MONTE COSTA SERIES 3: INNOCENT TIDES

Kabanata 29

BIGLA yatang nawala sa sistema ni Evangeline ang galit na nararamdaman niya kanina. Ilang beses niyang sinubukang kumurap para makumpirmang totoong si Linel nga ang ngayon ay naglalakad papalapit sa kanyang pwesto habang bitbit pa rin nito ang bowl ng ubas. He even took one grape and ate it. The juice stained his sexy lips so he licked it in an effortlessly seductive way.

Linel saw her staring at his lips. Nang makalapit sa kanya ay sandaling yumuko upang patakan ng halik ang kanyang mga labi.

"I'll take it from here, baby," he said before he pressed another kiss on her lips as if he wanted Yuko to see them.

Lalong bumilis ang t***k ng kanyang puso matapos niyang madama ang malambot nitong mga labi. She even tasted the sweet and sour grape juice on his lips. Ngunit kahit na nabigyan na siya ng mas malinaw na pruwebang hindi siya namamalikmata ay hindi niya pa rin nagawang kumibo. Ni hindi na nga rin niya nabigyang atensyon si Yuko. Tila si Linel na lamang ang nakikita ng mga mata niya sa mga sandaling ito.

Linel looked at Yuko while chewing the grape in his mouth. "I can guarantee you that my girl isn't cheating on me." He motioned his index finger as if making a swirl in the air. "I've got hidden cameras everywhere. Never saw anything that could've made me wanna book a flight home to beat up your husband's ass."

Napakurap si Ae. Hidden cameras? There are hidden cameras in her condo unit?

Her lips parted as she stared at Linel in disbelief. He's been watching her this whole time?!

Linel turned to her again. "Why don't you wait for me in the bedroom, baby? I'll just talk to Yuko tutal ako naman ang may kasalanan kung bakit nagpupunta dito ang mga tropa ko?"

She inhaled a sharp breath and nodded. Dahil nasa state of surprise pa ay para siyang robot na kaagad nitong napapayag sa gusto nitong mangyari. She walked straight to the bedroom and shut the door. Isinara rin niya ang pinto saka siya tumulala dahil parang hindi pa rin maiproseso ng isip niya ang mga nangyayari.

What the hell is going on? A minute ago, Yuko was just accusing her of having an affair with Fine. Now she's here in her room in a state of surprise while staring at her boyfriend's stuff that's laying on the bed.

She tried to fill her lungs with enough air before she finally walked towards the bed. Naupo siya sa tabi ng travel bag ni Linel. Nakabukas iyon kaya nakita niya ang ilang damit nitong sumisilip sa nakaawang na zipper. She even saw a printed photograph of her inside. Kinuha niya iyon at tiningnan ang likod.

Linel's. That's the only thing written on the back. Like a declaration that she belongs to him.

Ae pursed her lips before she took Linel's shirt that's laying on the bed. Dinampot niya iyon at inilapit sa kanyang mukha. Her eyes shut as she inhaled his shirt. His expensive manly perfume caressed her nostrils, letting her know that what's happening is real. That Linel is finally home.

Hindi niya alam kung bakit pero humapdi ang sulok ng mga mata niya nang tuluyan nang nag-sink in sa kanyang isip ang nangyayari. Tila lahat ng pangungulilan naramdaman niya sa nakalipas na taon ay bumalik sa kanyang isipan kaya nang pumasok si Linel sa silid ay wala nang patid ang pagpatak ng kanyang mga luha.

Her lower lip trembled as soon as their eyes met. Kaagad naman itong lumapit sa kanya at tumalungko sa kanyang harap.

"Hey," masuyo nitong sabi kasabay ng paghawak nito sa isa niyang pisngi. "She already left. Everything's clear to her now."

Ae sobbed. Pinalo niya ito sa balikat habang patuloy sa pagbagsak ang kanyang mga luha.

"Ang tagal-tagal mong umuwi. Ang tagal-tagal mo. Hindi kita nakikita pero ikaw, nakikita mo pala ako. You're so unfair!"

Napawi ang pangungunot ng noo ni Linel. May lumandas na munting ngiti sa mamula-mula nitong mga labi kasabay ng pag-aliwalas ng gwapo nitong mukha. Maya-maya ay bumuntonghininga ito. He then sat on the edge of the bed and pulled her to sit on his lap.

"I'm sorry it took me a year," he said under his breath before he kissed the sides of her eyes.

Para naman siyang bata na yumakap kay Linel. Isinubsob niya ang kanyang mukha sa balikat nito saka niya hinayaan ang sariling humagulgol. Hindi naman ito nagsalita. He just held her tight while constantly planting kisses on her shoulder blade.

"I've been overthinking for a year . . ." she said with a shaky voice.

"Why? You thought I wouldn't come back?" he asked. May lambing ang tinig habang hinahaplos ang kanyang likod.

Ae sniffed. Kumalas siya sa pagkakayakap dito saka niya ito tiningnan sa mga mata. "Si Tyra. I saw her a year ago. Right after I moved in here. She's pregnant. She said the baby was yours."

Linel grunted. "That woman." He sighed. "Don't mind her. She's probably just messing with you."

Humikbi siya. "I didn't want to believe her. Pero iba pa rin kapag sa'yo ko mismo narinig ang kumpirmasyon. Fine said you never met up with Tyra before but Tyra's words still messed with my mind. Probably because I knew you're not around to assure me."

Pinunasan ni Linel ang kanyang mga luha. "I'm sorry. All I could do is watch you through the cameras linked to my service station."

"So you were spying on me this whole time?"

"I was only able to watch the clips before and after my assignment." Linel pinched her cheek. "You cried a lot. I saw you."

Her lower lip trembled. "Because I missed you and Tyra gave me something to overthink."

"Let's not mind her anymore. Tahan na."

Ae tried her best to calm herself down. She swallowed the lump in her throat before she wrapped her arms around Linel again, hoping that his warm embrace would help ease what she's feeling.

"How long are you gonna stay here this time? Huwag mong sabihing tatlong araw lang. Magwawala ako, Linel. Isang taon kitang hinintay."

Natawa ito nang mahina. Maya-maya ay pinatakan nito ng halik ang kanyang balikat. Tila nilalambing siya nang tuluyan na siyang tumahan.

"A month, but the headquarters might call us to report for duty earlier than expected. Let's just cross our fingers and hope that they'd let me enjoy at least a month of vacation. The last assignment wasn't easy anyway. I deserve a long break after all that."

She sighed. "May internship ako. Hindi natin masusulit," may panghihinayang niyang sabi.

Nakakainis naman kasi. Bakit hindi natatapat sa semestral break ang bakasyon nito? She would love the idea of an out of town with him.

Linel caressed her thigh while staring into her eyes. "Did you get into Kelton for your internship?"

She sniffed. "Yes. They said they hand-picked me."

"Good. Once you get your license, Kelton is going to hire you."

Kumalas siya sa pagkakayakap sa nobyo at tiningnan ito. "Did you pull some strings in order to help me secure a spot in Kelton?"

"I gave one of my brothers in MCB a call before I left a year ago. I told him about you. He said he's gonna make sure you'll have a job in Kelton Med."

Napabuntonghininga siya. "Don't you think it's a little unfair? Especially to my friends?"

"We'll vouch for them next time." Pinunasan nito ang bakas ng luha sa kanyang pisngi. "I'll find a way para masulit natin ang bakasyon ko."

Umismid siya habang nagpupunas ng luha sa sulok ng mga mata. "Ano naman ang gagawin mo, Linel? Bubuntot sa ospital? Magpapa-confine doon?"

Linel clicked his tongue. "I was thinking of hiding in the morgue so we can sneak there and have some fun but that's definitely a better idea."

Inirapan niya ito. "You're crazy--" Naputol ang kanyang sinasabi nang mapansin niya ang tila bagong peklat sa may kaliwang braso nito. "Anong nangyari dito? I don't remember you having a scar here?"

"I got shot. Daplis lang. Nothing to worry about," sagot nito na animo'y gasgas lamang dahil sa pagkakadapa ang pinag-uusapan nila.

Sumimangot siya. "I told you to be careful and to come home in one piece."

"I did, baby. Sometimes it's just inevitable. Anyway . . ."

Halos impit siyang mapatili nang bigla siya nitong ihiniga sa kama at pinakubabawan. Mabilis din nitong ibinaon ang mukha sa kanyang leeg habang ang mga kamay niya ay humawak sa kanyang magkabilang palapulsuhan.

"Linel, I still stink! Let me take a shower first!"

"Later . . ." he whispered on her ear. "We'll take a shower together later . . ."