Chapter 6

Saturday Errand

The brief silence hanging in the air makes her want to retract the question.

Dapat ba hindi ko tinanong? Kaso curious din ako, Nika argued to herself.

It was her first time asking that kind of question to anyone she ever had a thing with. Apparently, for someone who have had a lot of experience, she encountered a couple of first times with Miko, too.

It was her first time being vocal about consents. None of her ex-boyfriends and previous flings asked if they could kiss her or touch her, it just came naturally at the moment. They all counted on the timings. She did, too.

With Miko, things were a bit different. Sure, the timings were there at the right moments. But both their vocal and clear consents would always come first.

Maybe the main reason for this was their make-believe. Their pretend relationship made her ask if it's okay to hold hands with him, to hug him, and kiss him. At first she thought asking for those things were unnecessary and they could be uncomfortable. Because it should occur organically between two parties.

Yet, both of them were practically strangers pretending to be in a relationship. So asking for those things were necessary. However, sharing the conversation with him didn't feel uncomfortable and awkward like how she initially thought it would be for her past relationships.

It was ironically a breath of fresh air. Being transparent and honest and clear with someone. She doesn't have to tiptoe around him, to figure out and wait for the right timings. It even surprised her when he apologized a few moments ago on how his body reacted when they were making out on the kitchen counter.

No one ever asked her if that was all right. No one cared to ask her if they were being inappropriate or if they offended her. They would always give in at the opportunity. More often than not, those kind of occurrence also ends up in the bedroom.

And more often than not, self-restraints were rarely an option.

Again, it was a first time with him.

A little smile appeared on her lips. Nika turned her attention to the center table. "Okay lang kung ayaw mo, Ser. P'wede ka namang humindi. Promise, gets ko."

She fiddled with the glass she used earlier by gently running her fingertips around the rim. Her cranberry juice has been watered down now. Hindi na rin malamig.

Lihim siyang napalunok. Tangina, bulong ng boses niya. Nauubos na 'yong lakas ng loob ko. Pakaba masiyado 'tong isang 'to.

"Nika," he said. "Hindi sa ayaw ko . . . "

"Ang tahimik mo kasi, e. Pero okay lang naman. Kaya nangangamba rin ako magtanong pero curious kasi ako kaya naisip ko, bahala na. Itatanong ko na lang din sa 'yo kaysa 'di ako mapakali kaiisip," dere-deretsong sabi ni Nika.

"Sorry, nagulat lang din kasi ako sa tanong mo. But to be honest with you, naisip ko rin 'yon kanina."

Her eyes widened. "Talaga?"

He nodded. Miko reached for her hand, prompting Nika to bring her eyes back to him. His thumb softly brushed along her knuckle.

She breathed deep when her eyes fell on their hands.

Miko swallowed. "I thought of it and I also wondered if you want to do it with me."

"Gusto mo bang marinig sagot ko?" Nika asked.

Tumango naman si Miko. "Yes."

"Hindi ako magtatanong sa 'yo kanina kung hindi ko gusto in the first place."

A little smile crossed his lips. "Okay."

He gently pulled Nika closer to him, making them both lie on the couch again. Miko placed his arm beneath her head so she could use it as a pillow.

While Nika arranged the blanket for the both of them. Yumakap din siya at dinantay ang hita kay Miko pagkatapos no'n.

"Ser," she called.

"Hmm?"

"If ever gagawin na natin, may request ka ba?"

"Request?"

She nodded. "S'yempre kasi first time mo rin 'yon. So best performance agad ibibigay ko sa 'yo 'di ba? Sabi ko nga dati I'll keep you coming back for more, e. Ano ka ba naman, Ser," singhal niya. She even glared at him.

Hindi naman napigilang matawa ni Miko. "Ikaw talaga."

Pumilantik ang isang kilay ni Nika. "Ano? Bakit?" pagtataray niya. She was fighting the urge to laugh with him, too. She ended up chewing on her lip instead.

Seryoso ako, seryoso! Pero bagay talaga sa kanya 'yong tumatawa. Pogi, hmp!

And it's going to be one of their first times that's not included in any script. A first time she wanted to relish. Just like their first kiss.

"So may request ka nga?"

Mas humigpit ang pagkakayakap sa kanya ni Miko. "Let me think."

"Bilisan mo kasi inaantok na ako ulit."

"Alam ko na," sabi ni Miko.

Nika chuckled. Grabe? Binilisan nga.

"Ano 'yan, Ser?"

"I want you in something red."

"Red?"

"Yup. Just like the first time we met. You looked really good in red."

"Ah . . . okay, noted."

***

Nika was surprised to see herself waking up in the guest room. She rolled to her side only to see Miko sleeping soundly. She bet he's cold because he was hogging their blanket. Nakatutok din kasi 'yong air con kay Miko. Hindi rin naman siya gaano nilalamig kaya inayos niya na lang ang kumot kay Miko.

She's still bewildered with how they ended up sleeping in the bedroom. Sinubukan niyang isipin pero hindi niya na rin maalala. 

Nothing was coming into mind, and the only thing she could do was stare at his back while catching her senses. Hindi niya talaga matandaan kung lumipat ba sila kagabi pero ang alam niya e sa sala sila parehong nakatulog.

Maingat siyang bumangon para hanapin ang cellphone niya. It was on the bedside table, and Nika immediately searched for her OB-GYN in her messages. Five months ago pa pala ang huling depo shot niya. She was meaning to have an appointment last month, but her last shot was a bit useless. 

Wala naman kasi akong action, isip-isip niya. And she was also busy with her thesis within those months. Walang-wala rin siyang oras para magliwaliw. 

She was able to secure a three o'clock appointment with her doctor. Sakto rin kasi alas-onse na at medyo tinatamad pa siyang bumangon. Buti na lang nasa ospital sa Manila ang OB-GYN niya ngayon kaya medyo malapit kung manggagaling siya sa bahay nila Miko kahit papaano. 

Pinatong niya sa unan ang cellphone niya bago lapitan si Miko para yakapin. 

She planted soft, little kisses on his shoulder when he groaned. 

Nawala ang pagkakayakap niya nang umikot si Miko paharap sa kanya. 

"Gising ka na agad," he said. 

"Oo." She smiled. Heaving herself up to plant a kiss on the tip of his nose, too. "Good morning! Bangon na tayo."

He encircled his arm around her waist, burying his nose on top of her hair and closing his eyes again.

"Ayaw ko pa bumangon. Let's stay here." 

Nika hugged him back. "Five minutes lang, okay? Hindi ako puwede magtagal kasi may lakad ako ng three o'clock."

"Lakad? Saan?"

"May appointment ako. Sa OB-GYN," sagot ni Nika. 

"OB-GYN?"

"Oo. Sakto rin kasi kaunti lang din pala patients ngayon ni Doc kaya naka-secure ako ng appointment." 

"Oh . . . "

They stayed silent for a while. Nika hugged him more, inching herself closer as if they weren't already close enough. She couldn't resist sniffing on his scent because he smells fresh and clean, like newly laundered linens. And he was warm, too. 

Hindi niya rin naiwasang ngumiti nang dantayan siya ni Miko ng hita. 

"Can I come with you?" he asked.

Napamulat si Nika at napaangat ng tingin dahil sa sinabi ni Miko. "Ha?"

"Sama ako sa 'yo sa OB-GYN. I'll drive you." 

"Seryoso ka?"

He nodded. "Yes. I want to come with you," he said with his lids still feeling heavy.