TATTOOED ON MY HEART (Book 1: Keenan Kress and Helendina Ambrosio)

CHAPTER 3: Everything Is Wrong

“Sir, coffee?” habang papalapit siya kay Kei ay inisip niyang nasa runway siya na nirarampa ang kanyang kasexyhan. She was staring at him with the fire on her eyes. Dahan-dahan niyang nilapag ang cup. Showing some skin to tempt a saint. Tumayo siya at ngumiti nang makita niya ang madalas nitong paglunok.

Ramdam niyang nagugulo niya ang sistema nito. Which was good and familiar sight of him if she was near. He had always been so calm before when she was away from him. Pero kapag nasa paligid siya nito, pakiramdam niya ay parang lagi itong may itinatago. Umupo siya sa harap nito. She crossed her legs and made a tempting pose. “Just say if you need anything. Okay?”

Hindi siya nito tinitignan na para bang hangin lang siya. Nagngitngit ang kalooban niya. No one can dare her. Tumayo siya at pumunta sa bookshelves. Luminga-linga siya. Kumuha siya ng silya at tumuntong doon. May naisip siyang kapilyahan. “Hey! May I borrow that book?”

Hindi pa man pumapayag ito ay tuloy siya sa pag-abot niyon.

Napatayo ito. “Silly. Bumaba ka diyan. I’ll be the one to take it.”

Umiling-iling siya. “No need. Kaya ko naman. Just continue your work.”

Tumingkayad siya. Hindi pa rin niya maabot. Nanginig ang kanyang binti dahil sa paggalaw ng silya. Hanggang sa tumalon siya ng bahagya at nabuwal ang silyang kanyang kinataayuan.

“Ah!..” sigaw niya.

Napapikit siya. Nagulat siya sa kinalabasan ng kalokan niya. Hindi niya maalis sa sarili ang mamutla. Nawala ang kaba niya ng maamoy ang pabango ni Kei. Tulad ng inaasahan niya ay sinalo siya nito. Kei was totally embracing her. So tight. She knew that feeling. A feeling of finally found her way home in his arms. She once felt it before. Iyong pakiramdam na walang sinuman o anuman ang makakapanakit sa kanya. Si Kei lamang ang nagpaparamdam sa kanya na hindi siya mapapahamak sa mga bisig nito. Her heart was beating like a drum. Ang lakas ng tibok nito. Sabayan pa ng pag-init ng kanyang mga pisngi. It was heaven to lean with his broad chest.

“You hurt?”

“Y-Yes..a little..” nagkunyapit siya rito. Ang mga braso niya ay nasa batok na nito. “Gosh! Kei, I was..scared..gosh thank you..”

“You scared me.”

 “I’m sorry. I just don’t want to disturb you.”

“If you want anything just say it to me first. Okay?” binuhat siya nito at iniupo sa sofa. Umaapaw ang sinseridad sa anyo nito.

She was feeling like a Disney princess carried by a handsome prince. Gusto niyang mapatili sa sobrang kilig sa gesture na iyon. Walang sinabi si Cinderella, Snow White, Belle o kung sino pa man. Now, she was the real princess. Kei’s princess.

“Now. Rest.”

Ibinaba siya nito ng dahan-dahan sa sofa. Umupo sila. It was her first time to be tensed. Sa London ay kabilaan ang mga lalaking lumalapit ng ganoon ngunit walang sinuman sa mga ito ang nakapagpadala sa kanya ng ganoong epekto. She was mesmerized in his handsome face. Tinititigan siya nito. Na-conconscious tuloy siya.

She cupped his face. Pagkakataon na niya. “Thank you for saving me, Kei.”

Hinaplos niya ang maamong mukha nito. She touched his beautiful sculptured mouth. His eyes set fire right through hers. Walang anu- ano’y nilapit niya ang kanyang mukha dito. Naglapat ang kanilang mga labi. Humawak siya sa batok nito. She was teasing his lips. It was so sweet like a honey. Pareho silang kumalas. Hinihingal pareho.

     Paglipas ng sandaling segundo, hinapit siya nito. Napaupo siya sa kandungan nito.  She felt his hands in her hair. He was kissing her hungrily. Mapusok ang halik na iyon. Mapaghanap. Walang parte ng kanyang labi ang hindi nito tinatapunan ng halik. She felt his tongue playing in hers. The feeling was heaven. It was a real kiss. A torrid kiss!

Napa-ungol siya nang tumigil ito. Marahas siya nitong tinayo at nilayo ang katawan sa kanya.

     “W-What’s wrong?” untag niya.

     “Everything’s so wrong. It would never happen again. Sorry.”

     Bumangon ang iritasyon sa kanya. “Oh, really? Never happen again, huh?”

     Tumayo ito at bumalik sa table. Hindi pa rin ito makatingin sa kanya ng diretso.  “Yes and I’m sorry. Hindi dapat nangyari iyon.”

     Umusok ang kanyang ilong. “Kung makapagsalita ka parang hindi mo nagustuhan, ah!” hindi siya bayolenteng babae pero nagawa niyang sumigaw. Somehow, it killed her ego.

     Hinilamos nito ang mga kamay sa mukha. He walked as he cooling himself down. Humarap ito sa kanya.  

     “Stop seducing me will you?” pasigaw na sabi nito. His eyes were saying something. She was no good in guessing but she swore she knew what Kei’s frame of mind and soul. He wanted her!

     “Seducing?” Pinaglapit niya ang kanilang mga katawan. Gahibla nalang ang layo nila. “Is it working?”

“No.” irap nito sa kanya. “Sorry I have my girlfriend. I love her.”

Tumawa siya ng pagak. “Love her? You’re not making any sense, Kei.”

“I’ll propose to her a marriage.”

Napamaang siya. Hindi maaari. Hindi maaring maging seryoso ito sa babaeng iyon. “You can’t be serious. Why her? Look, Kei. She’s so simple and not your level. She has nothing to offer you. She came from a poor family, right? And my source said that she’s a product of an ex-convict. Can’t you see—“

“Damn you! You don’t have the right to say those. You don’t even know her.”

Natauhan siya sa sinabi. She was so sorry of saying that. Sobrang sakit lamang ng loob niya kaya kusang lumabas ang mga iyon sa mga labi niya. Pero nasabi na ang nasabi kaya tinaasan niya rin ang boses niya. She can be bitch sometime if she was in pain. “Of course I do. She’s Pamela Villaroel. A girl nothing but a gold digger, a leech, an opportunist and whatsoever. A bitch!”

“You, shut up! And who do you think you are, huh? Know what, you are nothing compare to her.”

She slapped her. A whack that is full of resentment and pain.

“I hate you! You will regret this!” Kinuha niya ang bag at malalaki ang hakbang na tinungo ang pintuan. “Oh, bye the way. If you kissed someone don’t say sorry afterwards as if you are not responding.”