Strawberries and Cigarettes

Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

Muntik nang mapatalon sa gulat si Catalina nang madatnan niyang nakasandal sa hamba ng pinto ng kwarto si Hugo. Nakakrus ang braso nito habang nakakunot ang noo, halatang galit na nakatingin sa asawa.

"I should've picked you up," Hugo said, a bit mad.

Catalina sighed. "I'm fine."

"Why are you late?"

Umirap si Catalina sa hanging. "Hugo pagod ako, gusto kong maglinis ng katawan. Leave."

Ngumisi si Hugo. "You used to call me Sebastian..."

"Get out," turo ni Catalina sa labas ng pinto.

"I'm already out," ngising tugon ng binata.

Napairap si Catalina. She harshly took the hair tie from her messy bun and tossed it on the bed. She seductively walked closer to Hugo. Nakasuot pa ng vest ang binata habang nakaipit ang necktie nito sa loob. Catalina slowly pulled the necktie from his chest while staring into Hugo's eyes. She heard Hugo breathing heavily. Napaayos ng tayo ang binata dahil sa ginagawa ni Catalina. Slowly, Catalina lifted her hands up to caress his chest. Lalong uminit si Hugo. She saw him groan softly from her touch. Hugo started to lift his hand and hug her waist.

"Don't touch me," mariing sabi ng dalaga.

Kumnot ang noo ni Hugo. Luckily, he wasn't gripping her waist tightly. Tinulak ni Catalina si Hugo palabas ng kaniyang kwarto. Then, she slammed the door against him. Napangisi si Catalina nang malock niya ang pinto. But what made her laugh so hard was because Hugo screamed her name in annoyance.

"T*ngina, Catalina!"

Hindi niya ito pinansin at pumasok sa banyo.
Catalina took her bathrobe out of the glass cabinet and hung it on the wall near the shower. She went into the shower as she drowned in the memories of them together.

Catalina slowly removed Hugo's hand from her small waist. Maingat na bumaba ang dalaga sa kama nang makita niya ang itim na polo ni Hugo sa sahig. She took it from the floor and wore it on her sleeves. Wala itong kaisa-isang saplot. Binutones nito ang polo ng binata pero napatigil ito nang marinig niya si Hugo na gumalaw sa kama.

"Sienna..." she called.

Napalingon ang dalaga sa kaniya. His husky bedroom voice turned her on. Ngumisi and dalaga. Hugo lazily looked beside the empty bed where Catalina slept, asking her to come back. Hindi na tinapos ng dalaga ang pagbutones at naglakad pabalik sa kama. She placed one of her knees on the bed. She thought of crawling back to him, but to her surprise, Hugo suddenly pulled her into his arms.

Hugo let out a sexy chuckle when he heard Catalina gasped in shock. Napailing si Catalina at mahinang tumawa. Mahigpit na niyakap ni Hugo ang dalaga kasabay ng pagsuklay niya sa buhok nito. She sneaked closer to his chest.

"You woke up so early," he whispered.

Umangat ang tingin ng dalaga sa kaniya habang nakangiti. It's been years and next week is her graduation day. Hindi siguardo si Catalina kung naalala ba ng lalaki na kailangan niyang bumalik ng Pilipinas, sa ayaw o gusto man nito.

Hinaplos ni Hugo ang pisngi ni Catalina. She closed her eyes, feeling his calloused hand on her flawless cheek. She smiled at his actions.
"What should we do..." He stopped. "On your birthday?"

"I don't know? Make love?" She giggled.

"I'm not surprised, tempting, but no," pagkatapos ay pinaulanan niya ng halik sa pisnge at leeg ang dalaga.

Catalina laughed. "Sebastian!"

His kisses on her neck were making her feel ticklish. Lalong lumakas ang tawa ni Catalina na siyang nagpatawa na rin kay Hugo. He stopped tickling her neck and finally kissed her lips.