Mary Grace

Thirty-Two

Thirty-Two

I hugged my jacket a little tighter as the strong wind whipped my hair. Harry is trailing after me. Hinayaan na kami ng mag-asawa na pasyalin ang buong isla tutal uuwi na din kami bukas ng umaga. Gusto pa sanang sumama ni Rowena sa amin. Her mother must've noticed the sour look on my face because she immediately declared that she'll need Rowena in doing the chores.

"Mama naman eh," Nagpapapadyak pa si Rowena habang sinusundan ang ina.

Hinila na ako ni Harry at iniwan na namin ang nagtatalong mag-ina. "May gusto sa iyo si Rowena." I told him while walking, glancing at him for a reaction.

He nodded his head. "Alam ko."

Biglang napataas ang kilay ko. "Ganun? Gwapo ah," I laughed.

Napatawa na din siya. "Pero wala naman akong magagawa dun. Just let her be. Rowena is beautiful. I'm sure she can find a better man out there."

I tried not to look to pleased with what he had said. Pinipigilan ko ang pagsilay ng ngiti sa labi ko habang naglalakad kaming dalawa. I was also silently praying that he would hold my hands again but I guess it wouldn't happen dahil marami siyang dala.

Nagsimula nang mamasyal sa kabuuan ng isla. Para pa rin akong bata na hindi makaget-over sa bago kong laruan. Sobrang ganda talaga! Halatang hindi pa nagagalaw ng tao. And the strong waves of Pacific Ocean makes this place the perfect scene for any fantasy movies and the like.

"Gusto mong maligo?" Tanong ni Harry habang inilalapag ang mga gamit niya under a large tree that I can't even name of. Binalingan niya ako.

"Sure!" I chirped. He nodded his head and pulled out something from his bag. I immediately recognized it as a tent. Lumapit ako sa kanya.

"We're setting up a tent?" I asked excitedly.

"Yep, para may mapaglagyan tayo ng mga gamit natin habang naliligo," Then he glanced to the direction where the cogon house is nowhere to be seen anymore. "At mukhang malayo din tayo sa kanila."

Tinulungan ko siyang mag-set up ng tent. Pagkatapos ay ipinasok na namin ang mga gamit namin sa loob. Harry pulled his shirt over his head and I tried to hide my burning cheeks again. He's doing it as if it wouldn't affect a hormonal teenage girl like me!

"Tara," He held out his hands towards mine. Excited kong kinuha ang mga kamay niya and we raced to the beach. We spent all day playing in the waters, giggling like a bunch of idiots, and he even volunteered to teach me how to swim properly. Because the waves are crashing too hard, napilitan na din kaming umahon.

"I'm famished!" I announced as we walked towards the tree where the tent is located.

"Good thing I've brought some food," Wika ni Harry.

Inabutan niya ako ng towel bago ako pinapasok sa tent. He brought out the foods inside his bag. I recognized it as the ones we've bought from the grocery store. So it was just a couple of beer in cans and chocolates.

Inabutan ako ni Harry ng San Miguel pale pilsen in can. "Gusto mo?"

I nodded my head. Hindi naman ako masyadong umiinom but when I do, I usually get drunk pretty fast. Pinagtatawanan ako nina Mariah at Danielle dahil kung anu-ano na ang mga pinaggagawa ko habang lasing ako.

Now that I've thought about it, their faces crossed my mind. Napatingin ako sa dagat habang iniinom ang alak. Kamusta na kaya sila? Hinahanap kaya nila ako? My mind went over Jeremy. What would he think once he knew that I ran off with Harry? I could only imagine the outraged look on his face inside my mind and the things that he can do to me. Siguro hindi lang sampal ang aabutin ko sa kanya.

"Thinking of something?" Harry asked. He must've noticed that I've been silent. Nakasampay sa malalapad niyang balikat ang maliit na tuwalya at tumutulo pa ang tubig mula sa buhok niya.

I shake my head. "Wala naman," Tapos lumagok na naman ako ng alak. I tried not to make a face when the bitterness burned down on my throat. It doesn't really help na hindi malamig ang alak, parang gusto kong maduwal.

The sky turned into beautiful shades of orange and pink and violet as the sun started to sink beneath the horizon. Mag-aalas singko na nang hapon. Walang nagising nang maaga sa aming dalawa despite the fact that we promised to watch the sunrise together. Natawa nalang kami. I was too lazy to get up from my bed earlier in the morning so I slept until 10 am.

Against my better judgement, dalawang cans na ang nauubos ko. The beer is starting to kick in. My vision is getting hazy and too many things are running inside my mind at the same time.

"Anong gagawin natin kapag nakabalik na tayo sa Pampanga?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Napalingon naman siya sa akin. "What do you mean?"

I snorted. "For sure my parents will lock me in my room once they found out what I just did. And Jeremy..." I trailed off.

"Oh," Hindi nakaligtas sa akin ang biglang pagtamlay ng boses niya upon the mere mention of my boyfriend. Or maybe it's just my imagination. "Your boyfriend must be worried sick looking for you."

Natawa ako sa sinabi niya. "I don't know... This—" I gestured towards the beautiful sunset, the orange and blue tent, the beers, and him. "—just feels so right I can't even think about Jeremy right now. For sure he'll just hit me again."

His brows furrowed. "He did what?"

I immediately shut my mouth. What the fuck did I just said?

Harry made me look at him. He cupped both of my burning cheeks from the alcohol and embarassment and searched for my eyes. "Mary Grace, what has he done to you?"

Now, staring at his eyes is like getting sucked into a huge blackhole. It's so tantalizing I couldn't tear my gaze away from him.

"Mary Grace," He demanded.

I finally averted my gaze. "It's nothing." Pinilit ko ding alisin ang mga kamay niya sa mukha ko because God knows what's running inside my mind right now. Baka kung ano pa ang gawin ko. "It was my fault, anyway."

"But that doesn't give him a permission to—" He stopped talking when I leaned closer, my face inches away from him. For a few agonizing moments, we were both silent. Then he shut his eyes and cursed. "Oh, bloody hell." Then his lips crashed into mine to give me a full kiss. The one I've always read in novels and saw on TV dramas.

I closed my eyes as well and savor the moment. Inilapit niya ang katawan niya sa akin as he deepened the kiss. His hands started running up and down my thighs, sending shivers to my spine.

I let him went on top of me as I collapsed inside of the tent. He lifted my shirt over my shoulders, expertly unclasped my bra and stared at my bare chest. He cursed under his breath.

Before I could even react, he dug his teeth on my shoulders softly, sending a jolt just below my abdomen. I arched my body towards him as he began placing wet kisses on my neck. His hands travel lower and lower until it reached the zipper of my shorts.

Jeremy's face suddenly crossed my mind.

Parang natigilan din si Harry when he sensed that I suddenly froze. Kaagad niyang inilayo ang sarili sa akin at napamura. "Shit, I'm sorry." He said, snatching a towel and wrapping it around my body.

Biglang nawala ang kalasingan ko. I grip the towel tighter around my body. Harry looked at me, a flash of guilt and sadness crossed his face.

"I'm just going out—"

"No." I grabbed his hands and lowered my gaze. "Stay."