Sa sigaw na iyon ay nagising si Gene at napabalikwas ng bangon. He was as drunk as Trini last night, and he was also having a really bad headache. Pero pinukaw ng sigaw na iyon ni Trini ang buong sistema ni Gene, at kahit na nananakit ang ulo ay nagawa nitong bumangon at madaling dinaluhang ang dalagang nakaharap sa salamin ng banyo at puno ng pagkamangha ang mukha.

Gene gripped the door jam to balance himself. Nahilo ito sa biglang pagbangon. "What's going on?"

Lumampas ang tingin ni Trini. She stared at Gene in the mirror. "What have I... done?"

Kinunutan ng noo si Gene nang marinig ang pag-piyok ni Trini. Worried, he entered the bathroom and held Trini on her shoulders. "What have you done?"

Luhaang itinaas ni Trini ang mukha at sinalubong ang nag-aalalang tingin ni Gene. Nanginginig ang mga labi nito at hindi kaagad makaapuhap ng sasabihin.

Imbes na magpaliwanag ay minabuti na lang ni Trini na ipakita kay Gene ang dahilan ng panggilalas nito. Yumuko ang dalaga at sinulyapan ang dibdib. Sumunod ang tingin ni Gene doon, and his eyes sparkled in amusement... and desire when he saw what she meant.

Mangiyak-ngiyak na hinawakan ni Trini ang nipple piercing sa kanang dibdib. Ang bahaging nabutasan ng hikaw ay namumula pa, at iyon ang kirot na naramdaman nito kanina. "It's freaking sore, Gene..."

Hindi maalis ni Gene ang tingin sa hikaw, and with a voice filled with admiration, he said, "Fuck. I don't remember what happened last night, the last thing I remember was us getting into the cab and entering that popular tattoo shop in town. But hey, this looks so hot on you, Trinity Anne."

Trini whimpered in desperation. "You were supposed to keep it cool and remember everything while I do crazy shits."

"Don't worry, I know I'll remember everything when I sober up." Gumuhit ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Gene bago masuyong dinama ang hikaw sa kananag dibdib ni Trini. He grazed his thumb against her swollen nipple and said, "I love this."

Trini sniffed and raised her eyes to Gene. "Talaga?"

"Uhuh. And sexy, too. Bagay sa 'yo."

"But it's sore..." Mangiyak-ngiyak pang sagot ni Trini.

Walang ibang salitang yumuko si Gene at hinalikan ang dibdib ni Trini na may hikaw. She tilted her head backward, and she groaned when Gene opened his mouth, stick his tongue out, and sensually licked the sensitive, sore nip.

"How does it feel?" he asked, looking up at her.

"Sensitive."

"Does it feel better compared to not having it?"

"It feels... sore, but it is more sensitive now compared to not having it." Muling ibinaba ni Trini ang tingin at nakangusong nagsalita. "Whose idea was it? Do you remember?"

"No. But I'm sure I wouldn't force you to do anything you're not comfortable doing." Muli itong yumuko at dinampian iyon ng halik.

Muling nagpakawala ng mahabang ungol si Trini.

"Don't have it removed," Gene said after a while. "Keep it."

"Okay."

"And don't cry over this. This looks beautiful."

"Okay," muling sagot ng dalaga bago nito ikinawit ang mga kamay sa leeg ni Gene.

Gene continued to trail soft little kisses on Trini's breast up until her neck. Huminto ito sa paghalik doon at muling itinuwid ang sarili. "I want to ravish you, but I'm still drunk and sleepy. Let's go back to bed and sleep the whole day, shall we?"

Bago pa makasagot si Trini ay pumulupot na ang mga braso ni Gene sa binti nito, at bago pa mahulan ng dalaga ang planong gawin ni Gene ay nabuhat na ito ng huli.

She automatically curled her arm around Gene's neck. Nang marating nila ang kama ay maingat na inilapag ni Gene sa Trini sa ibabaw, then he joined her and cuddled. He buried his head between her head and shoulder, then put his strong leg over hers. Ang kamay nito'y umangat at dumantay sa dibdib ni Trini na may hiwak. Gene gently rubbed his thumb over the piercing, circling it around her nipple. Napapikit si Trini at nagpakawala nang malalim na paghinga.

Pero dahil sa ginagawa ni Gene sa dibdib nito'y hirap nang makakuhang muli ng tulog ang dalaga. She opened her eyes and turned her head to Gene's side. Pero dahil naka-siksik ang ulo nito sa pagitan ng leeg at balikat ni Trini ay hindi nakita ng dalaga mukha nito. She knew he was still awake, though.

Ibinaling ni Trini ang tingin sa kisame at sandaling nakipagtitigan doon bago muling nagsalita.

"I saw an adult actress in a porn video with a piercing on her clitoris. Should I also try that?"

Naramdaman ni Trini ang pagngiti ni Gene bago ito bahagyang humiwalay. "First of all, bakit ka patuloy na nanonood ng mga porn videos? Didn't I already tell you to stop doing that?"

Kibit-balikat lang ang isinagot ni Trini.

Nagpatuloy si Gene. "Secondly, please don't do it."

"Why not?" Napalabi ang dalaga at sinulyapan ang katabi. "Akala ko pa man din ay mapi-please ka..."

"I am pleased, and I appreciate the fact that you're thinking of doing it just to please me. But don't do it."

"Bakit nga hindi?"

"Dahil baka lalong hindi ka makapagpahinga sa gagawin ko sa 'yo" Then, Gene smirked before cupping Trini's breast with his huge hand. "Dahil kung magpapalagay ka doon sa parteng iyon, it'll make me crazy, madly, deeply in love with you even more. At baka lalo akong manggigil sa 'yo."

Trini chuckled and said no more.

"You see, I'm just worried about you," sabi pa ni Gene. "Baka hindi na kita patulugin."

Nauwi sa pagtawa si Trini. Makaraan ang ilang sandali ay, "Well, thank you very much for your concern, Mr. Zodiac. Hayaan mo't hindi ko gagawin dahil ako rin pala ang mapapagod bandang huli."

Ngumisi si Gene at muling isiniksik ang ulo sa pagitan ng leeg at balikat ni Trini. Ang pagkakayapos nito'y lalong humigpit. "Let's sleep some more, babe. My head hurts."

"Really?" Trini continued to giggle. "Aling ulo?"

"Stop, Trinity Anne..."

Hindi na nahinto sa paghagikhik si Trini. Tuluyan nang tumakas ang antok nito at itinuloy ang pangungulit kay Gene. Pero hindi nagtagal ay natahimik na rin si Trini hanggang sa makatulog muli.

They slept the whole day, indeed.

At madilim na ang langit nang magising silang muli.