Open

Chapter 24. Open

Later that afternoon, Rellie decided to go. Napabusangot siya nang mapatingin sa salamin dahil ang pangit ng damit na ibinigay ni Sinned sa kaniya. It's an oversized tee and jogging pants na may tali para masikipan niya. Matangkad na siya pero lumubog pa rin siya sa pants na iyon kaya itinupi na lang niya sa dulo. Ang mas pangit pa sa getup niya ay ang kaniyang boots! Had she known it would look terrible on her, she would had just worn her skirt again. Pero may mantsa kasi kaya hindi na niya isinuot pa. Hindi rin naman niya naisip na labhan dahil masyado siyang pinagod ni Sinned kanina.

"What's with the long face?" he asked. Nakatapis lang ng tuwalya ang ibabang parte ng  katawan nito dahil katatapos lang na maligo.

"These clothes are horrible. Masakit sa mata."

"You look good with any clothes, though. But I prefer seeing you without clothes. You're so delectable."

Napakurap-kurap siya dahil napaka-kaswal nitong tinuran ang mga katagang iyon. Wala sa sariling naipit niya ang takas na buhok sa kaliwa niyang tainga.

Ang akala nga ay aalukin siya nito na ihatid pauwi o kahit saan siya magpunta, pero sinabi nitong may kailangan itong puntahan.

"You can stay here and take a rest," anito nang nagpapatuyo ng buhok gamit ang blower nito.

"No." Even though she liked that idea whereas she would wait for him to go home tonight, she declined. Then, she added, "I have to go home because my mom bombarded my phone with calls that I missed." Naka-set kasi sa silent mode ang phone. "Nagdahilan na nga lang ako na sa studio na nakatulog at hindi maganda ang pakiramdam kagabi kaya hindi na nakauwi."

"You should've just told her you slept with me."

Kung may laman siguro ang bibig niya ngayon ay naibuga na niya iyon. "Why would I tell mom that I had sex with you? Ma-e-eskandalo iyon lalo pa't hindi ka naman niya kilala."

"Damn," he cursed when he realized it.

Napasimangot naman siya at naisip na ganoon siguro ito kay Candace Ferrer noon. Na sanay na ang mga magulang ng babae na magkasama lagi ang dalawa kaya kaswal na lang na masasabing "Mom, I slept with Sinned tonight". Nainggit siya bigla at naisip na sana, gaya ni Cand—Blimey, Rellie! Why are you comparing yourself to that woman?

She sighed and decided to just go already. And she drove straight to the nearest OB-GYN clinic, instead of going to the hospital where she had her regular checkups. Hindi naman kasi siya magpapatingin, she only wanted to check on something.

Sa totoo lang ay hindi niya maalalang nabanggit niya kay Sinned ang virginity niya, pero siguro, nasabi niya nang hindi namamalayan. Sabagay, paano nito malalamang wala siyang karanasan kung hindi niya sinabi, 'di ba?

Napailing na lang siya at nag-fill out na ng form. Ang mga kasabayan niya sa queue ay mga buntis, siya lang yata ang hindi. Tatlong buntis pa ang nauna sa kaniya bago siya tinawag ng sekretarya ni Doc.

"Mrs. Rellie Hipolito!"

She automatically rose and grinned when she heard that name. Parang ang sarap pag-practice-an ng bagong pirma gamit ang pangalang iyon, ah.

Alam niyang hindi tama na may mali sa inilagay niyang impormasyon, pero gusto sana niyang itago na nagpunta siya sa OB-Gynecologist ngayon. She kind of had that mindset that a rumor, wherein she's pregnant, would arise if some people knew that she went to a clinic. Na hindi naman niya pinupuntahan talaga at biglaan lamang.

Ang dami pang dahilan, gusto mo lang mag-feeling Misis ni Attorney! Kantiyaw ng isipan niya.

That, too.

She giggled lightly and she felt she was glowing at that moment.

Nang makapasok ay tinanong ng doktor kung ano ang ipinunta niya roon. Medyo nahiya pa siya dahil lalaki ang OB-GYN. Pero nilakasan na niya ang loob. Nandoon na rin naman siya.

She raised her concern. "Uh, is it possible to not bleed the the first time having a penetrative sex?"

Tumahimik ang doktor, mukhang naghihintay pa ng mga detalye.

"Doc, l-last night, I lost my virginity... but I didn't bleed." That was almost a whisper.

Umaliwalas ang mukha nito na animo'y naintindihan na kung bakit niya itinanong iyon. "Misis, okey lang na hindi ka duguin sa unang karanasan mo. May iba namang dinudugo, pero pareho lang na normal ang mga iyon," magaang paliwanag nito.

Naliwanagan siya. Pero tinanong pa rin niya kung bakit.

The doctor went on, "Vaginas have a thin tissue that stretches across part of the opening. This is called a hymen. Sometimes when a person has vaginal sex for the first time, their hymen gets stretched open, which can cause pain or bleeding."

Napatango siya. Iyon nga ang connotation na alam niya tungkol sa virginity.

Then, she was asked, "Do you do sports?"

"Basketball at tennis po. Pero sobrang dalang lang naman."

"I see..." The doctor went on casually explaining things out to her. "Your hymen can also naturally stretch from things like sports, using a tampon, or putting fingers or other objects in your vagina. And many people are born with very little hymenal tissue to begin with, so it may seem like they don't have a hymen at all. One of these may be the reason why you didn't bleed."

Napanguso siya at namula nang maalalang ilang beses na niyang pinaluguran ang sarili noon. Naging madalas pa nga mula nang makilala niya si Sinned.

"We can run some tests if you want to."

Kagat-labing napaangat siya ng tingin dito. "What if he pulled out when he tried at first, and afterwards, became very gentle to me? Is that a possible reason why I didn't bleed?" kuryosong tanong niya. Gusto niyang maliwanagan pa.

"Oh, tell me more."

Napalunok siya. Sa katunayan ay nahihiya siyang ikwento ang bagay na iyon. Pero gusto niyang makakuha ng sagot kaya sasabihin niya ng pahapyaw.

"Or if you're too uncomfortable, I'll just ask some questions."

She felt relaxed and nodded.

"Did it hurt a lot?"

Umiling siya at sinabing noong unang try, oo, pero nang tumigil ang partner niya at p-in-repare siya ay hindi na siya nasaktan nang husto kahit na naisagad na nito ang kahabaan sa kaniya. May kirot, pero hindi katulad ng inaasahan niya na hindi siya makakikilos nang maayos pagkatapos. Hey, nagka-round two pa nga sila kaninang umaga. Kaya sigurado siyang hindi talaga siya nasaktan.

"It's a good idea to go gently, it can help you avoid pain, that's why you're not in pain now." The doctor was so focused on asking her. "So, when he penetrated, is your vagina dry?"

Again, she shook her head and at the same time, she realized something. She knew it! Those must be the reasons why she did not feel any discomfort at all—he was so gentle and went on slowly; prepared and made her feel relaxed for the penetration; and she was lubed enough to feel the pleasure only.

"By the looks of it, it seems like you already got the answer. But I'll still explain: If you're having vaginal sex, your body will usually produce its own natural lubrication, reducing friction and discomfort," kaswal at dahan-dahang paliwanag ni Dr. Rovio Mariano, ang pangalan ng OB-GYN sa clinic na pinuntahan niya.

She nodded and smiled to the doctor. "Thank you, Doc.! Natakot lang kasi ako dahil akala ko ay may problema na sa akin." She was also embarrassed and nervous because she's not really comfortable telling him about that thing. Pero worth it naman dahil naliwanagan siya.

"You're welcome. Don't think of it too much, Mrs. Hipolito, you and your hymen are completely normal," pagpapagaan pa nito sa loob niya.

Muli siyang nagpasalamat dito at nagpaalam na. Ang nakakatuwa ay hindi na siya nito pinagbayad pa. Kaya ang ginawa na lang niya ay um-order ng pagkain online at pina-deliver sa clinic. Nagpalagay siya ng 'Thank You' note na may ' From: Mrs. Hipolito' sa ibaba.

Nang nakasakay na sa van ay kinuha niya ang cellphone na naiwan niya sa dashboard at saka tinawagan si Sinned. Hindi niya pinansin ang ilang missed calls mula sa kaniyang mama. Tatawagan kaagad niya ito pagkatapos magpaliwanag sa lalaki.

"Hey!" bungad niya kay Sinned.

"Why are you not resting?" tanong naman nito.

"Nah, I have to attend a dinner meeting later." Alas quatro na ng hapon. "Guess what?"

Hindi ito sumagot.

She went on anyway, "Galing akong OB-GYN clinic, tinanong ko kung bakit hindi ako dinugo kagabi."

That gotten his attention. "Why did you go there? There's no need to ask—"

"But you're doubtful of my virginity!" Nagpatuloy siya sa pagpapaliwanag dito.

Kalmante itong sumagot ng, "Rellie, I don't give a damn if you're a virgin or not. I just got curious why you did not bleed when I clearly remember you're a virgin."

"Kaya nga. Sabi ni Doc., mali iyong connotation na kung virgin; duduguin 'pag first time."

"Yes, and I'm sorry if I offended you when I asked that. Anyway, you should go home now. Cancel your meeting and take a rest."

"Nah, ah, ah!" pigil niya rito. "We had sex, but that doesn't mean you can dictate what should I do."

"I'm not—" He sighed. "Alright. Do whatever you want to do. I'll hang up."

At ibinaba nga nito ang tawag. In fairness, l-um-evel up ito. Nagsasabi nang tatapusin na nito ang tawag bago gawin iyon. Pagkatapos at nag-text siya sa mama niya na pauwi na saka ngingiti-ngiting in-start niya ang sasakyan at nagmaneho na pauwi.

HINDI makapaniwala si Sinned na sa isang klinika pa dumiretso si Rellie imbis na umuwi na. Balak sana niyang huwag na muna itong pauwiin para makapagpahinga, pero napansin naman niyang kaya nito, kaya nagpasya siyang pumayag na pauwiin na lang ito. Mas makapagpapahinga kasi ito sa sariling tahanan kaysa sa apartment niya. At isa pa, hindi niya maipapangako na makapagpapahinga ito kung sakaling naglagi pa sa apartment. Baka nga umuungol na naman ito at nagmamakaawang paligayahin niya pa ulit ngayon.

He shook his head to drive those thoughts away. Hindi na siya teenager na hayok sa makamundong bagay. He should know how to control himself. Kung maaari lang ay iyon na ang una't huling beses na may nangyari sa kanila ng babae. Nakuha nga niyang hindi tumikim sa iba mula noon. Ngayon lang.

Candace was his first experience. Sa babae niya natutunan ang kaalaman niya sa makamundong bagay ngayon, bukod pa siyempre sa instincts at sa mga napanood na pornograpiya noong bata-bata pa siya.

He sighed when he remembered that woman. Ayun at nagpapakasasa na naman sa matandang asawa. Nagtagis ang bagang niya nang maisip ang dahilan ng paglalagi nito sa Amerika.

"Hindi lang ikaw ang marunong na magpakasasa sa iba, Ace," he muttered under his breath.

"Ano iyon?" Vince got his attention. He's his friend and the co-founder of Phoenix Agency. The latter was there because he visited the sleepers—to check if they could handle to be brainwashed—since sleeper agents weren't supposed to remember anything about the agency, and their missions. But unlike him, Vince was not a secret agent. Isa itong neurosurgeon at pinsan ng head ng ahensiya na si Stone.

Kaibigan din niya si Stone, at gaya ni Vince ay naging kaklase niya sa ilang minor subjects noong t-in-ake niya ang kaniyang pre law course.

Kasalukuyan silang nasa opisina ni Stone upang mag-usap tungkol sa kutob niya. Pero ang mga damuho ay kanina pa siya tinutukso-tukso sa kung ano ba ang ginawa niya kagabi. Ganoon ba kahalata na nakipag-sex siya?

"Can you be serious? Or else, I'll drop the case about the late Governor." That was the very same case he first handled. Phoenix' head told him to investigate more about it, until it became his official mission.

"Bakit mainit ang ulo mo? Excited na bang makadilig ulit?"

Sinamaan niya ng tingin si Vince, pati si Stone na ngingisi-ngisi na. He wondered, how did they know?

"Pucha, kaya pala glowing ang abogago, nakadilig na naman ng magandang dilag! Kailan pa siya nakauwi?"

Hindi niya kumibo si Stone. Mga walang magawa. Hindi naman pala alam na si Rellie ang kasama niya magdamag.

Kaya iniba na niya ang usapan. "I want you to open an investigation on this club..." He browsed on his phone and shown Stone the name and location of the club.

"Why would I?" Sumeryoso naman ang huli habang ang pinsan nito ay tahimik na nakinig sa usapan.

"Last night, I asked for a medicine for my headache, but the waitress gave me a blue pill instead. Believing that that's just a pain reliever medicine, I took it. However, I woke up not remembering every single thing happened overnight," he explained briefly.

That got the neurosurgeon's full attention. "Tell us more about it. Were you gang-banged by the waitresses? How did it feel?"

"Gago. Hindi ito porn," mura niya rito. Akala ba naman niya, seryoso na ito.

"Hindi nga niya maalala ang nangyari, hindi ba?" si Stone sa pinsan nito.

"But I remember I rode the taxi, then, black out," dagdag naman niya.

"I was just wondering since it's obvious you had sex, and you must have enjoyed it a lot. May chikinini ka pa, gago," katwiran pa ni Vince. Napangisi pa nang tumingin sa leeg niya.

Ah, iyon pala ang dahilan kaya siguradong-sigurado ang mga ito na may nakasiping siya. Ang totoo ay nakalimutan niyang magsuot ng turtle neck para matakpan iyon. Sabagay, nakalimutan nga niyang nilagyan siya ni Rellie ng hickey sa leeg niya; roon pa sa bandang madaling makita at pansinin.

Damn, she wasn't the best kisser—it was obvious that she's inexperienced—yet, she did not fail to make him want her.

Tumikhim si Vince na nagpabalik sa atensiyon niya rito.

Then, he just casually replied, "I had one, okay? It happened because I felt really horny even before I rode the taxi. I can vividly remember the feeling of wanting to have sex so badly, that even those waitresses did gangbang me, I would gladly be banged by them. Ganoon kalala ang pagkalibog na idinulot ng gamot na iyon sa 'kin."

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Vince habang si Stone ay tahimik na nakinig. Alam niyang nakuha ng nangyari sa kaniya ang interes nito, at magbubukas ito ng imbestigasyon ukol sa club na iyon.

"It's more of an aphrodisiac drug," Vince commented. He meant a drug that could heighten the libido of a person who would take that.

"And there's something in it that can make you forget. Look what happened to me. Daig ko pa ang mga sleepers na b-in-rainwash sa lab," komento niya.

"May nameplate ba ang mga waitress sa club?" Tumango siya. "Natatandaan mo ba ang pangalan ng waitress?"

Saglit siyang natigilan matapos magtanong ni Vince; pilit na inaalala ang bagay na iyon. "I think is Jovilyn? Wait, Ruby?" Then, he remembered. "Ah, yes, it's Ruvilyn." He idly drank from the bottled water after saying those names.

Napatango si Stone at may i-t-in-ype na naman sa laptop. Kanina pa niya napapansin na nagno-note ito. Nasa may office table kasi sila: si Stone ay nakaupo sa swivel chair nito habang sila ni Vince ay sa dalawang pang-isahang sofa.

"Akala ko ba, wala kang natatandaan?"

Bumaling siya kay Vince, "I'm basing on what I recalled."

"So, you mentioned a while ago that you remember banging someone?" Stone probed critically.

"Talagang nakuha ang atensiyon ng gago," pabirong bulalas ni Vince pero walang pumansin sa kanila ni Stone. Kaya umalis na lang ito sa gitna ng pag-uusap nila ng pinsan nito. Mukhang hindi na rin naman interesado sa usapan.

"I quite remember I had sex, but, I don't remember what we exactly did last night. Gumising na lang ako na katabi ko si Rellie sa kama—"

"Wait, so it's not Ms. Ferrer?" Naningkit ang mga mata ni Stone na pinutol ang kaniyang sasabihin.

Did he mention a name?

"It doesn't matter," aniya. "Let's open an investigation. If my hunch is right, then, we should get rid of that drug." May kutob kasi siyang ilegal na droga iyon, at maaaring malalaking tao ang nasa likod ng club na iyon.

"Alright. But not now, we still have a lot of things in our plate."