"I NEED TO GO BACK TO THE SHOP..."

Napalingon si Trini kay Gene, habol-habol ang paghinga. "What? Why?"

"I have work to do."

Manghang napa-buga ng hangin si Trini. "Ah, so you just went here to have sex with me, ganoon?"

Nilingon din siya ni Gene at nginisihan. "And here I thought we're calling it making love?"

She couldn't help but giggle.

They had just finished making love. It was wild and satisfying. She never thought she would experience such blissfulness. Akala niya ay wala nang kapantay ang nangyari kaninang umaga. But it seemed like the sex was just getting better and better each time it was done.

Matapos ang nakayayanig na tagpo ilang segundo pa lang ang nakalilipas ay ibinagsak ni Gene ang sarili sa tabi niya. They both stared at the ceiling, catching their breaths. At bago pa man tuluyang makabawi ng paghinga si Gene ay iyon na ang sinabi nito.

He's leaving after he took her.

Aba, napaka-galing.

But odd as it may seem, she couldn't get mad at him. She was just too happy... too satisfied to feel any negativities at this moment. Besides, she knew Gene wouldn't treat her like someone who was just there to satisfy his biological needs.

"I missed you like crazy I had to see you and make love to you," sabi pa ni Gene. "At kung hindi ako pupunta sa'yo ay baka masira ko ang sasakyang ginagawa ko imbes na maayos."

Tumagilid siya, ipinatong ang ulo sa isang kamay, at dinala naman ang isang kamay sa dibdib nitong tumaas-baba sa paghingal. She lovingly traced her index finger on the valley of his muscled chest, down to his abdomen, to his navel, and further...

Nahinto siya bago pa man maabot ang pakay dahil kaagad na nahuli ni Gene ang kaniyang kamay. He took it to his mouth and kissed the back of her palm. Ang kulay berde nitong mga mata'y mas tumingkad ang kulay.

"I want more of you, but I have to go and fix that car before 4PM today." Mariin nitong hinawakan ang kaniyang kamay bago nito iyon dinala sa tapat ng puso. She felt his throbbing heart against her palm. "Damn it. Gusto kong magsisi na tinaggap ko ang trabahong ito kanina."

She chuckled again before leaning on him and kissing him on the lips. "Do you want to eat lunch before you go? Malapit nang maluto ang chicken soup. Give or take 20mins."

"I'm good, I already had my meal." Gene then smiled naughtily.

"You had your meal already? Ano'ng kinain mo?"

"Ikaw."

"Oh." Sandali siyang natigilan bago bumunghalit ng tawa. Muli niyang ibinagsak ang sarili sa kama at hinampas ang dibdib nito. "Tumigil ka nga, kinikilig ako."

"Ang rupok mo."

Muli siyang natawa. "Look who's talking!"

Lumapad ang ngiti ni Gene. Ito naman ngayon ang tumagilid at yumuko upang halikan siya sa mga labi. They kissed for a while before he pulled away. "Kailangan ko nang balikan ang ginagawa ko sa shop kung ayaw kong malagasan ng isang kliyente. Kapag nanatili pa ako sa tabi mo ng limang minuto ay baka hindi ko na talaga babalikan ang sasakyang ginagawa ko, at kapag nangyari 'yon ay baka mawala sa akin ang kliyenteng mahigit limang taon nang nagtitiwala sa serbisyo ko."

She pouted and traced the line of his mouth. "So mas mahalaga pa pala ang kliyente mo kaysa sa akin?"

"You are more important, but you know me. I am a man of my word. I promised that gentleman that I would finish fixing his car before 4PM. I have to meet that schedule."

Nakanguso siyang tumango. "Promise me you'll spend the night here."

Lumapad ang ngiti ni Gene. "Kahit hindi mo pa sabihin, I definitely will..."

Bumangon na si Gene at dinampot isa-isa ang mga damit na nasa carpet. At habang ini-susuot nito iyon ay nakatunghay lang siya nang may paghanga.

Her eyes went down to Gene's half-erect sex, and her heart fluttered. Tumagilid siya at muling ipinatong ang ulo sa kamay.

"Hey..."

Gene glanced at her as he pulled his pants up. "Hmm?"

"Have you ever had sex with anyone unprotected?"

"Yes, I have." He zipped his pants up and attached the button. "With you."

Lihim siyang napangiti. "Never did with anyone else?"

"Never. I always play safe-- can't afford to get infected with any diseases." Bitbit ang T-shirt ay muli itong sumampa sa kama at yumuko upang halikan siyang muli sa mga labi. It was brief, yet it sent shivers down her core. "I'll see you tonight."

Gene then straightened up and turned his back on her. Nakasunod lang ang tingin niya rito hanggang sa nakalabas ito ng pinto ng kaniyang silid. She heard him walked down the stairs, then next was the front door opening and closing.

Nang tuluyan na siyang naiwang mag-isa ay muli niyang inihiga ang sarili sa kama at nakipagtitigan sa kisame.

He always play safe, he said... kausap niya sa sarili. But I wasn't talking about any infectious diseases.

Wala sa loob na dinama niya ang tiyan.

I was talking about pregnancy.

*

*

*

"WE'RE LEAVING, THANKS FOR ALLOWING US TO STAY FOR ANOTHER DAY."

Mula sa pag-aayos ng mga gamit sa loob ng tool box niya matapos gawin ang sasakyan ay napalingon si Gene nang marinig ang tinig ni Aris mula sa connecting door ng kusina. Nakita nito ang nakatatandang kapatid na nakatayo roon at nakahalukipkip.

It was five in the afternoon and Gene had just finished working on the car his client delivered for repair that morning. He was one hour deplayed—at tinawagan na ni Gene ang kliyente upang ipaalam dito.

Walang problema iyon sa kliyente dahil sa loob ng limang taong naging loyal customer ito ni Gene ay noon pa lang nahuli ang binata.

If it wasn't for Trini's hotness, he would have met the deadline.

Inalis ni Gene ang suot na gloves sa mga kamay bago sumagot. "But it's still raining."

Yes, it was still raining. Hindi na huminto ang ulan sa buong araw na iyon.

"It's fine. Nakahanda naman ang babaeng iyon na mabasa sa ulan."

Gene grimaced at the conviction in Aris' voice. "You know, hindi ako sanay sa paraan ng pagtawag mo kay Lawrah. I know you hated what she did, but isn't it too much? We can still report her brother to the authorities. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ganiyan na lang ang galit mo kay Lawrah."

"She's bringing the beast in me, Acky. I can't begin to explain how much I hate her. Just by looking at her face boils my blood. Para akong si Kirsten noong pinaglilihian si Quaro— lagi akong naka-angil kapag nakikita ko ang pagmumukha ng Lawrah na iyon."

He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Don't tell me..."

Aris smirked and turned his back on him. "No, Acky. Hindi ako interesado sa babaeng iyon, so drop the idea and shut your mouth. Anyway, I'll get going." Akma na sanang isasara ni Aris ang connecting door nang mahinto ito at lumingon. "And please tell Trini that I will be there on Friday."

"There where?" Kinunutan siya ng noo.

"To the opening party." It was Aris' turn to frown. Muli itong humarap. "Are you okay? Alam mo, kanina pa kita napapansing wala sa sarili. Is this because you and Trini had sex?'

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya sa pagkamangha. "What the fuck is wrong with you? Bakit pati ang bagay na iyan ay pinanghihimasukan mo? And could you please have some tact? Kapag narinig ni Trini ang kawalang-bahala mo ay mahihiya iyon hanggang sa hindi ka na niya kayang tingnan nang diretso sa mga mata."

Ngumisi si Aris. "You're blushing, Acky."

Natigilan siya.

Him? Blushing?

Hindi na siya teenager para mag-blush!

Damn Aris.

"I can't believe I'm seeing this." Nakangising umiling-iling si Aris. "All along, si Trini lang pala ang titiklop sa'yo. When did you start to develop feelings for her?"

There was a bit of hesitation at first until he let out a deep sigh and answered, "I can't exactly tell when, but it was the time when Deewee was pursuing her."

Tumaas ang mga kilay ni Aris. "Oh, okay. You realized you might lose your best friend forever, and you thought you couldn't handle the loneliness, so you grabbed the chance and took her to bed. Iyon ba?"

"No. I realized I can't let another man have her."

"Same banana. And that's selfishness, Acky."

"No, that's realization, Aris." Tinapunan niya ng masamang tingin ang kapatid. "Because I believe that I have been secretly in love with her, I just didn't realize it until someone tried to take her away."

"And how about Trini? Does she feel the same?"

"She said she's getting there."

"Hmm... Interesting." Lumapad ang ngisi nito. "Well then, good luck to the both of you. Siguradong matutuwa si Ma kapag nalaman niyang may progreso sa relasyon ninyo ng matalik mong kaibigan. But I'm sure Ma would prefer if you married Trini. So, think about it." Aris turned his back on him again and waved his hand as he walked away. "See you on Friday, brother."

Napabuntonghininga na naman siya at inis na in-itsa ang mga gloves sa ibabaw ng working table niya.

Ito ang kinaiinisan niya't pinaka-iiwasang mangyari. Ang malaman ng buong pamilya ang tungkol sa kanila ni Trini.

Alam niyang pangungunahan siya ng mga ito, tutuksuhin, pangangaralan. Na parang bata pa rin siya at hindi kayang mag-desisyon para sa sarili niya.

This was the reason why he didn't want to let his brothers know about his newly-formed relationship with Trini. At least not yet.

Not yet until he and Trini have sorted out what they wanted to do with this relationship.

TO BE CONTINUED...