Splitting Hairs

Twenty Five

Disoriented, I woke up and opened one good eye. I gasped. God. I was naked. In bed with a stranger. Definitely not Julian! And very much naked!

Oh, no.

What happened?

Joke lang pala ni God.

Para akong naalimpungatan. I sat upright. Then my stomach got queasy. It was all a dream! Humigpit ang yakap ni Julian sa 'kin. His left arm was wrapped around my midsection. He was sleeping close to me, on his stomach.

I even brushed the tendrils of wavy hair away from the side of his face to make sure. Si Julian nga! Malay ko ba. I remembered watching Nightmare on Elm Street last night. And Julian seemed withdrawn. Kahit na nga ba nandito pa rin ako sa room ko. Mamaya niyan si Freddie na pala 'yung katabi ko.

God. I was paranoid, wasn't I?

Then my stomach started churning. Before I knew it, I was covering my mouth and running to the CR. Sumuka ako dun sa sink. Suka ng suka na wala namang inilalabas. Habang sumusuka ako ay pinapaliguan ko ng mura si Julian sa isip ko.

Naiiyak na subsob na ang mukha ko sa lababo. Puro gastric juices lang naman ang inilalabas ko.

"I hate you Julian," she cried.

Bakit ba lalaki na lang ang nagpapakasarap at babae ang nagpapakahirap? Why was life so unfair?

"Uwooo..." Hawak ang tyan na sumuka ulit. Luha, sipon, pawis. Lahat na.

Sorry baby, kasalanan ng magaling mong tatay ito!

Umupo ako sa couch at pinagmamasdan si Julian. I was robbed of my power. Para bang wala na akong lakas para bukas. It was only 3:00 am! Shit. I haven't had a good night's sleep. Kakatulog ko lang kanina. Mamayang umaga pa ang flight namin ng magaling na lalaki.

***

I opened my eyes and swore. I was in bed.

Again?

Oh, God no. I specifically remembered sleeping on the couch. Had Julian taken me to bed? It seemed so.

Bumukas 'yung pinto. And my... what a sight early in the morning. The father of my baby was traipsing clad with only a towel around his narrow hips. Para akong naglaway bigla. Droplets of water was sluicing down his body. His hair was disheveled.

Kung ganito naman ang panaginip I might ask God never to wake me up.

"Ano pang tinitingin tingin mo dyan? Umaga na po prinsesa. May flight pa tayo."

My mouth dropped open wide. Okay. Better to wake me up now! I glared at him.

What was his problem? I got so lazy. "Parang tinatamad akong maligo." Wala sa loob na bulong ko. In my saner days I would have been also disgusted with myself.

Swear, nakita ko ang panghihilakbot sa mukha ni Julian. "What!"

"Jeannie..." may warning na sabi nito.

Care ko? I pouted and made face. I buried my face into the pillow. Kulang ako sa tulog. Ayokong umalis.

I screamed when I felt Julian's arms around me. He was wet, for Pete's sake! "Julian ano ba!"

I swore I wanted to punch Julian's handsome face. Tahimik lang siya habang nakaupo kami sa eroplano. He was sulking because I didn't take my precious bath. He wrinkled his nose. Tapos bigla kong inamoy 'yung sarili ko. I didn't smell bad. Isa bang malaking kasalanan iyon?