni Abuela. Naaalala pa niya kung pa'no siya nawalan ng lakas nang minsan itong marinig kay Red. But well, the snake was located in her man-made mini forest far from the mansion. Masyadong malawak ang kabahayan kaya't merong nakahandang golf cart kapag ayaw mo nang maglakad. O kung lilibutin mo ang buong kalupaan. There's also an employees house bit far from the mansion. Ang sabi ni Abuela, halos lahat daw ng empleyado ay galing sa malalayong lugar. And they were too many that the mansion can't accommodate them all. Ginawa daw 'yung parang housing nila. Especially for guards na hindi araw-araw umuuwi.
"Ate, p'wede pong patulong kay Red? Ibababa ko lang sana sa kusina.. " pakiusap niya. Masyadong mataas ang second floor kung tutuusin. Buti sana kung p'wede nang magamit ang elevator.
"ARE YOU feeling better now, Red?" She handed her the glass of water when she finished eating the hangover soup.
"I think I am, ate.. " she whispered. "Thank you.. " She smiled at the girl.
"Alright, I'll check to Clare first. Just call me if you or the maids if you need something, okay?" Red nodded.
SHE was about to enter Clare's room when she heard her loud voice, shouting over someone.
"I told you to fuck off, you dumbass! Don't go near me! Don't talk to me! Don't even breathe the same air as mine! Or I'll let my Princess Jairah eat you alive! You fucker, get lost!"
Napasapo na lang siya sa noo at hinintay na tumahimik sa loob. She waited for minutes before she knocked on the door.
"Kanina ka pa?" Clare acted like she just woke up.
"No, kakarating ko lang.. " She smiled.
There is something between bestfriends that almost everyone know. The concept of secrets.
Sometimes, you didn't open up to your bestfriend not because you don't trust her, but because, somehow.. you're trying to find a solution of it on your own. We're all flattered with the contentment we feel after solving our problems without help from someone. That is something.. fulfilling. Mga pakiramdam na gustong-gusto nating maramdaman. But it doesn't mean that you're isolating yourself from your bestfriend, from your loved ones. It's called privacy. Something that only you.. can feel.
Kaya't naiintindihan niya kung may mga bagay na hindi masabi si Clare sa kan'ya. She didn't even tell Clare about her marriage too. Hindi dahil sa wala siyang tiwala sa kaibigan. Kun'di dahil umaasa siya, na dahil siya naman ang gumawa ng problema, s'ya rin ang makakahanap ng solusyon. It's not good that someone would solve it for her.
"Masakit ulo mo?" She tried to change the topic so Clare won't feel distressed.
"Medyo. Sa'yo?" Clare yawned.
"I'm good.. " She answered. Looking at Clare right now, she can't help but to feel grateful. She found a friend in Clare, and she met her husband who makes her heart flutter everytime he's doing something.. or just looking at her. "Are you still mad, Claresta Lisiañya?"
Pinukol siya ng matalim na tingin ng kaibigan. Napahalakhak tuloy siya.
"Don't call me with that.." She said with disgust. "... that petty name.. " Clare glared at her.
Natawa na lang siya. She used to call Clare as Anya in their first meetings, pero ayaw ng babae at nasusuka lang daw siya. She will just shrugged with it, always. Para sa kan'ya naman ay maganda ang pangalan ng kaibigan. Compare to her name—Agape Clementia. She's wondering why she's named like that. Kahit ang mga kapatid niya ay may pangalang.. tunog sosyal. Or what do you call it? Fancy?
Her mother's name is Karen. Simple yet pretty. Her father's name is Augustus, at doon yata nanggaling ang pangalan niya at ng mga kapatid—Agape Clementia, Agneessia Katarina, and Agzeal Kidzan.
"Lisian or Anya is actually good. Let's trade name.. " She teased. Napataas ang kilay sa kan'ya ng kaibigan.
"Aga-aga nandito ka. Ako ba asawa mo? Lumayas ka nga at bumalik ka sa pinsan ko.. " She even gestured her hands in the door's direction.
"Ayaw.. " she stubbornly answered. "Galit ka yata, e.. " she acted hurt, at dahil masyadong malambot ang kaibigan niya sa kan'ya, Clare will forgive her soon.
"I'll forgive you in one condition.. " ani nito. Tumango naman siya, nag-aabang ng sasabihin nitong kondisyon.
"Gusto ko ng.. " Tumigil sa ere ang sasabihin nito at sumenyas sa kan'ya na lumapit. At dahil gusto na talaga niyang malaman ang kondisyon ng kaibigan, agad-agad siyang umupo sa tabi nito. ".. ng bata, Agape. Gumawa kayo ni Kuya ng bata.. "
Napatayo siya at napaatras. Sigurado siyang namumula na ang buo niyang mukha habang humahalakhak na nakatingin si Clare sa kan'ya.
"Clare, seryoso ako!" Nawawalan na niyang pasensyang sambit. She's sure that she's red as tomato now. Maputi siya, at siguradong kitang-kita 'yun.
"What?" Clare asked, laughing. "I'm serious too. Kapag nabuntis ka within this month, bati na talaga kita. At forever na 'kong hindi magagalit sa'yo.. "
Nahihiya siyang nagbaba ng tingin at tumalikod. Bakit nga ba inalam pa niya ang kondisyon ng kaibigan? She knows Clare! At wala talagang tamang lumalabas sa bibig nito kapag ganitong nang-aasar siya.
Tinaliman na lang niya ng tingin ang babae at akmang bubuksan na niya ang pinto nang sumigaw ito.
"Magbasa ka ng mga positions para kambal ang mabuo! Maghahanap ako online! Yung triplets siguro para mas maganda!" pahabol nito kaya't nag-iinit ang pisngi niyang isinarado ang pinto.
She was flushing while walking away from Clare's room. Nakatungo lang siya habang naglalakad. Inaalis ang mga pang-aasar na sinabi ng kaibigan.
"Hey, you okay?" Inangat niya ang tingin sa boses na 'yun at nang makitang nakahawak sa braso niya ang asawa at nag-aalalang nakatingin sa kan'ya, mas naramdaman niya ang pag-iinit ng pisngi.
"Are you sick?" He caressed her cheeks. Tuliro tuloy siyang napailing-iling. "You're red.. "
Napaiwas siya ng tingin. "Mainit.. " she reasoned out.
"That's odd. The whole house was actually chilly because of the new air-con.. " nagtataka nitong sambit. "Maybe you're really sick.. " Dinampi nito ang palad sa noo at leeg niya.
"I'm fine.. " she murmured.
He sighed before hugging her waist. He rested his head to her neck. "I'm worried. I thought you left when I woke up.. " He said.
Lumakas ang kabog ng dibdib niya at gumanti sa yakap ng asawa. She placed her head in his chest, listening to his heart's beat. "Why? Takot ka ba na iwan kita?" she whispered.
"I'm afraid of losing my mind if you will suddenly left.. and will never come back.. " Her lips pursed. She sighed and softy caressed his back.
"I'm not leaving, Gray. Not today, not tomorrow and not in the other day.. " She can feel her husband calmed a bit. Napangiti siya at inabot ang buhok nito. "Don't be scared, okay? Why would I leave? If you want me to stay, then I'll stay. If you want me gone, then I'll be gone. If you want me to do nothing, then I'll do nothing.. "
"I don't want you gone.. " He sniffed to her neck. "And I want you to do everything you want.. " Napasinghap siya nang biglang lumapat ang labi nito sa gilid ng leeg niya. He was sniffing on it, and then he would placed his lips to her skin.
"T-Then I'll stay.. " She's catching her breath while he's husband was slowly kissing the sensitive part on her neck, and sucking it.. a bit.
"G-Gray.. " She moaned when he bit her neck, creating tickles and pleasure. Napapaangat ang katawan niya tuwing sumasabay ang pagpisil ng lalaki sa bewang niya at ang pabalik-balik na paghalik nito sa tenga at leeg niya.
"You used to call me mister, baby.. " He whispered to her ears.
"I-I did?" She asked, confused. Pero hindi niya 'yun pinagtuunan ng pansin dahil sa tumatama na ang labi nito sa may ibabaw ng dibdib niya.
"Hmm.." he hummed. "You smell good.. " Mas lalo itong nagsumiksik sa leeg niya at inamoy-amoy ang leeg niya. Napasinghap siya ng maramdaman ang palad nitong dahan-dahang pumapasok sa damit, dahilan para tumaas ang suot niyang bestida. She can see her panty peaking as her husband caressed her back and rested his palms to her stomach. She's not wearing any short or cycling!
"Mahabaging diyos!" Sabay silang napatingin sa matandang katulong na nanlalaki ang matang napatingin sa kanila. Agad niyang ibinaba ang damit at yumuko. She was hiding her face to his husband's chest. Halos matapon na ang dalang soup nito na para siguro kay Clare.
"I'm sorry, Manang. Bagong kasal.. " Gray blurted out. Bahagya niyang kinurot ang tagiliran ng lalaki habang nakatungo parin ang ulo sa dibdib nito.
"A-Ayos lang, hijo. Mabuti sigurong magsipasok kayo sa k'warto niyo at baka dumaan ang dalaga, "tukoy nito kay Red.
Nang makaalis ang matanda ay agad niyang tinaliman ng tingin ang lalaki ngunit nangingisi lang ito.
"What, baby? I'm not doing anything.. " He chuckled.
"'Pag tayo nakita ni Red at Abuela, " banta niya sa asawa.
"If that happens, I'll bet both of them will congratulate us. Saying that you're carrying the new member of the family.. " Nanlaki ang mata niya at napaatras. Ngunit tumatawa lang ang lalaki sa kan'ya.
He took a peck of kiss in her lips. "Don't worry, I have lots of money, wife. Kaya kong buhayin kahit pa ang mga apo sa tuhod natin.. "