HIS MOUTH TOUCHED TRINI'S in a feathery caress that brought a sigh of contentment. Her lips felt like home—she was his home. And he would love to kiss her endlessly... tirelessly if she would only allow him.

Trini was not able to react right away; she was in a state of shock.

So, he kissed her again, applying more pressure to encourage her. Later on, he felt her body relax. But Trini still had reservations. And when she tried to resist the invasion of his tongue into the sweet warmth inside, he used one of his thumbs to push her chin down.

That's when Trini opened her mouth to him, and he heard her groan in surrender when he pushed his tongue in.

Although he had planned only to give her a quick yet passionate kiss, he found that he actually wanted more.

His tongue took what his body craved, stroking and exploring and penetrating the sweetness her mouth offered.

And by God, Trini was responding to his kisses now he could not believe it. His hope rose up. His chest lightened. Kung ganoong tumutugon si Trini, ibig bang sabihin ay may pag-asa silang dalawa?

With that in mind, he gently let go of her lips, opened is eyes, and stared at her soaked face. Masuyo niyang dinama ang pisngi nito, at doon pa lang nagmulat si Trini.

Sa loob ng mahabang sandali ay nanatili silang magkatitig. At nang rumehistro sa isip ni Trini ang nangyari ay bigla itong pinanlakihan ng mga mata at banayad siyang itinulak.

Masuyo siyang ngumiti. "It's okay, Trin. You don't have to deny it. I could tell."

"Y-You could tell... what?"

"That we can cross the line and meet in the center."

Napakurap ito. "W-What was that supposed to mean?"

Instead of answering her question, he lowered his head again in an attempt to kiss her. Trini closed her eyes again as he expected. Doon lumapad ang ngiti niya.

Si Trini na nainip sa muling pagdantay ng mga labi nila'y nagmulat.

"This, Trin," he said. "This is what I mean."

Naguguluhan itong napatitig sa kaniya.

"Hindi ka umiwas. Ibig sabihin ay pwede nating tawirin ang tulay ng pagkakaibigan."

"B-But if we crossed the bridge, you know there's no turning back."

"Who's turning back, anyway? I know I won't."

Napakurap itong muli. Nakikita niya sa mukha nito ang pagkagulat at pagkamangha. "W-What were you trying to... tell me earlier?"

He smiled and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips before saying, "I love you. I love you as a woman, and I am attracted to you. Emotionally... physically. Sexually."

Nakita niya ang mariin nitong paglunok. And he wasn't sure if he was correct, but he saw excitement cross her face.

"W-When... H-How did it... start?"

"I was jealous of Deewee. That's where everything started."

"Oh, that's why!"

"Yes. Doon nag-umpisa. I realized I wasn't ready to lose you to some other guy. And when you said you kinda like him, I panicked. Hindi ako makatulog minsan sa pag-iisip kung ano ang gagawin ko kung sakaling naisipan mo nang lumagay sa tahimik. Kung ano ang gagawin ko kapag tuluyan kang nahulog kay Dee. Hindi ako nabubusog kapag hindi kita kasamang kumain, nawawalan ako ng ganang lumabas kung hindi ka rin lang kasama. My life was dull without you, Trin. If that wasn't love for a woman, tell me what is."

Lalong namangha si Trini sa mga sinabi niya, at sa labis na pagkamangha ay wala itong naisagot. She just stared at him—gaped at him.

Pareho na silang basang-basa. Pero parehong hindi nila alintana ang ulan at hangin na tumatama sa kanila.

"At ang nangyaring iyon sa isla..." Humugot siya nang malalim na paghinga. "I didn't mean it to happen, but I'm not sorry about it either."

Tumango ito, ganoon pa rin ang ekspresyon ng mukha.

Muli niyang dinama ang basang pisngi nito. "What I was sorry about was the fact that I couldn't remember anything about that night. How dare I not remember such a wonderful night?"

"I..." she swallowed hard again. "I don't know what to say, Gene..."

"You don't have to say anything. Maaaring hindi pa pareho ang nararamdaman natin sa isa't isa ngayon, pero isa ang sigurado ako. We see each other as a man and woman—not just friends. And we are both attracted to each other. Kung hindi ay hindi ka sana tumugon sa halik ko kanina."

"I..." Trini's eyes traveled down to his lips. "I kinda... like how it feels kissing you."

"And are you attracted to me as much as I am to you, Trini?"

The next ten seconds of silence almost killed him. Of course, he knew Trini was attracted to him, but he was worried she'd deny and lie about it.

"O-Of course, I am. Sino ang hindi?"

"Really?" Nakahinga siya nang maluwag.

"E-Even before we kissed...and even before that night on the island, I... already think you're attractive and I was hoping to find someone like you—physically, at least."

"And yet you chose Deewee."

"I didn't choose him. At papaano ko siya pipiliin kung hindi ko alam na may pagpipilian pala ako?"

"So, it's confirmed that Dee is out of the picture now?"

"K-Kagabi pa, 'di ba? Narinig mo kagabi na nakapagdesisyon na ako."

"And yet you denied it."

"W-Well, naiinis ako sa'yo kanina."

"Hindi na ngayon?"

Muling sinalubong ni Trini ang mga mata niya. Pero imbes na sagutin nito ang sinabi niya'y nagtanong din ito sa kaniya,

"S-So... what are we now?"

"More than friends, for sure."

"Pero hindi ba dapat ay pormal ko munang kausapin si Deewee at sabihing... h'wag nang umasa sa akin? I can't... be 'more than just friends' with you without giving Deewee my answer."

"Okay." Muli siyang ngumiti. "Ditch him and come back to me. I will be waiting, Trinity."

Lalong namangha si Trini at walang nasabi.

His eyes lowered and landed on her swollen lips.

Swollen from his kisses.

He smiled and bent his head to kiss her again—but then he stopped when they heard a loud horn.

Napa-ungol siya sa inis, at nilingon ang kalsada kasabay ni Trini— nawala sa isip nilang pareho na nasa gitna sila ng kalsada.

Si Trini ay napasinghap nang makita ang kotse—siya nama'y balewalang bumitiw.

Si Deewee na nasa driver's seat ay nanlaki ang mga mata habang palipat-lipat ang tingin sa kanilang dalawa.

Dee wasn't stupid— he should know what was happening.

*

*

*

"I CAME TO CHECK ON YOU. Hindi ka nag-reply sa mga text messages ko at hindi sumagot sa mga calls—I was very worried I thought something bad might have happened to you."

Si Trini na nanatiling nakalingon sa nakabukas na front door at nakatingin sa bahay ni Gene ay napabuntong hininga bago ibinalik ang pansin kay Deewee na ang anyo ay puno ng lungkot.

Trini couldn't stop the guilt she felt inside. "I'm sorry, Dee."

"For what Trin?"

"For... making you worry."

Pilit itong ngumiti—ngiting puno rin ng lungkot. "I thought you're saying sorry for not choosing me."

Hindi nakasagot si Trini—sinasalakay ng konsensya at lungkot ang dibdib.

Trini knew she didn't do anything wrong, pero hindi mapigilan ng dalaga na makaramdam ng lungkot habang nakatingin sa malungkot na mukha ni Deewee. Para itong binagsakan ng mundo habang nakalaylay ang mga balikat na nakaupo sa sofa. He looked... defeated.

"So, it's Gene all along."

Kinunutan ng noo ni Trini. She wondered why Deewee seemed to know what was happening.

Muling nagpakawala ng pilit na ngiti si Dee. "I knew, Trin. Noong nasa isla tayo ay inamin sa akin ni Gene. At noong pangalawang gabi na nauna akong bumalik sa cottage at hinatid niya ako—bago ako nakatulog— ay sandali kaming nag-usap. He told me how serious he was to take you away from me and said he wouldn't allow us to be together. I was too sleepy to argue with him, so I just laughed and wished him good luck. Ano'ng saya ko nang malamang umalis siya kinabukasan." Yumuko si Deewee. "At dahil ilang araw kayong hindi nag-usap ay inakala kong pagkakataon ko na 'yon para makuha nang buo ang atensyon at interes mo."

"Dee..." Walang masabi si Trini. She was still shocked... still overwhelmed from what she learned a while ago, and from the kiss she and Gene had shared.

"I was wrong. I think you two have worked things out. At mukhang... talo na ako."

"Deewee, ang nasaksihan mo kanina ay—"

"Ang reyalidad. What I've seen was real, Trini. You two... you and Gene... are so perfect together."

Hindi na nakasagot pa si Trini. Si Deewee naman ay bahaw na ngumiti, tumayo, at lumapit sa dalaga na nanatiling nakatayo sa harap ng nakabukas na front door. Nang makalapit ay kaagad na ginagap ni Deewee ang kamay ni Trini.

"Don't worry about me, hindi masama ang loob ko sa'yo. Alam kong sa umpisa pa lang ay tagilid na ang laban dahil alam kong mahalaga si Gene sa'yo. I just fought til the end because that's what a man like me was supposed to do."

"Believe me, Dee, I thought of considering you." Hindi niya alam kung para saan pang nagpapaliwanag siya. Maayos na tinaggap ni Deewee ang pagtatalo, at maayos itong nakikipag-usap sa kaniya.

"You thought of that at first because there was no one else, Trin." Muli itong nagpakawala ng malungkot na ngiti. "It's all good. I wish you happiness. Narito pa rin ako para sa iyo kung kailangan mo ng kausap."

Isang mahabang paghinga ang humawala sa mga labi ni Trini nang yumuko at mahigpit na hinawakan ang kamay ni Dee na nakahawan sa isa niyang kamay. She was lost for words; plus her mind was still hazy from the kiss.

Hanggang sa may isang malakas na tikhim mula sa labas ng nakabukas na pinto ang kumuha sa pansin ng dalawa.

Sabay na nilingon iyon nina Deewee at Trini, at sa labas ay nakita nila si Gene na nakatayo, nakapagpalit na ng tuyong damit, at may hawak na payong. He was eyeing Deewee curiously.

"Are you leaving already?" Gene asked.

"Bakit, Acky? Gusto mo pa ba akong manatili?"

"As a friend, yes."

Ang palitan nina Deewee at Gene ay may dobleng kahulugan, at and Trini recognized that.

"Of course." Ngumiti si Deewee; at sa pagkakataong ito, ang ngiting pinakawalan ng binata ay puno ng pag-unawa at pagtanggap. "Sinabi ko kay Trini na narito pa rin ako kung kailangan niya ng kausap—as a friend, of course."

"Sure. At sana ay nariyan ka rin kung kailangan ko ng kausap."

"I doubt it. After all, naging karibal kita."

Gene couldn't help but smile. "I want to talk to you, so I'll walk you back to your car."

Deewee narrowed his eyes in suspicion, and Gene answered him with a smirk,

"Come on, I won't put salt on your wound. There is just something I want to talk to you about."

"Bakit hindi mo sabihin nang nakaharap ako?" tanong naman ni Trini, nagdududa rin.

"It's fine, Trin." Muling hinarap ni Deewee si Trini at binigyan ng pinong ngiti. "Usapang lalaki siguro ito. I'll go ahead now."

Salubong ang mga kilay na hinatid ng dalaga ng tanaw ang dalawang lalaki na naglalakad palabas ng gate. Hawak-hawak ni Gene ang malaking payong—ang kaliwang balikat nito ay nabasa nang muli ng ulan dahil pinayungan din nito si Deewee. Sandaling nagharap ang dalawa nang marating ang kotse ng huli, nag-usap, hanggang sa tumango si Deewee at walang ibang salitang sumampa na sa sasakyan nito.

Hindi umalis sa kinatatayuan si Gene hanggang sa tuluyang makaalis ang sasakyan ni Deewee. And while he was looking at Deewee's car driving away, Gene took his phone out of his pocket and placed it on his ear.

It appeared to Trini that Gene got a call.

Nakita ni Trini ang sandaling pakikipag-usap ni Gene sa telepono. Ilang sandali pa ay ibinaba iyon ng binata at ibinalik sa bulsa ng suot na pantalon, humarap sa bahay ni Trini at nag-umpisang maglakad pabalik. Nang makita siya nitong nakatunghay pa rin ay ngumiti si Gene-- he gave her his signature smirking-smile.

Trini held her breath.

Gene walking back to her brought shivers down her spine.

Magsosolo silang muli ni Gene?

TO BE CONTINUED...