Playful Seduction

Chapter 9.

A few days ago, the police called me to update me na nag serve na raw sila ng restraining order kay Ariel Anthony Domingo. He cannot come as near as 100 meters away from me or makukulong sya. That’s comforting enough. Isa pa, bukod sa pepper spray ay marunong naman din ako ng basic self defense. Being an only child na babae pa, you can understand how my parents can be a little paranoid.

But they’re the good kind. Never naman nila akong pinagbawalan sa mga mababaw na bagay. They just want me to tell them the truth. Even going to the bar with friends and all the jazz. And I grew up fine.

Anyway, Nawala rin agad sa isip ko iyon dahil nakita ko na nag upload na naman ng picture ko si Raius. Hindi pa rin kita ang mukha ko, but it was a picture of me laughing kaya nakatakip ang kamay ko sa bibig ko, bahagya akong nakatagilid and my hair covered almost half of my face. Black and white na naman iyon at may caption na Smitten.

Ugh I love the aesthetic of my photos on his i********:. The captions are also very mysterious eh. Ako na mismo ‘yung dinidescribe nya noon, ha?

After their gig two nights ago, sa bahay nya ako ulit natulog. Medyo matindi ang pagma-make out na ginawa naming dalawa ang I might really have gave in willingly pero si Raius na ang nagsabi na hindi pa panahon. I don’t know kung kalian pa ang panahon na ‘yon but I am glad pa rin naman na he wants to take it slow kahit ang bilis ng timeline ng nangyari sa relasyon namin.

Some guys would probably jump at the idea but not him. Not my Teraius.

After ng meeting namin ni Tito Ram over lunch, he told me that Tita Bee actually wants to have her own shop of RaiRen in Isabela. It’s a good news, and pareho naming gusto na mangyari ‘yon within 1-2 month’s time. So, I told Adelaine about it and she’s excited, too! More work for us, pero handa naman kami.

While responding to some emails, tumawag via video call si Raius. He’s half naked, still on his bed. Almost lunch na pero kakagising nya pa lang.

“Get up, Mahal. Anong oras na, oh? Anong kakainin mo for lunch?” Agad na tanong ko.

He groaned. “Babangon na ako, Mahal. Sa kabila ako kakain ng tanghalian, sinabihan ako ni Mara na magluluto sila ng sinigang.”

“Alright. Wala ka ba gagawin today?”

“Mag i-exercise ako mamaya tapos aayusin ko ‘yung napundi na ilaw sa taas pagdating ng umuupa.”

Tumaas ang kilay ko. “You know how to fix lights?”

Tumawa sya. “Depende, titingnan ko pa lang kung ano ang problema. Baka pundido lang ang ilaw o sira ang starter,”

I nod. I am impressed. It’s not that a big deal pero ewan, knowing he knows how to do stuff like that makes me happy.

“Nice,”

“Sige na, kumain ka na rin ng lunch mo, ha? See you soon, Mahal. I love you,” He blew a kiss.

“I love you.” I blew him a kiss as well.

It was brief, but it somehow fueled me to be more productive for the day. I did a photoshoot of some shirts we have para may bago akong mapost sa mismong i********: and f*******: page ng RaiRen for the upcoming promotional sale we planned for next week.

I talked to some suppliers and store managers para wala na kaming problema sa stocks and sa overall paghandle ng promotional sale next week. I want to finish most of the things I need to do dahil gusto ko ayain mag out of town sa beach si Raius.

I always wondered how it feels to go in an out of town trip with someone you love. How would it feel to attend some events with a plus one? How would it be like if we’d take photos together and I’ll post it on my social media accounts? Sobrang dami kong gusting gawin with Raius. I plan to tell him all of that because I want us to be in the same page. Pero kung hindi sya comfortable sa iba, I would definitely adjust.

Bago pa lang rin naman kami, we can still discover more things about us, I can still think of more things to do with him that we can bot enjoy and love to do.

He sent me a message that afternoon na matutulog raw muna sya kasi baka raw mag message o tumawag ako at hindi nya masagot. It’s the little things talaga when it comes to Raius. We’re not totally super update to the point na lahat ng ginagawa naming dalawa eh kailangan naming sabihin sa isa’t isa but I love that he doesn’t make me ask anymore.

Mas lalo ko lang sya namimiss.

The next morning, I told him my plan of having an out of town trip. He said he’d love to. Pumayag rin naman sya na ang sasakyan ko ang gamitin namin. Nag-usap kami ng date for 2 days and 1-night trip. I can extend, pero may work si Raius sa gabi so next time na lang siguro ang mas matagal na gala namin.

I immediately looked for a resort somewhere in Batangas. Gusto ko rin kasi dumaan sa Tagaytay. I am so excited na kahit pag-uwi ko ay malapad ang ngiti ko. Raius sent me a message before he went to his part time job. Curious ako sa kung saan sya nagtatrabaho pero he seems to be aloof. Bar na pag-aari lang ng kaibigan nya in Pasig ang palaging sinasabi nya.

I don’t like to intrude. I am sure he has his reasons, maghihintay na lang ako na sabihin nya. I am whisking away the thought nab aka may iba syang kinakausap na babae doon, or single pa rin ang pakilala nya sa mga tao doon pero honestly, wala naman ako reason para magduda. Pinakilala nya na ako sa tita at pinsan nya na halatang pinaka importante sa kanya.

I can also wait for him to talk about his parents. Ayokong maging toxic at pilitin sya. I’ll wait for him to tell me, or I can ask him in the right time. Hindi naman ako nagmamadali, we can take our time. Ang importante, masaya kami ngayon.

Raius left his motorbike at the parking space I rent for my car in the building when he picked me up past six in the morning. We talked about traveling early para iwas traffic and mas masulit namin kahit mag early check in na rin kami. When I told him that I already paid for our booking, he volunteered to pay for the food we’ll eat while we’re there.

Prior to that, namili ako ng ilang snacks and beers. Nagdala rin sya ng isang box ng cupcakes at ilang fruits na pinadala raw ng Tita Lorna nya para may baon kami. It feels so nice na supportive ang tita nya sa amin.

“They have an infinity pool there, and so far, sabi ng nakausap ko, we chose a date na wala masyadong tao, so we can feel like we rented the place.” Excited na sabi ko sa kanya.

Tumango tango lang sya habang naka focus sa daan pero halatang nakikinig naman sa akin.

“Ay, mahal, they have two types of their complimentary breakfast. Mamaya na lang natin tingnan kung alin ang mas okay or gusto natin. And then, since around lunch time ang check out natin tomorrow, is it okay if mag stop over tayo sa Tagaytay? Tingin tayo sa overlooking.” I feel so giddy. Excited ako. It feels nice to be with Raius in an out of town trip.

“Oo naman, mahal. Nandito na rin naman tayo. Hindi lang tayo masyado magpapa hapon para hindi tayo maabutan ng rush hour, hmm?”

“Noted!” Masiglang sagot ko.

Nagdaldal lang ako ng nagdaldal habang sya naman, sagot lang ng sagot. Hindi naman ako nainis na medyo matipid sya sumagot because he seems to be concentrating on driving. Di ko lang talaga mapigilan mag kwento ng mag kwento.

“How about your parents, mahal? Where are they? Do you have siblings?” It was too late when I realized na nagtanong ako ng ganon. I just told him that my mother is a housewife but their family owns lands in Isabela while my father owns an architectural firm.

I bit my lower lip when I realized what I asked. Pero tiningnan ko lang rin ang reaction nya para malaman ko if I should apologize.

“Wala na mama ko. Namatay sya sa sakit sa kidney, hindi naagapan. Lumaki ako na walang papa, so hindi ko alam kung nasaan sya.” Casual at kibit balikat lang na sagot nya habang nakatingin lang sa daan.

“I’m sorry to hear that...” Malungkot na sabi ko. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung tama bang nalaman ko ngayong moment na ito ang tungkol sa parents nya.

“Okay lang, mahal. Sayang nga at hindi ka nakilala ni mama. Sigurado ako magugustuhan ka noon.” This time ay kita ko na umangat ang labi nya. He’s smiling!

Na touched ako sa sinabi nya. “I still want to meet her! Let me know when mo sya dadalawin, ha?”

Tumango lang sya, the hint of a smile is still on his lips.

Before ten, we’re already settled in our own villa. I love the open concept of the place; two walls were made from glass at may option to use the blinds or the blackout curtain. Gray, white and accents of wood is the interior of the villa.

“Do you like it here?” Malapad ang ngiti na tanong ko.

Kasalukuyan na kaming nagpapahinga habang naka tingin sa isang side na glass walls kung saan kitang kita ang infinity pool.

“Oo naman. Gusto mo bang kuhaan kita ng picture mamaya?”

I giggled. “Hindi na stolen?”

I saw him smiled shyly, tapos pasimpleng nagkamot ng batok. “Pasensya ka na, minsan hindi ko mapigilan kuhaan ka ng picture. You look so raw… ang ganda ganda mo, mahal.” Bigla ay malamlam ang mga mata na tiningnan nya ako.

There’s something about the way he looks at me with that warm eyes that makes me melt. Ramdam kong uminit ang mga pisngi ko.

“Mahal naman,” Mahinang sabi ko na nahihiya.

Sya naman ang humagikhik. “Halika nga,” marahan nya akong hinila palapit sa kanya ay yinakap ako. He kissed my forehead at lalo akong natunaw. I hugged him back.

Mabilis na lumamig ang villa kahit ilang minutes pa lang mula nang buksan namin ang airconditoner. Parang ang sarap na lang tuloy humilata na yakap si Raius. Super inviting din kasi ng kama, makapal ang comforter at puting puti same with the pillows.

We stayed like that for a few minutes bago sya nag-aya na kumain na kami. I put the cupcakes, drinks and the fruits in the mini fridge in the villa before we left. May isang restaurant at isang café inside the resort. We opted for the café since we learned that they have heavy meals rin naman and they close at five while the restaurant closes at ten. Doon na lang kami sa isa kakain ng dinner.

May isang couple sa isang corner ng café aside from us. It feels nice dahil malaki ang capacity ng café pero kami lang nandoon. I feel a bit at peace dahil wala masyadong tao. The only sound you can hear is the soft classical music on the background.

Bumalik kami sa villa namin in an hour. We planned to go swim around four, tapos pag nakapag bihis na kami, kakain na kami ng dinner, and then we’ll drink the beer and sleep. Kaya umidlip muna kami since alam kong medyo pagod rin sa byahe si Raius.

Nauna akong nagising. I munched on one cupcake and one orange habang nakatingin lang sa pool. I took a few photos of the place along the way from the café. Raius woke up. Nagpalit ako into a gray skirt and a t-shirt from one of my personal collection of RaiRen. I actually brought 3 men’s shirt for Raius. He immediately smiled when I gave it to him. Nagpalit rin sya and then we went around the resort.

He took photos of me, and I took photos of him as well, tapos marami kaming selfies. I just realized na wala kaming masyado kuha together kaya sinulit ko na rin. Since I already wore my bikini kanina bago kami maglibot underneath, hinubad ko na lang ang mga damit ko, then got the bathrobe.

Kasalukuyan ko nang inaayos ang buhok ko after putting on the bathrobe when I felt Raius staring at me.

“Mahal?” Untag ko sa kanya.

He blinked. “Ang sexy mo, mahal. Sana wala masyadong tao sa pool.”

Tumawa ako. “Hindi mo ako pagsasabihan at pagbabawalan?” I needed to know.

I saw him swallowed, tapos umiwas ng tingin at hinubad ang t-shirt nya. “Hindi. Isuot mo kung ano ang gusto mong isuot, wala naman problema sa akin. Sana lang wala masyadong tao sa pool...” Pahina nang pahina na sabi nya.

Lumapit ako sa kanya, I tiptoed and gave him a kiss. “I love you,”

“I love you,” Sagot nya naman.

Hinila ko na sya palabas. After seeing na dalawang babae at isang bata lang ang nasa pool ay parang sumigla si Raius. Sya pa ang nag offer na kuhaan nya na ako ng pictures. Hindi ako nailang while he’s taking photos of me. Ganoon na ako ka comfortable sa kanya.

I have so many scenarios in my head. I want to post our photos pero tatanungin ko na lang muna sya, ayokong gawin na lang bigla knowing na hindi sya ma-social media na tao. Damn, I overthink too much. Bahala na! Ayoko kasing ipilit ang mga bagay. I saw friends and people I know ruined their relationships dahil sa ideals nila, mga hindi pagkakasundo, etc. As much as possible, hahayaan ko na lang kung ano mangyari.

We stayed in the pool until six, went back to our villa, ate at the restaurant and went back to the villa. Masyado kaming busog from eating dinner, kaya nanuod na muna kami ng movie habang naka ready lang ang mga fruits at beers sa side table.

Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam na nandito ako ngayon kasama si Raius. It makes me think na worth it ang paghihintay ko. I never had a boyfriend before, siguro, para mas maibuhos ko kay Raius na makikilala ko pala ngayon ang pagmamahal ko.

Makes me wish this will never end.