I woke up the next day, feeling completely rested. Nagtaka pa ako kung nasaan ako but I remember what happened last night. . Ang pagkahilo ko at si Matthew.
Matthew....my knight in shining armor.
"Nasaan kaya siya?"
Tahimik akong tumayo sa magandang kama ni Matthew. Sumilip ako sa labas ng bedroom pero wala akong nakitang tao, katahimikan ang sumalubong sa akin. Pumasok ulit ako sinuot ko yung nakita kong black robe.
"Siguro kay Matthew to. Saan kaya ang cr niya?"
Binuksan ko yung isang pinto sa dulo ng kwarto. Thanks God! May bathroom sa loob ng room niya. I locked the door and stripped quickly. Inalis ko din ang pagkatali ng buhok ko.
"Ahhhh! Ang sarap sa pakiramdam ng warm shower!"
Pagkatapos kong magshower mas gumaan ang pakiramdam ko. Nabawasan na din ang sakit ng puson ko. Pumunta ako sa sink ng cr, wearing Matthew's black robe. Ayaw ko sanang galawin yung gamit niya pero kailangan ko ng toothbrush. So I opened the cupboards and giggled with happiness as I found a brand new toothbrush. Kinapalan ko na talaga mukha ko ginamit ko na din pati hair brush ni Matt. May nakita din akong bath tub.
"Kung hindi lang talaga ako nahihiya kanina pa kita ginamit." I sighed.
Hindi naman ako materialistic na tao kasi hindi naman ako lumaki ng mayaman. Pero marunong akong mag appreciate ng mga ganitong bagay, natural ito sa tinapos kong kurso. At kahit kailan ata hindi ako makakabili ng ganito kagandang bath tub. Yung bathroom ni Matt parang buong sala ng bahay namin.
Lumabas na ako ng cr, ang lakas ng temptation ng bath tub. Hinigpitan ko yung suot ko na robe at dinala ko na din yung mga hinubad kong damit.
Naiisip ko.... No! Erase! I pictured Matt's muscular, naked body in that oval bath tub.
"Ang harot mo Kathy! Birhen ka pa pero kung ano-ano na iniisip mo! Hanapin mo na yung gamit mo para makabalik ka na sa sarili mong kwarto!!!"
Paglabas ko ng room ni Matt, hindi ko alam kung saan ba ako pupunta masyado kasing malaki yung condo, mukhang mansyon na nga ito sa laki. May nakita akong spare bedrooms. I gasped as I stepped out of the corridor and into the huge living room with cathedral ceilings and beautiful, tan leather furniture. Para siyang living room nila Damon at Stefan sa The Vampire Diaries.
Yung tv niya! Holy Crap! It’s so big that it dominated one wall, making it look almost like a movie theater screen.
"I soooooo dont belong hereeeee!!!!"
Halos nakacarpet ang sahig ng condo niya. Tapos yung kitchen niya, just woah! It would be any chefs dream kitchen. Sa magazines at textbooks ko lang ito nakikita noong nag aaral pa ako. Nakita ko yung backpack ko sa may side table ng living room.
"How are you feeling? May masakit pa ba sayo?" sa gulat ko muntikan ko ng mabitawan ang backpack ko.
Matthew’s dark hair was wet, mukhang bagong shower lang din siya. Nakasuot siya ng gray pants that hugged his muscular lower body. And he’s topless! I can see clearly his massive shoulders and broad chest. And woah! His abs! ngayon lang ako nakakita ng ganito ka-manly na katawan. He was seriously ripped! Biglang nag-init ang pisngi ko. Hindi ako sanay makakita ng lalaking halos hubad na.
Na-concious ako sa pagtingin niya sakin. “Hindi ko kasi makita kanina yung backpack ko kaya sinuot ko na yung nakita kong robe sa bathroom. I’m sorry, I hope you don’t mind.”
He shrugged and went to the kitchen. “It looks hell of a better on you than it ever did on me. Coffee?”
“I don’t drink coffee. Hot choco sana.” Napapaitan kasi ako sa lasa ng kape at hindi ko nakasanayan ang mag-coffee every morning sumasakit ang sikmura ko.
“Sit. Wag mong pagurin ang sarili mo sa pagtayo sabi ni Luigi kailangan mong magpahinga.” Ang bossy talaga. Sinundan ko siya sa kitchen tapos umupo na ako sa high stool chair.
“What do you want for breakfast?” he asked.
“Pancake.” I smiled, nahihiya na kasi ako sa kanya. He’d been helping me pero hindi naman niya ako kilala. Nagtataka nga ako kung paano niya ako nakita or si Dr. sanchez ang nakakita sakin?
Then he started cooking, may kinuha siyang box sa isang cupboard. He moves gracefully na parang sanay na siyang magluto. Pwede na siya sa palabas na ‘Hot Guys Who Cook’. Sa sobrang aliw ko sa panunuod sa paggalaw ng mga muscles sa likod niya hindi ko na namalayan na tapos na siyang magluto.
“Do you need help?” tanong ko.
“Hand me a spoon, please.” I held out a spoon and he took it, our fingers brushing as he grasped the utensil. My hand tingled from the light touch and warmth spread through my body. I’m trembling. Actually shivering, just from his light, casual touch.
“Thank you." His voice was weak.
Nakahinga lang ako ng maluwag ng mag umpisa na niyang ayusin ang table namin.
“Anyway, you didn’t answer my question. How are you feeling?” tanong niya.
I diverted my eyes from his tempting body. “I feel great. Nakapagpahinga na kasi ako. Thank you for helping me, but I need to get moving.”
“You can’t. Hindi ngayon at hindi rin bukas.” He’s voice was serious as he placed our breakfast in the table.
“Why?” I gave him a surprised look.
“Unfortunately, nanakawan ka. Somehow it’s my fault kasi hindi ko napansin yung backpack mo kagabi noong binuhat kita and when my secretary found it in the street, wala na lahat ng laman nito.”
Mabilis pa sa pagsikat ng araw ang pagtayo ko. “That’s not possible. Wala ba kayong cctv? No, this can’t be happening. Andun lahat ng pocket money ko and even my phone. No.” Was it a joke? Was his sense of humor completely twisted?
He finally met my gaze, his eyes grim and full of sympathy. “Nahuli na namin ang nagnakaw sa gamit mo. I’m sorry pero hindi namin nabawi ang gamit at pera.”
My hands started to shake. Hindi, hindi ito totoo. “There has to be a mistake. Baka naman nagsisinungaling yung nagnakaw?”
“It’s no mistake. My assistant checked the culprit house but they found nothing.”
“It had to be the wrong place.”
“It’s the right place, Kathy. I’m sorry.”
Tears filled my eyes as I nodded. May matutuluyan pa din naman ako pero saan na ako kukuha ng pera para sa pagkain ko? How can I go to my scheduled places when I don’t have money? My pocket money was given by my sister and Jamie. And now it was all gone. And my phone, regalo pa sa akin ni mommy yun. And holy crap! Yung ticket ko pabalik ng Pinas ay nasa wallet ko. Oh My God! I’m dead.
“You okay?” Mathew asked hesitantly.
“Yes. No. I don’t know.” I have to think. How to survive? I need to tell Mom. No Kathy, she will blame herself sa nangyari sayo and she will feel very disappointed that you didn’t enjoy your vacation. What about Jamie or my sister? Jamie probably in a vacation too and my sister will definitely tell mom.
Despair and loss welled up inside me and suddenly I couldn’t breathe. Silent tears rolled from my eyes.
“No. Oh, God, no.” I sucked in a deep breath, trying not to panic.
My body heaving, my hands over my face……..
As I felt Matthew’s arms come around me.
