I don't know what is it about men and marriage that make them think that a proposal is going to solve all your problems. If ever I decide to marry, it would never be for the wrong reason like just because I was fucking my boss.
"Does being Mrs. Vittorio Lawson Killian Santander appeal to you?" he asked his expression so proud as if he was offering me the universe on a plate.
"It doesn't," I answered without hesitation.
Lawson looked so taken aback by my reply that he just stared unblinking at me.
"What? Why?" he asked lifting his upper body off me to search my face.
"I like being Miss Montiel just fine."
"Juris, I am offering to marry you." There was disbelief in his voice. "And you're turning me down. Tinatanggihan mo ang kasal?"
"Dapat ba hindi?"
"Kasal 'yun. Isn't that every woman's dream, ang magpakasal?"
"Not this woman. Ang pangarap ko ay ang maging abogada slash haciendera."
He scowled. "You're not taking me seriously."
"I am. But, why would you want to marry me after one fuck?"
"From what I know women prefer to get married first before fucking."
I looked incredulously at him. "I didn't realize that you're extremely traditional. May dapat ba akong panagutan sa'yo?"
"Stop trying to be funny, Juris."
"I am not even trying, Lawson. Seryoso ako."
A frown marred his handsome face. "Tell me then kung bakit ayaw mo."
"Tell me first why you want to marry me."
"We're compatible in bed."
"Lawson, kama lang talaga ang basehan?"
He looked confused.
"What is marriage to you? Sex lang ba? Gan'un kababaw ang tingin mo sa pag-aasawa?"
"What do you mean?"
"Ako, hindi. I want a marriage that's deeper than sex. Hindi ako magpapakaplastik by telling you that sex isn't important to me. Moreso now that I have firsthand experience," I jokingly said. "Actually, napatanong nga ako sa sarili ko kung bakit ngayon lang—"
He scowled. "Ginagalit mo ba ako?"
"Ano namang nakakagalit doon sa sinabi ko?"
"You are trying to make me jealous."
"Kaunti na lang kikiligin na ako sa'yo," I kidded.
"Juris, come on..." He sounded frustrated. "You are really going to reject me?"
"Baka gusto mo muna akong kilalanin bago mo ako yayaing magpakasal."
"As I have said, I did a background check on you—"
"And you found out that my parents are dead and I have a bitch for a younger sister. That I was a consistent honor student. That I work fucking hard. 'Yun lang ang alam mo tungkol sa akin. Those things are superficial. Alam nga 'yun ng ibang sekretarya sa kumpanya mo, eh. Does that mean dahil alam nila ang mga bagay na 'yun tungkol sa akin ay pwede na nila akong yayaing magpakasal?"
"I don't get you..." he said as he started to move away.
I snaked my legs around him. "D'yan ka muna..."
He arched a questioning brow. "Gusto mo pa...?"
I nodded suddenly embarrassed of my forwardness. "Okay lang ba...?"
His smirked. "Oo naman..." he said before he started moving slowly as if to tease me.
My breathing promptly hitched.
"Juris..."
"Yes...?" I asked with a low moan.
"I want to fuck you twenty-four seven..." He drove hard into me.
I loudly gasped. "But, we have to...work..."
"I want to fuck you at work, too..." he said. "I want you...naked on top of my table with your legs parted...waiting for me..."
"Like this...?" I folded my knees before opening my legs wider.
He moaned. "Yes, Darling, just like that..."
"I just might surprise you...one of these...days, Sir....harder pa po...please..."
"Shit..."
"What...?"
"What you said...and how you said it...fucking turned me on more..."
"Sir, harder..."
"Ganito...?" He slammed into me.
"Yes..." I moaned loudly before lifting my upper body so my mouth could latch onto his nipple.
"Oh, fuck...where did you...fuck...learn that...?"
"From you...I'm an excellent student..."
I felt his hand on my hair as he tilted my face up before his mouth swooped down to capture mine. The movement of his hips gained momentum and my moans increased in volume.
"Baka...mamaos ako...nito..."
"I don't mind..." he said. "Just scream..."
And I did. I screamed his name as he showed me just how good he is at pleasing me.
My second orgasm came hard and it tore a scream from my lips. He followed suit crumbling heavily into me before burrowing his face into the crook of my neck.
"Am I..too heavy..."
I managed to shake my head.
"Are you okay, Darling..."
"Give me a...minute..." I said with a low groan.
"What's wrong? Are you in pain?"
"No...but, I can't feel my legs..."
He chuckled before his hand slithered low to squeeze my thigh. "Did you feel that..."
I nodded. "Yes..."
"Then you're fine..." he said kissing me tenderly on the cheek.
"Nabali yata balakang ko..."
"I could always buy you a wheelchair. Or we can just spend the rest of the week in bed..." He gave me a wink.
"Pwede naman kitang sapakin, ano, kapag nasa kama tayo?"
"Of course, you can do whatever you with me while we're in bed. Pero, bakit mo naman ako sasapakin, eh, pwede mo naman akong paligayahin?"
I made a face and he laughed out loud.
"May gusto lang sana akong itanong..." He suddenly sounded serious.
I frowned. "Ano...?"
"May I pull out now, Ma'am, or do you want a round three?"
I weakly hit his shoulder.
He laughingly got off me and then dropped his body beside mine. "Juris..."
"Hm...?" I sleepily asked as I closed my eyes.
"Last chance...after tonight, I am not going to ask you again. Will you marry me?"
"The answer is still no..." I replied before I drifted off to sleep.
I wasn't sure what woke me up – the feeling that someone was sleeping beside me or the fact that everything aches.
Ano ba 'to... I groaned out loud as I tried to push the arm that was lying across my chest only to feel something squeeze my breast. Diyos ko—!
"Are you awake...?" a familiar voice said before light flooded the whole room.
I turned my head to find my boss smiling at me
I breathed a sigh of relief. "Ikaw pala 'yan..."
"Sino pa ba?" he asked before kissing the side of my head.
"Kanina ka pa gising?"
"Around 7:30..." he said. "Are you finally awake?"
"Oo. Anong oras na?"
"8:09..."
"8:09?!" I bolted upright before scurrying out of the bed. "Oh, my God, bibili pa ako ng regalo para kay Pia—" I stopped talking as I winced in pain.
"What's wrong?" He was suddenly beside me. "Juris, what is it?"
"Masakit..."
"Ang alin?"
"D'un..."
"Where?"
"D'un..."
"Saan nga?" He sounded concerned.
"D'un sa ano..." I replied making weird gestures because I couldn't tell him where exactly I felt sore.
Understanding dawned on him. "Ahh..."
He bent down then picked me up like I weighed nothing.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Carrying you. Hindi ka makalakad kaya kinakarga kita. Saan mo ba gustong pumunta?"
"Sa mall..."
"O, tara."
"Ano ba, maliligo muna ako at magbibihis."
"Ah, akala ko lalabas tayo nang nakaganito," he said with a grin as he carried me to his bathroom.
"Ang weird ng sense of humor mo," I mumbled when as he deposited me to my feet.
"At least nasasakyan mo. Well, sabagay, ako nga sinasakyan mo, 'yung sense of humor ko pa ba?"
He started laughing. "Sorry...but that was funny..." he uttered laughing harder. "You agree, too, right?"
I tried to keep a straight face but I must really be so shallow because I, too, found his joke hilarious.
"That's why I like you, Juris, you get me," he said.
"Oo na, natawa na ako. Can I take a shower now?"
He shrugged. "Go on..."
"Pwede ka bang lumabas muna?"
"Bakit?"
"Anong bakit?"
"It's not as if we have not seen each other naked," he spoke. "Ayaw mo ba akong makasabay mag-shower?"
"I'm sore..." I stated simply.
"Don't worry, I'll let you rest..." he said. "Pero, anong isusuot mo mamaya? Your clothes are wet."
Shit, oo nga pala... I inwardly groaned.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of that."
"May mga pambabae kang damit?" I looked dubiously at him. "Bakit?"
"Nang-iinis ka ba?"
"Nagtatanong lang."
"They're intended as gifts."
"Ireregalo mo pala, bakit mo ibibigay sa akin?"
"Because I changed my mind. Kaysa masayang, ibigay ko na lang sa'yo."
Ginawa na talaga akong recipient ni Sir sa mga charitable works n'ya...I thought trying to humor myself.
True to his word, we just took a quick shower, got dressed, then headed to the mall closest to his condo. I had insisted on heading to the mall alone but he had reasoned that it would be quicker if he would drive me there.
"Mabuti may nakita tayong parking, ano? Ang dami pa ring tao," I commented as we hurried over to the entrance.
"Slow down, Juris..." he said. "Okay ka na ba?"
"The pain is bearable," I answered. "Bilisan natin at baka masarhan pa tayo."
"Alam mo ba kung anong bibilhin para sa kanya?" Mr. Santander asked as we got into the lift.
"Wallet," I replied.
"Anong brand so we can search for the stall?"
"Sa department store lang. Hindi ko naman afford ang mamahalin," I replied as we got off on the ground floor. "Bakit naman dito tayo bumaba? Saan kaya ang department store banda rito?"
He took my hand in his. "This way."
"You know where it is?"
"Hindi, pero nandito 'yung interactive digital directory," he replied as he made a quick search on the large screen.
As soon as I saw where it was located, I turned to my boss. "Mauna na ako d'un or better yet you can just wait for me here."
He looked confused. "What?"
"Kasi ilang minutes na lang magsasara na, eh," I said before I turned to leave.
"Wait, Juris—"
"Balik ako kaagad." I waved goodbye.
"Juris, do you have money with you?" he asked.
I stopped in my tracks. Oo nga pala, bakit hindi ko dala-dala 'yung bag ko?!
I turned to look sheepishly at him. "Wala..."
"Here..." he said handing me five one thousand-peso bills. "Is that enough? Do you want to use my card?"
Sana all ganito kayaman. 'Yung tipong wala lang ang magregalo ng five kyaw.
I smiled shaking my head at him. "Naku, hindi. 'Tsaka masyadong marami 'to." I returned four of the bills to him. "Kasya na 'tong one thousand, may sukli pa. Babayaran kita, I promise," I said then sprinted in the direction of the mall's department store.
I bought a wallet and a gift bag because I knew that I would not have time to wrap my gift tomorrow. After I had paid for my purchase, I hurried back to where I had left my boss.
I was about twenty feet away from him when someone bumped into me.
"Sorry, Miss," I heard a guy say.
"Okay lang," I automatically replied not even looking at the person.
"Juris Prudence Montiel?"
Huh? I frowned at the young man before my eyes widened in recognition. "Joaquin Romulo the fourth!"
"The one and only," my blocmate said laughing before giving me a quick hug. "Kumusta?" he asked.
"'Eto, okay lang," I replied. "Congrats pala, abogado ka na, Joaqs! I am sure proud ang buong bloc H-3 sa'yo."
He smiled widely. "Sina Paolo, Karen, at Jay, abogado na rin."
"Oo, nga, eh," I said hating myself for sounding so wistful. "Proud akong lahat sa inyo. Imagine apat na kayong lawyers ng bloc?"
"Mga sinuwerte lang. Ikaw, kailan ka mag-ba-bar exam?"
I pasted a nonchalant smile on my face. "I'm not in law school."
He looked confused. "Bakit? Hindi ba 'yun din ang pangarap mo? I mean it was you who convinced nearly all of Bloc H-3 to become members of the U.P. Pre-law Society."
I laughed weakly. "Life happened."
"Are you married—I'm sorry for asking, that was out of line."
"Hindi," I told him. "Single pa rin. Hindi pa lang nagkaroon ng pagkakataong mag-law school dahil sa dami ng kaganapan ko sa buhay."
"Gan'un ba? Hindi bale, I will be the first to congratulate you when you'll finally pass the Bar. Ano nga palang number mo so we can keep in touch? I tried looking for you on FB pero hindi kita mahanap."
"Wala akong FB. It's 0919—"
"Juris," a stern voice called out.
I turned my head to find my boss looking at me with displeasure written all over his face.
"Boyfriend?" Joaquin asked.
"No, my boss."
"Ahh, I see."
"Anyway, Joaqs, gagawa ako ng Facebook account at hahanapin kita d'un. Pasensya ka na kasi nagmamadali rin talaga ako."
"Wait," Joaquin said before taking his wallet out of his back pocket and then handing me a calling card. "Call me. For anything. Okay?"
I nodded before I waved goodbye at him and ran towards where Mr. Santander was waiting.
"Who was that?" he asked, his face reflecting irritation.
"Blocmate ko sa U.P.," I replied as we moved towards the mall's glass doors. "Kinongratulate ko kasi pumasa s'ya sa Bar exam."
"Pwede mo naman s'yang i-congratulate nang hindi s'ya niyayakap."
"I didn't. S'ya ang yumakap sa akin. Besides, that hug was just a form of greeting between friends who have not seen each other for a long time."
My boss remained quiet and we walked towards the elevator in silence. We got off on the third floor where he had parked his car and he opened then held the door for me when we reached it.
"Thank you," I murmured.
Minsan din talaga napaka-moody nito, I thought to myself as I watched him walk to the driver's side.
I quickly fastened my seatbelt as he slid into his seat.
"Kahit ibaba n'yo na lang po ako sa may sakayan ng bus."
He said nothing and just continued to drive.
Ano na naman ba ang problema nito? Kung umasta ay parang boyfriend na nagseselos...
I never really saw Mr. Santander as romantically possessive. I had never seen him being a romantic at all; I could still remember the times he'd forget his ex's birthday, their monthly anniversary, anniversary, and even special events for couples like Valentine's Day.
"I don't need these!" Miss Olga had screeched before throwing the bouquet and a box containing an expensive purse at me. "Alam kong ikaw lang ang pumili at bumili ng mga yan! Where the hell is Lawson?!"
I had hastily picked the items up. "Um...may biglaang meeting po kasi—" I had stopped talking to take a step back when she had raised her hand as if to strike me.
"Naiinis ako sa'yo!" she had yelled.
I had lowered my head and said nothing.
"Meeting! Parati na lang nasa meeting! Kahit anniversary namin ay nasa meeting s'ya?! Tell that asshole not to call me much more see me again! Umalis ka na! And leave the gift!"
The task of soothing his ex's tantrums because he was doing something else instead of being an attentive boyfriend had always fallen on my shoulders. And it had annoyed me so much because days later they'd be back together and I'd be left with the bruises and scratches from the encounter.
Naalala ko na naman kung gaano kagago 'tong isang 'to...I thought to myself stealing a quick glance at his profile.
Pero, ano 'yung kanina—pwede ba, Juris, tama na sa ilusyon?
When we reached his condo, I wordlessly got off his car and waited for him to alight. I followed him inside the building and we took the elevator to his floor.
"Sir..." I started to say intending to tell him that I should probably head home. "Sir..."
He threw me an icy glare. "What?"
"Dapat na po yata akong umuwi..."
"May pamasahe ka?"
"May sukli na two hundred plus pa naman po rito. Kasya na po 'to..." I said as I followed him to the direction of his unit. "Sige po, alis na po ako—"
"I already ordered food to be delivered here while you went to buy your gift."
"Ahh..." I watched as he keyed in his password.
"Get in," he instructed as soon as the door was unlocked.
I stepped inside. He followed suit locking the door behind him.
"Nagseselos ka ba d'un sa blocmate ko?" I forthrightly asked.
"Oo," he frankly replied. "May problema ba tayo?"
It took a second for me to recover from the shock.
May gan'un—gaga, h'wag kang kiligin! Ilusyunada!
I shook my head. "Wala naman. I just did not expect you to admit it."
"As I said, I don't like it when people touch what's mine—"
Impulsively, I tiptoed to kiss him on the lips and regretted it immediately. "Sorry..." I said.
He frowned. "Why would you apologize for kissing me?"
"I should have asked for your permission."
"Granted. You can steal kisses from me anytime," he said before wrapping an arm around my waist and then pulling me flush against him.
"Ayokong may kinakausap kang iba...nagseselos ako..."
"That's a red flag right there..." I jokily said.
"I know...but the rest of me is green..." he said before he unzipped my pants.