Only You & Me

4

8 YEARS AGO, MALIBU USA

"Jackie, care to dance?" Malik offered his hand as we stepped inside the wedding reception tent.

"I'll pass. Sorry, I don't know how to dance," mabilis kong tanggi at nagmadali akong lumakad papalayo.

"Hey, wait up." I heard him say but I didn't stop to look at him.

Nagtuloy-tuloy ako sa paglalakad at naupo sa assigned seat ko sa dining area.

I never experienced being in a prom or had a debut, and I never experienced being on a date that was why I felt so conscious of Malik who followed me, and blocked my view of my friends dancing with his brothers.

"All your friends are having a good time." Sabi niya at tinuro ang mga kaibigan kong nasa dance floor kasama ang mga kapatid niya.

Napatingin naman ako sa mga iyon, at nakita ko si Tanya na sinesenyasan ako na makipagsayaw na rin kay Malik. Ito ay para maisagawa na namin ang aming pinlano kaninang umaga na lasingin ang Pontes brothers at i-prank ang mga ito to get even for making us slaves. Natalo kasi kami nila Malik at mga kapatid nito sa pustahan.

Kapag umepekto ang pampatulog na nilagay namin sa mga inumin nilang beer ay dadalin namin sila sa isang kuwarto, lalagyan ng super glue ang buong chest nila at arms, para dumikit ang maid's uniform sa kanilang katawan. At bukas ng umaga, mahihirapan silang tanggalin yung damit nila, lalo na itong si Malik na balbon kaya naman naiisip ko tuloy sa kaniya ang isang matsing.

Exaggerated lang ako pero ang sarap lang kasi sabihin iyon sa napaka- perfect looking na lalakeng ito.

"It's okay, Malik. You know, you don't have to make an effort to dance with me." Sabi ko. "Baka masira pa yung imahe mo sa mga gorgeous girls who are eyeing you right now. They're probably wondering why you're hanging with a chubbylita like me." Mahina kong dugtong.

I know, self defeating thoughts. Feeling undeserving of attention from a gorgeous guy like him.

"Asking you to dance with me is not an effort for me, Jackie." Kumamot siya sa sintido, na tila hindi siya makapaniwala na nage-effort siya magpaliwanag sa akin. "I'm asking you because I...I like you..." he admitted.

Tila tumigil ang mundo.

Ito na ba yon, Lord? May nagkakagusto na ba talaga sa akin? Hindi na ba ako alone?

"... I like you to have a special day, because I realized I gave you a hard time cooking and serving me..." aniya.

Shitake mushroom! Asang asa ako!

"I'm sorry for that. I just missed being taken care of... you know, mom passed away too early?" He deadpanned.

Aww! Totoo ba ang sinabi niya? Naka-empathize ako biglakasi nawalan din ako ng ina.

Actually yung Papa at Mama ko ang nawala sa amin magkakapatid dahil pinatay sila sa sarili naming pamamahay sa Cebu noong 13 taon gulang pa lang ako. Hinalungkat ng mga manloloob ang buong bahay namin ngunit walang nawalang alahas o brillantes nila Papa at Mama doon.

Tila may hinahanap yung mga manloob sa amin dahil narinig ng mga helpers na naka-gapos noon, na tinatanong ng mga manloob kung nasaan ang mapa. Kung ano mang mapa yun ay hindi na namin alam pero sa tingin namin ng mga kapatid ko ay dahil ito sa pagiging treasure hunter ng aking Papa noon. May society itong sinalihan at nagmimina sila ng mga ginto.

I was never able to find out about the existence of that map, because my Grandma brought me and my sister here in Manila to protect us. It was only my brother who was left in Cebu. Hindi kasi makumbinsi ni Grandma si Kuya Macintosh na sumama dito sa Maynila. He said he was going to take care of our business, but I know, he had other plans. He wanted to know the truth. Ako at si Adie naman ay nagpatuloy sa pag-aaral dito sa Manila kung saan nakilala ko ang aking mga best friends. They helped me cope up in a new school, new environment, and new experience without my parents. Without my best friends, hindi ko alam kung paano ko masu-survive yung pagmo-mourn ko sa magulang ko, yung biglaang pagka-watak watak namin ng kapatid ko, at yung inaalintana naming banta sa aming buhay. Ang hirap hirap! Tapos ngayon, pakiramdam ko magsisimula na kaming magkakahiwa-hiwalay ng mga best friends ko. Maiiwan na naman ako.

"Hey, I didn't mean to make you cry." Naalarmang sabi ni Malik.

Saka ko lamang napagtantong naluha pala ako.

Malik gave me his handkerchief.

Tumangi ako at pinunasan ko ng daliri ko yung luhang naghahabulan sa mga mata ko.

He sighed and knelt down in front of me which surprised me. He removed my hand by force, but he gently wiped my tears away from my face. He even asked me to look up, as he gently tapped the mascara traces on my eyes.

Ang baklang may obaryo naman ay sumunod. O, my goshness! Kinilig ako.

"Okay, okay na. " I immediately reached out for his hand. I was weary to dance with him pero pinagbigyan ko na siya. "Let's go." Napabuntong hininga ako at ibinigay na ang aking kamay kay Malik.

Napangiti siya na tila ba kinilig na umo-oo ako, pero bigla din siya nagbago ng reaksyon. Hindi ko tiyak na kinilig siya kasi wala naman nakakakilig sa tingin ko. Weird.

He held my hand and we walked towards the dance floor. He smilled at me as he guided my hand to his shoulder, and then held my other hand, as we swayed. His close proximity, the scent of his perfume, and his gorgeous smile made my heart beat fast.

I tried to pretend that his smile was annoying me.But deep inside...

Anubey! Wag ka mashadong ngingiti! Ayi!

I wanted to project that I wasn't impressed with him, but deep inside I was already palpitating sa sobrang kakiligan sa awra ng matsing na ito.

As expected, his dance moves were full of seduction and intimacy. He seemed to know the ways to seduce a woman, with the way he how he lightly kisses my hand, and the light way he would touch my back, and plant butterfly kisses on my hair as we swayed. I don't know what it's called, pero kung mayroong foreplay sa sayaw, alam ni Malik yun.

Nakaka-hyponotize makipagtitigan sa kaniya habang sumasayaw.

Ngunit naputol ito nang lumapit si Pinkie sa akin upang bigyan ako ng sinyales na dapat nang isagawa ang aming plano laban kay Malik at sa mga kapatid nito.

Ang plano ay painumin ng pampatulog ang mga target namin at dalin sa kanilang kuwarto para pasuutin ng mga nanny dresses. Lalagyan namin ng super-glue ang mga damit nila, para pag tinanggal nila, sasama pati ang balahibo ng mga katawan nila.

Nung pinaplano pa lang namin ng mga kaibigan ko yon, tawa pa kami ng tawa. Pero ngayon, tila pare-pareho kaming kinakabahan.

"Well, here goes nothing." Nasambit ko.

I asked Malik if we can rest for a while and told him to have drinks at the bar. Thankfully, he agreed. He was gentleman enough to hold me at my elbow as we walked towards one of the stools in the bar.

I offer to get him beer that my friends and I reserved. He just said yes and watched me walked away. He sat on one of the stools at the bar. I got him the beer that my friends and I hid in one of the buckets there. Then, I got my own from the bar tender.

"Cheers," binigay ko sa kaniya ang beer at pinagtama namin ang aming mga bote, nang kinuha niya pareho ang beer at nilapag sa lamesa.

"Hey!" Sita ko at sumimangot. "That's mine!"

"Are you even allowed to drink beer?" he asked.

"Of course." Sagot ko.

"Well, if I were your boyfriend, I would not allow you to drink without me." He said. Then, he gave me my drink back.

Saglit na nanuyo ang lalamunan ko. Parang kinilig ako sa sinabi niya. And the way he stared at me seemed like there was lust in his eyes. It was weird for me because I know his type, and it was not definitely the plus size like me.

I watched him gulp at the booz he was holding. It made me wonder if he was just complimenting me because he was already drugged before he drank the doped up beer.

"Aren't you tired yet?" I asked. "Or dizzy?" Pasimple kong tanong.

Slowly, he seductively smiled and asked. "Why? Are you going to accompany me to my room to rest?"

"S-sure. Why not? We're friends anyway. Friends care for each other...right?" I lied.

He chuckled and held my hand. "Do you trust me to be with you in a room, and expect me to just sit still? It's insane not to devour you, gatinha? You're a very beautiful woman."

I know my cheeks turned cherry with what he said. He was trying to compliment me. I wasn't sure if I would find him so sweet or be insulted because, again, I know his type of women. And definitely, I was not his type. Kaya naman napag-desisyunan ko na lang na mainsulto at isipin na binobola niya ako.

I sighed and sat beside him. I looked at him as I sadly expressed my thoughts.

"To be honest, nakakilig yung sinabi mo. Lalo na galing sa'yo--- sobrang guwapo! Big time ka pa, mukha ka din naman matalino at tingin ko magaling ka magpa-ikot ng baabe. For sure, magaling ka mambola ng mga babae! At fyi alam ko binobola mo ako." I said with smiling face. I wanted him to think I was saying something nice to him in Tagalog, since he could not understand the language. "Siguro may pinaplano na naman kayo ng mga kapatid mo, ano? Siguro pagti-tripan mo ako, ano? Alam ko naman ang tipo mong mga babae-- mala-goddess sa ganda at kaseksihan... Sigurado akong babaero ka na walang pangarap sa buhay kungdi mambola at mambubutas lang ng mga hymen!"

He stared at me for a while with disbelief in his eyes. Napalunok ako sa napansin kong pagbago ng kaniyang reaksyon.

"Hindi mo naman siguro ako naiintindihan, diba? H-hindi ka marunong magtagalog, diba?" tanong ko sa kaniya. Pakiramdam ko nga ay namutla ako sa kaba.

He quirked a cute smile as he stared at me. It was as if he was deciding what to do with me. Then, he took my bottle, and drank from it. He then placed the bottle at the bar. To my shock, he stood up from the stool and towered above me as I was seated on the other stool. It seemed he was about to kiss me on the neck.

"Let's go?" I heard him say on my ear which tickled me.

"Go where?" I nervously asked.

"To my room. I thought you're okay to accompany me there?" he smirked.

I nervously raised the bottle to my lips when he stopped me from drinking it.

"That's my beer. " He said.

"No, this is my beer." I corrected him, feeling confused.

"No, you're not getting me. That's my beer." He pointed out.

"You drank your beer already. Ang damot!" Di ko napigilan magkomento at sumimangot nang kunin niya ang beer koat nilapag sa lamesa.

"Bakit hindi ka pa kasi nalalasing o inaantok?" padyak ko sa buhangin.

"Gusto mo ba akong malasing?" he answered in Tagalog, too. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

"Y-you understand me, Malik?"

"Of course. My family frequently visited the Philippines with hopes of finding our baby cousin- Shayla. " He smiled. "At kaya hindi ako nalalasing ay dahil pinagpalit ko ang mga bote natin. You were supposed to drink the beer that you wanted me to drink."

Namula ako at hindi nakapagsalita. "Ibig sabihin... naintindihan mo yung mga sinabi ko kanina?" napakagat ako sa labi ko.

I looked at him and saw that there was anger in his eyes. "Going back to what you said earlier, it hurt me. It really cut through me. Is that how you see me?"

Tila nanuyo ang labi ko kaya kinuha ko ang bote sa kaniya at uminom kahit na pinipigalan niya. Mahirap pala yung ganito nahuhuli ka dahil mashado kang madaldal. Shocks!

I instantly regretted saying those things, but I was never one to lie. I would say the truth even if it may sound tactless or insensitive. I bit my lower lip and nodded my head.

"Okay," he nodded his head, and took a deep breath. "Everyone has an opinion about me, anyway. My Papai, brothers, others, even you! But, it's okay. " He shrugged. "I will just prove to you that you're wrong." He said poker face.

I gulped. It seemed like a threat to me. "Prove to me? Bakit pa? Alam mo, wag na. Wag mo na ako pag-aksayahan ng panahon. I'm nobody. Just a speck of dust in the universe. As in---" I tried to escape from the trouble he could cause me by just belittling my existence in this world.

"If you're a speck of dust in the universe, well, I'm pretty sure you still can be easily identified."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" I crossed my arms. "Na mataba ako?"

Napatawa siya. "Not that. Mashado mong hinahamak ang sarili mo." Iling niya habang nakatitig sa akin.

"Can you refrain staring at me?" alam ko namumula na ang mukha ko. Hindi ako sanay ng ganito. Hindi ko kasi sigurado kung paano dedepensa o aatake sa intruder na ito sa personal space ko.

"I'm sorry," he solemnly said. "I don't want to fight with you, ok? I just want to hang out." Aniya.

"Why me? Ang dami dyan nag-aabang at nagpapansin sa'yo." Bahagya akong dumistansya sa kaniya.

"Just because," he simply said.

"Anong just because?"

"Should there be a motive why I want to be friends with you?"

Napaisip ako. Oo nga naman. Di naman kailangan may rason para makipag-kaibigan.

"Okay. Friends." Sabi ko at inabot ang kamay ko sa kaniya.

He shook my hand. "So, dahil friends na tayo, I can go visit you from time to time and ipagluto ako ng masasarap mong cuisines?"

Napatingin ako. "Ayon! May motive ka nga!"

Napatawa siya. "Ang sarap mo kasi magluto. Better than sex." He candidly said.

"Sira!" Sagot ko, nang may lumapit na babae sa kaniya. The blonde and gorgeous woman was in an alluring Black cocktail dress, and she was holding a goblet.

Ngiting ngiti yung babae at bumulong sa kaniya.

"Désolé, j'ai un rendez-vous." He said to the woman, and the woman glared at me before she walked away.

"Luh! Anong sinabi mo? Bakit galit yun?" kinabahan kong tanong.

"She was asking me if I wanted to have a good time." Malik answered.

"Ayun naman pala, e. Gora ka na. Sumama ka." Pinapaalis ko siya.

"No, I won't. I already told her I have a date. You!" He said.

"Sus! Kaya pala masama ang tingin sa akin nung babae. Parang aawayin ako."

"Don't worry. Mas malaki naman yung braso mo kesa sa kaniya kaya kaya mong dunggolin ng braso mo yun." He teased.

"Ah, ganon? Kung ikaw kaya dunggolin ko?" sagot ko.

Napatawa siya. "Mas malaki pa din braso ko sa'yo, kaya malabo yang sinasabi mo." Aniya. "Saka kita mo 'tong muscles na 'to? Kaya ka nitong i-shield sa mga mang-aaway sa'yo." Pagyayabang pa niya na alam kong biro.

Somehow I felt that he was warming up to me, which was weird, because I felt like I was warming up to him too, and was laughing at his weird humor.

"Aanhin ko naman yang mga muscles mo eh kaya ko naman ang sarili ko? Wala kang puwedeng ipagmalaki sa akin, no!"

"Kahit sabihin ko pang dati ako sa army, sanay ako sa bakbakan, at sanay ako sa barilan? Bang bang bang?" Aniya na nakangiti na sa akin, as he gestured a gun pointing towards my abdomen area.

"May tinuturo ka ba?" natatawa kong tiningnan ang puson ko? "Anong bang bang bang dito, ha?" parang nati-tipsy.

"Diba sabi mo nambubutas ako ng hymen?" hirit niya.

"Alam mo, sorry nuh! Sorry sinabi ko iyon about you. Akala ko kasi hindi mo ako maiintindihan..." pagtatapat niya.

"Still, you said it to me and it offended me. But since you said sorry, okay na." He said.

"Sus, wag ka ngang balat sibuyas. Actually, in a way, compliment yun. Kasi diba ibig sabihin ng nambubutas ng hymen, sturdy siya?" I honestly said, and I was not sure why I was even too honest. "Diba pag sturdy, heaven yon kay pempem ko?"

"Ano? Anong pempem mo?" Tanong niya. Napabungisngis ako, at kahit nahihilo ay lumapit ako sa kaniya para bumulong, ngunit nawala na ako sa ulirat.

Nagising na lang ako na nasa kuwarto na ako ng mga best friends kong babae. Ako lang mag-isa doon kaya nagtaka ako. I even checked myself baka kung ano nangyari sa akin kagabi. Ang last ko lang na naalala ay si Malik ang kasama ko.

Shet ako pala ang nakainom ng bote ng beer na may pampatulog!

Biglang nag-ring ang mobile phone ko at narinig ko ang isang kanta na hindi ako familiar. Hinanap ko kung saan nanggagaling iyon. Nasa side table pala ng kama sa loob ng pouch bag ko na katerno ng gown na suot ko simula kagabi.

Kinuha ko iyon at nakita ko sa mobile phone ko na nag-reflect ang pangalan ni Malik. Sinagot ko iyon.

"Hello, Malik? Ginalaw mo ba yung pempem ko?" galit kong tanong sa kaniya.

"Walang ginagawa si pototoy ko sa pempem mo, okay? After you passed out, I carried you to your room. Walang tao sa room kaya kinalikot ko muna yung phone mo and inputted my number and my assigned ringing tone, para alam mong ako yong tumatawag sa'yo pag narinig mo iyon. It's also how I feel about you."

"Ha? Ano bang pinagsasabi mo? Ang aga aga ha?"

"Ang tagal mo kaya gumising. Nagugutom na ako, Jack. Luto ka naman breakfast." Malambing niyang hiling.

"Masakit ulo ko." Tanggi ko.

"O sige, ako na lang punta dyan sa'yo. Dadalin ko itong pancakes na niluto ng mga helpers nila Ardy dito. I also brought water and coffee to hydrate you."

Bago pa ako makatutol ay pumasok na siya sa kuwarto.

"Wala man katok para malaman mo kung disente ba ang suot ko, o kung may ibang babae dito sa loob?" reklamo ko.

"Alam kong wala yung mga girls dito. Alam ko kasama nila ang mga kapatid ko." Sagot niya bago tumabi sa akin. "Kain ka muna. Then, hydrate. Tapos, pag maayos na pakiramdam mo, let's stroll to the beach. Then, later let's have lunch in a fusion restaurant. Let's try their food there saka tingnan natin yung concept nila at store interior."

Napangiti ako. "Wow, busy day. Diba ngayon ang parting ways natin?"

"I told Papai and my brothers I'm going to check prospective location in the Philippines for my business."

"Anong business?"

"Restaurant with you. Tatawagin nating siyang Gustoso Restaurant and Catering Services."

Napangiti ako. "Wow, parang plano mo ng tumira sa Pilipinas ha?"

"Oo! Kaya parati na tayong magkakasama. Hindi ka na magi-isa."

Napalunok ako. "I'm not lonely." Tanggi ko na namumula.

"But I am, and I want to hang out with you for as long as you won't kick me out or eject me."

"Seryoso ka ba dyan? Nagugulat ako sa mga sinasabi mo. Naka-drugs ka ba?"

"Gatinah, I'm dead serious. Saka I have a plan and that is mambutas ng hymen ni pempem." He joked.

"Gago!" Sagot ko sa kaniya.

Natawa siya.

"Dalian mo na nga dyan minha amor, para masagawa ko na ang plano ko."

---

PRESENT TIME, SWEET DISCOVERY HOTEL

High School Alumi Reunion,

"Malik, SOS!" Sabi ni Jackie sa akin.

"Asan ka?" taka kong tanong dahil nasa may bandang catering area ako at chine-check kung may kulang pang mga gamit bago dumating ang mga kaklase ni Jackie.

"Nasa- powder room, Beshy! Naipit yung zipper ng suot kong nadamit sa likod at sa buhok ko. SOS!"

"Anong gusto mong gawin ko?"

"Tulungan mo ako. Ang sakit!" Reklamo pa ni Jackie.

"Wala bang tao diyan?" Tanong ko at tumugon naman siya na wala daw. I entered the female powder room and saw her facing the mirror area. Pawis na pawis siya na tila hirap na hirap suotin ang damit niya.

"Bakit kasi yan ang sinuot mong cocktain dress. Parang corset at fit na fit yung skirt." Reklamo ko. "Baka hindi ka pa nga makahinga dito."

"Mamaya ka na manermon. Alisin mo yung naipit na buhok ko at itaas mo yung zipper." Pakiusap niya.

Habang nasa likod niya ako ay inisa isa kong tanggalin ang mga strang ng buhok niya na naipit sa zipper ng suot niyang corset na blouse. My eyes caught the her abundant cleavage and I liked it--- for my own viewing only.

"Wala bang pang cover dyan sa dede ng cow ko? Naka-expose ba talaga yan?" pinilit kong ikubli yung inis ko sa suot niya.

"Tse! Dede ng cow ka dyan! Ganito talaga ang corsette. It enhances my chest and makes my waist slim. Ang ganda diba?"

"Oo, maganda kung ako lang ang makakakita ng pisngi ng cleavage mo. Kaso, Beshy, naguumapaw siya. Kailangan ba talaga paapawin mo yan? May contest ba ng boobs ngayon dito sa alumni niyo?"

"Nakakairta ka Malik, ah! I-zipper mo na yan at lumabas ka na. Baka maabutan ka pa ng ibang girls dito." Sagot niya sa akin.

"Wag kang lalabas na nakaganyan ah?" Naiinis kong sabi.

"Nu ka ba?" naiirita niyang tanong. "Magformal attire ka na nga." Paalala niya. "Diba ikaw date ko?" She reminded.

"Oo nga. Hindi talaga ako aalis sa tabi mo. " Banta niya.

"Ang OA mo! Feeling boyps ka dyan, di naman kita boypren!" She grumbled as she fixed her scattered make up on the dresser of the powder room and placed them back her make up bag. "Kaya nga ako nagpapaganda baka sakali may makapansin na boylet mamaya."

"May ka-date ka nga eh, so walang lalapit sa'yo!" Paalala ko sa kaniya. "Kaya mabuti pa palitan mo na yang suot mo."

"Walang kasya!" Naiinis niyang sagot.

"Huh? Eh diba apat na cocktail dresses ang pinadala ni Rori?" taka kong tanong.

"Lahat masikip. Ito lang yung kumasya." Naiinis niyang tugon.

"Pero sinukatan ka naman diba?"

"Oo nga! Eh kaso nag-gain ako ng weight."

"Hindi naman eh! Sexy ka pa din, Beshy. Voluptous! My Beshy Betty Boop!"

"Wag mo na ako bulahin! Nakakadagdag ka lang sa stress ko na nag-gain ako ng weight, ayaw sumara nung cocktail dress ko, at pawisan na ako dito! Labas na!"

Hindi ako lumabas ng powder room. Sinipat sipat ko yung damit niya para bigyan siya ng honest na comment.

And I had nothing bad to comment about how she looked, because to me, she looled mighty fine! She's beautiful, gorgeous, and whenever I look at her, all the more that I realize how I not only love her as my bestfriend, but I also want to be her lover. Her only lover!

"Beshy, kahit mag-gain ka ng weight, you're still gorgeous in my eyes." I said and kissed her on her nape as I planned to tease her.

"Talaga?" Nakasimangot niyang tanong.

"Ang alat!" I said referring to her sweat.

"Tse!" Inis niyang sagot. "Lumabas ka na!"