Unexpected Desires

CHAPTER 14: Revelations and Resolution

Chapter 14: Revelations and Resolution

Mayari Calleope's Point of View

"Tell us what?" Napakagat-labi ako ng makita ko si Alex na nagtatakang nakatingin sa amin ni Amara. Sa likod nito ay sila Ashley at Sophia na halatang nagtataka rin sa kung anong nangyayari.

Palihim kong tinignan si Amara na para bang nanghihingi ako ng tulong sa kaniya sa kung ano ba ang dapat kong gawin. Ayokong maglihim sa mga kaibigan ko, ayoko rin magsinungaling. Ngunit hindi ko rin alam kung papaano ko sasabihin sa kanila ang tungkol sa amin ni Riley.

Tinanguan naman ako ni Amara na para bang sinasabi niyang okay lang na sabihin ko sa iba pa naming kaibigan ang tungkol sa amin ni Riley.

Napatingin naman ako kela Alex na naghihintay pa rin ng sagot sa tanong niya. Napalunok na lamang ako. I don't really know what to say pero hindi ko rin kayang maglihim sa mga kaibigan ko.

"Mayari, are you okay?" Nag-aalalang tanong ni Sophia sa akin. Tumango naman ako rito at napabuntong-hininga.

My voice quivered, laden with the weight of confession. "Girls, I have something to tell you." A hushed anticipation fell over us, and as Alex took a seat beside Amara, her eyes never left mine.

"What is it?" Ashley's words hung in the air, stifling a yawn that couldn't veil her interest. My heart raced as I grappled with how to disclose my secret. Napatitig naman ako sa kanila na naghihintay sa sasabihin ko. Kinakabahan ako pero wala ng atrasan 'to.

I hesitated, a torrent of emotions crashing within me. "But, I hope you won't get mad at me," I stammered, the weight of my disclosure sinking into my words. There was an unexplainable fear, a worry that my friends might condemn me, or worse, perceive me differently. I knew our bond was strong, but could it withstand this revelation?

"We'll try not to." Alex, the most formidable among us, replied with solemnity, deepening my unease. Sa kanilang lahat si Alex talaga ang pinaka-intimidating, lalo na pagdating sa mga ganitong bagay. Nakakakaba magsabi sa kaniya. Mas lalo pa akong kinabahan ng maalala ko na kaibigan nga rin pala niya si Kuya Matthew.

What if sabihin niya kay Kuya ang tungkol sa amin ni Riley? The possibility of her sharing this secret with him loomed like a thunderstorm on the horizon, and I shuddered at the thought of the consequences.

Ashley's curiosity, like a beacon, cut through the suspense. "Ano ba iyon?" Her tone held a note of intrigue, as if she sensed that my revelation was more profound than mere words could convey.

Bumuntong-hininga ako.

"It's about Riley and me," I confessed, my voice a whispered secret. The room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for my words to materialize into reality.

"We... We..." I faltered, the words sticking in my throat like adhesive tape, resisting release.

Ashley furrowed her brow, seeking to unravel the enigma of my confession. "We?" Takang tanong niya.

"We're bed friends," I eventually confessed, finally putting into words what had remained unspoken for so long.

An expectant hush descended upon us, and for a few lingering moments, there was no response from my friends. The seconds stretched like eons, and the absence of their reaction gnawed at my composure.

"Girls? Wala man lang ba kayong reaction?" Nagtatakang tanong ko sa kanila. Tinignan ko sila isa-isa at lahat sila ay nakatitig lang sa akin na para bang wala lang sa kanila ang sinabi ko. Habang si Amara naman ay nangingisi sa gilid.

Ashley, in a nonchalant manner, shattered the silence with a stifled yawn. "Is that all?" Her nonplussed demeanor was bewildering, as if the revelation was a mere trifle in the grand tapestry of our lives.

Alex said, her words dripping with casual indifference. My bewilderment grew, and I struggled to comprehend their reaction.

"Huh?" I gasped, baffled by their apparent non-reaction. Their responses, or the lack thereof, felt surreal, as if they had expected this revelation all along.

"We all know, Mayari. We're not blind." Her words cut through the fog of confusion, and Ashley and Sophia nodded in agreement.

Ashley's revelation sent my cheeks aflame with embarrassment. "I even saw you and Riley kissing on the dance floor last night." My eyes darted, searching for an escape from her probing gaze, but there was none.

Sophia chimed in, her playful grin revealing another hidden facet of their knowledge. "Yeah. I even saw how Riley kissed you on the forehead when he dropped you off the other day." My heart raced as I realized they had witnessed these intimate moments.

Napanganga ako at hindi makapaniwala. Pati ba naman iyon ay nakita nila. She was referring to the day na hinatid ako ni Riley kinaumagahan dito sa condo no'ng nag-overnight ako sa condo niya last week dahil pinakuha niya sa akin ang aking cellphone.

I gazed at each of my friends, utterly flummoxed by their nonchalance. I had expected shock, surprise, perhaps even judgment, but their collective response seemed almost rehearsed.

"I told you," Amara's voice, barely above a whisper, reached my ears, carrying an unspoken "I told you so" in its undertones.

I mustered the courage to ask the question that had been nagging at me. "Aren't you guys mad at me?" Their muted reactions baffled me, and I couldn't help but question their sincerity.

Tumawa naman si Ashley.

"Bakit kami magagalit sa'yo, Mayari? Eh in the first place, alam naman naming gusto mo rin ito and it's your call to make. Basta gumamit lang lagi ng proteksiyon. Joke!" Her laughter was infectious, and I joined in, feeling a weight lift off my shoulders.

Alex chimed in, her words carrying a genuine warmth. "Atsaka alam naman naming alam mo rin kung ano ang ginagawa mo at pinapasok mo. Kilala ka namin Mayari, alam naman naming hindi ka basta-basta sasama kay Riley kung hindi ka panatag sa kaniya at kung wala kang tiwala sa kaniya."

Nakagat ko naman ang aking ibabang labi as I think of Riley. How he cares for me after our casual s*x. Kahit hindi kami mag-s*x, he still cares for me. How he genuinely smiles at me and how he makes me feel secure and warm kapag magkasama kaming dalawa.

"I-I think he's a nice person," I whispered, my cheeks still tinged with embarrassment. Riley's image, the genuine care he showed me beyond our physical interactions, flooded my thoughts. What was this strange feeling stirring within me?

"We know. So if it's okay with you, it's okay with us," Sophia reassured me, her smile warm and supportive.

Alex, ever the protector, issued a stern warning that resonated with me. "But if that Riley hurts you, just let me know, and I'll give him a piece of my mind. Ipapabugbog ko rin siya kay Matthew." Her protective nature, while intimidating, comforted me. Agad naman akong napatingin dito.

"Don't tell kuya about this, Alex." Pakiusap ko sa kaniya. Tinaasan naman ako nito ng kilay.

"Ayoko nga. Sasabihin ko 'to kay Matthew para pagalitan ka." Saad niya at binelatan ako nito. Tumawa naman ang mga kaibigan ko habang ako naman ay napanguso.

"Alex naman eh." I said as I pouted my lips. Ngumisi naman ito sa akin.

"Kidding. I won't. I'll keep it a secret, but what do I get in return?" Her mischievous smile held a hidden agenda.

A grin crept across my face as I grasped her intentions. "A Taylor Swift concert," I teased, winking at her.

Alex's joyous exclamation filled the room as she leaped up to embrace me. "Yay!! You can count on me not to spill the beans to Matthew. I got you, babe. Thanks!" Tumawa naman ako habang nangingiting napailing na lamang ang mga kaibigan namin.

"Thank you, girls, for understanding me," I expressed my gratitude, overwhelmed by their acceptance and support.

"No worries, Mayari. Just remember my advice, okay? Guard your heart, honey," Amara's words carried a maternal wisdom that resonated within me, and I nodded in acknowledgment.

"Amara is right. Protect yourself, especially your heart, Mayari. We let you make your own choices, but it doesn't mean we'll let you get hurt," Sophia added, her words a testament to the depth of our friendship. I smiled at all of them, profoundly grateful for their unwavering support.

"I will. Thank you so much, girls," I said, my voice filled with sincerity and warmth.

"Group hug!" Ashley's exclamation brought us closer together as we embraced tightly. In that moment, as our laughter and camaraderie enveloped us, I couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. I had unburdened myself of my secrets, and my friends had responded with empathy and love.

The path ahead was uncertain, but I knew I wasn't alone in navigating it.

...

As the night deepened, my friends drifted into peaceful slumber, but I remained awake in my room. My gaze drifted to the ceiling, my thoughts a whirlwind of emotions.

Suddenly, my phone chimed, breaking the silence of the night. I reached for it and saw a message from Riley.

"Hey, baby," his text read. I furrowed my brow, irritation bubbling within me. How many times had I asked him to stop calling me baby?

I quickly typed a reply, frustration evident in my words. "What now, Riley? And how many times do I have to tell you to stop calling me baby?" I pressed send, not knowing that this message would set off a chain of events that would test the boundaries of our relationship.

Wala pang ilang minuto at nakatanggap na ulit ako ng reply mula sa kaniya.

Riley's response was swift, his words laced with a hint of playfulness. "Then what should I call you? Babe? Honey? Sweetheart? Anyway, I miss you already." His message stirred a whirlwind of emotions within me, but I wasn't ready to succumb to his charm just yet.

"Shut up, Middleton. What do you need?" I replied tersely, my resolve unshaken. I wasn't going to let his sweet words sway me.

"I yearn for the taste of your lips, the warmth of your body nestled in my embrace, the sensation of lying beside you in my bed, the electrifying feeling of your touch against my skin. I long for every single thing about you, every moment we shared. It aches not having you by my side." My lower lip bore the brunt of my teeth's pressure as I devoured Riley's message.

What on earth was he scheming, bombarding me with such heartfelt words once more?

Magre-reply na sana ako ng muli na naman itong magpadala ng isang mensahe.

"But to answer your question, I need you here with me right now. Please come over," he said. Pagkatapos ay nagpadala ito ng kaniyang litrato habang siya ay naka-pout na animo isang bata na nagtatampo.

Unable to contain my laughter, I texted back, "Why so sentimental?" With a shake of my head, I typed another response, "Anyway, no. I won't come over."

Gently, I placed my phone down, chuckling softly at Riley's antics. It was clear he was in one of his playful moods tonight.

Just as I was settling back into bed, my phone lit up once more. I glanced at it, my eyes widening in disbelief at what I saw on the screen. There was a new message from Riley, accompanied by a picture of him.

"Nah. Too bad, I'm already in the basement of your condo to fetch you, baby," he teased in the text. The background of his selfie revealed he was indeed in the basement.

A soft curse escaped my lips. What was going on in this guy's mind that he could make such spontaneous decisions?

I couldn't help but shake my head, a mixture of frustration and amusement coursing through me. Riley Middleton, you are undoubtedly a handful, I thought, realizing that I was in for another unexpected twist in this rollercoaster of a relationship.