Chapter 18. Luhod
HINDI pa nakalalapit si Acel sa kama nang marinig niya ang marahang pagkatok sa pinto ng kanyang silid.
"Acel, open the door," si Baxter.
Sininok siya nang marinig ang pagtawag nito sa ngalan niya. He didn't go out...? Didn't he leave her? She sighed her relief, and her heart was lightened.
"Baby, please..." sumamo nito sa kabilang panig ng pinto.
Dahan-dahang lumapit siya habang hindi pa rin magkamayaw sa pagkabog ang kanyang dibdib saka pinihit ang seradura. She was welcomed by her boyfriend's worried face.
"Why are you crying?" nag-aalalang tanong nito.
Umiling siya at sininok.
"Wait for me, I'll just get you a glass of water."
She sat on the bed while staring at the door as if she was staring at nothing; thinking if he would really come back. Ilang sandali pa ay bumalik itong may dalang isang pitsel ng tubig at isang baso. Ang suot nitong coat kanina ay nakasukbit sa kaliwang braso nito.
Nagsalin ito ng tubig sa baso at inabot sa kanya iyon, pagkuwa'y pinatong sa bedside table ang pitsel. She drank the water and stared at his long, thick legs as if she'd get strength in there. Nakatayo pa rin ito sa harap niya't mabuti na lamang ay tumahan na siya nang bahagya.
"Tell, me, why are you crying?" buong pag-aalalang tanong nito.
Napakagat-labi siya't sinabi ang saloobin. "I thought you're leaving..."
He sighed heavily and kneeled down. "I won't leave you."
Napalunok siya. "N-nagbanggit kasi ako ng kasal," panimula niya. "Ang akala ko, ayaw mo... na hindi pala tayo parehas ng nararamdaman; na hanggang dito lang ang kaya mong ibigay; na hindi ako ang babaeng gusto mong makasama habambuhay," pumiyok siya sa gitna ng paglilitanya.
"Silly," he took something from his coat. "I wasn't leaving. I'd never do that."
"I'm sorry..."
He looked back at her amusingly. "Why are you saying sorry now?"
"I judged you. Pinangunahan kita dahil sa takot ko kahit alam ko namang hindi mo ako iiwan."
He smiled lightly at her. "Apology accepted, then."
Napakurap-kurap siya nang mapagtanto kung ano ang kinuha nito sa suot na coat.
"This was the reason why I got up earlier. I had to get this ring in my coat," esplika nito.
Napasinghap siya nang mapagtantong hindi siya namalikmata. He was really holding a simple ring with a small ruby on it.
"We've been wanting the same, my Acel. Ikaw lamang ang nais kong makasama habambuhay. To be honest, I was planning to take you out on a date tonight so I could finally propose to you. Pero inunahan mo ako." Napakamot pa ito ng batok at bahagyang namula. "You even dressed up for me..." pansin nito sa gayak niya. "...so breathtakingly beautiful."
Napakagat-labi siya pinigilang mangiti.
"But you should wear a coat or something. I don't want other people feasting on your smooth shoulder... and collarbone."
"May cardigan naman ako," katwiran niya. Kung sakaling lalabas kasi sila ay nakahanda naman na ang susuoting long cardigan.
"You should've had worn it," kastigo nito.
Ngumuso siya. "Akala ko kasi ay rito lang tayo sa loob ng apartment kaya hindi na ako nag-abalang mag-cardigan pa."
Napalunok naman ito nang makuha ang nais niyang ipahiwatig. Even though she's wearing that spaghetti strapped top with lace on the low v-neck part, just enough to cover her cleavage, and that plaid pastel and dark pink above the knee skirt; she would be more comfortable wearing those clothes if she's with him.
"Saka matagal kasi tayong hindi nagkita kaya gusto kong magpaganda nang husto para mabaliw ka sa akin," pabirong komento naman niya, tuluyan nang huminto sa paghikbi. Masaya siya na nagkamali siya ng iniisip kanina, dahil kung nagkataon, hindi niya alam kung paano magmu-move on dito. Or she'd probably never move on with her one and only.
"I am already crazy for you." He was so serious but there's a ghost of smile on his face.
"E, 'di, lalong mas mabaliw?" she added with a hint of laughter in her voice.
He chuckled, then, he intertwined hus hand onto hers. He slowly lifted her hand so he could kiss the back of her palm without cutting their gazes.
"It's still early for us but I already know you're the only one I want to spend my lifetime with, Acel. Noon pa."
She smiled wholeheartedly while watching him slid the ring on her ring finger.
"Hindi mo na talaga ako tinanong kung pakakasalan kita, ah? Pinipikot mo ako," biro niya.
"Nangangalay na kasi ako sa pagluhod," ganting-biro nito.
Kinantyawan niya ito't lumuhod din siya sa sahig para magpantay sila ng lalaki. "Tingnan ko lang kung hindi ka mangalay kapag niluhuran mo ako sa kama," she joked and stopped right away realizing what she just said.
Sabay silang natahimik ni Baxter at wala sa sariling napalingon ito sa kama niya habang siya'y napamaang at napatitig sa mapupulang labi nito.
"Let's check your knees if they're strong?" Damn, she never thought she'd be this bold.
"I... W-we..." Natameme ito at hindi alam kung saan makakaapuhap ng sasabihin.
She watched him licked his lower lip as he slowly pushed her 'til her back felt the wooden part of her bed.
"I didn't know you're this naughty, Acel..."
She smirked, "Sa iyo lang naman."
Ngumisi rin ito at halatang nagustuhan ang sinagot niya. "If I don't go now, I can't promise if I can still hold back." Mas inilapit nito ang mukha sa kanya't ilang pulgada na lamang ang layo nila sa isa't isa.
She anticipated for another sweet yet aggressive kiss but he didn't plant one. Not yet. Mas lalo tuloy sinilaban ang pagnanasang nadama niya sa tila panunukso nito.
"Let's just have a date outside," alok nito; taliwas ang namutawi sa labi nito sa isinisigaw ng mga mata.
She gulped and pushed him a bit, then, she climbed on the bed to sit down. Hinahabol niya ang hininga nang tumayo ito't humawak siya sa kaliwang braso nito gamit ang dalawa niyang kamay.
"We... will stay here," malat at halos pabulong niyang sambit. Alam niyang tulad niya ay nagtatalo ang isip nito sa kung ano ang gagawin. Halatang hinihintay lamang nito ang magiging desisyon niya.
"I can wait, baby."
Pero buo na ang loob niyang ibigay ang sarili sa lalaki. Nag-angat siya ng tingin at hinila ito palapit saka sinalubong ang bahagyang nakaawang nitong bibig; umigting ang panga nito dala ng sobranf pagpipigil na maangkin siya.
She stood up and hugged him tightly, making him feel and listen to the fire dancing inside their bodies, and with their loud heartbeats singing in harmony; the intensity was undeniable.
"Baxter," she uttered huskily.
Suminghap ito at niyakap siya nang mahigpit saka unti-unting inihiga sa kama. He wasn't kissing nor touching her, he's just staring at her with an equal desire lying on his midnight eyes.
She smiled to tell him that it's alright if he would lose his control because she was very willing, and ready to give in.
"Kiss me," she pleaded.
Namumungay ang mga mata nito nang tumalima at angkinin ang kanyang mga labi na para bang pagmamay-ari nito ang mga iyon.