ALAS-DOS ng madaling araw nang nagising siya. Naninibago marahil sa estrangherong silid. She tried to go back to sleep pero ayaw na siyang dalawin ng antok. Bumangon at sumilip sa nakabukas na bintana. Madilim pa sa labas subalit may pangako ng liwanag ang likod ng mga bundok.
Lumabas siya at maingat na isinara ang pinto. Ni hindi nagbukas ng ilaw. Bumaba ng hagdan at sinikap na huwag makagawa ng kahit na anong ingay na maaaring ikagising ng mga kasambahay.
Sa pamamagitan ng malamlam na ilaw sa labas ay nakarating siya sa kusina, kinapa ang ilaw roon at binuhay. Nang magliwanag ang paligid ay hinanap ng mga mata ang percolator. Nilagyan ng tubig at isinalang sa kalan para sa kape.
Then she stood there watching the blue flame absent-mindedly, as if being hypnotized by the blue fire from the stove. Tama bang pinagbigyan niya si Consuelo sa kahilingan nito? She wasn't even sure kung tama ang ginawa niyang pagbabalik muli sa lugar na ito. Is the reconciliation with her mother worth the hearthaches?
Would she be able to come home nang hindi nasusugatan uli? Gayong ang makapal na yelong ibinalot niya sa puso niya sa nakalipas na mga taon ay biglang natunaw the moment she set her eyes on him. Like a frost melting in summer sunshine. At gaano kalalim ang sugat na lilikhain ni Jake sa puso niya sa pagkakataong ito? Would she be able to recover then?
"Hindi ba komportable ang silid na ibinigay ko sa iyo at nagising ka nang ganito kaaga?"
Napapiksi siya sa gulat nang marinig ang tinig ni Jake sa likuran. Kung hindi niya natakpan ang bibig ay baka napasigaw siya. Nakasandal ito sa hamba ng pinto. Walang suot kundi ang maong na hindi pa naka-snap ang hook. At hindi pa man lang kumakalma ang dibdib niya sa gulat, her foolish heart started to pound violently as she stared at the half naked man who probably haven't had a minute's sleep.
"Marunong ka palang mag-init ng tubig, ha?" Hindi siya nakatitiyak kung panunuya o amusement ang nasa tinig nito.
She took a calming breath, tumalikod at binuksan ang cupboard at kumuha ng tasa't platito. "Kung gusto mong magkape, help yourself," she said in strangled voice, not looking at him. Damn him for invading her solitude. "Hindi ako marunong magtimpla ng kape para sa ibang tao. And you were right, sa social status lang kami magkatulad ni Allie because she's also a good cook, among other things," she said bitterly.
Jake saw the trembling fingers habang ibinababa niya ang tasa at platito sa mesa. And he cursed himself silently.
"Though igniting that stove is pure common sense," patuloy niya at humakbang pabalik sa cupboard. Binuksan ang drawer at kumuha roon ng kutsarita. Muli siyang napapitlag sa biglang pag-whistle ng percolator.
Damn, damn her. Nagiging nervous wreck siya sa harap ng lalaking ito. And she felt like bursting into tears right now.
Sa dalawang hakbang ay nasa tabi niya si Jake. Kinuha sa mga kamay niya ang kutsarita. Inakay siya nito paupo sa coffee table. Ang katawan nitong nakadikit sa kanya'y sing-init ng apoy sa kalan. And they both stiffened as their bodies touched. Si Jake ang unang lumayo.
"I sure can make you a good cup of coffee, promise," he whispered hoarsely. Tenderness and desire showed in his eyes. "Now be a good girl and watch me make us my own version of capuccino."
And she sat there speechless and mesmerized. Watching him like crazy habang ginagawa ang ipinangakong masarap na kape. She was fascinated by the movement of muscles on his arm as he mixed coffee, chocolate powder, little sugar, and milk in a mug and beat it with a fork na tila ba itlog ang naroon.
He smiled sheepishly at her habang ginagawa iyon. Pagkatapos ay isinalin sa dalawang tasa. Binuhusan ng mainit na tubig at hinalo.
"Your cappuccino, Mademoiselle." he grinned habang inilagay sa harapan niya ang bubbling coffee.
"Fascinating!" Sa wakas ay may tinig na lumabas sa bibig niya.
"Tikman mo," he urged. "Dahan-dahan, you'll scald your tongue," babala nito nang dalhin niya sa bibig ang tasa ng kape, unethically blew it and sipped a little.
"Hmm... perfect! I can never duplicate this, Jake." tumingala siya rito, nasa mga labi pa ang bula ng cappucino. She licked it unconsciously.
Nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Jake. Stared at her lips with longing. "Let me do that," he whispered huskily.
At ang sunod na namalayan ni Janine ay ang marahas na pagtaas nito sa kanya mula sa silya. Crushing her in his arms and kissed her like crazy. At lahat ng matitibay na bagay na ibinalot ni Janine sa sarili sa nakalipas na mga taon ay isa-isang gumuho like broken crystals as passion howled in her heart like thunderstorm.
His tongue is like a wizard's wand, weaving magic. And she was like a parched flower under the rain. When she thought she was lost somewhere in space, he moved away. Cupped the back of her head and raised her passion-filled face to him. His eyes glittering with desire.
"I want you so much, Jan, so very much that I could take you here right now. On the table top, on the chair, on the floor," he rasped. "But I'm taking you upstairs, you don't deserve to be made love anywhere but in bed. At kung gusto mong tumanggi gawin mo na ngayon pa lang."
He could make love to her anywhere and for all she cares. Gusto niyang sabihin iyon. Pero walang tinig na lumabas ng bibig niya. She was staring at him mesmerized.
And then he scooped her in his arms.
"KATHLEEN?" usal niya sa inaantok pang tinig. The child was tickling her toes kaya siya nagising. "Stop it, sweetheart," she said with a yawn at the giggling child. Wala sa loob na napasulyap sa relo sa tabi ng lampshade. Alas-diyes ng umaga!
"Oh." stared at the ceiling at hinahagip sa isip ang nangyari kaninang madaling araw. She was sure she just dreamed about it. Pero itinatanggi iyon ng sariling katawan. She was tender all over.
Bumalik ang tingin niya kay Kathleen na hinihila ang kumot na nakatakip sa katawan niya. "Okay, okay, babangon na ako." Akma siyang tatayo nang matantong hubad siya. Kinuha ang kumot at ipinulupot sa katawan at tumayo.
Si Kathleen ay wala sa loob na napatingin sa bedsheet. Nanlaki ang mga mata ng bata at isang sigaw ang pinakawalan nito.
"Kathleen!" bulalas ni Janine na binalikan ang bata at niyakap. "W-what's wrong?" Pero sige sa pagsigaw ang bata.
"Bl—bl—blo—ood!" hiyaw nito kasabay ng pagturo sa gitna ng kama. Sinundan ng tingin ni Janine ang itinuturo nito at nanlalaki ang mga mata niya.
"Oh, my—!" She was horrified pagkakita sa bahid ng sariling dugo sa beddings. Mabilis niyang inabot ang unan at tinakpan ito. "There, it's gone, sweetheart," banayad niyang sinabi. Niyakap ang bata at hinaplos sa likod. "Hush... it's alright, it's alright," she whispered soothingly.
Kumawala si Kathleen at sinilip ang kinakitaan ng dugo na natakpan na ng unan. "There's nothing to fear, Kathleen. It's only my—it's my—" nagkandabulol siya sa pagpapaliwanag na monthly period niya iyon.
Hindi niya matiyak kung naiintindihan nito ang sinabi niya pero huminto na sa pag-iyak si Kathleen. Bumukas ang pinto at sumungaw si Nana Rosa na hinihingal pa.
"Bakit sumigaw si Kathleen?"
"N-natakot siya sa... sa n-nakitang dugo sa bedsheet, Nana Rosa. D-dumating ang monthly period ko," aniya. Hindi na sumagot ang matandang babae pero nanatili itong nakatitig sa kanya at agad siyang nagyuko ng ulo.
"Halika na, Kathleen, at magbibihis pa si Janine," aya nito sa bata na sumunod naman.
Napaungol si Janine nang makalabas ang dalawa. Hindi niya gustong isiping naghihinala ng iba ang matanda, lalo at alam nitong kumot lang ang nakapulupot sa katawan niya.
Sa banyo'y bumalik sa isip ang pagtili ni Kathleen sa takot. Nagsalita ito at sumigaw. Blood. Iyon ang isinigaw ng bata nang makita ang bahid ng dugo sa bedsheet.
Was it blood that caused her shock? She was almost sure of it. Itinapat ng dalaga ang sarili sa shower at habang sinasabon ang katawan ay nanariwa sa alaala ang nangyari kaninang madaling-araw.
IBINABA siya ni Jake ng kama, and when he turned away, she could almost feel the pain, iniisip na nagbago ito ng isip at muling lalabas. But he only dispensed the half clothing and the look he gave her was enough to make her shiver. In seconds, he stood naked before her. And she was stunned by his magnificence. Slowly, Jake joined her again and kissed her.
The kiss was devastating. And he was still kissing her while he drew up her pajama top, pagkatapos ay ang pang-ibaba. All the time his hand briefly touching her thighs, her waist, na para bang sinusukat ito, then her breasts.
Jake ended the kiss and through lamp-lit room stared at the beautiful body "Lovely," he whispered. "When had you grown so beautiful?" She was alluring but never considered her beautiful until now.
The filly he knew five years ago is now a priceless mare. But how many men have ridden this beautiful mare? Tumiim ang mukha nito sa kaisipang iyon and the thought of leaving the room as fast as he could enter his mind. It was the sound of her voice that changed his mind.
"Jake...?" her voice in husky caress, desire made her eyes sparkle like starshine. Her lips moist and tender from his kisses.
Dammit to hell! He hungered for her, yearned for her, wanted her. Bumaba ito sa tabi ni Janine, roughly lifted her head.
"Did you take all those men to bed, Janine?" His voice chilly and it cut her like a knife.
So, iyon ang iniisip nito habang tinititigan siya at gusto niyang sumigaw sa galit at sampalin ang lalaking ito. But her yearning for him was so strong it override her anger. She didn't plan for this moment to happen. At lalong hindi siya papayag na mauwi sa wala ang sandaling ito. Ngayon niya ipinagpasalamat ang tawag ni Attorney Aguado sa condo niya nang handa na niyang ibigay ang sarili kay Matthew.
Itinaas niya ang mukha kay Jake, hindi iniinda ang sakit ng pagkakahawak nito sa likod ng ulo niya. His hands tightly grasping her hair na kahit sa kaiksian ay nagawa nitong ipulupot sa mga daliri.
"Wala kang karapatang tanungin ako ng ganyan, Jake." she whispered the accusation softly, so softly, that it sounded like a caress kaysa sa akusasyon. Then her eyes challenged him as she spoke again in above-whisper. "Why don't you find out for yourse—?" his mouth came down and crushed her lips in a fiery kiss that should have scared her.
It didn't, instead it ignited fire, raging fire na kahit marahil bagyo ay hindi kayang pugnawin. She moaned in her throat as she received the maddening thrust of his tongue as his hand kneaded and cupped her breasts one after the other.
Muli ay iniwan ni Jake ang mga labi niya. But bent down to her neck and strayed to her breasts. Was it indecisiveness on his part, Janine thought, habang sa palagay niya'y hindi malaman ni Jake kung ano ang unang gagawin? He was kneading her breast with his hand one moment, then circling with his tongue the next, grazing with his teeth again, and finally suckling.
Indecisive or what, pinigil niya ang mapasigaw as the gentle torment became unbearable. Then his hand strayed farther down to the middle of her thighs that she bit her lips painfully so as not to shout out wanton encouragements.
Pero narinig yata ni Jake ang isinisigaw ng isip niya that she heard him chuckled as he stared into her passion-flushed face.
"So classy to the end," he whispered. "It wouldn't make you less the woman you are kung sasabihin mo sa akin ang gusto mong gawin ko, Jan. Don't suppress your moans and cries, darling. Only the morning birds can hear us. Gusto kong makita ang totoong Janine, the socialite and the model," then he kissed the sensitive part of her ear and whispered something very erotic that she was sure would never find its way to print.
"Were you scandalized, my darling," patuloy ni Jake just as his hand continued tormenting her that she writhed and arched her back. Damn this man!
"Your eyes sparked angry ecstacy, babe," Jake said in ragged voice. Then she sucked her breath and cried out his name as his hand strayed deeper. The grin was gone from his face instantly. "Yes, darling," he urged earnestly. "I'd love to hear you shout and cry and moan."
Then he poised above her. Held her hips firmly against him and gave her a fierce thrust that he expected Janine to shout with ecstacy. Hindi nito narinig ang inaasahan.
Janine literally stopped breathing and thought she was being torn apart. Nang sandaling huminto si Jake ay mabilis niyang pinuno ng hangin ang dibdib. Then ignored the discomfort. She was so hot that she arched her body and met his. Gusto niyang maramdamang muli ang init na sinimulan nito. She craved for something and she knew what it was. It happened once in the meadow...long time ago, though never like this. This will be the fulfillment.
Jake drove deeply once again, and again, and again, then it was over at ibinagsak ang sarili sa dibdib niya.
"Oh..." she wanted to cry out in frustration.
She felt his lips on the hallow of her neck, his hand clasping the back of her head gently. Then he whispered, still catching his breath. "I'm sorry. I had to." if he didn't hurry, he would tear her apart. And he wouldn't be able to give her what she craved for. "I wasn't prepared for this and I've been—" he forced a smile. "I'll make it up, promise. Give me a minute to regain my strength back."
Tinupad ni Jake ang pangako. The first one was tender and gentle na gusto niyang umiyak as she reached the heights. Sa pangalawa, ipinakita nito sa kanya what power meant. The power he held over her. She purred, she rose, she pleaded shamelessly. Jake, the master and she was the slave. And he was taming her as he gave her that endless spasm.
Things would have been perfect kung hindi dahil sa hindi niya maunawaang anyo nito pagkatapos. Gone was the tenderness he showed hours ago. His face grim as he stared back at her. Pagkatapos ay humugot ng buntong-hininga at dinampot ang jeans at briefs sa sahig.
"Babalik na ako sa silid ko bago magising si Kathleen."
Hindi niya matandaan kung paano siya nakatulog pero iisa ang natatandaan niya, she cried a river bago siya tuluyang nahulog sa antok.
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