Chapter 22. Crept
"BAKIT ka umiiyak?" tanong kay Acel ni Baxter nang tumingin ulit ito sa kaniya.
Umiling siya. She wasn't crying. She was trying to hold back her tears. Pero may ilang mga luhang nakatakas pala.
Nagmura ulit ito. "I hurt you..." namamaos nitong untag nang hulihin ang kaliwa niyang braso. He gently stroke his thumb on her skin which made him quiver out of excitement. To be honest, she was still turned on about what he did a while ago. Oo't mapagparusa iyon subalit hindi maitatangging kilala na ng kanyang katawan at puso ang kaisa-isang lalaking nagpaparamdam sa kanya ng matinding pagnanasa.
Again, she shook her head. No, he didn't hurt her at all. It just happened that her skin was so sensitive. Pero kung sakaling sinaktan siya nito, hindi niya alam kung ano ang mararamdaman niya kahit pa nga mahal niya ang lalaki. She probably would be scared that he could hurt him more throughout their relationship.
That's why she's glad he controlled his emotions, and that proved that he could never hurt her.
"This will have a bruise. I'm sorry," malat ang tinig nito. Sa isang iglap ay nawala ang galit at napalitan ng matinding pag-alala at pagsisisi. The arm that he was holding was the same arm he held tightly when he grabbed her earlier.
"No... I'm sorry," bulalas niya.
The hint of sadness and hurt flashed into his eyes but worry was the most visible.
"I'm s—"
"Don't talk yet, Acel," sansala nito.
Napanguso siya. Why was he calling her Acel? Nasaan na ang 'baby'? Wait, was he thinking that she's saying sorry because she really had another man?
Sa huli ay tumalima naman siya't tahimik sila nang pinaandar nito ang sasakyan. Nagsasalita lang sa tuwing may itatanong ito at puro oo o hindi lang ang maaaring isagot niya.
"Have you eaten?"
Tumango siya. "But I think I'm hungry. Madaling-araw na kasi," she added. She's trying so hard to keep their conversation ongoing. Pero ang damuho, tumango lang.
"I'll buy you burger and iced tea. You like those."
Sumandal na lang siya sa upuan at tumingin sa bintana. He seriously wouldn't just let their talk longer.
After almost an hour drive, they arrived at the exclusive subdivision where his house was located. She had been there countless times but this was the first time she felt something weird—her mind was being clouded by worldly things. Pero si Baxter ay parang hindi man lang naaapektuhan.
"Tara, sa kwarto..." kaswal nitong untag.
He held her gently and when they came inside the room, she sat on the couch and he left her there. After a few, he came back with an ice pack and gently tapped on her left arm. Pati ang labi niya'y dinamipan nito ng ice pack. Umupo rin ito sa tabi niya habang ginagawa iyon.
She silently watched him take care of her and his scornful look was still plastered on his face.
She reached for his face using her other hand and cupped the left side of his jaw.
"Relax, I am fine," bulong niya dahil kanina pa umiigting ang panga nito habang dinadaluhan siya.
"I hurt you," ulit nito, puno ng pagsisisi. Kung ganoon ay tama ang hinala niyang mas nagagalit ito sa sarili at hindi sa kanya. Napakagat-labi siya para pigilan ang emosyon.
"May dahilan naman..."
"Kahit na ano man ang dahilan, Acel, hindi iyon sapat para masaktan kita."
"Pero hindi mo naman sinasadya. Saka hindi naman ako nasaktan talaga..."
"Maski na hindi ko sinasadya, o hindi ko ginusto, nasaktan pa rin kita." Napatingala ito at pilit na kinalma ang sarili.
Napanguso siya dahil wala nang maapuhap na salita.
"I was wrong, wasn't I?" tanong nito nang bumaling ulit sa kanya.
"Even with the evidences piling up, you still believe I didn't do anything wrong?"
Nagtagis ang bagang nito pero mas kalmante na kaysa kanina.
"If those are true, I know there's still an explanation."
"What if there isn't?" Ano ba ang pinagsasabi ko?
"Then I would fucking get you back! Akin ka lang, Acel. You gave yourself to me. You promised to marry no one but me." Walang bakas ng pagdadalawang-isip dito; desidido itong paamuhin siya't bumalik dito kung sakaling totoo ang tsismis.
Napanguso ulit siya, pilit na pinigilan ang sariling mangiti subali't nagmukha siyang asong ngumingisi.
"Damn it, Acel! I'm serious!" singhal nito. He sighed harshly and calmed himself down. "I'm also sorry about what I said earlier... I know you aren't that type of woman."
Now, she's accurate that she's grinning widely. Bago pa makapag-iwas ng tingin ay hinuli nito ang baba niya.
"Kung ano mang mayroon sa inyo ng lalaking iyon, kalimutan mo na. Sisiguraduhin kong kalilimutan mo siya. I'll pleasure you so fucking good tonight, and tomorrow, your body will only remember mine."
"Pero hindi naman kailangan iyon dahil walang katotohanan ang lahat..." tila nalalasing na siwalat niya. "...but I won't mind if you make me feel good tonight. You can fuck me all the way you want because I miss you so, baby."
"Fuck, Acel! Your words!" Suminghap ito at tumuwid ng upo. Natawa siya kung gaano ito kamiserableng tingnan. Alam niyang naguguluhan ito.
Lumabi siya. "Why are you calling me by my name, Baxter?"
Sinamaan siya nito ng tingin. "Is this your way to tame me?"
Umiling siya, nababakas ang ngiti sa kanyang labi.
"Then, why are you doing this to me?"
"Why did you bring me in your room instead, then?" ganti niya rito.
Hindi makapaniwalang tinitigan siya nito at napamaang; hindi makaapuhap ng salita.
"Maybe because your body longs for me as well, right?"
"I have a medicine cabinet in here."
"But the ice pack you got was downstairs," katwiran niya.
Now, he's lost of words again.
"Baxter," anas niya nang tumayo ito marahan siyang hinila patayo, lumabas sila ng kwarto. "Bumalik na lang tayo sa kwarto mo."
They stopped walking for a while and were standing in the middle of the hallway. His house wasn't big but it's spacious enough for a family of four. He inherited this house when his family started living abroad. Doon lumaki si Baxter at tatlong taon na mula nang mag-isa itong manirahan.
The old Spanish house was renovated with some modern designs so she could say the house was sturdy and elegantly designed.
"Ihahatid na kita," desisyon nito.
Umiling siya. "There's nothing to be mad, my jealous boyfriend," she teased.
He just kept quiet, waiting for her to say more. She then held his arm and tried to go back in his room but he just stayed still. She sighed and started telling him about what happened at the club, detail by detail.
"But there are some pictures that were released from before... His birthday, huh? What are you two? Ipinagkasundo?"
"I honestly don't remember those pictures."
"And what was that again? He jumped to the pool and saved you?"
"From embarrassment," she added.
"Pinagtatanggol mo siya," he uttered with a sense of jealousy.
"Because he was nice." Dumaan ang sakit mga mata nito. "But that's just it. I didn't, and I don't have a thing with him. Earlier, we just really met accidentally," agap niya. Pero napapaisip pa rin siya kung bakit ang bilis namang lumabas ng balita na may relasyon daw sila ni Romano? Nakapanghihinala.
Saglit na katahimikan ang namayani sa pagitan nila bago ito kumalma. How did she know? His muscles relaxed; hid veins weren't protruding; and his face wasn't scornful anymore.
"Ikaw lang naman talaga ang nagmamay-ari sa akin..." she whispered as she forwarded to embrace him. She smelled his musk scent while looking at his beautifully handsome face. Then, she tiptoed and gave him a peck on his soft lips whereas he only let her do all of those things.
Slowly, a smile crept on his pursed lips.