Just This Once [KYRU]

Chapter Ten

#JTO10 Chapter 10

"Thanks," I told Evo after he drove me to my cousin's condo. Rafael just gave me his key card dahil hindi niya na kami nasamahan. Hindi ko alam kung totoo bang busy siya o sinasadya niyang mapag-isa kami nitong kaibigan niya. He just told me na may site visit siya. So instead of protesting, tumahimik nalang ako.

"How are you feeling?" He asked for the nth time.

Gusto kong sumimangot dahil pang-ilang tanong niya na but instead I forced a smile. "I told you, I feel better na. Thanks again."

I sit on the opposite side of the couch from him. Medyo naiilang pa ako sakanya especially what I did. I can't just jump from one guy to another. At tulad nga ng sabi ko I did not regret doing it with Pau because even if it's just a short time I became happy. I'm just guilty kasi dapat hindi ko ginawa 'yon lalo pa't hindi ko sigurado ang estado namin. Maybe it's really cheating or maybe not. Hindi ako sigurado kasi wala namang label. Pero kung ano man meron kami I won't be kissing him.

He reaches over to pull me beside him. Hindi siya nagtanong kung bakit hindi manlang ako tumabi sakanya. His arms wrap around my waist then runs his fingertips along my bare thigh.

Tinignan ko siya. He's so gentle... sweet and too caring. Mga bagay na sobrang namiss ko sakanya. Mga bagay na nakasanayan ko.

Hindi na ako nagpigil. Hinayaan ko na ang sarili kong magpaubaya without hesitations. Isiniksik ko ang sarili ko sakanyang dibdib wrapping my arm around his waist.

Marahil sa pagod ay napapikit na 'ko. Hindi ko alam kung ilang oras na ang lumipas pero naramdaman ko nalang na inilapag niya na ko sa kama. Hinintay ko muna siyang tumabi sa 'kin bago dumilat pero ang naramdaman ko nalang ay hinalikan niya ko sa noo bago ko tuluyang narinig ang pagsara ng pinto.

And in that night I cried in my sleep... again because I felt like we're back to zero.

KINABUKASAN bumungad agad sakin ang naglulutong si Rafael. He's cooking, shirtless.

"Morning! I cooked pancakes." He tells me as he glanced at me. "Nahirapan kang matulog?" He asked probably noticing my puffy eyes.

Bago lumabas kanina ay tinignan ko ang sarili ko. Magang-maga ang mga mata ko at halata pa ang mga pasa ko. Hindi ko naman inabalang ayusin ang sarili dahil sa pag-aakalang ako nalang mag-isa.

I caught him staring at my bruises.

"Why are you still here? You don't have work?" I asked diverting his attention.

"Oh that! Sabay na tayong papasok. I was about to wake you up." Kumunot ang noo ko. I took a bite on my pancake paglapag niya.

"Why? Tito Lorenzo is now handling it. I don't need to be there."

"Obviously, you did not check your phone. You have to attend the meeting today as per dad's order. And you still need to learn so your presence is still needed."

Sandali kong kinuha ang phone ko para matignan ang sinasabi niya. May mga ilang mensahe at missed call nga galing kay Tito even Evo.

I checked Tito's message first.

Tito Lorenzo:

Meeting today 11 am sharp, Nathalie. I need you here.

I sighed.

"Evo called. Hindi ka raw sumasagot."

"Hindi ko narinig ang phone ko."

"May problema ba kayo?— Or," Tumigil siya. Tinignan niya ako na parang sinusuri.