Bridgetine Trilogy II Be Still, My Heart

Chapter 4

Yanna

Ang sarap matulog sa malamig na kwarto at may mainit na nakayakap sa 'yo. Wait, what? Nakayakap? Sh*t! Nasaan ba ako? I feel disoriented. Pinikit ko saglit ang mga mata ko at pinilit na alalahanin ang nangyari kagabi. Andrei dumped me. I was crying in the car when this guy approached me and asked me to go on a date with him. We had a few drinks at a bar, then he took me to his house.

I remember both of us singing our hearts on our way to his place. We made out in the couch and we ended up in bed. Pinakiramdaman ko ang sarili ko. Wala namang ibang nabago. I'm still wearing my clothes. Sinilip ko ang ilalim ng kumot. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Thank God, he is wearing pants. He's not wearing a shirt though.

I can't help but take another look. He looks yummy. Ano ba yan Yanna? You hardly use that word and now this guy you met just last night is suddenly everything yummy. Alaga sa gym ang katawan, but not the bulky kind. He's lean. That's the word. He's probably still sleeping so I tried to have a glimpse of his face. Napalunok ako at namula. He's awake and staring at me with amusement. I felt the heat on my cheeks.

"Did you get enough?" he was grinning like crazy.

"Stop it." inirapan ko sya. Nakaunan pa rin ako sa braso nya. Nagtangka akong bumangon pero idinagan nya ang binti sa akin at iniyakap ang isang braso. Wala akong kawala.

"What?" natatawang sabi nito.

"You're teasing me. You've been doing that since you saw me." nakalabi kong sabi sa kanya.

"I'm sorry, you're too cute!" ninakawan nya ako ng halik.

"Huag! Hindi pa ako nagtoothbrush!" I was horrified! Tinaklob ko ang kumot sa mukha ko.

Napatawa naman sya sa akin. "Baka kung anong makita mo dyan. May nanunuklaw." nanunukso nyang sabi sa akin.

Napalunok ako. He's right. Men usually have a hard on in the morning. I peeked outside the sheets and looked at him.  Inirapan ko sya. He was howling! He gave me a few wet kisses on my face and got up then put a shirt on. "Let's have breakfast."

"Susunod na ako. I'm just going to wash up."

I took a quick shower.  Nanlalagkit na ako. Balot ng tuwalya, I opened his closet and found a white shirt. Pinakialaman ko na, isosoli ko na lang kapag nalabhan ko na. Malaki naman 'yon at umabot sa tuhod ko. I still have a spare panty liner so I still feel fresh down there.  Magpapalit na lang ako uli mamya ng damit, tutal sa kotse lang naman ako at magdadrive na pauwi. I'll just wear my dress again later.

I cut my hair yesterday kaya hindi na ko nag-abalang tuyuin pa ang buhok ko. Bob-cut frames my face really nicely. Towel dry is fine. Matutuyo na rin ito mamya. Sinuklay ko na lang. Lumabas ako ng kwarto and he was on his way to the bedroom ng makita ako palabas. He stopped and his mouth fell open.

"Hi! Uh, sorry ha. I took your shirt without permission. I took a shower kanina at sobrang lagkit na, but I don't have extra clothes. Don't worry, I'll mail this back to you ng malinis na." nakangiti kong sabi sa kanya. He's still staring. Parang natuka ng ahas. "Are you okay?" tanong ko sa kanya. Lumapit ako sa kanya. I waved my hand in front of him. Wala pa din. "Huy!" Pinitik ko ang matangos nyang ilong. Kinis nya ha, parang walang pores.

As if he woke up from a spell "Oh, sorry. I just ah --  I mean --" napakamot ito sa ulo nya. "Breakfast?" tanong nya.

I giggled. "Thanks, gutom na nga ako."

"Hindi ka kasi kumain ng ayos kagabi."

"I know." natatawa kong sabi sa kanya. "Sino ba naman ang makakakain kagabi?"

"He's a loser. It's his loss." nakaupo na kami at nagsimula ng kumain.

He's got a radio playing. The FM station was playing "Love Gives Love Takes" by the Corrs

Just when I thought I was safe

You found me in my hiding place

I'd promised never again

I wouldn't give my heart, but then

Closer, closer I moved near you

The way I want you makes me fear you

I love this song. Gabe and I use to jam to this. I started humming habang kumakain. He was staring at me. I can feel the heat from his eyes. Napatingin ako sa kanya at ngumiti. He gave me a shy smile. "I can stare at you the whole day while you hum -- wearing just my shirt."

Napalunok ako. I cleared my throat at dahil nahulasan na ako kagabi "Tss! Bolero ka pa rin umaga na. Sadly, uuwi na ako pagkatapos kong kumain. Kaya salamat sa kagabi at sa masarap na agahan." sumubo ako. "Ano nga pala address mo dito? Imemail ko na lang itong shirt mo. Promise mabango na pagbalik." I winked at him.

Parang bigla naman ito natauhan. Tumikhim. "No. You can keep it."

"Are you sure?" nagtataka kong tanong sa kanya

"I'm sure." and he gave me a smile.

"Okay. Thank you I guess." ipinagpatuloy ko na ang pagkain ko. Kumain rin sya pero kaunti lang. He was enjoying his coffee though. "So, where's your hometown?" tanong ko sa kanya. I try to have a conversation with him.

"Batangas." maiksing sagot nito.

"Batangas? Really? I don't think I've seen you before."

"I went to PBMIT, but it's now called something else."

"Ah, I see."

"Did you finish your studies here?" bigla akong nacurious.

"No. I left after high school graduation. I went to NYU for Architecture."

"Wow. NYU. Impressive." I chuckled.

"I met Matt there. We went to the same school but he was studying business. That's why I was surprised when you said he was studying nursing here with Gabe." He talked like he knew my friends. I find that interesting.

"That --  I didn't know. After he left, wala na talaga kaming balita sa kanya. We tried to keep Gabe busy. A year after she graduated, she left the country and has not come back since. We've been asking her to come home pero mukhang hindi pa sya ready." sabi ko sa kanya. Uminom ako ng tubig. 

"You want some more coffee?"

"Yes please, just enough for my drive later. Thanks." he gave me a new cup of coffee. "Nasaan sina Manang?" I didn't see anyone but I don't think he cooked all this breakfast.

"Nasa bahay nila. She'll come back later to clean up. Maaga syang nagluto ng agahan."

"That's nice of her. So, are you here for good or are you just here for business?"

"Depends."

"Alam mo ang tipid mo sumagot." natatawa kong sabi sa kanya. "Ayaw mo na ba makipagusap sa akin?" tinaasan ko sya ng kilay.

He chuckled. "Hindi naman. Ang aga mo magtaray." pinisil nya ang pisngi ko at pinanggigilan. Pinalo ko ng mahina ang kamay nya.

"Ewan ko sa 'yo" nakairap na sabi ko.

Humalakhak sya. "I didn't know you can be this funny in the morning."

"Ano yun? Clown na naman ako?" pinanlakihan ko sya ng mata.

"Ang pinakamagandang clown na nakita ko." he grabbed my nape and gave me an earth shattering kiss. "Ang tamis mo, lasang jam." natatawa nyang bulong sa akin.

Pinitik ko ang ilong nya. "Loko ka! Natural kakakain ko lang ng agahan."

"Nakakailang pitik ka na ha, masakit na 'yon!" kunyari ay tampo na sabi nito.

Naawa naman ako. Mapula na nga ang ilong nya. Tumayo ako. "Sige, kiss ko na lang para hindi na masakit." I gave his nose a quick kiss at saka bumalik sa upuan ko. Natatawa pa rin ako. Hindi pa ako nakaranas ng ganitong klase ng agahan. I never spent the night with Andrei. We would usually go out for lunch or dinner, watch a movie but other than that - wala na. Come to think of it, parang boring. There was probably a little bit of romance in our early dating stage but nothing compared to this.

With Leo, everything goes. It's romantic even without trying. And he's not even my boyfriend. Tsk! Malala na ako. Uminom ako ng tubig. I saw him in the corner of my eye. Nakatitig. "Hoy, yang bibig mo isara mo. Kanina ganyan ka rin, what's wrong with you?" Kumunot ang noo ko. Ano ba ang nangyayari sa lalakeng ito?

Napailing ito. "You sound like Ate Cindy, ganyan din ang sinabi nya sa akin sa restaurant when I saw you last night."

I chuckled. "Talaga lang ha. She sounds awesome. We think alike kaya parehas din kami maganda." nakalabi kong sabi

"Oh my God, pati sa pagbuhat ng bangko parehong pareho kayo." napailing ito. He laughed. Malutong at nakakahawa ang tawa nya. Kaya napatawa na rin ako. Best morning ever to date.

Napatingin ako sa relo ko. "It's after 10am na pala, I have to go. I'm just going to change my clothes. Can you drop me off to my car?"

May nakita akong lungkot sa mata nya. "Yeah, sure. Are you in a hurry?" Parang ayaw pa nya ako umalis.

"Hindi naman. I have no work tomorrow kaya uuwi lang ako at magpapahinga. Probably read a book or something. Buti na lang wala akong hangover." I gave him a shy smile. Kahit naman ako ayaw ko pa rin umuwi. Kaya lang overstaying na ako dito. Nakakahiya.

"I'm just going to take a quick shower and I'll drop you off."

"Okay. Mauna na ako magpalit ng damit, then maybe you can take your shower after? Is that okay?"

"Yup, that's fine."

Twenty minutes later, nakita ko syang naglalakad papuntang sala. Tumayo ako. I have my things with me plus yung shirt nya na suot ko kanina. Kakahiya naman ibigay ng naisuot ko na. He looks so fresh with his ripped faded jeans, white long sleeves na tinupi hanggang siko and loafers. Yung relo lang nya ang jewelry nya. He's right, he's not wearing a ring. But then, baka naman hinubad lang. I hate thinking about it.

Ugh! Stop it Yanna. If he says he's not married, then I believe him. Samantalang ako, hindi na nag-abalang magmake up. I just put a little lip gloss at kinagat kagat ko na lang ang labi ko para mamula. He held me on my waist at tinitigan ako.

"You're more beautiful in the morning, do you know that? Kahit walang kolorete sa mukha." His eyes looked dreamy.

"Hala, baka maniwala na ako nyan. Quota ka na sa pambobola mo Montemayor ha!" pinalo ko sya ng mahina sa dibdib at natawa. Aaminin ko, I enjoy his attempt of flirtations. Pakiramdam ko ang haba haba ng buhok ko kahit kapapagupit ko pa lang.

"Tss! Maka-Montemayor ka, baka mamya maging apelyido mo rin yan." he chuckled

Ako naman ang nagulat pero nakabawi din. "Apelyido agad? Grabe naman, wala pa ngang third base!" kunyaring naghihimutok na sabi ko.

"Third base? I can do that. Gusto mo ngayon na bago ka umuwi?" nakayakap pa rin sya sa akin. Pinilit ko kumawala pero lalo lang humigpit ang mga braso nya sa akin. It feels like he doesn't want to let me go.

"Hala! Joke lang yun! Ang aga mo manghalay!" I flushed!

Humalakhak sya ng malakas. "God! You make me happy!" Niyakap nya ako ng mahigpit. "Binulungan nya ako. "I'm not letting you go."

"Hayan ka na naman." inirapan ko sya. "Dami mo talagang alam. Bolero!"

Nagpakailing iling sa pagtanggi. "Dance with me, bago ka umuwi."

"Aba Montemayor, may sayaw pa sa umaga?" pinanlakihan ko sya ng mata.

"Please? I just want to remember this morning."

"Okay." and we danced. No music, just simply our heartbeats. It was enough to make our body sway.  After our music-less dance, he dropped me off and I drove home.

Well, it was an interesting date. I can tell you that much. Sadly, baka hindi na kami magkita ulit. Nakaramdam ako ng panghihinayang. I wish we had more time together. Could it be that I'm falling for him already? Wala pang twenty four hours. Damn!

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