Chapter 4.2
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Author's Note: Please bear with the misspellings and grammar errors. Read, Vote and Comment!
Chapter 4.2
Maagang narating nila Bernard at Clarissa ang pakay nilang local tribe center. May kalayuan ito mula sa lodge nila, ngunit napabilis ang kanilang byahe sa pag daan nila sa shortcut route. Mabato at baku-bako ang daan sa shortcut route kaya naman mas lalong napakapit si Clarissa kay Bernard. Kalabisan man ito laban sa kanyang nararamdaman ay wala naman itong magagawa dahil kung hindi ito kakapit ay tiyak na siya ay mahuhulog.
His scent is still lurking in her senses. His masculine scent travelled in her nose and regardless how she denied it - it was for her addicting. Hindi niya maipaliwanag kung anong klaseng kemikal ang gamit lalaki upang siya ay madala sa nakaka-lasing niyang amoy.
"Magandang araw po." si Bernard. Nasa opisina na sila ng tanggapan ng Datu sa isla alteresia.
Narito sila upang magbigay galang sa komunidad. Nais rin ni Bernard na alukin ng pangkabuhayan ang mga nakatira dito bilang pasasalamat sa kanilang maiinit ng pagtanggap.
Isa-isa ring nagbigay ng pag-galang sina Clarissa sa mga namumuno ng isla. Kapwa masaya sila na nakarating at masilayan ang mas marami pang nakatira rito. Naghanda rin ang mga local ng isang piging para sa kanila.
One of the elders reached out to Clarissa and Bernard. She looked at them with so much admiration. "Iho, asawa mo ba ang magandang babae na kasama mo?" the elder asked Bernard. Clarissa and him looked at each other and Clarissa was about to answer when Bernard stood up. "Hindi pa po. Pero sana sa di katagalan ay siya na nga." and he looked intently at Clarissa. Mga hiyaw ng kilig at admirasyon ang madidinig sa paligid. Clarissa does not want to spoil the moment, nor she doesn't want to spoil the happiness of the crowd and she just go with it.
Matapos ang kanilang kainan ay nagtanghal ng katutubong sayaw ang mga kalalakihan at kababaihan ng isla. Isa isa silang umindayog sa tunog ng tradisyunal na tambol at isang uri ng pluta na hugis sarcopago.
After the dances, the tribe leader requested for two young couples to dance in the rythym of Lanceros de Tayabas.
Sa una ay tumanggi si Bernard, ngunit wala na siyang nagawa pa noong siya ay itinayo at pinalapit kay Clarissa.
"O, hindi ako ang may gusto ha, pinilit lang ako." agad na sambit ni Bernard ng siya nasa tapat na ni Clarissa.
"Sige na Clang. Ngayon lang naman ee." panunuya naman sa kanya ni Zea. Dahil ayaw naman biguin ni Clarissa ang pakiusap ng mga nakakatanda ay pumayag na siya. She stood up and faced her partner. Bernard offerd his hand to his partner and they began to step at the start of the music.
Her heart beats in turmoil and she can't control. Loud cheers were audible, but for her - she only hears her heart beat and her breathing. The music changed to a romantic one. Bernard placed his hands on Clarissa's waist - which automatically sent chills to her. His stare was steady, and he is locking his sight at her.
The rythym continues and her heartbeat do so. Bernard cupped her cheeks and sligthly turned in adherence to the music. She grasp for air when Bernard leaned his face closer to her nape. She can feel his breathing - it was warm yet feisty.
Nagpatuloy ang ganoong posisyon nila at tila ay nagugutuhan niya iyon. Chills continues down her spine and into every ends of her nerves. Napapikit siya sa sensasyong hatid ng hininga ng binata. And no matter how much she denied it, she kept on wanting for more.
Natigil na ang tugtog at nagpalakpakan ang mga nanood. Natigil na rin ang sayaw nila. She wants to plead more for his touches, but she doesn't want to give Bernard a slightest chance because she don't want her ego tarnished.
Pakiramdam niya ay nagtataksil siya kapag nagugustuhan niya ang ginagawa sa kanya ng lalaki. It was as if she is betraying to Andrew. Only Andrew made her feel that sensation and she want to think that it was only Andrew who can give her that gratifying pleasure.
"Am I attracted to him?" ani Clarissa sa sarili. Pilit niyang binubuo ang kasagutan na pilit niyang kinakalimutan. But the force was too consuming and she can't contain it.
***
Hapon na at malapit ng magtakip silim ng mapagpasyahan nila Bernard na tumungo na pabalik ng lodge.
"Sigurado na ba kayo na hindi na kayo magtatagal pa?" anang isa sa mga lider ng tribo.
"Gustuhin ko man po, pero marami pong mga aasikasuhin." malungkot na tugon ni Bernard.
"Labis po akong nag-enjoy sa tribo, at pangako po na babalik ako rito." si Clarissa.
"O sige na, mukha ngang hindi ko na kayo mapipigilan pa. Mag-iingat kayo sa inyo paglalakbay. Baunin niyo ang aking basbas ng sa gayon ay maprotektahan kayo sa anumang sakuna." at nagmano na sila sa punong datu. With one more goodbye, they left.
"Kumapit kang maayos, Clarissa. Muli nating babagtasin ang shortcut road." paalala ni Bernard bago sila lumiko sa sinasabi nitong daan. Nasa likuran lamang nila sina Yael at Zea na sumusunod sa kanila. Ilan pang metro ay narating na nila ang unang gubat na daraanan nila.
Lubhang masukal ito, at madilim. Clarissa felt a sudden fear when loud noises from bats engulfed the forest. Noon din lamang niya naranasan na bumiyahe ng gabi at sa masukal na kagubatan pa.
"s**t!" pagmumura ni Bernard. Nakaramdam ng kaba si Clarissa sa mga sinambit ng binata.
"What happened? Is there something wrong?" she replied. Unti unti ring bumabagal ang kanilang pag-usad hanggang sa tuluyan ng huminto ang makina ng motor.
"We ran out of gas." Bernard mentioned. Napahinto sila sa gitna ng kagubatan. Tumigil din sina Yael na kanina lamang ay nakasunod din sa kanila.
"What happened bro?" si Yael.
"Nawalan kami ng gasolina, Pare. Pag minamalas nga naman!" Bernard gritted in frustration.
"Nakapagkarga pa kami kanina sa tribo, hindi ka ba nagpakarga?" tanong naman ni Zea sa binata. Bernard brushed his face as he remebered that he did not refill their tank.
Umiiling na lamang siya at umupo sa may nalaking bato.
"Pare, don't worry, I can get you some fuel, pwede naman na kami mauna ni Zea, at balikan na lang namin kayo." Yael offered the obviously last option.
"Clang, please relax ka lang. Babalik din kami agad." Zea assured the now troubled Clarissa. Clarissa feels scared, and the same time worried that there might be crooks around that may harm them.
"Wala bang NPA dito? Baka dukutin nila tayo." Clarissa asked Bernard.
Nilapitan naman ito ng binata. "No worries, walang NPA dito. This place is by far the safe from crooks." he assured her. Nakahinga naman siya ng maluwag ng sabihin iyon ni Bernard.
"O sige na, Clang. Una na kami para makabalik din kami agad."pagpapalam ni Zea.
"Bro, Mag-iingat kayo. Balik kami agad."his pal assured him. They left bringing the assurance that they will be saved.
ALAS siete na ng gabi and the two aren't back yet. Madilim na at tanging ilaw na namumula sa motor ang kanilang ilaw. They are both seated at a boulder nearby.
Awkwardness is felt by both of them. Kanina pa walang imik ang ni isa sa kanila. Neither of them wants to open up to ease the boredom. Tsaka lang naalala ni Bernard na tanungin si Clarissa tungkol sa nakaraan nito.
"Clarissa, I hope you won't get offended." he opened up the conversation. Kasabay naman ay napatingin ang dalaga sa kanya.
"Ano naman yun?" she asked.
"Well, I did run a quick research about you and..." hindi pa man siya natapos magsalita ay napatawa naman si Clarissa.
"What? Are you stalking me?" natatawa niyang sambit.
"So you are okay with it?" muling tanong ni Bernard.
"Well, no of course. Pero, what can I do? A lot of people, especially those who wants to date me always runs background check about me. Hindi ko naman sila mapipigilan, and definitely I won't mind if they turned bitter against me. In the first place, I did not wished to be dated by someone." she replied.
"So that explains why you run away from four weddings?" he curiously asked.
"Correction. Arranged wedding." she pointed out. "At isa pa, I did not agreed to those because I firmly believe in marriage for love, and not for business."
Napatikhim si Bernard sa mga narinig. Hindi niya lubos akalain na sasakyan ng dalaga ang mga katanungan niya. It impressed him and he wants to know deeper about her.
"Any more questions? Pasalamat ka at bored ako and I'm willing to answer your questions." natatawa niyang tanong kay Bernard.
"Mahal mo pa ba si Andrew Fulgencio?" and she was speechless. A question that she wasn't expecting to be asked.
She felt sadness with the question. Mahal pa nga ba niya ang dating kasintahan.
Memories suddenly flashed back and this made tears fell from her eyes.
"I'm sorry if I was too straight forward." Bernard apologised.
Nilapitan ni Bernard si Clarissa and offered him his hanky. She is crying like a river now thanks to that question.
"Sorry. You can opt not to answer. I will respect it." said Bernard.
"How dare you ask me that question" she said in between sobs. Gusto niyang kastiguhin pa ang binata ngunit hindi niya maramdaman pa ang lakas niya buhat ng sobrang pag-iyak.
Walang pasubali ay biglang niyakap ni Bernard si Clarissa. He hugged her tight, made her feel his presence. It soothe her somehow. Kahit nais niyang kumawala but that is the thing she would need right now.
"Si Andrew and unang lalaki sa buhay ko." panimula niya.
"He was with me whenever I feel that my dad was too much controlling of me. Siya ang nagparamdam sa akin na babae ako. That I should be respected as a woman."
"I was so inlove, and I hoped he felt the same way to me as well. But I guess, he wasn't really inlove with me." bitterness in her voice is audible.
"Pero wala, 'e. Nagpakatanga ako sa kanya. I was so sure na siya na talaga. Yet he left me... At the day of our wedding." malungkot na tugon niya. Bernard was listening to her actively. .
"Alam mo 'yun? Ang hirap pala kalimutan ng isang taong labis mong minahal? Na sa isipan ko ay binuo ko na ang magiging future naming dalawa." natatawa niya sambit
"Akala ko lang pala ang lahat. I was wishing for a happy ever after, but I guess I don't deserve it."
"Gusto ko naman siyang kalimutan eh. But I don't know how to unlove him. I fell hard when he left me without any reason. He left my heart broken." bitterness was felt in her words.
Matapos ng kanilang pag uusap ay saka naman kumulog ng malakas. Sinabayan pa ito ng malakas na ulan - na siyang agad na bumasa sa kanilang dalawa. Iniwan nilang saglit ang kanilang motor upang sumilong sa isang abandonadong kubo. Tila isa itong tuluyan ng mga mag-uuling. Tumuloy sila sa kubo at doon mag papalipas ng ulan.
"Basang basa ka." alalang sambit ni Clarissa kay Bernard.
"I'm fine." he replied. The rain was accompanied by cold winds of January. It was chilling him. It was dark in the abandoned hut and only a light from their phone is used.
"Dumito ka lang muna at hahanap ako ng kandila sa loob." ani Bernard. May kalakihan din ang kubo at kamangha-manghang may mga ilang kagamitan pa sa looban nito.
Bernard roamed the place to look for a lamp that they can use. At last he found one. He went back to where Clarissa was and find her chilling in cold.
"Clarissa are you okay?" he immediately lit up the lamp and went straight to her. He felt her nape and she was a bit hot. Baka sinatin na ito at baka lumala kung patuloy siyang lalamigin
Bernard decided to take off his polo and wringed it to remove moisture. He placed his polo to Clarissa to warm her up. Ngunit parang hindi pa rin ito sapat!
"Forgive me, but I will have to do this." and he hugged her. Body heat! Ah, it was a natural heat source!
"Okay lang ako, baka ikaw naman magkasakit" protesta ni Clarissa.
"No, Trust me, I will be okay. Mahalaga na mainitan ka." and he hugged her more. His bare body touched her skin. Mas lalo pa nitong pinatindi ang ang init na nararamdaman niya. Malamig man ang panahon but the brisk friction of their skin burns up the sensation.
Under the light of the lamp, they looked at each other. She felt a sudden thirst when he saw him in his bare body. His eyes, looking straight at her, and their senses was lulled in the moment. Carnal desires awaken.
"Why are you so beautiful?" he whispers in her. He cupped her face and travelled his fingers on her nape.
She flirtatiously laughed. She is also driven with so much heat the they are feeling.
"Sorry for being too beautiful" and in one more grin, he kissed her. A kiss so warm, so seductive and so much addicting. Nakakalasing ang bawat halik nito sa kanya. His lips met with her passionately. Their tongue intertwined in the most carnal way. Ah! That was so tensing.
His kisses went down her nape. She felt that and it sends tickles to her spine.
His kisses stopped, and he stood up and carried her to the wooden bed. Tila ay baging kasal sila na sa unag gabi ay magniniig.
He slowly put her down the wooden bed and he looked at her straight in the eyes.
"Are you sure, you want to do this?" Bernard asked her again.
With no hesitations and from all those build heat, she nodded.
A sly grin appeared in his lips. "Say please, and you should get it" he was torturing her! She is ready for it, but she needs to plead! Gosh this is man is becoming naughty.
She gasp for air and grabbed all her senses back. "Please. Own me, Mr. Valderama."
*to be continued
- Writer
