One Last Time

Kabanata LVIX: RESULTS

Results.
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NAPABALIKWAS AKO NG BANGON ng umagang 'yon. And to my surprise, I was in my own bed, suot ko ang polong hinubad niya kagabi at boxer shorts naman niya ang suot ko pang-ibaba.

He must've carried me upstairs. And it's a good thing na hindi naka-lock ang kwarto ko, kaya nakapasok kami. With that thought, kusang bumagsak ang mga mata ko sa suot ko.

I squeezed my lips together. The last thing I remember before falling asleep was us in the living room-still on the couch, not even changing positions. He's outside me, but it was pressed between my thighs dahil nanatiling nakakandong pa rin ako paharap sa kanya. Nakayakap naman ang isang braso niya sa'kin, habang ang mga daliri ng kabilang kamay ay patuloy na naglalaro sa mga hibla ng buhok ko. His voice was low as he whispered confessions about some things he'd done.

Kumagat na ako sa ibabang-labi at dahan-dahang lumingon sa tabi ko. A hint of disappointment hit me like a cold draft nang nakita kong wala siya sa tabi ko. My eyes darted around my room, scanning every corner, pero wala akong nakita ni anino niya.

Did he leave?

Kailan?

At... bakit hindi ko man lang naramdaman ang pag-alis niya?

With those questions swirling in my head, I let out a long, heavy sigh. Akmang babangon na ako mula sa kama, pero agad akong napangiwi nang maramdaman ko ang inaasahang kirot sa balakang ko at hapdi sa pagitan ng mga hita ko.

He didn't hold back last night. Not even a little. He moved with the hunger of a ravenous wolf na parang ilang taon siyang natigang sa sex, as if he hadn't touched Annika before they broke up...

That thought left a bitter taste in my mouth, seeping down my throat like poison. Apart from that, a hint of disappointment crept inside me. I firmly shook my head to erase that thought.

Napapangiwi man, tinuloy ko ang pagbaba sa kama, making my bare feet touch the cold floor, pero agad akong napahinto nang mapatingin ako sa bedside table kung saan maayos na nakatupi ang gown na suot ko kagabi, as if handled with care despite the violence that ruined it. Nakapatong sa ibabaw nito ang sticky note at... centurion card, na tuluyan nang nagpakunot sa noo ko. And with brows knitted in confusion, dinampot ko ang note at binasa ang nakasulat doon.

     I'm sorry for being rough and for ripping your gown last night. I don't care how much it costs, please use my card for the repair. Nagpa-deliver na rin ako ng breakfast mo, so please eat when you wake up. Sorry din na umalis ako nang hindi nagpapaalam. Something urgent came up at home, and I couldn't stay as long as I wanted. Tatawagan kita mamaya kapag alam kong gising ka na. I already miss you.

Love,
Levi

That's his note---finally revealing his other handwriting. Mr. Darknight's intended penmanship. Isa sa mga bagay na inamin niya, and honestly, I wasn't even surprised. Napag-usapan na namin 'to ni Rae noon. I had my suspicions back then, especially Rae, but since I was so determined to erase him from my life, I shoved the thought away.

I stepped into the bathroom and turned on the shower. As the warm water cascaded down my skin, I closed my eyes, trying to focus on one thing-kung paano ko ipapaliwanag kay Tita Norin kung sakaling tanungin niya ako tungkol sa gown na pinahiram nila. I heard it's one of Tita Noriel's favorite pieces in her collection. Ano na lang ang magiging reaksyon niya kapag nalaman niyang nasira ko 'yon? Sure, it can be repaired, pero maibabalik pa ba sa dati ang ganda nito?

That's all I wanted to think about. Iyon lang. Pero pagkatapos noon, another thought crept in-one I wished I could ignore. The image of him kneeling in front of me flashed in my mind, na akala mo ay sumasamba sa isang diyosa. That sinful glint flashed in those half-lidded eyes, and that mouth glistening from my essence.