Earl has waited for almost an hour now. But they have plenty of time. The party starts at six. Ayaw niya sanang pumunta sila sa pagtitipong iyon ngunit kailangan niyang suportahan ang nakababatang kapatid. It’s the first time that Elaiza accepted responsibility. Maliban doon maraming business deals ang kailangan niyang i-propose sa business partners ng pamilya nila. It will be good for Veronica to belong in the circle.
But he would prefer staying at home with his wife. Hindi niya aakalaing ipagpapasalamat niya ang pansamantalang pagtira ng kapatid. Nababawasan ang guilt niya sa tuwing nakikita niyang nakangiti ito bagamat pilit. And she kissed him back. She always does. The chemistry is there na kahit siya, hindi niya magawang iwasan.
Napatingin ulit siya sa relong pambisig.
“We’re done!” narinig niyang tili ng bakla. “Oh, so so beautiful!”
Umayos siya sa pagkaka-upo nang marinig ang yabag na papalapit. Nahigit niya ang hininga nang makita ang asawa. Kung ilang minuto siyang nakatitig rito’y hindi niya alam. Nakatingin lang ang asawa sa kanya’t naghihintay ng sasabihin niya.
“Is it okay?” tanong nito sa kanya. Napalunok siya.
“You look–” Napangiti siya sa bakla at sa dalawang babaing nadoon. “Good work, guys!”aniyang mabilis na napatayo at inalalayan sa siko ang asawa.
“You mean girls, duh!” maarteng reaksyon ng bakla. Hindi niya magawang tingnan ito dahil nakapagkit ang tingin niya kay Veronica. She’s indeed very beautiful. She chose the emerald green dress which fitted her curves perfectly. Her neck is bare and it showed her sexy shoulder blades. Nanuyo bigla ang lalamunan niya.
“Magpapaalam na po kami, Mr. and Mrs. San Diego,” ani Frenzy.
“Thank you so much, girls! You saved the day!” nakangiting sabi nito.
Nagpasalamat na rin siya at inihatid ang mga ito sa pinto. Nang lingunin niya ang asawa’y nakatingin ito sa kanya. Lumapit siya rito at ibinigay ang braso.
“Shall we?” aniya. Sumilay ang ngiti sa labi nito. And he felt his pulse accelerated.
“Thank you,” anito.
“Why do you have to be so beautiful, my wife?” wala sa loob na bulong niya. It was the same feeling he felt on their wedding day. He’s deeply mesmerized by the beauty of her.
But he’s not in love.
Of course, narinig niyang sagot sa sarili.
“Here we are,” aniya nang ihimpil ang kotse. “Ready?”
Nakita niya ang kaba sa mukha nito. Ngunit nakuha nitong tumango. “We have to do this perfectly, right?”
“Right,” sagot niya at inalalayan ang asawa pababa ng kotse.
“Wait, how do I look?”
Humugot siya ng hininga. “Perfect.”
Napatitig ito sa kanya saka napangiti.
PAGPASOK nila’y sinalubong sila ng Daddy niya. Malaki ang pagkakangiti nito lalo na nang makita si Veronica. And he gave him the I-told-you-so look.
Veronica instantly drew a lot of attention. At natagpuan niya ang sariling pigil-pigil ang sariling kamaong mapasuntok sa mga lalaking nagpapapansin sa asawa. Hindi niya gustong iwan ito ngunit may mga tao siyang dapat kausapin. Naging panatag ang loob niya nang makita si Elaiza. Her sister made a lot of heads turn too. She’s not so little anymore. She felt protective of her with those stares but he felt more protective of his wife.
Jealousy? Oh, cut it out.
When they heard the clinging of the glass, napatingin ang lahat kay Don Eleazar. By this time, Earl managed to be beside his wife and held her close.
“I want to thank you all for coming. It’s been a long time since we all gathered just for the party and forget about business. Though I know, we talk about it all the time.” Ngumiti ang Don saka inilibot ang tingin sa lahat. “I would like to make a toast,” anitong itinaas ang kopitang hawak. “For my daughter Elaiza who will be running the San Diego’s chain of hotels,” Lumapit naman ang dalaga at bahagyang yumuko sa lahat ng bisita. “And for my son, Simon who is now bestowed the responsibility I used to hold in all the San Diego’s businesses.”
Napakunot ang noo ni Earl. Nagkaroon ng bulungan. Sumenyas ang Daddy niyang papuntahin siya sa gitna. Nagpahinuhod siya, hawak-hawak ang kamay ng asawa niya.
“For the best of the company,” anitong itinaas ang kopita. “Cheers!”
“Cheers!” anang lahat.
Parang di makagalaw si Veronica sa bilis ng pangyayari. Earl just… Ni hindi niya halos malunok ang alak na nasa bibig. At nang malunok niya iyon ay mas naramdaman niya ang pait kesa sa tamis niyon.
“Hey, you okay?” ani Elaiza. Awtomatikong napangiti siya.
“Congratulations!” aniya sabay yakap rito.
“Thanks,” anitong gumanti ng yakap. Pagkuwa’y sumeryoso ang mukha. “I know you’re worried. I can read it in your eyes.”
Napatingin siya rito. At sa isang sulok ng mata pinagmamasdan niya ang asawang abala sa pakikipagkamay sa mga negosyanteng bumati rito.
“No. It’s just–”
“You don’t need to explain. I understand, Veronica. He’ll be twice as busy. He’ll be twice as tired. And he’ll be irritable. In short, he’ll be a pain in the ass. Hindi biro ang posisyong iiwan ng Daddy sa kanya.”
I’m not really worried about that… aniya sa sarili. It so happened that Earl have no reason to be married to me anymore.
Pakiramdam niya’y nginangatngat ng takot ang puso. Oh yes, he hated him so much for the past days. Ngunit… hindi niya alam kung makakaya niyang isang araw hihiwalayan na siya nito.. Because all along, she knew, she’s not pretending. She loves him and she knew she’ll die the moment she loses him.
Is it really happening now? The only thing that would keep their marriage is his father’s life. Mariin niyang nakagat ang labi.
Ilang sandali pa’y nagsimula na ang sayawan. May iilang pares na sa bulwagan.
“Hon?”
Muntik na siyang mapakislot nang pumulupot ang braso ni Earl sa bewang niya.
“Let’s dance,” anito. Napasunod siya rito. Unti-unting lumamlam ang liwanag ng ilaw at pumailanlang ang musikang pamilyar sa kanya. Napa-iling siya. It must be Elaiza.
You’re my everything
The sun that shines above you
Makes the bluebirds sing
The stars that twinkle way up in the sky
Tell me I’m in love
When I kiss your lips
I feel the rolling thunder to my finger tips
And all the while my head is in a spin
Deep within, I’m in love
Tila idinuduyan siya sa ganda ng boses ng kumakanta. Ikinawit niya ang kamay sa batok ng asawa at inihimlay ang pisngi sa balikat nito’t napapikit. Can’t they be like this after 50 years? His Dad will be like, 112 then. If only his Dad is healthier… Napabuntong-hininga siya.
“Of all people, you have the weirdest reaction regarding my promotion considering you are my wife.” mahinang sabi ni Earl.
“I’m sorry,” aniyang itinago ang mukha para itago ang anumang emosyong meron siya.. “Marami lang akong iniisip.”
“You’re upset,” anito.
“No,” depensa niya.
“Then what is it? People are looking at us, Veronica. And you’re so beautiful that you draw a lot of attention. And people are seeing you sad.”
Naramdaman niya ang pag-iinit ng pisngi. She wished Earl meant those flattery and not because it’s part of their pretensions. Because she felt good hearing those from him.
“I’m just worried,” amin niya.
“Of what?”
“Of you.”
“Of me,” anito sa tonong mawawalan na ng pasensiya. “Elaborate further please.”
Napabuntong-hininga si Veronica. This is the first time they really got to talk. Just like the old days. O baka dahil lamang maraming nagmamasid sa kanila. Kakausapin kaya siya nito kapag silang dalawa lang ang naroroon?
“It’s nonsense, Earl.”
“I’d pretty much like to listen to nonsense things actually.”
“The deal…” Lumabas sa bibig niya kahit tinangka niyang pigilan. Naramdaman niyang tumigil ito sa pagsayaw. “I’m worried you might–”
“Look at me,” malamig na sabi nito.
Unti-unti niyang ini-angat ang ulo.
“Is that how little you think of me?”
Napayuko siya nang di makayanan ang titig nito. He looked hurt and mad at the same time. Naramdaman niya ang tensiyon sa pagitan nilang dalawa.
“I just wanted to make sure,” aniyang pinatatag ang tinig kahit di niya maalis-alis ang takot na nakadagan sa dibdib. Nakita niya ang pangangalit ng bagang nito.
“I honor my word, Veronica.” Suddenly he’s cold as ice. Kagaya noong una nilang pagkikita.
Mapait siyang ngumiti. “I’d hold on to that.”
“Be my guest, my wife,” anitong may sarkasmo sa tinig.
“We might as well seal our deal with a kiss,” aniya nang masulyapang nakatingin sa kanila ang mga taong naroroon dahil sila lang ang parehang hindi sumasayaw.
Napabuga ito ng hininga. “Why do you always do that?” inis na bulong nito.
“Do what?”
“Make me kiss you when I don’t want to!”
Daig pa niya ang sinampal sa tinuran nito. Because kissing is whole lot better than arguing! Gusto niyang isatinig ngunit yumuko ito at inabot ang labi niya. It was a fleeting second. Parang paru-parong dumapo ang labi nito sa labi niya.
Her heart sank. So, he didn’t really wanted to kiss her. Nanubig agad ang mga mata.
“Is that smear-proof?”
“What?” aniyang pilit kinontrol ang pagpiyok ng boses.
“Never mind,” anito saka muling yumuko at inangkin ang labi niya.
And Veronica was lost again. He let Earl devour her. He sucked her breath and she clinged closer to him, gasping for air. Pakiramdam niya’y namamaga na ang mga labi niya ngunit wala siyang pakialam. She kissed him wantonly like there’s no tomorrow. Suddenly, there were just two of them. And all that matters to her is Earl’s lips on hers. She felt something poking near her abdomen. Ganon na lang ang pag-iinit ng mukha niya. And they’re in the dance floor!
Kapwa sila humihingal nang maghiwalay ang mga labi nila. Napasulyap si Veronica sa paligid and was surprised that every pair is kissing! Including Elaiza. Wait, is she smooching with the waiter?
Napatingin siya kay Earl. Ngunit nakatitig ito sa kanya. And her stomach twisted as she read the desire in his eyes. Nang hinila siya nito’y agad siyang napasunod. And they found themselves in the powder room. The moment the door was closed, Earl captured her lips hungrily and his hands were all over her body. Napasinghap siya at napakapit ng mahigpit rito nang bumaba ang labi nito sa leeg niya. He was planting kisses on her shoulder blades. Nibbling ang gently biting on some spots.
Pagkuwa’y naramdaman niya ang kamay nito sa ibabaw ng dibdib. Kneading, bringing pleasure from all direction. Kinagat niya ng mariin ang labi para hindi kumawala ang ungol. His other hand searched for the zipper of her dress as her own hands are busy taking off his belt.
He moaned as she let her hands roam under his shirt. He captured her lips once more. And Veronica melted. Nang hindi nito mahagilap ang zipper, inililis nito ang hemline ng gown niya. She was shocked when she heared fabric being ripped.
“Take care of–” the gown. Gusto niyang sabihin ngunit hindi natuloy dahil kumawala ang ungol sa bibig. She just felt his hands inside her.
Nagulantang sila nang may kumatok. Nagkatinginan silang dalawa, habol ang hininga.
“Let’s go somewhere else,” anito. Ibinuka niya ang labi ngunit hindi niya alam kung ano ang isasagot. “Don’t make me beg, please.” Hindi na nito hinintay ang kanyang sagot. Hinila na nito ang kamay niya.
Nang buksan nila ang pinto’y agad silang lumabas. Ni hindi nila tiningnan kung ano ang reaksyon ng mga taong naroroon.
They found a vacant room. And the moment they locked the door, Veronica felt, eternity had begun.
HALOS hindi makapaniwala si Veronica sa bilis ng pangyayari. They’re inside this dark room lying on a bed, completely naked. Hindi niya alam kung saan hahagilapin ang mga damit. But it’s the least she can think of right now.
What just happened? She felt sore all over. All she knew is they made love over and over again.
Pinakiramdaman niya ang katabi. Wala siyang ibang naririnig kundi ang salitan paghinga nila. Hindi niya alam kung anong oras na pero sige pa rin ang tugtog sa labas. His skin is warm, smooth and firm beneath hers. Nakahiga siya sa braso nito at nakayakap siya rito. Can she stay here forever?
She was wondering what he’s thinking. Iniisip ba nito ang nangyayari ngayon? Making love isn’t part of the deal. Or… was it really lovemaking or plain sex for him? Gumuhit ang pait sa dibdib.
She called out his name during their climax. And when they both reached the peak, she whispered I love you.
Gusto niyang makadama ng hiya. Dahil walang anumang tugon mula sa bibig nito. He just kissed her fully in the mouth. Well, at least he didn’t mentioned Bianca. That’s a good sign. And he’s still holding her up to this moment.
THEY should get up now. Put back their clothes. But he felt so wonderfully comfortable holding Veronica in his arms. Her smooth, soft and velvety skin felt just so good against his. She just smells so good.
“Earl,” tawag nito. Walang anumang ilaw mula sa silid na iyon maliban sa malamlam na liwanag mula sa labas. Kaya hindi nila makita ang isa’t isa.
“We better get up,” halos bulong na sabi nito. “Earl?” anitong bahagya siyang niyugyog.
“Mmm..” aniyang niyakap ito ng mahigpit. She heard her chanting his name while they were making love. And she whispered something. Was it I love you? Hindi niya maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman. Was he really happy? Or was it just because of the pleasure of their joined bodies? Crap!
Okay. He still finds her gorgeous. He is somehow convinced that the word ‘gorgeous’ was made just for her. But that doesn’t mean anything at all. He might be addicted to her. He might do crazy things for her, kagaya ng ginagawa niya ngayon. But that doesn’t imply something. She can satisfy his needs. She can fill him up. She can drive him nuts. But it’s nothing serious. Not at all. She might affect his moods all the time but that’s normal. That happens a lot.
He might change some of his views about how he should treat her, but that was his conscience. It’s nothing big.
He might feel happy now, an emotion he ceased to feel a long long time ago. Yeah, a bit strange but manageable. Life is just good, why should he be miserable?
He might consider forgetting the pains from the past. Like, he can maybe forgive her…
Napapikit siya ng mariin. Now, that’s trouble.
“I’ll find our clothes,” aniya at bumangon. It took them several minutes to find the pieces of their clothes. Tinulungan niya itong isuot ulit ang gown nito.
“Earl,” may pag-aalangan sa tinig nito.
“Yeah?”
“I can’t find my-” Hindi man niya nakikita’y nararamdaman niya ang pamumula ng pisngi nito.
“Your?” aniyang di napigilan ang pagtaas ng sulok ng labi.
“My undies!” pabulong na asik nito.
“Oh, I ripped it off,” aniya. “It’s actually in my pocket.”
“You what?” bahagyang tumaas ang boses nito.
“Don’t worry, I’ll buy you a new one.”
“Earl!”
Saka lang niya natumbok kung ano ang ibig sabihin nito.
“Ssh.. It’s okay. Nobody will know.” aniya saka hinapit ito at dinampian ng halik sa noo.
Veronica felt really uncomfortable without something underneath. She just hoped that the party will end soon. Pagkalabas ng silid ay nagtuloy silang dalawa sa powder room. Nanlaki ang mata niya sa ayos nila. Daig pa nila ang nasalanta ng tsunami. Dagli siyang nag-ayos. Sinuklay ng daliri ang buhok. Ipinasya niyang ilugay na lamang iyon. She was busy putting on her lipstick when she glanced at Earl. Nakatingin ito sa kanya. Nang makontento siya sa ayos ay hinarap niya ang asawa at inayos ang collar ng tuxedo nito.
“I really wish they have something smear-proof.” tila wala sa loob na sabi nito.
“Huh?” aniyang nakakunot ang noo.
Hindi ito sumagot, nakatitig lang sa labi niya.
“Oh,” aniya nang makuha ang ibig sabihin nito. “I wished so, too.”
Hahalikan sana siya ulit nito nang may pumasok.
“We better go.” aniya. Baka saan na naman sila mapunta kapag hindi sila nagpigil.
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