Dante
Our eyes met as soon as my eyes opened.
I felt her hand grazed upon my cheeks, brushing it slowly against the plane of my skin, heating the slumber part of my body that I didn't even know existed. I held it closer, cupping my hand through hers as my eyes locked its gaze against her soft bright almond eyes. Slowly creeping up through my system, I felt the heat rising up in my body. This was maddening. I knew this was wrong but as soon as I felt the incandescence burn of her skin, a part of me went in trance longing for her hypnotizing touch. My mind went in ecstasy when her soft delicate fingers tenderly brushed the flesh of my skin,
Instinctively, as my body move towards her. I draw her to me, resting my forehead against hers feeling the very second of her heartbeat. A deep part of me want to hold this forever. To stop this moment for a while as I gaze towards the depth her eyes, needing and missing me. Slowly, I grabbed her hand as I intertwined it with mine, kissing each knuckles of her smooth delicate fingers. I heard her gasped. It wasn't an astonishing gasp, but a soft mellow gasp that ignited the burn inside my body.
My lips traveled down her neck until it trailed down on the steep of her collarbone, damping soft and petting kisses on her skin. It was spell bounding as I whiffed the smell of her fragrant strawberry roses scent that kept me hunted all day long. It fucking drove me crazy. She fucking drove me crazy. I felt my body twitch from ache as I moved to hers, eyeing every bit of her part with her eyes looking at me, accepting me as I am, with all of her soul.
"Dante..."She breathed in like a summer sweet whispers of oblivion.
I felt the twitch on my body as soon as I heard my name escaped from her lips. Mesmerized by her, I pulled her even closer, clanging the sweltering heats of our body. Clinging to her soft melding touch, I closed the gap that separated us, as inch by inch, slowly and dwindling, my lips brushed to her cheeks, down to the tip of her nose, and lastly landed to the brim of her cupids bow. Slowly but surely, I rubbed my lips against her soft, pliant and wanting. I kissed her deeply, owning and possessing every this moment, burning this in my memory like a tattoo carved into my soul.
"Elena." I grunted as I parted from her lips. Dazed from her response, I rubbed my thumbs to her sweet succulent lips as I moved closer, meeting her forehead against mine. Slowly, as I heard the beat of her heart faltering, I closed the distance between us with no reservations.
This time, I kissed her ardently. Craving for her touch, I moved my hands towards her arms, grazing the smooth flesh of her skin, eager to feel the electrifying sizzle of her reaction. My eyes darted back to hers, as I felt the arch of her body pulling closer to mine. Feeling her body against mine, I snaked my arms possessively on her back, relishing the heavy sweet luscious feeling of her soft petite body to mine.
I closed our distance, brushed the tips of my fingers to her cheeks and--I heard a ring beside our bedside. I groaned as I felt my body parting from her. She rolled on her side, widening the distance between us when I grabbed my phone on the dark burnt oak wood table.
Seeing her appearance flushed and red from our rather impulse conduct of some sort, I cleared my throat as I paced towards the outside of the room. Napatingin muli ako sa kanya na nakamasid sa akin, hindi na ako nakapagsalita nang muling tumunog ang aking phone. Pinindot ko ang telepono at nagdesisyon na lumabas ng kwarto.
"Hello?" I said.
"Hey, good morning babe," I heard Casey saying from the other line.
The scrunched from my face instantly vanished away as soon as I heard her voice on the other line. "Hey, there. Good morning to you too, babe."
I paced back and forth as I waited for her answer. "How are you guys there? Nasa Batangas na ba kayo?" She asked.
I gulped. I snaked my arms around the back of my neck and smoothed it slowly. "Yeah. But we are not yet in the resort today. Alanganin kasi dahil gabi na rin kami inabot rito."
"Ahh." I just heard her agreed. "So, where are you guys right now?"
I heaved a deep sigh. "Hotel. But we'll be going back on the road after breakfast."
"Alright, I hope you guys are okay there. Tumawag ka ah kapag nasa resort na kayo." She huffed.
"Of course babe. I will," I replied looking back and forth at the room behind my back.
"Love you. Later," she said.
I gazed at the sun shining brightly against the strands of my hair. Blindingly, I shoved my hand from its blazing light, protecting myself against is heat. "Same too you babe," I then replied. I heard the line cut off by then when I turned around back on our room.
Pagpasok ko pa lang, I saw her tucking her hair besides her ear while she fished the contents of her back, finding something inside it. I cleared my throat as I looked at her. Napansin ko ang pagpula ng kanyang pisngi nang tumingin siya sa akin.
I sat on my side of the bed as I stared at the curvature of her back. Looking at her, I felt the heat rising up on my chest as I found it fascinating to see her wearing an large shirt. I then felt the bulge inside of ignited as I imagined her wearing my shirt; which then, only made the situation worst.
I noticed her turning around at me, holding her clothes alongside her arms. "Um C.R lang ako," she muttered softly.
I felt my jaw tightened. "Yeah sure. mauna ka na. Susunod ako." I said in a rush without even thinking what it means. Napansin ko ang pagpula ng kanyang pisngi nang mapagtanto ko ang aking sinabi. I then cocked my head, explaining what I just said. "I mean, after mo matapos, ako na." Napalunok ako.
"Um sige." She nodded at me and went towards the bathroom, hearing her locking it from the inside.
I released a grumble as I slumped back on the headboard of the bed looking blankly at the ceiling while I felt the growing heat on my groin.
"Ugh, Fuck this," I grumbled.
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It didn't take us long to finish everything. As soon as, we had our bath, we quietly went downstairs and took a breakfast. None of us had the urge to speak about what happened a while ago. It was an awkward and silent moment as we tried to finish our meals as fast as we could. After that, we fixed the room, packed up our bags and headed towards the reception immediately the moment got inside. Nonetheless, even with that, I didn't hear anything from her about our sudden misconstrued actions. It was as if I'm endlessly waiting for her to say anything.
"All set?" I asked as my eyebrows furrowed from the white blinding light against us as I waited near the front door of the hotel. I shifted my gaze to her, looking at the distance as she slowly took down the stairs holding her duffel bag on her left arms.
"Yeah. All done." She stingily replied.
I went ahead to where my car is park and pressed the button of my keys to open the back door. of it. I held my hand to hers as her track stopped in front of me. "Amin na. Ilalagay ko rito."
I was astounded that she didn't decline when she gave me her duffel bag so that I can put it inside the back of the car. As soon as I placed it on the corner, I heard her utter. "Thanks."
The moment the door unlock, Elena quickly went inside the with no words or hesitations. Her rather strange silence bothered me more as she continued doing such actions towards me. yes we don't talk that much earlier before that happened, but her silence right now is different. it was frustrating and nerve-wracking. I could feel the indifference of her actions towards me. I knew what happened between us was wrong. But, I couldn't just bare to take it seeing her like this, tight-lipped and clammed up.
I cleared my throat trying to break the awkward silence between us. "Do you need anything else or do you have to do something before we go?" I asked again.
"No. I don't. Tara na para makapunta tayo ng maaga roon." She said without looking at me.
Napatango lang ako sa kanyang sinabi habang pinapaandar ko ang sasakyan. Nang marinig ko na ang tunog nito, pinihit ko ang manobela at nagsimulang magmaneho.
The road was clear and no signs of traffic waffled our trip. I gaze at her back and forth, as my hand tightly gripped on the handle. I couldn't concentrate on the road while seeing like this throughout our trip. I sighed, rested my case and decided to take a leap of faith,.
"Okay. I think our estimated time will be about an hour or so. Depends on the flow of traffic," I said, ignoring the silence that has been eating us up.
She didn't reply. She just looked straight up at the road like I was nothing but a thin air. I gazed at her expressionless face and sighed. I don't know what the hell to do, but I couldn't keep up this silence between us. Kumuha ako ng natitirang lakas sa aking sarili, at napabuntong-hininga, "Look about what happened a while ago, I'm sorry I shouldn't have done that. Let's just forget about it and mo-move on so that we can focus on the case, a'ryt?"
I heard her breathing in slowly while I waited for her answer. "Okay." At last, she looked at me. "You don't have to worry about that. Alam ko naman what happened a while ago was just nothing. "
There was a painstaking feeling after hearing her say that. "Yeah you are right." I nodded as I tried to focus my mind on the road. Trying to clear the air between us, I asked her again, "So music?"
"Sure," she replied, keeping her gaze at her window, apart from me.
Pinindot ko ang open button at nagsimulang tumugtog ang radyo. Ang kanina pang nakabinbin na katahimikan ay napalibutan ng himig ng musika.
Wag mong limutin pag-ibig sa'kin
Na iyong pinadama
Pintig ng puso wag mong itago
Sa isang kahapong sana'y magbalik
Nang mapawi ang pagluha
Ba't hanggang ngayon ay ikaw pa rin ang mahal
Naramdaman ko ang kanyang pagtikhim sa kanyang pag-upo na parang di mapalagay. Napalingon naman ako sa aking minamaneho habang ramdam ang nakakapagbagabag na pakiramdam. Napahimas ako sa likod ng aking leeg nang nadama ko ang init na bumubuga sa aking katawan.
Sa 'king pag-iisa
Ala-ala ka
Bakit hanggang ngayon ay ikaw pa rin sinta?
At sa hatinggabi
Sa pagtulog mo
Hanap mo ba ako hanggang sa paggising mo?
Kailan man ika'y inibig ng tunay
Narinig ko ang kanyang pagtikhim nang mapatingin ako sa kanya ng bahagya habang patuloy na tumutugtog ang kanya. Panandalian, naramdaman ko ang pagbagal ng oras sa mga puntong iyon. Napansin ko ang kanyang paglingon sa akin nang lumihis ang aking mata pabalik sa side mirror.
Di makapaniwala
Sa nagawa mong paglisan
O kay bilis namang nawala ka sa akin
O ang larawan mo
Kahit sandali
Aking minamasdan para bang kapiling ka
Dati'y kay ligaya mo sa piling ko
Sa sandaling iyon, nagsalubong ang aming mga mata. Hindi ko mawari ang aking nakita nang mapansin ko ang lungkot at pagkabalisa sa kanyang mga mata. It is as if at that moment I have the urge to touch her, comfort the little worries and heartaches of her heart.
Wag mong limutin pag-ibig sa'kin
Na iyong pinadama
Pintig ng puso wag mong itago
Sa isang kahapong sana'y magbalik
Nang mapawi ang pagluha
Ba't hanggang ngayon ay ikaw pa rin ang mahal (Saturno, V., 2000)
However, as reality pierced through me, I realized that I can't. Even if I wanted to. Knowing that, I sat there with my arms on the steering wheel, staring at piece of her soul slowly breaking. I breathed in as I felt a stab in my chest pushing gradually through my heart.
I left her waning in pain as I looked back at the road, struggling to restrict myself from pulling her onto my arms.
*********************************
Elena
I hate the song. I hate everything about it. I hate how soft I am when it comes to him. And I hate that as soon my eyes catch him, I feel the dagger pummel into my heart, killing me softly.
Mas lalong naging tahimik ang aming biyahe pagkatapos no'n. Hindi kami nag-usap o nag-kimian man lang. Ang nakakapagpabagabag na katihimikan ay may lalong umigting nang dahil rito. Tila lahat nang pait at sakit nang aking walang humpay na paghihintay sa akanya ay bumalik muli na parang mga matatamis na alalaalang ayaw akong tantanan.
At ang mas masakit pa rito ay makita pa siyang masaya sa piling nang iba, habang ako ay patuloy na umaasa sa kanyang pagbalik. Hangggang ngayon, iniindang ko lamang ang sakit ng katotohanan na hanggang dito na lamang kami.
Napatingin ako sa kanya at napansin ang hindi niya mapalagay na mukha. Sa mga panahon na iyon, gustong-gusto ko siyang tanungin kung bakit? Bakit niya akong iniwan mag-isa sa mga pangakong sinabi niya? Bakit hindi siya bumalik? Tuluyan na ba niyang nakalimutan ako? Maraming mga tanong na sumagi sa aking isipan na gusto kong masagot niya. Subalit, sa tuwing ibubuka ko na ang aking labi, tila nawawalan ako nang hininga at boses na sabihin ito sa kanya.
Ang rupok mo Elena. Sobrang rupok mo. Hanggang ngayon siya pa rin.
Napasinghap ako at napasandig sa aking upuan. Sandaling kong ipinikit ang mga mata at nagbaka-sakaling ang matinding nararamdaman ko sa kanya ay maglaho nang parang bula. Subalit, kahit anong gawin kong paglimot, hanggang ngayon siya pa rin ang nilalaman ng puso ko.
Nabaling na lamang ang tingin ko sa tanawin na nasa bintana, tila iniiwasan ang kanyang mga mapanuring tingin sa akin. Humilig ako rito at kinandado ang aking mga sa bintana. Baka sakali, humupa nang kaonti ang kirot sa aking puso habang kasama ang taong nagbigay nito.
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Mga ilang minuto ang nakalipas, narinig ko ang kanyang boses mula sa aking mahimbing na pagtulog. Tinapik niya ang aking balikat upang gisingin ako. Naramdaman ko ang kanyang mint-scented na hininga ng bumuga ito sa akin tainga. Nakaramdam ako ng ibang kiliti at init sa akin katawan na humahagod patungo sa akin ulo.
"Elena, narito na tayo," mahinahon niyang sinabi.
Minulat ko ang aking mata at sumalubong sa akin ang kanyang mala-kapeng mga mata. Bumalikwas ako sa aking pagkahiga at napahilot sa aking tulay ng aking ilong. "Kakarating lang ba natin?" Narinig ko ang awang sa aking boses.
He smiled at me softly. "Yes. let's go and meet them?" Tanong niya.
Napatango ako sa kanya.
Lumabas ako sa lob ng kotse at napaunat muna bago ako dumertso sa likod nito upang kunin ang akin duffel bag. Luminga-linga ang aking paningin at napansin ang magandang tanawin ng resort. Malaki ito at mukhang namamaintain ng mga empleyado rito. Malinis rin at maaliwas tingin ang buong paligid. Makikita mo mga coconut trees na nagpapalibutan sa paligid, gayon na rin ang mga halaman at bulaklak na nakapaligid rito. Malaki ang reception area, bungad nang mismong resort. may mga ibat ibang palamuti at recycled materials ang nakadisenyo rio na may nakakadagdag sa ganda ng resort. Yumapak ako papasok sa loob at hindi mabato ang lugar at patag ito.
Dumertso kami ni Dante sa reception area at napansin namin ang maayang pagbati sa amin. Kaagad may kumuha nang aming bag upang ilagay sa lalagayan ito. "Good morning ma'am and sir. How may I help you?" Ngumiti ang babae na tila nasa kaedaran ko lang.
"We'll be booking two rooms for one week. May room ba kayo na for singles only?" Dante asked as he fished his credit card from his wallet.
Napatingin muna ang babae sa kanyang computer bago nagsalita. "Yes po sir, mayroon pong two room na available," aniya.
Ngumiti si Dante sa babae at napansin ko ang pagpula nang pisngi nito. "Sige miss, we'll take two single rooms for one week," saad ni Dante habang nakatukod sa mahabang counter nito.
"Okay sir. " Kinuha niya ang mga susi at ibinigay kay Dante, "Here are the keys for your room sir. Enjoy your stay," sabi nito sa amin.
Tumango lang kami habang may isang lalaki na dala-dala ang aming bag papunta sa aming kwarto. Tinahak namin ang daan na pinapalibutan ng ibat-ibang disenyo nang mga seashells at yamang dagat. Nabighani ako sa kanya habang naglalakad at naririnig ang marikit at nakakaayang tunog nito sa pag-ihip ng hangin.
Mga ilang minuto lang ang nakalipas, nakarating na rin kami sa aming mga kwarto na magkatabi lamang. Ibinaba ng lalaki ang aking bag sa table at saka lumabas na rin ito. Bago ako pumasok sa loob, nagtanong muna ako kay Dante. "Anong oras natin kikitain sila mamaya?"
Napatingin siya sa kanyang orasan bago sumagot. "After lunch maybe. Just be ready. Sasabihin ko naman sa iyo," pahayag nito sa akin.
Hindi na ako nag-alinlangan na tumango sa kanya. Pagkatapos ng aming maikling pag-uusap, dumeretso ako sa aking malambot at malaking kami at napahiga. Sininghot ko ang sariwang hangin na pumapasok sa aking bintana, katabi ng aking kwarto.
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Nagising ako bigla nang marinig ko ang katok sa aking pintuan. Napabalikwas ako sa aking kama habang ramdam pa rin ang bigat sa akin katawan. Dumertso ako rito at binuksan ko ang pintuan. Nagulat ang kumukurap kong mata nang makita kosi Dante na nakahalukipkip sa hamba ng aking pintuan.
"Dante?" Napatanong ako na tila wala pa sa puwang anga king isipan.
"Natulog ka?" Tanong niya sabay pasok sa loob nang aking kwarto.
Pumunta kaagad ako sa salamin na nasa harapan lang ng akin kama at inayos ang magulo kong buhok. "Oo. nakatulog ako. Ang sarap pala ng sariwang hangin dito," saad ko habang nakatingin sa dagat na aking tinatanaw mula sa bintana.
He crossed his legs as he sat on the edge of my bed. "You ready? Ime-meet na natin sila," paliwanag niya. Tumayo siya galing sa aking higaan at napatingin rin sa salamin.
"Diba after lunch pa?" Tanong ko.
Lumingon siya sa akin at sinabing, "I decided na it's better to meet them earlier."
Napaisip ako sandali. Hindi pa ako nakahanda at hindi pa maayos ang aking suot. "Can you give me a couple of minutes? Mag-aayos lang ako ng sandali," humingi ako ng pabor.
Tumigil siya sa aking harapan at napamasid sa aking katayuan. Tinanaw niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa at napailing. Tumawa siya saglit. "Okay na iyan. Hindi mo na kailangan mag-ayos and besides ime-meet lang naman natin sila ngayon," paliwanag niya muli.
"Pero..." Hindi ko na natuloy ang aking sasabihin nang bigla niyang hinila ang aking kamay palabas ng kwarto.
"Let's go. Habang break pa nila," aniya habang hinihintay akong saraduhin ang aking pintuan.
Nang masarado na ito, tinahak namin ang kawayan na daan papunta sa isang lugar kung saan sila naghihintay. Sinundan ko ang mabilis na yapak ni Dante patungo sa gazebo na nakatayo sa kabilang banda nang resort.
Ilang minuto lang ang nakalipas at nakarating na kami rito. Maliit siya sa malyo, ngunit malaki pala ito kapag malapit ka na. Napansin ko ang mga taong nakaupo sa loob ng nipa hut na nakangiti sa amin. Pumasok si Dante sa loob at umupo sa bakanteng upuan, habang ako naman ay tumabi na lamang sa kanya.
"Magandang umaga po, ma'am and sir," sabi nito sa amin.
Napatango ako sa kanya. "Sa inyo rin ho."
"Magandang umaga rin, Mr. Asunscion. I'm Attorney Dante Constantino Gillesania and I will be handling your case. With me, is Ms. Elena Payton, siya naman ang maghahandle ng accounts ninyo. Any financial matters, siya ang malalapitan ninyo." Kinamayan naman ni Dante ang lalaki sa kanyang harapan.
"You can ask me anytime po. Kailangan ko rin po makuha ang mga nauna ninyong compensations for the past years na nagtrabaho ho rito kayo sa resort," dagdag ko.
"Maraming Salamat po ma'am Elena, at Attorney Gillesania. Tawagin niyo na lang po akong Ernesto." tugon nang matanda na nasa aking kaliwang harapan kati nang babaeng kasing edaran ko lamang. "Eto nga po pala ang mga kasama namin sa union. Matagal na rin ho silang nagtratrabaho rito, katulad ko," turo niya sa mga kasamahan niyang nakapalibot sa amin. I-ilan rin sila. At sa aking pagkakabilang sa kanila, mga nasa kinse ang kanilang bilang na kasama sa union.
"Magandang umaga ho sa inyo." Ngumiti ako sa kanila.
"Magandang umaga ho sir at ma'am," tugon ng isang lalaki na nakaupo sa aming kaliwa.
Iniwagayway ng matanda ang kanyang kamay sa mga inihain na pagkain. "Kain po muna kayo ma'am and sir. "
Napanga-nga ako sa aking harapan nang makita ko ang samo't-samong pagkain na nakalapg sa lamesa. Mukhang pinaghandaan nila ang aming pagrating rito. Nakakahiya naman sa kanila. Naisip ko habang naramdaman ko ang kalam ng aking tiyan.
Nang marinig ito ni Dante, natawa lang siya.
Inirapan ko siya at tinuon ko na lang ang aking paningin sa babaeng kaharap ko. "Mukhang masasarap po itong inihanda ninyo sa amin," ani ko.
"Kung nagugutom ho kayo, sige lang po ma'am kain lang po kayo," sabi nito sa akin.
Hindi na ako nag-alinlangan na kumuha ng pagkain lalo't na kanina ko pa nararamdaman ang alburuto ng aking tiyan. "Thank you po."
Habang kumakain, patuloy na nag-uusap si Dante at Mr. Asunscion and pinuno ng union laban sa Le Torres Co., ang nagmamay-ari nang resort na ito. Sa kabilang banda, ako naman ay patuloy na kumakain ng masarap na alamang na kanilang niluto.
Napatigil na lamang ako sa pagkain nang bigla kong marinig ko ang sinabi ni Dante. "I think we don't have a case here, Mr. Asunscion. Might as well you drop the case," he said in a demanding tone.
Napanganga na lamang ako sa kanyang sinabi.
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