Chapter 13

Slow Weekend

His face was scrunched and Nika couldn't keep away her grin.

"Ang dami kong—"

"Ano? Chikinini? Dagdagan ko pa?" pang-aasar ni Nika.

Miko glared at her in the mirror. "How am I going to hide this? Ang dami tapos ang taas pa. Hindi ko matatago 'to sa collar ng damit ko," reklamo niya.

"Magsuot ka ng turtle neck. Mukhang bagay naman sa 'yo," she said, enclosing her arms around his waist while they stood in front of the bathroom mirror.

He sighed. "Ang dami kong kiss marks. No wonder hindi ako matingnan kanina ni Manang no'ng nag-order ako ng breakfast natin."

Nika inhaled his scent. "Bagay naman sa 'yo."

"What?"

"Love bites. Bagay sa 'yo," sabi niya bago pihitin si Miko paharap sa kanya. She snaked her arms around his nape when her lips reached for the crook of his neck. She filled her senses with his scent as her lips softly brush along his skin.

He smells just like her shower gel. Mainly because she scrubbed it all over him earlier. Hints of lavender and sandalwood lingered on his body. It blends so well with his warmth.

"Ang bango-bango mo. Kakagigil!" sabi niya. She knew that scent so well that somehow, it became something so usual she didn't mind it anymore. Until now.

Kasi ang bango rin kay Miko.

"Nika . . . " he hitched his breath when she suckled on his skin.

She grinned, looking at his neck just to checkout the love bites she left him.

"Paano ko itatago lahat 'yan?"

"Sabi ko nga sa 'yo magsuot ka ng turtle neck. 'Yong color black. Tingin ko mas extra good looking ka do'n."

"Really? Turtle neck in this weather? Color black pa?"

She nodded. "Yup."

Umiling naman si Miko. "Ayaw ko no'n. Mainit."

"Hmm . . . payag ka takpan ko na lang ng concealer? Madadaan naman 'yan sa cold compress pero hindi rin agad 'yon."

"Sure. Just as long na hindi malilipat sa damit ko."

"Can't promise. Pero subukan natin."

Nika took out her makeup bag, teaching Miko how to use the color corrector, concealer, powders just to help him hide the hickeys.

"Try nga natin lagyan ng setting spray 'yan para mas sure na kumapit," sabi niya.

"Okay."

They spent a few hours strolling around. Hawak ni Miko ang payong sa isang kamay, si Nika naman ang may bitbit ng ilang pasalubong na nabili nila para kay Andy, Lana, at Mithi. Nika wanted to try kayaking earlier. Pero nang makita niya ang taas ng sikat ng araw e umayaw din siya. They both settled swimming in the pool instead before they got dressed up to stroll.

Ang tahimik sa paligid. It's sunny and bright out. Pero hindi katulad no'ng tanghali, 'di naman na nakakapaso sa balat 'yong init ng araw. Presko rin sa palikid.

Pero baka dahil marami ring puno dito?

She liked the peaceful ambiance surrounding the place. Kung bakit kasi hindi gano'n sa Manila? Palaging maingay tapos parang ang dami-daming nangyayari araw-araw? It's always fast paced in the city and everyone seems like they're late for something or they're chasing after something. They're always in a hurry. Nakakapagod. Parang kahit wala akong ginagawa doon, hinihingal din ako.

Gusto ko ng ganito. The slow living. Peaceful and quiet. And with Miko. Pero hindi naman puwede. Kasi wala naman akong enough funds para sa ganitong buhay unless magpapaka-trophy wife ako sa kanya in the future. Sakto naman mas matanda siya sa akin ng four years at may promising future siya. Pero sigurado din naman akong mayroon ako no'n at ang unfair  kung siya lang magtatrabaho para sa amin 'di ba? Ayaw ko rin no'n.

Saka bakit ko ba iniisip 'to?

Nika sighed at the things running on her mind. She wrapped her arm around his. Humilig din siya sa balikat ni Miko habang naglalakad sila pabalik sa cabin. A few more hours until sunset.

"P'wede bang dito na lang tayo tapos 'wag nang umuwi," sabi niya.

Miko smiled. "You don't want to go home?"

Nika shook her head. "Ayaw. Gusto pa kita kasama."

The smile on his lips grew wider. "Me too."

"Kaso ang layo naman nito sa school natin pati na rin sa office mo."

"That's true," he replied, nodding. "But maybe we can think of something?"

Nika shrugged. "Siguro."

They had their dinner early because Miko had to catch up on his readings. The schedule of their finals exams are fast approaching and he doesn't want to slack. Kaya hinayaan muna siya ni Nika.

Although they're both hanging at the backyard, he was busy reading cases on his laptop at the table while she's just swimming around the pool.

Buti hindi siya distracted sa 'kin. Sabi ko naman kanina sa loob na siya, baka 'di siya makapag-concentrate d'yan pero gusto niya raw akong samahan dito.

And he looks so serious. Miko was mumbling some passages from his readings and he has his glasses on. Napapansin ni Nika na minsan nangungunot ang noo niya sa binabasa. Sometimes she'd notice him pause for a while and stare into space to think.

It's not her first time seeing him study, the last time was when they were in Bacolod. Pero hindi niya naman sinamahan si Miko sa labas ng villa nila para mag-aral noon. And that was the night after their first kiss, she was in deep thought of something else so she never really bothered to take notice that time. But looking at how serious he is right now stirs something inside her stomach.

Ang guwapo niya d'yan, nakakainis. Kaso bawal istorbohin.

She didn't have any choice but to submerge her whole body in the water. Hindi niya na lang din gaano pinansin si Miko.

Ang tagal na rin pala simula no'ng kasal nila Lily sa Bacolod, isip-isip niya. It's surprising how close they grew together within those months, too. Miko had already seen her drunk, confused, and he even saw her cry. And within those months, he's probably one of the people who knows her best right now. Easily at the top of the list with Lana and Mithi.

It's surprising how they're synchronized and comforted by each other despite their differences, and it didn't even take that much time and effort. It's bewildering.

Especially for Nika. Although she doesn't really take herself that seriously, but she never allowed anyone to know her deeper than how she presents herself.

And it was so easy for him to penetrate the walls she built. Or maybe there was just something about him that makes her feel safe and at ease? All the time?

And how easily he inhibits her thoughts? Drawing from a certain idea and how it could effortlessly zoom out for the next five to ten years?

Kasi ni minsan hindi niya na-consider isipin na mapapangasawa siya ng mga ex niya dati. Kahit gaano pa sila kasaya.

And what did it take for her to think that way with Miko? Just a simple walk on a slow and steady afternoon. Ang dami pa nilang bitbit kanina.

Possible pala talaga 'yon. Inaasar ko pa mga kaibigan ko dati kasi ang corny nila kapag sinasabi nilang naiisip na nila future nila kasama jowa nila. Because how could a person easily draw out and imagine an entire future alone? Especially when everything's uncertain?

Corny na rin ata ako ngayon.

"Break mo na?" tanong ni Nika nang mapansin niyang sinara ni Miko ang laptop.

He nodded. "Yes."

"One hour ulit?"

"Yup. Bakit? Are you hungry?"

But instead of answering, Nika just went out of the water, taking his hand and leading him to the bedroom.

***

"Okay, I thought of something," he said while she was snuggled in his arms. They agreed to order some snacks after five minutes. He just requested for some cuddles before they clean up and eat.

"Hmm? Ano 'yon?"

"Sabi mo ayaw mo umuwi 'di ba? I don't want to go home too. But do you want to stay with me?"

"Saan naman? Sa bahay n'yo?"

"Why? Ayaw mo ba sa bahay?"

"Hindi naman sa ayaw pero kasi nakakahiya din kila Manang doon sa inyo. Baka sabihin nila binabahay mo na ako kahit hindi rin naman ako magrereklamo kung gusto mo na ako ibahay."

Medyo natawa si Miko sa sinabi niya. He pulled her closer to his body as if they weren't already close enough.

"Sa condo?"

"Condo?" tanong ni Nika.

"Yup. Sa condo ko sa Taguig."

"Okay lang naman."

"I can drive you to school bago ako pumasok sa office."

"So ang way mo ay Taguig, Manila tapos Makati?"

He nodded. "Yes?"

"'Wag na. Kahit ihatid mo na lang ako sa MRT."

"Why? P'wede naman kita ihatid mismo sa school n'yo."

"Kaya ko rin mag-commute. Saka ang hassle pa no'n sa 'yo. Traffic pa. Kaya ko naman, ihatid mo na lang ako sa MRT." 

"If hindi ako papayag?"

"Bahala ka d'yan. 'Di ako matutulog sa condo mo."

"Okay, fine. Payag na ako."

"Good. Bangon na tayo. Nagugutom na ako," sabi ni Nika. Nauna na rin siyang bumangon sa kama. She needed to drag him out of bed because he was still asking for a few more minutes of snuggles with her. 

Pero hindi na siya pumayag kasi kailangan din ni Miko bumalik sa binabasa niya kanina. 

They were hanging by the pool again while eating calamares and fries and some fruit slices when Nika's phone chimed.

"O? Bakit?" sagot niya sa tawag ng pinsan niya.

"Ate Nika, uuwi raw si Tita dito?"

"Sinong tita? Marami tayong tita."

"'Yong nanay mo, Ate."