Lumabas lang ako para mamili ng lulutuin ngayong umaga, I got nothing in my frigde but hotdogs—at umay na ako sa hotdog!
See you later.
Juicy Xx
"Juicy?" ulit niya matapos basahin ang note na iniwan ni Trini sa ibabaw ng glass table. Hindi niya napigilang ngumiti. "Since when did she change her name?"
He chuckled and shook his head in amusement. Ibinalik niya ang note sa ibabaw ng mesa at bumangon na.
Shit—sa sala na sila nakatulog.
At naalala niyang nakatulog lang silang dalawa nang tuluyan nang sumikat na ang araw.
He was butt naked and was covered with a blanket. Naka-kalat sa sahig ang apat na throw pillows, ang mga damit na hinubad nila kaninang madaling araw, ang flashlight niya, at pares ng sapatos niya. Isa-isa niyang dinampot ang mga throwpillows at ibinalik sa couch. Pagkatapos ay tumayo na siya at isa-isa ring dinampot ang mga damit.
He was putting his shirt on when something on the carpet caught his attention. He narrowed his eyes to survey what it was.
A red stain.
At hindi na niya kailangang hulaan kung ano iyon at kung saan nagmula.
Nang maisip ang dahilan ng pagkakaroon ng mantsa doon sa carpet ay muling kumalat ang init sa buo niyang katawan. And as his body remembered that magical moment he and Trini shared a few hours ago, he couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.
Damn, they had a pretty great time. He never thought their relationship would be better than it already was. She was so perfect... so amazingly hot he just couldn't get enough of her.
And he couldn't wait to see her again. Be with her, hold her, kiss her, get inside of her. Again. And again. Until they both couldn't lift a single finger.
He took Trini twice in a row bago tuluyang sumikat ang araw at makatulog sila. The second time he took her was better than the first one for many reasons. Mas matagal ang pangalawang beses, mas mainit. And it blew his mind how fast Trini was able to adapt to his demanding, savage ways. She learned so fast, and she was a willing pupil...
Trini fell asleep in his arms, on top of him, while their bodies were still merged in one. Sa dalawang beses na pag-aangking iyon ay sa huling beses na naranasan ni Trini ang kakaibang ligayang naibigay nito sa kaniya. And she couldn't stop moaning and crying his name as she reached her peak.
Oh, his sweet, lovely Trinity Anne.
He couldn't get enough of her. And just by thinking of her, his body fired up again in absolute need.
Oh Lord, I'm hopeless, he thought before shaking his head again. Itinuloy niya ang pagbibihis.
Makalipas ang ilang sandali ay lumabas na siya ng bahay ni Trini upang lumipat sa sarili niyang bahay.
He didn't have his phone with him, and he wasn't wearing his watch. Patuloy pa rin ang pag-ambon at ang langit ay makulimlim. Kumikirot ang ulo niya dahil sa kakulangan sa tulog, kaya kung huhulaan niya'y siguradong wala pang alas nueve sa mga sandaling iyon.
Nasa tapat pa rin ng bahay niya ang motorsiklo ni Aris kaya siguradong naroon pa rin ito. And he silently hoped Aris was still sleeping because he didn't have the energy to explain why he wasn't able to come back to his house earlier this morning.
Pagpasok niya sa bahay ay kaagad siyang sinalubong ng masarap na aroma galing sa kusina. He closed the door behind him and walked over to the kitchen. Nakita niya si Lawra sa harap ng stove, nagluluto, suot-suot na ang damit na hinubad kagabi.
"Morning," he said, getting her attention.
Napa-igtad si Lawrah saka lumingon. Nanlalaki ang mga mata nito sa gulat—o kaba. Pero nang makita siya ay kaagad itong kumalma.
"Oh, akala ko ay si Sir Aris na..." pabulong nitong sabi bago ibinalik ang pansin sa niluluto. "Naghanda po ako ng almusal para sa inyo ni Sir Aris. Itlog lang po ito na may halong iba't ibang gulay. Malapit na po yatang masira ang mga gulay na naka-stock sa fridge kaya niluto ko na po. Sana ay... okay lang sa inyo."
"It's okay, I don't mind." Lumingon siya at sinulyapan ang hagdan. "Gising na rin ba si Aris?"
"Opo. Nasa itaas po siya ngayon para maligo. Ang sabi po niya kanina ay aalis kami sa oras na tumila na ang ulan, pero mukhang hindi pa rin titila ang ulan ngayong araw, at nahihiya po akong manatili rito sa inyo. Wala na po kayong matulugan..."
"It's all right. Doon na lang ako sa bahay ni Trini matutulog habang narito kayo..." Lihim siyang napangiti. If Aris and Lawra would stay in his house for the whole day today, it would benefit him. "I'll go check on Aris."
Tumalikod siya at lumabas sa kusina. Subalit hindi pa man niya nararating ang hagdan ay nahinto na siya nang makita ang nakatatandang kapatid na nakatayo sa landing sa itaas, naka-halukipkip, at nakatitig sa kaniya nang may pagdududa.
Itinuloy niya ang paghakbang saka huminto sa landing sa ibaba. "Spit it out. I know you've got something to say."
"You said you're just going to check on her."
"Which I did."
"Hindi mo sinabing hindi ka babalik matapos mong umalis."
"And I wondered why you didn't go there and check on us."
"Gugustuhin mo bang abalahin ko kayong muli?"
Napabuntonghininga siya. Of course. Aris knew. Papunta pa lang siya at pabalik-balik na ito.
He remembered when they were younger, Aris was only fourteen when he had his first girlfriend. Madalas itong tumakas sa gitna ng gabi at gamit ang bisikleta ay aalis ito para puntahan ang bahay ng kasintahan na naroon lang sa bayan ng Asteria. Madaling araw na itong uuwi, at pagod na pagod lagi. They knew because they could hear him sneaking out at night, and they would wake up hearing him entering his room. Babangon silang magkakapatid at pupuntahan ito sa silid, at doon nila malalaman ang mga kalokohan nito.
So, of course. Aris could tell what he did back at Trini's house.
"I expect you to keep quiet and not tell anyone," he said, surrendering.
"And why is that? Are you going to hide your new relationship with Trini from the family? If that's the case, para mo na ring tinrato si Trini na katulad sa mga babaeng ikinakama mo lang—"
"I am going to let everybody know about us, but in time. At ako ang magsasabi, hindi ikaw. Do you understand?"
Aris smirked before stepping down the stairs. Dahan-dahan, taking his time. "Nakakalimutan mong mas matanda ako sa'yo, Acky. Don't you dare use that tone on me again. Be nice."
"You barged into my house unannounced and disturbed my supposed romantic night. Plus, you thought of me as someone who wouldn't take Trini seriously—and you expect me to be nice to you?"
"I hope you realized that I only said what I said because I care about Trinity, Gene. Alam kong mahal mo siya kahit noon pa—as a friend, at least. Pero dahil pareho lang tayong magkakapatid pagdating sa pakikipag-relasyon, hindi mo maiaalis sa akin na mag-alala. I just don't want you to mess up and break her heart just because you're not capable of handling a serious relationship—"
"Such big words coming from you, huh, Aris?"
"Well, at least ako ay walang dalawang dekadang relasyon na sisirain. Plus, I will never be in your shoes. Mabuti kung may makilala akong katulad ng mga asawa nina Quaro at Phill—I'll probably settle down." Ngumisi ito at sandaling huminto sa pagbaba. "But I was born into this world to make lots of women happy, so, I guess I should just stay single forever. Otherwise, I'll just break my future wife's heart by having mistresses on the side."
He just smirked and said nothing.
Itinuloy ni Aris ang pagbaba hanggang sa marating nito ang huling baitang at nakalapit na sa kaniya. Dinala nito ang isang kamay sa balikat niya, at sa seryosong anyo ay, "Are you going to marry Trini?"
Sandali siyang natigilan sa tanong ni Aris.
Was he going to marry Trini?
Well, he loved her. He was in love with her and he had no problem spending the rest of his life with her.
But marriage?
Para saan pa ang pagpapakasal?
Marriage was irrelevant.
"You're not gonna make her Mrs. Zodiac?" tanong pa ni Aris nang hindi siya kaagad na nakasagot.
Gusto rin ba ni Trini na magpakasal? Shit, he never thought of this. If Trini wanted marriage, he'd think about it. Pero kung siya ang masusunod ay hindi niya makita ang kahalagahan ng pagpapakasal. It was nothing but just a piece of paper...
Si Aris ay umismid nang makita ang pagkalito sa anyo niya. Inalis nito ang kamay sa kaniyang balikat at nagsabing,
"You're such an asshole, Acky. But anyway, sabi mo nga, buhay mo 'yan at alam mo kung ano ang gagawin mo. I just wish you and Trini good luck. And don't worry, I won't spread the news. Palikero lang ako pero hindi ako tsismoso. The latter was Capri's job."
Hindi na siya nakasagot pa nang humakbang na si Aris patungo sa kusina. At habang sinusundan niya ng tingin ang kapatid ay patuloy niyang pinag-isipan ang tungkol sa sinabi nito kanina.
Would he marry Trini?
Damn, Trini was always telling him that she wanted to settle down and have a family of her own.
Ipagkakait ba niya iyon kay Trini?
Shit.
He needed to clarify this with her.
"Kung iniisip mo na magbabago ang isip ko tungkol pagpapakulong ko sa 'yo ay nagkakamali ka, Lawrah. Kahit ano pa ang lutuin mo, kahit anong pagsisilbi pa ang gagawin mo, you would never change my mind! You and your goddamn brother will rot in jail!"
He groaned in frustration when he heard the commotion in his kitchen. Mabilis siyang humakbang patungo roon. Inabutan niya si Aris na padabog na binuksan ang fridge habang si Lawrah naman ay nakayuko sa harap ng mesa kung saan naroon na't nakahanda ang almusal.
"Hey, could you please calm down?" aniya sa kapatid na umismid lang.
Nalipat ang tingin niya kay Lawrah nang marinig ang mahina nitong pag-hikbi. Lihim siyang napa-ungol. Lumapit siya sa mesa at naupo sa isa sa mga upuan. "Don't worry, Lawrah. Ako ang kakain ng niluto mo."
"Right," ani Aris saka pabagsak na ini-sara ang pinto ng fridge matapos kumuha ng sealed bottled water. "Pagkatapos mong kumain ay magugulat ka na lang dahil sasakit ang tiyan mo o nahihilo ka. Who knows what that woman put in your food?"
"Aris, stop."
"You can't tell me to stop, Acky. I know what that woman is capable of doing." Tinapunan muli ng masamang tingin ni Aris si Lawrah bago umismid at lumabas ng kusina.
Nang maiwan silang dalawa ay ibinalik niya ang tingin sa dalagang nakayuko pa rin at pilit na ikinu-kubli ang pagluha. Napabuntonghininga siya. "You need to find your brother if you want Aris to spare you."
Tumango lang si Lawrah at hindi na nagsalita pa.
"Sit here and let's eat together."
Sumunod si Lawra sa sinabi niya. Naupo ito sa harapan niya, hindi pa rin nag-aangat ng tingin. Tumayo siya upang lagyan ng pagkain ang plato nito. Lawrah made vegetable omellete and french toast. At habang naglalagay siya ng pagkain sa plato nito ay may biglang nagsalita sa likuran niya.
"Can you also put some on my plate?"
Natigilan siya. At nang rumehistro sa isip ang mga narinig ay nagniningning ang mga matang nilingon niya ang kitchen entry.
There he saw Trini standing at the entry with a bright smile on her face.
And as she stood there in her tight black leggings and white sleeveless top, flashes of what they did earlier that morning filled his mind.
She was looking so pretty and vibrant this morning he almost forgot how to breathe.
Nakangiting itinuloy ni Trini ang pagpasok sa kusina at lumapit. She bit her lower lip as she pulled the chair next to him. "I believe this seat is for Aris. At dahil ayaw niyang mag-almusal ay ako ang uupo rito." She sat and looked up to him. "I'm hungry."
And he didn't know why, but it sounded like Trini was pertaining to something else. O baka siya lang ang nag-iisip ng ganoon? Because he wanted her—again.
Shit, I have to control myself. She's probably still sore from what we did earlier...
"Morning," he said to her. "I thought you left to get some food?"
"I went to the market, kaso ay sarado ang ibang shop dahil sa walang tigil na pag-ulan. I just bought fruits and drove back. Lumipat ako dito nang makita kong nakaalis ka na."
"Missed me already, eh?"
Hindi niya napigilang sabihin iyon kahit na nakatunghay sa kanila si Lawrah.
Well, Lawrah wouldn't care. Besides, she didn't know them. Bahala na kung ano ang isipin nito tungkol sa kanila ni Trini; he couldn't hide the sparkle in his eyes, anyway.
"You can say that," nakangising sagot ni Trini. "At kung walang breakfast na nakahain ngayon sa mesa ay baka hinila na kita pabalik sa bahay. I mean... para doon mag-almusal."
He couldn't help but chuckle. "Right. Mag-almusal." Tulad ng ginawa niya kay Lawrah ay nilagyan na rin niya ng French toast ang platong nasa harap ni Trini. "Here. Dig in."
"I'd rather have you do it. I mean... dig in." Trini bit her lower lip after saying that and turned to Lawrah. "I mean, kumain na rin. 'Di ba, Lawrah?"
Shit, he couldn't stop smiling.
He and Trini were obviously flirting in front of the guest. And damn, he was enjoying it.
Nakangiti siyang umupo at binalingan si Lawrah na ngayon ay tumigil na sa paghikbi at palipat-lipat ang tingin sa kanila ni Trini. He smiled. "Eat up, Lawrah."
Tumango si Lawrah ay atubiling binalingan ang pagkaing inilagay niya sa plato nito.
And while Lawrah wasn't looking, he turned to Trini and pushed his hand under the table, gliding his palm over her leg.
Napa-igtad si Trini dahilan upang muling mag-angat ng tingin si Lawrah. Kaagad na nakabawi si Trini at nagpanggap na kalmado sa harap ng bisita. Kinuha nito ang French toast na nasa plato at dinala sa bibig, doing her very best to ignore his naughty hand on her leg.
He grinned and watched Trini heave a deep sigh as he continued to glide his hand over her thigh. He could clearly sense the excitement that ran through her body as he caressed her.
Yes, he could sense her body's reaction.
Because she shivered under his touch.