MONTE COSTA SERIES 1: SHORE OF HEARTS

Kabanata 19

MAGMULA noong nagkasundo sina Teissa at Armani na huwag nang magkita pang muli ay mas nagkaroon ng oras si Teissa upang maka-bonding ang kanyang asawa.

Andres would often book her a cab to pick her up when she's going to the university and when she's coming home. He would send her food and help her do her home works as if they're spending time together.

Kung minsan ay nagkikwentuhan sila ng ilang mga bagay-bagay tungkol sa isa't isa upang mas maging malapit pa sa isa't isa.

Although Teissa still misses Armani, she's slowly learning to divert her attention more to her husband. After all, Andres is a really nice man judging by the way he's interacting with her through the phone. He makes time for her, pays attention to everything she says, and really shows interest in getting to know her deeper.

Their routine continued for weeks, until weeks turned into months. Until one night, she received an odd message from Andres, asking her if she could turn all the lights off inside her condo.

Napakunot ng noo si Teissa nang nabasa niya ang mensahe ng asawa. She dialed his number and waited for him to pick up the call.

"Hey, baby," bungad nito. Dinig niya pa ang busina sa background na tila nasa kalsada ito.

"Uhm, Andres bakit mo pinapapatay lahat ng ilaw?" she asked.

"Oh, uh just wanna make sure you wouldn't see anything later."

Lalong nalukot ang noo ni Teissa. "Bakit naman? Paano kung may makapasok na magnanakaw? Hindi ko makikita kung sakali."

"Don't worry, baby you're safe. Walang ibang makakapasok sa unit mo." He sighed. "Ako lang," he murmured. Hindi tuloy niya narinig nang maayos ang huli nitong sinabi.

Humikab siya at ibinaba ang kanyang hair brush na katatapos lamang niyang gamitin. "Eh, bakit nga, Andres? Para saan? Masyado ba akong malakas sa kuryente? Malaki ba ang binabayaran mo sa bills?"

"Oh, no no no, baby." He scoffed. "It's not about the electricity bill. Hindi naman kita titipirin kahit anong mangyari."

"Eh, kung gano'n ay bakit pala? Para saan ang pagpatay ng lahat ng ilaw?" naguguluhan na talaga niyang tanong sa asawa.

She heard him sigh, and when she heard his answer, she almost dropped the phone she's holding out of surprise.

"Because I wanna come over." Muli itong bumuntonghininga. "I know it might be too much to ask but I had one hell of a week and I could really use some cuddles with my wife tonight, but since we still have to follow the rules stated in the agreement, I can only go there if you won't be able to see me. I don't want to lose you this early just because I am dying to lock you in my arms."

Sandaling lumunok si Teissa habang kinakalma niya ang kanyang sarili. "P-Paano kung . . . hindi ako kumportable na yakapin mo ko?"

"I can just lay next to you. You can put pillows between us but if you really don't want to welcome me in your unit, ayos lang din. I wouldn't force you. Sorry. Hindi muna kita tinanong kung ayos lang ba sa'yo ang gusto kong mangyari."

Teissa pursed her lips together as she thought about it. Kung tutuusin wala namang masama dahil technically, mag-asawa naman sila. Who knows? Maybe letting him sneak into her room every once in a while will help build their relationship as husband and wife? Baka mas madali niya ring makalilimutan ang nararamdaman niya para kay Armani kung sakaling tuluyan na siyang mahulog sa asawa niya.

Humugot siya ng hininga. "P-Payag ako." She swallowed the pool of saliva in her mouth. "G-Gusto ko rin namang mas mapalapit pa sa'yo. H-H'wag lang sana muna tayong magiging m-mabilis? I mean, s-sana y-yakap lang muna?"

"Of course, baby. I will never force you to make love with me nor even kiss me." He sighed. "I just . . . really wanna hug my wife and destress tonight. That's all."

"O-Okay. Papatayin ko na lahat ng ilaw. 'Yong door, paano?"

"I have a spare key," sagot nito.

"Sige."

Pinatay na niya ang tawag saka niya sinimulang patayin ang lahat ng ilaw. She used her phone to get to the bed. Nang maiayos ang sarili sa kama ay inilagay niya ang phone niya sa drawer ng bedside table.

It didn't take long before Andres came over. Malakas na tumambol ang puso ni Teissa nang marinig ang pagbukas ng main door. Pakiramdam tuloy niya ay para siyang si Psyche at ang asawa niya ay si Cupid dahil sa nangyayari.

She held the comforter tightly when she heard footsteps approaching the bedroom. The person outside seems to know where to go even when it was dark inside the unit. Hindi naman na nakagugulat dahil sabi nga ni Andres ay ito mismo ang pumili ng unit para sa kanya. Maybe he'd already familiarized himself with the unit before he gave it to her.

Nang bumukas ang pinto ng bedroom ay halos pigilin ni Teissa ang kanyang paghinga lalo nang madama ang paglapit ng isang bulto sa kanyang direksyon. The guy sat on the edge of the bed, and when he searched for her with his hand, she almost fainted when she felt his rough palm touching her arm.

Nadinig niya ang pagbuntonghininga nito bago tuluyang nahiga sa kanyang tabi. Halos tumalon naman palabas ng kanyang dibdib ang kanyang puso lalo na nang hapitin siya nito para yakapin. He was very gentle, as if he didn't want to scare her or make her feel uncomfortable as he slowly pulled her body closer to him.

"Finally . . ." he uttered under his breath. The scent of his manly shower gel lingered in her nose and intoxicated her in the most blissful way. Bakit ganoon? Bakit parang . . . pamilyar?

Teissa inhaled deeply before she nervously wrapped her arm around his waist. Halatang natuwa ito sa kanyang ginawa dahil maging ang hita nito ay iniyakap sa kanyang binti. Halos higitin tuloy niya ang kanyang hininga sa sobrang lapit ng kanilang mga katawan.

She's literally trapped between his arms and legs, but even when it seems uncomfortable, Teissa couldn't believe how peaceful it feels like to be in her husband's arms. Tila ba ligtas siya sa mga bisig nito. Tila ba kahit na maging mahimbing ang kanyang tulog ay hinding-hindi siya mapapahamak hangga't yakap siya nito.

Napapikit na lamang siya nang haplusin nito ang kanyang buhok saka nito marahang pinatakan ng halik ang tuktok ng kanyang ulo. A different kind of warmth wrapped around her heart, making her grip on his shirt as she angled her head.

"Y-You . . . can kiss m-me," lakas-loob niyang sabi. Kung bakit niya iyon hiniling ay hindi niya rin alam.

Looks like her husband hesitated for a moment. Bumuntonghininga pa ito bago tuluyang sinalat ang kanyang pisngi. His head moved until his tender lips finally pressed gently against her lips, and as Teissa's heart pounced with the effect of their fist kiss, she found herself slowly closing her eyes to feel the softness of his lips.

Inayos nito ang kumot at niyakap siyang mabuti matapos maghiwalay ang kanilang mga labi. Bahagya na ring nakaunan ang kanyang ulo sa hulmado nitong dibdib kaya halos kagatin ni Teissa ang ibaba niyang labi.

Ganito pala ang pakiramdam ng may katabi sa kama. Para bang . . . ligtas na ligtas siya.

Her husband caressed her arm as he drew in a sharp breath. "Goodnight, my sweet innocent wife." He pecked a gentle kiss on her head. "Someday, I'll kiss you in broad daylight without worrying about anything anymore . . ."