CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

THERESIA'S POV

"Thank you for having us again, DAWN." Martina flashed a smile.

"And thank you for the wine, Wynter," I said as I lifted the wine bottle I'm holding, courtesy of Ms. Vazquez. Tumango naman si Wynter habang nakangiti.

"You can also come here anytime you want," Narae suggested.

"If Martina comes with her as his plus one—"

Anurak was cut off by Charles. "—or you can just apply for a membership, and once you do, we can make that a priority."

"That's wonderful news. Thank you so much." I smiled at them.

"Welp! Better be going. Para na rin makapagpahinga si Tere. Malamang may jetlag pa 'yan."

"Hey!" saway ko kay Martina.

"Okay then. Take care," sabay na sabi nila Charles at Wynter.

Tumalikod na kami ni Martina at nagsimula nang maglakad palabas ng club nang sabay na sumigaw sina Narae at Anurak. "Use protection!" At lima silang natawa. As in tumawa si Martina! Anong nakakatawa roon‽

Bigla tuloy pumasok sa isip kong sa iisang lugar lang kami ni Martina ngayong gabi. Kumalma ka nga, Tere. Please lang, girl.

I breathe in and out, calming myself, but I heard Martina's voice. "Okay ka lang?" He was chuckling which made me glare at him.

Tatanong-tanong ka pa, alam mo naman yung sagot. Nauna na akong naglakad papunta sa kotse at iniwan siya. Bwiset 'yun!

Ilang saglit lang ang hinintay at nakarating na rin siya sa kotse kaya naman nakapasok na kami. Pinauna na niya kasi yung driver kanina at siya na lang daw ang magd-drive pauwi.

"Have you called Martha?" tanong niya sa akin to break the silence.

"Not yet, pero na-text ko na si Jester kanina pa." I went back to comfortably sitting down and watching through the window.

It was a silent ride to the condo. Kahit ang pagpasok namin sa building at pagsakay sa elevator ay tahimik kami pareho, na para bang nagpapakiramdaman. Nang nasa tapat na kami ng pinto ng unit niya ay napahinga ako nang malalim. When we entered the room, memories flashed into my mind. That eventful night.

I heard the door close and lock. Napatingin naman ako sa likod ko at nakita ko si Martina na nagsisimula nang tanggalin ang butones ng coat niya, and when he completely removed it, he looked at me. Mabilis naman akong nag-iwas ng tingin at dumeretso sa mini kitchen niya saka pinatong ang wine bottle sa island counter.

Anong gagawin namin? Matutulog.

Anong balak kong gawin?

I blinked twice... thrice. I don't like what my mind is suggesting.

"Tere," I heard Martina calling me from the living room. Ilang saglit pa ay nakarating na siya ng kusina. "I'll just take a shower then I'll sleep in the living room. My room is yours to occupy."

"P-Pwede namang sa kwarto ka na—"

"Tabi tayo?" tanong niya habang nakangisi.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Asa! Ang ibig kong sabihin eh sa kwarto ka matulog at sa sofa ako!" sigaw ko.

Tumawa lang naman siya. "Kalma lang. Binibiro lang naman kita eh." Saka siya naglakad papasok ng kwarto niya para maligo at magbihis.

Ako naman ay kinuha ang phone ko para i-video call si Jester.

(Kumusta? May kasunod na ba si Martha? Please tell me na walang proteksyon para may isa pa akong pamangkin.)

"Anong—Hoy, Ivan Jester. Tigil-tigilan mo 'ko ha! Asaan na si Martha?"

Nakita ko namang tumawa si Jester bago naglakad para puntahan siguro si Martha. Instead of front camera, inilipat ni Jester sa back camera saka zinoom. (Tulog na, Ate. Ang tagal mo kasing tumawag, alam mo namang maaga natutulog 'yan.)

I sighed. "Miss ko na agad siya. First time kong nalayo sa kanya ng ganito kalayo."

(Ayos lang yan, Ate. Isang araw lang naman eh. Saka pag-uwi niyo naman dito, sigurado namang may pasalubong kayo.)

"Sana lang may oras kami para bumili ng pasalubong eh kaya lang mas gugustuhin ko na lang na umuwi kaagad pagkagising namin."

('Di niyo naman kailangang bilhin yung pasalubong. Pwede niyo naman gawin bago kayo matulog—)

Ibinaba ko kaagad ang tawag nang makita kong lumabas si Martina ng kwarto niya na basa ang buhok at nakapajamas lang, topless, droplets of water are running down his chest.

"Teresita!"

Nagulat ako nang may marinig akong sumigaw. "Ano‽" sigaw ko pabalik.

Napansin ko namang nagbago ang itsura ni Martina. Nakapalupot sa ulo niya ang towel niya at naka-pink siyang pajamas. As in may top. Utak mo, Tere!

"Sabi ko ikaw na susunod na maliligo. Ba't ka nakatulala dyan? Ine-expect mong topless ako katulad ng mga nasa pelikula 'no?"

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin saka nagmamadaling nilampasan siya at pinagsaraduhan ng pinto. Bwiset talaga yung baklang 'yun!

Nanggigil akong kumuha ng susuotin ko saka pumasok sa banyo para maligo. Saglit lang naman saka ako nagsuot ng blue na pajamas, 'di na rin ako nag-bra kasi napaka-uncomfortable nun habang natutulog.

Lumabas naman ako ng banyo at nakitang nakasara pa rin ang pintuan ng kwarto. Dumeretso ako sa kama saka umupo at itinuloy ang pagtutuyo ng buhok ko.

Patingin-tingin naman ako sa pinto at sa 'di malamang dahilan ay pumapasok sa isip ko ang sinabi ni Charles kanina. Should I really steal him? Isang try lang siguro. Kapag hindi bumigay, then I should stop.

Tama, isang try lang kung para rin naman kay Martha.

Nang tuluyang matuyo ang buhok ko ay itinali ko ito into a high bun saka lumabas ng kwarto. I saw Martina lying on the sofa, gone with the towel around his head while staring at the ceiling, mukhang malalim ang iniisip niya at hindi niya ako napansing lumabas at dumiretso sa kusina.

If I'm going to do something tonight, I need at least a glass of wine. Tama. Isang baso lang.

I looked around the room to find a goblet, and finally, I saw one. I opened the wine bottle and poured a glass, the right amount to give me courage but won't make me drunk. I quickly drank the wine and finished every drop of it.

Akala ko may malalasahan akong pait pero matamis siya. As in ansarap niya lang. Minutes later, I found myself drinking almost half of the bottle.

Napaigta naman ako nang may marinig akong magsalita sa may hamba ng pinto. "Getting drunk na hindi nagyayaya?"

I felt no shyness in me as I walked towards him. What was in that bottle? "You..." Tinuro ko ang dibdib niya as I move closer to him. Inches far, I think. "Alam mo bang problemado ako dahil sayo?"

Mahina siyang natawa. "At ano namang ginawa ko sayo?"

"You're making me confused with your actions and words. Taken ka naman ah! Bakit kailangan mo pa akong landiin at akitin ha?" reklamo ko sa kanya.

Ngumiti naman siya na para bang natutuwa siya sa nakikita niya't naririnig. "And you're affected?"

"Of course, I am!" I shouted before looking into his eyes and moving closer to him, making our bodies touch and our lips an inch away from each other. "You said if I do it again, you won't stop, right?"

"Tere..." He was breathing heavily while staring at my lips.

"Then don't stop," I whispered and pulled him to close our distance.

I began kissing him slowly at first but when he responded our lips moved faster. I couldn't help but wrap my arms around his neck, and I felt his hands on my waist pulling me closer.

The kiss became rough and needy until he left my lips and his kisses traveled to my cheeks and to my neck.

I shrieked when I felt him carry me and made my legs wrap around his waist. His lips went back to mine as he started to walk.

Ang alam ko na lang ay bumagsak kami sa kama at nakapatong siya sa akin. He put a distance between us and whispered. Enough for me to hear.

"You can still tell me to stop."

"Do you want to stop?" I asked.

"Hell no." His eyes were filled with desire.

I placed my hand on his nape before I softly pulled him. "Then don't, Martin."

With that, I felt his lips on mine again.

Just one try.