"Don't worry, she's fine."

"Are you sure?"

Nagkamalay ako dahil sa mga taong naririnig kong nag-uusap.

"Yes, professor, don't worry, she's safe."

I opened my eyes and I saw a familiar man standing in front of a nurse. Nakatalikod si Mr.Valerio sa akin habang nakapamulsa ang dalawang magkabilaang kamay.

"Oh, she's awake!" tuwang wika nang nurse nang mamataan ako na gising na.

Kaagad akong nilingon at nilapitan ni Mr. Valerio.

"Ms. De Leon, ano ang nararamdaman mo?" tanong ni Mr. Valerio sa baritonong boses.

"N-nasaan nga pala ako?" ganting tanong ko sa kaniya.

"Nasa resort's clinic ka."

Nakahinga ako nang maluwang. Siguro malakas lang talaga ang impact ng bola na nakatama sa ulo ko kanina at nagkataon lang talaga.

The nurse smiled at me. "May reseta ka na rin na mga vitamins, kulang ka ng iron sa katawan and isa sa dahilan kaya ka hinimatay kanina is you skip your lunch, right?"

Napatango na lang ako.

"Maiwan ko muna kayo," ani ng nurse saka lumabas.

Hindi ako nakaimik at basta na lang nanuyo ang lalamunan ko lalo na sa presensya ni Mr. Valerio. He's looking at me with intensity.

Nakaramdam na ako nang pagkailang, ipinagdasal ko tuloy na sana may pumasok na ibang tao.

"Ms. De Leon..." usal niya sa malalim na boses.

Sunod-sunod akong napalunok bago sinalu ong ang mga mata niya na matamang nakatotig sa akin.

"Yes, Mr. Valerio?" sagot ko sa paos boses.

At napakagat-labi pa ako. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko nagawa iyon. His eyes dilated and I could see in his eyes that he was trying to resist whatever inappropriate scenes he was thinking.

He leaned in and stared at my face down to my lips and back to my eyes.

"You need rest, Zoey," he said like a whisper.

Akma siyang lalayo nang wala sa isip na pigilan ko siya. I held her arms and I could feel the electrifying sensations inside of me just the touch of his skin.

"Please, don't go..." I bit my lower lip again.

"Don't... look at me like that, Zoey," aniya sa namamaos na boses.

Napalunok ako. It's now or never.

"Let's have sex," saad ko sa deretsang boses.

Napaubo siya, halatang nasamid sa sariling laway. Halata rin sa hitsura niya na hindi inaasahan ang sinabi ko.

"What?" palatak niya nang makabawi sa pagkabigla. "Should I call the nurse again to check if you are still in your right mind right now?"

"Mr. Valerio—"

He raises his two hands like he's trying to surrender. "I pretend I didn't hear what you just said earlier."

"But I'm serious."

Pagak siyang napatawa. "Naalog lang ang utak mo, Ms. De Leon."

"No! You offered me first. You said we are a perfect match, right?"

Amused na siyang napatingin sa akin and his face became serious. "What changed your mind?" He smirked at me.

Napaawang ang mga labi ko. Hindi ko kayang sagutin ang tanong niya. Hindi ko magawang sabihin na dahil nakita ko siyang nakahubad kaya nagbago ang isip ko.

I was wrong about his size. So maybe, losing my virginity with him is not a bad idea.

"Zoey..." His voice sounds husky. And I love it the way he called me by my name.

"Please..."

"There's no turning back," aniya saka niyapos ang mukha ko sa mga palad niya. I nodded my head.

And just like that, his lips landed on my mouth. It was warm, hot, and soft. I didn't know how to respond when his tongue tried to enter my mouth. Bahagya kong iniawang ang bibig ko para malaya siyang makapasok.

And this is insane! My first kiss was not the one I saw in the movie; slow, sweet, and romantic.

He was kissing me in a way like he would never have another chance to kiss me. It was intense, deep, and erotic.

I felt breathless the moment he withdrew his lips to mine. His thumb finger caressed my swollen lips.

"Your lips taste so sweet and I needed to control myself or else I might do something beyond kissing," he said while panting heavily.

I was still breathless and speechless. I saw a beautiful smirk on his face.

"Get some rest for now and I'll be back with your dinner," saad niya saka inayos ang sarili bago humakbang palapit sa pinto.

"O-okay," tanging katagang lumabas sa bibig ko.

He gave me a meaningful smile before he left. Inayos ko ang sarili sa kama. Isinandal ko ang likod sa headboard ng kama saka nahilit ang noo.

My gosh, Zoey! You just had your first kiss. Paano nangayri 'yon? Parang ang bilis ng pangyayari.

Natampal ko ang noo. Buti na lang walang ibang pumasok dahil kung nagkataon ay baka may nakakita sa amin na naghahalikan. Malaking eskandalo 'yon.

Nasa malalim akong pag-iisip nang may marinig akong vibration ng cellphone. Nakita kong nakalapag ang cellphone ko sa bedside table.

And Tina is calling me.

Malamang alam na niya ang nangyari sa akin. Wala namang nakakaligtas dito lalo na kapag tungkol sa akin.

I reached out my phone and answered the call.

"Tina."

"Zoey, I told you to contact me if anything happens, right?" Her voice sounds worried but angry at the same time.

"I'm not a kid anymore, Tina. Hindi mo na ako kailangang i-monitor pa," inis kong turan.

"You're so fragile, Zoey. Natamaan ka lang ng bola hinimatay ka na kaagad. Tell me to stop treating you like a kid when you are strong enough to manage yourself," iritable namang wika niya.

Hindi ako nakaimik. Mas lalong dumiin ang hawak ko sa cellphone. Gusto ko ng patayin ang tawag ngunit hindi ko magawa.

Kinalakihan ko na ang sumunod at makinig sa bawat sinasabi ni Tina.

"Zoey, did you hear what I said?"

"Yes," walang emosyong sagot ko.

"Your mother is worried," kalmante na niyang saad sa malumanay na boses. "Please don't let your mother get worried to you. Alam mong nagsisikap siya para mapabuti ang future mo."

I felt the pain in my heart when she mentioned my mom. I fluttered my eyelashes many times because I felt like crying.

***