Clarity (A SANDRO MARCOS FANFICTION)

44. Heart

AIRI

Campaigning was no joke. Mainit, nakakapagod mag-travel from barangay to another, it requires effort and a whole lot of energy. By the third day I needed a massage. My body couldn't handle the back pain and cramps from walking. Pakiramdam ko din umitim ako.

"How did you manage to handle this years ago?" I asked Vinny. We were hanging out by their balcony that afternoon after a campaign.

Basang-basa yung campaign shirt kanina and the assistant had to rush to the mall to buy him one tapos sinama ako dahil napansin daw na pawisan din ako. Mukha tuloy kaming couple na couple sa matching red shirts namin.

"Yeah pretty much." He replied.

I counted the months before election which meant four months kaming maiinitan, maglalakad at iba pa. Sumimangot ako. Things I will do for revenge.

"After neto libre mo ako ng massage tapos facial." I told him.

Vincent laughed. "Pagod ka na kaagad?"

I nodded. "Well I'm not used to these kind of things."

"You did not expect it ba? I mean you used to date Sandro."

"I did expect that but I did not see myself in this position. You know, politics and all that." I answered him.

"Maybe you should. You might fall for me, I might fall for you tapos mag-aasawa tayo. When that happens, we share responsibilities in supporting them."

"Advance mag-isip. Asawa agad Vinny?"

"I'm just telling you possibilities if ever you date me and yes, dating me means I'm dating to marry." He winked.

"But I'm not into politics."

"Me too but the least I can do for pops and Sandro is to help them by doing this."

I only looked at him and sighed. "Basta ha. Massage at facial pagkatapos."

Tumawa siya. "Gusto mo ngayon na?" He asked.

"Talaga? May open pa ba?"

"It's still six pm. Mall closes at 10pm. Take a bath."

Para akong masunurin na bata na tumango at naligo kaagad. He took a bath too then we rode his pick-up. Nagsabi na din siya sa mga katulong na hindi kami kakain ng dinner doon which meant we're eating dinner at the mall.

---

"Should we go for a massage first or facial?" He asked.

"Massage na lang siguro."

"Massage it is."

We went for massage as he said. The therapist recognized Vinny right away too.

"Girlfriend?" She asked, looking at me from head to toe. I made a face. Judger ata.

"Yeah. Maya this is Airi. Airi, this is Maya. We used to play together when we were kids. Her grandma was one of our kasamabahay before."

"Ah. Hi." I only replied.

She smiled. I smiled back. I'm not really in the mood to feel close with her or anyone here so I let Vinny do the talking. Siya na rin sinabihan ko na mamili kung anong massage ang gagawin sa akin.

Minutes later Vinny and I are naked, lying on a separate massage bed divided by a curtain na ulo lang ang nakikita ko. Ulo sa taas hindi sa baba.

"Shit that feels so good." I moaned when the massage therapist pressed the masakit part of my back.

I saw Vinny rolling his eyes. "Do you have to moan?"

"Masarap eh."

He rolled his eyes again. Hinayaan ko siyang bumaliktad ang mata sa likod ng eyeballs niya.

After our massage, we had our facial. The place we went to had facial services kaya nakatulog ako habang binibigyan ako ng facial.

At around eight, we were done and hungry too.

"San mo gustong kumain?" He asked.

"Anywhere is just fine."

Sumimangot siya. "Walang anywhere na restaurant."

I rolled my eyes. "Edi dun." I pointed at the Japanese restaurant in front of us.

"Madali ka naman palang kausap e."

"Pine-pressure mo ako eh."

"I am not. Let's go." He said and took my hands.

I was taken aback but I let him. His hands are bigger than mine while Sandro's fit mine perfectly. Wala lang. Naalala ko lang.

Vinny and I both decided to order a sushi platter for dinner. Ako na din nag-offer na magbabayad since he paid for massage and facial.

"They already booked a flight for us. We'll stay in Manila for a day or two then meet up with my parents and Simon before heading to Davao for campaign."

"So makikita ko si Simon."

He shrugged his shoulders. "We can't run away forever. I called mom about us and she did listen to me a bit. Maybe you can tell her a gist of what happened para maintindihan ka."

"Sabagay. Sabihin ko na lang na gago yung panganay niya."

Vinny laughed. "Really."

"Shempre hindi. Kakahiya," I leaned on the table, looking at him. "Alam mo ban a noong una ko siyang na-meet narinig niya yung joke ko kay Sandro like something malandi. She had that look on her face pa."

"Well you being you is a bit of a shock specially to those who do not know you personally."

"Bakit? Kilala mo ba ako?" I asked.

"Kind of. We've been together for like three weeks?"

"And?"

"I think you're doing pretty well."

Sumimangot ako. "Yun lang?"

"Bakit? Do you expect me to say something else?"

"Wala. Kumain ka na lang." Nayayamot kong sabi.

Shaking his head, he continued to eat.

---

Mabilis ang araw lalo na kung hindi ka nagbibilang. Before I even knew it, we were dressed for dinner somewhere in BGC to meet tito Bong and tita Liza. Simon was already with us since dun kami dumeretso sa unit niya pagkababa namin ng Manila.

"Why Vinny Airi?" He asked. We were left in the living room. Vinny had to buy me napkins sa supermarket sa baba.

"Bakit hindi? Siya una kong nagustuhan. He fell in love with me when he saw me. Aayaw pa ba ako?" I replied. Gusto kong sumuka ng rainbows sa pinagsasabi k okay Simon.

"You only met the guy." He argued.

I rolled my eyes. "Oh ano naman ngayon? Whirlwind romance tawag dun."

He made a face. "Airi nga kasi."

"Heh. Tigilan mo ako. Masaya ako kay Vinny." I told him.

"Fine. As long as you are happy with him. Have you moved on?" He asked.

I nodded quickly. "Grabe nga eh. Sa sarap ni Vinny naka-move on kaagad ako kay Sandro."

Simon rolled his eyes. "Utang na loob Airi. Kapatid ko pinag uusapan natin."

I grinned. "You asked."

"I did not ask for the r18 version Airi."

"Hanapin mo pake ko."

"Whatever. If that was easy to answer why did you ignore my calls and messages?"

"Busy kami gumawa ng pamangkin mo eh." I answered nonchalantly.

Nanlaki mata niya at binato sa akin yung throw pillow.

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HELLO!