I looked at the paper bag in my hand, containing the gift that I have for him. I’ve been sitting on my sofa for half an hour now and I guessed I was too advanced in preparing. He will fetch me by seven and since his birthday falls on Sunday, it is my free time.
I also checked my fit in the mirror. He told me to wear a formal dress and I matched it with my silver stilettos. My white dress has a sleeveless square neckline that reached my middle thigh with a little bit of slit on it
Ang buhok ko namang mahaba ay hinayaan kong nakalugay. I also wear minimal makeup with my eyes and cheeks. Overall, I hope this is enough, dahil kanina pa ako hindi mapakali.
I looked at my wall clock and when it was almost seven, I stood near my door. Panay ang tingin ko sa wrist watch ko at kada isang minuto ay napapatingin ako rito.
And when it finally reached seven, I fixed my hair and dress again and looked at my door. Pero lumipas pa ang ilang minuto pero wala pa ring nag dodoorbell. My forehead creased and opened my phone, at saktong pagbukas ko ay ang pagtunog naman ng ringtone ko.
Pierce is calling.
I answered his call and fixed my posture instinctively.
“I’m already here. Open the door, please.”
Hindi ko na siya sinagot at dali-dali itong binuksan. And there he is, with his white long sleeves, rolled to his arms and jeans. Pareho kaming nakaputi.
His eyes travelled to my fit and saw him swallowed hard when it reached my thigh. My cheeks reddened with his simple stare.
“Hi…are you ready?” His voice was huskier than usual.
Tumango ako. “K-kukunin ko lang gamit ko.”
Hindi ko na siya hinintay na sumagot at kinuha ang mga gamit ko sa sofa. I checked my fit one more time in the full length mirror in my sala and walked towards his direction.
Nanatili ang init sa pisngi ko dahil mas lumalim ang tingin niya sa akin habang naglalakad ako palapit sa kanya.
“Tara na.” Maliit na boses kong paanyaya.
He licked his lips and showed me his hand pagkatapos ay huminga siya ng malalim.
“Let me hold your hand, it is my birthday.”
Ngumuso ako. “You’ve been dragging me anywhere this whole time. Ngayon ka pa nagtanong?”
He chuckled at my remarks and he really did just grabbed my arms. He started walking and I tailed him right away. Pero unti-unti ay bumaba ang mga daliri niya at unti-unting sinakop ang pagitan ng bawat daliri ko.
Napaiwas ako ng tingin. This isn’t also the first time that someone held me this way…but he always makes me feel like everything is my first time. Even with my kiss with him.
I bit my lips. He could always make a small difference with all the experience that I had before. And he is too good with it.
We travelled for approximately half an hour and then entered a high end subdivision. Malalaki ang mga bahay pati na rin ang pagitan ng bawat isa, hanggang sa tuluyan kaming tumigil. The gate automatically opened and when I looked outside, my mouth almost dropped when I saw a mansion…because it is not just a house at this point.
We travelled for seconds more because the mansion was quite far away from the entrance. And when we stopped in front of it, he quickly got out to open the door for me.
Alanganin akong bumaba dahil mukhang isa tong pribadong lugar. This is not a restaurant or an event place that can be rented out, tahimik at wala akong makitang ibang tao.
“Let’s go.” He intertwined our fingers again and I didn’t have a choice but to tail him again.
He opened the front double doors and I can’t help but be amazed again when I saw the interior of the house.
It’s like those expensive houses in Hollywood movies made out of hardwood. Naglakad kami hanggang sa kabilang dako ng bahay habang ang mga mata ko ay nakatutuk lang sa mga mamahaling kagamitan sa loob nito. I probably look ignorant at this point.
“Good eve, Sir Pierce.” My steps slowed down when I saw an elderly man in his uniform, waiting for us near the door that would lead us outside.
“I can manage from here, George. Thank you.”
The one whom Pierce called George opened the glass door for us.
“You’re welcome, Sir.”
We walked out of the room and when I saw the scenery outside, I totally stopped walking. Magkahawak ang kamay namin kaya napatigil rin siya.
My eyes settled on an elevated platform near an infinity pool, with one round table and two chairs. There were scattered red and white roses all over the place as well as candles. But what shocked me was the live band on the corner, softly playing with their violin, piano and cello.
At nang tumingin na ako ka Pierce ay may hawak na siyang bouquet of red roses.
“For you.”
I feel uneasy inside because I haven't experienced this much date, this much effort from someone. Even with the past relationship that I had.
“Thank you…” And I can't help but feel guilty. Dahil alam ko ang kahihinatnan ng lahat ng ito kapag nagkataon.
He pulled the chair for me while my eyes feasted with our surroundings. And we started eating, and the live music continued. Medyo kalayuan sila sa amin at tamang-tama lang lang rin ang lakas ng tunog nito para makapag usap kami ng matino.
Tumikhim ako ng maisip na hindi ko pa siya nababati. He looked at me instantly.
“Thank you and happy birthday.”
He gave me a small smile. “Where is my gift?”
Natataranta kong kinuha ang paper bag na hawak ko at narinig siyang tumawa. Mas lalo akong nahiya.
“Anong nakakatawa?” Sinubukan kong pagtakpan ang pagkapahiya pero bumigay pa rin ang boses ko sa huli.
His playful eyes then suddenly looked at me gently.
“Nothing…I just never thought that I could make you feel uneasy.”
Tinaliman ko siya ng tingin at binigay ang paper bag na hawak ko.
“Just opened it after.” He looked at it surprisingly even though he hadn't opened it yet.
It was just a guitar pique. Ilang araw ko ring pinag isipan at kahit na alam kung posibleng marami siyang ganoon ay gusto kong iregalo sa kanya ang bagay na magagamit niya sa trabaho.
I continued eating while he kept on glancing at me from time to time. Minsan ay magtatama ng nga mata namin at doon ako muling makakaramdam ng hiya, while he looks so composed which I find unfair.
Nang natapos kami sa pagkain ay ramdam ko ang pagkabusog. I looked at the surroundings, especially the tall trees with light bulbs that gave enough light to our surroundings, making the atmosphere definitely romantic.
“Paano mo nahanap ang lugar na ito?”
He looked at the surroundings too with a satisfied smile on his face.
“Do you like it?”
I nodded my head. “It looks so secured, tahimik rin. At ang ganda ng bahay, masyado nga lang malaki.”
“You want a smaller house?” He curiously asked this time.
“I want a home with enough space but not this huge.”
Unti-unti siyang tumango at huminga ng malalim.
“How did you find this?” Muli kong tanong.
“This is my home.”
Napahinto ang paglakbay ng mga mata ko sa paligid at napatitig sa kanya ng tuluyan.
And he looked so disappointed with something.
“Ha?” Rinig ko ang sagot niya pero hindi ako makapaniwala.
I mean it is possible because he is very rich but now I know why it looks so private…and I already have a feeling that this is the first time he brought someone…at ako iyon.
“This is my private home. And I am planning to build my family here.”
Mas lalo akong nagulat sa sagot niya. And I am sure it is all over my face.
He breathed in deeply and looked at me gently in the eyes.
“But that is for another talk. Let’s talk about it for some other time, if you're ready to hear my answer.”
Umiwas ako ng tingin dahil kahit na maang-maangan ako ay mukhang alam ko na ang nais niyang iparating. It will make things more complicated…at mas lalo lang akong mahihirapan sa huli kung sakali.
Basically I am digging my own grave now, ang pagpunta ko rito, ang lahat ng bagay na may kinalaman sa kanya, lahat ng iyon kahit na anong gawin ko ay alam kung ako ang makakasakit sa huli.
And it is getting tougher every day.
“Let me have a dance with you.” He stood up from his seat and showed me his hand with a gentle smile on his face.
Hindi ko maiwasan na mailang dahil kapag nakangiti siya, karamihan ng mga iyon ay may halong paglalaro, hindi katulad nito.
I put my hand on his and stood up too. And I think that was the cue of the musicians because they started playing louder this time.
He brought me outside the platform, under the tall trees with just enough light and put his palm on the small of my back, while he intertwined our fingers with the other one.
Alanganin kong dinantay ang kamay ko sa balikat niya at narinig ko ang marahan niyang pagtawa. Namula muli ako pero mas lalo akong nagulat ng bitawan niya ang magkahugpong naming kamay at kinuha ang akin para ilagay sa isa niya pang balikat.
His both hands are now on holding my back while both of my hands are on his shoulder, making our instance more intimate. He then started swaying our bodies a little bit.
Hindi ko alam kung saan ba ako titingin but then I decided to just looked at his adams apple, na kalevel ng mata ko pero mas lalo ata akong hindi naging hindi komportable. Every time he swallowed, it distracted me a lot so I looked higher but his cherry red lips made it worse.
Umangat muli ang mata ko hanggang sa aksidenteng nagtama ang mga mata namin at hindi ko na ito muling nabaling sa iba.
His eyes look more soft under the lights and it illuminates how he looked at me. I felt like I was being pulled by a magnet and I just found myself mermerized by it.
“Ikaw ang pinakamaganda…sa iyo ay sasaya…panghabang-buhay kong pangarap ay nasa harapan ko na…”
Namula ako ng husto ng marinig ko ang maarahan niyang pagkanta. I avoided his soft gaze but I wasn't even able to recover when he suddenly lifted my chin with his finger, locking our eyes again. Para akong malalagutan ng hininga sa simpleng ginawa niya.
Bumaba ang mga mata niya sa medyo awang kong mga labi at hindi ko na ring maiwasang titigan ang labi niyang mapupula.
We stopped swaying and slowly, he slanted his face and closed his eyes, making me close my eyes too.
I only waited for a few seconds and he didn't disappoint. It was a sweet kiss, no moving of lips and it just stayed there until he let go of it again.
I couldn't licked my lips right after. Butterflies started in my stomach and my knees started trembling. My mind went hazy and suddenly I could barely hear the music and the only thing that was clear to me was his face.
“I’m in love with you, Liberty.” His voice was so gentle I could sleep right now and let him murmur those words over my ears until I woke up.
Muli siyang pumikit at kusa na rin akong pumikit para maramdaman ang mga halik niya sa akin.
He gave me gentle kisses as he started moving his lips. He also pulled the small of my back closer to him and my hands that were on his shoulder tightened, making me balance my weakening body.
I responded to his kisses gently too and at the end of it, he gave me sweet little kisses near my lips and let his lips run to my cheeks. Para na akong matutunaw sa mga galawan niya.
I feel so contented. Pakiramdam ko ay wala na akong problema at hiniling na sana hindi na matapos ang oras na ito.
“I’m in love with you, baby.” He murmured again as he gave me sweet little kisses on the cheeks.