Only You & Me

8

MALIK

A YEAR AGO

After attempting to kiss Jackie in her house, nakaramdam ako ng guilt feeling. I should not have done it, pero hindi ko na kasi napigilan eh. Nasa harapan ko na yung mukha ni Beshy, e!

Na-magnetize na ako, kaya di na ako nakapagpigil. Pero para makabawi sa mahal kong si Beshy, I bought her flowers the following day.

Pagkahatid ko sa kaniya sa Gustoso, ay nagpaalam ako sa kaniya na aalis muna ako saglit.

"See you later," I said as I kissed her on the cheek. But I didn't forget to tease her first by 'accidentally' trying to kiss her lips, and intentionally allow her to dodge it. It's been a joke already, which we both laugh about.

To some people though, it meant something else. I guess, the whole act would make them conclude there was really something going on between me and Jackie. I did enjoy and benefitted with the speculations of other people that we were together, para walang umaligid sa kaniya.

Upon buying the bouquet of flowers and excitedly bringing it to the kitchen, I saw her holding a bouquet of flowers. At that moment, I saw red, and wanted to hunt whoever gave her those flowers that were not from me.

I learned that ang nagbigay pala sa kaniya ng flowers ay ang male administrative assistant ko na bagong hire ko.

Jackie asked me what were the bouquet of flowers for. Nagdahilan na lang ako na para sa ka-date ko iyon. From the beautiful smile that I saw on her face as she admired the flowers given to her, nagbago ang mukha niya. Tila inabala na lang niya ang sarili niya sa paghahalo ng mga ingredients sa lamesa ng kusina.

I didn't get it. She was smiling from ear to ear that she received a bouquet form another man, but she would be disappointed that the flowers I had were not for her?

Should I have given the flowers to her? It's so confusing! She's confusing!

At ang administrative assistant ko naman ay kvpal! Araw araw dinadalan nito si Jackie ng pandesal at flowers.

I laughed at his gesture then, but when I saw the moony look on Jackie's face, I knew it was already a bad sign. She was falling in love with the idea of some guy wooing her.

Back then, I couldn't do anything. I only told her that was unprofessional to engage in office romance. It screamed conflict of interest loud and clear.

But, hey, I still allowed her to date him-- once. I wanted to give her all the freedom to experience these things... kahit nandito naman ako at araw araw ko siyang nililigawan nang hindi man lang niya namamalayan.

Hindi naman na niya kailangan pa maka -experience ang pagde-date. Araw araw ko kaya siyang dine-date! Araw araw ko siyang hinahatid sundo. Nagpapaka-best friend s***h boyfriend na nga ako sa kaniya! Pero, sige! Pagbibigyan ko siya kahit alam kong magseselos at masasaktan ako. Kung yan ang gusto ng prinsesa ko, so be it.

Ni hindi ko nga nanaisin na hindi sila magkagustuhan. Basta ang alam ko lang... kung ikakasaya ni Beshy, magpaparaya ako. Siguro.

The heavens must be in my side. Mae, my mama, is on my side as I watched how it all went sour for them. On that very first date she had with said guy, she learned he was living in with someone else. Sinagot kasi niya ang incoming call sa mobile phone nito habang nagle-late dinner date sila. Akala siguro ni Beshy ay ayos lang gawin iyon katulad ng ginagawa niya sa mobile phone ko. Well, dalawa naman ang mobile phone ko at alam din niya iyon. One is for family and friends. The other one is what she calls as my 'pang-lande' mobile phone.

At that time that she was having a date, hindi ko napigilan ang aking sarili. I stalked them. I wasn't proud about what I did, but I was thankful to have done so, still. It was because she discovered that he was cheating on her.

As I observed Jackie's reaction as she answered the mobile phone of her date who foolishly left his phone on the table, I knew it was just gonna take a few seconds before she was going to call me. And, I was right!

"Beshy!" Narinig ko ang boses niya sa phone.

"Yes, love?" Agad kong sagot.

" Beshy!" Ulit ni Jackie. "Sunduin mo naman ako dito sa Moon Cafe." Pakiusap niya at nakita ko siya na nagsimula ng maglakad palabas ng restaurant.

"I'm already here, Beshy." Agad kong pinaandar ang sasakyan papalapit sa harapan ni Jackie.

Nang makita niya ang aking sasakyan ay agad siyang sumakay dito. Agad ko naman pinaandar ang sasakyan upang ialis na siya sa lugar na iyon.

I chose a nearby empty but safe place to park.

"How could I be such a fool?" naiiyak na tanong ni Jackie.

I pulled her towards me. "Do you want a sugarcoated da moves answer or the beshy answer?" tanong ko sa kaniya.

Napatigil siya ng iyak at tumitig sa akin. Halatang namimili siya ng kaniyang option.

If she only knew how adorable she looks like. And even that makes my heart fuzzy inside.

Suminghot siya bago sumagot. "Pareho. Pero yung masakit muna."

Napangiti ako. "Beshy...beshy...beshy!" Sinambit ko ang bawat kataga na may himig ng galit. "Sinabi ko na sa iyo na this spells trouble. Pero matigas ang ulo mo. Kung di mo nga lang ako pinipigilan, kakaliskisan ko ng balat yang unggoy na yan!"

Napsimangot siya. "K-kung sugar-coated?" nahihiya niyang tanong.

"Bakit kailangan pa non?" Asiwa kong reklamo.

"Dali na, Beshy! Durog ang puso ko ngayon. Please?" pakiusap niya.

"Sinabi ko na sa iyo na this spells trouble. Pero matigas ang ulo mo..." sabi ko.

"Nyeh! Inulit mo lang naman!" Tinirikan niya ako ng mata. "Di naman sugarcoated yon!" Komento niya.

"Teka lang...di pa ako tapos." Sabi ko.

"Oh, eh ano nga? Dali na! Sabihin mo na! I'm dying here of shame and a broken heart!"

"Sinabi ko na sa iyo na this spells trouble. Pero matigas ang ulo mo...pero nandito naman ako. I've got your back." I looked at her as I uttered every single word, and continued to pour my heart out.

I don't know what got into me, but I just had to add my true feelings, hoping I could pull it off whatever the outcome would be.

"And even though it pains me to watch you be with another guy... I would still be here for you because I love you."

Napalunok ako habang nakatulala siya sa akin.

Napakagat labi naman si Jackie bago tumugon. "Do you want to have s*x with me?"

Ako naman ang napatulala at muling napalunok.

She was offering me to have s*x with her?

My body said, "Hell, yeah!"

But something ached, too.

My heart and Patotoy ached all at the same time.

I don't want to merely shag or have s*x with Jackie.

"I would love to make love with you!" I said with a quivering voice.

"Aren't they the same?" unsure na tanong ni Jackie.

"They're different, meu amor." Paliwanag ko sa babaeng pinakatatangi ko.

And I could not believe I was having this conversation with her, alone, in the dark, here inside my tinted car.

Foder! This is giving me a hard on.

She nodded her head. "Okay."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

"Okay?" Was I hearing it right? "Okay? " Does she want to make love with me? "What okay?" I had to clarify, but was f0ckingly hoping it was what she meant.

"I said okay." She said.

"Jackie! Do you want to make love with me?" I was getting uncomfortable at my seat. Patotoy wanted to be freed.

She ogled at me. I knew the way her face changed. And it turned me on even more.

"It's... it's a joke." She said.

Foder! Binawi niya! Foder! Nanlata ako sa sinabi niya at napahawak sa manibela.

"You don't joke around with a man like that!" I said poker face.

"Nagalit ka ba?" I sensed that she felt worried. "Gusto mo na ba ako i-eject dito sa sasakyan mo"

"Yes," sabi ko at akmang pipindot sa gilid ng pintuan ko.

"My gulay! Seryoso? May pang eject ka dyan?" na-curius ang babeng nagpagalit kay Patotoy, at lumapit pa sa akin upang silipin ang pipindutin ko.

Actually, my button talaga para sa upuan na puwede pindutin para ma-adjust ang sandalan nito. Pinindot ko iyon at automatic na bumaba ang sandalan niya.

Nagulat siya. "Shet! Shet!" Napahawak siya sa braso ko. "Sorry na. Wag mo ako i-eject, Beshy!"

Hindi ko na napigilan tumawa sa hitsura ni Jackie. Takot na takot siya.

Nang mapagtanto niya na automatic ang sandalan ay pinaghahampas niya ako sa inis sa akin. "Bakit mo ko niloloko?"

I laughed at her. "Ikaw kasi! Ise-seduce mo ako, tapos hindi mo itutuloy! Dapat pag naisipan mo, ituloy mo. Basta sa akin lang. Huwag ka mage-explore sa ibang lalaki, ah!" I warned.

She stopped being annoyed and laughed with me, too. Now, this was truly friendship.

Inakbayan ko siya. "Kakaliskisan ko ng buhay yung lalaking yun!" I informed her.

"Hindi ko alam kung nagjo-joke ka ba or what, pero huwag mo na i-abala ang sarili mo dahil sa kaniya " Aniya.

"Ibabaon ko na lang siya ng buhay." Suhestyon ko.

"Sira ulo!" Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. "Hayaan na natin siya!"

"Araw araw mo siyang makikita sa office. Ayos lang sa'yo yon?"

"Basta wag mo na lang siya papagawain sa kitchen area." Pakiusap niya habang kinakalikot ang butones ng t-shirt ko.

Napabuntong hininga ako, at naka-isip ng ibang paraan upang hindi na magpakita ang lalaking iyon. Nang gabing iyon ay humingi ako ng tulong sa mga sundalong kapatid ni Rainbow na sister-in-law ko at isa sa mga best friends ni Jackie.

In the past, Rainbow's brothers had bad blood with my twin, Maximillan, because my brother foolishly broke up with Rainbow and he left not knowing Rainbow was pregnant at that time. Kinidnap nila ang kapatid ko. But they're okay now, after they found out that Maximillan and Rainbow have patched things up.

Hindi nagdalawang isip tumulong ang mga kapatid ni Rainbow lalo pa't pag nabisita ito sa bahay ko ay inaasikaso sila ni Jackie. They treat Jackie as family, too. Well, I see glimpses of them ogling at her at times, too. Sinong lalaki na may tamang pag-iisip ang hindi hahanga kay Jackie? She's physically beautiful, has all the curves at the right places, though hidden under her apron. She's intelligent, smart and I don't know how to even begin to enumerate the inner beauty-- kind, sweet, caring, nurturing, patient, and loves me!

Loves me... like a bestfriend. At that point, Patotoy deflated.

But my resolve to ensure that my administrative assistant would leave on his own volition did not change. He had to leave. And so I contacted them.

I'd do anything for Beshy.

***

PRESENT TIME

I stepped out of the powder room after greeting Rori. It seemed she did not wonder why I was inside the room alone with Jackie. She just asked if the wardrobe malfunction was fixed, and assessed that the slightly disheveled corset and tight pencil skirt that Jackie was wearing was because Jackie and I struggled to fix her dress. I surmised that Jackie may have called her female bestfriends first to seek their help before she called me and asked for my help, that was why Rori did not wonder about it.

Rori immediately took a hair brush from Jackie's bag and brushed Jackie's long hair, then checked her make-up. I am glad Jackie has her bestfriends that love her and take care of her.

"Mauna na ako sa labas." Paalam ko sa kanilang dalawa.

Napatingin sila pareho sa akin. "Susunod na lang kami." Sagot ni Rori. Thanks for helping Jackie with the zipper malfunction, Malik!" Nakangiting nitong sabi.

"Thanks, Beshy..." sabi naman ni Jackie na nakangiti din sa akin.

Bahagyang napakunot ang noo ko dahil tinawag niya akong Beshy.

Wait! What just happened? Kanina lamang ay nag-agree kami na ang tawagan na namin ngayon ay B1 at B2. Nag-alala ako.

Siguro, force of habit lang. Huwag ka mashadong kabahan, Malik! I tried to calm myself.

I loosened my necktie a bit, and heaved a heavy sigh, when my brothers found me walking towards the catering table.

"Are you okay?" Maximillan stared at my face. "You look flushed." He worried. I have already expected Max to be caring towards me because we are twins. Somehow, we have this invisible connection that he could feel what I feel.

"Are you tiring yourself with your amorous activities?" Matteo asked, always the strict older brother.

Hindi ako sumagot sa tanong ni Matteo.

"Give our baby brother some slack, Mattie." Paalala ni Marcus bago bumaling sa akin. "How are you?"

"Would it be too fast if I ask Jackie to marry me after this week?" I asked them.

Pare-parehong silang napanganga sa akin.

"Nagdedeliryo na nga si Malik. Dalin ka na namin sa ospital." Alok ni Maximillan.

"Seryoso ako." Sagot ko at wala ni isa sa kanila ang nakapagsalita. "What? Hindi kayo makapaniwalang balak ko mag-settle down with Jackie?"

"Yes!" Sabay-sabay nilang sagot.

"Wait, bro. Alam na ba ni Jackie ang balak mo?" tanong ni Marcus na may paga-alala na bakas sa kaniyang mukha. Hindi ko nga lang sigurado kung naga-alala siya para sa akin na baka i-decline ni Jackie ang proposal ko, o baka natatakot siya para kay Jackie dahil nagpo-propose ako ng marriage samantalang kilala nila ako sa pagiging playboy, maraming napa-iyak at walang sineryoso ni isang babae.

"Malik, Jackie is like a sister to us. " Sabi ni Maximillan. "Please, think this through."

"Max! My twin brother, don't you trust that I am making the right decision here?"

"Of course, I trust you. I trust that you love Jackie, but I don't think you're ready to commit." Prangkang sagot ni Maximillan.

"Tsk! I just want to make sure she's going to be mine for the rest of our lives." Sagot ko.

"When you get married, babies will follow--- that is if God entrusts you with those adorable blessings." Matteo finally spoke. "Are you ready for that kind of commitment in a marriage, Malik?"

"I am ready to marry Jackie." I said. "I am ready to love her and grow old with her. Ikaw na nga ang nagsabi sa akin na the best lover and wife is my bestfriend. Jackie had been my bestfriend for eight long years. I took the risk of telling her a while ago how I truly felt, and I also learned she has loved me for the longest time. She deserves my commitment and this is how I'm going to show her my commitment." I adamantly said.

"We are very happy for you, bro." Ani ni Maximillan.

"But you still did not answer the question." Sabat ni Matteo. "Handa ka na ba magka-anak?"

I suddenly thought of Shrek and the ordeal he faced with having babies. I was able to relate to him that was why I remembered that particular scene in that animation. I gulped at the thought of becoming a father and having to take care of babies, and it scared the hell out of me.

"That part---" umpisa ko. "Pagu-usapan namin this week." I said.

"This week? Kayo na ba ni Jackie? Kailan pa?" curius na tanong ni Marcus.

"Kanina lang." Sagot ko.

Natawa ang mga kapatid ko.

"Malik, alam mo bang suwerte ka?" tanong ni Matteo. "Your situation is different from how we finally got the woman of our dreams. Ikaw, she's always been there for you, and never gave up."

"What do you mean?" naguluhan ako.

"Naikukuwento sa amin ng mga sister-in-laws mo kung gaano ka kamahal ni Jackie. She used to be conservative, but because of you, she learned to adjust. She even allowed you to sleep in her own bed. Huwag mong sabihin na pumapayag yon dahil bestfriend ka niya. Of course, she agreed because she loves you. She has loved you ever since, but gave you the freedom to do whatever you wanted, while she quietly was in pain over her unrequited love for you. Now that you're finally together, please make it pain-free and pleasant for her? " Marcus said.

"Why are you talking about this with me just now? Alam niyo na pala noon pa, bakit hindi niyo sinasabi sa akin na may nararamdaman na pala sa akin si Jackie? Kung alam ko lang, noon pa ako naglakas loob sa kaniya. Hindi ko magawa over the years na magtapat ng nararamdaman ko sa kaniya dahil takot akong makagawa ng kagaguhan na masasaktan siya at mawala sa akin. I love Jackie that much that I was f0cking willing to just be best of friends with her!"I felt pissed off with my brothers.

"Malik, " Maximillan started. "If we told you what we already knew, kami naman ang lagot sa mga asawa namin."

"Naturingan pa naman na kakambal kita? We grew together from the same womb! Your loyalty should be with me, your twin brother!" I reminded him.

Napatawa si Maximillan sa akin. "Says my twin brother who immediately left me, chased after Jackie here in the Philippines, and never wanted to leave her side." He said.

"We're twin brothers and we're supposed to be loyal to each other, but Jackie is my oxygen, brother! Just like Rain is yours!" I muttered.

"Our baby brother is becoming poetic." Tapik ni Marcus sa aking balikat.

"Malik, mas kilala mo si Jackie kaysa sa amin. Mas alam mo kung handa si Jackie sa mga pinaplano mong gawin." Matteo sighed. "Ang akin lang learn from the pain we went through and avoid doing the mistakes where we learned the hard way. We love you too much for us to see you get hurt in the process."

My other brothers agreed. "Yeah, bro. We love you and we're protective of you." Ani ni Marcus.

Maximillan put his arm around my shoulder. "We' very happy for you and our sister Jackie. Excited na kami noon pa na magkatuluyan kayo! Foder, sa wakas!"

Napatingin ako sa ceiling at kumurap kurap. Naiiyak kasi ako sa narinig ko sa mga kapatid ko.

"Foder! Why do you have to tell that to me now? I was so determined to go against the tradition of cooperating for the benefit of our family business!" Pag-amin ko.

Napatawa ang mga kapatid ko. "You mean you're going to involve yourself in our family business?" Matteo asked, with a smile on his face.

"Foder! If you try to shut my ideas out again in our next family meeting, I'm going to change my mind. " I said without looking at them.

"Matteo," Marcus said as he waited for Matteo to answer.

"Fine," Matteo replied. "All I want from you is to push harder and assert yourself."

"You're my older brother. Naturally, I will respect whatever you say." I answered back.

Matteo nodded his head. "Okay, you're right. Come to the next family meeting next month, but before you do, send me your proposals... your ideas, so I can study them." Anito.

"Okay," I said poker faced, but deep inside, I was happy and excited to tell Jackie about it.

My brothers left and went to their wives who were seated at different assigned tables, as I waited at the catering area for Jackie. I looked at my watch and wondered if she was still in the powder room. If she was, I would definitely ask her if she was already alone, so I would go there and we could have talk some more, or perhaps more than that.

"San ka?" I asked as I heard her answer my phone call.

"Palabas na ako ng powder room. Tinahi lang ni Rori yung zipper ko kanina kasi may sira kaya ayaw kanina sumara at sumabit sa hair ko." Aniya.

"Halika na dito. Miss na kita," sabi ko.

"Asus! Beshy talaga!" Aniya.

"Beshy talaga?" patanong kong balik sa kaniya.

"Ano kasi..."

"Nagbago na ba ang isip mo ha? Ganun kabilis?" naiinis kong tanong sa kaniya.

"Galit kaagad? Mainit ulo kaagad, Beshy?" pataray niyang tanong.

"Hinde..." mahinahon kong tugon. "Natatakot lang ako... baka kasi nagbago na isip mo."

"Asan ka ba?" mataray niyang tanong.

"Nandito sa may catering area." Sagot ko. "Ikaw? Asan ka ba? Puntahan kita."

"Papunta na ako sa'yo. Nakita na kita." Aniya at lumingon ako sa paligid. Nakita ko nga ang chubby kong ex-Beshy. Suot pa din niya ang corset na nagpapa-apaw at alon sa boobs niya, at kumukurba sa voluptous niyang katawan na nagpapa-heighten ng emosyon ko.

"Hay, B2..." I sighed with the helpless feeling I have as I ogled and adored her at the same time, while she walked towards me. But, then, a tall man in tuxedo seemed to pass by in front of her and tripped her as she was drawing near me. I was sure he saw her pass by and I think he intended to trip her just so she would fall on him. Umi-istyle ang loko!

I immediately walked fast to maneuver her to stumble on me, instead of him. I held her arms firmly to assist her to balance herself despite her too-tight-for-my-liking spandex pencil-cut skirt, and faced the man who tripped her.

"Pare." I simply said. We were almost the same height and we stared down at each other.

"May problema ba?" I heard Gerard's voice approached us on my right side, and felt someone held my arm. I quickly looked at my left side, and Percival was there beside me.

Gerard Ponce is my cousin-in-law. Through him, we were able to find our long-lost cousin Shayla. Percival Ponce, on the other hand, is his cousin and a hotelier tycoon here in the Philippines; and recently, they are expanding their hotels in Asia.

"Vincent?" I heard Jackie said. "Beshy, don't you remember Vincent? We met him last year in Cebu during Kuya Macky's wedding. He's the son of Daddy's friend." Jackie nervously held on to my waist, as if pulling me away from Vincent.

I wasn't happy to know that this man was the threat I encountered in Cebu last year. I didn't realize it was him because he was fair skinned now and he changed his hair color from brown to black.

But more than that annoying realization, I winced at her term "Beshy" to me and wanted to correct her that I'm B1.

I'm her boyfriend!

I dismissed confronting Vincent, and left him with Gerard and Percival. I pulled Jackie with me and went to the catering area.

"Bakit Beshy pa din ang tawag mo sa'ken? At sa harap pa talaga ng Vincent na iyon? " I crossed my arms as I asked her. I was trying to hold back my anger at this woman who, just a few hours ago, agreed to be my girlfriend, or was it me who said yes?

Yes, it was me who said yes. I never heard her say yes to me. Lalo tuloy akong nagseselos!

"Bakit parang friendly ka pa sa kaniya e sinadya niyang matisod ka para madapa ka papunta sa kaniya?" Dagdag tanong ko pa.

Nakangiti lang si Jackie sa akin. "B1, nagseselos ka ba?"

"Oo!" Nagseselos ako, meu amor!" I said annoyed with her. "Boyfriend mo na ako, pero parang hindi ka proud sa akin. At magiliw ka pa sa lalaking iyon.

"Kinikilig ako." Sabi ni Jackie.

"Kinikilig---" I looked up at the ceiling to stop myself from being being pissed off. "Kinikilig ka sa kaniya?!"

"Hinde, Beshy! Sa'yo ako kinikilig. Kinikilig ako sa boyfriend ko." Pagtama niya.

"Baket ka kinikilig sa kaniya?" Inis kong sambit, bago ko napagtanto ang sinabi niya. "Ano? Kinikilig ka sa akin?"

"Oo, kinikilig ako bilang girlfriend mo. Ang tagal kong pinangarap ito."

"Ang alin? Na magselos ako?" I got confused.

"Oo! Yung magselos ka hindi dahil bestfriend mo ako, kungdi dahil tayo na. " Jackie smiled at me. Her smile was the same smile as before, but now there was something more.

Perhaps, it was her eyes? Her eyes seemed happy.

"B1, I have loved you long time ago." She confessed almost like a whisper.

The impact of that confession reached my heart. Knowing Jackie, she loves deeply and sincerely. She loves her family, her best of friends and their families deeply and sincerely that she's generous, honest, and loyal to them to a fault. Alam ko iyon dahil isa ako sa mahal niyang mga tao. Yung tipong kahit naiiwan ko na siya sa ere, nandyan pa din siya constantly kahit na nasasaktan siya, and will still love me, anyway.

Napangiti na ako at hinapit ko siya sa akin. "B2, B1 has loved you longer."