Ilang ulit na napalunok si Olive.
Act normal, utos niya sa sarili. How can I stay calm, Ysrael knew I kissed him! Tili ng utak niya. But you’re not sure, he’s asleep, anang isang bahagi niya. He could have just woken up now.
She could feel her sweat on her forehead. Lahat ata ng singit sa buong katawan niya pinagpapawisan.
She should stay focus. Dapat umarte siyang parang walang nangyari. He could think it was a dream.
“Gising ka na pala,” she was surprised to hear her voice calm. “I was planning to wake you up, pero tulog na tulog ka.”
“Ganon ba?” he said almost in a whisper. He combed his hair with his fingers and yawned.
Nakahinga siya ng maluwang. Mabuti na lang at hindi nito alam ang kalokohang ginawa niya. She felt relieved.
“You can stay here if you like,” aniya. “You can rest a bit.” Thank you Lord, saloob-loob niya. Kakainin siya ng lupa kung sakaling nalaman nito ang pagnanakaw niya ng halik.
“Okay,” tanging sagot nito.
Huminga siya ng malalim. “Goodnight then,” aniyang tinalikuran na ito. Hindi niya matagalan ang katahimikan.
“Olive,” narinig niyang tawag nito.
Ayaw niya sanang lumingon but she has to... She looked at him hesitantly. “Yes?”
“Come here,” mas utos iyon kaysa pakiusap.
“Bakit?” nanuyo ang lalamunan niya.
Tinapik lang nito ang malambot na sofa.
Hindi siya tuminag sa kinatatayuan.
“Are you scared?” sabi nito na sumandal sa sofa.
“Why should I be?” aniya kahit ang totoo ay kinakabahan talaga siya.
“Good,” anito, umangat na naman ang sulok ng labi. “Then come here,” tinapik nito muli ang sofa.
Oh good Lord, don’t look at me like that, para siyang nalulusaw ng unti-unti sa titig nito.
Naupo siya sa tabi nito. She made sure that she’s far enough for him not to hear her heart’s beating. He waited for him to say something but didn’t. Only silence.
Tumayo siya. “I really must sleep, maaga pa ako bukas.”
“You’re not planning to run away from your crime, are you?” anitong bigla siyang hinatak. She landed on his chest.
Namutla siya. His face was only an inch away from his. Sinubukan niyang tumayo ngunit nakayapos sa beywang niya ang lalake. “Ysrael, let me go,” she tried to sound angry. Ngunit ang totoo, nagririgudon ang puso niya.
Nanayo ang balahibo sa batok niya nang kagatin nito ang teynga niya. “After waking me up with that kiss, you think I’d let you go that easily?”
“I...” hindi na niya naituloy ang gagawin sanang pagtanggi nang maramdaman ang pamilyar na bagay sa pagitan ng hita nito.
Mulagat na napatingin siya sa mga mata nito.
“It was partly your fault,” he said never leaving her eyes. “Hindi kami pareho handa sa pang-aakit mo.” Ang lamlam ng mga mata nito.
“Hindi kita inaaakit,” aniyang inilalayo ang dibdib nito.
“But you did,” he said, tracing her lips with his tongue. “For that you must take responsibility for your actions.”
She should run and scream now, but she didn’t? Does she want this?
Napapikit siya nang tuluyang sakupin ng labi nito ang nangangatal niyang mga labi. She wished she would have fainted. But she didn’t, because her body was anticipating him all along.
