It was scary how my relationship progressed with Jia in less than two months.
It was three weeks into our relationship, right before PSL conference and our opening game with Petron, when Jia first asked me to sleep over.
"Uwi na ako, Hon," I said after we cleaned up.
It was already 10pm and while it was relatively early, we have an even earlier practice tomorrow.
"Hon, dito ka na kaya matulog? Andito pa naman iba mong gamit," Jia said with a smile.
I smiled anxiously.
I haven't slept over since Jia and I got together and Jia didn't question it. I think she knew the dynamic change in our relationship. Still, I wanted to be clear with her.
"Jia, we're together now. If people find out I slept here, they might think that you know - we sleep together."
Jia laughed and I frowned.
"Seriously, Hon? 'Yan yung reason kung bakit ayaw mong matulog dito?"
"Well, not the only reason," I drifted off towards the end.
Jia put her arms around my neck as we stood close to each other.
"The only people who know we're together are our families and your best friends. I don't think they really care. And ang dami ng rumors about us even before so wala naman ng bago," Jia reasoned. "Now, tell me the other reason or reasons you have."
I looked away.
Okay. Don't laugh. But I just don't wanna put myself in a position where I might end up doing something I probably shouldn't do. Yet.
Jia is a very attractive woman and I love her. I can barely keep my hands to myself as it is. Now that she's my girlfriend, I might subconsciously feel entitled to, you know, get handsy or something. I don't want Jia to think that I'm a pervert or that I'm pressuring her or something.
While I do have a good amount of self-control, the more I stay with Jia, the more I lose it. It doesn't help that the last time I was actually with anyone was about a year and a half ago. It was right before Jia and I bumped into each other in UPTC. I have needs and Jia was so tempting.
"Come on. Tell me," Jia encouraged softly.
I felt my cheeks burn so I just bent as I hugged Jia and nuzzled her neck.
"I'm just not sure I can control myself around you when I'm asleep or half-asleep," I said. "Now that you're my girlfriend, my subconscious might feel like it's alright to cross boundaries we haven't crossed before."
When I moved back, Jia's cheeks were flushed but she laughed it off.
"Trust me, Hon, that wouldn't be a problem. You know you sleep like a panda, right?"
"What?" I asked, confused.
"I don't mean na maikli lang tulog mo, ah. I mean madalas kaya kung ano pwesto mo matulog, ganoon ka na magdamag. Parang di ka gumagalaw, Hon. And kahit malikot ako or maingay, di ka nagigising. Like a panda."
"I most certainly am not like that!" I protested.
Hindi ako malikot matulog but I'm not tulog-mantika. Besides...
"If that's true then how do you explain the times before when I wake up in the middle of the night and I'm so tempted to pull you close to me?"
