THE REBEL'S HEART

Chapter 7

“You forgot something important. In fairness, nalimutan ko rin.” She realized what was missing the moment they stopped in front of a well known Coffee Shop.

“What?” She looked at her feet as he opened her door. His gaze wandered from her black dress and momentarily stopped at her chest then down to her legs and feet.

“s**t! Oo nga. Wala ka nga palang bra at sapatos. I don’t mind and besides, I could always carry you. Magaan ka lang naman. Mukhang nag-enjoy ka naman the last time I did it.” His voice was teasing. Inaasar na naman siya nito.

Kung hindi nakapikit si Simone at huminga ng malalim ay baka nabigwasan niya ang lalaking hambog. Nabanggit pa talaga ang panloob niya. Pwede namang ang pansapin sa paa lang. She relaxed herself by exhaling a deep breath before she responded.

“Kung pwede, To go mo na lang ang bibilhin mo tapos dito na lang tayo kumain or sa unit mo, since may kukunin din naman ako doon? I’ll wait here for you.” She decided to use her charms. Iyong titig na ginawa niya noong una silang magkakilala. Naalala niyang effective kay Luis ang tingin niyang iyon. Lumapit siya ng kaunti upang mas masinagan siya ng ilaw mula sa harapan ng establishment. She smiled and bit her lips matapos niyang sabihing hihihntayin niya si Luis sa sasakyan. The reaction was what she expected. His eyes focused on her mouth. Napalunok si Luis at napaatras ng bahagya palayo sa kanya. Tumikhim pa siya bago muling nagsalita.

“Sige. Pero hindi kita iiwan mag-isa rito. Delikado. Madaling araw pa naman. Mag-drive thru na lang tayo.” Tumango si Simone at umikot na muli ang binata sa driver’s seat. Hindi niya napigilang mapangiti sa sinabi ni Luis. Kahit naman pala mayabang ay may pagka-gentleman din ito kahit papaano. Nang makaikot na sila sa Drive thru counter ng Coffee shop ay nagsabi na siya ng order. Apat na klase ng sandwiches ang binili ni Luis para kay Simone. Hindi makapag-decide si Simone kung alin ang gusto niya kaya’t ang natitirang apat na sandwich doon ay binili ng kasama. Pasta naman at bagels ang kay Luis. Nobody ordered coffee dahil balak pa nilang matulog. Juice at soy milk ang in-order nila.

Dahil sa mabilis talagang magpatakbo ng sasakyan at maluwag ang trapik sa gannong oras ay ilang minuto lang ay nasa basement parking na sila ng condo unit.

“I’ll carry you ulit. Wait lang ayusin ko lang ‘tong mga pagkain.” Simone didn’t wait for him to carry her. Makinis naman ang sahig ng parking lot at paglabas naman nila ng elevator ay mismong pad na ni Luis. She took two of the bags and got off the car. Diretso siya sa elevator at pinindot ang going Up button. Paglingon niya sa kotse ay nakatayo lang doon si Luis at nakatitig sa kanya na parang naguguluhan.

“Ano pang ginagawa mo diyan? Come on. I’m starving! Bitbitin mo na lang ang isa pang bag.” Doon lang muling kumilos ang lalaki. Narinig pa niya ang pag-lock ng kotse at ang pagtakbo nito papalapit sa kanya.

“Sabi ko bubuhatin kita.” She just smiled at him and shook her head.

“Okay na ‘ko at hindi naman magalas ang sahig. Isa pa, wala namang makakakita kung nakayapak ako dahil tulog pa ang mga tao.” Kinuha ni Luis ang mga bag na bitbit ni Simone.

“Magaan lang naman kinuha mo pa.” The lift opened and he ushered her inside before he got in. Confirmed gentleman nga ang mayabang na lalaki, naisip ni Simone. When they arrived at his floor, he punched the codes and they got inside. Diretso sila ng dining area kung saan inilapag ni Luis lahat ng dala niyang pagkain at inumin.

“Let’s eat. Gutom na talaga ‘ko.” Pinaupo muna ni Luis si Simone sa katabi niyang silya bago sila nagsimulang kumain. Dalawang sandwich ang naubos ni Simone habang ang binata naman ang kumain ng isa pang sandwich with his ordered bread and pasta. Hindi sila nag-usap hangga’t hindi sila nakakatapos.

“Weird, ah.” Habang nililigpit na ni Simone ang mga pinagkainan nila ay sumunod si Luis sa kanya sa kitchen na kalapit lang ng Dining area. Ang natirang sandwich ay inilagay niya muna sa refrigerator bago siya humarap muli rito. She raised her eyebrows at his comment.

“Alin?” Humarap siya rito at sumandal sa kitchen counter. He was leaning at a stool that was closest to where she was standing.

“Malakas kang kumain pero parang wala namang epekto. I mean, look at your body.” Napairap si Simone nang tingnan pa siya nito mula ulo hanggang paa. His eyes stayed at her breast then moved to her legs. She wanted to groan out loud in frustration. Ang aga-aga pero sinisipat na siya ng m******s na kaharap. Kung gusto niya ng laro ay makikipaglaro si Simone asa kanya.

“Bukod sa mabilis ang metabolism ko, I’m a dancer kaya I make sure I stay fit.” She walked towards the door, making sure that she bumped his knees nang dumaan siya sa tapat ni Luis. “I heard na may appointment ka pa. I’m overstaying. Kukuhanin ko lang ang gamit ko, then I’ll go ahead.” She went to the room where she left her things and as she expected, he followed her.

“Hatid na kita.” Nagulat sila parehas sa sinabi ni Luis. Napalingon pa si Simone at naabutang nag-iwas ng tingin ang lalaki.

“I have my bike here with me. Nasa parking lot.”

“You can’t possibly use that thing at this hour. Naka-dress ka, mag-aalasingko pa lang at kakagaling mo lang ng ospital. May bandage pa nga ang sugat mo. You know what kung ayaw mong magpahatid, just stay here and leave later. You know I have spare rooms.” Hindi nagustuhan ni Simone ang tono nito. Nobody orders her or tells her what to do at mas lalong hindi isang taong kakakilala pa lamang niya. She was about to lash out at him nang napabaling ang paningin niya sa banyo kung saan siya nadulas.

Kumuha ng basahan si Simone sa isang cabinet na malapit sa lababo sa banyo at pinunasan ang sahig na may natuyo nang dugo niya. She was scrubbing hard na napakapit siya sa likuran ng ulo niyang may sugat.  Luis took the rag and finished rubbing the floor habang si Simone ay dumapa sa kama na nakakapit pa rin sa ulo niyang may sugat. Subsob ang mukha sa higaan and even with her eyes closed ay naramdaman niya ang paglundo ng kabilang gilid ng kutson. She smelled his cologne nang mas lumapit pa ito sa kanya.

“Magaling kang pumili ng kwarto. This is actually my room and my bed.” She felt her head throb at naalala ang gamot na kailangan niyang inumin. “You can sleep here. Don’t get up. I’ll be in the other room or maybe I could just sleep here with you—” She rolled to her right para lumayo sa bulong nito sa tainga niya na nakapagpapatayo ng kanyang mga balahibo. Hindi niya natantiya na mahuhulog na pala siya sa higaan. With his fast reflexes, Luis pulled her by her waist to save her from falling. She ended up on top of him with her whole body pressed to his toned body. She could feel all of his muscles and from the way his eyes darkened and his labored breaths, she was sure that he could feel all of her too. His face was just inches away at naamoy niya ang hininga nito. She closed her eyes as a sudden wave of pain engulfed her. Nang mapansin ni Luis ang pagngiwi niya at pagpikit ay agad naman siya inihiga nito with a soft groan. Sa paghiga sa kanya sa gitna ng kama ay hindi pa rin nito inialis ang mga kamay sa kanyang beywang. When she opened her eyes, he was still looking at her face. Because of the unexpected movement, she shivered when he caressed her cheeks before leaning closer to whisper in her ear.

“I could save you from falling off the bed but I can’t save you from falling for me. I’m just warning you.  Stay here. I’ll get your medicine.” Kung hindi masakit ang ulo niya ay makakatikim ng suntok at sipa ang lalaking iyon. She wanted to tell him off but she has no strength. Mag-iipon muna ng lakas si Simone. Hindi ang kagaya ni Luis Armando ang makakapagpa-fall sa kanya. When she heard the door close at sigurado niyang wala na ito sa silid ay saka siya sumagot.

“Ako dapat ang mag-warning sa’yo. Humanda ka, Luis. I’ll make sure you’re the one that would fall. You will fall too fast and too hard you wouldn’t even know what hit you.” Simone knew what he wanted from her with the way he looked at her and the way he whispered in her ears. Iyon ang bagay na hinding hindi niya ibibigay sa kahit na sinong lalaki, lalo na sa lalaking kagaya ni Luis.