Vrixian: The Missing Piece

Chapter 18: After Care

Sunlight gently peeked through the curtains as Vrix quietly got out of bed, leaving Christian still fast asleep. The night they shared was full of warmth and emotion. Napangiti si Vrix sa sarili habang maingat niyang tinakpan si Christian ng kumot, ang puso niya'y umaapaw sa pagmamahal habang pinagmamasdan ang maamo at kontentong mukha ni Christian.

Matagal na niya itong pinapantasya at ngayon na nangyari na at sisiguraduhin niyang hinding hindi na mawawala sa kaniya si Christian. Sisiguraduhin niyang hinding hindi masasayang ang lahat ng paghihintay at paghahanap niya rito.

He slowly made his way to the kitchen, making sure not to make any noise. She knew Christian needed some rest after their night together. Vrix wanted to cook him a special breakfast, so he started cooking. Ang bango ng bacon at itlog ay nagsimulang kumalat sa hangin habang nagtatrabaho si Vrix, ang isip niya'y bumabalik sa paraan ng pagtugon ni Christian kagabi-napaka-bukas, napaka-vulnerable.

Habang nilalagay niya ang huling mga touch sa pagkain, narinig niya ang mahina't marahang kaluskos mula sa kwarto ni Christian. Ang bahagyang galaw ng mga kumot, ang munting tunog ng pagkilos ni Christian ay nagsabi kay Vrix na gising na ito. He didn't hesitate, he immediately took the tray of food, his smile widened in anticipation of seeing Christian's reaction.

Vrix has long dreamed of being able to cook for Christian every morning, so now, he is restless.

Pagpasok niya sa kwarto, lumambot ang mga mata ni Vrix nang makita niya si Christian na nakaupo na sa kama, ang buhok nito'y medyo magulo, at may kaunting pamumula sa pisngi. Nagtagpo ang kanilang mga mata, at ang tanawin ni Christian, na parang excited at mahiyain, ay nagbigay init sa loob ni Vrix.

Ah, hindi alam ni Vrix kung paano niya kokontrolin ang sarili niya.

"Good morning, Yeobo," bati ni Vrix, malambing ang boses habang nilalapit ang tray ng pagkain.

Mas lalong namula si Christian, ang mga labi nito'y bahagyang ngumiti. Hindi alam ni Christian kung saan galing ang salitang yeobo pero hinayaan na lamang niya ito. "Morning, Vrix," sagot niya, may konting pilyo sa tono, pero may kislap sa mata na nagpapahiwatig ng mas malalim na nararamdaman.

Vrix laughed softly, placing the tray by the bed before leaning down to kiss Christian's forehead. "I made you breakfast," he whispered against Christian's skin.

Ramdam ni Vrix ang excitement ni Christian, ang mga kamay ni Christian ay marahang humawak sa braso ni Vrix, gumuguhit ng maliliit na pattern gamit ang mga daliri. There was a strange spark between them, the magnetic absence they always had, and for a moment, Vrix felt a heat rise in his chest. It was so easy to pull Christian closer again, to feel him again like they did last night.

Pero alam ni Vrix na kailangan ni Christian ng pahinga. Kahit pa umiinit ang sariling pagnanasa sa loob niya, pinigilan niya ang sarili. "Kain ka muna," sabi ni Vrix, bagaman may konting pang-aasar sa boses. "Ayokong magkasakit ka dahil sa akin."

Mahinang natawa si Christian, pero hindi nawala ang pamumula sa mukha niya. "You're too good to me."

Ngumiti si Vrix, hinawi ang isang hibla ng buhok mula sa mukha ni Christian. "Deserve mo naman."

Totoo. Para kay Vrix, simula pa lamang noong una silang nagkita, alam niyang deserve ni Christian ang lahat sa mundong ito.

Bagaman ramdam ang tensyon sa hangin, pareho nilang alam na ganito ipinamamalas ni Vrix ang kanyang pagmamahal-sa pamamagitan ng pag-aalaga, sa pagiging nariyan, at sa pagpapahinahon. Para sa ngayon, sapat na ang almusal at isang banayad na umaga.

Christian lay face down on the bed, his head buried in a pillow as he groaned. Hindi niya alam kung matutuwa ba siya sa nangyari o maiinis. Masarap, totoo, pero ngayon, parang gusto na niyang pagsisihan ang lahat. "Ang sakit ng hips ko, Vrix! You were so wild last night, grabe ka."

Vrix smirked, his hands already working gently over Christian's sore hips. "Sorry, Yeobo," he said teasingly, though the glint in his eyes suggested he wasn't that sorry at all. "But I can make it up to you."

Christian muttered under his breath, still feeling the tenderness from their night together. "You better. I can't even move properly," he nagged, his voice muffled by the pillow. Hindi niya alam pero bigla na lamang nawala ang inis na nararamdaman niya.

Vrix chuckled, his hands skillfully massaging the sore muscles along Christian's hips and lower back. He worked slowly, easing the tension. Christian let out a soft, relieved sigh, melting into the bed as Vrix continued to soothe the ache. If he could, he wanted to have more time with this man.

Just as Christian was starting to feel better, the doorbell rang, breaking the peaceful moment.

"Seriously?" Christian grumbled, twisting slightly to glance toward the door. "Sino ba 'yan this early?"

With no choice, Christian waved his hand dismissively. "Ikaw na magbukas. I can't get up."

Hindi naman nagreklamo si Vrix at tumango na lamang siya. Vrix gave Christian's hips one last gentle squeeze before standing up and heading for the door. He was about to make a playful comment when he opened it, but the words got stuck in his throat the moment he saw who was standing on the other side.

A striking woman with dark skin, elegant features, and an air of confidence stared back at him. Her sharp eyes narrowed slightly as if trying to piece together the scene in front of her. Vrix instantly recognized her from his secretary's reports-Patricia, better known as Perlas-the woman who had been by Christian's side for years, ever since he was adopted.

Perlas stood still for a moment, her gaze flicking up and down, taking in Vrix's presence. The surprise on her face was unmistakable, but she quickly composed herself. "Who are you?" she asked, her tone direct, but Vrix could sense that she already had an idea.

Vrix, not one to be easily shaken, gave her a polite nod, though his mind was racing. "I'm Vrix," he said simply, the name hanging between them like an unspoken answer to the questions she wasn't asking out loud.

Perlas crossed her arms, her eyes sharp as ever. "Vrix, huh?" she echoed, almost as if testing the name on her tongue. There was no mistaking the recognition in her eyes-she knew who he was. This was the man who had been showing up in Christian's life more and more, the one who made Christian's eyes light up in a way she hadn't seen in years.

She raised an eyebrow, the tension thick between them. "And what exactly are you doing here?"

Vrix opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, Christian's voice called out from the bedroom. "Si Ate Pat ba 'yan? Ikaw na naman ba ang unang nakakita ng bagong tao sa buhay ko?"

Perlas' expression softened slightly at the sound of Christian's voice. She turned her head toward the bedroom door but kept her focus on Vrix. "Yeah, Christian. I'm here. Hindi mo man lang sinabi na may... guest ka?"

Christian groaned again, though this time in playful exasperation. "Si Vrix... he's more than a guest."

Marahan na ngumiti si Vrix, alam niyang si Perlas ang klase ng kaibigang laging nakabantay kay Christian. But there was no denying the shift in the air-Perlas had questions, and Vrix knew he'd have to answer them, sooner or later.