Your Place Or Mine? BOOK VERSION (PUBLISHED BY VIVA PSICOM)

Chapter 53: Christmas (Part I)

HALEY'S POV

Bitbit ko ang mga regalo na pinamili namin ni Russell para mailagay sa ilalim ng Christmas tree. Pababa na 'ko ng hagdan nang masalubong ko siya. He stopped for a while. Nakangiting lumapi ito at hinaplos ako braso pababa sa baywang.

"You're stunning."

Umirap ako. "Nambola ka pa."

It's a simple compliment, pero kinilig ako. I'm wearing a simple dress in old rose shade. The two thin straps display my silky soft shoulders. With my hair pulled up, most of my bared back was revealed.

His hand slowly traced my jawline. I'm not wearing any make-up. I just dabbed a baby powder all over my face and swabbed a lipsgloss. And he pressed his lips on my cheek and he inhaled soflty. Mas gusto ni Russell ang amoy ng baby powder sa mukha ko. And when his lips met mine, he was pleased. Gusto niya ang lasa ng cherry flavored lipgloss. Hindi daw niya gusto ang lasa ng lipstick. Sino ba kasi ang nagsabing kainin niya ang lipstick ko?

"Hindi kita binobola. At hindi lang ako ang nakakapansin. May mga iba pang makakapal ang mukha sa tabi-tabi. They know you're married pero dikit pa rin nang dikit," makahulugang sabi nito.

Sino ang tinutukoy niya? Si Seth? He saw the anklet at hindi ko tinanggi kung kanino galing ito. And he remembered him as the guy I was with at the condo.

Could it be Vince? I got a formal dress from his mom. And Russell knows about it, too.

"Ikaw talaga kung anu-ano ang naiisip mo." At umiwas ako ng tingin.

"'Just saying. They should know where they stand," seryosong sabi nito.

And I'm not sure what he meant by that. I didn't ask. Ayoko nang humaba pa ang usapan lalo na't hindi ko gusto ang topic. At baka kung saan pa ito mapunta.

"Oo na po. Take these–" inabot ko ang mga regalo. "Babalikan ko lang 'yung iba sa kwarto."

As I stepped back, I had the chance to scrutinize him. He's in black jeans and a black pullovers. The cotton fabric fits the bulge in his chest perfectly. Well, who says Christmas Eve can't be as hot as summer if you're in front of this hunk.

"May masama ka na namang binabalak. Ang lagkit na naman ng tingin mo sa katawan ko," natatawang sabi nito.

"Hindi 'no. Ikaw tlaga, ang kapal mo." Natatawa ako at pinisil siya sa ilong.

Ewan ko ba. Hindi ko masabi na gwapo siya. That he has a gorgeous body. How his eyes can melt every bone in me. How his lips on my body fires me up.

Unlike him. Every part of me that he adores, he never hesitated to let me know. How he worshipped my long legs, the color and smoothness of my skin. Hindi siya nahihiyang aminin ang mga bagay na ganito. Like how my breasts perfectly fit his hands. And how he feels each time he squeezes them, kneads them. And he loves kissing me down there, between my thighs. Damn, can you imagine how embarrassing and arousing that is at the same time.

"Totoo? Wala kang binabalak na masama? Ba't ka nagba-blush?" nakangiting tanong nito.

Hinampas ko siya nang mahina sa braso at ipinagtabuyan pababa. "Ikaw talaga kung anu-ano ang nakikita mo. Sige na, ibaba mo na 'yang mga 'yan at susunod agad ako."

He knows me well. Kaya tumalikod agad ako para makaiwas sa pang-aasar niya. Kinuha ko ang ilang natirang mga regalo sa kwarto. Kinuha ko rin ang phone ko sa dresser.

I got two missed calls.

Si Seth. Sa kanya galing ang dalawang missed calls. Ite-text ko na sana siya para batiin pero tumawag ulit ito.