Chapter 24

"Careful," Pablo said nang muntik na akong matumba. He really wasn't kidding when he said that it may be hard for me to walk after everything he wanted to do with me! Akala ko magiging okay ako, but after I tried to stand up para pumunta sa CR, I felt my knees buckle.

Okay, that was fucking new.

No man has ever made my knees buckle.

"I think I need to lie down for a while," sabi ko sa kanya.

"I think that's a good idea," he replied.

"But I need to pee," sabi ko. "UTI."

"Right," sabi niya tapos ay biglang nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang buhatin niya ako. He scooped me like I weighed nothing. Agad akong napakapit sa mga balikat niya. I'd seen his face up close but I would never be tired of it. He's just so... pretty. He's so pretty but also manly at the same time. This guy confuses the shit out of my system. He's like everything I never knew I wanted.

"Thank you," sabi ko nang ibaba niya ako sa may toilet bowl.

He gave me a small nod. "I don't think you want me to watch you pee, so just call me when you're done."

I blushed. When did we become so comfortable that we're actually talking about shit like this?

"Okay," sabi ko. "Also... can I borrow a shirt?"

"Why?"

"Well, I don't want to walk around naked."

"I don't mind."

I rolled my eyes. "I mind."

Natawa siya. "Alright. I'll grab you a shirt."

"Thank you," I replied. "Now, leave. I need to pee in peace."

Nailing siya na natawa. Nang tumalikod siya ay agad na naginit iyong mga pisngi ko nag makita ko na namumula iyong pwet niya. I just couldn't help myself! I slapped his ass like thrice, I think? In my defense, it was begging to be slapped!

Nang makalabas si Pablo ay nag-concentrate ako sa pagihi. I remember when I tried the hookup culture before, wala akong friend na nagsabi sa akin na kailangan kong mag-cr after having sex! I ended up with a really bad case of UTI that I got afraid of having sex again. Tsk. Kung lalandi ka talaga, maganda na may kaibigan ka na magsasabi ng dos and don'ts sa 'yo para iwas disgrasya.

After a few minutes, I successfully managed to pee. I washed my hands and then saw my reflection sa salamin.

I looked like... I was thoroughly fucked.

And thoroughly fucked I was.

We had sex before, but this one felt different—siguro kasi mas kilala na namin iyong isa't-isa? I wasn't shy about telling him what I wanted and what I didn't like in bed? Nung una kasi naming ginawa, I was just going with whatever he wanted to do with me. I mean, the first time with him was good, but this time? It's great! Great enough na nag-buckle talaga iyong knees ko after those consecutive orgasms.

"I'm done!" sigaw ko habang nakatingin pa rin sa reflection ko sa salamin. After a few seconds ay narinig ko ang pagbukas ng pinto. Pablo was now wearing boxers—pity.

"What?" he asked innocently nung tignan ko siya nang masama.

"What are we? In high school?" I asked back dahil may mga hickey near my nipples.

"No," he replied. "If we were in high school, I would've come the moment I got inside you—being a teenage boy with no control whatsoever."

I felt my cheeks heating up again because he was so right—he's so good at controlling himself. He made me feel so fucking good first and made me cum a lot of times before himself. So generous, this one.

"Are you mad?" he asked.

"No," sabi ko tapos ay tinignan ulit iyong dibdib ko sa salamin. "I mean, wala namang makakakita."

"Except me," he replied.

"Of course, except you."

"Your shirt," he said and then handed me a white shirt. I wore it. I loved how it was oversized nung sinuot ko. Ewan. With Pablo, I didn't mind being smaller.

"Can you now walk or do you still need me to carry you?" he asked.

I shrugged. "I think I can walk, but I don't mind being scooped into your arms like a princess," sabi ko tapos ay natawa siya pero binuhat pa rin ako. I held onto his shoulders. I wanted to run my fingers through his hair again—to grip on them as he was fucking me like I did earlier.

God, I was horny again.

"Thank you," sabi ko nang ibaba niya ako sa kama. I saw that the condom wrapper on the ground was nowhere to be found. Before we had sex, he asked me if I wanted to use condoms. I wanted to say no because I wanted to feel him but the rational and logical part of me shouted yes. He said he was fine either way. I told him that for our peace of mind, if it was okay for both of us to get tested first. I was already on birth control anyways. I just wanted to be sure. Para sa aming dalawa rin naman 'yon. Akala ko nga ay maooffend siya, but he just asked if he'll schedule it o kung ako.

I love communicating with him.

Sana ganito lagi.

"Do you need anything?" he asked while he was seated on the edge of the bed.

Instead of answering, I just tapped the empty space beside me. Naupo siya roon. I leaned my head against his shoulder. This was so peaceful. I wanted to pause at this very moment and to just savor it for a while.

"I have a question."

"Sure."

"I don't want to ruin the moment, though."

"You can't possibly ruin this," he replied and then I felt his arm draping on my shoulders and pulling me close. "What's the question?"

Hindi agad ako nagsalita. I let myself feel the moment. Baka kasi magbago iyong mood niya. I wanted to savor this for a little longer. I could not ask this question, but I didn't know... This moment felt like we could be vulnerable with ourselves. Also, I felt like he already knew everything about me—mostly the bad parts, but maybe that's for the better. Na despite knowing all the baggage I carry with me, he still wanted to be with me. And isn't that the goal? To find someone who wants to be there for better or for worse? Hindi iyong nandyan lang when things are good?

"Okay. I'm ready," I said.

"Ready for what?"

"To ask the hard questions."

Natawa siya. "Should I be worried?"

"Not at all. You can be honest."

"When was I not honest with you?"

"Good point," I said.

"So, what's the question?"

Huminga ako nang malalim. Should I savor the feel of his skin against mine? Hindi naman siguro siya maooffend if magtatanong ako ng something personal. I mean, this is the guy who wanted label first before touching me. Surely, he expected that one day, I'd have to know things.

"Why do you keep on telling me that you don't want to be a rebound or a placeholder?" I asked him. Diniretso ko na dahil hindi ko kayang magpaliguy-ligoy pa.

"Because it sucks."

"I know, but do you have a personal experience?" I asked.

"Yeah."

"Care to elaborate? Come on, this is not an interview where I have to prod you to share things," sabi ko sa kanya at natawa siya. Good. At least hindi naman pala siya like totally serious! Ayoko rin naman na magheart to heart kami na as in seryoso. I wanted to just... talk, you know?

"Fine," he said. "I dated someone before."

"Name?"

"I thought that this is not an interview?"

"Well, I want a name."

"For what reason? I can still tell you the reason why without disclosing the name."

"Because I need to stalk this girl later."

Natawa siya. "For what?"

"Wala lang. Just need to see her for myself."

"Right."

"So? Name?"

"Rory."

"Last name?"

Natawa siya. "Aurora Marie Floresca."

Ano ba 'yan. Ang ganda ng pangalan.

"I'll tell you her middle name, as well, but I have no idea what it is," he said in a way like it's supposed to make me feel good na hindi niya alam iyong middle name nung Rory.

"No, I don't need to know her middle name."

"What is your middle name?" he asked. I felt him looking at my side profile. Hindi ako tumingin sa kanya dahil makikita niya iyong simangot sa mukha ko. I was the one who wanted to talk about this yet ako iyong nabbwisit. I really am my worst enemy.

"Illescas," I replied.

"So, Ana Cerise Illecas Villa del Rey," sabi niya. "Bit of a mouthful."

"Wala namang nagsasabi na sabihin mo buong pangalan ko."

Natawa siya. I looked at him to glare. "You look pissed."

"I am not."

"Well, your eyebrows beg to differ." Napahawak ako sa mga kilay ko. Natawa siyang muli. "Any questions about Rory?" he asked.

Umirap ako. "Is she the one who made you a rebound?"

"Not technically," he replied. "We dated for a while then I realized she's really in love with her friend."

"How could you tell?"

"She wouldn't shut up about him."

"Oh..." I said with my lips parted.

"We didn't really talk much," he said. "I wanted to talk but all she's talking about was this guy. Had to always kiss her to shut her up."

Muling napaawang ang labi ko. "That sounded harsh."

"I know," sabi niya. "Not claiming to be the greatest. Definitely had my fuck ups before. I think I'm better now, though," dugtong niya tapos tumingin sa akin na para bang humihingi siya ng confirmation.

I rolled my eyes. "I won't inflate your ego."

Natawa siya. "You don't need to."

"So arrogant."

"Not at all—I just like myself."

I groaned. "Ang yabang."

"You like that about me."

"No comment." Natawa siya. "So... did you dump her or did she dump you?"

"Is it important who dumped who?" he asked.

I shrugged. "Not really?"

"Because at the end of the day, we both liked each other—it's just that things didn't work out. There's no winner or loser, if you ask me."

Ano ba 'yan.

Ang petty ko tuloy pakinggan dahil sa sinabi niya.

Tumahimik lang ako. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko. I didn't want to sound like a petty and jealous bitch in front of him. Curious lang naman ako kung bakit may issue siya sa pagiging rebound. Nalaman ko na ngayon. Hindi na ako magtatanong pa.

"If you ask me how she is now, I have no idea," sabi niya. "I hope she's happy, though. She's a nice person."

Nakatingin pa rin ako sa harapan ko. I felt Pablo staring at my sideprofile. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya nagawang nakaupo na ako sa mga binti niya. I was, again, staring at his pretty face.

"I hope I was able to satisfy your curiosity," he said.

"Among other things," I replied as I adjusted my seat because I felt him stirring into life again.

Humalakhak siya. "Alright," he said. "Back to business, I guess," he continued as he flipped us over and he was hovering me yet again.  

**

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