Hindi pa man nagmumulat ng mga mata ay kumapa na ang kamay ni Jillian sa gilid niya. Bigla siyang napamulat nang malambot na unan ang nahawakan niya. Nakaramdam niya nang panghihinayang na wala na siyang katabi. Pero nang mapasulyap sa relo ay naunawaan na niya kung bakit wala na si Jason sa kama.
Ala sais ng umaga. Lunes ngayon at may duty siya sa RHU. Nasisigurado niyang nagluluto na ito sa baba. Imbes na bumangon ay inabot na lang niya ang unan at niyapos iyon. Inhaling his natural scent in the pillow.
A contented sigh escaped her lips. Her weekend was filled with such good memories.
Scratch that.
What happened over the weekend was not just good. It was the one of the best weekends of her life. It may be selfish on her part but she ditched her plan to call her dad and request for another security detail. She would savour all the time she has with him.
Habang kumakain sila ng agahan ay dumating na rin si Jason sa restaurant. Sa tapat niya naupo ang binata. Matapos mag-agahan ay naligo sila saglit sa beach bago nag-tour sa kweba na sakop din mismo ng resort na tinigilan nila. They even took a dip in the cold water on the cave. And this time, Jason joined them swimming.
At kahit nakita sa malapitan, nahawakan at nahalikan na niya ang katawan nito ay hindi naiwasang mapatitig si Jillian sa binata. Sabagay, hindi nabigyan ng hustisya nang malalam na lampshade ang totoong ganda ng katawan ni Jason. Para itong niliklok ng isang bihasang iskultor.
It was actually a miracle they survived the day acting as if nothing happened. But every available chance, Jason would sneak in kisses, in her hand, her shoulder, her temple, and yes, in her lips. Hanggang nakauwi ng San Isidro ay pilit nilang ginawang normal ang pakikitungo sa isa’t isa. Pero pagsarado ng pinto ng bahay na inookupa ay dagling naglapat ang mga labi nila.
Jillian bit her lip as memories of what happened yesterday afternoon, until last night, flooded her mind. She lost count how many times Jason brought her to paradise. Yet she’s still yearning for more. Never in her wildest imaginings she thought she could initiate making love. Yet she did last night. He even let her dominate him.
She had a relationship before Brix, a classmate from med school. But both her ex-boyfriends got to kiss her only on her lips. They didn’t even reach second base. But with Jason, they were not even together, yet here she is, on top of his bed. She burrowed her face on his pillow. Her cheeks burned. Jillian never thought she could be that passionate and wild. She had never been this reckless, this wanton.
“Breakfast in bed, baby girl.” The strong aroma of coffee filled the room, but Jillian’s face remained buried in his pillow. “Jillian, baby? Are you okay?” Jason asked worriedly.
Napilitang mag-angat ng mukha si Jillian, “Yeah. I’m okay.”
“Sigurado ka?” nag-aalalang tanong nito. Ipinatong ang dalang tray sa bedside table. Dinama nito ang noo at leeg niya. “You look flushed, baby.”
Lalong namula si Jillian, “Okay lang talaga ako, Jason,” aniya na bumangon sa kama. Jillian completely forgot she is naked under the sheets. Dali-dali niyang itinaas ang kumot para iharang sa sarili.
Jason smiled, reached for her and gave her a resounding kiss on the lips. “Oh, god, baby. You better hide that body or you won’t leave my bed in a month,” he whispered half teasing, half serious. Sadya itong nagpatumbang muli sa kama na kasama siya. “I’m starved, baby.”
“Let’s eat na. Breakfast in bed nga, di ba?” Pero ang planong pagbangon ay naantala dahil sa ginawa ng binata.
Jason’s nibbled her shoulder blade, “You’re so sweet, baby...”
Napatawa si Jillian. Sinapo niya ang mukha nito. “Hold it right there, Captain! Gutom ka na. And so am I. We already skipped dinner last night. And remember, kailangan din ng pagkain – nang totoong pagkain, para mabuhay.”
Jason groaned but rolled off of her. Inalalayan siyang paupo sa kama. “Sige na mga. Mamaya na lang. At saka baka lumamig din ang kape mo. I noticed you’re a bit cranky in the morning when you haven’t had your coffee,” anito na dinampot ang tray at ipinatong sa harapan niya.
Napatawa si Jillian, “Excellent observation, Captain Arellano,” aniya na kaagad inabot ang kape at ininom. Matapos iyon ay pagkain naman ang pinag-interesan niya. Longganisa and Shanghai fried rice. They ate in comfortable silence. Sneaking glances and exchanging sweet smiles every now and then. Nang patapos na sila ay muling nagsalita si Jillian, “You know what, if I only have the talent in the kitchen, same as yours, I would probably have my own resto.”
Jason chuckled, “I have. Well, not mine alone. Sosyo kami ng kapatid ko. Kaka-open lang ng second branch namin last week, actually.”
Napamaang si Jillian. Nagyuko siya ng ulo para itago ang pamumula ng mukha. Hearing him said that made her realize she really does not know much about him. Pero siguradong ito ay maraming alam tungkol sa kanya. Hindi nga niya pagtatakhan kung ultimo favorite color niya ay alam nito. It’s funny and shameful at the same time that she’d been so intimate with him yet she does not know much about the guy. Nakagat ni Jillian ang labi.
“Hey, baby. What’s wrong?” ani Jason na itinaas ang mukha niya.
“Nothing,” Jillian mumbled. She refused to meet his eyes.
“We already bared our all to each other, Jillian. Ngayon ka pa ba maglilihim sa akin?” malambing na tanong ni Jason, pilit hinuli ang mga mga mata niya. “Tell me the truth, baby girl. What’s bothering you?”
Bumuntong-hininga si Jillian. “It’s just that, for sure you have read all information about me, yet I don’t know much about you.”
Nakahinga nang maluwag si Jason kasabay nang panggiti. “Akala ko naman kung ano na.” Naupo ito nang maayos, hinawakan siya sa kamay at saka muling nagsalita, “I am Captain Jason Realonda Arellano. I am single, but already taken,” anito na kumindat pa sa kanya. And Jillian failed to contain her giggles. “I graduated from Philippine Military Academy, top of my class,” pride evident on his voice.
Umangat ang kilay ni Jillian, kasabay nang pagpipigil ng ngiti, “Bragging, Captain Arellano?”
“I am, Doctor Sullivan. I need to impress you. I have to show you I am not a bad catch, after all,” muli itong kumindat sa kanya. At muling napatawa si Jillian. God, seeing his flirty side is such a turn-on. At kung alam lang nito na hindi naman nito kailangang magpa-impress sa kanya. Impress is an understatement of what she’s feeling for him. She refused to give it a name, but deep inside, Jillian knew she already fell for him.
Kinuha nito ang cellphone sa bedside table at may ipinakitang litrato sa kanya. “And this the restaurant I’m telling you about. Ito ang first branch ng Barracks.” Nag-scroll ito ng mga litrato ng restaurant. Military theme iyon kung pagbabatayan ang mismong design at ang mural sa dingding. “At ito naman ang picture nang ikalawang branch. Last week lang ‘yan nag-opening pero umaasa kaming maging kasing lakas ng sales ng first branch ng Barracks ang sales diyan dahil nasa tabi din ng university.”
Matapos iyon ay tumingin muli sa kanya si Jason, bakas ang pagiging proud sa mukha, “Medyo malaki na rin ang naipon ko sa business na iyan dahil wala naman akong pinagkakagastusan. Makabubuhay na ako ng pamilya. Kahit na anim na anak pa,” anito na muli siyang kinindatan.
Napamaang si Jillian, “Anim na anak?!”
“Kahit hindi amin, basta at least four boys. Ang hirap ng solong lalaki.” Jason smiled sheepishly. Muli itong nagscroll sa gallery habang si Jillian ay nanatiling nakamaang sa lalaki. “Only boy at panganay ako sa tatlong magkakapatid.” Family picture naman ang ipinakita nito sa kanya. “This is my mom, a retired school teacher, this is my father who also served in the army and my two younger sisters.”
Jillian gulped before she smiled, “For sure you’re a terror kuya. Nai-imagine ko ang pananakot mo sa mga manliligaw ng mga kapatid mo.”
Jason chuckled, “How’d you know?”
Pinaikot niya ang mga mata, “Sa akin pa nga lang, may pagka-overbearing ka na. How much more sa mga kapatid mo? Ganyan kayong mga lalaki, di ba? Mga takot sa karma.”
“Hey! Hindi ako takot sa karma dahil wala naman akong nilokong babae. Pero alam kong hindi lahat ng lalaki ay tulad kong hindi nanloloko at nagpapaiyak ng babae kaya iniingatan ko lang ang mga kapatid ko,” tatawa-tawang depensa nito.
Muling umangat ang kilay ni Jillian, “Ows? Wala kang niloko at pinaiyak na babae?”
“Wala, baby. I always make sure all the girls I’d been with understand that I can’t offer them anything more. I make them happy once and we part ways both smiling.”
The smile on Jillian’s face faded. Of course. She knew that. Yes, she might have broken his golden rule but he never promised anything more. Para itago ang mukha ay inabot niya ang mug ng kape at uminom. Jillian fought her grimace. Malamig na iyon.
Inalis ni Jason ang tray sa kama saka naupong muli sa tabi niya. His arms snaked around her waist before his lips landed on her exposed shoulder, “May na-miss pa ba akong information na gusto mong malaman, baby?”
Sweet shivers run down in Jillian’s body. “Hmmm… How many girls you already introduced to your mother?” Jillian asked breathlessly as Jason’s lips leisurely travelled the length of her shoulder blade towards her neck.
“None, baby.” Jason nipped the base of her neck.
“None? I don’t believe you,” Jillian whispered catching her breathe.
Jason chuckled, “That is the truth, baby girl. I promised my mother that the only girl I’ll bring home is the girl I’m gonna marry. That’s my second rule.” Jason’s hand loosened the knot she created on the blanket. He cupped her left breast while his lips claimed her right peak. “You taste like honey, baby girl. So sweet. My kind of morning dessert.”
Jillian moaned. She arched her back and weaved her hand on his soft hair. “May pasok pa ako, Jason. It’s almost seven o’clock already. I need to take a shower na.”
Jillian squealed when Jason suddenly carried her. “I will have my dessert in the shower, then,” he mumbled before fusing his lips to hers.