MONTE COSTA SERIES 3: INNOCENT TIDES

Kabanata 23

TINANGHALI na ng gising kinabukasan si Evangeline. Hirap niyang ikinurap ang mga mata niya saka siya nag-inat nang magising ang kanyang diwa. Ngunit sa kalagitnaan ng pag-angat ng kanyang mga braso ay nadama niya ang kirot sa pagitan ng kanyang mga hita.

She suddenly remembered what happened last night. How she gave herself to Linel and how they did the deed multiple times. Napamulat siya ng mga mata at kaagad itong hinanap sa kanyang tabi. Her heartbeat doubled when she realized that she was left alone in the large room.

Kakabahan na sana siya na baka iniwan na siya ni Linel kung hindi niya nakita iyong bungkos ng mga bulaklak sa bedside table. She held the comforter up to her chest and then reached the flowers. Sininghot niya pa iyon bago niya kinuha ang note na nakaipit upang basahin.

'I'm just downstairs doing my workout. Don't panic.'

Gumuhit ang munting ngiti sa kanyang mga labi. Mukhang alam din ni Linel na kakabahan siya oras na magising na wala na ito sa kanyang tabi.

She sniffed the roses one last time before she went out of the bed. Medyo hirap pa siyang maglakad dahil bukod sa makirot ang pagitan ng kanyang mga hita ay nangangatog din ang mga tuhod niya. Ilang beses ba naman nilang ginawa kahit na mahapdi at masakit.

Ae took a shower and brushed her teeth before she went through Linel's closet to look for something to wear. Kinuha niya iyong malaki at may kakapalan nitong t-shirt at iyon ang isinuot bago siya lumabas ng silid dala ang bungkos ng mga bulaklak.

Pagkarating sa ibaba ay naabutan niya ito sa outdoor gym ng tahanan. He was sitting on the bench and catching his breath while holding his tumbler. Napansin siya kaagad nito kaya umayos ng upo at isinenyas ang kamay na tila pinalalapit siya.

She smiled at him as she took her steps towards his direction. Linel's eyes focused on her with a hint of desire as if he loves how his shirt looks on her. Meanwhile, she couldn't help but notice his ripped body.

Yes, she'd seen how toned he is last night. Pero iba pa rin pala kapag ganitong katatapos lamang nitong mag-ehersisyo. He looks so damn hot. So handsome. So . . . so worth waiting for.

"Hiniram ko ang t-shirt mo. Wala akong masuot," aniya nang makalapit.

Linel inhaled a sharp breath before he nodded. Iginiya siya nitong maupo sa isang hita nito habang ang asul na mga mata ay nakatutok sa kanyang mukha.

Linel snaked one arm on her waist while his other hand held her thigh. "How was your sleep?"

"Okay lang." Pinakiramdaman niya ang noo niya. "Hindi rin ako mainit but I'd still take meds later."

"Good." Pinatakan nito ng halik ang balikat niya. "Linus just left to take Fil to the amusement park. Nagluto siya kanina ng almusal. Let's eat--"

Naputol ang sinasabi ito nang humaplos ang palad nito paakyat ng kanyang baywang. As if Linel realized that she's not wearing anything underneath, his eyes darkened and the curve on his lips stretch for a meaningful smirk.

"You're not wearing any underwear," he said.

She moistened her lower lip. "Wala akong dalang extra. I usually bring an extra underwear kapag alam kong ilang oras akong wala sa bahay. Akala ko kasi sasaglit lang ako sa party last night. Hindi ko naman alam na magtatatlong araw ako rito."

"It's fine. You can walk naked around the house."

Sinipit niya ang tungki ng ilong nito. "Para ano? Makita rin ni Linus na hubo't hubad ako?"

Linel clicked his tongue. "Right. We've got company here." He sighed. "I should buy you a condo."

She smirked. "Boyfriend ka ba o sugar daddy?"

"Mapapangasawa mo," deretsahan nitong sagot dahilan upang uminit ang kanyang pisngi.

Ae touched the stubbles on his jaw while Linel's eyes were penetrating her. "I can ask my parents to get me a place, you know para kung uuwi ka ay . . . pwedeng doon na lang tayo. Medyo malayo ito sa university ko."

Umiling si Linel. "I'm gonna buy you a condo instead."

"Pero baka magtaka ang parents ko."

"Then tell them you're renting out, o sabihin mo na lang na niregaluhan ka ng lalakeng hanggang ngayon, patay na patay pa rin sa'yo."

Sinimangutan niya ito kahit na nagwala na naman ang dibdib niya dala ng kilig. Looks like the old Linel she used to know back in high school was still in this ripped and gorgeous body.

"Hindi ka na nagbago, Linel."

He smirked. "Paano magbabago? You got me stuck in the past, woman."

Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay. "Sa apat na taon, wala ka man lang naka-date? Nakarelasyon o kaya ay naikama?"

"None," mabilis nitong sagot. Tila hindi na nito kailangan pang mag-isip. Ni hindi nga nagdahilan pa kung bakit iyon ang sagot nito.

"Why?" she asked.

"Do I really have to answer that?"

Tumango siya. "Gusto kong malaman kung bakit hindi mo ginawa kahit na sinaktan na kita."

Linel licked his lower lip while his hand went up and down her thigh. "Either I'm crazy or I left my heart with you, but I am convinced that it's the latter." He smirked. "Or maybe I am just too certain that nobody could ever make me want them as much as I want you."

Napabuntonghininga siya habang hinahaplos ang pisngi nito. "Thank goodness you're one faithful coo-coo man. Halos mamaga ang mga mata ko kaiiyak noong nakita kitang kasama si Fil sa Ocean Park."

"You really thought I already settled down, huh?"

Tumango siya. "You can't blame me. Iniwasan mo ako noong nakita ko kayo ni Fil. I thought you didn't want me anymore."

"Hindi kita iniwasan dahil sa iniisip mong dahilan."

"Then why?"

Linel sighed. "I tried to ignore you because I thought you didn't want to see me."

Nakaramdam ng kirot sa kanyang puso si Ae. She had to purse her lips for a moment as she filled her lungs with enough air. Hoping it would be enough to shoo away the pain brewing in her chest.

"I waited. Everyday, Linel. I waited for you. Hoping that one day, I'm gonna be able to tell you how I really feel. Ni hindi ko kayang tumanggap ng manliligaw dahil gusto kong maging tapat sa'yo kahit wala namang kasiguraduhan kung babalik ka pa ba."

Umaliwalas ang mukha ni Linel. Even his blue eyes lightened up as if her words brought joy to his heart.

"You didn't have any boyfriend in those four years, hmm?"

Umiling siya. "In my mind, you were already my boyfriend that's why I want to be faithful."

Linel scoffed. Animo'y nanalo sa lotto kung ngumisi. Napataas tuloy siya ng kilay.

"Oh, anong nginingisi-ngisi mo? Pinagtatawanan mo ba ako?" she hissed.

"No, baby." His endearment made her heart go wild. "I just . . ." He sighed. Ang kislap sa mga mata ay hindi mapawi.

"What?" kunwari'y nagtataray niyang tanong.

Linel smirked. "In my mind, I am already married to you."

Napatigil siya sandali saka siya mahinang natawa. "Mas grabe ka naman pala, eh! Baka naman sa susunod naiisip mo nang may anak ka na sa'kin?"

"Oh, I've already thought about that," he said as he brought their faces together. "Tatlo . . ."

Napailing na lamang si Ae bago niya ito hinayaang angkinin ang kanyang mga labi.

Looks like she will always have this faithful man's heart no matter what