Beyond The Square One (BTSO2)

S q u a r e F i f t e e n ( H E )

Last night was not a dream. If Ariel believes in the calm before a storm, I'd say last night was the rainbow after a typhoon.

Every time I close my eyes, it keeps getting back in my head. The way her body shivers against mine, the way her nails dig into the skin on my back, her hot breath, her sexy moans... All of it. It's as if it's the first time I've ever had something intimate in my life. I can't even wipe off the salacious grin on my face.

"Impakto ka talaga! May physical exam tayo sa Monday. Nakakainis ka!"

I laugh at Ariel's reaction as she repeatedly gapes at her almost naked body through the mirror. I look at her from head to toes. She's only wearing her pajama top, just the last two buttons done. I love how Ariel seem to be pretty confident about her body lately. It makes her even sexier. "That's what you call marking your territory."

"Leche! Ano na lang iisipin ng mga doktor na makakakita nito? Ungas ka talaga!"

I stand up from the bed and walk closer to her. Draping my arms around her torso, I give her light, feathery kisses on her neck. "What's wrong about hickeys? It's a mark of passionate love-making."

"Ano tayo, high school? Teenagers? Tatawanan ako ng mga makakakita nito."

"Are you worried?"

After a few seconds, she finally calms down. "No."

"Good."

"Leche naman kasi, Eric. Sa dibdib, sa tiyan, sa hita. Anak ng... Sa likod ko, meron ba?"

I just simply grin at her and the way she rolls her eyes at me makes me want to give her more of those marks. I bury my face in her neck.

She relaxes for a second, closing her eyes with a soft moan. "Hmm..."

"You like this?" I ask as I plant soft kisses on her neck.

"You're enjoying your effect on me so much, don't you?" she asks, eyes still closed.

I smirk to myself. "Kind of," I say salaciously in her ear.

"Gym or me?" she tempts playfully.

I chuckle, hands wandering over the soft skin on her stomach, just under the hem of her shirt. "You're always on top of my priority list."

"Dapat lang," she murmurs, facing me this time with a smug face, draping her arms around my nape.

I kiss her forehead, the tip of her nose, then her lips. "Gym could wait," I say against her lips.

"This is a better exercise, anyway," she playfully says.

Smiling, I press my lips carefully back against hers. Gently and passionately, I kiss her as my hands unconsciously find their way under her shirt. You can just imagine how sexy it sounds as she moans softly against my mouth. It's like I'm drinking in her every reaction and it's driving me insane how by just the sound of her voice, and the warmth of her breath, she could easily turn me.

Wrapping my arms around her body, I lift her up and her legs automatically drape around my waist. The oversized pajama top she's wearing crumples around her body as I carry her to bed, not even realizing how dangerous that act is. I just feel like everything's as seamless now, just like how I'm taking time running my hand on her smooth skin, her legs, the small of her back. Everything about Ariel is just perfection and I know it's something I will never be able to forget. It feels good but it's also frightening. I mean, who would have thought that one day, I'd possess a strong feeling of deep affection? And to top that, I've actually fallen in love with someone who's not even my type of head-turner on our first encounter to start with. Damn, this love thing is definitely one to keep you off track.

I don't know how many times I've said this to her but I feel like right now is just one of the best moments to ever say it once more... "I love you. Remember that."

And I will never grow tired of hearing her say, "Mas mahal kita, impakto. My impakto."

I smile at her, the throbs of my chest no longer about the intimacy but because of what I feel about her. I pull her in for another kiss.

I'm hers. She's mine. And once again, Ariel and I are lost in our own world...

"Anong oras ka babalik?" she asks, walking out of the bathroom.

I fix my things in my gym bag. "After an hour. Gusto mong sumama?"

"Ayoko nga. Anong gagawin ko sa gym?"

"Work out, obviously. Kesa mag-jogging ka na naman nang walang paalam. Sumama ka na lang sa'kin. At least nakikita kita."

"Ayoko! Tae. Anong isusuot ko? Sweater and jogging pants? Sa dami ng chikinini ko hindi man lang ako makakapag-shorts nito."

I turn away, shaking my head, because she might temporarily hate me more if she sees me laughing. Since we woke up late this Saturday morning, my usual 6am workout turns to an afternoon gym. Ariel really does have a way with distraction.

"I'm going. Take care. Do not open the door to anyone. Even if they say it's me. Okay?"

She nods. "Uhm. Eric, pwede ba akong umalis? Kahit saglit lang."

"And where are you off to?"

"'Yung Daddy namin ni Ichiro. Nasa ospital kasi siya ngayon. Gusto ko siyang dalawin."

It occurs to me that we have not talked about this matter yet. But do I have to ruin a good morning by nagging her about it? "Okay. Susunduin na lang kita do'n kasi inaasahan din tayo ng mga kuya mo ngayon sa kanila."

And that instant permission-granted answer makes her mouth open wider than a football field in surprise. "Seryoso ka ba?"

"Yes. I trust you. Just make sure you don't stay too close to that guy Ichiro, okay?"

She nods obediently. "Okay."

I smile at her and she smiles back. Before leaving, she throws me a big hug and we almost fall to the ground.

"Thank you! I love you." And I close my eyes as she showers me with kisses all over my face.

An hour later, I receive a text message from Ariel saying she's in St. Luke's. I drop off to Tiffany's first before heading straight to where she is.

"Sir, hindi niyo po kasama si Ariel?" I look up at the grinning barista on the counter as another one of them takes my order.

"How the hell did you know about her name?" I ask, confused.

"Ah. Kasi po kapatid po niya 'yung... 'Yung..."

"Fiancé mo," a voice of a man says from behind me.

I turn to look at him and you can imagine just how dumbfounded I look like... "Fiancé?"

"We meet again, Fuentebella."

"San Juan. What in the world are you doing here?"

"My fiancé works here."

For a second, I thought maybe he's provoking me into a fight by saying the word 'fiancé' and pertaining to Ariel. And then I realize... "Fiancé mo 'to?" I ask the barista in disbelief. If I recall correctly, her name is Mickey.

She smiles apologetically. I'm half-relieved that Ariel isn't in that hospital with this man. And half-satisfied that he's at least in a relationship with a different person. And it makes more sense now that we always see a San Juan-owned vehicle on the side of this building. Because he's also trying his best to fence his territory, I guess.

"Coffee?" I offer.

"I'm about to get one, anyway."

As awkward as it may seem, we sit in one table not because we would love to have a fvcking chit-chat or anything, but because Tiffany's is unbelievably full this Saturday afternoon. And yes, take that, I might be considering a small talk.

"Okay na kayo?" he starts.

"Yes. We will always be okay. In fact, susunduin ko siya maya-maya kasi nasa St. Luke's siya ngayon. If you don't mind, what happened to your father?"

He nods. "Stage four Cancer."

I almost spit out the coffee I just drank. "What?"

"You see, we tell people that he's in Europe because we don't want the wrong people to pretend like they're worried," he explains. "He has stage four Cancer. And doctors said if he still lives for another month, we should consider ourselves lucky."

"I'm sorry to hear about your father. You should be there, you know. What are you doing here?"

"I told you. My fiancé is working here. I just don't trust some people around her and unfortunately, some of those people work here, too."

My brows shoot up.

"I'm not talking about you, James. I'm talking about her manager."

Napatingin ako sa counter and I can see what he's talking about. This fvcker is actually too close to Mickey that if I were Ichiro and that girl's Ariel, I would've beaten the life out of that s**t.

"Have you talked to her about it?" I ask. Not that I'm interested to hear their stupid love story but I would rather we have a talk like this than what we had the last time. For Ariel's sake.

"Yes. And she thinks it's just my crazy bones getting the better of me. She wouldn't quit work, I can't take that away from her. Pero kung si Ariel, nagtatrabaho sa ibang lugar kahit alam mo sa sarili mong she doesn't have to do that, 'di ba nakakainis 'yung makikita mong ganiyan kalapit sa kaniya 'yung ibang tao?"

I steal another glimpse at them. The girl looks annoyed but the manager looks pleased to be close to her. Yes, I get where Ichiro is going with this.

"See? I have a father in the hospital, an empire to run, and here I am looking like a lunatic, stalking my own property."

"I have an idea," I say out of the blue.

And that's when we start planning on something to guard our territories as a team.

The surprise we see on Ariel's face is epic. Maybe she doesn't even expect us to arrive together in the hospital where she's expecting me to pick her up.

"End of the world na ba? Anong nangyari?"

I give her a quick kiss. "How's your Dad?" I ask, disregarding her snide remark about me and her brother arriving together.

"I have great news. Ichiro, he woke up," she says excitedly, teary-eyed.

"Seriously?"

Ariel nods at him. "Hinanap ka niya. He thought I was his nurse and then he recognized me eventually," she says.

Naglakad si Ichiro palapit sa Daddy nila. He talks to him even when his eyes are closed. Naalala ko agad ang Papa. Paano kung hindi kami magkaayos tapos nangyari 'to sa kaniya? O sa'kin? Suddenly, I feel envy. Like I want to see my parents now and apologize sincerely for what I said to them the last time before it's too late for them to hear and too late for me to say.

"Eric, okay ka lang?" Ariel asks.

I stare at her. "Pwede bang bukas na tayo pumunta sa mga kuya mo? Punta muna tayo sa Papa."

She smiles at me and I think she understands what's going on in my mind.

"Thank you for taking care of him while I'm gone," Ichiro says. They hug each other before we finally wave goodbyes.

"Paano kayo nagkaayos?"

"Oh please. Not that type of question, Ariel." I secure her seatbelt before mine. Starting the engine, I can already feel my stomach churning for mixed emotions.

She pokes my cheek. "Uy nagbabago na si Eric. May sakit ka ba? Ang bait mo ata ngayong araw."

"Stop doing that. Gusto mo bang magbago isip ko?" I step on the gas pedal and frown.

"Seriously. Anong nangyari? You made amends with my brother, you broke your normal routine, and now you're facing your family for an apology. What's up?"

"I didn't tell you what I'm up to and why we're heading at Papa's. Does something have to be up before I can play the Mr. Nice?"

For about ten seconds, there's a stretching silence in between us. I glance at her to see a tight smile on her face then she speaks again, "You're never Mr. Nice, Eric. You have always, always been Mr. Fuentebella. My Mr. Fuentebella. My Mr. Right."

"And soon enough, you'll be my Mrs. Fuentebella. I can't wait for the day you'll say 'I do', Ariel."

"Tapos magkakaroon din tayo ng mga junior Fuentebella mo," she cracks with a soundly giggle.

"Ayos lang sa'kin na maging kamukha ko. 'Wag lang maging kasing tigas ng ulo ko. Baka masakal ko 'yon kung sakali."

"Subukan mong sakalin ang magiging anak natin, I swear, James Eric, ikaw talaga ang sasampalukin ko." Even without glancing at her, I can imagine Ariel's almond eyes trying to bulge with horror. After some seconds, she adds, "At subukan niya lang na maging kasing tigas ng ulo mo. Ikukulong ko siya sa bahay at uubusin ko ang pera ko para ipatanggal ang riles ng Magsaysay."

Suddenly, it hits me. The thought of having kids means passing pieces of yourself onto them... including the ones you hate. What if my kid inherits my fvcked up personality? My OCD, my Anxiety Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, and all the possible disorders I have in me that we have not discovered yet? Or even Ariel's? What if he or she gets both of our f****d-up-ness?

"Natahimik ka na. May problema ba?"

I steal a glimpse at her and give her a reassuring smile. "Sorry to worry you. I'm just trying to get my focus back on the present," I answer.

And that's true. I don't want to think about the consequences yet but I'm considering the challenge. After all, if I get to have a kid who's a replica of myself, it's my karma. A good karma.