Simply The Best

37

Before

EMBER was just really happy and excited to be in a relationship with Ivo. Hindi niya gustong isipin masyado ang mga mangyayari sa hinaharap, mas gusto niyang namnamin ang kasalukuyan. Gusto lang niyang maging masaya sa kung anong mayroon siya ngayon. Gusto niyang namnamin ang pagiging in love at pagkakaroon ng boyfriend sa unang pagkakataon ng kanyang buhay.

Ivo was just the perfect boyfriend. He was attentive and very sweet. He would look at her so adoringly and she would just forget how to breathe. He would look at her as if she was the only woman in the world, as if she was just the most beautiful woman his eyes ever laid on. And then it would feel like her heart wouldn't be able to take it.

Araw-araw bumabangon siya na tinatanong ang sarili kung talaga bang kanya si Ivo. May mga pagkakataong naaalala niya na may expiration iyon pero bago pa man tuluyang ma-depress ay pilit niyang kinakalimutan ang thought o kaya ay pilit niyang ipinapagpag ang pakiramdam.

She was just going to be happy. Iyon ang madalas niyang sabihin sa sarili. She would be lonely and miserable later. She had lots of time for that. At least may mga masasayang alaala siyang mababalikan kaysa sa wala. Iyon ang madalas niyang pangongonsola sa sarili.

Siguro ay hindi aayon sa kanya ang lahat ng tao sa ganoong pananaw, pero iyon ang gusto ni Ember. Nakabuo siya ng pasya at paninindigan niya.

Ember and Ivo became that typical couple everyone looked at. Hindi naman araw-araw pero madalas siyang sunduin at sabay silang papasok ng lalaki sa university kahit na hindi naman tugma ang schedule nila, o kahit na hindi naman papasok si Ivo sa university kung hindi sa job training nito.

They would always find time to be together no matter how busy they were. They would always eat together. They would always hold hands.

And they would kiss. They just loved that kind of connection and expression of love. They just couldn't get enough. All they needed was a little privacy and they would kiss each other as if there was nothing else to do.

"You're early," sabi ni Ember pagkabukas niya ng pinto. Bumungad sa kanya ang nakangiting mukha ni Ivo. He looked so handsome and so fresh in the morning. Bahagya siyang hiningal. Nagmamadali niyang pinuntahan ang pinto nang marinig ang katok. Dahil din siguro excited siya. Halatang-halata naman siguro sa malawak na ngiti sa kanyang mga labi.

"Inagahan ko talaga," sagot ni Ivo habang tumutuloy sa condo unit niya. "I don't want to be stuck on traffic."

"Hindi pa ako ready. I need to do my hair and makeup. Katatapos ko lang magbihis. Come on in. Feel at home." Nagsimula siyang bumalik sa kanyang kuwarto. "Nag-almusal ka na ba? I have breakfast. Para sana kay Ate Jana pero 'di pa siya gising so you can have her breakfast, she can have—" Natigil siya sa sinasabi at sa paglalakad papunta sa kanyang kuwarto dahil hinawakan ni Ivo ang braso niya at hinila siya.

Sumalpok siya sa dibdib ng boyfriend. Pumaikot ang mga braso nito sa kanyang baywang. Nakangiting tumingin siya sa mukha ni Ivo. His head bent down to kiss her nose. Naipikit ni Ember ang mga mata. A dreamy sighed escaped from her.

"You are beautiful as is," sabi nito bago hinalikan ang kanyang pisngi.

"I know. But I'm still putting on makeup." Hinalikan niya ang panga nito. "And doing my hair."

Banayad na natawa si Ivo. "Okay. But let me just..." Hindi nito tinapos ang sinasabi, yumuko na lang uli at inangkin ng mga labi nito ang kanyang mga labi. She opened her mouth for him and kissed him back.

The kiss started off as slow and sweet. Gentle and lovely. It felt so nice. She then unconsciously decided to be naughty. Her teeth caught his lower lip and tugged. He inhaled sharply and her boldness pleased him. Habang tumatagal ay mas nagiging uninhibited na siya. May mga pagkakataong parang gusto niyang mag-alala dahil baka ma-turn off sa kanya si Ivo, pero naisip din ni Ember na wala siyang gaanong panahon para magpaka-timid. She needed to just do what she wanted to do with him. Magsasayang siya ng panahon kung ise-second guess niya ang sarili.