"Sometimes we are less unhappy in being deceived by those we love, than in being undeceived by them."
----Lord Byron
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CHAPTER 7: TANGLED
She moved her body slowly. She was wondering kung bakit parang may naramdaman siyang mabigat na bagay na nakapatong sa kanyang tyan. And she can feel the heat on her neck. Something like hininga ng isang tao. Pero masarap sa pakiramdam. Kaya mas lalo siyang nagpatuloy sa isang panaginip. This is a dream. She tucked the warm, hard, huge and comforting stuff toy or whateve it is towards her body.
'Ang sarap.. parang tao lang kayakap ko. Hmmmm...'
She swear kapag ganito lage, mananaginip siyang parating masaya. Parang totoo. Pero syempre alam niyang hindi.
"Hmmm..."
But she heard a sound. No that's not a sound. That's a loud moan of a man! Does big Teddy bear talks? High-tech na talaga ang mundo ngayon. But there is a big hand holding on her waist then pulled her in an instant. And..Teddy bear is moving? No. May mali talaga eh. So she tried to open her eyes. Kahit antok na antok pa siya ay kailangan niya talagang ibuka ang mga mata. Napakurap pa siya ng ilang beses dahil nanlalabo pa ang paningin niya.
She blinked and blinked. Wtf! What's this? I mean who is this?!
Sumikdo nang malakas ang kanyang dibdib at nanigas ang katawan niya. Hindi naman siguro nagkaroon ng kayakap o kahalikan kagabi at nauwi sa kanyang silid.
Rhean eyes opened widely. The throbbing pain strikes badly on her head. Napangiwi siya. Dinumbol ng matinding kaba ang dibdib niya nang tumambad sa harapan niya ang isang bulto ng lalaki!
"Oh Jesus!" She muttered between her nervousness and shock. Gusto niyang sumigaw.
He was naked and his muscles was exposed. She gulped when she saw his nakedness. Well built muscles. Lalaking babad sa sports. Biglang nanuyo ang lalamunan niya sa nakita. Hindi siya makagalaw, pakiramdam niya mamamatay siya sa sandaling nakita niya ito. Half of his face.. may maliit na balbas. Natatabunan ng buhok ang kalahati ng mukha nito. He looked very familiar. Kinutuban siya nang unti-unting pumasok ang taong nasa kanyang isipan simula pa noon. Ang lalaking hindi niya nanaising makaharap. The guy looks like him at the exact! But no! Maybe, hawig lang. She hoped that it's not him. She was shocked when she noticed her arm wrapping around his neck. Sinundan ng mga mata niya ang malaking braso nito na nakapulupot sa bewang niya.
'OMG! My God! I slept with a stranger! Did I? He's real! Sino siya? Shittt! Shiitt!' Nagpapanic ang utak niya ngunit hindi siya makasigaw o makapagsalita. Sana panaginip lamang itong nakikita niya o ang sitwasyon niya ngayon.
Gusto niyang sumigaw pero parang may nakabara sa lalamunan niya. Tiyak na hindi niya mapapatawad ang sarili kapag isa ito sa mga alpha men. She checked all her private parts of her body. She cupped her breasts and touched her sensitive part down there. Wala naman siyang nararamdamang sakit. At nakadamit pantulog padin siya.
"I was a bit drunk nang pumanhik ako dito. Nagpaalam ako sa kanila na mauna na akong matulog.. but then.. nakasalubong ko si Aldrech sa pinto... then... I swear, hinatid niya lang ako dito to make sure na makaakyat ako dito ng maayos. Tama ba itong napasukan kong kwarto?" Mahina niyang kinakausap ang sarili.
Napasulyap siya sa buong palibot at nasisiguro niyang ito ang kwarto na inuukopa niya. She saw het laptop on the sturdy table at 'yon ang ginamit niya sa paggawa ng scripts kahapon.
'Shiitt! This man is an intruder!' Kung sisigaw siya, baka mapahamak siya sa dito sa loob. She needs to stay calm. Gusto niyang maiyak sa kanyang sitwasyon. She was scared. Gusto niyang kalmutin ang lalaki, sipain, tadyakan at sampalin ngunit naalala niya ang kanyang sitwasyon. If this man is an intruder, baka saktan siya nito. Naaalala niya ang mga movies na pinapatay ang mga babae sa loob ng hotel.
Taimtim siyang nagdasal.
If she was drunk last night and met a guy who wanted to sleep with her, then she's doomed! Nakapatong din ang isang paa nito sa kanyang legs.
Akmang aalisin na niya ang matigas na hita sa ibabaw ng legs niya nang biglang gumalaw ito at hinila siya lalo. Her small body pressed on him even more. Napangiwi siya. Mas lalo nitong isiniksik ang mukha sa leeg niya. To her utterly shock, napalunok siya. Bakit kakaiba ang init na inihahatid nito sa katawan niya? It seems so familiar to her.
"Hmmm..." He moaned again, then pulled her once again. She swallowed the lump in her throat. Gosh... Bakit ang bango ng lalaking ito?
She have to get up bago pa man ito magising at makita ang posisyon ng katawan nila. Shaks! She felt so humiliated! Nakakahiya ito! Her mind still working how the hell did happen that she let herself slept with a random guy! Hindi naman siya burara para magkakaganito. More importantly, sana natulog lang sila at wala talagang nangyari.
She was having difficulty pulling her leg. She paused when the guy move and lift his head at tiningnan siya. Wala namang masakit sa katawan niya. Tiyak niyang intact pa ang hymen niya! Gusto niyang magsaya sa ideyang yon. She tightly closed her eyes. Makikilala na niya ito.
Shittt! She was holding her breath habang dahan-dahang ibinuka ang kanyang mga mata. Napaawang ang bibig niya sa nakita. She rubbed her eyes to make it clear kung tama ba itong nakikita niya.
No... No.. no... She must be mistaken. He groaned, trying so hard to open his sleepy eyes. Her pulse skyrocketed at the thought of seeing him here on her bed, yakap siya. And worst was katabi niya ito sa pagtulog without her knowledge.
Anong nangyayari? Is she dreaming? This can't be.
Nanlaki ang mga mata niya, kasabay ang matinding lakas ng kabog ng kanyang dibdib when she confirmed that it was him.
At first he was relax but then when he clearly saw her, his eyes widen in shock, suddenly sabay tutok sa kabuuan ng kanyang mukha. He was squinting with great bewilderedness. Napaawang ang bibig niya. She confirmed that she wasn't really mistaken. She couldn't believe it, na nasa harapan niya ito. Hindi nga siya namamalikmata. He's really staring at Max Zamora Levine, ang taong minahal niya noon, pinangakuan at iniwan ng walang matinong paliwanag.
And now he's staring at her, confused, shocked, or even speechless.
"Max.." She whispered. Halos sasabog ang puso niya sa matinding kabog nito. She knows he heard it. He was busy staring her whole face assuring himself kung totoo ba itong nakikita niya. Nagtagpo ang mga mata nila at kitang kita niya ang pagkamangha o kung ano pa mang nakatagong emosyon doon.
"Holy mother of fv—" He cursed. Shockingly.
Bumangon ito bigla at tumayo sa gilid ng kama, watching her. Napakurap siya at dahan-dahang bumangon. She looked at him, hindi niya alam kung ano ang magiging reaksyon niya.
His facial expression is composed of mixed emotions. Pagkamangha, pagkagulat, pagtataka at galit. His eyes were squinting with coldness towards her. And she has no idea how to avoid that stares... They both stare at each other for a few minutes. Nagpalakad-lakad ito sa gilid ng kama, napahilamos sa mukha. Katulad niya, hindi din ito kumikibo.
'Oh God. hindi ako makapaniwala na nangyayari ito.' Bulong kanyang isipan.
She was losing her words, she doesn't know what to say, what to do, or how to react at this moment. Nanatili siyang nakaupo sa kama at nakasandal sa headboard.
Nalasing ba talaga siya ng tuluyan at hindi maalala ang nangyari kagabi. Paano nangyaring magkatabi sila ngayon nang hindi niya alam?
"What are you doing here? How did you come here and sleep..sleep beside me?" Malumanay niyang sagot.
He stopped pacing at seryuso itong hinarap siya.
Bumaba ang mga mata niya sa makisig na katawan nito and noticed that he was only wearing his tight boxer. Napatingin siya sa malaking umbok nito. She swallowed hard. Bigla siyang nauhaw sa hindi mapaliwanag na dahilan. Napanganga siya nang wala sa oras. She was staring every piece of his muscles..he look much bigger now, more matured and still strikingly handsome. Mas may angas ang dating at mas gumuwapo.
"Finish?" He asked with his infamous smile. Pakiramdam niya nanunuya ang klase ng tingin at tono ng pananalita nito. Napakurap siya ng ilang beses at namula siya sa subrang pagkapahiya. She suddenly looked away at namula ang pisngi sa kanyang pagkapahiya.
"Ahmmm..." She shook her head. She was trying to regain her composure. She sighed then took a glance at him again. But his eyes are cold and at wala siyang nakikitang expression, maliban sa panlalamig at very kaswal. Like, it was nothing.
"How did you come up here, and slept beside me? As far as I can remember this is my room.. and how did—?" She stop when she saw him not showing interest in her questions.
Parang wala itong naririnig. Kinuha nito ang kanyang traveling bag at kumuha ng towel. As if this is his own room. Natigilan siya habang pinagmamasdan ito.
"What are you doing?" Napamaang niyang tanong.
He smirked, "What do you think? I need shower." Tumalikod ito at tumungo sa bathroom. Nagpapanic siyang sumunod dito.
"Max, I'm asking you." Tinawag niya ito. He slowly turned his back on her and frowned.
"What?" He asked frowning.
Napakurap siya. Bakit ba sa tuwing tinitingnan siya ng ganito ay nawawala ang concentration niya?
"You're asking me a what? Do you want to accompany me to the shower room? Wanna join?" He asked casually, trying to put some humor. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya.
"No! I mean.. why are you here?" Napakunot noo siya. Ano ba sa tingin nito ang ginagawa niya? Hay naku! Pinagpapawisan siya ng malamig.
He smiled a bit, "What do you think? It's our brotherhood reunion, that's why I am here. And, probably this is my reserved room." Sinadyang diinan nito ang reserved word.
Natameme siya.
Pumasok ito sa shower room at narinig na lang niya ang agos ng tubig.
She sighed. Oo nga naman, this the alpha team reunion. Natural na nandito si Max. Bakit ba hindi niya agad naisip ang bagay na yun? And probably this is his reserved room. And why did one of the alpha men didn't remind her about this? Na may dapat na palang nakacheck in sa kwartong ito. Nanghihina parin ang tuhod niya. Hindi niya inasahan na magtatagpo sila dito. Sumakit lang lalo ang ulo niya.
Nagmamadali niyang kinuha ang mga gamit. Siguro naman pwedeng magcheck in doon sa tabing hotel. She cannot just let herself here kasama ito. This is not right.
She packed all her things. When Max go out of the comfort room with his piece of towel on, covering the private part of his body she was stunned for a moment. Hindi niya maiwasang mamangha sa kakisigan nito. She gulped then blink her eyes right away. Patay mali lamang siyang umiwas ng tingin.
"What do you think you're doing?"
He asked frowning. He looked upset seeing her packing all her belongings.
"I'll check out. Maybe I will go home tomorrow." She answered.
She felt bad na hindi niya maeenjoy ang buong linggo na ito. Ang ganda pa naman sana ng isla para mag-explore at makakuha ng ideas para sa mga new books niyang ginagawa. Narinig niya ang mabigat nitong pagbuga ng hangin.
"And how would you get home? Languyin ang buong karagatan papuntang Manila? The flight of the chopper here will be only once a week back and forth. Haven't you read the article about this island? The schedule of bookings of flights, vacation, and days of reservation?"
She looked at him defiantly. Napanganga siya sa sinabi nito. Really? Oh God... Paano ko ba hindi nalaman yon? Her thoughts now are running with some solution to her current state. Nasapo niya ang noo.
Daisy hand her a magazine about this island pero hindi niya binasa 'yon. Napakurap siya at nanghihina sa sinabi nito. Kung ganun, one week siyang magtitiis dito. Oh.. my only chance is to check in sa hotel.
She sighed, "Fine. Sa hotel na lang ako lilipat at magche-check in for the whole week." She said habang inaayos ang mga librong dala niya.
He chuckled while wearing his boxer. Umiiwas siya nang masulyapan niya ang kahubadan nito. Ewan. Sinulyapan niya ito ng palihim. He looks hotter now, so fresh. Nanunuyo ang lalamunan niya habang pinagmamasdan ang mga butil ng tubig sa makisig nitong katawan.
"I don't think so there's space for you. As I checked, Reeve told me that the hotel was already fully booked." He smirked once again.
Sabay tanggal sa towel at pinunas ito sa kanyang basang buhok. I She averted her eyes right away, pretending that she wasn't observing him silently.
Fully booked? As in? Pakiramdam niya sasakit yata ang ulo niya sa kakaisip ng paraan how to avoid him for the whole week!
"So we're sharing a room for one week?" She clarified. Hindi niya alam kung matutuwa ba siya o maiinis sa sitwasyong ito. This is great!
"Well it's up to you." He said habang nagbibihis ng short and white v-neckline shirt na halatang bumagay sa kanyang katawan.
Anong it's up to you? Saan naman siya pwedeng makishare eh halos lahat dito may mga kasamang babae? Maliban na lang kay Aldrech at Miranda. Titiisin na lang niyang makisama sa lalaking ito kaysa sa bruhang 'yon. Pero kay Aldrech, she's not sure. Pero si Max pwede naman itong makishare kina Sui at Van. But she doubt kung gagawin nito.
Kagabi pa lang lahat ng room sa resthouse na ito ay occupied na. At hindi niya naman alam na nakareserve ito kay Max . Alangan naman siya ang paalisin para sa makaiwas lang sila sa isa't-isa? Of course kwarto ito ni Max. Nagmumukha tuloy siyang intruder. This is really a surprise set up.. na pareho silang walang alam.
"You look disturbed. We used to share a room and bed before, and why are you acting like... it's our first time being together?"
She looked up to him and caught off guard. He was busy styling his hair in front of the mirror. Naninibago siya. Tinuturing na siya nito na parang hindi kilala, na parang walang namagitan sa kanila noon. Masakit din pala kapag pakiramdam mo na binabalewala ka lalo pa't naranasan niyang maging spoiled sa atensyon ng binata noon.
'What do you expect Rhean? You are the one who hurt him?!'
He wore his slippers and then go out without saying anything. She felt like she wasn't existing here. Nasasaktan lang siyang sinundan ito ng tingin.
Rhean.. ito na ang umpisa ng kalbaryo mo. Great trip! She is tangled with the situation right now.
Nanlulumo siyang napaupo sa kama. Mabigat siyang napabuntong-hininga. She needs to check the hotel later if sakaling mag bakante pa para makalipat siya.