Remorseful Enticement

Pleasure 18

What happens when it rains? Barren land becomes wet! Warning! Wet chapter ahead! Skip if you want.
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"Sigurado ba kayong aalis na kayo? Baka umulan ulit mamaya?" tanong ni Nanay Hilda nang paalis na kami.

"Magta-tricycle naman po kami, Nay. Wala kasing tao ngayon sa bahay, at naiwan 'yong pusa namin," sagot ni Theo.

Natawa naman si Nanay sa sinabi niya. She bid us goodbye as we made our way home. Nasa loob ako ng tricycle at si Theo ay nasa likuran ng driver. I looked at the damages done by the storm last night. May iilang puno ang natumba, lalo na ang mga saging.

I was too busy looking at the surroundings, I didn't even notice na nakarating na pala kami. Puro putik ang makikita dito sa lugar namin. If it wasn't for the bermuda grass, siguro ay muddy na rin sa front yard.

Hindi ko na hinintay pa si Theo at dumiretso na ako sa loob ng bahay. Thali immediately lunged at me as I opened the house. Hindi pa ni-lock ni Theo ang pinto. So wreck less.

"You're alone last night, 'no? Hindi ka pa pala kumakain," I told Thali and it meowed to me as if it understood me. "Let's get you something to eat, baby."

I paced to the kitchen and found some leftovers from yesterday. May natira pa namang hindi sunog na rice. Theo told me not to but cat foo dahil puwede naman daw ang kanin na lang, which is more practical. Thali made small growling sounds as it ate.

Babalik na sana ako sa kuwarto ko nang magsalubong kami ni Theo sa sala. He closed the front door and because of the storm, medyo dumilim dito sa loob. Maayos naman na siya kaninang umaga, wala na ang sinat niya.

"Mag-uusap tayo, 'di ba?" he asked.

"I'll take a rest muna. Maybe later."

"Sabi mo kahapon pagdating natin dito. Sige na. Nagtatampo ka pa yata."

"I need rest."

"Rest daw, samantalang mas mahimbing pa ang tulog mo kaysa sa akin."

"Whatever." I snapped my finger at him and was about walked out.

Kahit hindi ako lumingon, alam kong nasa likuran ko lang siya at nakasunod. When I held my doorknob, he snatched my hand and made me face him, pushing me against the locked door.

"May mali ako, at alam ko 'yon. Hindi dapat kita sinigawan. Sorry na, pagod lang ako nang araw na 'yon."

"And mad. Tired and mad. Alam mo bang sinasabi ng mga tao ang gusto nila kapag galit? So, that's how you see me? I admit naman na spoiled ako, that I'm maarte-"

"Cali-"

"Let me fucking finish muna kasi!" He was startled, nakita ko 'yon sa paggalaw ng balikat niya at paglaki ng mga mata niya. "But to call me selfish? You're crossing the line. I think about myself almost all the time, I'm also aware of that. But Theo, I left a life and my family in the city. Mali ba kung isipin ko ang kalagayan nila? Kung kumusta sila? Something is off, kaya nakalimutan ko 'yong mga ginagawa ko!"

"Sorry. Hindi ko naman alam, e'. At saka nag-alala lang ako sa puwedeng mangyari. Gulong-gulo ako n'on! Nalugi na naman ako dahil sa punyetang bagyo na 'yan, kaya hindi ako makapag-isip nang tama."

"You meant those words. You don't have to deny."

He clicked his tongue and frustratedly ran his fingers through his hair. "Ano ba'ng gagawin ko para patawarin mo na ako?" He leaned his forehead on my shoulder.

His hand touched mine, shocking me with a tingly feeling. Nang ibinalik niya ang paningin sa akin, nagtama ang ilong namin. Nagtapat ang mga mata namin at halos hindi na ako makahinga. I literally had to hold my breath because of how close our faces are. His eyes fell on my lips. Dahil nga malapit ang mukha niya sa akin, nahalata ko ang pagbigat ng hininga niya.