TRIXIE’S POV:
NANGUNOTNOO ako na ramdam anh sobrang bigat ng ulo at katawan ko. Halos hindi ko maigalaw ang kamay ko sa sobrang panghihina. Then came the pain everywhere. My arms, my legs, even my damn fingertips were throbbing like I’d run a marathon without training.
Dahan-dahan akong nagdilat ng mga mata ko, pati pagdilat ay hirap na hirap kong gawin. I tried to sit up, but my body screamed in protest. Parang nawalan ng lakas ang buong katawan ko, at tanging natira lang ay kirot sa buong katawan lalo na sa aking p********e!
“Ugh, fvck! Sobrang sakit naman,” I muttered under my breath, leaning back against the headboard.
My throat was dry. Namamaos ang boses ko. I closed my eyes and try to calm myself. Bumabalik sa memorya ko ang mainit na namagitan sa amin ni Anton kagabi. Ni hindi na nga kami nakapag-dinner na mas nauna kaming nag-s*x at sa iba’t-ibang posisyon dito sa silid! Kaya naman sobrang nangangalay at kirot ng buong katawan ko ngayon.
Napangiti ako na sumasariwa sa isipan ang mga namagitan namin. He eat my p***y a several times. He kissed my whole body. Kahit sa aking mga paa ay hinalikan nito. Na para akong reyna na sinasamba niya. Inabot kami ng alauna na diretsong nagsi-s*x kaya kahit kama ko ay sabog-sabog ang itsura. Gano'n pa man, wala akong pagsisising nadarama sa mga namagitan sa amin. Oo, wala kaming relasyon ni Anton pero– napakasaya ko na kasama siya. Napakasaya ko kagabi habang tinatanggap ang bawat pag-ulos niya.
I shook my head and open my eyes. Nasulyapan ko naman ang tubig sa mesa sa tabi ko. Kahit nanghihina, dahan-dahan kong iniangat ang braso na inaabot iyon. Just as I was about to reach for the water glass on my bedside table, the bedroom door creaked open. Napalingon ako sa may pintuan, there he was– Anton looking like he just stepped out of a magazine cover even in his plain black sweatpants and white shirt. Ngumiti siya bahagya na pumasok, and I could see the worry written all over his handsome face.
“Good morning, babe, how are you feeling now?” He rushed over to the bed, his big hands gently pressing against my forehead. “Your fever’s still high. I checked it fifteen minutes ago, it was 38.5. Hindi pa bumababa.” Dagdag niya na lumamlam ang mga mata.
I tried to give him a weak smile, even though my muscles were screaming. “I’m okay, Anton. Really. I'm just tired, and my body hurts like crazy. But I’ll be fine in a day or two, promise.” I answered him.
He sat down on the edge of the bed, his brows furrowed so deep I thought they’d stay that way forever.
“You're not okay, babe. You’re sick because of me. I'm so sorry, hindi ako nagpigil kagabi. Alam ko namang wala kang karanasan sa mga gano'ng gawain pero sinobrahan kita. I'm sorry, babe.” Paumanhin niya na bakas ang sensiridad at guilt sa mga mata.
I reached out to touch his cheek– his skin was warm, so different from how hot I felt inside. Alam ko namang guilty siya, pero hindi naman niya kasalanan ito. Kung may sisihin man, pwede ko na rin sisihin ang sarili ko because I wanted it just as much as he did. We both lost track of time, lost track of everything except each other. At ngayon, heto at nilagnat ako.
“Hey,” I said softly, cupping his face in my hand. “Look at me. You didn’t do anything wrong. I wanted every single second of what we shared last night, Anton. Lahat ‘yon, ginusto ko. So stop blaming yourself, okay? Nagrereklamo lang ang katawan ko. Siguro dahil nasa thirties na tayo?” wika ko na pabiro sa dulo.
Napangiti naman ito. Pero hindi abot sa mga mata niyang puno ng pag-aalala. He hold my wrist and gently pressed it.
“Still, babe, you were supposed to go to Montreal later for that campaign shoot. Now you can’t go, and you’re here suffering because I couldn’t control myself last night. First day ko pa lang dito pero– nahahadlangan ko na ang trabaho mo,” mababang wika niya na nakalarawan pa rin ang guilt sa mga mata.
Ngumiti ako na hinagkan ito sa noo. “It's okay, Anton. Work can wait. Tiyak na ini-reschedule na ni Lisa ang photoshoot ko sana ngayon. You havw nothing to worry about. Hindi nito maaapektuhan ang trabaho ko. Isa pa, hindi naman kita sinisisi e.” I replied with a smile.
Tumango siya na pilit ngumiti. “Do you need to use the bathroom?” pag-iiba niya pero umiling ako.
“Hindi pa naman.”
“A’right. Stay here. I made you something to eat– chicken soup with lots of veggies, plus some rice and steamed fish. Maaga akong nagising dahil ang taas ng lagnat mo. Kaya nagluto na muna ako para may makain ka paggising mo,” malambing niyang saad na yumukong hinagkan muna ako sa noo.
“Really? You cooked all that by yourself?” I asked, my stomach growling at the thought.
Even with the fever, I could smell how good it was wafting from the kitchen.
“Tried my best,” he said, running a hand through his hair. “I almost burned the rice twice– Toronto stoves are so different from what we have back home. But I got it right in the end. I also made some ginger tea with honey. Nakita kong may luya at honey ka sa kitchen kaya gumawa na ako.” Aniya na hinaplos ako sa buhok kong sabog-sabog.
Parang hinahaplos ang puso ko sa mga sandaling ito habang nakatitig kay Anton. Damang-dama ko ang kakaibang bilis ng pagtibok ng puso ko, na si Anton lang ulit ang nakagawa matapos ang mahabang panahon kong pagiging single. I stared at him, feeling tears prick my eyes. Para akong malulusaw sa kinauupuan habang nakatitig kami sa isa't-isa. Hindi ko alam kung nagiging assuming lang ako pero– kita ko ang kakaibang kinang sa kanyang mga mata. Na tila napakasaya nito na kasama niya ako ngayon.
“Anton, you didn’t have to do all this,” I said, my voice a little shaky. “Bisita kita e, dapat nga, ako sana ang umaasikaso sa'yo.”
Ngumiti siya na umuling. “I wanted to. When I saw you waking up looking so pale and weak this morning, I just knew I had to do everything I could to make you feel better. Ako rin naman ang may kagagawan kaya nilalagnat ka at naubos ang lakas mo. Kaya marapat lang na ako rin ang mag-alaga sa'yo. Isa pa, masaya ako, babe. Masaya akong alagaan ka nang gan'to.” Aniya na bakas ang sinsiridad sa mga mata.
I reached for his hand, lacing our fingers together. Napangiti naman ito na marahang pinisil ang palad ko. He even kiss my hand that makes me smile and shy.
“Thank you,” I whispered. “I appreciate your kindness and effort, Anton. Thank you.”
“Anything for you,” he said, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. “Kukunin ko lang ‘yong pagkain ha? You need your strength back. After that, you can take a rest again. Para mabilis na makabawi ang katawan mo,” aniya na ikinatango ko.
I smiled as I leaned back against the headboard, waiting for Anton to bring the food from the kitchen. I couldn’t help but feel giddy in these moments. I thought I’d never get to experience this again– being special enough to be taken care of by a man. But here we are. . . fate brought Anton into my world. Napailing ako na nangingiti.
“Damn, Trix, are you falling in love with him?” I murmured in my mind.
“Yes, Trix, you're falling in love with him. Hindi mo naman ibibigay ang katawan mo sa kanya nang paulit-ulit kung wala kang nadarama para sa kanya, ‘di ba? You're not that kind of woman that easily open their legs with the man they like,” sagot ng utak ko sa akin.
Napailing ako na nanatiling nakapikit. Parang may sapi na nagsasagutan ang aking puso at isipan.
“Hindi ako in love sa kanya. Natutuwa lang ako at the same time, pareho lang naming ini-enjoy ang isa't-isa. He's not here for me anyway. Isa pa, napupunan naman ni Anton ang pangangailangan ng katawan ko e. Masaya ako sa meron kami. Ayokong umasa nang mas higit pa dito. Maybe we'll just stay like this so called– fvck buddy or friends with benefits.” Naiiling kontra ng isipan ko.
“This is crazy.” Usal ko.
Sakto namang bumalik na si Anton. I opened my eyes and watched as he walked into the room, carrying a tray piled high with food and the ginger tea he’d made himself. I smiled– it felt like we’d just gotten married. He looked so husband material right now, especially in his casual home clothes. Ayokong umasa pero hindi ko mapigilang kiligin sa inaasta nito ngayon.
Maingat niyang ibinaba sa mesa ang dala at naupo sa gilid ng kama bago bumaling sa akin na may ngiti sa mga labi. I met his gaze, unable to look away from his bright, lively eyes. They seemed to shine just for me– like I was the very reason they lit up at all.
“Sabayan mo na ako. Mas masarap kumain na may kasabay,” wika ko.
He smiled and nodded. Inabot niya ang gatas na dala at pinainom muna ako.
"Okay lang bang mag-share tayo ng kutsara?" tanong niya na ikinatango ko.
"Yeah, of course. I've never done this before but I think --that's exciting tho." Sagot kong ikinangiti nito.