“Hello?”
“Hey.” I swallowed when I heard his voice. Pinigilan ko ang ngiti na gustong kumawala at huminga nang malalim.
“Hi. Napatawag ka?” I tried to speak casually but I can still sense the slight shake on my voice.
“I’m sorry I haven’t contacted you for a week. I got busy both with university and the band. I was able to clear my schedule today so... I just want to ask if you want to go on a brief roadtrip? We don’t have any gigs tonight,” he said.
My heart continuously cartwheeled inside my ribcage. Sa sobrang lakas noon ay pakiramdam ko maririnig din ni Rush sa kabilang linya.
Hindi agad ako nakapagsalita dahil pina-process pa ng utak ko ang mga sinabi niya. He’s basically asking me if I want to hangout with him.
Why?
“But if you’re busy, it’s okay—”
“N-no... I mean, I’m not busy. What time?” natataranta kong sagot. Nanliit naman ang mata ni Mallory nang mapansin ang reaksyon ko.
“Do you still have class? If none, we can do it now. I’ll fetch you.” Nanlaki ang mata ko at napatingin sa mga notes na kasalukuyang inaaral.
I’m sure I can still study later!
“Sure! We’re on a nearby café,” I said, also dictating the name of the coffee shop.
“Okay then, see you.”
Agad akong inusisa ni Mallory pagkababa ko sa cellphone. “What is it?” she asked eagerly.
Malawak akong ngumiti at hindi maipaliwanag ang sayang nararamdaman. “Roadtrip daw...” sagot ko.
Paimpit siyang tumili habang nakatakip ang bibig. Napatawa ako at sinimulan nang ayusin ang mga nakakalat kong notes sa lamesa.
“Is it okay if I leave you here?” tanong ko kay Mallory habang isinisilid na ang binder sa aking backpack.
“Of course! Support ako sa magiging lovelife mo kaya go!” aniya at humagikhik.
“Anong lovelife sinasabi mo riyan? Your imagination is on another level!” I said. It’s too early to conclude that this will lead to something like that.
“Oh please, Alectrona! Why do you think he’s asking you for a roadtrip?! It’s a date! Doon din kayo pupunta!” Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin dahil umaasa ako dahil sa mga sinasabi niya.
Ilang saglit pa ay nasa labas na ako ng café para abangan si Rush. I can’t let him enter inside anymore, there’s a lot of eyes and ears there.
After how many minutes, I already saw the familiar car approaching. Nang bumukas ang driver side ay lumapit na ako ron at nginitian si Rush. Bumalik na sa rati ang kulay ng buhok niya pero kumikinang pa rin ang mga piercing niya sa tenga.
He smiled and immediately opened the passenger for me. “Your throne, your highness,” he said.
Natawa ako at umiling-iling. “Hello to you too, Rush,” I said. Pumasok na ako sa sinasabi niyang throne ko. Suki na talaga ako nitong sasakyan niya, the passenger seat to be specific.
Agad din naman siyang umikot para pumasok sa driver seat. He started the engine and instantly drove away. “Did you already eat? We can go to a drive thru first,” he asked and briefly glanced at me.
“Thank you, I only had coffee earlier,” I answered. Tumango naman siya at ibinalik ang pokus sa kalsada. Agad akong nag-isip ng pwedeng itanong sa kaniya. I don’t want a dead air between us this time.
“Uhm so... How’s your week?" pagtatanong ko.
Bahagyang kumurba pataas ang labi niya at itinigil ang sasakyan nang mag red light. “I had a lot on my plates last week, it was tiring but completely manageable. We are still finishing up the album for the release next week,” sagot niya. Tumango naman ako at na-excite para sa album nila. I can’t wait to hear them.
“How about you? Are you okay? What’s with the band aid on your cheeks?” Nawala ang ngiti ko at naalala ang band-aid na nakadikit sa pisngi. Agad kong inayos ang collar ng aking long sleeve at umayos ng upo.
“Oh this? I accidentally scratched myself when I was putting a moisturizer,” sabi ko at itinaas pa ang kamay na may katamtamang haba ng kuko para makumbinsi agad siya. Saglit niyang sinulyapan ’yon bago muling pinaandar ang sasakyan nang mag green light.
Bahagyang kumunot ang noo niya pero wala na siyang sinabi. I cleared my throat as I started to feel uneasy. Hindi niya naman siguro napansin iyong mga nasa leeg ko? Bigla na lang kasi nawala sa isip ko ang mga ’yon nang makita siya.
The car grew silent until he pulled on a drive thru restaurant. Nagsuot muna siya ng shades bago bumaling sa akin. “Do you want some specific food to eat? Any allergies that I should look out for?” he asked.
I immediately shook my head. “Anything will do. Thanks.” Tumango siya at nagsimula nang um-order. Ilang saglit lang ay inabot niya na sa’kin ang paperbag at muling nagmaneho.
“So Alec, I’ve been wondering if what’s your favorite band?" he asked randomly.
“Hmm... I’m currently obsessed with Neckdeep’s songs. It’s hard to pick a particular favorite band because I like a lot of them,” I answered.
Ngumuso siya at sinulyapan ang stereo ng sasakyan. “Play their songs then. I have some of their albums on my playlist. Just look for it,” aniya. Napatitig naman ako saglit sa kaniya bago inilipat ang tingin sa kaniyang stereo.
I leaned forward to start poking on the stereo. I found the song She’s a God by Neckdeep so I immediately clicked it. Ilang saglit pa ay umaalingawngaw na ang kanta nila sa buong sasakyan. I smiled when I felt the familiar feeling whenever I hear the song.
“You can open the windshield,” biglang sabi ni Rush. Binuksan niya ang windshield sa tabi niya kaya agad ko ring binuksan ang nasa tabi ko.
The wind of the warm afternoon immediately hit my face. The smile on my lips widened even more as I closed my eyes. Ilang segundo akong nasa ganoong posisyon bago ako muling umayos ng upo.
Nilingon ko si Rush nang simulan niyang sabayan ang kanta. Bahagya akong natawa nang sulyapan niya ako at bahagyang kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi.
More than an hour have passed and we’re already both singing along with the songs that are playing inside the car. I like his entire playlist!
I was so amazed when he suddenly opened the roof of his car. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na convertible pala ’to! Iniliko niya ang kotse kung saan wala kaming masyadong sasakyan na nakakasalubong.
Malawak akong ngumisi at tumayo. Rush laughed and I swear, I have to get a hold of myself because of that laughter.
I closed my eyes when the wind continuously slapped my face. Sumabog ang buhok ko, at kasabay noon ang pakiramdam ng kalayaan. For a moment, I felt so free...
Binilisan pa ni Rush ang pagpapatakbo kaya idinilat ko ang mga mata. I stared at my surroundings. Rice fields filled my eyesight as we passed it. Nasaan na kami? Nasa Manila pa ba kami?! Madilim na pero naaaninag ko pa rin ang paligid dahil sa mga nakahilerang street lights.
Ilang minuto akong nakatayo bago ko napagpasiyahang bumalik na sa pagkaka-upo. Sinulyapan ko ang paper bag na may lamang pagkain na hindi namin nagalaw. “We’re going to stop first and eat. Is that okay with you?” Rush asked as he slowed down. Tumango naman agad ako at tumingin sa taas kung saan kitang-kita ang mga bituin.
Itinigil ni Rush ang sasakyan sa isang open parking lot na may gasolinahan sa hindi kalayuan. Tahimik na sa bandang ito at pakiramdam ko ay wala na nga kami sa Manila. I saw a signage just a while ago. I’m not sure if I read it right because of our speed but the place isn’t familiar to me. Halos magdadalawang oras na rin namang nagmamaneho si Rush kaya hindi imposibleng nakalabas na kami ng syudad.
Kinuha ko ang paper bag at inilabas ang mga pagkain. Iniabot ko ang iba sa kaniya pero napansin kong hindi na malamig iyong refreshers. Sumimsim ako ng konti at maligamgam na nga ’yon.
“Natunaw na iyong ice cubes,” sabi ko at tumawa. Nagulat ako nang kunin ni Rush ang cup sa kamay ko at ininuman din ’yon.
“Hala nainuman ko na ’yan!” I said as I tried to reach the cup from him. Ngumisi lang siya at inilayo iyon sa akin. Hinawakan niya pa ako para paupuin ulit nang maayos.
Nakagat ko naman ang labi at natauhan. Naupo ako nang maayos at sinimangutan siya. I already sipped on that straw!
“Let’s just buy another drink, come on. This is already warm,” tatawa-tawa niyang sabi at lumabas ng sasakyan. Pinagbuksan niya na naman ako ng pinto kaya agad na rin akong lumabas. He’s still holding the cup that he took from me!
He smirked at me as he sipped on the straw again. “I thought that’s already warm?”
Mas lalo lang siyang ngumiti at pinadausdos ang palad sa kamay ko. “Hmm, but I didn’t say that I don’t like it,” he said. My cheeks heated badly that I needed to lower my face. Tumawa siya at iginiya ako papunta sa isang convenience store na malapit sa gasolinahan.
I absentmindedly stared on our intertwined fingers while walking. In my eyes, our hands fits so well to each other. He can almost grip my whole hand... Parang lumiit ang kamay ko dahil sa kaniya.
Patingin-tingin ako sa kaniya dahil iniinom niya pa rin iyong refreshment! He eventually turned to me and cocked his eyebrow. “Do you want it back?” he teased. Inilapit niya pa sa’kin ang straw pero nag-iwas lang ako ng tingin dahil naramdaman ko na naman ang pag-init ng pisngi at ang abnormal na pagkabog ng puso.
Humalakhak siya at hinigpitan ang hawak sa kamay ko.
We entered the convenience store with still our fingers intertwined to each other. Napatingin sa amin ang may edad na babaeng nasa counter. She squinted her eyes and stared at Rush. Bigla akong kinabahan dahil baka may makakilala sa kaniya. Sunod na tumitig sa akin ang babae kaya ngumiti ako. She smiled back.
Dumiretso kami ni Rush kung saan nakalagay ang mga inumin. Kumuha siya ng canned coffee at root beers. Tumingin siya sa akin at nginuso ang chiller, pinapahiwatig na kumuha rin ako ng gusto ko.
I just shrugged and let him get what he wants. Medyo nahihiya na ako dahil sa mga gastos niya. I know he’s rich and all but still... I’m not used to this kind of treatment.
“Come on Alec, get your drink, baby. Stop being shy.” Napatanga ako sa kaniya. What did he say?
After saying that, he turned his back at me. Pumunta siya sa kabilang aisle at naiwan naman akong nakatulala habang bahagyang naka-awang ang labi.
What did he say again? I’m sure I heard something that I shouldn’t have.
Wala sa sariling binuksan ko ang chiller at kumuha ng drinks. Nakikipagtalo pa rin ako sa sarili kung tama ba ang narinig ko habang naglalakad palapit kay Rush. Dumiretso na kami sa counter para bayaran ang binili. Kinapa ko ang bulsa para kunin ang wallet. Inunahan ko siya sa pagkuha ng pera at inilapag agad ’yon sa harapan ng cashier.
He frowned at me. Naglabas siya ng card at iniabot din ’yon sa cashier. The woman stared at the cash and at the card, unable to tell which to accept.
“Let me pay for these, Rush,” sabi ko. Tinaasan niya lang ako ng kilay at mas inilapit ang card sa babae.
“Don’t mind her. Please take mine,” aniya kaya napatingin naman sa akin ang babae. Makahulugan kong tiningnan si Ate pero mas lalo lang siyang naguluhan at kinunutan na kami ng noo.
“Kanino po ba ang tatanggapin ko mga sir, ma’am?” aniya.
Hinawakan ni Rush ang kamay kong may hawak sa pera at ibinigay na nang tuluyan ang card sa babae. The woman sighed and shook her head before swiping Rush’s card.
Napipilitan kong ibinalik ang pera sa pitaka at pinanliitan siya ng mata. “You know, you should’ve at least let me pay these. Ang dami ko nang utang sayo,” pag-aalburuto ko. He only frowned even more. Naramdaman ko na lang na gumapang na ang kamay niya sa likuran ko kaya para na naman akong natuod.
“You really have the habit to pay me back, huh? I’m really offended,” bulong niya. Ngumuso lang ako at hindi na nagsalita. Ewan ko ba rito. Siguro sanay na sanay siyang siya ang nagbabayad kapag may dinidate siyang mga babae. I cringed with the thought. Nainis ako bigla sa isiping ’yon.
“I was the one who invited you to come with me, so it’s all on me, okay?” he added.
After he paid for the drinks, we left the convenience story and went back to his car. We settled inside as the music on the stereo returned.
“I want to ask something,” he said. I mouthed what.
“The guy on the bar last week, is he your...boyfriend?” Napatigil ako sa pagkain at nakakunot noo siyang pinagmasdan. Sasama ba ako sa kaniya kung may karelasyon ako ngayon?
“You mean Riggs? He’s not my boyfriend. I wouldn’t be here if he is,” I answered.
He also cocked his eyebrow to me, not convinced on my answer. “He is not but you will let him kiss you?” Napakurap-kurap ako at tuluyan nang humarap sa kaniya. Bahagya nang magkasalubong ang kilay niya sa hindi malamang dahilan.
“I didn’t really know what to do at that time. We were just talking and he suddenly advanced towards me.”
He snorted. “What a jerk,” I heard him muttered. Nag-iwas siya ng tingin at ipinirmi ang mata sa unahan. Sinilip ko ang mukha niya pero mukhang nabwisit siya bigla.
“Hindi naman natuloy. I eventually pushed him,” I explained. I don’t even know why I’m making him understand.
He didn’t say anything and remained his gaze in front. I am now confused with the sudden change of his mood. He was the one who opened that topic!
Ngumuso ako habang pinagmamasdan siya. What’s his problem? Ganito rin siya last week. Hindi na nga lang namin napag-usapan ulit si Riggs dahil umiyak na ako. My face crumpled when I remembered that. I should make sure that that will never happen again.
“Are you pissed off again?” I asked. Sumulyap na siya sa akin at kapagkuwa’y bumuntong hininga.
“I am. You should do something to calm me,” he demanded. I laughed and looked at him with amused expression. He’s pissed? And I need to do something with that?
“What can I do then?” pakikisakay ko. His lips protruted as he also faced me this time. He poked the inside of his right cheek using his tongue as he stared at me.
“On the other hand, I don’t really know why you are annoyed right now so... I believe I can’t do anything,” pagbawi ko at mahinang tumawa.
Naging seryoso ang ekspresyon niya at bigla na lang lumabas ng sasakyan. Sinundan ko siya ng tingin habang nagtataka. What is he doing this time?
Umikot siya sa side ko at binuksan ang passenger door. Nanlaki ang mata ko nang itukod niya ang kamay sa backrest ng passenger seat at ang isa naman ay nakahawak pa rin sa pinto ng sasakyan. It almost looked like he is cornering me.
“W-what are you doing?” I asked, a bit shaky inside as I felt my heart beating rapidly again.
“You can actually do something,” he said softly and smiled. Nahigit ko ang hininga nang ilapit niya ang mukha sa akin. I absentmindedly stared at his lips. He looks so amused with what’s happening because the side of his lip is curving upward.
I blinked and nervously glanced outside. Wala namang mga tao at ang pinakamalapit ay ang gasolinahan at ang convenience store na pinuntahan namin kanina.
Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa kaniya nang maramdaman ang kamay niyang dumausdos sa likod ko na kanina’y nakatukod lang sa backrest. To my surprise, he pulled me to him. I unconsciously held his arm as I bit my lips. Mas lalo lang kumabog ang puso ko at pakiramdam ko’y ano mang oras ay lalabas na ’yon sa aking dibdib.
“Rush...” I whispered. The playful grin on his lips vanished.
My eyes automatically closed when I felt him move even closer. Ramdam ko na ang mababaw na pagdampi ng labi niya sa akin. My breathing becomes heavy because of the sensation that I’m feeling. Parang may mga kumikili-kiliting reptiles sa aking tyan.
Sa una ay dinadampi-dampian niya lang ang labi ko habang ako naman ay natuod na at hindi alam ang gagawin. The way his soft breathing tickle my lips is sending me on edge.
“Push me if you don’t want this, Alectrona.”
I didn’t. I didn’t want it to stop.
Napaawang ang labi ko nang diinan niya na ang pagkakahalik sa’kin. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa braso niya at mas lalong umawang ang labi. He bit my bottom lip, asking to open my mouth more.
I obliged. I let him kissed me like there’s no tomorrow. The ticklish sensation in the pit of my stomach intensified, and my chest felt so comfortably heavy because of the way Rush invades me.
Isinandal niya na ako sa backrest habang mariing hinahalikan. I can feel every bits of it, every lick of his tongue on my lips and on the inside of my mouth.
Seconds passed and I just found myself kissing him back. I grabbed his nape and pulled him to me more. I want him...more. I didn’t care about our awkward position on the car anymore.
“Rush...” I called when his kisses went to my jaw until he reached my neck. I let my hands travel on his hair as I bit my lips, trying to stop the moans that wanted to escape.
It was like he spread a fire all over my body. I can feel myself aching for him.
He kissed my neck before his lips halted. He started breathing heavily on that position. Parehong mabigat ang paghinga namin at wala nang gumagalaw.
“Fuck...” I heard him curse as he kissed my neck once again before pulling back. Namumungay ang matang tiningnan niya ako at kinagat ang labi.
We stared at each other for seconds. Habang nakatingin sa kaniya ay unti-unti kong nararamdaman ang pag-iinit ng buong mukha. We just...
Tumikhim ako at nag-iwas na ng tingin. We... we kissed! Torrid kiss! Oh my god.
I heard him chuckle. Hinaplos niya ang bewang ko at muli akong pinatakan ng halik sa gilid ng labi bago mahigpit na niyakap. I swallowed as I absentmindedly hugged him back. Ang bango niya...
“Alectrona...” he whispered. Mas naging mariin ang pagkagat ko sa sariling labi at ibinaon ang mukha sa kaniyang leeg.
“That was hot, you kiss so fucking good...” Mas lalong nag-init ang mukha ko at pabirong hinampas ang balikat niya. Why does he need to tell me that?! I was completely inexperienced. I didn’t have any boyfriends from the past because of Tita Carolina and my cousins’ absurd strictness. Alam kong lahat ng ginagawa ko sa school ay nirereport ng magkapatid kay Tita Carolina.
So how can he say that my kiss is good? Sinabayan ko lang ang galaw niya.
“Alec, I am sure now. I will court you.”