This was real.
Padabog kong sinundan si Hans nang mauna ito pabalik sa sinasabi niyang bahay na pag-aari niya. Wala na akong pakialam sa init ng buhangin na pinagbabaunan ng aking mga paa sa bawat mabibigat kong hakbang.
Fuck. I kissed him.
Fuck!
Ano bang pumasok sa isip ko at ginawa ko iyon? Kung panaginip man nga ang lahat ng ito ay hindi naman sapat na dahilan iyon para halikan ko siya, hindi ba? God! What was I thinking? Well, clearly, I wasn't thinking!
"Paanong narito ako kung ganoon?" Sinundan ko si Hans nang magtuloy-tuloy siya sa kusina. Likod niya lang ang tanaw ko. If you thought that helped me, well it didn't.
Iniwas ko ang aking mga mata sa mas depinado pa niyang likod. Ang pawis na tumatagaktak doon ay sapat lamang para mas maging mapang-akit ang bahaging iyon.
Dammit, why did he have to be so hot? At bakit nga parang mas dumoble pa ang katangian niyang iyon? Hindi man lamang siya pumangit kahit bahagya.
Hans's tall stature filled the room, his broad shoulders accentuating his strong physique. He moved with a confidence that was both infuriating and undeniably attractive. Sinasadya niya bang gumanyan sa harap ko?
As he put the pail in the sink and began washing his hands, I tried to focus on my anger rather than the way his muscles flexed with every movement. But it was a losing battle.
"Anong gusto mong luto ng isda?" Tanong niya, imbes na sagutin ako.
His question snapped me out of my reverie, and I frowned, shaking my head. "What?" I asked incredulously. "I'm not hungry, Hans. I just need to know why and how I'm here."
Hans turned to face me, his expression serious. "Hindi ko alam,"
"Anong hindi mo alam?" Hindi ko na napigilan pa ang pagtaas ng aking tinig. Nakakaloko naman kasi. Paanong hindi niya alam?
Hans looked at me as though he was losing all his patience. "You told me to never show my face again," sinabi niya iyon sa tinig na para bang nakalimutan ko ang mga naging tagpo ng pagkikita naming iyon. "Tapos ngayong umaga ay magigising akong himbing kang natutulog sa kabilang silid. Bahay ko ito, hindi ba dapat ako ang nagtatanong sa'yo kung ano ang ginagawa mo rito? Bakit parang ikaw pa ang nagagalit ngayon?"
I tried to search for the truth in his eyes, but all I found was frustration and confusion. Huh? Hindi rin niya alam kung paanong naririto ako ngayon? Kung ganoon ay sinong may alam?
"I don't remember how I got here either." I whispered to myself.
"Well, that makes two of us," he muttered after hearing it.
Duda ko pa rin siyang tiningala ng tingin. "Pinaglalaruan mo ba ako, Hans?"
"I should be the one asking you that question," bawi niya sa mas mariing tinig. Gusto ko biglang kabahan lalo nang humakbang siyang palapit sa akin. Agad akong umiwas.
He took another step closer to me, and I couldn't help but back away until I was trapped between the counter and his imposing frame.
"Pinaglalaruan mo ba ako, Caice?" he asked, his voice low and intense.
I found myself rendered speechless, unable to formulate a response as he closed the distance between us. His proximity was overwhelming, and I could feel the heat radiating off his body. Ang pagkakatanda ko ay sariwa ang hangin na pumapasok sa buong kabahayan mula sa payapang dalampasigan, pero bakit biglang napakainit naman ngayon?
He didn't give me a chance to answer as he continued to press me for an explanation. "What the fuck is this game?" he demanded, his gaze piercing into mine.
