When it Rains, it Hurts

14

"And they lived happily ever after..." EJ ended the story. I yawned and smiled afterward. He kissed my forehead and caressed my cheek. "I'll give you a happy ending too."

"It won't be easy, Ace," I whispered.

"But for you, I'll do it." I traced his abs with my pointing finger. He caught my wrist and stopped me. "I don't want to do this here..."

"Bakit naman?"

"It's like I'm breaking my promise to your dad. I'm here to protect you, not fuck you." Ngumisi siya nang banggitin niya ang huling salita. "Right, I almost forgot something. I should be calling my brother at this moment."

"Why naman?" I stood up and got rid of my robe. I am now left with my nightdress.

"I always call him around this time. He's having a good time with your best friend." Napalingon ako kay Edward nang sabihin niya 'yon. Oh God, hindi ko ma-imagine ang kaibigan ko na nahihirapan sa bagay na 'yon! "What's up, brother? Fuck you too."

"I should talk to Qamari!" Inagaw ko kay Edward ang phone. Tumawa siya at hinatak ako pahiga. Niyakap niya ako't binaon ang kaniyang mukha sa aking leeg. "Where's Qamari? Is she alright?"

"Why wouldn't she- Clara? Okay lang ako! Bakit ka nagtatanong?"

"May masakit ba sa 'yo?" I looked at Edward who suddenly looked worried too. "Qams?"

"Wala naman, bakit?"

"Oh God, thank you! I was worried! I'll be ending the call now. You should get some rest." I ended the call. They should be enjoying it! "What do you think of your brother and my best friend's relationship?" I asked Edward. Maybe he knows the answer. I'm not in favor of their relationship ever since. Qamari's too innocent and I hated that. The moment I saw Ethan, I thought of the bad things that he might have done to Qams.

"It's like a story from romance books," Edward said. He smiled a bit.

"Yeah, the boss and secretary relationship-"

"No, not that one. The real start of their relationship, baby. You don't know?" My forehead surely creased. What do I not know? "It seems like you don't know. My brother met Qamari at a party."

"Oh, so it was a party. What's so special about it?" I laughed.

"Qamari was involved in prostitution. At first, I didn't know that. My brother didn't tell me that. He wanted everyone to know her as his woman. He didn't want to taint her name, her image to be exact." Agad na nangilid ang mga luha ko sa nalaman. Pinagdaanan 'yon ni Qams? "I found out about it from Janella, my brother's ex. I confronted Ethan about it. He said it doesn't matter because he wanted Qamari as a whole, not just her body."

"But still... he... Why did he take Qamari? He's even... paying her. That is not right, EJ!" Edward was stunned when I raised my voice. "Hindi niya dapat... gawing... bayaran ang kaibigan ko."

"Baby, she's not. My brother sheltered her because he wanted her. He loved her. He cared for her. She's paying Qamari because Qamari is working. She's his secretary aside from being his woman. Do you get it now?"

"Si Qams... She must've been through a lot. And I wasn't there for her." EJ hugged me and kissed my temple, trying to comfort me.

"Sage, she met my brother before you. You weren't there for her during those times but you are now here. And my brother was there for her, you don't have to worry." I cried more and buried my face in his chest. "Just cry, baby, I won't leave your side."

Sumakay ako sa push cart na kinuha ni EJ. Kaya lang, sinita kaagad ako ng guard. Tumatawa naman si EJ na umakbay sa akin. Buti nalang talaga at wala pang masyadong tao dahil kakabukas lang ng grocery store! Sinamahan ko ngayon si Edward na mag-grocery dahil katapusan na ng buwan. Ganito pala maging independent. Gustuhin ko mang manirahan kasama si EJ tulad noon ay may nagpipigil sa akin. Hindi na kasi tulad noon na marami pang pera si EJ.

Ngayon ay pinaghihirapan niya na lahat at ayaw kong dumagdag sa paghihirap niya. Hinayaan ko siyang mamili ng mga bibilhin niya dahil hindi naman sa akin galing ang pera. Sa 'di kalayuan ay nakita ko si David. Sisigaw na sana ako nang makita ko ang lumapit sa kaniya. Si Solana iyon. Mukhang inaasar siya ni David. Pilit na nilalagay ni David ang isang pack ng diaper sa cart nila na kaagad namang inaalis ni Sol. Hilig talaga mang-asar ni David. Pikon na pikon na siguro si Sol.

"I need to buy diapers for my inaanak pala. Dagdag ko sa gift ko." Napalingon ako kay EJ nang sabihin niya 'yon. Wala na akong nagawa nang akbayan niya ako.

Sinubukan kong magpanggap na hindi ko nakita sila David. Pero mukhang namukhaan ako ni Sol. Nilingon niya ako at marahan niya hinila ang dulo ng shirt ni David. Nang lingunin kami ni David ay nagulat siya. Kaagad naman siyang nakabawi at tinago si Sol sa likod niya. Hindi ko naman aawayin baby niya!

"Clara... Edward.." Nagtanguan sina David at EJ. Ang chismoso na EJ ay pilit pang sinisilip si Sol. "Si Solana nga pala. Sol, sina Clara at Edward."

"Hi," bati ni Sol sa mahina at malambing na boses. Kaya siguro hulog na hulog sa kaniya ang kaibigan ko. "Doon na tayo sa kabilang section, Mav."

"Clara, Edward, una na kami." Hindi ko maiwasang tingnan ang cart nila. May mga gatas do'n na sa tingin ko ay para kay Solana. Tumango ako sa kanila at ngumiti. Hawak-hawak ng kaibigan ko ang palapulsuhan ni Solana habang tinutulak niya ang cart.

"Do you think they're hiding something?" tanong ko kay EJ. Napatigil siya sa pagpili between the two diaper brands. "They look... bothered. Hindi pa ba kayo okay ni David?"

"We're good, we hang out from time to time. You don't know?" Umiling ako. "I know their exact relationship but it's not my story to tell. I'm sorry but I can't tell you."

"I understand. Maybe David told you about it because you're also a man. You would understand each other." Nagkibit-balikat si EJ. "Ang complicated ng relationship ng mga kakilala ko. But they're still happy. I guess the label isn't really what makes someone happy. It's the person."

"You have a point there, baby. But still, it's so good to have a label. It makes a big difference." Magkahawak-kamay kaming lumipat sa ibang section. Kumuha si EJ ng favorite chips niya at nilagay 'yon sa cart. "You like it, right?"

"Yeah, it's not that salty, that's why I like it. Baby, can I drive later?"

"What did you call me?" Nakagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko upang pigilan ang isang ngiti. Iyon pa talaga ang napansin niya! "It sounded too good, baby."

"I'll drive us home, baby. Nawawala ka na sa sarili mo," I teased him. He just shook his head and smiled. So pogi.

I smirked as I sped up. There were no other cars aside from ours. The road was empty. Ginabi na kami sa sobrang gala. Kung saan-saan kasi kami nakarating. When I slowed down, I placed my hand on EJ's thigh. I felt his glance. He pretended that he didn't feel that. I massaged his thigh and bit my lip to hide a smile. He held my hand and I thought he was gonna stop it. Contrary to what I was thinking, he placed my hand on his inner thigh!

When I glanced at him, he had a wide smile on his lips. Damn you, Hernandez! Nag-overtake ako sa kotseng nasa harap namin na sobrang bagal ang takbo. Makauwi lang talaga kami at paparusahan ko ang lalaking 'to. Tinanggal ko ang kamay ko sa hita ni EJ at ibinalik iyon sa kambyo. I sped up once again.

"Are you that excited? Slow down, I don't want you to have a bad record."

"Baby, you don't know what you just did. I'm gonna show you how I control over." Instead of showing me a disappointed look, he wore a smug smile on his lips. I smiled too. "EJ, you're a fucking torture."

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