CHAPTER 43
Boys and a Pink Bed
REN
"EH WALA PA naman dito si Lolo 'di doon muna ako sa kabila," katuwiran ko pero hindi niya pa rin ibinibigay ang susi sa akin.
"Gusto ko ngang tabi tayo eh."
How vocal is he, isn't it?
"Hindi ka ba nagsasawa sa pantitrip sa akin?"
"Hindi naman ako nantitrip ah."
"Eh anong ginagawa mo?"
"Masama bang sabihin sa'yo kung ano talaga ang mga gusto ko?" aniya at saka inagaw ang binalot kong unan at kumot upang ibalik ang mga ito sa silid.
Sinundan ko na rin lamang siya at saka pilit na inaagaw iyon hanggang sa wala na akong magawa dahil inupuan niya ang mga ito sa kama. "The security system of the units here is the best in this place. You won't have to worry about men entering just like what happened at the hospital."
"Does your unit have something for me to use so I could protect myself from you, as well?"
What I said actually seemed to boost his ego, judging from the smirk that suddenly lit up on his face. "So you actually think I am a threat to you?"
"Yes," I said a-matter-of-factly.
"How so?" he teased as he leaned forward, closely aiming for my face and looked down on my lips. I stepped back and pushed his face.
"You get a condo unit and order your designer, whoever that is to fill everything with pastel colours like you're living in a cotton candy land."
"Shouldn't that be more of a reason for you not to fear me?"
"I'm not scared of you."
"But you said I am a threat."
"I did. And you are."
"Because?"
"Of your lips!"
There was a long silence.
And it made me rethink about what just slipped out of my mouth. Oh, Lord. He's going to go after me again because of it.
"My lips?" Amusement was dripping from him and he didn't bother concealing them. He's definitely enjoying all of this.
"I'm sleepy."
"There's only one bathroom here," he said as he pulled me up and started ushering me out of the room and pushed me in with him to the bathroom. "Let's brush first, okay?"
He began squeezing toothpaste to a new set of toothbrushes from the magnetic holder.
"Hindi ako magsisipilyo."
He looked at me with a lopsided grin as if he knew what I am talking about. "Chill, hindi kita hahalikan sa labi."
I brushed anyway. Whether he says that or not. I just wanted to make sure he won't and it will come right out of his mouth because he claims to be a man of his words, right?
"Now get going and look for your place to sleep in," utos ko sa kanya bago ako humiga nang magaslaw sa kama para wala siyang mahigaan.
"You look cute in a pink bed," he laughed and didn't mind about me wriggling and pushing him when he tries to get on the bed because, well, he's big and strong and it's his bed.
"Yeah, you look like a girl in this pink bed," I came back as I flung pillows to him. I drew an imaginary line between us and said, "Bawal kang lumampas diyan."
He looked at me with a childish grin and said flatly, "Suuuurrreee."
Hinampas ko nga ulit siya sa braso.
Mabuti na lamang at hindi niya sinabing lumampas ako sa linya dahil sa paghampas ko sa kanya.
"I had it look pastel so you could have a healthy breathing space. The colors were calming. I hope it works for you," he then said as we settled down the sheets.
"You shouldn't have bothered."
"Why?"
"Hindi naman ako titira rito nang pangmatagalan eh."
It somehow placed lines in his forehead and I can see hesitations in his eyes whether he would answer or not.
Maybe he's been feeling sleepy already that time because he drew a deep sigh and pulled the blanket over us.
"I'm really sorry about what I did earlier."
"I said you're forgiven."
"Have you finally made up your mind about the academy, though?"
"Why do you even care?"
"I said I deserve to know."
I sighed in defeat and stared at the ceiling that flashed stickers that glow in the dark. I asked him to turn out the lights so I could look at the glowing stars and moons and planets that scattered on the ceiling and even on the walls.
"This is beautiful," I commented.
"Walang ganyan sa PMA," udyok nito sa akin.
That sank into me but I didn't mind snapping for that.
"Hindi pa naman sure kung makakapasok ako."
"What stops you to pass? You're smart and strong. And you're of good moral character too."
"Who knows if I have medical conditions that I do not know?"
"What, aside from your menstrual cramps and hormonal imbalance?"
"Who knows," I repeated.
"Wala naman akong magagawa para magbago ang isip mo hindi ba?" mahina niyang tanong. It almost sounded so sad and distant.
Naramdaman ko ang maingat niyang pag-alis ng kumot sa kanyang katawan at naramdaman ko rin ang muli niyang pagsampa sa kama kung saan hinigaan niya ang kumot na nakatapat sa kanya.
"Hindi ka ba lalamigin niyan?"
"Lalamigin pero at least..." sagot niya at bigla na lamang niya akong niyakap sa baywang habang nakabalot ako sa kumot. "... at least mayayakap kita nang hindi ka natatakot sa akin."
"Natatakot ba ako sa iyo?"
"Woman, sleep. You're supposed to support me with my self-control training here."
"I don't know what that means but fine."
"Ren, I mean I want to hold you like this while not trying to be disrespectful. Now sleep. As long as you speak with that smart mouth, the more I lose control."
Man, my ears were on fire until I fell asleep.
I WOKE UP at five in the morning with Knight's face pressed against my neck. His mop of hair was sprawled across my skin and I inhaled his neat ocean breeze menthol shampoo. The room was cold enough to let him stay asleep even if I pushed him away from me so I could start stretching.
Napagpasyahan kong magtimpla ng kape sa kusina. Hindi ako nahirapan sa paghahanap dahil nga light colors ang namumutawi sa mga pader at maging mga muwebles kaya naman madaling mahanap ang mga gamit na kailangan.
Ako ay napalibot ng tingin sa kabuuan ng unit ni Knight at hindi ko talaga maiwasang tanungin sa aking sarili kung bakit sa akin niya ibinabase ang comfort ng sarili niyang tirahan at hindi sa kanya gayong hindi naman ako magtatagal dito?
Hindi na ako nagulat pa nang magising na siya kaagad dahil lagi siyang maagang nagigising. Sinundan niya ang tunog ng aking paghalo sa kape sa kusina at saka tumabi sa akin sa mesa. Just like every morning, he greeted me.
"Bakit ang aga mo?" tanong niya sa akin habang nagsasalin din siya ng sarili niyang inuming kape. "Dapat ginising mo ako. Maaga ka ba ngayon?"
"Hindi naman. Bakit ba lagi kang maagang nagigising?"
He gave me a thin smile before sipping from his cup. "I like waking up early when we sleep together so I could see your face when I open my eyes."
It always sends me tingles whenever he mentions us sleeping together. I know that he meant it literally but I cannot ignore the usual interpretation that one gets when he/she hears the phrase.
"You forgot to sign your gmail out from my laptop. I didn't mean to view your emails but the sender quite really got in to my nerves. It's not that I hate PMA. It's just that I didn't expect you to have anything to do with it. I suddenly got angry on impulse, thinking about things you are to do in there that you might not be able to do. I have intentions but I am sorry. I admit that I have gone over the line. I am sorry for reading your letter, Ren."
"Wala na iyon. At saka hindi naman din big deal sa akin kung mabasa mo. It's not like it has to be kept private."
"I'm sorry for manhandling you. It got in my head."
I sipped from my cup before saying, "How about we even it out?"
"How?"
"Lugaw!" sabik na saad ko at hindi na siya sumalungat pa dahil parang gustong-gusto din niya kapag nagpapaluto ako sa kanya.
"Are you sure that you always like my cooking?" he curiously asked when he finally set the bowls for us to finally eat. He didn't put instant noodles this time but I can see onion leeks and there's a lot of it. I love greens. He always finds a way to put any vegetable when he cooks food because I once told him that I love vegetables especially green leafy ones.
Hinipan ko ang nasa aking kutsara at saka ninamnam ang mainit na lugaw sa aking bibig. "Oo naman. Hindi sa panghuhusga pero hindi ko akalaing marunong kang magluto. Actually, sarap na sarap ako sa luto mo."
Nangunot ang noo niya.
"They wouldn't let me cook at home, though," sagot nitong tila nagdududa pa siya sa sinabi ko. Hindi ba dapat nanlalaki na ang ulo niya dahil pinapurihan ko siya?
"Bakit naman?"
"They don't like my cooking. That's why I always wonder if you're just trying to embarrass me or annoy me or boss me around when you get me to cook but as time goes by, I am learning that you actually look like you're enjoying any food that I give you."
This boy blushes around me a lot. I am starting to think he's just like what his mom suspects him to be.
"Gusto ko talaga ng mga luto mo," kumpirma ko naman sa kanya at pagkatapos n'on, tumayo siyang bigla at saka nagtungo sa lababo upang maghilamos ng kanyang mukha kahit pa halata namang nakapaghilamos na siya kanina bago pa siya magpunta rito.
"Jeez, Ren. Stop it."
"Ano?"
"Just—nothing. I printed two copies of the email attachments already. I can start collecting the requirements for you while you are on your classes."
"Hindi mo naman kailangang gawin iyon, Knight."
"You are in Batch 6 and your schedule of reporting is on the second week of December."
Malapit na pala. Exam ko rin ang linggong iyon. Lagot.
"I know it's also your exam schedule before vacation and yes, I know your friends plan to go out of town and yes I won't force you to take me with you but no, I know that your birthday is on December 15th, a day before your schedule of reporting."
My head was fed up with too much information but I am not stupid not to catch up.
"Why are you telling me this?"
"You can spend vacation with your friends without me."
I looked at him as if it was an obvious thing to say. "It's not like that is not what I actually would do, but what's your point? And why do I need your permission, by the way?"
"I am not permitting you. I am going to New York during that time until Christmas and if I am not mistaken, the next safest place you could be in without me is with your friends."
Hindi ko mawari ngunit nanlambot ako bigla.
"Of course I am safe with them."
"Actually," he laughed and said, "Figuratively speaking, you're not. Physically, you are. But I still don't trust them on other deals."
"Other deals?" nagtataka kong pag-uulit.
He then ruffled my hair and suddenly kissed my forehead.
"You're beautiful and smart and strong. What makes you think they befriended you just because you can be a good friend?"
"Well, I am a good friend," I defended myself.
"I also said you are beautiful and smart and strong," he chuckled as he started shoving me to the bathroom door. "I placed some new towels on the rack. Don't freak out."
Sumilip ako pabalik at saka hindi napigilang magtanong.
"Ano palang gagawin mo sa New York?"
"Didn't I tell you that Hans and I are starting up a business?"
I nodded while I was peeping my head through the door crack and I watched him walk up to me. "Anong business?"
"You'll know soon."
"You better not start a car manufacturing company," I warned him and this made him laugh.
"Bakit, ayaw mo ba akong kompetansiyahin?"
"It's a car manufacturing company then! You traitor!"
He laughed carelessly and dodged the punch I was about to give him. "Relax. I'm kidding. It's nothing of the sort. Just some simple business."
"Simple lang naman pala, bakit kailangan mo pang umalis?"
He grinned and pushed me into the bathroom.
Siya na rin ang nagsara nito at hindi ko na narinig pa ang kanyang sinabi.