CHAPTER 11
WHEN Eva came out of the bedroom, she had already changed into her swimwear—a black boy-leg one-piece swimsuit with long sleeve. Hindi siya komportable magsuot ng swimsuit na kita ang singit o cleavage niya kaya halos lahat ng swimsuit niya balot na balot ang katawan niya.
Kaagad na naramdaman ni Eva ang mga mata ni Terron sa kaniya.
Humarap siya sa binata saka tinaasan ito ng kilay. "What?"
"Nothing." He smiled. "You look sexy."
Umingos si Eva. "Mamumulaklak ang bibig mo sa mga pinagsasasabi mo, Your Grace. How can this kind of swimwear look sexy?"
Terron shrugged. "You can still be sexy without showing skin, Ev."
That was pleasing to hear, so she happily went to the swimming platform of the yacht. Sumunod naman si Terron kay Eva para samahan ito. Just in case something unexpected happens.
"Naglagay ka na ba ng sunblock?" Tanong ni Terron sa dalaga na kaagad umahon ang ulo pagkatapos nitong basta na lang tumalon sa dagat.
"Yep."
Terron sat on the edge of the swimming platform to accompany Eva and watched her swim around. Halatang magaling itong lumangoy kaya medyo nabawasan ang pag-aalala niya, pero hindi pa rin siya umalis.
Dahil sa anggulo ng araw at sa posisyon ng yate, hindi masyadong naarawan ang swimming platform na kinauupuan ni Terron kaya malaya siyang samahan doon si Eva.
"Don't swim too far, Ev." Paalala niya rito.
"Yes, Your Grace."
Terron leaned back against the wall behind him and just watched Eva silently. It was peaceful and therapeutic. Just the sound of the water gently lapping against the yacht and the sound of Eva swimming around. Terron had this dangerous thought of just staying there and continue this kind of life.
Palagi niyang pinapaalala sa sarili na kailangan niyang umuwi dahil may mga responsabilidad siya, pero sa pagkakataong 'yon, kung magiging tapat siya sa sarili niya, ganitong buhay ang gusto niya.
Tahimik. Payapa. At higit sa lahat, kasama niya si Eva.
Sa bawat araw na dumadaan, mas lalong lumalalim ang pagkagusto niya sa dalaga. It was a good thing that he just realized his feelings now because if he had realized them a year ago, he would be completely crazy about Eva right now.
Napatigil sa pag-iisip si Terron ng makitang lumalangoy patungo sa kaniya ang dalaga pero hindi ito umahon ng makalapit ito sa swimming platform. She just floats in front of him while glancing at him from time to time, as if she had something to say.
He was amused, so he pretended not to notice her.
Finally, she called for his attention.
"Your Grace?"
He looked down at Eva. "Hmm?"
Sinilip nito ang kayak na naka-tali si gilid ng yate. Halata ang interes sa mukha nito. "Puwede ko bang gamitin 'yong kayak para pumunta sa dalampasigan? Babalik din ako kaagad. Promise."
He had always been overprotective of Eva even before he realized and admit his feelings for her, so his answer was an automatic "no". But seeing Eva's interest on the kayak and the beach at the distance, he couldn't say "no".
What a dilemma. He sighed and chose to compromise. "Puwede ba akong sumama? I'll be worried sick if I stayed here and just wait for you to return."
Eva's face softened before she agreed. "Sige ba! Kakapagod kayang mag-sagwan."
That made Terron chuckled, then he got up to change clothes and get some money just in case before fetching the kayak.
Eva didn't need help to get on the kayak, so it didn't take long for Eva and Terron to be on their way to the beach. At dahil si Terron ang nagsasagwan, hawak-hawak ni Eva ang underwater action camera na dala ni Terron.
Dahil hindi naman busy si Eva, kinunan na lang niya si Terron ng video na nagsasagwan ito.
"Say eggplant, Your Grace!"
Terron laughed before saying, "eggplant."
Eva laughed and continued moving the camera to video Terron and then herself then back to Terron again.
"So, Your Grace, base sa experience mo, gaano kahirap magsagwan?" Patawa-tawang tanong ni Eva.
Terron chuckled. "Hmm... kakakain pa lang na pasahero ko kaya nahihirapan ako."
Tiningnan ng masama ni Eva si Terron. "Sinasabi mo bang mabigat ako?"
"I didn't say that."
"You're implying it."
Terron just winked at the camera and since Eva was looking at the camera screen, she felt like Terron's wink was meant for her.
"Napaka-unfair talaga ng mga guwapo. Kindat-kindat lang, nakakawala na ng inis." Pabulong na sabi ni Eva pero narinig iyon ni Terron.
"Akala ko immune ka na sa mga guwapo—lalo na sa'kin."
Eva clicked her tongue. "It's your fault. Mas guwapo ka kapag pinagpapawisan." Ngayon lang 'yon napansin ni Eva.
Terron grinned. "I should sweat more then."
"Nagiging mahalay ka na naman, Your Grace."
"Anong mahalay sa pagpapapawis?"
"Basta! Tunog mahalay! Magsagwan ka na lang diyan."
Terron laughed before playfully scooping water onto his palm and splashing it on Eva's face.
"Ah, 'yan ang gusto mo?" Hindi magpapatalo si Eva kung sabuyan ng tubig ang labanan.
Her hands were so fast on splashing water on Terron that Terron had stopped rowing because he couldn't see anything!
"I admit defeat, Ev!" Said Terron while laughing his ass off. "I admit defeat!"
"Hmp!" Tumigil si Eva dahil sumuko na ang kalaban.
However, the moment she let her guard down, Terron used the kayak's paddle to splash a large amount of water on her.
Kung wala lang sila sa dagat, nasisiguro ni Eva na may nagawa na siyang hindi maganda sa binata. Alam niyang delikado kung gagalaw siya ngayon kaya naman nagpanggap siyang hindi big deal ang ginawa ng binata sa kaniya at nakangiti siyang nakipag-usap dito.
Terron thought Eva had forgiven him.
Oh, how naïve he was.
The moment they reached the beach, got off the kayak and pulled it to the shore, Eva picked up the kayak's paddle and used it to slap his ass. Then she burst out laughing.
"Ev!"
Kaagad na napatigil si Eva sa pagtawa at pag-celebrate ng paghihiganti niya ng makita ang kislap ng mga mata ni Terron.
Danger—run! Let's run!
Kaagad na kumaripas ng takbo si Eva na kaagad namang hinabol ni Terron.
"Ev, come back here! Stop!"
"Bakit ako titigil e hinahabol mo ako?! Ginagago mo ako, Your Grace!"
"Ev!"
"No! I'm not stopping!"
Eva ran even faster, and then an idea came to mind. She made a sudden turn and then she started running back to their kayak.
With a strength she didn't know she possess; she pushed the kayak back to water. Pero sa sobrang pagmamadali niya, nakalimutan niya ang paddle na ngayon ay hawak na ni Terron.
Eva had the kayak, Terron had the paddle.
What now?
Nagkatitigan ang dalawa.
Kahit saan anggulo tingnan, dehado si Eva.
So, Eve did the most rational thing to do in her situation.
She did an arm heart pose over her head. "Your Grace... forgive me?"
Terron immediately conceded. Partly because he was afraid that the water current would pull the kayak and without the paddle, it'll be dangerous. And of course, it's because of the arm heart pose.
With the paddle, he swam toward the kayak and easily climbed aboard.
"Sorry dahil pinalo ko ang puwet mo." Ani Eva na hindi makatingin ng deretso kay Terron.
Terron inwardly smiled at Eva's not-really-guilty expression. "Sorry I splashed you with tons of water. Peace?"
"Okay. Peace."
Terron smiled and rowed their kayak back to the shore again. This time, they were peaceful, and Eva was even holding Terron's hand while dragging him to the small food cart selling dang dang que. Good thing he brought some money with him.
Terron was not sure if Eva was aware that she was holding his hand tightly while waiting for a newly cooked dang dang que.
"Hindi ka pa nakakatikim nito 'di ba, Your Grace? Masarap 'to. Promise. As in. Ay, wait—wala akong dalang pera!"
"Just order. Nagdala ako ng pera."
Kaagad na bumalik ang sigla sa mukha ni Eva.
Napangiti naman si Terron. He was enjoying Eva's hand holding his. Pinagdarasal niya na sana hindi nito kaagad mapansin na magkahawak ang kamay nila. He wanted it to last a little longer.
"Nuong elementary ako, may nagbebenta nito sa labas ng school namin." Pagkuwento ni Eva. "Kaya lang pinagbawalan ako ni 'nay na bumili kaya palagi akong nagtatago sa kaniya para lang makabili ng dang dang que. Kaso alam niya kaagad kung nasaan ako kapag nawala ako sa harapan niya kaya palagi rin niya akong nahuhuli."
"It seems like you're very close to your mother."
Natigilan si Eva sa narinig at dumaan ang emosyong hindi mabasa ni Terron sa mukha nito bago ito nakangiting tumango. "Hmm. Close kami ng 'nay ko."
Terron was involuntarily drawn to Eva who was excited for the dang dang que. If his memory served him right, Eva never showed this kind of emotion in front of the lunatics. Every time they're in Eva's store, Eva would always have a grumpy, bored and exasperated look as if she wanted to be away from them.
However, when it was just the two of them, she would show different kinds of emotions. Kaya hindi maintindihan ng mga kaibigan niya kapag sinasabi niyang easy to talk to si Eva at komportableng kasama. Because she never showed this side of her to others.
And he liked that.
Terron liked that this side of Eva was only for him. That's right. The others didn't need to know this side of Eva. It was enough that it was just him who knew.
Terron brought his hands to cover his mouth when he realized something and felt a little ashamed.
I said I'm not possessive... and look at me now. But as long as his possessiveness does not impede or hurt Eva in any way... then it's okay, I guess.
He sighed. Now he's justifying himself. Great.
"Here you go, Your Grace!" Eva handed one dang dang que to Terron. "Ihipan mo muna, Your Grace. Mainit pa 'yan."
Unfortunately, he had to let go of Eva's hand to pay.
But maybe he was lucky today. Hinawakan na naman ni Eva ang kamay at hinila na naman siya ng dalaga patungo sa may edad nang lalaki na nagbebenta ng buko hindi kalayuan.
"Gusto mo, Your Grace?"
Mahinang natawa si Terron. "Nagtatanong ka kung gusto ko pero bumili ka na ng dalawa."
"Huh? Para sakin ang dalawang 'to, Your Grace."
"Sabi ko nga." Bakit hindi na ako nagulat? Being with Eva, he knew how much of a foodie she was. "Then buy me one, please."
Soon after, Eva and Terron were sitting on the white sand under a tree, eating dang dang que and sipping buko juice.
"Ah. This is life." Puno ng kasiyahang ani ni Eva ng maubos nito ang dang dang que at sumimsim ng buko juice. "Nagutom ako sa pag-kayak natin."
"Parang siya ang nagsagwan, ah." Tudyo ni Terron sa dalaga.
Nagbingi-bingihan naman si Eva saka sumimsim ulit ng buko juice. Pagkalipas ng ilang segundo, komportableng ihinilig ni Eva ang ulo sa balikat ni Terron saka ipinikit ang mga mata.
Their surroundings were peaceful that Eva dozed off and came awake when she felt a kiss fell on the top of her head.
She instantly knew it was Terron, so she did not react and let him be.
Pinapakiramdaman niya ang sarili. Gusto niyang malaman kung hanggang saan ang kaya niyang i-tolerate pagdating kay Terron. So far, everything that Terron had done did not violate her bottom line, which was surprising.
Or maybe it's because it was Terron that she could tolerate him?
What was her bottom line before when it came to men? Simple answer—no touching. But Terron had already gone past that. He licked her fingers, for heaven's sake! Pero hindi pa rin siya nagalit dito.
Is this what they call preferential treatment? Probably. No. I'm sure it is.
Eva, who had no experience in any kind of romance and was only focused on things that serves her purpose, was having a hard time grasping what was going on with her.
But it's not like this is harming me or anyone I care about... with this thought, Eva decided to just let things be, since she perceived it as harmless.
"Ev?"
"Hmm?"
"Sleepy?"
Naghikab si Eva. "Medyo."
"Let's go back?"
"Hmm. Okay."
It was really interesting to Eva that when she was with Terron, she always feels sleepy.
Tulad ng pagpunta sa beach ng dalawa, si Terron ulit ang nagsagwan pabalik sa yate. Pagkadating nila, kaagad na dumeretso si Eva sa kuwarto para magbanlaw, magbihis at matulog.
Pero hindi siya nakatulog kahit ramdam niyang antok na antok siya. This was the same as when she was alone in her room. She couldn't sleep unless exhausted.
But she was desperate for sleep. So, she listened to the desperate idea in her head without ruminating on it.
Bumangon siya sa kama at lumabas ng kuwarto. Tamang-tama naman na kakalabas lang ni Terron sa banyo pagkatapos nitong magbanlaw at magpalit ng damit.
Walang sabi-sabing hinawakan ito ni Eva sa pulsuhan saka walang imik pa ring hinila patungo sa kuwarto.
Terron was so stunned that he couldn't form a word to ask. He just looked at Eva as she dragged him to sit on the bed, leaning against the bed's headboard while she sleeps on the other side of the bed.
He was speechless. Wala siyang ideya kung anong nangyari dahil wala namang ibinigay na eksplinasyon sa kaniya ang dalaga. Basta na lang siya nito pina-upo sa gilid ng kama at natulog naman ito.
Maybe she wants my company as she sleeps? Iyon lang ang eksplinasyon mayroon siya.
Oh, well. It was not like he was against it. He enjoyed staying close to Eva.
What he did next was to leave to room to get the book he packed this morning, then he went back, sat on the bed, his back against the headboard, and opened the book to read silently.
EVA CAME awake a few hours later after she dragged Terron to the bedroom so she could sleep. At that moment, she didn't need to be a genius to figure out that Terron was her very own human-size sleeping pills.
She felt great! But what was not great was that her sleeping pill was leaving in two months!
Tumihaya siya ng higa sa kama at napatitig sa kisame. Ilang segundo ang lumipas bago niya na-realize na kasama pa rin niya si Terron sa kama.
But Terron was not lying on the bed. He was reading a book with a title The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene.
Natigilan si Eva sa pagtitig kay Terron ng bigla na lang nitong isinara ang librong binabasa saka bumama ang tingin sa kaniya.
"Awake?"
Tumango siya. "Anong oras na?"
Terron checked his wristwatch. "Quarter to six." Then he looked at Eva again, with amusement this time. "Want to sleep some more or watch the sunset with me?"
Mabilis na bumangon si Eva. "Sunset!"
Terron left the bed as well. "Sa sundeck tayo. Mas maganda do'n manood ng sunset. Take your beach towel with you. Baka lamigin ka doon."
Eva moved obediently, thinking that she should be nice to her highly effective sleeping pill.
Nang makarating sila sa sundeck, tinungo ni Terron ang bridge para pagalawin ang yate at humanap ng magandang puwesto para manood ng sunset. Only after Terron found the perfect spot did he stop the yacht and joined Eva in the sundeck on the u-shaped sofa set.
Seeing the beautiful sunset, he took out his phone from his pocket and took a quick photo. Then he uploaded it to his social media account with no caption. Just the photo.
The lunatics, of course, made a fuss. Not in the comment section of his post, but in their group chat. Shun took a screenshot of his post and sent it to their group chat. Lath and Thorn took the lead in teasing him and spreading the "gossip" about his date.
Sa halip na basahin ang kaguluhan sa group chat, ini-lock niya ang cellphone at bumaling kay Eva na katatapos lang din kunan ng larawan ang papalubog na araw at ngayon ay tahimik lang na nakatingin sa karagatan.
Seeing the beautiful view in front of him, Terron, once again, couldn't help snapping a photo of Eva.
After the shutter sound echoed in the air, Eva turned to look at Terron's phone. Terron snapped another shot.
Kumunot ang nuo ni Eva. "Sarili mo kaya ang picture-ran mo, Your Grace."
"I find you more appealing to the eye."
Umingos si Eva. "Sa mahigit isang taong pagkakaibigan natin, Your Grace, hindi ko akalain na mabulaklak ang bibig mo."
"I want to attract my bee."
Eva's lips parted and added 'flirty' to Terron's growing list of new attitudes after he confessed to her. This was a new side of Terron she was seeing. Siguro dahil kaibigan ang turing nito sa kaniya noon kaya ngayon lang lumabas itong mga nakakagulat na ugali ng binata.
"Ev?"
Wala sa sariling lumingon si Eva sa binata. "Hmm—" she froze and swallowed her words when she realized the distance between Terron's face and hers.
Just an inch. She could feel Terron's breath against her skin. The warmth and the tingling sensation that followed.
Eva felt like she was taken back to the time in the open market when Terron brought his face closed to hers. And just like that time, her breathing got entangled before she stopped breathing entirely.
"Breathe, Ev."
Eva let go of the breath she was holding; her eyes were still on Terron's.
Terron's eyes glistened with amusement. "That nervous?"
"Hindi ako madaling manerbiyos, Your Grace."
"Then why did your breathing stop?"
"I was just shocked, not nervous."
"Is that so?"
"Hmm."
Without warning, Terron crossed the distance between their faces and placed a soft kiss on Eva's cheek. "Angry?"
Eva responded honestly. "No."
"Can I do more?"
"Define... more?"
"Kiss you... on the lips."
Biglang napalunok si Eva ng laway. Because she realized something at that very moment—her bottom line didn't matter when it comes to Terron. It scared her. And Terron saw that glint of fear in Eva's eyes.
Instantly, he pulled away and put a distance between them. "Sorry, Ev. Was I being too much?"
Napatitig si Eva kay Terron. Too much? Is it too much? Eva had no idea. Because to her, a kiss on the lips was not too much. Wait... am I still right in the head? How could a kiss on the lips not be too much?! It's too much, right?
"Um..." It was the first time for Eva not to have an answer to such a simple question. "I don't know."
"Should I step away?"
"Huh? Why?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Eva.
At dahil sa naguguluhang tanong na 'yon ni Eva, naguluhan din si Terron.
"I don't think we're on the same page, Ev."
Eva blinked at Terron. Then it dawn on her. "Yeah. I think so too, Your Grace."
The serious atmosphere was broken by Terron's chuckle. Then he rested his forehead on Eva's shoulder. "Is this uncomfortable?"
"Hindi naman."
Terron slightly pulled away to drop a kiss on Eva's shoulder. "This?"
"Hindi rin."
"How about this?"
Eva felt a soft set of lips kissed the side of her neck. Biglang nagtaasan ang balahibo niya. "That's..."
"Uncomfortable?"
"...ticklish."
Terron chuckled as if he found something funny before going back to resting his forehead on Eva's shoulder. "Ev?"
"Hmm?"
"I think you have a different view of what's comfortable or not. Either that or you like me too as more than a friend."
Eva's clueless brain froze, and it remained like that even after Terron docked the yacht and went to have dinner at the buffet restaurant.
And because of that, Eva overate.
CECELIB | C.C.