Three to Tango

That Awkward Moment

VENICE'S

***

Bago umalis si Nay Lucia, hiniling niya na dalhan ko ng tanghalian si Chad. And so, that's what I did. Dala ang basket na rattan na may lamang pananghalian, tinungo ko ang hacienda.

Malapit na ring mag-alas dose nang dumating ako kaya dumiretso ako sa kamalig na pahingaan ng mga employees dahil akala ko’y nandoon na si Chad. But one farmer told me that Chad was still in the field and finishing the plowing of the land.

Siya lang talaga iyong may-ari ng hacienda na gumagawa pa rin ng trabaho kahit p’wede niya naman nang iutos iyon. Chad’s determination was really on another level.

So, I went straight to the field to call him. Pero isang hot at nakaka-excite ng hormones na tagpo ang sumalubong sa akin. It was Chad, topless and sweaty, while maneuvering a certain tractor to plow the wet field.

I found myself watching Chad works in dazed. Lagpas siya sa definition ng hot at maaaring dahil sa unstable period hormones ko kaya doble ang pagka-hot niya sa paningin ko. He got all the muscles in the right places. And definitely his body was to die for.

Ang masasabi ko lang, “Titikman,” I whispered to myself before a grin spread on my lips, realizing how hard I was fantasizing over him. As if hindi niya ako inangkin nang paulit-ulit kagabi.

Ilang segundo ko siguro muna siyang pinanood sa kabila ng tirik na araw dito sa hacienda bago ko siya nagawang tawagin, “Chad!”

He was stopped on what he's doing and immediately looked at my direction. Kaagad siyang napangiti at kumaway sa akin. Sa kabila ng putik na tinatapakan niya at ang pawis na mukha at katawan, sobrang gwapo niya pa rin.

I waved back at him before I started walking towards the field.

Nanlaki kaagad ang mga mata niya at mabilis na umiling. “Wag ka na pumunta, Ven,” he said, turning off the machine he was using. “Maputik, o. Madudumihan ka lang. Hintayin mo na lang ako riyan at matatapos na rin naman na ako.”

Concern was evident on his voice as he looked at me in wide eyes. Iniwan ko ang tsinelas na suot ko sa hindi maputik na bahagi bago tuluyang lumusong na rin sa field.

I continued walking towards him, not minding the muddy field. Halos kalahati ng binti ko ang nabaon sa maputik na field at kitang-kita ko ang stress mi Chad as he watched me struggled in walking and maintaining my balance.

“Oh gosh! Hindi ako na-inform na ganito kahirap lumakad sa palayan.” Then, I giggled, laughing at myself and my own struggles.

“Be careful! Baka madulas ka,” Chad reminded me as he started walking towards me too to help me. “May angking kakulitan ka rin talaga e,” naiiling pero nakangiting saad niya pa habang tinatagpo ako.

“Well, I was never behaved, Mr. Chad Garette,” I said knowingly, “And you definitely knew about that.”

Chad chuckled as he extended his hand to me to help me. Aabutin ko na sana iyon nang may sobrang lambot na surface akong sunod na natapakan, leading for me to loose the little balance I had.

“Venice!” Chad was quick to reach for me, pulling my right arm and wrapping his free hand around my waist.

Napakapit ako sa dibdib niya kasabay ng matinis na tili dahil sa gulat. Napaupo si Chad sa putikan habang nasa ibabaw niya ako.

“Shit. Okay ka lang, Ven?” His hand automatically reached for my cheek and made me look at him.

I blinked.