Love You Both (Tagalog/Filipino)

Chapter 5

    “Well, you came at the wrong time. Why did you have to tap my shoulder at that exact moment?” tanong niya sa binata imbes na humingi ng dispensa sa nagawa. 

    “I just want to save you from that man, miyembro yata 'yon ng budol gang. Maybe he's trying to steal your heart,” pagbibiro nito na parang wala naman talagang iniindang sakit. 

    “Ah, so you bothering me is okay?” she asked him sarcastically. 

    “Is that your way of saying thanks to your savior?” balik-tanong nito sa kanya.  Hindi siya madadala ng flirting tactics nito. “Or is that your way of apologizing to someone you have hurt?” mahinang sambit nito. Mas lalo naman yatang hindi siya madadala ng panggi-guilt-trip nito.

    Aya turned her back on him, just like what she did before. Ayaw niya ng komplikasyon. Masyado nang masalimuot ang buhay niya para magdagdag pa ng bato na ipupukpok sa ulo niya. He was just a pleasant part of her past. She didn’t expect him to be a little clingy like this. She was about to walk away when he abruptly grabbed her wrist.

    She automatically spun around and lost her balance and fell forward, in his arms. Their eyes locked. Bumalik siya sa katinuan matapos siguro ang sampung segundo at tumayo ng maayos. She jerked away his hand on her wrist. This guy is clearly teasing her. What on earth is he doing here anyway? Was he really following Ana all this time? She got curious, so she tried to change her mind, she now wanted to know more.

    “Are you leaving again after what you did to me?” malungkot na tanong nito sa kanya. Muntik na siyang madala sa lungkot na nakita niya sa mga mata nito. After their fatal encounter back then, she left without any words. He must have been that sad back then, para maalala pa rin nito ang nangyari noon. Sa totoo lang, wala naman sa hitsura nito ang mag-cling sa isang babae. Ito pa nga ang mukhang habulin ng mga kababaihan at maging ibang kalalakihan. Or maybe, he just couldn't forget the dirtiest and nastiest night in his life. Nagkataon lang na he spent that rough night with her. Maybe that's what made him remember her. In short, she's nothing special. 

    That is when she walked away and got out of the bar. He tried to chase her but she disappeared through the spectators outside watching the fire dance happening just in front of the bar. Well, that’s what he thought because she never disappeared. She just hid well, that he can’t see her, but she can see him clearly enough, as he walked past the crowd, still trying to find her. Sinundan niya ito kahit gusto pa sana niyang magliwaliw sa magandang nightlife ng Boracay, but she has something to confirm. Is he really curious about her? Paano kung noon pa pala siya nito hinahanap? Hindi kaya gusto nitong maging parte siya ng buhay nito? She should have looked away, but she found herself delving into something deeper. Para bang may nabuhay din na kung ano sa kanya sa muling pagkikita nilang ito. Now he got her curious. 

    Laking gulat niya ng pumasok din ito sa Estoria Hotel, kaya hindi niya muna ito sinundan. The lounge was empty at that time. She couldn’t risk him seeing her there. Malakas ang kutob niya na he already knew she was staying there. Kaso ay gusto niyang malaman kung ano ang pakay nito rito, at kung sino ang kasama nito. Pumasok lang siya noong nakita niyang naglalakad na ito papuntang elevator. She quickly sat in the lounge eyeing him carefully. Noong nakasakay na ito ay mabilis siyang nagpunta sa elevator. 

    She pressed the down button of the elevator he had ridden. She saw it stopped on the 3rd floor so she entered quickly on the other elevator, just in front of it. She pressed close repeatedly, then she pressed 3.  As soon as she got out, she saw him entering the room three units after the elevator. Naglakad siya papunta rito. Room 307. She was about to press the doorbell when a hotel staff exits room 311. 

    Ewan din niya kung bakit, but she turned away from his door and head back to the elevator. Maybe later. Yeah, it can wait. At least she knows where he was staying. Pero hindi na mapalis sa dibdib niya ang kakaibang excitement habang papalayo sa pintuan ng unit nito. She suddenly thought of Juluis and Ken. What could have happened with the two? Well, don’t get her wrong, she wasn’t interested in their affair, she just wanted to know if her plan did succeed. She went back to their unit. She wasn’t surprised when she didn’t see Juluis there. Nakaramdam na siya ng antok nang masilayan niya ang higaan. No, hindi niya maaaring sayangin ang gabing ito, knowing na sa susunod na pag-gising niya ay baka wala na sila rito. 

    Dali-dali siyang lumabas ulit sa kwarto nila at lumabas ng hotel. She almost entered the door of Coque bar again, she really wanted here because of its serene environment, for a bar, but upon seeing na naroon pa ang mga witness sa kanyang ginawang krimen kani-kanina lang, she hesitated. 

    Ngayon lang niya napansin na tahimik na pala sa labas nito kumpara kanina dahil tapos na ang fire dance. Napansin niya itong Siplaya Beach Bar na kanina lang eh nilagpasan lang niya dahil sa ingay nga. There were a lot of empty seats. Of course hindi pa din safe sa mga kagaya ni Mr. Chinese Man kanina pero she promised herself that she would keep her chill and just quench her growing thirst. She ordered lots of booze and cheesy garlic mussels to go with her drinks. One bucket, 2 buckets...

    She just finds herself asking for more. One more. Just one more. She can’t explain this thirst-like feeling she can’t satisfy no matter how much she drank, as if there is a fire burning somewhere inside her waiting to be extinguished. Then out of nowhere, she saw him. Vince, looking at her with his loving eyes, revealing his deep dimples in his chiseled jaw as he smiled at her sweetly. 

    “Vince?” But he disappeared as soon as she muttered his name. She knew right there and then what she exactly wanted. She remembered asking for her bill, pero hindi niya sure kung nabayaran niya ba ito. Tuwid pa din ang paglalakad niya kahit sa loob-loob niya ay iba na ang nararamdaman niya. Hindi na siya makapag-isip ng tama at hinayaan na lang niya ang mga paa niyang dalhin siya sa kung saan ang sinisabi ng utak niya. Her memories were now a bit hazy as she finds herself standing outside his door, ringing his doorbell.

    Then he opened the door with his puffy eyes. He seemed disoriented. Goodness, he had the audacity to sleep after their dramatic encounter awhile ago. She was waiting for him to escort her inside but it seems as if he has no intention of letting her in. Never mind, she can do it herself so she pushed him softly and squeezed her way in. She knew the fire inside her burned more intensely as she let every second pass. 

    “ What are you-" 

    She didn't let him finish as she tiptoed and swiftly gripped her arms into his neck, while she tilted her head as she hungrily worked her mouth into his, giving him her most demanding kiss. 

    She missed this kiss, or maybe she missed this man after all.