Philander: Hunter Dwyer

Chapter Sixteen: Ice Cream Romance

I slouched against the wall as the cold water from the shower took over my body. I keep on thinking about the amount of money that I have to pay for the transplant and of how I would find a donor for Mama.

Saan ako makakakuha ng ganoong kalaking pera? Ayokong mawala sa amin si Mama, ang gusto ko sana ay maoperahan na siya agad. Natatakot ako na baka isang iglap lang ay mawala na siya sa buhay namin ni Papa.

Pinahiran ko ang mga luha ko at tinapos na ang pagligo. Napabuntong hininga ako nang mapagtanto na hindi ako nakadala ng tuwalya. Binuksan ko bahagya ang pinto at tinawag si Hunter, nakita ko ito sa sofa na may hawak na cellphone sa tenga, madalian niya itong inalis sa tenga niya at pinatay.

"Hon?" He looked anxious, even his voice was a bit shaky when he answered me.

I looked at him weirdly. "Who are you talking to?"

"Do you need something?" He replied with a question instead of answering mine.

Nakatingin ako sa cellphone na hawak niya, mukhang importante ang katawagan niya. May ideyang pumasok sa utak ko na agad kong pinaalis. Hindi dapat ako nag-iisip nang ganoon.

"Pwedeng pakiabot ng tuwalya, nakasabit sa sampayan sa labas?"

"Sure." He slid the phone in his pocket, tumayo si Hunter at lumabas ng bahay. Nang makapasok muli ay dala niya na ng tuwalya at inabot ito sa akin. Nginitian ko muna siya bago saraduhan ng pinto, ngunit hinarang niya ang paa niya sa doorwar para hindi ko tuluyang masara ang pinto.

"You should have allowed me to shower with you." Reklamo niya habang inaabot ang braso ko at hinihila palabas na may nakakalokong ngiti sa labi.

Namula ang buong komg mukha dahil nakahubad lang ako, pero sa dalawang linggo naming pags-stay sa isla ni Mr. Villareal ay wala kaming ginagawa kundi magharutan magjugjugan maliban sa trabaho kaya paunti-unti na ring nasasanay. Wala yatang kapagurang ang mokong na 'to.

"No, I know you will do more than just to shower. Plus, I know na nakapagshower ka na, gusto mo lang maka-score eh." Hinila ko ang braso ko, agad kong pinalibot sa katawan ko ang tuwalya.

I heard the door creaked open, I felt his arms wrapped around my waist, then he put his nose on my nape and inhaled my scent.

"You smell so good, hon."

"Maybe because I just finished showering?" I sarcastically replied.

He chuckled, he pulled me out of the bathroom, his arms still around my body. Napairap ako sa pagiging clingy niya, imbis na suwayin dahil nakakasagabal siya sa paggalaw ko ay hinayaan ko na lang. It's not everyday na magiging sweet siya sa akin dahil sigurado akong magiging busy siya sa work niya.

Ganoon na lang ng gulat ko nang biglaan niya akong buhatin, napatili ako gulat at malaki ang matang binalingan siya.

"Hunter! Ibaba mo 'ko, ano ba!?" I hit his chest but he just chuckled and brought me upstairs by carrying me bridal style. He laid me on the bed when he entered my room and kissed the tip of my nose.

Naghanap siya ng damit sa closet ko, matapos makahanap ay bumalik siya sa akin upang bihisan ako. Pagkatapos niya akong bihisan ay hinalikan niya na naman ako sa dulo ng ilong. He picked a yellow off-shoulder dress that ends just below my knees.

"I've notice that you like kissing me on my nose." I tapped the tip of my nose while pouting. "Why is that?"

"Yeah, I do like kissing you on the nose," he paused, "but I like kissing you on more on the lips, hon."

Just like what I expected, he captured my lips with his. He kissed me with full of emotion, he kissed me with full or passion. His soft and gentle kisses made my eyelids drop, I responded to his kisses and wrapped my arms around his neck automatically.

He pushed me to the bed, his body hovering on top of mine. He held my legs and parted them so he could position himself between them. He pulled away, smirking as he stared into my eyes. He leaned in again, kissing me that includes his tongue.

Naramdaman kong bumaba ang kamay niya sa puson ko, dahan-dahang tinataas ang bestida ko.

Our kisses started to deepen, french kissing wildly and hungrily. I was already out of breath and ready to get it on when the ringing of his phone distracted us and made us halt. He cursed under his breath while pulling the phone from his pocket and checking the caller.

"I have to take this call, hon." He pushed himself off me, he's staring at the screen with the emotion on his face I haven't seen before. The name 'Naomi' was on the screen and he stared at it for too long, he didn't even notice me staring suspectingly.

The name is so familiar, I remembered Frances mentioning that name once. The first girl who got the position as Hunter's assistant, she was the longest PA of him if I remembered correctly.

"Bakit mo tinititigan lang? Sagutin mo."

"I uh," he shook his head, "it's not that important. But I need to go now, ihahatid na kita sa hospital."

I shrugged. "Fine." Bumangon ako at inunahan siya sa paglabas, patakbo akong bumaba ng hagdanan habang masama ang mukha. Naiinis ako sa hindi ko malaman na dahilan, hindi naman mainitin ang ulo at mapagtiis din ako ngunit nakakapagtaka dahil hindi ko mapigilan ang inis ko sa kaniya ngayonm

Bakit ba ako naiinis? Dahil ba kay Naomi na matagal niyang naging PA dati? Bakit tinatawagan niya si Hunter? Bakit ganoon ang reaksyon ni Hunter? Bakit parang atat naman yata siyang ihatid ako sa hospital at umalis? Makikipagkita ba siya rito? Is he cheating on me?

"Honey!" He called after me.

"Magta-taxi na lang ako, Hunter, para kasing nagmamadali ka. Baka importante 'yong imi-meet mo."

Tinanggal ko sa charge ang cellphone ko, padabog ko itong pinasok sa bag.

"Sera, hon, look at me." He grabbed my arm and pulled me to face him.

"Nag-aalala lang ako kay Mama, okay lang ako, Hunter. Don't mind me." Hindi ako makatingin sa mga mata niya.

"Honey-"

"I said I'm f*****g fine!" I snapped, shrugging his hand off my arm. "Ihahatid mo 'ko kung gusto mo, gusto ko ng makita si Mama, nagmamadali ako!" Iniwan ko siya sa salas at nagtungo sa kusina, binuksan ko ang refrigerator para maghanap ng ice cream. I don't even know why I'm looking for an ice cream, especially in our refrigerator.

Inis ako nagpapadyak at mahinang sumigaw sa inis, I slammed the refrigerator door shut and folded my arms over my chest.

"Sera, what the f**k is your problem? Why the f**k are you mad at me? This is the first time I saw you like this-"

"Stop talking, huwag mo rin akong murahin, bwisit ka! You're annoying! If you want to make me feel better, then find me an ice cream!" I leaned back on the counter and sighed. "Gusto ko 'yong melom flavored, get me some."

"What?"

"Ice cream, Hunter. I want ice cream, melon flavored lang. Maghanap tayo, gusto kong kumain ngayon na!" Naglalaway na ang bagang ko iniisip pa lang ito.

He looked at me weirdly, he shook his head at me. "Fine, we'll find you an ice cream, but-"

"Wait, really? Thank you!" I ran to him and hugged him tightly, nagtatalon pa ako at hinalik-halikan ang pisnge niya.

"Sera-"

"I'm thinking of corneto, pero wala naman yatang melon flavored na corneto. I'm sure may ganoong flavor sa mga naglilibot sa kanto-kanto. Tignan natin, bilis! I'm so excited."

"Hon-"

"Oh! I know! Sa malapit sa mga public school, siguradong may nagtitinda duon ng mga ice cream!"

"Honey-"

"Let's go na, Hunter! Excited na 'ko!"

"Seraphina!" He shook my shoulder, I stopped rambling and looked at him with a frown.

"Yeah?"

"Are you sick or something?" He pressed the back of his hand on my forehead. "This is the first time I saw you like this."

"Like what?" I pouted.

"Like this. Childishly demanding, annoyed and excited." He pinched my nose playfully, then he smiled genuinely in amusement. "You're being cute."

"Am I not usually cute?" I looked down, pouting.

"Of course, you are always cute." He touched my cheek, he slowly caressed it and planted a short sweet kiss on it. "Okay, I'll buy everything you want."

"Really? Akala ko ba aalis ka?"

"Didn't I tell you? You are more important than anything else right now, because you are my girlfriend."

Napangiti ako sa mga katagang lumabas sa bibig niya.

Maybe my assumption is wrong. I should trust that he'll not cheat on me. He's this sweet to me, hindi naman siya nagkukulang para iparamdam sa akin na ako ang pinakaimportante sa kaniya. He won't cheat on me and he promised to keep me for long. I will hold on to that promise.

...

"Here's yours." Nakangiti kong inabot kay Hunter ang ice cream niya na nasa cone. "And this is mine." Pinakita ko sa kaniya ng akin, hindi nawala ang ngiti niya sa labi, tila ba nasisiyahan siyang nakikita akong ganito. Binayaran niya muna ang ice cream vendor bago hawakan ang pulsuhan ko at hilahin ako patungo sa bench para maupo.

I gasped in surprise when he brought my ice cream to his mouth and took a big bite from it. Agad kong nilayo ang ice cream ko mula sa kaniya at hinampas ang braso niya.

"You have yours! Bakit mo ginawa 'yon?" Napanguso ako sa inis, tinignan ko ang ice cream ko na malaki na ang nabawasan.

"Don't overreact, honey. I'll buy you another one." He shook my chin.

"Sabi mo 'yan ah?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. Kinuha ko ang braso niya, nilagay ito sa balikat ko at sumandal ako sa dibdib niya.

"You're being sweet, too. What happened to you, huh?" He pulled me closer, he kissed my cheek and then my temple.

He really loves kissing me, huh?

Imbis na sagutin siya ay kinain ko lang ang ice cream ko, paminsan-minsan ay tumitikim din sa ice cream ni Hunter dahil mabagal ito kumain. Pinagtitinginan kami ng mga tao na nakakakita sa amin pero para wala kaming pakialam.

Basta ako, ine-enjoy ko lang ang ice cream ko!

"Do you not feel cold?" He chuckled. "Halos kainin mo ng buo ang ice cream."

"Nang-aasar ka ba, ha?" Siniko ko siya sa dibdib, umaray siya na may kasamang tawa habang sapo ang dibdib niyang siniko ko.

"And now you're violent? What's up with your mood swings?" He pulled me back. "Huwag ka ng mainis, okay? Hindi kita inaasar." Hinalikan niya ang ilong.

Nakakapagtaka kung bakit napawi agad ang inis ko dahil lang sa simple niyang paghalik sa ilong ko. It even sent reaction to my heart, he often does that but my heart still reacts. Naaadik na ko yata sa mga halik niya.

Goodness, he really made me fall for him hard.

"Thank you, Hunt. I know that you're busy but still, sinamahan mo pa rin ako. Medyo nakalimutan ko 'yong problema ko because of this. Salamat." Hinalikan ko rin siya sa ilong tulad ng ginagawa niya sa akin.

Nagpatuloy na ulit ako sa pagkain, nakailang bili ako ng ice cream at nakailang kain. While still enjoying myself, I looked at him and called his attention.

"Hon?"

Binalingan niya ako, inipit niya ang hibla ng buhok ko sa tenga at nag-humm bilang sagot.

"Don't leave me, okay?"

Tinitigan niya ako, tinitigan niya ang mga mata ko na tila ba'y may hinahanap dito. Ilang saglit pa ay may ngiting gumuhit sa labi niya, marahan niyang hinimas ang baba ko gamit ang kaniyang daliri at maingat akong hinalikan sa labi. Hindi ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataong makatugon dahil humiwalay siya agad pero ipinagdikit niya ang noo naming dalawa.

"Never."

Kinagat ko ang ibaba kong labi, niyakap ko ang bewang niya at sinubsob ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya para itago ang luha ko. s**t, tama nga si Hunter na paiba-iba ang mood ko ngayon.

"Gusto ko pa ng ice cream." My voice cracked at the end, I cleared my throat and buried my face on his chest to hide my embarrassment.

"Of course, whatever my honey wants."