Remorseful Enticement

Pleasure 15

When I woke up, Theo wasn't beside me. I felt a slight pain in my lower abdomen which caused me to wake up. When I looked at the calendar, I realized my monthly period is this week.

I folded my blanket and straightened my sheets before I left. I was looking for my cat on the way to the kitchen, pero pati siya ay hindi ko rin mahanap. When I got to the kitchen, wala rin si Theo doon, but there's some fried rice and some eggs and hotdogs on the table.

I continued looking for them, and found them outside. Nakaupo sa damuhan si Theo at hawak niya si Thali. There's a cup of black coffee beside him, some bread, a small portion of hotdog and egg. Thali is tucked in his arms and he's feeding it hotdog. Tumatawa siya at nakikipag-usap kay Thali.

I interrupted them. "I thought you didn't want a cat."

Mukhang nagulat si Theo at bigla na lang hinagis sa damuhan si Thali. Fortunately, my baby landed on it's feet. He awkwardly smiled. "Kanina ka pa?"

"Kailangan bang ihagis mo siya? Mabuti na lang hindi siya nabalian!"

"Hindi naman mamamatay 'yan, e'! Siyam buhay niyan."

"What if nasagasaan tapos naghiwa-hiwalay 'yong body niya? Ano 'yon magre-reincarnate tapos magma-minus sa life niya 'yon?"

"Hinagis ko lang naman! Hindi ko sinagasaan!"

"Kahit na! Ang stupid mo!"

"Ang aga-aga, ang sungit-sungit mo! Kumalma ka nga! Tumataas ba ang high blood mo?"

"Mataas ang high blood! Oh my goodness, Theo!"

"E' 'di ikaw na! Oo na, ikaw na ang magaling!"

Magsasalita pa sana ako, but he shoved a bread into my mouth. I glared at him as I chew on it, pero tumawa lang siya. He took a sip of his coffee and Thali climbed on his lap. It even rubbed its cheek on his arm and purred.

"Thali likes you," malumanay na sabi ko.

"Parang amo lang niya, nakakainis sa una, pero okay lang. Mapagtiis naman ako, kaya okay na okay lang."

"You're so annoying. Anyway, pupunta tayo sa kaibigan mo sa Saturday, right?"

"Hindi na raw. Galing dito si Del kanina at sinabi niyang hindi raw muna itutuloy 'yong kasal dahil may bagyo at nagkaroon ng problema sa pamilya nila."

My shoulders fell, at medyo mabigat sa loob ko. Hindi pala matutuloy, akala ko pupunta kami sa beach. It's been a while since I saw one.

"Oh, that's a bummer," saad ko. "Malakas ba 'yong typhoon na darating?"

"Hindi ko alam, pero baka signal number three daw dito sa atin. Kailangan ko nang anihin 'yong iilang bunga at tanim ko, baka masira pa."

"I can help."

He dodge and widened his eyes at me, as if I just said something out of this world. "Nagvo-volunteer kang tumulong? Bago 'yon, ha? Pero sige, tatanggapin ko."

I felt a sudden pain in my lower abdomen. I clutched it and folded my body. "Ouch," I whimpered.

"Bakit? May masakit ba sa 'yo?" nag-aalalang tanong niya.

"It's nothing. Don't worry, I'm fine."

Hinawakan niya ang balikat ko at nang tingnan ko siya, kitang-kita ko sa mukha niya ang pag-aalala. Dumako ang tingin niya sa kamay kong masa puson ko at kumunot ang noo niya. "Masakit ba 'yang tiyan mo? Baka gutom ka na?"

I nodded. "Maybe. Let's eat na kaya?"

"Gusto mo bang dalhin ko rito ang pagkain?" he asked.

"No. Let's eat inside na lang."