(WARNING: This part contains strong and potentially offensive languages, highly explicit and excessive sexual activity that may be offensive or disturbing and is not suitable for young readers and sensitive individuals. You have been warned.)
NAKAHALUKIPKIP at nakasanding ang kanyang likod sa upuan habang nakatingin sa kanyang dating kasintahan na nakaupo sa kanyang harapan.
Tumikhim ito at dinampot ang baso ng tubig na nasa ibabaw ng lamesa. Halos mapangalahati nito ang laman niyon.
Isang alanganing ngiti ang sumilay sa mga labi nito nang muling magtama ang kanilang mga mata. "How are you, Lucas? It's been five years..."
Ngumiti siya sa kaharap. Reassuring her that everything was alright between them. Matagal na niya itong napatawad sa ginawa nito kahit na hindi ito nanghihingi ng tawad. Habang tinititigan ito ngayon ay napatunayan niya sa kanyang sarili na totoo ng pagpapatawad niya.
Nakita niya ang pagdaan ng relief sa mga mata nito at sumilay ang totoong ngiti sa maninipis nitong mga labi. The lips he used to kiss before.
Ikinibit niya ang balikat habang nakatingin rito. "Everything's alright."
"I'm glad to hear that."
Ilang sandaling nagdaan ang katahimikan sa pagitan nilang dalawa habang nanatiling magkahinang ang kanilang mga mata. Lucas was convinced that he saw uncertainty and longingness in her steel-grey eyes.
Tanging mga mata lang siguro nito ang nakita niyang kagaya pa rin ng dati. He still could read her through her eyes.
"How are you, Lucas? I... miss you."
He sighed when he saw the expression on his ex-girlfriend's face. She was a part of his life, once in his life he had loved her. He still cares for her after all these years and he cannot stand seeing her in sadness. Her eyes were hopeful and he knew there's no hope for them. Their romantic relationship ended five years ago when she left.
"I'm married," he said and raise his left arm where his ring was. Nakita niya ang gulat at lungkot sa mga mata nito. His forehead knitted in a frown, what would she expect? That he's still single and they will start all over again?
Hindi naman siya tanga na patuloy na umasa rito gayong palagi niyang nababasa sa mga pahayagan ang tungkol sa mga lalaking napapaugnay rito. She even got engaged a year ago to an actor in Hollywood. What happened to them?
He wanted to ask her but he doesn't want to pry.
He just wanted her to know that he's married. If he sounded defensive and presumptuous, he doesn't care. He just wanted everything to be clear to her, and to himself, there's no going back.
"That's good to hear."
Lucas was a businessman and he was good at reading a person. And he can tell that his ex-girlfriend sounded bitter and dejected.
Muli nitong dinampot ang baso na may lamang tubig at halos maubos nito ang laman niyon. It must be very hard for her to face him.
Bumuntung-hininga ito at isang malungkot na ngiti ang nakabalatay sa mga labi.
"It was foolish of me to think that... we still have a chance. I'm sorry for everything, Lucas. Forgive me, I became practical and greedy."
He shrugged his shoulders. "We become greedy and practical at some point in our lives. It's all in the past, Rox, we have our lives now. I'm happy for you, maybe at some point I've loathed you for disappearing just like that, but I already forgive you. Seeing you now proves that I really did."
"Thank you, Lucas, and... and congratulations. You deserve to be happy... Maybe we could still be friends?"
He smiled at her and rose from his seat. "It's nice to see you again, Rox." Sabay lahad ng kanyang palad na agad naman nitong tinanggap. Kapagkuwan ay naglabas siya ng business card at ibinigay rito. "Phone me when you need a friend... I need to go home, my wife's waiting for me." He tapped her shoulder before going out of the café.
ISANG ngiti ang pumaskil sa kanyang mga labi nang makita si River pagkabukas niya ng pinto ng silid nila. Nakasandig ito sa headboard ng kama, katabi nito si Maddie na mukhang nakatulog na.
Lalo siyang napatingi nang makita kung ano ang ginagawa nito. Nanonood ito ng isang Disney movie sa telebisyon na pinasadya pa niyang ilagay sa loob ng kanyang silid. Hindi siya mahilig manood ng TV, subalit mula nang mag-asawa siya ay pinalagay niya iyon upang may mapagkaabalahan ang kanyang asawa habang naghihintay sa kanyang pag-uwi. She loved watching those princesses singing and dancing.
Ni hindi man lang nito napansing dumating na siya.
Marahan niyang isinara ang pinto at lumakad palapit dito. "Hey." Agad na lumipad sa kanya ang mga mata nito at napasinghap nang makita siya. Akma nitong papatayin ang telebisyon nang pigilan niya. "No, finish what you're watching. I'll take a shower first."
Lumakad siya patungo sa sofa at inilapag doon ang kanyang attache case. Hinubad niya ang mga damit at inilagay sa hamper. Nang mapasulyap siya sa asawa ay wala na sa kanya ang pansin nito at muling nakatutok ang mga mata sa pinapanood.
Napailing-iling si Lucas sa pagka-aliw at pumasok na sa loob ng banyo upang maglinis ng kanyang katawan.
Matapos makapag-shower ay pinasok niya ang walk-in closet na kanugnog lang ng banyo. He only wore his boxer before heading out of the closet.
Dumukwang siya sa kinahihigaan ni Maddie at kinuha ang bata na mahimbing sa pagkakatulog. She mumbled in her sleep adorably.
Hinalikan niya ang magkabilang pisngi ng bata bago ito inilapag sa kuna. Pagkatapos ay tinabihan ang kanyang asawa na nakatingin na sa kanya.
"Kumain ka na ba?"
He nodded his head and buried his face on her silky hair and wrapped his arms around her body.
"Uminom ka?"
"Kaunti lang. Naabutan ko sa baba si dad at Alson and I had a few drinks with them after dinner... Have you eaten? Were you waiting for me?"
"Kumain na kami kanina. Napagod ka ba sa trabaho?"
He smiled widely, she sounded like a housewife and he liked it. He loved hearing her voice and smelling her scent.
He kissed her shoulder and buried his face on her neck. She smelled like Maddie, she smelled powdery and milk.
"L-Lucas..."
"Hmm-mm." He kept on kissing her neck and runs his finger on her arm. Hinawi niya ang buhok nito at hinalikan ang likod ng tenga.
"A-ang TV, papatayin ko muna..."
He heaved a deep sigh when she pushed him. Pinakawalan niya ito at inilatag ang katawan sa ibabaw ng kama. He watched her stand up and turned off the flatscreen TV.
"Come here," he muttered and offered his arms to her. He groaned when she bit her lip before climbing to bed. He wanted to taste those lips so bad.
Agad niya itong pinaunan sa kanyang bisig nang makasampa ito. Tinabing niya ang ilang hibla ng buhok na nakatabing sa mukha nito at hinaplos ito sa pisngi.
"You're the most beautiful, my wife." He saw how her face turned red and how her lips curved in a smile. He will live the rest of his life flattering his wife.
Kinuha niya ang kaliwa nitong kamay at dinala sa mga labi. Hinalikan niya ang likod ng palad nito habang hindi inaalis ang pagkakahugpong ng kanilang mga mata. He sucked her thumb and he saw how her mouth hung open. Her breathing became heavy and he knew that he awaken the goddess in her.
Dumako ang kanyang mga labi sa pisngi ng asawa pababa sa leeg nito. Ang kanyang isang kamay ay binubuksan ang mga butones ng suot nitong pantulog.
"L-Lucas..." Ah, he loved hearing her moan his name, it motivated him to pleasure her more. He will do everything to make his wife happy.
Nang makalag niya ang mga butones ay malaya niyang nahawakan ang dibdib nito dahil wala itong suot na pangloob.
Inalis niya ang mga labi sa leeg nito at tiningnan ito sa mukha habang ang kanyang kamay ay nilalaro ang malambot nitong dibdib na hulmang-hulma sa kanyang mga kamay. Nakaawang ang mga labi nito habang nakapikit ang mga mata.
"River..." he rasped. Nagmulat ito ng mga mata at nagsalubong ang kanilang paningin. Her eyes sparkled in a mixture of desire and innocence. "What do you want me to do?" he whispered.
"Halikan mo ako, Lucas." And he did, he was more than willing to oblige.
Napaungol siya nang maramdam ang pagtugon nito sa kanya. Ang mga kamay nito ay naglalakbay sa kanyang likod na siyang pumupukaw sa kanyang pagkatao.
Tuluyan niyang hinubad ang damit nito, maging ang pang-ibabang pajama at ang pangloob ay inalis din niya.
Napakapit ito sa kanyang braso nang bumaba ang kanyang mga labi sa dibdib nito. It was soft, small and firm that molds his hand perfectly. He licked her crowns while his hand went down to the most sensitive part of her body. She flinched and moan when his fingers found her wetness. She was ready for an intrusion, but he wanted to pleasure her first.
Her breathing became heavier when his lips moved down to her stomach. He went under and under until he reached his favorite spot.
He kissed her thighs before kissing her sensitive flesh. She arched her body in pleasure and he was determined to give her more.
He never tasted as sweet as she was. His tongue fastened its pace as he caressed her thighs. He never stopped until he felt her hands on his shoulders. Hinawakan niya ang kamay nito at dumiin ang pagkakapit nito sa kanya. Her body was shaking when orgasm ripped through her.
Iniwanan niya ng halik ang simbolo ng pagkababae nito bago tumaas ang kanyang katawan at magkapantay ang kanilang mukha. Pumuno ang pride at kasiyahan sa kanyang dibdib nang makita itong nakapikit at nakaawang ang mga labi.
Sandali siyang umalis sa pagkakakubabaw rito at inalis ang saplot sa katawan. Pinasadan niya ng tingin ang kagandahang nakalatag sa ibabaw ng kama at nanunuyo ang kanyang lalamunan.
Hindi ito maputi ngunit pantay ang morena nitong balat na napaka-erotikong tingnan sa ibabaw ng kanilang kama. Muli siyang kumubabaw rito at pinatakan ito ng halik sa mga labi.
"Are you happy?" he asked.
She opened her eyes before nodding her head. Nakalarawan pa rin sa mga mata nito ang kaligayahang naabot.
"I want you, River."
"Iyong-iyo ako, Lucas..."
Humulagpos ang pagtitimpi niya at hinalikan ito ng mariin. They moaned in unison when their bodies became one.
Hindi muna siya gumalaw at ninamnam ang pagkahugpong ng kanilang katawan. He never felt so contented and blissful, he might embarrass himself for bursting in no time.
KINAPA niya ang kabilang bahagi ng kama ngunit wala na roon si River. Agad niyang iminulat ang mga mata at napaungol nang makitang mataas na ang sikat ng araw sa labas ng salaming dingding na nakahawi na ang kurtina.
He looked at the ceiling and smile when he remembered what happened last night. After a second, he sat on the bed and roamed his eyes on every corner of the room. It felt different from before, there are flowers beside the glass wall. On the opposite side of the room were the crib and the toys on the mattress pad. He loved the changes in his life, he will never regret the decision he made.
After a few minutes of preparing for a long day ahead, Lucas went out of the room with his suit on. He looked at his wristwatch as he descended from the stairs.
Nang marinig ang mga pamilyar na boses ay agad niya iyong pinakinggan, dinala siya ng mga paa sa living room. Naroon ang pinsan niyang si Apollo kausap ang kanyang asawa na kaharap nitong nakaupo sa sofa habang nasa mga bisig si Maddie.
Lumapit siya sa mga ito at hinalikan sa mga labi ang kanyang asawa. "Good morning."
"G-good morning." Her face flushed and a sweet smile was plastered on her face.
Hinaplos niya ang pisngi nito bago binalingan ang kanyang pinsan na nakatingin sa kanila. He frowned when he saw his face, there were dark circles on his eyes and growing stubbles on his face.
"Hey, man."
Apollo sighed before speaking. "I need to talk to you."
He studied the expression on his face before nodding his head. He can sense that something was wrong with him, his voice was almost begging.
Nagpaalam siya sa kanyang asawa bago lumakad patungo sa pinaka-opisina ni Nick sa loob ng bahay na iyon.
Inilapag nito sa lamesa ang isang folder pagkaupong-pagkaupo nila. Tiningnan niya ito bago iyon dinampot at binuklat.
Lalong nangunot ang kanyang noo nang makita ang laman niyon. Ang financial statement ng nakaraang taon at may iba pang files na naglalaman ng mga accounts na hindi nadokumento sa financial statement.
"What's the meaning of this?"
"Kahapon ko lang nakita 'yan. I saw the documents on my desk and I didn't know who put them there... But I have an idea who..." Apollo explained.
"Naintindihan ko kung bakit bumagsak ng ilang porsyento ang sales ng SC last year dahil sa lumubog na barko na kinalululanan ng shipment ng mga produkto. But this is too much." Napakataas ng net loss nila noong nakaraang taon.
"I know," he said wearily. Pinasadahan nito ng mga daliri ang magulo nang buhok. "I can't talk care of it... I need to find her, Man."
Pinagmasdan niya ang pinsan na halata ang distress sa kinikilos at sa kaanyuhan.
Isang malalim na buntung-hininga ang kanyang pinakawalan bago ito nilapitan at tinapik sa balikat. "Go find her."