Wildest Dreams (Tagalog. SPG)

Chapter Five

Janelle was in a mild amnesiac state when she opened her blurry eyes.

"It's 6am. I need to get up. Marami akong naiwanang trabaho sa office," she muttered as she stared at the alarm clock. She lifted herself up sluggishly and moaned, stretching her arms. "Ano bang ginawa ko kagabi? Bakit ang sakit-sakit ng ulo ko?"

But her last question knocked her up as last night's memories came back like a restoring internet page. And now she just found herself standing in front of the bathroom, staring at someone with her eyes widely opened. Broad shoulders and chest, sexy collar bones, great biceps and triceps, flat and humpy abs, and proudly erected-

Oh my God! Janelle felt the weakening of her legs but she forced to exit in a flash from the bathroom. She dwelled on the bed and ordered herself to calm, however her heart continued to race.

"Janelle?"

She gasped upon hearing his voice. She wanted to walked in tip toe away from that damn guest room but his sultry voice echoing inside the bathroom just wouldn't allow her to move even a single toe.

"Are you there?"

"Y-yeah. P-pero kagigising ko lang. S-sige, lalabas lang ako. Doon na lang ako magsi-cr sa kwarto ko."

Pasimpleng humakbang si Janelle palabas ng silid ngunit natigilan pa nang marinig na bumukas ang pinto ng banyo.

"Wait, Janelle. Tapos na akong maligo. Dito ka na lang mag-cr."

Dahan-dahang humarap si Janelle at maingat na tinitigan ang aktor. Napalunok siya nang makita itong nakatayo sa tapat niya at tuwalya lang ang tanging suot. "Good morning," ani Flare.

"Good morning too, F-Flare." Pilit na sinuklian ni Janelle ang nakatutunaw na ngiti ng aktor. Yumuko siya at mabilis na tinungo ang banyo.

Janelle closed the bathroom door and leaned behind it. She shut her eyes as she bit her lips. Naalala kaya niya 'yong ginawa ko kagabi? Alam kaya niyang hinalikan ko siya? Napailing siya at naghugas ng kamay habang nakatitig sa sariling repleksyon sa salamin. Maybe not. Lasing na lansing kaya siya. Saka kung naaalala niya, babanggitin niya 'yong tungkol 'don.

Huminga siya nang malalim bago lumabas sa banyo at naabutan niyang nakatayo pa rin si Flare sa dati nitong puwesto.

"Janelle..." Flare started, contracting his dark, thick brows.

Oh, no! Baka sisitahin na niya ako! "Y-yeah? M-may problema ba?" She gulped hard feeling the coldness of her cheeks.

Flare signed and shrugged. "Nakiusap ako sa 'yo na dumito muna ako 'di ba? Pero hindi ko naisip na wala pala akong dalang gamit." Napayuko siya at mula sa ganoong posisyon ng kanyang ulo'y tinitigan niya si Janelle.

"I'm so stupid," ani Flare. Nagpalakad-lakad siya na nakahawak sa sariling batok habang umiiling. He was laughing at his own mistake but he's not aware how seductive this gesture was. 

Because it is unplanned, she thought giving him an awkward smile. But part of her mind said she too was stupid, for letting him enter her house though she's aware that this beautiful man could cause her trouble.

"Do you have an extra shirt here?" Flare asked turning his head to the closet.

"H-huh?"

"Baka may naiwan dito ang kuya mo 'pag nakikitulog siya."

"I don't have any siblings. Why don't you just call someone to bring your clothes here."

Mariing umiling si Flare. "Negative. I'm on a hiding mission, remember? Gusto mo bang mapuno ng reporters ang tapat ng bahay mo?"

Siyempre, hindi. "Okay. If you want, magdadala ako ng shirts galing boutique. Pero mamayang gabi pa ang dating ko. Okay lang ba?"

"Oh." Nagbuntung hininga si Flare at humarap sa salamin. "Hihintayin ko na lang siguro ng matuyo ang shirt at boxers ko. Sabagay, I can stay like this," he said fixing the towel around his waist.

Maybe for him, it was not a problem at all. Pero kay Janelle na makita lang sa TV ang shirtless niyang katawan, nawawala na siya sa konsentrasyon. Hanggang sa biglang may sumagi sa isip niya, and that was the worst idea though she had no other choices.

"Fine! I have something in here. Mukhang kasya naman sa'yo."

"Alright!" Flare answered, grinning.

Janelle opened the guest room's closet and Flare's eyes grew big upon seeing a set of male shirts, shorts, and jeans.

"Whoa! And dami nito." He examined each of those and looked back at Janelle. "Kala ko ba wala kang kapatid na lalaki? Who owned these?"

"M-my... ex."

Naglaho ang ngiti ni Flare. As if he was attacked by ants, he peeled off the navy blue shirt and threw back to the closet.

"No. I'm not gonna wear that. I would prefer walking nude than to model the stuff of your ex."

Janelle felt a relief because seeing those clothes will just remind her about the past. Kung hindi lang kailangan, hindi niya ito ilalabas. Mamaya rin, itatapon ko na ang mga gamit na 'to.

"It's okay. Sige, pagdating ko sa boutique, ipapadala ko na agad ang puwede mong isuot dito sa bahay."

"Thanks, Janelle. I can give you my credit card."

"Okay." Janelle gave him a shy smile then walked towards the door. "Sige, bababa na muna ako. I'll make our breakfast."

One hour had passed by.

They were now both at the dining table and eating silently. Madalas ay nakatingin si Flare sa kanyang cellphone at napapakunot ng noo sa tuwing makakarinig ng message alert.

He's hot even frowning. Janelle thought as she took the bacon into her mouth and chewed it very slow.

Her previous breakfasts were boring not until today. Now she could not even taste her food properly due to the distraction, at the same time attraction in front of her.

"Ang kulit talaga ni Crimson! Hindi ba ako pwedeng magpahinga kahit sandali?" Hindi sinasadyang napatingin siya kay Janelle na agad namang nagbaba ng tingin.

"Sorry."

Muling iniangat ni Janelle ang mukha sa kaharap. "No. Okay lang sa 'kin 'yon," aniya habang umiiling. "But if you don't mind me asking,  bakit ka ba umiiwas sa kanila ngayon? I mean..."

Flare stared at her as if she was an intriguing reporter, causing Janelle to bow her head.

Shit! "Sorry. I shouldn't have asked that," she said, pressing her lips.

"Becuse I'm losing my passion."

Confusion filled into Janelle's mind. Sa isip niya'y paanong mangyayari 'yon, samantalang sa bawat pag-arte nito sa harap ng kamera'y dama niya ang bawat emosyon nito- his frustrations and desperation when he sobs, his joy when his lips smile together with his eyes, and his pure love when he kisses his leading ladies.

"I started acting four years ago noong magbakasyon ako rito sa Pilipinas. I enjoyed it at first, but now I'm 33 and I can't feel the same fondness like before anymore," he sighed.

"You still have those things, Flare. Mas nadagdagan pa nga ang blessings mo sa ngayon, 'di ba?"

"The rumors, gossips, and even threats? Are those blessings? You know, they think I'm tough and numb. Pero hindi nila alam na sumasama rin ang loob ko!" Flare released his spoon and chuckled into an unpleasant way. He could feel the contraction of his muscles and nerves as his face burnt in annoyance. "Kaya nga kahit sandali, gusto kong magpahinga. I'm so f*****g burnt out. I just need to reset or else I would be hating those things that I used to be fond of."

An abrupt muteness sealed their conversation. Ang tanging maririnig lang ay ang mahihinang kalansing ng mga kutsara at tinidor, pati na ang huni ng mga ibon sa mayamang hardin ng likod-bahay.

Sanay si Janelle sa pagpapayo sa kanyang mga kaibigan partikular kay Katya, ngunit nang marinig niya ang saloobin ni Flare, she was voiceless, letting herself be the sponge that absorbs his sorrows. She became a private audience, watching his uncensored vulnerability.

"It's alright."

From Flare's back, Janelle wrapped her arms around his waist and closed her eyes. Then the clock's ticking suddenly stopped and they could hear nothing. Nothing but the racing beats of their hearts.

"T-thanks, Janelle," he said catching her hand resting on his abdomen. "This is all I wanted for now."

Napadilat si Janelle nang madamang nasa loob ng mga palad ni Flare ang kamay niya. It was so tight that she could not manage to move away from his naked back.

Ako din Flare... Ito rin ang gusto ko.

"You know what, Janelle..."

"What?"

"I would never forget about your kiss last night."