The Unnoticed (FILIPINO/ COMPLETED)

Our Moment

AFTER the long and steamy kiss he'd taught me, I lost on tracked and got trouble on collecting myself. I don't know how but I found myself sitting on the table. The top part of my deep pink dress was down on my waist. I don't wear my brassiere. All in all, I was half-naked. Frank was standing in between my legs and just like me drunk and hallucinating. Everything was vivid, he was kissing my proud hills like a hungry baby. I was moaning.

My face turned red as I repeat in my head that I was moaning? I cringed and shut my eyes to erase that memory but it didn't. They were like bubbles floating in my head. 

"Thanks a lot, Mrs. Griffin. This is exactly what she likes."

I stood up on hearing his voice from inside the flower shop. Seconds later, from the pile of beautiful Dandelion, he appeared holding a bouquet of Tulips. It was shaded of one color which is red. He is with an old woman. Nag-uusap sila nang huminto upang may ituro saglit si Frank sa gawi ko.

Nahanap nang ginang ang aking atensyon matapos ay ngumiti ito.

I smiled back at her until they got near.

"She's my girlfriend, Julienne Reese Imperial," Frank introduced.

Nagulat ako roon pero itinago agad sa ngiti.

"Magandang hapon po," bati ko rito.

"Magandang hapon din." Tumingin ito kay Frank, "Kaya pala may kakaibang ningning sa mga mata mo."

"Oh, please! Don't mention it in front of her." Umiling si Frank.

Ngunit makulit na lumapit sa akin ang Ginang at hinawakan ang aking kamay. "Madalas magpunta noon dito ang bata na 'yan kasama ang kanyang ina. Hindi manlang ako nginingitian. Minsan hahalik lang sa pisngi ko para bumati hanggang doon lang. Pero ngayon tingnan mo."

Nangingiti kong tiningnan si Frank. He is shaking his head. Licking his lower lips. There were words on his happy eyes that my heart can clearly read.

Napakurap-kurap ako sa binigay na pulang rosas ng Ginang.

"Para sa'yo, Hija. Ako nga pala si Claire Elliot Hilton. Ninang ng batang 'yan."

"Alright. Enough of story, Auntie Claire. I'll see you again." Mabilis na humalik si Frank sa Ginang. Inunahan ako sa pagkuha ng bulaklak at hinuli ang aking kamay paalis sa nasabing Flower Shop. Bago pa man ako tuluyang makapasok sa sasakyan niya ay narinig ko pa ang pahabol na sinabi ng Ginang Claire.

"I bet you had a spare strawberry gummy on your wallet, Frank. Keep safe!"

Tawa nang tawa si Frank. Ako naman ay hindi nakuha ang ibig sabihin noon.

"Ano raw?"

"Just simply keep safe, Julienne."

Mariin ko siyang tinitigan. Bakit pakiramdam ko hindi talaga 'yon ang ibig sabihin noon.

Dumiretso kami sa private property ng Aldrich. Malawak 'yon na mukhang golf course. Maganda at halatang alaga ang mga damoat puno. Tahimik at nakakalungkot. Sumakay kami ni Frank sa golf car at dinala kami noon sa dulong puno na may katabing pond. Ang ganda ng lugar. Kumpara sa ibang pond na nakita ko, ang isang ito ay special.

Frank helped me stepped out in the car. I followed him walking near the tree with a white ribbon on the body. Hinawakan ko iyon at dinama sa aking palad.

"This is my mother's holy place, Julienne."

Napalingon ako sa kanya. Marami akong gustong itanong tungkol sa kanyang ina at totoong pamilya, pero minabuti kong unawain ang mga emosyon nakikita ngayon sa kanyang mga mata. They were visible pain mixed with sadness and regret. He is a man with lots of regrets. Regrets of not listening with his best friend. Regrets of disobeying and not showing his great love with his loving second mother.

"I promised myself that someday I will introduce with her the woman I truly love but... it's too late. Anyway, I always had her blessings. I am her favorite though. She can't say no with me especially that you are here. She will surely like you, Julienne."

His voice broke in the end.

Right now. Standing across me. Behind the dark suit and powerful name was the vulnerable, Frank Lloyd Aldrich. Sinusubukang ituwid ang mga nagawa niyang kasalanan noon. Nagpapakatatag para sa hinaharap. Para sa natitira niyang kapamilya. Para sa bubuohin niyang pamilya.

Dali-dali akong lumapit sa kanya at niyakap. "Hindi ko man siya nakilala, alam kong masaya siyang nakikita kang magbago. Frank, mahal na mahal ka niya."

Humigpit ang yakap niya sa akin.

Mahirap kapag may mga bagay kang hindi mo agad nagawa habang may pagkakataon. Lalo kapag may gusto kang patunayan. Pagsisisi at pighati ang iiwan sa'yo nito.

Ilang saglit kami roon bago tumulak patungo sa apartment ko. Bukas na agad ang flight namin patungong Paris at Sabado ng gabi ay narito na ulit ako. Pitong araw gaya ng napagkasunduan.

Sa elevator ay siksikan. Kinailangan pa akong takpan ni Frank para lang protektahan sa grupo ng kalalakihang ipinilit ang sariling makasakay. Kaya nang makababa kami agad akong nagpaliwanag sa kanya.

"Nagkataon lang 'yon."

Hindi siya umimik, pero bakas sa expression ng kanyang mukha na hindi siya natutuwa. Nauna ako sa paglalakad at tahimik na binuksan ang pinto.

"Huwag ka ng pumasok dahil magulo sa lo—" Napapikit ako sa hiya nang lagpasan niya ako. Nauna pa sa akin na pumasok.

Mariin niyang sinusuri ang sala kong nilamanan lang ng sofa.

"Mabilis lang naman akong mag-aayos, Frank."

"Where is your room?" Binuksan nito ang pinto ng kuwarto ko. Inignora ang aking sinasabi kaya sumunod ako. Matapos tingnan ay humarap siya sa akin. "Are you sure you are safe here? You see your neighbors, they were all men."

"Nagkataon lang 'yon, Frank. Ilang buwan na ako rito. Ligtas naman dahil may security."

Hindi siya nagsalita. Hinapit lang ako at niyakap. Ganoon kami ng ilang saglit bago siya nagkomento. "I won't be at ease if you were here."

"Frank, kakilala ni Coach ang may-ari ng hotel na'to. Ligtas ako rito, promise!"

Muli siyang bumuntong hininga. Pagod na naupo sa kama.

I bit my lower lip at the sight of him in my private room. He was too huge that my bed looks tiny with his frame.

He noticed it. He held my arms and pinched it a little. "Come on, Baby. I'll help you pack your things."

We booked a hotel near Terminal five. While on our way, he was on numerous phone calls. Not knowing or it is just me noticed the car behind. For about an hour that car is following us.

Reaching up to the hotel, as we gathered my luggage I saw the mysterious car stopped too. Two men in a three-piece suit approached my companion and silently take over the car we use.

"Kanina pa ba nila tayo sinusundan?"

"Yes. They were my shadow, Julienne. You should get used to them."

Tumango ako, napaisip tungkol sa pagkakaalam niya kay Isaac. Ibig bang sabihin ay may sikreto akong bodyguard? Kailan pa?

Pagpasok namin sa suite namin ay naroon na ang luggage ko. Ang laki ng inupahan niya. Malaki pa sa apartment ko. Mangha at sumusunod lang ako sa kanya nang bigla itong maghubad nang pag-itaas. Sa gulat ay natulala at napako ako sa kinatatayuan ko. Siya naman ay dire-diretso lang na binuksan ang pinto sa kaliwa. Natigilan nang mapansin ako.

"What are you doing there?"

"H-ha?" Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa mukha at hubad niyang katawan.

Kunot noo siyang lumapit sa akin at hinuli ang kamay ko. Dinala niya ako sa pintong binuksan niya. "I already call for our dinner. Once it arrived, call me in the guest room." He kissed me on my cheeks before he entered the other room.

Hinila ko sa loob ang aking maleta at naisipang mag-shower muna. Pagtulak ko sa style Japanese sliding door, napatanga ako sa laki ng square bathtub.

This is perfect to chill out.

Habang nakababad ay naka-earphone ako. Madalas kong gawin ito sa maliit kong bathtub. My other way of meditation is soothing my body from warm water. Listening to classical songs. I just don't have here my scented candle. But this one is enough. I closed my eyes and let my soul and mind rest a bit.

Forget. Just a total of peace. Silence.

Hanggang sa magising ako dahil sa malakas na pagbukas ng sliding door. Bumungad sa akin ang nag-aalalang si Frank. Ang titig nito sa aking dibdib ay nagtagal, bago umangat sa aking mata.

"I thought something happened with. You... here."

Nilubog ko ang aking katawan sa sobrang hiya. Siya naman ay sinara ang pinto.

"H-hintayin mo nalang ako sa labas."

"Alright."

Ang bilis ko magshower at bihis. Tapos habang kumakain kami ay walang imikan. Masyadong fresh ang nangyari kanina. Kitang-kita niya ang dibdib ko. Lalo ang nilalamig kong n****e. Tapos ngayon ko lang na-realize na wala akong conservative na damit. Halos lahat ay deep v ang neckline o hindi kaya ay see through, crop top or sketchy. Gaya nitong nighties ko na glossy violet na lumalabas ang pisngi ng aking dibdib.

"Do you always sleep in the bathtub?"

"Oo. I'm sorry. Nakalimutan ko ang food delivery."

"Don't worry about that. I just wanted to know your lifestyle."

"Simple lang ako, Frank. Hindi ako pasosyal."

Ang mga mata niya ay malayang naglalakbay sa akin. Hindi ko masundan. "But you stayed in Australia. You changed... a lot."

Ikaw din. At masasabi kong gusto ko ang pagbabago mo. Sayang lang, hindi ko naranasan na makilala ang dating Frank.

I survived my night with him peacefully. We slept in a separate room which I found costly than getting a single bed. I can sleep on the floor if he wants, no need for this luxurious room. We left four in the morning in the Philippines, then we reached Paris at night.

Tinawagan ko kaagad si Jasmin at Gatus upang ipaalam dahil nakalimutan ko. Sa sobrang dami ng nangyari kahapon ay hindi ko na naalala pa sila. Sakto pang binisita ni Jasmin si Coach kaya ako ang bida sa usapan nila.

"Ay iba... kutob ko na 'yan Baks. Idinaan sa kontrata ang susunod niyan liligawan ka na!"

Hindi mo alam Jasmin kami na!

"Correct! Bukas puwede na akong lumabas. 'Yung lakad sa susunod na Linggo, tuloy ba?"

"Yes, Coach."

"Ay speaking, nakasalubong ko si Doctor Imperial. Hinahanap ka Baks."

Humikab ako bago sumagot, "Bakit daw?"

"Sabi ko pa naman ngayon ka bibisitang bakla ka. Nariyan ka na pala sa Paris. Nakakaloka!"

"Kahit ako rin nabigla, pero okay lang. Pagkakakitaan ito." Tsaka kasama ko ang taong mahal ko at mahal din ako. Nakatulugan ko ang video call dahil kumakain sila. Nagising nalang ako sa pakiramdam na may nakatitig sa akin. Only to find out that Frank is inside the walk-in closet. I was in his place in France. I am the outsider but I was the one who's using his huge bed.

Sinuot ko ang roba upang lapitan ang nalalanghap kong masarap na soup sa mesa. May nakahanda na roong pancake, hotdog, bread, coffee at rice. I took a sip on my cup of coffee, giving myself another glanced on the food.

Niluto niya ba ito?

My body straightened when I felt him behind me. He smelled expensive and manly, then suddenly his palm caressed my waist. From my ears, I heard his tickling breath before he whispered, "Good morning, Julienne."

Pinatong ko sa mesa ang mug bago humarap sa kanya. I held my breath as I found him busy on buttoning his sleek white button-down shirt from the bottom. I saw his chiseled pecks plus that chest. I clearly remembered them hard like a steal. His tight arms might be looking firm but it held me so gently.

Lumapit ako upang tulungan siya.

He stopped and let me do it for him without a word. His gaze fixed with me. His hands rested on the small at my back.

I was just dreaming of this before. I don't know how, but it's becoming real. My dreams are real now.

"S-saan ka natulog kagabi?"

Walang salita'y hinapit niya ako at pinatakan ng halik sa noo. Ngumiti ako at tiyak na namumula sa lapit naming dalawa. Sa paraan ng paninitig niya.

"Why? Do you want me to sleep with you?"

Lalo akong pinulahan. Parang napaso sa huling butones nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko. Ang isang kamay ay masuyong hinaplos ang aking baba, itinaas upang magtama ang aming atensyon. I felt hot and suffocated with the way he stared at me.

"Uh, malaki naman ang higaan. Tingin ko kasya tayo," bulong ko. Kinabahan nang pumikit siya at humugot nang malalim na hininga.

Bakit? Ayaw ba niya nang may katabi? Hindi naman ako malikot matulog. Hindi gaya ni Jasmin na nanununtok.

Malungkot akong yumuko.

He stubbornly lifted my chin. His eyes were problematic or apologetic. "You don't have any idea what I am thinking about you. Especially on sharing a bed. Ya?"

"H-ha?"

He chuckled. Bit his lower lip before he pulled me on the table. "We'll take this slow. For now. Let's go to work? Enjoy the moment being together."

I don't understand him. But no matter what he meant by that I will listen to and trust him.