CHAPTER 15

TERRON stayed in the hospital for two days. Maliban sa mga kaibigan nitong bumisita, si Eva ang kasama nito palagi na siyang nagbantay dito. Of course, Terron swallowed his own jealousy that stressed him out and made his fever flared up. Ayaw niyang malaman 'yon ni Eva. He would surely look childish or worse, unreasonable.

And Ethan was a relative. Yes. A relative.

Then one afternoon, a few days after Terron was discharged from the hospital, a gossip entered the lunatics group chat.

Ang paksa na pinagkakaguluhan? Ang tsismis ni Iuhence sa group chat tungkol kay Terron at Eva.

Iuhence Vergara: Pumunta ako sa tindahan nila Eva ngayon lang kasi ang cute kong kambal na prinsesa ay gusto ng lollipop. We don't have that in the house because Mhel doesn't like buying sweets for the kids, so we went to Eva's store. At habang bumibili ako dinig na dinig ko ang usapan ni Eva at ni Manang Luz. They're talking about Terron. Nagtatanong si Manang Luz kung bakit daw ang pangalan ni Terron sa cellphone ni Eva ay may napakaraming heart emoji na nakalagay. Ang sagot naman ni Eva dahil daw ni-request 'yon ni Terron sa kaniya. And I was like ... WTF?! Niri-request pala 'yon? Hindi ba 'yon kusang binibigay? 😵😵😵 I was so shocked that when I went home, I followed Dashwood's example and asked my wife to put a lot of hearts on my name on her phone. 'Yon lang naman ang tsismis na nasagap ko ngayong araw. Bow.

Khairro Sanford: @TerronDashwood I can feel the secondhand embarrassment. 🫣

Lander Storm: Wtf?

Knight Velasquez: I checked my wife's phone. I'm happy to report that I have a heart emoji besides my name 😏.

Beckett Furrer: Wait... @TerronDashwood ni-request mo talaga? What the hell, bud?

Dark Montero: @TerronDashwood I can feel your desperation.

Evren Yilmaz: Aren't you all curious why he asked for it?

Mandu🔪: Only I-don't-like-her-like-that can answer you @EvrenYilmaz.

Phoenix Martinez: I feel like this is not just a simple request. Siguradong may pinaghuhugutan si Dashwood dito.

Titus Morgan: That was unexpected. I agree with Nix. Dashwood must have a reason.

Andrius Salazar: Why do I feel like the reason was pettiness?

Pierce Muller: I can feel jealousy.

Ymar Stroam: Huh? Akala ko I-don't-like-her-like-that?

Tyron Zapanta: Welcome to Possessive Men's Club @TerronDashwood.

Valerian Volkzki: Buti nga si Dashwood mga puso, sakin dog emoji.

Knight Velasquez: @ValerianVolkzki I will edit your name on my phone and put a dog emoji as well 🤗

Valerian Volkzki: Fuck off! Animals!

Knight Velasquez: Just animal, Val. Remove the s. Nag-iisa lang ang best friend mo.

Valerian Vokzki: 🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

Mandu🔪: Should I prepare another subscription-based tsismis? 🤔

Cali Sudalga: And here I thought si Terron ang pinaka-matino sating lahat.

Lath Coleman: Umaasa ka na may matino satin?

Train Wolkzbin: Wait... mas nagulat ako na 'bumili' si Vergara at hindi nangutang.

Calyx Vargaz: Same @TrainWolkzbin we need beer and barbecue to celebrate this.

Evren Yilmaz: @CalyxVargaz libre mo?

Calyx Vargaz: Ah. So much work. Calyx Vargaz has gone offline.

Khairro Sanford: Huwag kang puro seen lang @TerronDashwood.

As the lunatics in the group chat became rowdy, Terron was just calmly reading the chat-slash-gossip about him. Wala sana siyang balak na sagutin 'yon dahil abala siya sa harapan ng laptop niya pero sobrang ingay ng cellphone niya dahil halos lahat ng baliw na nasa group chat ay ti-nag siya ng makitang online naman siya pero hindi sumasagot.

I should've gone offline. But he was chatting with his sister. So, he had no choice but to answer.

Terron Dashwood: Eva had two people in her contacts with one heart emoji in their names. It bothered me, so I asked her to put six emoji hearts in my name as well. May problema ba do'n?

Lahat natahimik ng mabasa ang reply ni Terron.

Khairro Sanford: The pettiest man I have ever seen.

Andrius Salazar: I knew it.

Knight Velasquez: 😱😱😱

Titus Morgan: Aherm. Who was it who said that he was not possessive?

Phoenix Martinez: 😂

Dark Montero: So childish.

Pierce Muller: So competitive you mean?

Evren Yilmaz: Well... 🤷🏻‍♀️ Jealousy brings out the childishness and competitiveness in us.

Terron Dashwood. I don't care. I have six heart emoji in my name. I won. That is the most important.

Khairro Sanford: And he looks so proud. 😑

Terron Dashwood: Yes. I am. 😊.

Khairro Sanford: 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️

It may be petty and childish to everyone, but it was an achievement to him, and he was not ashamed of it. That request was granted by Eva. That six-hearts emoji brought him happiness and triumph.

Speaking of triumph, Eva never talked about Ethan again, even after he asked her a few times when he was admitted to the hospital. Eva said he was a relative, but weren't they too intimate for a "relative"? Hindi lang 'yon, naka-save ang numero nito sa ibang cellphone ni Eva na hindi palaging dala ng dalaga.

It felt like a secret phone to him.

Thus, he couldn't help wondering who this Ethan was and why was he so close to Eva.

Ah, fuck. He was getting annoyed again. Baka lagnatin na naman siya.

With Eva in his mind again, he sent her a message.

'Ev...'

Eva's reply came a few minutes later. 'Busy ako.'

'Bantay ka sa tindahan? Want me to accompany you?'

'Si 'nay ang bantay ngayon.'

'Then are you solving puzzles again or trying to sleep?' Iyon lang naman ang pinagkakaabalahan ni Eva maliban sa pagbabantay sa tindahan.

'Games.'

'I have a question. Kahit mamaya mo na sagutan pagkatapos mong maglaro. My question is... would you like to come to my place and sleep over?'

It took Eva an hour before she replied. Mukhang natapos din itong maglaro.

'Sleep over? Baka makurot na ako ni 'nay. Ilang mahabang litanya na ang natanggap ko nuong binabantayan pa lang kita sa ospital, ano pa kaya kung pupunta ako riyan sa condo mo ng wala lang rason?'

'Am I that bad?'

'Your Grace, in case you haven't noticed, hindi ka gusto ng 'nay ko.'

Napangiwi si Terron sa nabasa. 'I know. Why, though? Wala naman tayong ginagawang masama kapag magkasama tayo, ah.'

'Sigurado ka ba diyan, Your Grace? 😑'

'Are my hugs and kisses bad?'

Well... it was not bad, Eva thought as she replied. 'Nope.'

'How about cuddles?'

After letting Terron cuddle me to sleep when he was sick, I realized I like cuddles. 'Hindi rin.'

'Then come over. I won't do anything you don't like.'

Napabuntong-hininga na lang si Eva. That's the thing—this was what her 'nay was worried about. Dahil gusto niya ang ginagawa ni Terron sa kaniya. Ani pa nga ng 'nay niya na baka raw hindi magtagal ay siya na ang maghain sa sarili niya kay Terron.

She just chuckled at that and didn't deny it because that might probably happen if her good relationship with Terron continued. She was not as clueless anymore as the first time she kissed Terron. She had already done an extensive amount of research about attraction, affection and, of course, sexual intimacy between two people who liked each other.

'Ev... please...? Come over? I promise I will behave.'

Syempre hindi naniwala si Eva kay Terron. Anong behave? Sa tuwing nagkikita silang dalawa, palagi itong nakayakap sa kaniya o kaya naman nakadikit at panay halik. Parang ayaw nitong humiwalay sa kaniya.

She was not an expert when it comes relationship and romance, but she was pretty certain that Terron likes her so much to the point where he didn't want to be away from her.

The rational part of her brain was telling her that it was a dangerous behavior... that Terron will be really hurt once it's time to part ways. And her brain was warning her as well not to overdo it, and not to fall into a pit she couldn't climb her way out.

'Ev?'

'Hmm?'

'I want to cuddle.'

Eva rolled her eyes. 'Maraming unan sa kama mo, Your Grace.'

'I want to cuddle my Ev.'

Napailing si Eva kasi gusto rin naman niya. 'Magpapaalam muna ako kay 'nay.'

Terron grinned. 'Thanks, Ev. I'll pick you up 😚'

Napangiti si Eva sa kissing emoji na kakabit sa mensahe ni Terron. Alam niyang nagiging indulhente na naman siya kay Terron pero gusto rin niyang makatulog ng maayos.

And since her very own sleeping pill was suggesting cuddling, who was she to decline such a tempting offer?

ILANG PAALALA at babala ang natanggap ni Eva sa 'nay niya bago siya nito hinayaang makalabas ng bahay pagkatapos nilang maghapunan. Nang makalabas ng bahay, nakita niya kaagad si Terron na nakahilig sa gilid ng sasakyan nito at hinihintay siya.

"Pinagalitan ka ba?" Tanong ng binata sabay kuha ng tote bag na dala niya.

"Nilitanyahan kamo."

"Should I talk to your mother?" He asked while opening the door for Eva and casually placing his hand on top of the door.

"Ano naman ang sasabihin mo, Your Grace?"

Napipilan si Terron dahil naisip niya na wala nga siyang masasabi na katiwa-tiwala. It'll be just him and Eva at his place, after all. Ang tanging rason lang kung bakit pinayagan si Eva ni Manang Luz ay dahil malaki ang tiwala nito sa anak nito.

He sighed and bent his waist to level his face with Eva's, who was already sitting in the passenger seat. "I will behave. I promise."

"Behaving means no hugging, kissing and cuddling, Your Grace."

Napangiwi si Terron. "Then I promise to just be a little naughty."

"Biglang bawi?"

Ngumiti lang si Terron at isinara na ang pintuan ng passenger seat saka umikot patungong driver's seat.

Before going to Terron's place, the two decided to stop by a café. Eva paid for two coffees, and then they went to buy chips at the convenience store just below Terron's condo.

Nang makapasok sila sa condo ni Terron, napatanong si Eva kay Terron. "Anong gagawin natin maliban sa pagtulog? This is my first sleepover."

Napatigil si Terron sa paglapag ng pinamiling pagkain sa center table ng sofa saka bumaling kay Eva. "Really? Your first?"

Tumango si Eva. "Wala akong masyadong kaibigan habang lumalaki ako. We kinda move around a lot, so I don't have long-time friends that would invite me to sleepover and I'm reading books most of the time, so... wala akong ideya sa ganito."

Terron's expression softened. "You can do whatever you want here. There is no rule that says you have to do this and that in a sleepover. Do whatever you're comfortable doing."

Nakahinga ng maluwang si Eva. "Buti naman. Kasi wala talaga akong ideya."

Naglakad si Terron pabalik kay Eva saka ipinalibot ang mga braso sa beywang ng dalaga. "What do you want to do?"

Walang pag-aalinlangan ang sagot ni Eva. "Sleep."

Mahinang natawa si Terron. "Maliban diyan."

"Eat?"

"Hmm. How about watching movies?"

Umiling si Eva. "Hindi ako mahilig."

"Reading books?"

"Yes, please."

"What kind of books do you read?"

"Hmm..." Eva rested her chin on Terron's shoulder. "Biographies, Essays, Research studies, Case Digests, mostly Law books, Scientific books, Philosophy books, and a bit of Psychology books."

Terron knew Eva was smart, but hearing the kinds of books she reads, he was still surprised and amazed.

"If you're into Law books, why not study to become a Lawyer?"

Eva just shrugged and raised her hand to play with Terron's hair.

"May iba ka pa bang gustong gawin maliban sa magbasa at matulog?" Tanong ni Terron bago iginiya si Eva paupo sa mahabang sofa.

"Hmm... wala na." Gumalaw si Eva para patihayang humiga sa sofa at ginawang unang ang hita ni Terron. "How about you, Your Grace? What do you want to do?"

Bumaba ang tingin ni Terron kay Eva. "Right now?"

"Yep."

He smiled desirously. "I want to hug you, kiss you and cuddle with you."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Eva. "Wala kang ibang gustong gawin maliban do'n?"

"Yeah. That's it."

Pinaningkitan ni Eva ang binata. "Too lewd, Your Grace."

Terron chuckled. "Trust me, I'm still holding back."

Umawang ang labi ni Eva. "Still holding back ka pa sa lagay na yan?"

"Yes."

"Then what is not holding back to you?"

"You don't want to know."

That piqued Eva's curiosity. "Paano kung gusto kong malaman?"

Pinisil ni Terron ang tungki ng ilong ni Eva. "I don't want to put you in a disadvantageous situation. So, holding back is the right thing to do in our circumstances."

Kaagad na naintindihan ni Eva ang ibig sabihin ni Terron. He was thinking of her.

Napangiti siya. "Masuwerte ang mapapangasawa mo, Your Grace."

Natigilan si Terron sa sinabing 'yon ni Eva. Hindi dahil si Eva ang nagsabi no'n kundi dahil sa naramdaman niyang pagtutol mula sa kaibuturan niya dahil alam niyang hindi si Eva ang makakasama niyang tumanda.

That vehement rejection toward his planned future rendered him speechless for a moment.

"Your Grace?"

Napakurap-kurap si Terron saka maingat na huminga ng malalim. "Yeah?"

"Ayos ka lang ba?"

Bumaba ang tingin niya kay Eva saka masuying sinapo ang pisngi nito. "Ev...?"

Eva looked straight into Terron's eyes. "Hmm?"

I want to spend my days cruising the sea with you. I want to spend my nights hunting café's and drinking coffee with you. I want to hold your hand and explore all the food markets in the world because I know how much you like food. I want to go to a culinary adventure with you—tasting and enjoying food like nothing else matters in the world. I want you.

Terron wanted to say those words, but he couldn't. His life was not his own. He had responsibilities. He was not in a position where he could be selfish and self-centered.

So, he moved his lips to smile at Eva. "Nothing. Napagtanto ko lang kung gaano kita kagusto."

Umingos si Eva. "Ngayon mo lang naisip 'yon? Sa sobrang clingy mo? I think you're dense, Your Grace."

Terron chuckled and bent down to press his lips against Eva's forehead. "Yes. Yes. Your Grace is very dense."

Mahinang natawa si Eva sa pag-amin na 'yon ni Terron. "Buti alam mo."

"Yeah." Terron whispered before his lips on her forehead moved to hover over her lips. "Can I kiss you?"

Eva answered Terron by grabbing his nape and pulling him down to claim his lips.

Terron groaned when Eva took the initiative to slid her tongue inside his mouth. It was the first time, and he trembled at the taste and sensation of her tongue teasing his.

Fuck.

Engrossed in kissing Terron, Eva didn't realize that her body was unconsciously moving to sit on Terron's lap. She only realized what she had done when she pulled away to breathe.

"What the...?" Napatingin siya sa magkadikit nilang katawan ng binata.

Akmang aalis siya ng pigilan siya ni Terron.

"My lap is all yours, Ev." He said in a low voice tinge with unrestrained desire. "I'm all yours..."

Napalunok si Eva ng makita kung paano siya titigan ni Terron. The glint of unrestrained desire in his eyes mixed with untamed adoration and uncontrollable affection for her—she was drawn to him.

Her body hummed and throbbed.

Wala sa sariling sinapo niya ang mukha ni Terron at matiim na pinakatitigan ang mga mata nito.

She liked how Terron was looking at her. The unrestrained desire, the untamed adoration, the uncontrollable affection and a little craziness in the depths of his eyes was a relished to see. It felt like she was being fed her favorite food. Appetizing and delicious.

To see Terron looked at her like that, it gave her a unique sense of pleasure.

Gusto niyang sa kaniya lang tumingin ng ganun ang binata. Siya lang dapat. Sa kaniya lang.

Eva never felt this kind of possessiveness before. It was an interesting and intriguing feeling, but also dangerous. Because she knew what she's capable of when she wanted something so desperately.

"Your Grace?"

Terron brushed his lips against hers. "Hmm?"

"How do you like to be eaten?"

Terron froze, and the disbelief in his eyes was palpable.

"What?" She chuckled. "I'm not that clueless anymore. I did my research."

Terron cleared his throat and his voice dropped low and deep. "What kind of... eating... are we talking about here... exactly?"

Sa halip na sagutin ang tanong na 'yon ng binata, bumaba ang tingin ni Eva sa pagkalalaki ni Terron. "Gusto kong subukan. Puwede ba?"

Eva was asking Terron as if they were in a restaurant and she just wanted to taste a food Terron ordered because it looked appetizing.

"You said you're all mine, Your Grace." At that moment, with the possessiveness she was feeling, she wanted to own Terron before his future Duchess could take him away from her. "So, can I?"

Terron's answer came in a whisper. "Yes. You can."

CECELIB | C.C.