Everything She Wanted

22 The Regret

CARA

I woke up naked and in pain – physically and emotionally. My period was about to begin and I needed a rescue dose of Ibuprofen. The pain in my chest was somehow tied to the pain in between my legs so hindi ko to basta-bastang makalimutan.

It was almost four in the morning and I had to go home, otherwise Ate Tessie might inadvertently tell my Dad that I did not come home for the night.

I disentangled his arm around my waist so I could get out of bed. Before I was completely out though, Jaxx grabbed my hand, one of his eyes still closed and the other one half-open, looking at me sleepily.

"Where are you going?"

"Jaxx, I need to go home. It's four in the morning." I explained quietly and I gently pulled away. I spotted my shirt from last night on the floor just by the bed and put it on. This somehow woke him up a little more as he propped himself on one elbow, exposing his bare torso. He was still naked under the duvet and hindi ko alam why I found that thought arousing and disgusting at the same time.

"Why? I can drive you home after breakfast. Are you alright?" his eyes were now bigger. There was uncertainty and fear in them. I remembered his last request before we fell asleep not to regret what happened between us. Try as I may, my conscience was now parading with a megaphone in my head.

"I'm having dysmenorrhea. I need another Advil and my period will start in the next hour maybe and I don't have a pad with me. And I'm sore and I need to be home before Ate Tessie realizes I didn't go home last night because—"

Jaxx crawled over to my side and pulled me back to bed, sitting. He hugged me in the middle of my tantrum.

"Okay, okay, shush. No need to panic. I got you Ibuprofen last night while you were in the shower. Had I known what your 'pre-emptive medication' was for, I could have gotten you the other things that you needed."

Why did he have to be so thoughtful and considerate? Ang hirap tuloy magalit sa kanya! I was angry and disappointed at myself already.

"Come, let's get dressed. I'll take you home. Do you want me to get you your stuff from the drugstore sa baba? It'll be fast lang, I can get it while you shower." He kissed my head once and let me go, picking up his clothes from the floor and from underneath the sheets.

"Okay. Thanks." I found my underwear and shorts and headed straight to the bathroom. The dull ache was slowly intensifying, coming in waves. It has been a year since I felt it this strong. The last time was when I was in my Medicine rotation and I forgot to take my meds as well. I had to absent myself for the entire day. My resident in charge was initially doubtful but I guess my face and the wild look in my eyes did the trick.

"Can you get me something to eat as well? Bread or whatever, since I'm taking the meds."

"Sure." He nodded and put on his shirt.

After I showered, Jaxx was already back with all that I needed. He had the sandwich heated and even got me cold coffee. Damn this man!