Chapter 16 - Pag Alala sa Halik

Nicolo

Habang nakahiga ako ngayon sa kama ko at nakakatingala sa kisame, di pa rin matanggal ang init sa mga nangyari kanina lang. Matapos ang pag-uulayaw namin ni Gail, sinabihan ko siya na magbibihis na ako at baka gabihin pa ako sa pag uwi.

"Don't worry... ihahatid kita..." sabi ni Gail habang pabangon na rin siya sa kama niya.

Matapos magbihis at mag ayos naming dalawa, bumaba na kami ng condo papuntang lobby kung saan kami sasakay ng isa pang elevator papuntang basement. Buti wala masyado tao ng mga oras na yun.

"Don't forget itong shirts mo" sabi niya ng pagkasakay ko ng kotse.

"Sa-salamat..." wika ko.

Simula sa condo niya sa Libis, madalang kami mag usap. Mabuti na lang may music na lumilibang sa amin. Ngayon ramdam ko na ang lamig ang aircon ng kotse niya, di tulad kanina. Nakatingin ako sa bintana sa nadadaanang mga building nang may isang tumugtog na music.

"This one is nice..." banggit niya habang patuloy na nagmamaneho.

Napatingin ako sa kanya. Seryosong nakatingin sa daan. At sa ilaw ng mga dumadaang mga poste ng ilaw, lalo kong nakikita ang ganda niya. Ang kislap ng mga mata... Kinis ng mukha... bagsak ng buhok.

Sa dilim na ito, kita pa rin ang pagiging mapang-akit ni Gail. Ano nga ba itong nararamdaman ko sa kanya?

"... kwentuhan mo naman ako Nicolo... about... about yourself..." tingin niya sa akin pag abot sa isang stoplight.

Napahinto ako at napa isip.

Ano nga ba ikukwento ko sa kanya? Alin ang ikukwento ko sa kanya?

"H-Hwag na... baka antukin ka lang sa kwento ko... Baduy ang kwento at buhay ko... Parang mga kwentong barbero lang" banggit ko sa kanya.

Natawa si Gail sa nabanggit ko. At napatingin ako sa sapatos sa hiya.

Lalo siyang natawa siguro sa pamumula ng mukha ko. Ako na rin ay natawa sa sarili ko. Tapos biglang...

... hinalikan ko so Gail sa labi.

Isang halik na di ko alam kung bakit ko ginawa. Pero walang pagsisisi habang ang kamay ko ay nasa mga makinis na pisngi ni Gail. Ramdam ko ang init sa mga labi niya na napaka lambot. Nahuhulog na ba 'ko?

HONK! HONK! HONK!

Gail

Only the honking of the car behind us woke me from the daze that was Nicolo's kiss.

"Shucks!" I shouted, surprised at the car behind us angrily honked.

Shifting into gear, we went through E. Rod area. After that it was smooth sailing, er... driving. But I have to say, that kiss got me more hooked on Nicolo more. Hooked like a drug. I wanted him more now.

"So... when will I see you again, Nicolo?" I asked without taking my eyes off the road.

He was silent as I glanced at him for a split second. He was looking out the window with his right hand on his temple thinking. GOSH! He looked better without even trying.

"Ni-Nicolo?" I called out again tapping his knee that was near the breaks.

Then bigla, he touched my hand with his. It was as warm as I remembered in the condo. Then he looked at me, or I felt he looked at me as I drived.

"... Depende..." he said with a voice that felt it was coming from a more serious part of him.

My fingers intertwined with his and stayed there for a few minutes as we drived. They had this hard touch, but not harsh. Strong and manly but had this feeling of comfort. Much like that of...Brent. A sudden emptiness hit deep in my guts. Guilt, is it?

"No... its ok... Brent... Brent will never know..." I told myself.

And as we were nearing Malate area, we stopped by a gasoline station to make sure I had enough gas to reach home and for the next day's errands.

As we stopped at the station and was waiting for a staff to attend to us, he held my hand and raised it to his lips and kissed it. How romantic!

"Nicolo..."

I turned to him to say something when he kissed me again on the lips. Those same lips that devoured my yearnings. I closed my eyes to savor each second of that kiss. Then we separated and fixed ourselves before the station staff tapped on my window for service.

"...Gud ibning mam!" greeted the enthusiastic staff.

Both Nicolo and I smiled innocently as we continued holding hands.

"So... here's my card... message me?.." I asked as Nicolo went down the car when we parked in front of his boarding house.

"... Sure..." he answered with a smile before giving me another kiss and closing the door.

As I turned on the engine and looked on to Nicolo, he waved to me. I nodded before driving out of the street to the main road.

"Haaaayyyyy..."

I breathed deeply as I lay here on my bed looking out the window, remembering what just happened.

Nicolo

Nakatingin ako sa calling card na bigay ni Gail. Nakatitig sa cellphone number bago tumingin sa bintana at napabuntong-hininga.

"Haaaayyyyy..."

Gail

"Things will change..."

Nicolo

"...At kailangan tanggapin ko ito..."

Gail

"... Because I wanted this."