MONTE COSTA SERIES 1: SHORE OF HEARTS

Kabanata 13

"ARE YOU saying that you want to kiss me?"

Teissa didn't know where she got the courage to ask Armani. Siguro ay nahihibang na siya dahil sa sinabi nito at kusa nang kumilos ang kanyang sistema para klaruhin ang nais nitong iparating. Or maybe she knew what he said will just bug her for nights and she doesn't want that.

Armani leaned against the backrest of his seat, his fingers tapping on the glass table while his other hand was on his jaw. When he started massaging his lower lip with his fingers, she felt the temperature around them increase in a way she wasn't sure if she's going to like. The air felt sultry all of a sudden and the flesh between her thighs became too sensitive.

Tanging paglunok lamang ang nagawa niya habang nakatitig sa mga labi ni Armani. What's going on with her? Why is she being tempted to kiss him, too and find out if his pair of thin lips are really soft?

"I think we both know the answer by now, Teissa," sa wakas ay sabi nito.

She inhaled a silent breath and tried to look away because God knows if she wouldn't, her sanity will finally leave her body. Baka kung saan humantong ang almusal na iyon.

"A—Alam din nating pareho na may asawa ako, Armani. I am . . . off limits." The words came out bitter, yet she knew those were the right words to say.

Isang malalim na buntonghininga ang pinakawalan ni Armani. "Of course you are." Tumikhim ito at dinampot na lamang muli ang tasa ng kape. "Kumain ka na. Forget what I said."

Mahina siyang tumango bago dinampot ang tinidor ngunit nanginginig ang kanyang mga kamay dala pa rin ng kakaibang init na hindi pa napapawi sa kanyang katawan.

Armani must've noticed that she was a bit trembling. Tumikhim ito saka siya tinulungang himayin ang tocino sa mas maliliit na hiwa. "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable around me, Teissa. I shouldn't have said that."

Matipid niya itong nginitian. "Ayos lang, Armani."

Umaliwalas ang mukha nito at gumuhit ang matipid na ngiti. Hindi na rin ito nagsalita pa. They both ate their breakfast while secretly glancing at each other. Kapag nagkakahulihan ay halos sabay ring iiwas ng tingin.

He pushed the fresh orange juice near her. "Drink it all up. Palagi mong palakasin ang katawan mo para hindi ka basta magkasakit sa Maynila. That place is very polluted and you can catch diseases easily if your immune system isn't strong."

Napatitig siya rito habang marahang tumatango. She didn't know why but it feels good to be taken care this way.

Dati ay sa mga palabas niya lang nakikita ang ganitong pag-aalaga kaya tumataba ang puso niya kahit na alam niyang may kakaiba sa pakikitungo sa kanya ni Armani.

Teissa knew she shouldn't enjoy it in the first place because she's married, but it just feels so good.

Napaisip tuloy siya. Will Andres be this way kapag maaari na itong magpakilala sa kanya? Aalagaan din ba siya nito gaya ng ginagawa ni Armani?

She doesn't want to keep her hopes up but she's wishing that Andres is a good man like Armani. Dahil kung hindi, alam niya sa sarili niyang hindi niya maiiwasang ikumpara ang mga ito.

AFTER SPENDING some time with her friends at her parents' graveyard, Teissa asked them to give her a moment alone with her grandpa. Nagpaalam naman ang mga itong bibili lamang ng pagkain sa kabayanan at babalik din. Teissa agreed and waved at them. Nang makaalis ang mga ito ay tuluyan siyang naupo sa damuhan at hinaplos ang lapida ng kanyang lolo.

Tears began to cloud her eyes as she traced the cursive letters in the granite stone. Sumisikip na kaagad ang dibdib niya dahil hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin niya matanggap na wala na ang matanda.

"Lo, masaya ka na ba ngayon kasi kasama mo na si Lola?"

The wind blew a gentle breeze and it made her smile in a painful way. Sumabay naman ang patak ng kanyang luha sa kanyang pagngiti.

"Is that a yes, lo?" Mapakla siyang napangiti saka niya niyakap ang kanyang mga tuhod. "Alam mo, lo masaya naman kahit paano ang kolehiyo. May ilang estudyanteng galing din ng probinsya na kahit paano ay nagiging kaibigan ko na. Siguro kung buhay ka pa, lo baka lagi mo akong kinukumusta kahit oras ng klase ko."

Her eyes drifted towards her wedding ring. Sandali siyang natahimik bago siya nagpakawala ng malalim na hininga. "Andres seems to be a great guy. Lagi niya po akong tinatawagan para kumustahin ang araw ko. He was like you actually at alam niya po ang mga pagkaing makakapagpagaan ng loob ko. Umamin ka nga, lo. Binigyan mo ba siya ng kodigo?"

Mahinang natawa si Teissa sa sarili dahil sa kanyang tanong. "You probably did. I know you just want me to be with someone you trust, lolo. Mahal . . ." Humapding muli ang kanyang mga mata at kumawala ang kanyang hikbi. "Mahal mo ako, eh."

Suminghot siya at pinunasan ang kanyang magkabilang pisngi. Nang akmang magsasalita pa siya ulit ay nakarinig siya ng tunog ng sasakyang parating. Akala niya ay ang mga kaibigan niya na iyon, ngunit nang lingunin ni Teissa ang pamilyar na itim na 4x4 ay natigilan siya matapos makita si Armani na may bitbit na basket ng bulaklak.

He was wearing a gray long-sleeved polo that's folded up to his elbows. Nang makalapit ito sa kanya ay nilapag nito ang bulaklak sa puntod saka ito naupo sa kanyang tabi.

"I thought you already left. Kanina ka pa umalis sa hacienda. Hindi ko alam na aabutan pa kita rito." He looked around as if trying to find someone. "Where are your friends?"

"Bumili lang sila para kahit paano ay magkaroon ako ng oras kasama si lolo." She flashed a small smile. "Hindi ko alam na dadalaw ka rin."

His lips curved for a comforting smile. "I come here often after he died. You might not know about this but your grandpa made a huge impact in my life back when I was still struggling to figure out what I really wanna become. Remember when we first met and how I looked like back then?"

Mahinang natawa si Teissa. "How could I? You're wearing a very disrespectful shirt."

Nahihiya nitong nahagod ang batok. "Yeah, I . . . I threw it away." Nakangiti itong tumingin sa puntod saka ito bumuntonghininga na tila may naalala. "I remember asking your grandpa something very important. Ang sabi kasi ng lola ko noon, kilalang barumbado si Don Mercado. Nagka-record din daw noon na natutulog sa presinto dahil madalas napapaaway. I asked him how he managed to turn his life around. You know what he said to me?"

"Ano?"

Armani pushed the strands of her hair towards the back of her ear. "He told me that the moment he met your grandma when he was rushed to the emergency room because his head was bleeding, he knew he needed to be good enough to deserve her. She became the beginning of everything good in his life. He stopped drinking so your grandma wouldn't say he can only tell his feelings when he's drunk. He stopped smoking because your grandma had asthma. He figured out what career he wanted to take so she could be proud of him. And above all that, he said he realized that the best dream he could ever make . . . was to be the man who could put a smile on her face everyday, for the rest of their lives." Lumawak ang ngiti nito. "Your grandpa was the most romantic guy I ever met . . . and the moment he asked me, 'Armani, what's the best dream you could make?' I knew I wasn't living my life right."

Humaplos ang init sa puso ni Teissa. Napatingin siya sa puntod ng kanyang lolo at lola habang may matipid na ngiti sa kanyang mga labi. "If I won't grow old with a man like my lolo, I'd rather be alone."

Mahinang natawa si Armani. "Your grandpa wouldn't like that. Maybe that's why before he died, he'd already picked someone for you." He sighed. "I just hope that the guy he chose wouldn't fail him."

Ngumisi si Teissa. "Papalpak lang naman si Andres kung hindi niya ako mamahalin, 'di ba?"

Kasabay ng pagtatamang muli ng kanilang mga mata ay ang pagguhit ng ngiti sa mga labi ni Armani. "Then if that's the case, it's already mission accomplished I guess."

She giggled and shook her head. "Saka na ako maniniwala kapag kay Andres ko na narinig." She moistened her lower lip. "Ikaw, Armani? How long do you think it's gonna take you before you will settle down? Gusto mo ba ng anak?"

Sumilip ang multong ngiti sa mga labi nito. "Mga ilang taon na lang. Once our careers are no longer the problem, I'd like to build a family already. Hindi na rin naman ako bata. I'm almost twenty six now but I guess I still have to wait 'til I'm thirty before I could have my first child with the woman I am dedicating my life to right now."

Sandaling natigilan si Teissa. "Y—You mean you're already with someone right now?"

Armani stared at her before he nodded. "She's the most beautiful girl I've ever met."

Hindi alam ni Teissa ngunit parang biglang sumikip ang dibdib niya. She knew she's not supposed to feel this way but a part of her wished it could be her instead.

Peke na lamang siyang ngumiti saka umiwas ng tingin. "Good for you. Iimbitahan mo naman siguro ako sa kasal mo, 'di ba?"

Armani chuckled softly. "On our church wedding?"

"Uhum." Tumingin siya rito ulit. "Invited ba ako?"

Tila maging ang mga mata nito ay ngumiti nang tumango ito. "Don't worry, Teissa. Hindi ka pwedeng mawala sa araw na 'yon. Your name will be in the wedding invitation."

"Talaga? Pwede ko namang isama si Andres kung sakaling magpakita na siya sa akin?"

His lips formed a meaningful smirk. "Of course he will be there, Teissa." He inhaled deeply then released it before he stared at Don Lino's grave. "Both of you will . . ."