CHAPTER 13

AFTER DINING together, Happy and Blaze found themselves in Happy's room, on the bed, under the covers and lying side by side. Pinaunan siya ni Blaze sa braso nito habang nakayakap ito sa baywang niya at panay ang halik sa gilid ng noo niya.

Happy yawned. "What is it?"

Blaze buried his face on her neck—it seemed like he liked doing that with her. "I miss you."

"Me too," she whispered back.

Kumawala ang mahinang daing sa mga labi ni Happy nang unti-unti siyang kinubabawan ni Blaze at hinalikan ang pisngi niya.

She closed her eyes to savour his kisses. She was enjoying it.

And when his lips claimed hers, she just let him kiss her. She didn't move to kiss him back and that made Blaze stop.

"Kiss me back," he demanded while brushing his lips against hers.

Instead of kissing him back, Happy yawned with her eyes closed. "I run so many errands today. I'm beat. Tinatamad akong i-kiss ka."

Blaze's body vibrated as he chuckled deeply. "I'm beat too but I still want to kiss you."

"We're different." Nanatiling nakapikit ang mga mata niya. "It's tiring pala na mag-asikaso ng wedding."

Naramdaman niyang hinalikan siya nito sa noo habang nakakubabaw pa rin sa kanya. "Then rest or take a break. Hayaan mo si Mommy ang umasikaso sa mga dapat mong gawin."

She pouted. "But I don't want that."

He kissed her pouted lips. "Then what do you want?"

She opened her eyes and looked at Blaze who was looking softly at her. "I want my sister happy, kaya I'm doing this. I want her to feel that she's importante sa akin—sa amin ni Daddy. Gusto kong i-prove kay Lucky na kahit hindi kami together habang lumalaki kami, ate pa rin niya ako and that she can count on me. Do you think sapat na ang ginagawa ko para ma-feel niyang love na love ko siya?"

He smiled softly at her. "Of course. Lucky is the kind of person who appreciates everything and everyone. Kahit nga ako, nakikita kong mahal mo siya, siya pa ba?"

That put a smile on my face. "I love having a sibling."

Blaze nodded. "Me too." Umalis ito sa pagkakakubabaw sa kanya at niyakap uli siya sa baywang habang nakaunan siya sa braso nito. "I guess I could say that I'm dependent to Blake. Siguro dahil sa mga pinagdaanan namin. We lost our mom eleven years ago. She was kidnapped and we thought she was dead until months ago."

That caught her attention and her sleepiness slowly disappeared. "What happened?" Siya naman ang kumubabaw sa lalaki at tinitigan ito.

"We thought our mom was dead for eleven years." He smiled bitterly. "When we saw her again, she has a different face. Blake had a hard time accepting her and I can see that Mom is also having a hard time telling us the truth. Ayoko nang dagdagan 'yong bigat ng dinadala nila kaya naman kahit mahirap din para sa akin na tanggapin ang lahat, kahit parang sasabog na ang ulo ko sa kung ano'ng dapat na gawin, pinilit kong magpanggap na ayos lang ang lahat, na maaayos namin ang lahat. I begged Blakey and I begged Mom. I was so fucked up but I didn't let them see it. I didn't let them see how wreck I was because of Mom's sudden appearance. I don't want to burden them with my issues because I know they have so much on their plate too.

"So, I acted like it was okay for me, that it doesn't matter what Mom did... I acted because I can see Blakey. I can see that he wants to be with Mom again but just didn't know what to do and where to start. Kahit ano pa'ng sabihin ng kakambal ko, kahit ano pa'ng galit ang ipakita niya kay Mommy, kilala ko siya, alam kong nahihirapan siya. Kaya kinalimutan ko ang sarili kong problema at nararamdaman para kay Mommy at pilit na pinagbati sila. Thankfully, Lucky helped. And seeing Blake smile to Mom again, seeing him happy like that, I know I did good. It was the right decision for me to discard my own feelings. For my twin."

Hinaplos niya ang kunot nitong noo. "You're a good brother, Blazey."

"Am I?" Blaze's voice is filled with self-doubt. "I blamed him for years. I blamed him for my mistakes. And when Blakey found out that I blamed him, he said he was sorry, and I felt like a prick. It was my fault, not his, it was me who didn't get up that morning to accompany Mom and Cassie that's why they got kidnapped. It was all on me. It was me. It was my fault that Mom got kidnapped and Cassie was raped and murdered. It's me... it's me... It's all my fault. I fucked up. I messed up and now I'm paying the price."

Happy's heart broke when she saw a tear fell from Blaze's eyes. Now she understood why he couldn't move on. Cassie didn't leave him, she died. Cassie didn't break his heart because she left, his heart broke because of Cassie's brutal death. And Blaze blamed himself for it. That was why he was having a hard time moving on. That was why he couldn't let go that easy.

That was why he was having a hard time fixing himself.

Because the damage was severe. So severe that it broke him.

He's not just broken hearted... this man, he's broken all over. His heart, his mind and his soul. It's all broken.

"When I lost Mom and Cassie, I was a wreck, Happy." He chuckled bitterly. "I nearly went insane, no, not nearly—because I went insane. But Blake was there to pull me out. Before it all happened, I was the big baby of the family. Mom spoils me and Blake does too. They won't even let me drive a car because they're afraid I might get into an accident. When I'm hungry, they would cook for me. I let them treat me like a baby. I let Blake drive me to school and pick me up. And when I met Cassie, she treated me like a baby too. I was the softy and the baby, so when it happened, I lost it.

"It was just me and Blake when it all went down. At nangapa ako. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin. I don't want to burden Blake but I think that's what I did because he sacrificed everything for me. He dropped out to take care of the business, he took Mom's responsibility. In those eleven years, Blake wasn't just my brother, he was my mom and my dad at the same time. He fed me, clothed me, sent me to school—he was there for me. He taught me how to drive, he, ahm, cooked for me, he supported me while studying and taking the board exam. He supported me through and through, forgetting himself in the process. And how did I repay him? By blaming him.

"I keep asking myself why Blake would sacrifice everything for me—and I realize, it's because I was weak. So, I decided to be strong. I decided to be like Blakey. A strong, independent and responsible man. I pushed myself to my limit. I did everything to be as strong as Blakey. Through the years I did become strong, I was strong enough to put Blakey first than myself. I was strong enough to forget myself and my issues for Blakey. To set aside what I want and what I feel for Blakey.

"I may not say it to Blake or to anyone, but I can risk my life and I can put my life on the line for him. Not because I owed him everything but because I love him and he's my brother, my companion, my pain absorber, my best friend and he's my family."

Happy smiled. "I feel the same way to my sister. I'm not just doing this because I owe her, it's because I love her."

Blaze smiled back at her. "And I guess we're the same, wanting our siblings to feel that we're just here, that we support them and that we will do anything to prove to them that we love them without saying the word I love you."

Happy nodded, her eyes glistening with tears. "You're a very good man, Blazey. Very. And I'm very, very proud that I have met you."

Pinakatitigan siya ni Blaze. "We're kind of the same in some way. We're an action kind of person." Iniyakap nito ang mga braso sa baywang niya habang masuyong hinahaplos ang likod niya. "And I know that action without words is meaningless, but words without action is more useless and senseless."

Happy smiled proudly at Blaze. "That's ma bitch."

He chuckled. "This is the part where I'll say that I'm not your bitch, but hell, I don't really mind being your bitch. It's downright insulting but for some reason, when you say it, I feel like you're owning me and you're proud of me." He tsked. "It still feel like you're insulting me though, but just a little."

Happy laughed and kissed him on the lips, a kiss that he returned immediately. He gripped her waist, sucked and licked his tongue before rolling them over.

He was on top of her now. Kissing and owning her lips, making her moan slightly and groan audibly.

His lips left hers and it moved down to her chin, trailing on her jaw and finding its way to her ear. And when his tongue touched her earlobe, she gasped at the sensation that hit her belly. It made her body arch!

"Blaze..."

His tongue continued playing with her earlobe trailing to the back of her ear and she couldn't stop herself from getting wet in between her thighs.

Jesus Christ! He's still not kissing my neck yet!

Napahawak siya sa braso ni Blaze nang tuluyan na ngang bumaba ang mga labi nito sa leeg niya. He was kissing her neck, trailing down his tongue on her collarbone and softly nipping her skin.

"Blaze..." She couldn't stop herself from moaning his name until he returned to kissing her lips again.

He was ravishing her lips. Kissing her hungrily and senseless. And she kissed him back with the same ferocity. With the same heat and intensity.

The bed was huge, and they rolled each other over and over while their lips were locked and until her lips were swollen from Blaze's kisses.

And when he finally had enough of her lips, he dropped three sweet endearing kisses on her lips before pulling away and staring at her.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"For?"

"For making me feel better," sabi nito, saka umalis sa pagkakakubabaw sa kanya at nahiga sa tabi niya. "Pagod na pagod ako kanina kasi ang dami kong case mula pa noong isang araw. Hindi ako umasa na makakahanap pa ako ng tao na kayang magtanggal ng pagod na nararamdaman ko. Because in my field of work, if you're tired and your body is aching, take a medicine. Pero ipinagluto mo lang ako at hinalikan, nawala na ang pagod ko. It's like you're my own personal brand of medicine. I like it. A lot."

Tumagilid siya ng higa, saka tinitigan ang lalaki. "I won't force you."

Kunot ang noong tumagilid din ng higa si Blaze, paharap sa kanya. "Force me what?"

"To move on." Hinaplos niya ang pisngi nito pababa sa mapupula nitong labi na katatapos lang niyang tikman at halikan. "Move on at your own pace, Blazey. Don't force yourself just because you're pressured. Move on because that's what you want, move on because that's what you deserve and move on because you're worth it."

"I'm worth it..." he whispered. "And that's what I deserve..."

Happy nodded with a smile. "Yes. Always keep that in mind. When you finally realize your worth and what you deserve, maybe then, you'll be able to heal and love yourself."

Tumango si Blaze, saka pinagsalikop nang mahigpit ang kamay nila. "Thank you."

"Again?" She chuckled. "For what this time?"

"For being you," sagot nito na titig na titig sa kanya. "For being Happy Quinn."

Her eyes watered. Hearing Blaze said that, it meant so much to her. "Thank you... for seeing me."

He kissed her forehead. "Magpahinga ka na, alam kong pagod ka."

Tumango siya. "Okay. You too."

"I'll just take a bath," sabi nito na bumangon at umalis sa kama. "Pahinga ka na. As a doctor, I advice you to rest."

Natawa siya. "But you're off duty," sabi niya nang maalala ang una nilang beses na nagkausap nang matagal.

He had a different diagnosis at that time because he was off duty.

"As an off-duty doctor, my advice is wait for me so I can cuddle with you until you fall asleep."

That made her laugh. "Okay, Doc. Hurry up, your master is waiting and that's me, because you're ma bitch."

Napabuga na lang ng marahas na hininga si Blaze, saka napapailing na pumasok sa banyo at hindi man lang isinara ang pinto.

Tumihaya si Happy ng higa, saka napatitig sa kisame. Ilang minuto rin siyang ganoon nang bigla na lang na may sunod-sunod na nag-ingay sa cell phone ni Blaze. Hahayaan na lang niya sana 'yon nang sunod-sunod na naman na nag-ingay 'yon hanggang sa mairita siya sa tunog.

"Blazey, your phone is annoying, it keeps beeping," sabi niya sa lukot na mukha.

"Open it!" sigaw ni Blaze mula sa banyo na bukas ang pinto. "Baka may emergency sa ospital."

Sa sinabi nito, inabot niya ang cell phone nito na nasa bedside table, katabi ng cell phone niya.

When she picked up Blaze's phone, the screen automatically lit up and it was asking for a face recognition. And when the face recognition didn't recognize her face, a number keyboard popped up.

Bumangon siya, saka naglakad palapit sa banyo pero hindi siya pumasok. Hanggang sa labas lang siya ng pinto. "It's asking for your password. I'll just put it back—"

"It's four-two-seven-seven-nine-seven."

She frowned. "What is that? Does it stand for something or just a random number?"

"A secret and don't ask what that is. Walang basagan ng trip," sabi ni Blaze. "Just open my phone."

Naiiling na itinype niya ang password sa cell phone ni Blaze at bumukas nga 'yon.

And the notifications... it wasn't a text message, it was a chat notification.

"Reply-an mo na lang kung sino man 'yan," sabi ni Blaze na naliligo pa rin. "Tell him or her that I'm taking a shower."

Sa sinabing 'yon ni Blaze, bumalik siya sa kama at padapang nahiga habang nagta-type ng mensahe para sa Jumbo Hotdog Club.

Whoever named this group chat was lame. Who would name their group chat a Jumbo Hotdog Club anyway? Only a lunatic would agree with that name.

Happy didn't read the previous message—except the last two.

Phoenix Martinez: @Bigbaby nasaan na ang barbecue at beer namin, Blaze? Naniningil na kami! 👿 pagkatapos mo kaming bugbugin, thank you lang?

Khairro Sanford: Hindi kami tumatanggap ng thank you, @Bigbaby Blaze!

Natawa siya sa nabasa, saka mabilis na nag-type. Hindi pa rin pala makalimutan ng mga kaibigan ni Blaze ang nangyari doon sa labas ng BV.

Blaze is on the shower. He'll be out in a minute or so. – Happy Q.

And when she sent it, she smiled while remembering Blaze's name in the group chat.

"Big baby..." That made her chuckle. "Seriously?" Tumuon uli ang tingin niya sa screen ng cell phone ni Blaze.

'Yong group chat na mabilis ang pagtaas ng mga chat kanina at maingay ay bigla na lang natahimik pagkatapos niyang mag-reply.

And the next thing she knew, the group chat disappeared.

"What the hell?" gulat niyang tanong sa sarili.

Tamang-tama naman na lumabas si Blaze sa banyo na tanging tuwalya lang ang nakatapi sa pang-ibaba nitong katawan. And she just stared at him... ogling his muscles at the right places and his abs... damn. This doctor is really dirty... and hot!

"I'm not a stripper, Happy," sabi ni Blaze na nagpabalik sa katinuan niya.

Napalabi siya. "Sorry."

Sumunod ang mga mata niya rito habang kumukuha ito ng damit sa backpack na dala kanina.

And Blaze shamelessly took off the towel wrapped around his waist.

In front of her!

While his back was on her!

And she could see his... hot and sexy ass!

And she didn't look away. She stayed rooted while staring at Blaze's sexy back.

Damn this hot and dirty doctor!

At nang humarap ito sa kanya, nakasuot na ng boxer shorts, saka walang pangingiming tumabi ng higa sa kanya sa kama.

"Who was it?" Blaze asked.

Happy needed to blink enumerable times to pull herself together! "Ahm..." Tumikhim siya bago sumagot. "It was from Jumbo Hotdog Club."

"What?" Blaze looked agitated all of the sudden.

"Yeah." Tumango siya, saka iniabot dito ang cell phone. "I replied and I quote, 'Blaze is on the shower. He'll be out in a minute or so. Happy Q.'"

Blaze was still in shock and a little bit... nervous, maybe? "And? What did they say? Nabasa mo ba ang chat-chat doon?"

Umiling siya, saka napangiwi. "They kicked you out."

"Oh."

Tumaas ang kilay niya. "Someone looks relieved. They kicked you out though."

Blaze just pulled her closer to him and cuddled with her. "Hayaan mo sila," sabi nito. "I'm sure they'll add me back. I named that group chat after the last one was infiltrated by an amazon."

She frowned, confused. "Amazon?"

"My friends' wives."

Natawa siya. "So, you're hiding it from them?"

"It's a man's talk, you know. Kind of personal and crazy."

Happy just shrugged, because she couldn't relate, and snuggled close to Blaze as she closed her eyes for the night.

And she had a good night sleep. So was Blaze who slept like a big baby who was beside her.

CECELIB | C.C.