Bud Brothers Series Book 3: Red Roses For A Blue Lady (Completed)

Chapter 20

COCO woke up feeling lost. She lost herself last night and damn her. Hindi niya dapat pinayagan ang sarili na magpatangay kay Carlo. Pero lagi namang nasa huli ang pagsisisi, although regret was the farthest thing on her mind while she was frantically, compulsively, almost obsessively making love to him.

And she had to give credit where credit was due. There was no way she could have resisted him. Carlo knew all the right buttons to push, knew all the doors to be opened. His lovemaking was playful with lots of teasing, but with unquestionable intensity and passion. Gusto niyang ikompara ito kay Miguel, pero hindi na niya maalala o ayaw na niyang alalahanin ang asawa.

Nang bumangon siya, dumilat si Carlo na kanina pa rin siguro gising at pinakikiramdaman lamang siya.

"Good morning," bati nito, nakangiti.

"Good morning," wika rin niya. "I'll get us coffee." Lumabas siya ng kuwarto. She wanted to get away from him. She was frightened.

Kagabi, nanaginip siya na nahulog siya sa isang gusali, mataas na mataas, kaparis pa noong PSE Tower sa Ortigas. Sigaw siya nang sigaw, pero wala namang lumalabas na tinig mula sa kanya. She didn't know when she was going to reach the ground.

The space seemed endless. Pero nagawa niyang tumingin sa pinanggalingan niya. Naroon si Carlo, nakangiti lang sa kanya at walang ginagawa para sagipin siya.

Galit na galit siya sa lalaki, but the next thing she knew, they were at Starbucks, having cappuccino, parang walang nangyari. The atmosphere was relaxed. Hindi naman sila nag-uusap, but she felt contentment. Then she heard someone from the next table talking about the woman who fell from the Stock Exchange building.

Doon siya nagising. And now, she was asking herself: Had she fallen for him?

Napatingin siya sa entrada ng kusina. Naroon na si Carlo, T-shirt at briefs lang ang suot.

"Wala ka namang gagawin ngayon 'no?" wika nito.

Kinabahan na naman siya. "What do you mean?"

"May maganda akong plano," sabi nito at kumuha ng malamig na tubig sa kanyang personal ref.

"Ilang beses ko bang sasabihin sa iyo na isangguni mo muna sa akin ang mga plano mo?" asik niya. She wanted to show him she was angry kahit hindi niya alam kung kanino. Ang alam lang niya, ginulo nito ang buhay niya. She should hate him.

Napamata naman si Carlo. "Bakit ganyan ka? Kung umasta ka naman, eh, parang ni-rape kita?"

"Please," sabi niya at itinaktak ang dalawang mugs sa mesa. "I don't want to talk about that."

He looked puzzled, ngunit mas pinili marahil na palampasin muna kung ano man ang gumulo sa isip nito.

"As I was saying, may plano ako para sa araw na ito. Hindi ko sinabi sa iyo kagabi dahil sorpresa 'yon," sabi nito at lumapit sa kanya. May nakita itong mga barya sa ibabaw ng mesa, dinampot ang piso at bale-walang nilaru-laro sa daliri.

"I hate surprises, Carlo," aniyang mariin.

"But, lady, life is full of surprises." Itinapat nito sa mga mata niya ang coin. Napatitig naman siya roon. He was doing it again. Playing tricks. Pinaikot pa nito ang kamay na may hawak sa coin. For the life of her, hindi niya magawang hindi tingnan at habulin ng tingin ang coin. She was plain curious.

"Yeah, that's why I hate surprises. Most of the time, it ruins happiness," wika niya.

Nakasipit sa dalawang daliri ni Carlo ang coin, itinapat ulit sa mga mata niya. "This is called happiness," sabi nito.