Not Yours

VIII

Tristan
OH PAK! First pov! Ang masasabi ko lang, ang ganda ko. So anyway, Tristan the maganda here! Hahahahaha.

After years, I successfully get what I wanted-a make-up artist. Hindi lang naging make-up artist but also own a boutique. "Sir, saan ko po ito banda ilalagay?" Her hands full of more than 3 clothes. "Hindi na po kasya sa pwesto niya sana."

"Oh, just put it here. Ako na bahala," I smiled at the girl and trace the hems. Naalala ko tuloy yung late friend ko. I wonder how is he? Is he happy with his marriage? Or he feels the same as Atlas?

"Good morning, sir... Po? This way po." She hears her assistant say. Is that Knight? But kilala ng employees ko who Knight is and he knows his way to my private room. Maybe Atlas? Miracle I guess.

A man dressed in a decent suit with a smile that never changes. His smile is the same as I first met him. We never got to attend his wedding as me and my boyfriend is in Paris. Dahil sa suot niyang suit, parang lumaki ang katawan niya but his face is still the same even though he looks a bit more masculine. No, not a bit. He looks really masculine.

"Why? Did I change that much?" Ask Kai as his eyes wonder my office. My eyes watered. Jeez, I miss this guy. "Gagi, pakisampal nga ako. Isa lang dali," His left eye brow raises na akala mo sinabi kong may tae sa harapan niya.

Teary-eyes, my heart softens more as the corner of his lips raises again. "I know you miss me. I miss you too, baklush." Now, him saying that word sounds odd. "I'm sorry for not attending your wedding the last 5 months. I just got so much in my plate but you got my gift right?" I said while I stuff my face at his shoulder. I feel his nod and hugs me back. He then handed me the coffee. The coffee which is my favorite. After all, he still know his friend's favorite huh?

His eyes wandered my office again. "How are you?" Should I even have the right to ask him this? "Are you... Happy with her?" Bumalik ang atensyon niya sa'kin. Oh no. Akala ko ang titig na ni Knight kapag galit ang nakakapanindig balahibo but by the looks of it, someone took his place already. Or maybe the second place. Knight's more scary. "Wouldn't you be mad if I say I am?"

I shake my head. "Of course not! Kahit papaano kaibigan kita. No matter what, I'll support what makes you happy," a small smile makes its way to his face again. "So, tell me about your wife. I wanna know how does she makes you happy."

Sa pagkasabi ko, lumiwanag ang kulay gray Kong office. Kumikinang din na parang star ang mga mata niya habang nagk-kwento. "If you just see her face, Tris, I swear sasakit tiyan mo sa kakatawa. She's so clumsy hahaha," he said, wiping the small tears under his eyes.

His smile, I can say, ibang-iba sa ngiting nakita ko. Sure, he was happy with Atlas pero 'yung ngiti niya ngayon? Iba talaga. "Mahal mo siya ano?" His doe eyes went bigger than normal. He turn his gaze and extend his hand. "W-well..." He sips. "Of course, she's my frie-"

"I mean, romantically. Do you like her romantically?," Binalik niya sa lamesa ang libro bago naglakad papunta roo't parito na namumula ang tainga. "I... I don't know... Maybe? But Let's not talk about that shall we?"

Shrugging, I grab my coffee and stare at Kai. As I know, he is a straight-forward being. Alam niya kung ano ang nararamdaman niya at kung hindi niya sinasabi, his action shows it.

"Okay~" I said. "Just a piece of advice. The more you hide it, the more it'll hunt you."

"SO... Kamusta na ang batang 'yon?" Tanong ni Knight habang papasok kami sa elevator. "Well... I can say, puberty hits him like a truck." I said before giving him my phone. The corner of his lips raise a bit. "Wow. The last time we saw him, he still looks feminine," he give my phone back. "Tapos boom! Wonder what happen?"

I left out a chuckle. "Malamang ikaw ba naman ma-inlove na sa babae tapos soon tatay na?" The elevator 'ting' kaya inunahan ko siya nang labas. "Well, good for him. I just hope Atlas will be happy soon," anito at binuksan ang pinto. Closing the door, I drape my hands over his neck. "Hope so but let's not talk about them," I lick my lips and smile. "I miss you."

He return the smile I gave him but not a simple smile. Oh how I miss it. "I miss you too. So much," naglapat ang mga labi namin sa isa't-isa. Our clothes also left our body.

Damn, It's going to be a long night.

Cyrille

KATULAD NANG hula ko noong mga nakaraang buwan. Boring. Higa-higa, lakad-lakad, kain-kain. Dream come true na sa totoo lang kaya hindi dapat ako nagrereklamo. Hinihingi ko 'to noong nakaraan pero-

"I'm home," Binagsak niya ang sarili sa sofa na kinauupuan ko bago gumapang ang mga kamay niya papunta sa aking bewang. "Finally." Aniya at isiniksik ang sarili sa aking leeg.

Ramdam ko ang init ng kaniyang hininga pati ang labi na natikman ko na rin. Lord, help ayoko kiligin. Nanginginig na iniangat ko ang Isa kong kamay at inilapat sa kaniyang ulo. "Anything you want to soothe you?"

"You."
Nanuyo ang lalamunan ko bigla.
"A-ano?"

Umakyat lahat ang dugo ko sa aking ulo nang halikan ni Kai ang leeg ko. "You hear it right," sagot niya sa husky na boses. "Let's stay like this for a minute." At sino ba namang tatanggi diyan? Maliban sa may feelings ako, kawawa naman din siya. Pagod siya galing sa trabaho at minus points ako kapag tumanggi pa ako sa simple request. Gusto ko rin naman.

"Btw, the bag on my left was given by Tristan, a friend of mine. Suotin mo bukas," kumunot ang noo ko. "Bukas? Anong meron?" Tanong ko sa kaniya.

Bumitaw siya sa yakap at doon lang ako nakahinga muli. Hindi ko napansing nagpipigil na pala ako ng hininga pero saglit lang iyon dahil pagmulat ko, nakatitig siya sa akin. Chill self. "Day off ko tomorrow so..." Kinuha niya ang aking kamay bago nagtanim ng halik dito. "Let's go on a date." Aniyang may malaking ngiti sa mga labi.

Sinundan lamang ng aking mga mata ang pagtayo ni Kai at may ngiti pa rin sa labi na nagtungo sa kusina. Inilagay ko ang kamay sa dibdib at sumandal sa sofa. Mukhang may bago na naman akong ma-k-kwento Kay Yreneah.