Temptation Island: Cruel Intentions

Kabanata 6

"My gosh, they're all gone!" Halos mapatili si Monroe nang magising siya. Nasilip niya kasi ang kanyang braso at wala na itong bakas ng pantal. She smelled like Caladryl lotion but what's important was that the rashes were gone. Tinitingnan niya ang kanyang mga kamay na nakabalot parehas ng medyas.

"What are these?"

Napatingin siya sa orasan sa sidetable. Natigilan siya at napakurap-kurap.

Sidetable?

Tiningnan niya ang kanyang tabi. Sleeping Abram was there. May hawak na Caladryl at nakaupo lang. Napabangon siya bigla dahil sa gulat, maagap naman itong napadilat.

"Monroe?" he called in a raspy voice. "Are you okay? Makati pa?"

"What are these?" tanong niya sa itim na medyas sa kanyang kamay. Napahilamos si Abram ng mukha at parang disoriented pa siyang tiningnan.

"You were trying to scratch your skin while sleeping. Pinipigilan kita. I was worried that I will fall asleep when it was already past 3, I have to put my socks on your hands so you won't hurt yourself when I was not watching."

"You were wide awake til it was past 3?" Tumaas ang kanyang kilay. Tingnan mo nga naman, the Mr. I-sleep-at-exactly-8 was awake until it was midmorning.

"I was trying to be awake, alright?"

"No, no. I am not judging you. It is normal since you were worried. Gustuhin ko mang mag-alala sa pantal ko pero nakakaantok ang anti-histamine na ibinigay sa akin."

"I am not worried. It was just—" Napapikit ito at hindi na lang itinuloy ang sasabihin. "You are my responsibility—"

"I may be your responsibility as your housemate, but you don't know about my allergies. I don't know it, too. Let's just move on?" Tumayo siya at dumiretso sa banyo para mag-shower. Maginhawa na ang kanyang pakiramdam pagkatapos. Parang nagdahilan lang ang kanyang allergies kagabi dahil naglaho agad ang mga ito, siguro dahil sa pag-aalaga ni Abram o baka nag-iinarte lang ang balat niya, mana sa kanya.

Nakaayos na siya nang lumabas ng banyo. She was replaced by Abram inside the bathroom and he didn't totally shut the door. Nang marinig niya na ang lagaslas ng tubig ay pasimple niyang itinulak ang pinto at saka sinilip si Abram na naliligo doon sa glass-enclosed shower.

Ohlala, look at those pectorals. The abs, hulmado. His morning wood was fully erected early in the morning. She was all giggly and flushed when Abram closed the shower faucet and looked at her directly.

"Monroe." In a flat-tone, he called her out. Umirap siya at sinarhan ang pinto ng banyo. Nakita na naman niya iyon! Saka ayaw ba nitong sinisilipan? Gusto niya siya lang ang namboboso? That is so unfair!

It was almost brunch. Naghintay siya sa may balcony ng cabin habang naliligo si Abram. The island had been a home to her for a month already. Somehow, she felt calm this time. Sa unang beses ay walang siyang nararamdamang pressure. Gusto niyang kalimutan ang iniwanan niyang problema sa siyudad kaya hindi niya kinukumusta ang kanyang ama. Hindi naman siguro iyon papabayaan ng kanyang stepsister na si Noelle. Mukha namang alipin ang isang 'yon. She rolled her eyes again when she remembered her soft-spoken step sister!

Her eyes scanned the beautiful swimsuits in the island. She couldn't help but drool. YSL, Givenchy, Dior, name it. The women in the island were expensive, too. She was like that just a year ago. Kung sana ay naisipan niyang maging miyembro rito noon, may sampung milyon pa sana siya na naipanggastos ngayon. Their assets were all frozen, including her lifesavings, and that is so cruel.