TAMED SERIES 3: RAFAEL AVILA

Kabanata 13

Caya

"Does it still hurt?" Rafael asked while we're in the tub. My back is resting on his chest while we're dipping in warm water.

I sighed as I made myself comfortable between his arms. "A little." I looked at him. "Is this what they call after-care?"

He smirked. "Why? Captain Guevarra isn't fond of cuddles and after-s*x rituals?"

I pursed my lips and didn't say a word. Siguro saka ko na lang sasabihing hindi talaga ako ang naririnig niya kapag sigurado na akong hindi niya ichichismis sina Astrid at Croft.

He poured some water on my shoulder while I angle my head. Nang mabuhusan ng tubig ang aking balikat ay marahan niyang pinatakan ng halik ang gilid ng aking ulo. "Let's wrap you up. You can sleep here tonight," aniya.

"Why? Sa kabila lang naman ang cabin ko," I said.

"Baka lagnatin ka. I'll monitor your temperature."

Tila may mainit na palad na humaplos sa aking puso dahil sa kanyang sinabi. Hindi na tuloy ako nakatanggi. He went out of the tub first, dried himself and wore a robe before he helped me stand up.

Nang makatungtong sa basahan ay siya rin ang nagpunas sa akin at nagsuot ng roba. He even volunteered to dry my hair while I'm standing in front of him.

Nakagat ko ang ibaba kong labi habang pinagmamasdan ang repleksyon niya sa salamin. He seemed too focused on drying my hair with the blower that even his brows are slightly furrowed.

I wonder. Ganito ba siya sa lahat ng nakakasalo niya sa kama?

Maybe. Who knows? Medyo nagulat lang siguro ako na napakamaalaga niya.

Look at him? Ni hindi pa nga niya natutuyo ang sarili niyang buhok. He took a shower earlier before he joined me in the tub. Kahit na ilang minuto siya sa tub ay basa pa rin naman ang buhok niya kaya ngayon ay bagsak.

Honestly, I like his hair that way. Mas lalo siyang gumwapo.

"Wait for me," he said after putting the blower down. "I'll get you some meds in case you'll get fever."

Tumango na lamang ako. Nang makalabas ng banyo at kumuha siya ng tee shirt sa kanyang closet. I thought he's going to wear it. Ngunit maya-maya ay isinuot niya sa akin ang puting damit na nagmukhang dress sa laki sa akin.

He smirked after seeing how the shirt looked on me. "You're too small for my shirt."

Ngumuso ako nang bahagya. "I'm five two, Rafael."

"Still small." He pats my head. "But cute. Pwedeng ibulsa."

I almost smacked his chest but he stepped away grinning. Maya-maya ay tuluyan na akong iniwan sa kanyang cabin.

Naupo ako sa gilid ng kama at dinampot ang cellphone ko. I told Astrid to not look for me. Hindi rin naman nag-reply. Mukhang nakakulong na ngayon sa cabin ni Captain Guevarra. Mukhang nakakuha ng tyempo para makapuslit doon.

I was about to put my phone down when a familiar film producer sent me a chat. He was asking me if I can meet up with him once Astrid and I are back in the country. He sent me a photo of his shaft after and told me he missed me so much. Kaya imbes na hindi ko maaalala ang nakaraan kahit ngayong gabi lang, para na naman akong hinugot pabalik sa bahagi ng buhay kong gusto ko nang kalimutan.

Hindi ko siya sinagot. Instead, I sent tita Cathy a message and told her about the producer. Ganoon man ang ugali ni tita Cathy, ni minsan ay hindi nakaranas ng panghahalay si Astrid kaya kampante akong hindi ko kailangang matakot na magsumbong sa kanya.

I put my phone down and rubbed my palms on my face. Maya-maya ay bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Rafael dala ang thermometer at gamot.

"I ordered some food. They'll bring it here after thirty minutes but if you're sleepy, you can hit the bed already," aniya saka inilapag ang mga bitbit sa maliit na mesang naroroon. Nang matitigan ako ay bahagyang nagsalubong ang kanyang mga kilay. "Why?"

"Hmm?"

"I said why? You look like you're having an internal panic attack."

Napakurap ako. How could he be that observant? Bakit parang ang bilis niya akong mabasa? Madalas akong mapuri sa husay kong magtago ng totoo kong nararamdaman at mameke ng ekspresyon, pero parang pagdating kay Rafael, hindi ko iyon magawa.

How is he doing that?

Humugot ako ng hininga't umiling. "No. Medyo nag-aalala lang ako na baka nga lagnatin ako."

He shook his head. "Nope. Something is bothering you, Caya. What is it? Did Captain Guevarra messaged you? Was he looking for you?"

"No." Lumunok ako kasabay ng pag-iwas ng tingin. "Uhm, hindi tungkol kay Captain. It's . . . about something else but don't worry about it. Nasabi ko na sa manager ko."

He lifted a brow. "Okay? Wanna talk about it anyway?"

Umiling ako. "I'm . . . not comfortable. Sorry."

Tumango siya't humugot ng hininga. "It's fine."

Naupo siya sa kama at tila pinakiramdaman ako. Sandali rin kaming nabalot ng katahimikan bago siya nagpakawalang muli ng matalim na hininga.

"I uh . . . heard they'll do parasailing tomorrow. Would you . . . like to try it?" he asked.

Tumingin ako sa kanya. "S-Sasamahan mo ako?"

"Yeah. We can also do jetski. May mini port pala sa fourth deck na pwedeng daanan. Maybe we can use one of their jetskis under their supervision."

I smiled. "Sure."

He nodded then smiled. "If we're gonna pretend that we're strangers to each other once we're back in the county, maybe we should at least make as much memories as we can, right?" he asked.

Ewan ko ba pero parang mayroong kumurot sa aking puso dahil sa kanyang sinabi. Ayaw ko na lang ipahalata kaya umiwas ako ng tingin bago pa niya mabasa ang aking ekspresyon. "Yeah. Ganoon din naman. Magpapanggap din tayong hindi tayo nag-uusap oras na makabalik na ng Pinas." Humugot ako ng hininga saka lakas loob na nagtanong. "What's your plan once we're back in the country?"

Nahiga siya sa kama at tumitig sa ceiling. "I still don't know actually. Maybe I'll visit a friend in Sagada, stay there for a couple weeks then visit another friend in Zambales and apply as a room boy." He scoffed. "Papasa naman ako panigurado."

I laughed softly. "Overqualified ka naman doon."

"Yeah, well that's better than trying to prove that I can still get my life back." He sighed. "Unlike you, I have to accept the fact that my career is over."

Bumagsak ang aking mga balikat. Nang hindi na nakatiis ay nahiga rin ako sa kama at humarap sa kanya. "It's just a career you didn't even want to pursue in your own will. I have a feeling that it was taken away from you so you can find your real passion."

He smirked. "And if I'd find it, will we break our rule for one day and spend a night together to celebrate?"

"Kung free ang schedule ko at wala pa akong boyfriend," I joked.

He scoffed. "Alright, let's see."

"Anong let's see?" I asked.

Ngumisi siya't ibinalik ang tingin sa ceiling.

"Let's see kung may makakaporma . . ." he said under his breath so I didn't understand it.

"Ano kamo, Rafa?"

He licked his lower lip. "Nothing." He winked then grabbed the remote. "Let's watch while waiting for our food."

Hindi na lamang ako kumibo. Kung ano man iyon, mukhang mas mabuti ngang hindi ko narinig . . .