Kabanata 24
Meeting
A let out a long moan as he gave me, yet again, a wonderful and extreme release. Kung may maganda mang naidulot ang pagsasamang ito, ito iyon.
Hinihingal pa ako. Kauuwi lang namin. Kapapasok lang sa pintuan nang hinigit niya ako. I wasn't in the mood because I was still thinking about what I said to my father but when his lips went to my nape, I lost it.
"Damn..." I hissed as I collected my panties from his hand.
He smirked. His member still erect as he put his boxers back. Nagkatinginan kami. Umiling ako.
"May problema ka talaga sa pasensiya. Hindi mo na hinintay na makaabot sa kuwarto."
"I was patient enough. I didn't do it on our car."
Nagtaas ako ng kilay. "You were horny while driving?"
He crouched and kiss me on my lips softly. Bahagya akong natigilan, hindi gusto iyon. Him being rough on me was better. It didn't invite intimate feelings. Just pure carnal desires, gaya ng gusto ko.
"You were silent so... iniisip ko nagtatampo ka."
Napakurapkurap ako. "Iniisip mong nagtatampo ako kaya horny ka?"
He chuckled and just stared at me.
"May problema ka rin yata sa mga motivation mo."
"I also didn't know that I could get horny from thinking that you're mad at me or something."
I cannot believe him. Imbes na bigyan pa ng kahulugan ang sinabi niya, tinalikuran ko na lang siya at inayos ang damit. Kaya lang, hinigit niya muli ako at niyakap galing sa likod.
"So... why were you silent?" he asked.
Ngumuso ako at lalong hindi naging kumportable na medyo intimate ang tanong niya. My heart hurt a little but I decided to let everything flow.
"Wala lang. Naisip ko 'yong... na approve kong project kanina."
"Oh? You didn't tell me..."
Hinarap niya ako. He zipped his pants. I made a face. Katatapon niya lang sa condom kanina.
"Puwede bang magbihis muna tayo bago tayo mag-usap?" puna ko.
He chuckled. "Fine. I was just hoping there's a replay."
"Replay, my ass!"
Humagalpak siya. "Come on, then. I'll cook you dinner to celebrate your approved project."
Hindi na ako nakipagtalo. Umakyat na kaming pareho at umamba pa siyang sumunod sa kuwarto ko. Kung hindi ko lang sinimangutan ay hindi siya tumigil sa biro niya.
Tahimik akong naghubad at nag-ayos sa kuwarto. I went in the bathroom for a shower as I remember what happened and all his words.
The more he talked these days, the more I realized that he's good at this. Hindi ba nagkukunwari lang siya? Bakit parang totoo? I hate that he's so good at it. Pakiramdam ko wala siyang puso para manliko ng ganito. He might be like this to all his other girls too, but hell I care. I was just concerned about myself and the way he treats me.
I turned the shower off. Tapos na akong maligo nang naalala noon.
When we started this, he wasn't this nice. Ni wala siyang pakialam sa nararamdaman ko. At alam niya na alam ko kung ano ang habol niya sa ginawang ito kaya bakit pa siya kailangang magkunwari ngayon?
What is he up to? May pina-plano ba sila ni Lav?
Perhaps break my heart or something? But what for, right? He just wants the position. After that, he'll leave.
Kinabahan ako bigla. Is he paid by my father's detractors? Pero ano namang mapapala ng detractors na iyon kung saktan ako?
I smirked. Why am I thinking about this? Schuyler, more importantly, masasaktan ka ba ni Royce?
Bago ako nagbihis, kinuha ko ang cellphone ko para mai-text si Papa.
Ako:
You should schedule our talk about the divorce soon, Papa.
I took my time. Nag-ayos at nagbihis bago bumaba.
I was stunned when I realized what he is doing. The lights were dimmed on the halls and I see shadows of flames reflected on the wall towards the dining area. Bumagal ang lakad ko nang naisip muna bago natunghayan ang nangyayari.
Royce was putting glasses of wine on the side of our plates. Nakatanggal ang mga blinds kaya tunghay sa dining area ang malapad na cityline. Madilim at tanging ang marahang ilaw galing sa mga scented candles lang ang nandoon.
He smirked when he saw me. He was in his usual whit shirt and black shorts, cozy and comfortable. Para siguro makapagluto ng... steak. Iyon ang nakita ko sa pinggan.
"What do you think?" nagtaas siya ng kilay at lumapit sa akin.
My jaw dropped. Matagal bago ko natanto iyon at inayos ang sarili.
"A-Ano 'to?"
He chuckled and eyed me menacingly. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at iginiya roon. "I'd do this all, kung alam ko lang na ganyan ang magiging reaksiyon mo."
Nalilito na ako sa iisipin ko. Nakatingin lang ako sa kanya sa pagkakamangha.
"I want us to go out to celebrate your first project but I know you're tired. Hindi naman ako pagod so I cooked for us."
Tiningnan kong mabuti ang steak. Maganda nga ang pagkakaluto nito kahit sa dilim. At sa amoy, alam kong maayos.
"I know how you want your steak done, based on our previous dates. Hope you'll like it."
Pinaupo niya ako. I'm still mesmerized by it all. Hindi ko alam kung ganito ba talaga siya o ngayon lang ba o...
Nagtaas siya ng kilay. Nasa harap ko na siya at tinitingnan ako. Umiling siya at ngumisi ulit dahil sa mangha kong reaksiyon.
"I like your reaction but the more you're this amazed, the more awkward it is."
"Ah... I'm sorry. M-Medyo nagulat lang ako."
"Is this your first time surprised this way?"
No. I recalled Zane surprising me many times. Pero siguro extra special na nag effort siyang magluto at... lahat ng ito.
"Uh... na pinagluto, oo."
"It's my first time doing this, too. Is it corny?"
My heart skipped a beat. Halata sa tono niya na medyo nahiya siya at nagdadalawang-isip na sa ginawa niya. Bahagya akong nalungkot... na naawa... na medyo kakaiba ang reaksiyon ko.
"I-It's not."
Ngumuso siya. "This is my first time..."
"Na... pinagluto ang isang babae?"
"Lahat ng 'to... the surprise and all..." hindi siya makatingin sa akin.
"Well, I'm not surprised that this is your first time. Gaya ng sabi ko, you're not boyfriend material."
"Ouch! Ngayon mo talaga sasabihin 'yan?"
Natawa ako. "Sinasabi ko lang naman. You should take that as a compliment. Ibig sabihin, may character development ka?"
He chuckled. "Is that good or bad?"
"Hmm."
"That should be bad kung pinag-iisipan mo pa!" umamba siyang tatayo para yata baliktarin ang lamesa at tigilin ang ginagawa.
"No, Royce!" natatawa ko siyang pinigilan. "It's good! Ang iniisip ko kung alin ang gusto ko, 'yong sweet husband o 'yong rough?"
Kumalma siya at unti-unting sumilay ang ngiti sa labi. His face lit by the warm light of the candles look very attractive. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang kalabog ng puso ko sa kaunting katahimikan na bumalot sa amin... dagdagan pa ng ngiti sa kanyang labi.
"You know very well that I can do both, right?"
Nagtaas ako ng kilay. "Ngayon ko lang nadiscover na kaya mo'ng maging sweet..."
"Matagal na akong sweet sa'yo. You're just snob."
My eyes narrowed. "Hindi, ah! You were harsh."
"But you still like harsh..."
Nabitin sa ere ang sasabihin ko dahil sa kaunting tuwa. Tinikom ko ang bibig ko at bahagyang tumikhim.
"Tingin mo maniniwala ako na first time mong gawin 'to sa babae?"
"Hm. Like you said, I was harsh. Can you really imagine me doing this to my sex buddies?"
"Bakit pa ako mag iimagine, e nasa harap na kita..."
His smile faded a bit but I know he still finds it funny. Pinilit niya ring singkitin ang mga mata para kunwari'y irita sa akin pero alam kong hindi.
"Because you have doubts that I've done this before."
"Well, you're competent. Paano kung may gusto kang ikama na babae na ayaw sa'yo-"
He snorted in the middle of my sentence. Namilog ang mga mata ko at gusto kong matawa.
"Ang kapal mo, ah? So wala?!"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"How about those hard to get girls who likes you but still give you a hard time-"
"Tss. Walang ganoon-"
"You're full of yourself..."
"Okay, kung mayroon, I don't chase them. It's a yes or no. If it's a no, then no problem. But nobody has said no to me. Bakit ba natin ito pinag-uusapan? I want us to enjoy the food I cooked and talk about your success yet here we are-"
Natawa ako. "Nobody has said no to you? O baka 'yong mga may ayaw sa'yo tulad kong pinakasalan mo na lang?"
Tumawa siya at banayad akong tiningnan. "Baka nga..."
Then I realized that was a bit uncomfortable! Kasalanan ko! Bakit ko pa kasi sinabi iyon.
"Let's just eat. I'll be the judge!" sabi ko at kinuha na ang mga kubyertos dahil ayaw ang pinag-uusapan.
Masarap nga ang luto ni Royce. Wala akong maipintas doon kaya mukhang wala kaming ibang magagawa kundi mag-asaran. Kaya naman imbes na hayaan iyon, kinuwento ko na nga lang sa kanya ang project ko.
"That's in an island. So your choice of theme is appropriate," he agreed.
"Since classic iyong pinaka interior niya, it's easier to design it that way."
"Just be careful not to make it too laid back. Hindi gaanong bumabagay ang laid back sa sinabi mong Harlequin floor."
Napaisip ako sa sinabi niya. He's got a point. May babaguhin ako sa naisip na disenyo.
"Galing kay kay Mr. Rockwell kanina, did he call you?"
I snapped out of my reverie. Nagulat ako na tinanong niya ako noon.
"Uh... naisip ko lang na bumisita. Hindi pa ako nakapunta sa opisina niya kahit na... same building na kaming nagtatrabaho."
Tinanggap niya iyon at tumango siya. "Pinuntahan kita sa opisina mo. I was about to get mad at you for going home without telling me. Buti na lang at nasabi ni Jun na hindi ka pa umuuwi."
"Yeah. Nagbigay lang ako sa Senior ng completed project. Tapos... naisipang umakyat kay Papa, for the remaining time... before going home."
Tumango siya at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Sumulyap ako sa kanya at naisip na ngayon ang tamang panahon para kaswal na sabihin sa kanya ang tungkol sa sinabi ni Papa.
"By the way, sinabi ni Papa kung kailan mo raw gusto iyong posisyon na hinihingi mo?"
I sipped on my wine. I saw how he was shocked. Tumigil siya sa pagkain at tumitig sa akin.
"He asked you that?"
"He asked me randomly..." sabi ko at nagpatuloy sa pagkain para kung may iniisip man siya, hindi niya mahalata.
"Well, I like where I am at work... so..."
He likes where he is at work?
Tumikhim ako at nilunok ang pagkain. Nagpunas ako ng bibig bago nag-angat ng tingin.
"Maybe after a year."
Muntik na akong masamid sa sinabi niya. After a year!
"O-Oh? Ayaw mo pa bang ma promote?"
"Maybe this isn't the right time to get promoted yet."
What the hell? Is he serious? And after a year? Hindi ba sa usapan nila ni Lavender, isang buwan o higit lang?
Isang taon? Kumalabog ang puso ko. Hindi ko yata kakayanin iyon! Bago pa tuluyang bumigay ang iritasyon ko, tumunog ang cellphone niya.
He stared at it for a while. Nakita kong bababaan niya sana iyon pero tumitig siya kaya napatingin din ako.
"Si Papa! Sagutin mo!" I encouraged.
Sumulyap siya sa hapag namin, tumingin sa akin bago bumuntonghininga.
"Excuse me."
"Okay lang!" sabay tango ko.
Tumayo siya at naglakad patungo sa salamin, palayo sa akin. I wiped my face again and watched him.
"Yes, Sir. Okay no problem, Sir..." aniya at kalaunan binaba na rin ang cellphone.
Bumalik siya sa lamesa.
"Sorry for that. If it wasn't your father, I'll ignore the call."
"Anong sabi ni Papa?" I asked eagerly.
Umiling siya at parang wala lang sa kanya ito. "Meeting lang."
"Meeting sa board? O... sa inyo? Kayong dalawa?"
"Hindi ko pa alam para saan, Sky."
"Kailan?"
"Bukas."
"Tomorrow is Saturday. So it's a meeting between you two?!"
Nanliit ang mga mata niya. "Maybe your Mom will be there... we'll talk about business."
"Si Mama? Business?" I figured.
Hindi gusto ni Royce ang interes ko. Something is really telling me that this is about my request!
"Saan ba?"
"Your father will just text the adress-"
"Sasama ako!"
"Nakita ko ang schedule mo. You're going to the salon tomorrow."
"It's my father. Gawin n'yo na lang na dinner at sabay na tayong pumunta roon!"
He sighed. Matagal niya akong tinitigan.
"I'll go to the salon first. You'll wait for me. By dinner, sabay na tayong pumunta doon. Tingin mo?"
"Your father didn't ask for you so it must be about business."
"So what? Gusto ko lang sumama, Royce."
He stared at me more.
"Fine."
I smiled and sipped on my wine. Royce looked problematic. Bigla akong nakaramdam ng kaunting lungkot. He prepared for tonight. For sure, by now he knows what's up with my father's call.
Pero bakit nga ba ako makakaramdam ng awa? Bakit hindi ko siya madiretso na may divorce kaming nakaabang, e, pareho naman naming alam iyon? Why do I need to pretend that I didn't know what my father wants about that meeting when we both know where this is going?
Nasa dulo na ng dila ko iyon. Gustong gusto ko nang sabihin na baka para sa divorce natin ang meeting kaya sasama ako.
Pinigilan ko nga lang ang sarili ko. Just one more day, Sky. Just for this night, his romantic dinner date with me... I'll let it slide.
I sighed and slowly felt at peace. I need to because tomorrow, I'm sure I won't.