Rainy Nights
May kung anong sumabog sa kanyang loob nang maramdaman ang paglapat ng mga labi ng binata. Bahagya niyang tinugon ang mapusok nitong halik. Nakikiliti ang kanyang tiyan sa ginagawa nito. Lalo na nang idiniin ng binata ang sarili sa kanyang katawan.
Lumalalim ang kanilang halik sa bawat segundong dumaraan. His tongue gently grazing on hers. Nagwala ang kanyang puso kasabay ng pag-iinit ng kanyang kaibuturan. His kisses were different than the one they first shared. Nakagat niya ang ibabang labi nito at agad humiwalay si Ewan.
Habol nila ang hininga.
She was about to say something when they heard a voice.
“Clementine? Greco? Nasaan ang mga tao dito?”
“S-sino ‘yon?”
Nanlaki pareho ang aming mga mata.
“It’s Abuela," he whispered.
Umahon sila mula sa pool. Yakap-yakap niya ang sarili sa ginaw ng ihip ng hangin.
“Wear this," he said.
Nanginginig niyang itinali ang binigay na robe ni Ewan. Nakasunod siya sa likod ni Ewan nang makita ang lola Graciela nito. She’s still as intimidating as she remembered. Napahalukipkip siya sa gilid. Mas gusto niya na lang magtago kaysa makita ng lola nito.
“Magbibihis muna ako," aniya.
Pumasok siya sa isang guest room para magbihis. Hindi niya alam kung paano umakto ngayong nandito ang lola ni Ewan. Wala naman silang ginagawang masama. It’s just that she can’t handle being in the same room as her. Binilisan niya na lang ang pagbibihis. Uuwi na lang siguro siya pagkatapos dito.
“Hija?” she heard her voice.
Lumabas siya sa kwarto at nakita ang lola ni Ewan.
“Po?” she replied.
“Pwede ba kitang kausapin?” anito.
Napalunok siya tila hindi alam ang gagawin.
“Oo naman po," sagot niya na lang.
Kabado siyang sumunod dito. Matapos ang kanilang pag-uusap ay agad naman siyang bumaba. Nakita niya si Ewan na naghihintay.
“Anong sinabi niya sa’yo?” he asked.
Umiling siya. “Wala naman. Bakit?”
He doesn't look convinced. Bumuntong-hininga ito saka kinuha ang towel sa gilid. He slowly dried her hair with it.
“Ang basa pa ng buhok mo," ika pa nito.
Napapikit-pikit siya sa ginagawa ng binata. She laughed a little. He can really be too much at times. Kahit kaya niya namang patuyuin ang sariling buhok.
“Ihahatid na kita maya-maya," he said.
Umuwi siya sa kanila matapos siyang ihatid nito. Napaisip naman siya sa pag-uusap nila ng lola ni Ewan. She was actually nice. Baka masyado lang siyang naging judgmental. Wala naman itong sinabing kakaiba.
“Ate, patulong naman nito," ani Tommy.
Napatingin siya sa inabot nitong mga papel.
“Ano ‘yan?” she asked.
“Baka kasi may mali-mali ‘yong mga SVA ba ‘yon?” He looked confused.
Napangiti siya saka kinuha ang assignment nito.
“Akin na nga.”
Sinimulan niyang ayusin ang mga nakitang error at mga posibleng gawing revision. Umalis naman si Tommy. Ilang sandali lang ay bumalik itong may dala nang sapatos.
“Ganda ng sapatos mo ah.” aniya saka tinignan ito. It looks branded and expensive.
He grinned and said, “Bigay ni kuya Ewan.”
“Talaga?”
Masaya itong tumango.
“Sabi niya tuturuan niya raw ako mag-basketball," sabi nito.
“Marunong ba ‘yon?” she asked herself.
Well, most guys know how to play basketball, she thought.
“Huwag mong masyadong istorbohin ah. Ang daming ginagawa no’n," paalala niya sa pinsan.
“Ayos lang naman daw," dahilan nito.
Matapos nilang gawin ang assignment ni Tommy ay tinuruan naman siya nitong maglaro ng mobile games. Ilang beses siyang natalo. Nainis pa ang pinsan niya dahil hindi niya agad maintindihan ang laro. Sa huli ay binigay niya na lang dito ang cellphone dahil wala talaga siyang pag-asang manalo.
“Nasaan ka na ba...” she whispered to herself.
Hawak-hawak niya cellphone sa kamay at hinihintay ang tawag ni Ewan. May usapan sila na magdi-dinner ngayon. He said that she needs to dress up. May pag-alinlangan siyang gawin iyon dahil hindi nito sinabi kung saan sila pupunta.
Ngunit sinunod niya rin naman. She wore flowing midnight blue dress. Just few inches above her knee. Sinuot niya rin ang 3-inch heels niya para naman magmukhang matangkad. Her hair had grown a lot so she tied it in a loose braid.
Lalo lamang siyang naging kabado nang halos kalahating oras na itong late. Naglalabas-masok na siya sa kanilang bahay. When she got his text, she hurried to see him outside. A car pulled up in front. Binaba nito ang bintana.
“Hey, beautiful," he grinned.
“May kotse ka na?” she asked, surprised to see him riding a car.
Bumaba ito sa kotse. He was wearing a tux and a white dress shirt underneath. The first two buttons were undone. His hair is also brushed up. He really looked dazzling tonight, she thought. Na-miss niya tuloy ang ash gray nitong buhok. Ibanalik kasi agad nito sa itim after about 2 weeks.
“Sorry, I’m late. Kinuha ko pa kasi ‘to.”
Pinasadahan siya ng tingin ni Ewan. Napailing siya at nakaramdam ng hiya.
“Oh wow. Magmumukha na ‘kong busboy nito," ika nito.
“Sira!” she exclaimed.
“For you... Lilac flowers.” Inabot nito ang bulaklak sa kanya.
“Why do we have to dress this way? Ang sabi ko sa’yo huwag sa mamahalin, diba?” aniya.
Iginiya siya nito papasok sa kotse.
He grinned. “Bold of you to assume, miss.” She rolled her eyes when he used her own line. “You’ll see!” he added.
They droved around for about 30 minutes before arriving to half-wooden karinderya. There were christmas lights hanging around the ceiling. An old song is playing faintly. She held her head up and saw the their specialty, bulalo.
“Sabi ni Tommy paborito mo raw ‘to," sabi nito.
“That’s why you were bribing him," she laughed.
Nagkibit-balikat ito. “What can I say? You gotta play your cards well.”
“Dalawa pong order ng special bulalo niyo.”
Lila can't wipe the smile on her face. The two of them look so out of place but she didn't mind. The lady brought out their orders. Amoy palang ng mainit na sabaw ay natakam na siya. Humigop siya nang kaunti.
“Na-miss ko ang lasa nito," aniya.
“This is honestly the best," he said blowing his another sip from the bowl.
“They’re taking pictures of us," he pointed the group of students from the far end with a phone on their hands.
“Prom date ko! Ganda ‘no?” Ewan exclaimed.
Bigla siya napayuko saka tinampal ito. He's crazy, she thought. But the students were so cheery and supportive. Nakipag-posing na lamang siya kasama ang binata.
“Cute niyo po, kuya! Bagay kayo ni ate," sabi pa ng isa sa kanila.
Pareho silang tumawa. Nagpa-send pa ito ng picture nilang dalawa. The students even asked for their permission to post their photos online in which he immediately agreed to. Nailing na lamang siya.
“Ano? I can’t believe it. Hindi ka pa talaga nakakapanuod ng superhero movies?” Mukhang disappointed ang mukha nito.
She shrugged. “Glimpses lang. Pero ‘yong uupuan ko talaga, hindi pa.”
His mouth hang open. “Bakit? I thought you’d like iron man.”
She chuckled. She gets where he's coming from. Alam niyang fanboy na fanboy ito. He probably rewatch the series a bunch of times. Sa collection palang nito ng mga merchandize sa bahay, hindi na nakakapagtataka.
“I feel like this cinematic universe is a different kind of film than the conventional way. Parang, sa’kin lang ah? It’s less of an art," she explained.
His eyes widened. “Wow...” he mouthed looking offended.
Tumawa siya at kinaway ang kamay. “I’m not degrading it. I know how they work so hard and the budget must be so big. Pero iba pa rin kasi ‘yong nasa actual setting ‘yong mga bida unlike those mainstream movies na sa green screen. Ang sa’kin lang conventional movies evoke this certain feelings, the emotions are pure and raw and real and human," patuloy niya.
He's listening but his eyes are still not convinced. Bigla tuloy siyang nakonsensya because of her lack of better words.
“Kaya sa tingin ko, magkaiba ‘yong dalawa. Hindi ko naman hate ang mga superhero movies but it’s not my cup of tea.”
He sighed. “Paano ‘yan? Naka-bili pa naman ako ng ticket.” Sumimangot ito.
"Pero kung kasama naman kita manuod, bakit hindi? Ikaw ang taga-explain sa'kin," bawi niya rito.
Muli itong ngumisi, mukhang satisfied na sa sinabi niya. She turned to the leche flan that they ordered. Siguradong babalik silang dalawa dito. The foods were heavenly.
“I think you like horror movies," he guessed.
She paused for a second. Hindi naman kasi siya mahilig sa mga pelikula. Mas gusto niyang magbasa ng mga libro. At sa tuwing pinapanuod niya ang movie adaptations ng mga paborito niyang libro, nadidismaya lamang siya. There's something in books that the movies will never ever adapt.
“Am I right?” His eyes squinted.
“Uhm... It’s alright," sagot niya.
“Matatakutin ka siguro ‘no?” he concluded.
“Hindi kaya!” she exclaimed.
Tumawa ito saka tumungin sa cellphone. Bigla itong napatayo.
“Oh shit... It’s almost time. Tara!” he grabbed her hand.
Matapos silang magbayad ay agad naman silang bumalik sa kotse. He wasn't saying anything when he started the car. Nagmamadali itong makaalis.
“Saan tayo?” pagtataka niya.
He backed the car until they hit the road. “May pupuntahan pa tayo. Shit. Di ko namalayan ang oras.”
They drove again until they reached an open space. Bumaba sila pareho. Ewan opened the trunk of his car. Mukhang handa talaga ito dahil may nakalagay na na mga unan na pagsasandalan nila. They sat together.
“There will be shooting stars tonight," he said as he rummaged through the car. Kinuha nito ang kumot at ibinabal sa kanya.
“Do you feel warm?” he asked.
Agad siyang tumango. She opened her arms to cover him as well with the blanket. He grinned and scooted closer. Napasandal siya sa dibdib nito. She stared at the starless sky as the cold wind blows. May iilang butil ng tubig ang pumatak sa balat niya.
“Oh no no...” he whispered as he got his hand out.
“Mukhang uulan pa yata. Pambihira. Kung kailan naman may dadaang—
The rain poured hard and fast.
“Pasok na tayo!” she yelled, laughing a little.
Dali-dali silang pumasok sa loob.
“Disappointed ka ba?” she asked him.
He sighed. “Medyo. I looked this up. Minsan lang daw ‘to mangyari eh.”
“Iuuwi na lang kita sa inyo. The plan is kinda ruined.”
“Wait!” pigil niya.
Kumuha siya ng iilang piraso ng tissue saka pinahiran ang basa nitong mukha. She smiled at him.
Umiling siya. “It’s not ruined at all. This is the best night and the best date I ever had.”
“This not yet ever," he said.
She laughed a little and held his hand.
“And I’m glad that it’s with you. Thank you so much for this. Kahit palagi akong may doubt sa sarili, you never fail to assure me. Hindi na yata mawawala ang anxiety ko. Hindi ko rin yata mapapantayan lahat ng effort mo. Hindi rin siguro ako makakasabay sa mundo mo but I will try to keep up, I promise."
She looked down but Ewan held her chin up. The loud and oddly comforting sound of rain showering atop the car and their slow calculating breaths filled the air. She bit her lip as she stared at his deep loving eyes. His eyes that always screams sincerity. Will she ever deserve this kind of gaze?
"Hindi ako gano’n ka-interesting eh. I’m kinda boring and I only do simple things. And the days with me might be boring as well. It might be all silent and ordinary."
She breath inwardly. "Are you okay with that?”
He smiled and caressed her face. She rested on his warm palm.
“I want to be part of it all. I don’t mind doing simple and ordinary things." He paused looking for his words. "I want to have silent days or rainy nights like this as long as it’s with a wonderful person that is you, Lila.”
Dahan-dahan nitong inabot ang kanyang mga labi. She met him halfway. Malamig ang gabi ngunit ang init ng halik nito ay tila winawaglit iyon. He deepened the kiss as he tastes her every corner. Mahigpit siyang napakapit sa binata dahil sa nanghihina niyang lakas. The heavy rain isn't stopping and neither the two of them. She closed their gap.
There's no place she'd rather be tonight.