𝗦𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝕪𝕠𝕦

𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑷𝑻𝑬𝑹 8🍂

As I carefully put ointment on the faint mark on my neck, I remembered his words, "It's my first time," he had said. But I still wasn't sure if I believed him.

"I can't be fooled," bulong ko sa sarili habang dahan-dahang inilalagay ang ointment sa aking balat. The memory of his teasing smile and relaxed attitude made me wonder if he was really being honest.

"He's a womanizer," I concluded with a sigh. Nakakainis talaga 'yung lalaking 'yun. Binigyan pa niya ako ng iisipin.

After applying the ointment, I closed my eyes briefly, trying to set aside my mixed emotions. Soon after, I lay in bed, unaware that I had fallen asleep.

......

"Where's Summer?" I ask, noticing the man in front of me with Summer's Dog.

Kasi naman unang beses ko siyang nakita sa clinic ko. Hindi naman sa assumera ako pero sinasadya niya ba talaga na magkita kami? Last Saturday lang nagkita kami tapos ngayon naman, which is Thursday.

He smirks. "Isn't it obvious? She's not here. That's why I'm the one bringing in her dog.

Aba, pilosopo 'tong bwisit na 'to. Sasagot na sana ako nang biglang lumapit si Wimpter, his tail wagging enthusiastically.

I hear him chuckle, "Looks like the dog remembers you."

"Malamang dito kaya dinadali ni Summer si Wimpter, tuwing masama ang pakiramdam nito" sabi ko nang nakataas ang kilay bago hinipo ang ulo ni Wimpter.

I saw him grin and say, "Nice to see you here again!" with a playful sparkle in his eyes.

"Nice?" pag-ulit ko sa sinabi niya. Nakita ko namang kumunot ang noo niya, tila nagtataka.

"What's nice to see you?" walang ganang sabi ko. Narinig ko naman siyang tumawa nang malakas.

"You know what, you're really funny," tumatawang sabi niya.

Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at nag-umpisa nang e checkup si Wimpter.

"You can go now. Wimpter seems fine," sabi ko sa kanya.

Nakita ko namang lumapit siya sa akin at akala ko kukunin na niya si Wimpter, but instead, he glances at my neck and a playful smile spreads across his face.

"I notice you didn't put any concealer on your neck to hide the mark," diretsong sabi niya.

Instinctively, I touch my neck, feeling a rush of anger. However, he just smiles at me, stepping closer until he leans against my desk. Without hesitation, his warm hand touches my neck, making me tense.

"It's really gone now, the mark," he whispers softly.

As he moves closer to me, I feel paralyzed. His eyes hold mine, like I'm under a spell. Panic grows, but I can't move or shout. I feel his warm breath against my skin, and before I can react, his lips touch my neck. Fear grips me, and with all my strength, I manage to push him away forcefully.

"What are you doing?" I ask angrily, my voice trembling with frustration.

He looks at me with a playful smile, which just makes me even angrier.

"I was just checking carefully," he replies casually.

"By kissing my neck?" I reply, my voice filled with disbelief and anger that I can't hide.

He chuckles softly, his eyes twinkling mischievously. "I thought it was the best way to make sure," he said. I can't help but feel annoyed.

"Hoy! Ikaw na lalaki ka, hindi porket may nangyari sa atin ay feeling close ka na sa akin. Remember, we are still strangers. Kaya huwag kang feelingero. Tsaka huwag mo akong isama sa mga koleksyon mo ng babae," inis na sabi ko sa kanya.

Ngunit sa halip na tigilan niya ako, tumawa lang siya.

"Girl collection? What do you mean?" tanong niya na nakangiti. Nagmamaang-maangan pa ang walang-hiya. Ang sarap niyang sakalin.

"Asus! Wag kang mag-deny! Hindi mo ako maloloko may pa, 'It's my first time too' kapang nalalaman. Don't me," walang prenong sabi ko sa kanya, dahil talagang inis na inis na ako sa kanya.

Nakita ko na biglang huminto siya sa pagtawa at medyo naging seryoso ang mukha niya.

"I'm just telling the truth. I can't force you to believe me though," sabi niya, at kumibit pa ng balikat.

Ewan ko sa 'yo, uy. Kwento mo sa pagong. Umalis ka na nga rito. Tsaka kung pwede, huwag ka na ikaw yung magdala kay Wimpter dito." Sabi ko sa kanya na may pagka-irita.

"I saw him brush his hair and look at me. Then he said, "What if I don't?"

"What if you don't? Paki ko sa 'yo. Umalis ka na nga," sabi ko sa kanya sabay turo sa pinto.

Pero hindi siya umalis; bagkus nagtanong pa siya,

"Do you have your monthly period now? Because you're so irritated," natatawang tanong niya.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay sabay sabing, "Wala kang paki, umalis ka na nga!" sigaw ko sa kanya pagkatapos, itinulak ko siya sa braso at inabot ko sa kanya si Wimpter na nagtataka.

"Ouch," he muttered. At first, I thought he was just being dramatic, but then I remembered he had a wound on his arm that I treated the first time we met.

Agad naman akong napalayo sa kanya nang mapagtanto ko na nasaktan siya.

"Kasi naman, ayaw pa umalis," medyo nakonsensiya na sabi ko.

Nakita ko naman siya na ngumiti sabay sabi, "That's how you say sorry?"

"Sorry?" Bakit naman ako hihingi ng sorry? Deserve mo 'yan kasi ayaw mo lumayas sa harapan ko," nakataas ang kilay na sabi ko.

"I find you cute when you did that," na tatawang sabi niya, na ikinainis ko.

Sasagot pa sana ako nang biglang pumasok ang isang may-edad na babae na may dalang pusa. Si Mrs. Constilla pala ito.

"Dr. Winter?" nagtatakang tanong niya.

Nagtaka rin ako kung sino ang tinutukoy niya na Dr. Winter? Hindi naman yun ang pangalan ko... Baka nakakakita si Mrs. Constilla ng ibang tao rito?

"Hi Mrs. Constilla. How are you? How's Mr. John? Is he doing well?" 

Napanganga ako dahil ang lalaking ito, Doctor? Naalala ko naman yung araw na binigyan niya ako ng gamot... So, Doctor pala itong lalaking ito? Hindi makapaniwala na tanong ko sa sarili.