Las Cosas Series #2: A Mare's Nest Faith

Capitulo Dieciseis

Nagising ako nang madaling-araw at tiningnan ang lagay ni Maximus. Bumaba na ang lagnat nito pero puno ng pawis ang buong mukha at basang-basa na ang puting damit.

Kumuha ako ng basin at nilagyan iyon ng mainit at maligamgam na tubig. I poured a small amount of alcohol in the basin too. With a towel, I brought the basin to my room.

Wala na akong ibang puting t-shirt na magkakasya kay Max. Iyong jersey naman ay maliit lang sa kaniya. I have a piece of cloth that will fit him but I'm still having second thoughts of wearing it to him. Pero ayoko din namang nakahubad si Max buong magdamag.

Wala akong ibang nagawa kun'di kunin ang large size na black girly sleeveless ko.

Sana pala nanghiram na din ako ng damit kay Jarred kanina para kay Max. Madaling-araw na at siguradong tulog na sina Lola at Jarred. Nakakahiya na kung iistorbohin ko pa sila sa kanilang pagpapahinga.

"Pagpasensiyahan mo sana 'tong damit, Max, at ito nalang ang tangi kong maipasusuot sa'yo ngayon." Pabulong kong pagkausap sa tulog na si Max.

I took off his wet white shirt and carefully wiped his arms, face and chest with the water I put in the basin earlier.

"Max," mahinang paggising ko dito.

"Hmm?" He moaned weakly.

"Susuotan kita ng bagong damit. Nabasa kasi ng pawis mo 'yung kanina. Bangon ka muna sandali."

Hindi naman ito umangal at sinunod ang sinabi ko. I struggled upon wearing him the sleeveless but thank God it fitted. Medyo malaswa nga lang tingnan dahil ang laki ng katawan pero ang sexy ng damit na suot. Pero hayaan na basta hindi lang siya magka-kabag.

Max drifted back to sleep. Nandito lang ako sa tabi niya at mahinang hinahaplos ang kaniyang buhok, when he suddenly grabbed my waist and hugged me. Natuod ako sandali sa posisyon namin. He nuzzled his face on my chest. When I looked down, he was sleeping peacefully like an innocent kid.

"Chuma-chancing ka pa sa'kin. Naku, kung wala ka lang sakit ngayon baka kinarate na kita. May pa yakap ka pang nalalaman." Sa mahinang boses kong reklamo.

Suminghap ako at pinagmasdan ito. He looks so comfy upon nuzzling just below my neck. Gusto ko mang itulak ito ay hindi ko magawa.

"Ikaw ang matanda sa atin, pero ikaw ang parang bata kung umasta." Pabulong kong anas.

"Because I'm your baby."

I heard him murmur something but I didn't get to hear it clearly. Baka nagsleep talk lang. I caressed his hair again and the next thing I knew... I was dozing off to sleep.

Six in the morning, I received a text from the company saying that work is postponed due to Bagyong Pepek.

It's still raining cats and dogs outside, still pouring heavily.

Nagluto ako ng tinolang manok. Masarap ang mainit na sabaw ngayong malamig. Katatapos ko lang ihanda ang lamesa nang papungas-pungas na lumabas si Max ng kwarto.

I stiffled a laugh when I saw how my large sized sleeveless shirt looks so small on him. It fits in his body that his nips are showing. Mukha ngang mapupugto na ang tali niyon sa balikat niya. Hindi iyon kanipisan, pero nagmukhang manipis dahil siya ang may suot. He's still wearing the sweatpants though.

"Good morning...why?" He huskily asked when he saw me stopping my urge to laugh.

Nagkibit-balikat lang ako at ngumisi habang tiningnan ang sando niyang suot. Napatakip ako ng bibig nang yumuko ito at tiningnan din ang katawan.

"Ti sto diáolo?!" Anas nito nang makita ang fit niyang sleevless na suot.

Bumuhaglit na ako ng tawa. Hindi ko na napigilan ito lalo na nang makita ang nakakatawa niyang ekspresyon.

"What the hell-" he looked at me with a confused and pissed look. "Bella, what is this?"

Pinagkrus ko ang mga kamay at sumandal sa lamesa.

"You're sweating bullets last night. You're shirt got too wet. Baka kabagin ka at mas lalong magkasakit." Kibit balikat kong wika. "I have no other choice but to...wear that to you."

"Skatá!" Asik muli nito sa ibang lengwahe.

I zipped my mouth immediately and bit my lip to stop myself from laughing. The poor guy's already pissed, I don't want to piss him more.

"Looks good on you, by the way. Witwew." I added.

Okay fine... I really can't keep my mouth shut. Kakasabi lang na hindi ko na pipikunin, pero pinikon ulit. His reaction is just so priceless! Can't help it. Hahaha!

"...and good morning too." Dagdag ko bago tumalikod para kunin ang kape at gatas na kakatimpla ko lang.

When I got back, Max is already sitting on the chair and eyed the dish that I've cooked. Good thing he didn't took off the cloth. Hindi ko din alam anong ire-react ko kapag nag-borles 'tong si Max.

Nilapag ko sa harap niya ang kape at umupo sa tapat.

He was still eyeing the sinigang. That made me wonder kung kumakain ba ito nito. Hindi naman ito mapili ng pagkain sa ampunan noon, at kinakain kung ano lang ang nasa lamesa. But maybe he became food conscious as the years passed by.

On how I see it... He got a good body built, halatang palaging nag-e-excercise at maalaga sa katawan.

"Kumakain ka ba ng sinigang?" I craned my neck as I asked him.

No reponse...

"Max." Tawag ko ulit sa atensiyon nito. That's when he moved his gaze towards me.

"Yeah... I just...remembered my mom. She cooks this a lot, way back." Malungkot nitong kwento.

"Ay, sorry. Magluluto nalang ako ng ibang ulam-"

"No, no. It's okay." Pagpigil ni Max sa tangka kong pagtayo.

Umupo ako ulit.

"Sorry. It wasn't my intention to...uhm... I didn't mean it that way. I was just..." Natawa ako ng nahirapan ito sa pag eksplena.

"I understand, Max. Pasensya na din, hindi ko kasi alam na..." Napakamot ako sa ulo dahil hindi din mawari ang gustong sabihin. Tackling about his mother's death is quite sensitive. The reason why we're having a hard time on picking the right words to say.

"Let's...bless the food, then?" Tanong ko para mawala ang topic.

He nodded, but just like before, Max didn't prayed with me-he never did. Sa pagkakaalam ko ay katoliko ito pero hindi ko nakita ni minsan na nag-sign of the cross ito. But I didn't dwell on that that much.

As we ate ay kalmado lang kami at may kaunting usapan tungkol sa mga paboritong pagkain. Mga gustong bagay at iba pa. I kept the conversation cool. Mamaya ko na siya gigisahin pagkatapos naming kumain. Mabait pa ako ngayon dahil nasa hapag pa.

I'm slightly distracted when I look at him. Narito kami sa sala at sisimulan ko na ang "interrogation" na gagawin.

Nakaupo ako sa sofa habang nakaupo si max sa isang stool chair sa tapat ko. Pinapagitnaan namin ang center table.

"Uh, Bella. Why are we in this set up?" Naguguluhan nitong taning sa akin.

"Shh! Sit straight, Max. Ako dapat ang magtanong dito, hindi ikaw."

I slightly bended my back at clasped my hand.

"Let's start," strikto kong wika. "So, why did you come here yesterday night at exact 7:16 p.m. in the middle of bagyong Pepek's onslaught?"

"Because I want to see you." He answered immediately with no hesitation.

I gritted my teeth in annoyance. His answer annoyed me big time.

"Alam mo ba kung gaano kadelikado ang ginawa mong pagpunta rito?! Gabi pa, tapos bumabagyo. Max naman!" Nasapo ko ang ulo.

"Why are you so hot headed now?" He asked calmly.

"Dahil napipikon ako sa rason mo na dahilan ng pagpahamak mo pa sarili mo!"

"But you're just cool a while ago. And now..."

"May schedule ang pagiging maldita ko, huwag kang ano." Pambabara ko dito.

He sigh a deep breath.

"I was just worried. Nagalit ka sa akin kahapon sa trabaho dahil hindi kita na text noong isang araw." Aniya.

Nagpantig ang tenga ko roon.

"Hindi, ah! Hindi ako nagalit."

"Really?" Tumaas ang kilay nito na parang hindi naniwala sa sinabi ko. "Is that why you told me to marry Hannah instead of you? Because you're not mad?"

Napaawang ang bibig ko at hindi nakapagpormula ng sagot.

Pumungay ang kaniyang mga matang kakulay ng dahon.

"I wasn't able to text you yesterday night because I slept immediately when I got home. I didn't even get to eat dinner. I just took a bath because I was soaked wet from the rain and when I woke up, it's morning already. And I think...forcing you to answer me right away is...not good." Mahabang paliwanag niya.

Buti alam mo, sagot ko sa isip. Sino bang gustong ma-pressure sa pagsagot sa isang "napakasweet" na marriage proposal. Iyong tipong after ten years of no communication, "I want you to be my wife" ang ibubungad sa'yo.

"Hah. Ang swerte mo naman 'ata kapag papayag akong maging asawa mo. Ayoko." Nakita ko ang pagtutol sa kaniyang mga mata nang sinabi ko ang desisyon.

"Max, hindi basta-basta ang kasal at...hindi pa natin masyadong kilala ang isa't-isa. We've been apart for how many years and-"

"I'll court you, then." Sabat niya.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. "Max-"

"Whether you like it or not. I'll court you, Bella. And that's final." His orbs are blazing with certainty that I cannot break.

"Hindi ba't nasa akin ang desisyon dapat? At isa pa, paano ang girlfriend mo?"

"I have no girl. Unless you say yes, then I'll have one. YOU'LL be my woman."

"Eh, sino 'yung kayakap mo noon?"

"My cousin."

"Paano si Hannah?" Patuloy kong pagbato ng tanong.

Hia brows furrowed. "Stop dragging names here, Bella. It's always been you. Ikaw lang. Tayo lang ang kailangang may pagdiskusyunan. No other parties involved, but us."

Makailang beses na akong napabuntong hininga. Wala na akong maisip na pwedeng idahilan para humindi. So I started thinking, but then...

"And if your thinking of a reason on how to say no and will use the 'I treated you as a sibling' alibi, then I'll tell you this again. We're not sibling nor blood related. And I have never-ever treated you like a sister. You're always more than that. And the hell if you really treated me as a brother. I'll change that, and I'll make you want me and say yes to my proposal." Diretso ang kaniyang tingin sa aking mga mata.

His eyes were like those of a fire. Para kang mauupos kada titingnan mo ito. It melts something inside of you as you stare in their depths. And I am like a moth getting hypnotize by the fire, wanting more of it even though it's forbidden. Sure, it will cause my death if I get closer to it but no matter how dangerous it was for me to touch the fire... I still did. I can't resist it's charm, and I'd rather choose to be burnt into ashes just so I can get closer to it, to adore and witness it's forbidden beauty.

But ironic 'cause I see them as a water too. If you stare deeply on his green orbs, they're like a body of water you want to swim because it's tempting...really tempting. But as you jump, you didn't expect that its current is strong that it unables your legs to move and flap them. Your hands becomes unmoving and you can't swim your way up because the current's pulling you down. And will leave you drowning on its abyss.

Pero kahit malunod ka sa walang hanggang dilim ay masaya ka, because their depth is your home.

"Bella..."

I blinked and got out of my reverie.

Para akong tumakbo sa marathon dahil sa paghingal. Rinig na rinig ko ang malakas na dagundong ng aking puso sabay ng pag-ihip ng malakas na hangin sa labas. Tila nawalan ako ng hininga at lakas dahil hinigop ng kaniyang mga mata iyon nang aking titigan. They really are dangerous.

"Are you stil angry?" Alanganin nitong tanong. Tinaas kong muli ang tingin dito.

Kinunot ko ang noo. "Oo."

He craned his neck. Tila binabalandra muli sa aking paningin ang kaniyang delikado at nakakalunod na mga mata.

I cleared and swallowed the lump in my throat.

"Next time, kung gusto mong makita ang kagandahan ko maging pasensyoso ka. Kung masama ang panahon, huwag kang lumabas ng bahay mo. Kung masama ang pakiramdam mo, manatili at magpagaling ka sa bahay mo. Saka mo na ako kitain kapag maayos ka at hindi malagay sa alanganin ang buhay mo. Feeling superman ka. Paano kung naliparan ka ng swero kagabi, e'di tigok ka?" Kumatok ako sa kahoy. "At hindi mo na makikita ang kagandahan ko." Iritado kong pangaral sa kaniya.

Mas lalo akong nairita nang makitang nakangiti ang damuho.

"Anong nginingiti-ngiti mo diyan?" Pinanlisikan ko ito ng mata.

"Because your nagging," nakingiti niyang sagot.

Napaismid ako. "Aba, at masaya ka pa na napapagalitan at pinuputakan?"

"Pinuputukan?" Naguguluhan niyang tanong.

"A-ano?!" Tila nalapastangan ako sa sinabi nito. "Ang sabi ko pinuputakan, tinatalakan ba. Linisin mo nga ng bagul 'yang tenga mo, Max."

His laugh roared around the house. "Just kidding, glykia mou."

Inikutan ko ito ng mata. But he just smiled at me...err seductively? He flashed a smile na kita ang mga mapuputi at pantay nitong ngipin.

"Huwag mo 'kong mangiti-ngitian at baka hindi kita matantiya." I looked away.

"I'm just happy because you're nagging me. And that means you care, that's why 'pumuputak' ka ngayon. Dahil nag-aalala ka sa akin. The reason why I'm so happy at the moment, my sweet."

"We'll be launching the newest bulbs that our company has to offer for the customers months from now. And this team is assigned to make a design plan of a new product packaging for Core Bulbs. I assigned Jarred as your team leader."

Our team in the Manufacturing Department is currently in a meeting here in the board room. Our memorandum for today discusses about the new project for the Core Bulbs, one of the Core Inc's. product.

Nahati ang mga empleyado sa Manufacturing Department sa paggawa ng bagong proyekto. Ang isang grupo ay sa pagdi-disenyo ng mga bulbs at kami ang naatasan sa paggawa ng packaging.

Binubuo ang team namin nina: Sir Jarred, Charisse, Hannah, Nilo, Andy at Ako.

"We will present the final design on the Chief Operations Officer by the end of the month. If he'll approve it, we will go further also with the newly designed bulbs to the board members together with the C.O.O and C.E.O and present it to them. But if not, then we'll be given one more week-the extra time given for the needed changes and finalizations-to make it up." Pagdidikusyon pa ni Sir Siegfred.

Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok roon si Maximus bitbit ang tray ng mga snacks. Bottles of mineral water is already placed on the tables. Slices of cake on small plates are being served.

Patuloy sa pagsasalita si Sir Siegfred sa harap habang nagse-serve si Max.

Kanina pa nagpapapansin ang isang 'to sa'kin-at hindi ako assuming. Dahil kapag may pagkakataon na mabuksan ang pinto ay nakikita ko ito sa tapat ng board room na nagma-mop at sumisilip dito. Kapag nagtatama ang paningin namin ay bigla nalang kikindat. Hindi lang isang beses 'yan, dahil hindi ito umaalis sa pwesto at tanging sa may harapan ng board room lang nagma-mop. Nakita ko pa kaninang kinausap ito ni Inggo na kasamahan nito. Nagturo ito ng mga banda, tila sinasabihan si Max na magmop din doon.

I kept my face looking straight at the projector when a plate of cake was suddenly placed in front of me.

"A sweet cake for you, glykia mou." Napigil ko ang hininga at nanindig ang balahibo ko sa batok nang bumulong ito.

Pasimple kong sinulyapan ang ibang mga kasamahan at napahinga ako ng makitang lahat ay nakatutok din sa projector sa aming harap, maliban kay Hannah na nakaupo sa tapat ko.

Nakita ko pang pinaglilipat-lipat nito ang paningin sa akin papunta kay Max and vice versa. I saw how she suspiciously looked at us.

But I was relieved when Max came to her and gave her a slice of cake too. She smiled cutely at him but the latter just simply nodded.

Ginawa nga ni Max ang sinabing panliligaw. I know he can't be stopped so instead of stopping him I just told him to not be intimate to me when we're at work and to not spend his money on buying expensive gifts for me. But I doubt that he abided that. Noong isang araw lang ay binigyan ako nito ng hikaw na tingin ko'y mapapakain na ako sa buong isang buwan. Sinauli ko ito sa kaniya at mariin na inilingan.

Hindi gaanong kalakihan ang sweldo niya sa pagiging janitor tapos ginagastos niya sa hindi gaanong importanteng bagay.

I made a mental note to teach Max a lesson on how to be thrifty. I'm not materialistic kaya hindi niya kailangang gumastos ng bongga sa panliligaw.

At isama pa ang pakindat-kindat niya kanina na parang may sakit at sa pabulong niya ng "my sweet," ay, Ginoo. Sumasakit ang ulo ko sa lalaking 'to.

Hatid-sundo din ako nito sa trabaho gamit ang kaniyang kawasaki na motor na sinang-ayunan ko naman. Pero hindi kami sabay na pumapasok sa loob ng building at ilang metro mula sa building ako nagpapababa dahil ayokong ma-issue kami dito.

Work romance isn't prohibited here in Core Incorporation, but ofcourse people who are engaged to it should avoid being too intimate and should observe proper actions. At syempre hindi hinahayaan dito ang illegal affairs. Alam ng management ang status ng mga empleyado. Kapag may nakitang kasado na empleyado pero may karelasyon dito na iba, they will punish the employee. And most importantly the employees who are engaged on "work romance" should know their limits. That's a must. There are rules of the do's and dont's for them. Kasama iyan sa rules and regulations.

Pareho ng ginawa ni Max kanina. Mali iyong nanatili lang siya sa isang lugar habang naglilinis para masiliyan ako. He's not properly doing his job because of me. That's one of the cons in having a relationship with your co-employee. One's not being productive anymore and they're out of focus.