Perfect Mismatch (Completed)

Chapter Five: It Started With A Kiss

Pumaikot ang isang kamay ni Houlden sa kanyang baywang. It was like he wanted all of them pressed so intimately now, as his lips moved overs hers, gentle and tentative at first, which became hungry and possessive as he pushed them both inside the unit.

Hindi na niya namalayan kung paano nitong naisara ang pinto. Ang tanging alam na lang niya ay kung paanong nakasandal na siya doon at patuloy nitong hinahagkan. She never thought, until that moment, that she actually wanted it.

She has been in denial since day one of meeting this man, and she wanted to keep it that way. Pero ngayong hinahagkan siya ni Houlden na tila iyon lang ang gusto nitong gawin, pakiramdam niya ay pinalaya niya ang sarili sa isang pagkakamali.

This kiss felt so right, so good, that she felt nothing else matters.

She can't remember the last time she ever wanted someone so bad. And right now, it's just for Houlden to keep kissing her, so she kissed him back. Her fingers spread around his neck, as she mimicked the movement of his lips. His lips were soft and warm against hers, and he also tasted so good she doesn't know how else she could kiss him, taste more of him.

"Paola..." she finally heard him say. His lips were now barely a centimeter away from hers. And that's when she heard it. Hindi iyon malakas ngunit tila pumupuno sa buong unit. Her eyes flew open, meeting Houlden's dark gaze that sent shivers through her. Napalunok siya.

"T-the phone." she gasped as her hands slid to his shoulder.

"Yes." tila hirap na sabi nito at bantulot na lumayo.

Huminga siya ng malalim, bago apologetic na sinulyapan si Houlden. Tumango lang ito at binigyang daan siya upang malapitan ang landline phone na nasa dingding ng hallway patungo sa mga kuwarto. Iisang tao lang ang tumatawag sa kanya sa ganitong oras, matapos ang bawat date niya para sa Perfect Match.

Bago niya idikit ang reciever sa tainga ay nakita niyang tila frustrated na naisuklay ni Houlden ang mga daliri sa buhok nito. "Hello? Mama?" she bit her lip as the excited voice of her mother filled her ears. Pinanood lang siya ni Houlden, nakatayo at nakasandal sa pinto at bahagyang nakangiti.

Gaya ng dati ay nagsisintir pa rin ang kanyang ina sa pagsali niya sa Perfect Match. And it is mostly because her mother is fond of Houlden. Sayang daw dahil bagay sila ng binata, at nakatakda lang niyang sirain kung anuman ang magiging samahan nila sa sandaling malaman nito ang pagpapanggap niya.

Habang pinakikinggan niya ang ina na ipahayag kung gaano nito kagusto si Houlden at kung gaano sila kagandang tingnan sa TV, ay naisip niyang sa mga sandaling iyon, Houlden is seeing her at her truest, since they met. Hindi peke ang pakikipag-interact niya sa ina. Dahil one sided conversation lang ang naririnig nito ay wala siyang dapat gaanong itago.

It is a very impulsive move, at tiyak na magwawala si Dee o maging ang tunay na Paola sa nakatakda niyang gawin ngayon. Ngunit pakiramdam niya ay deserving naman si Houlden para doon.

A few moments of what's true about her may not be much but at least, aside from that kiss, she knows she won't be lying to him completely. Kung anuman ang mangyari sa bandang huli, at least may nai-share naman siya kay Houlden na totoo at hindi parte ng pagpapanggap niya.

Sinenyasan niya si Houlden na lumapit. "Mama, narito si Houlden, actually. inihatid niya ako."

"Ano? Ay, Diyos ko! Pakausap naman, anak!" excited na sabi ng Mama niya.

"Okay. But be careful, Mama ha." pagbababala niya, na tinawanan lang ng ina.

"Hindi ako artista pero titingnan ko ang magagawa ko." sabi nito.