Agape's Karma

VIII - Elevator

The dinner went surprisingly well. We talked about a lot at mas nakilala ko si Agape kahit saglit. He’s the type of person na seryoso kapag seryoso ang usapan. I just want to say that he’s really business smart. He owns his self-made company.

His brother managed the Luna’s wealth while he chose to make his own. He invested in stock market and establish a shipping and cargo companies. That alone impressed me.

“How about you? Where’s your family?” he asked.

I drank the wine. It tasted good. Damn, even his taste is expensive!

“They’re abroad. My Mom and my Stepdad. My brother stays in Davao for work.” I answered.

He sipped on his wine.

“Where is your dad?” he asked.

Natigil ang pagnguya ko sa sinabi niya. I sighed and looked at him.

“He’s dead. Died in a car accident when I was young.” sagot ko.

“Oh, I am so sorry to hear that.” He said, his tone softened a bit.

Ngumisi ako para alisin ang ngayon ay malungkot na hanging bumabalot sa aming dalawa.

“Don’t worry, it is a long time ago. Okay na kami.” I answered.

Dad’s accident really changed us. Gierome and I, we both had to mature fast para hindi mahirapan si Mommy lalo na at nagkaroon agad siya ng asawa isang taon pa lang ang nakakalipas. At first, hirap na hirap akong tanggapin si Papa Adam, ang stepdad ko.

Pero hindi kalaunan, kasi nakita ko naman ang pagmamahal niya sa amin at ang effort niya para kilalanin kami, naintindihan ko na rin na hindi naman siguro masamang hayaan si Mommy na sumaya.

We went home after that dinner. Mas maluwag na ang hangin sa pagitan naming dalawa. He was again, taking calls from work on our way home. Hinayaan ko na lamang siya at mas pinili kong matulog na lang.

I felt a light tap on my cheeks. Bumungad sa akin pagkamulat ko si Agape. Mabilisan akong bumangon at bumaba sa kaniyang sasakyan. We were in the basement of our tower.

“Sorry. Kanina pa ba tayo?” tanong ko.

Umiling siya at pinanood akong inaayos ang sarili.

“We just arrived.” sagot niya.

Magkasabay kaming sumakay sa elevator. Tahimik iyon. Nakasandal siya sa dingding ng elevator car, ang isang kamay ay nakapasok sa kaniyang bulsa at tila may malalim na iniisip. Tumingin ako sa mga numero na nagpapalit.

“You got me thinking,” ani Agape makalipas ang ilang saglit.

Nilingon ko siya, nagtataka sa kaniya.

“It happened twice between us.” Pagpapatuloy niya.

Natuyo ang lalamunan ko at nanatiling nakatingin sa kaniya.

“A-Ano ang gusto mong iparating?” I asked him.

Dumilim ang mga titig niya sa akin. He took a step to me. Umatras ako bilang depensa hanggang sa lumapat ang likuran ko sa malamig na dingding. He enclosed me in between his arms.

“Why don’t we make this a casual thing between us?” tanong niya.

Kumunot ang noo ko. Parang may ideya na ako pero ayaw kong sabihin sa takot na baka nga iyon ang nais niya. He licked his lower lip and looked at me.

“You want us to be f**k buddies?” I asked him shamelessly.

I couldn’t keep it in. He nodded. Umawang ang bibig ko. I don’t know what to say! He’s asking me to be his booty call?

“W-Why?” I asked again, now confused.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit niya gusto iyon. Yes, may nangyari nga sa amin. And I must admit, it was very hot. Kahit siya ang nakauna sa akin, I know that he will be the standard s*x for me. He made me feel an extraordinary pleasure.

It’s a different kind of world.

“Frankly, you are right. I do not repeat girls. And you’re different. You know me and my condition. I have nothing to hide from you as you are a doctor and I know that you’ll be professional with this. I just cannot last days without it. I am not Agape without that.” he explained.

Hindi ako makapagsalita. Mas inilapit niya ang kaniyang mukha sa akin. I immediately traced his eyes down to his sumptuous lips. I swallowed hard. Hindi ko alam paano ko pa matatagalan iyon.

I would not even dare to lie. Mataas ang s****l tension sa pagitan naming dalawa. Maybe it’s because I am aware of his capabilities and I am wildly attracted to it.

But I do not want this to look like that. Kaya naman ngumisi ako bilang sagot.

Kumunot ang noo niya sa ginawa ko. I slid my fingers from his lips down to his neck and it landed on his tie. Kinuha ko iyon at bahagyang hinila papalapit sa akin, kaya naman mas lalong lumapit ang kaniyang mukha.

His nose brushed mine. Nararamdaman ko rin ang kaniyang hininga sa akin mukha. I looked at the number at the top of the elevator door before I looked at him again. His breathing is now becoming hoarser, meaning he’s aroused.

I inclined my head so I can whisper to him.

“Asa ka, Mr. Luna.” I whisper.

Lumunok siya at tiningnan ako. He was about to open his mouth to say something but the elevator dinged like it was a part of the game.

I softly pushed his chest away from me and went out of the elevator. I faced him. Nakasandal siya sa dingding at namamanghang tiningnan ako. I wore the smuggest smile I can give and waved my hand.

“Thank you for the dinner, Mr. Luna. Have a good night.” I bid and walked to my unit without looking back.

It felt really good to be wanted by someone. Naligo ako at nagbihis ng kumportableng t-shirt at panties bilang pantulog ko. I opened my television to have some noise inside the room habang sinusuklay ang aking buhok.

My phone rang. I thought it was Agape but my smirked was erased when I saw Hennessy’s number calling. I answered it while applying moisturizer on my face.

“Yep?” I asked him.

The line was quiet. I hear him chuckle a bit.

“Open your door.” He said, his voice sounded drunk.

Kumunot ang noo ko.

“What? Are you going to stay here?” tanong ko sa natatarantang boses.

Tumawa si Hennessy.

“What? This was not the first time, Germ. Why? Don’t tell me… you have a guy over?” tanong niya.

Umubo ako.

“Are you crazy? Aren’t you sobering enough to drive? I just want to relax tonight, bro.” tanong ko.

Hennessy groaned.

“Damn, how I wish I was sober. But sorry to inform you, I am not. I even booked a damn ride to your condo. I cannot come home drunk; my parents stay on my condo tonight.” He admitted.

Umirap ako. Ano pa nga ba ang magagawa ko? I cannot say ‘no’ to Hennessy. I opened my closet to find a pajama. Now, I cannot sleep with my panties. Kumuha na rin ako ng extrang unan at kumot.

“Fine. You can sleep on my couch for tonight. But you have to cook breakfast tomorrow and pay for our ride to the hospital. Got it?” tanong ko.

Humalakhak si Henessy.

“Sure, Germ. Para ka namang naghihirap niyan.” He said and ended the call.

Ilang minuto pa, may nag-doorbell. There, I saw a drunk Hennessy leaning on the wall. Tumatawa siya na parang nababaliw. Hindi na makatayo ng maayos. Umiling ako at mas binuksan ang pintuan ko.

“Come inside, Hennie.” utos ko.

Tumawa siya at sinunod ako kahit na hirap na hirap na siya. He smiled at me at hinawakan ang mga balikat ko. Tumaas lang ang kilay ko sa kaniya.

“You’re really a true friend, Germ…” he said, his voice is slurry.

Lumunok ako at umirap. I pushed him to the couch. He let me. Mabilisan siyang humiga at humanap ng puwesto. Kinumutan ko siya bago ako pumasok sa kuwarto.

I woke up. Naabutan ko si Hennessy na nakatopless habang nagluluto sa kusina. He was wearing his earphones and humming. I leaned onto the wall.

“Talagang nasasanay ka na ata sa condo ko? Magbayad ka na kaya ng renta sa tuwing dito ka matutulog?” I asked.

Nilingon niya ako. He removed one of his earphones and rolled his eyes.

“Wala man lang bang ‘Good morning, Hennie’ diyan?” tanong niya.

I rolled my eyes at nagsalin ng black coffee na ginawa niya. Nagtataka ko siyang tiningnan. Saan niya nakuha ang kaniyang damit?

“You bought clothes?” tanong ko.

Umiling siya at sinalin ang fried rice.

“Nope. I asked one of my interns to pick up my car from the bar and drive it here. May extra clothes ako, remember?” he asked me.

I shrugged.

“I cannot believe you did that, Hennie. That’s unethical to order your interns with personal requests.” pangaral ko.

“Nah, it was not an order. He offered it. He wants to be in my surgery today.” He said and laughed.

Umiling na lamang ako. I prepared the plates for us.

“By the way, I went to the gym on the second floor and used your membership.” he informed me.

May automatic membership sa isang sikat na gym ang mga condo owner rito. Hindi ko rin naman masiyadong nagagamit kaya okay lang na gamitin ni Hennessy iyon. Umupo na ako at nagsimula nang magsalin ng pagkain. I tasted what he cooked. Masarap iyon.

“I know that the Lunas owned this tower. But I did not know that Agape’s staying here. I saw him at the gym earlier.” sabi niya.

Halos masamid naman ako sa sinabi niya. Inabutan niya ako ng tubig. Uminom ako at tumingin sa kaniya na parang walang nangyari. Bakit ba ako nasasamid sa tuwing naririnig ko ang pangalan niya?

Ano? Nakita niya si Agape Luna?

“Do you know him?” tanong ko.

Tumango siya at sumubo ng pagkain.

“Yah, he’s my classmate since pre-elementary up to high school. Mayroon din kaming mga same minor subjects noong college.” he explained.

So, that’s why Agape said na kilalang-kilala niya si Hennessy?

“Ahhh…” I answered to mask my growing curiousity.

“Yeah. He was my rival. Both academically and in sports.” he elaborated.

Nakuha na noon ang atensiyon ko.

“And did I mention before that my family and the Lunas were friends? That’s why I am close to Nera? We often see each other at parties.”

Uminom ako ng tubig.

Mayayamang pamilya sila kaya hindi imposible iyon. But the way Agape changed mood when he heard Hennessy’s name? Rivalry? Sabagay, pareho naman silang mayabang.

Nag-ayos ako. Pagkalabas ko, Henessy’s already dressed. Amoy na amoy ko ang aftershave na ginamit niya. He wore a pink polo shirt and faded blue trousers. His hair was well made up at talaga namang napakaguwapo niya. Hindi na himalang marami talagang naglalaway na station nurse sa kaniya.

“Ano ka, Principal?” tanong niya habang tinitingnan ako.

Umirap ako. Masiyado siyang overacting! Hindi naman masagwa ang suot kong puting three-fourths na sleeve at isang grey na slacks. Mas kumportable kasi akong mag-commute ng ganito kaysa kapag naka-dress ako.

“Just shut up, Hennessy. Let’s go.” I said and grabbed my bag.

We walked to the elevator lobby. I was holding some of Agape’s test results. Napansin iyon ni Hennessy.

“What’s that?” tanong niya.

I sighed.

“May pinag-aralan akong case ng isang patient kagabi.” sagot ko.

Kumunot ang noo niya.

“Do you need my help?” he asked.

Umiling ako.

“I can manage it.” sagot ko para hindi na niya ipilit pa iyon.

Tumango si Hennessy.

“Okay, then let me hold it for you, then.” he offered.

Tinanggap ko ang offer niya. He held it while his other hand immediately went to my shoulders. I did not react. Palagi niya kaming inaakbayan ni Nera kaya wala na itong meaning sa akin. But when the elevator opened, parang may nag-uudyok sa akin na alisin iyon.

Agape Luna’s inside, alone, and his eyes immediately pierced me. Mukhang nagulat rin si Hennessy but he managed to smile at him. Pumasok kaming dalawa. Hindi pa rin naaalis ang kaniyang akbay sa akin.

“Ah, you’re staying at your friend’s unit. I briefly thought that you purchased a unit here.” Agape said out of the blue.

Sinabi niya iyon na wala man lang paglingon kay Hennessy. Tumango si Hennessy at mas inilapit ako sa kaniya.

“No. I got my unit on the first condo development of the Luna, remember? I just stayed the night on a friend’s condo. Have you met her? She's a colleague of me and Nera. This is Germaine, Agape.” Hennessy introduced me.

Nagkatinginan kaming saglit ni Agape. May pagbabanta sa kaniyang mga mata. His jaws clenched as he watched Hennessy’s arms on my shoulder.

“No, I’ve never met her.” sagot niya at nag-iwas ng tingin.

The elevator doors opened. Nasa basement na kami. Mabilis na lumabas si Agape at diretso ang lakad papunta sa direksyon ng kaniyang puting Camaro.

I can just barely walk upon what he answered.

Never met me, huh?