Hello Lust, Goodbye

Chapter 3

I would never forget how Rimuel made me feel special after his very first drunk experienced. He assured me that no one, not even Adam could replace me.

It was Saturday, lunch when Rimuel woke up from a hangover. I asked my mom to text tita Rica that Rimuel would have his sleepover here, so that his mother wouldn't get worried that he didn't come home. Gladly, my mom granted my favor, but she said that there was no second time for my wish, because she would not tolerate wrong doings; one mistake was enough to learn a whole life lesson.

Me and Rimuel were on our favorite place which was our pool area. We were sitting in front of a circle table when mom gave Rimuel a cup of coffee.

"Coffee. It will make you feel better." Mom's voice was still serious. "Basta Rimuel wag mo ng uulitin ang kalokohan mong 'yan ha. Mali 'yan, mali. Ang bata-bata mo pa nag-iinom ka na. Ingatan mo 'yang kalusugan mo, dahil hindi lahat binigyan ng malusog at malakas na katawan."

"Opo tita, sorry po talaga." Yumuko si Rimuel at tiba hiyang-hiya kay mom.

"Sige na, maiwan ko muna kayo riyan." Mom nodded at me like she was saying that I should scold Rimuel. I nodded back at her with a carefree smile.

"Jem I'm sorry about yesterday. I know you got mad, I didn't mean to make you mad."

I sighed as I looked at him with all the sincerity on his face. "It's okay Rimuel. Please lang wag mo ng ulitin 'yon. Hindi maganda ang alak. Baka mamaya maging lasinggero ka pa."

Rimuel laughed. " Ito naman minsan lang 'yon Jem. Nagkatuwaan lang."

Pinanlakihan ko siya nang mata. "Kahit na minsan lang 'yon, mali pa rin. Sabi nga ni mom ang bata-bata mo pa para sa alak." I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes. The more he was getting older, the more he was being hard headed.

He drank his coffee. "Opo sorry na nga po. Hindi na mauulit."

"Paano 'pag inulit mo?"

"Edi magso-sorry ulit ako."

My lips parted in disbelief. "Rimuel naman eh. Seryoso kasi ako."

He chuckled as he massaged his head. "Joke lang, basta hindi na nga po mauulit. Minsan na lang."

Bumagsak ang balikat ko. "Anong minsan na lang? Saka na kapag eighteen years old na tayo."

"Oh bakit? Three years na lang naman 'yon. Pagbigyan mo na 'ko kahit minsan." My heart was really melting every time he pouted his ample lips.

"Anong three years na lang naman? Ang tagal-tagal pa ng three years."

He laughed as he stroked his messy hair. "Malapit na 'yon. Tayo nga six years ng magkaibigan, namalayan mo ba 'yon? Hindi diba kasi parang kahapon lang noong una mong nakilala ang pinakagwapong nilalang sa buong mundo."

Pailing-iling na lang akong natawa. "Feeling gwapo ka nanaman?"

"Oh bakit?" He leaned towards the table, making him closer to me. "Hindi ba?" His simple wink could actually take my breathe away.

Pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata at kinuha ang oportunidad na pakatitigan ang halos perpekto niyang mukha. "Medyo lang." I was shy to admit that I really find him handsome.

He laughed carelessly. "Stop denying the truth my lady."

Kusa akong napapangiti kada marinig kong tawagin niya akong ‘my lady’. Pakiramdam ko inaangkin niya ako at nakakaliwanag ng puso na angkinin ng isang tulad niya.

"I'm not denying--"

"Rimuel." Mom was suddenly walking towards us. "Your mom texted me. Nagtext daw siya sa 'yo pero hindi ka raw nag-reply, pinapauwi ka na niya."

Rimuel's eyes met my gaze. I nodded at him. "Oo nga, umuwi ka muna. Naku lagot ka kay tita. Pasalamat ka hindi kita sinumbong, pero sa susunod na ulitin mo 'yon, isusumbong na kita ha."

He laughed as he pinched my nose. "Opo salamat po Jem at sorry ulit kasi pasaway ako. See you later."

Kakakain ko lang ng merienda. I went straight to my room, because I wasn't really feeling that good.

Sumasakit nanaman ang ulo at katawan ko. Pahiga na sana ako nang biglang may kumatok.

My eyes glittered as soon as I opened the door. "Rimuel, what are you doing here? Pinagalitan ka ni tita 'no?"

He shook his head and raised his hand, holding a pink gumamela. "Peace offering."

I laughed, but my heart was thumping happily. He was really a sweet guy and he always flattered me with his deeds.

"Anong peace offering? Nag-away ba tayo?" My brows crossed, but I still couldn't stop smiling.

He sighed, looking at me like he was the most sincere guy on earth. "Diba nag-inom ako kahapon? Alam ko nagalit ka, pero thank you kasi hindi mo 'ko sinumbong kay mommy. Tsaka sorry, tama ka; hindi dapat ako um-absent para lang mag-inom."

Halos mabatak na ang labi ko sa pagngiti. "Ano ka ba? Hindi mo naman kailangan magbigay ng peace offering para roon. Just don't drink alcohol and I could be the happiest person alive."

"Oh basta, tanggapin mo pa rin 'to. Simula ngayon, bibigyan kita ng flowers sa bawat araw na may mali akong magawa okay?" He laughed. "Ganoon na lang 'yong kapalit para hindi gaanong mahirap."

Hinampas ko siya kasabay nang pagtawa ko. "Kita mo, at the end of the day, this is still for your benefit pala, para di ka lang mahirapan sa magiging condition."

He laughed harder. I'm just kidding. Kunin mo na kasi." Mas nilapit niya pa sa mukha ko 'yong flowers.

I was about to get it when he suddenly moved his hand away from mine. "Ay teka, let me give it to you." I was stunned when he moved closer to my body, and his face was almost an inch from mine.

Hinawi niya ang buhok ko at inipit ang ilang hibla sa tainga ko, at saka niya rin inipit ang maliit na tangkay ng bulaklak doon.

Our eyes met when he moved away from me as he stares at me like he was viewing a flowery garden. "Iyan, bagay sa 'yo." 

"Bakit ka ba kasi nag-inom?" Nilapag ko sa lamesa ang tinimpla kong kape para sa kanya. Kagigising niya lang at dito na kami tumambay sa pool area.

He stroked his hair. "Sorry Jem, akala ko kasi umalis ka nanaman. Saan ka ba galing?"

I sighed. "I'm sorry, hindi kita nasabihan. Nagpunta kaming sementeryo tsaka sa tita ko. Hindi ko naman alam na gagabihin pala kami."

He smiled, and later on, he laughed. "s**t akala ko iniwan mo nanaman ako. Damn!"

I held his hand that was on the table. "Rimuel, please... hindi ko talaga gusto na iwan ka--"

"You just had to. I know Jem; I know." He nodded like he really get my point.

Bumagsak ang balikat ko. Kung may choice naman ako, pipiliin ko talagang hindi siya iwan. Being with him was the best thing that ever happen into my life.

I looked at the cup of coffee. "Magkape ka muna. I made that." I smiled in proudness.

His eyes glittered. "Wow marunong ka ng magtimpla ng kape?"

"Ako pa ba?"

We both laughed, then he tasted the coffee. "Hmm... I like it. Creamy ha. Tinuruan ka ni tita?"

"Yes, I asked her to teach me."

Mapanukso niya akong tinignan. "Bakit? Sinong pinagtitimplahan mo ng kape sa pinuntahan niyo?"

My lips smiled, but parted in disbelief. "Baliw ka! Wala."

"Sus ayaw pang sabihin. Mas gwapo naman ako riyan." He crossed his arms like a boss.

"Anong ayaw pang sabihin? Wala nga talaga baliw ka. Mas gwapo, mas gwapo, yabang mo pa rin!"

He leaned on the table. "Oh bakit hindi ba?" His eyes were like hypnotizing me to say yes.

I shrugged. "Sakto lang."

He laughed as he shook his head. "Hanggang ngayon na sa denial stage ka pa rin."

"Excuse me, I'm just telling the truth."

"Well the truth is, I am the most handsome human being you'll ever met."

I laughed. "Sige sabi mo eh. Hindi ka naman magpapatalo."

"Finally." He raised his hand like he just won. "Finally you admit it Jem. Ang gwapo ko 'no?" He winked at me, taking my breath away.

"Um-agree na lang ako kasi alam ko ngang hindi ka magpapatalo."

He shook his head like he totally disagree. "No, no, no. Um-agree ka, kasi alam mo sa sarili mong iyon ang totoo."

I took a deep breath. "Oo na, oo na. Manahimik ka lang."

He parted his lips and was about to say something when his phone rang. "Wait lang Jem ha."

I nodded as he stood and walked a distance from me. I watched his back while thinking who was he talking to; part of me was thinking that it was his girlfriend, and the thought of that pinched my heart.

I was back in my sense when our eyes met as he walked towards me. He drank the rest of his coffee. "Jem, I need to go. Balik na lang ako ha. Salamat ulit sa coffee."

Something was still pinching my heart. I wanted to ask who was the caller, but my head just nodded. "Sige Rimuel, ingat ka ha."

"May babalikan naman ako rito eh 'no?"

"Rimuel, sorry na--"

"Joke lang." He laughed. "Basta babalik ako. Thank you ulit sa coffee." Natulala nanaman ako nang dumampi ang labi niya sa noo ko.

I watched him walked away as I slowly held my forehead; the feeling of his soft lips was still there.

I went on my room, still bothering myself with the thought of Rimuel having a girlfriend. So what right? If he do have a girlfriend, then I would be very happy for him.

A smile crept on my lips together with my heart, when I saw the jar of flowers that I had been keeping the whole time.

Kinuha ko 'yong jar sa side table ko at saka ito tinitigan nang may malawak na ngiti. Jar ng mayonnaise na nilinis ko noong mga bata pa lang kami at saka ko nilagay ang ilang petals ng bawat bulaklak na binigay sa akin ni Rimuel; ang jar na puno na ngayon ng lantang petals pero nananatili pa ring buhay sa puso ko.

I looked at my door when someone knocked. I puffed a breath before coming to open the it.

My heart almost went out of my chest when Rimuel appeared outside my room with his alluring smile, holding a bouquet of--- sunflower.

I was speechless as I stared at the bright yellow sunflower he was holding.

"Flowers for you my lady."

I didn't know what to react; my lips just parted as he handed the flowers to me. I gladly accepted it. "Thank you. Teka a-anong mayroon?" My heart was shouting crazily inside my chest.

He smiled wider. "Naalala mo dati lagi kitang binibigyan ng flowers kada malalasing ako?" He laughed. "Kasi ayaw na ayaw mong nag-iinom ako eh. Kaya ayan, bigyan ulit kita."

My cheeks went hot; I turned my gaze at the flowers as my lips couldn't stop forming a smile. "T-thank you." My heart felt great knowing that he still remembers the good old days.