His Other Side (on hold)

43

43: Boundaries

Nang makapasok si Dale sa kwarto'y agad kong napansin iyong awkward niyang ngiti. At alam ko kung anong ibig sabihin n'un. Hindi pa rin kami nakakapag-usap ng kaming dalawa lang tungkol doon sa nangyari kanina.

Aside sa nakabantay si Mommy, parang sobrang ingat na ingat din si Dale na magkadikit kaming dalawa. At dahil doon ay alam kong ang laki ng naging impact ng pagkahuli sa aming dalawa ni Mommy.

"Mom's not here you know," bungad ko sa kanya. "You can drop that cautious smile."

Dale groaned as he shook his head. Dumiretso na siya doon sa side niya sa kama at humiga pagkatapos ay humarap sa akin.

Napaungol na naman siya sabay takip ng kamay sa mukha. Napakagat ako ng labi at pinigilan ang sariling matawa.

"I can't believe she caught us," aniya nang tingnan akong muli. "Parang dadalhin ko na habambuhay 'yung memory sa isipan ko."

"Exagge," tukso ko sa kanya. "Okay na si Mommy don't worry. But about it...can we discuss something?"

Tumaas ang parehong kilay ni Dale. "Ano?"

"About what happened earlier," simula ko. "Hindi mo ba napapansin, yung dalawang beses na we tried to things to level up between us, pareho tayong nahuli. I don't know, I just think that maybe, it's like the universe is doing something..." tumigil ako't humigit ng hininga saka itinuloy na, "...to stop us."

Hindi sumagot si Dale, basta tinitigan lang ako. At gusto ko talagang malaman kung anong nasa isipan niya ngayon.

Ilang sandali pa'y nagsalita na din siya. "And?" udyok niya sa akin.

So I told him what's really on my mind. "I just thought na we should wait. Take it slow. Be contented in spending time with each other first. Of course may hugs pa din. And kisses, especially kisses. Pero huwag lang bababa sa leeg. And also lets avoid getting tangled up into dangerous positions."

Tinitigan ko si Dale at nagtataka na ngayon kung anong nasa isipan niya pagkatapos ng lahat ng sinabi ko. But then slowly, the side of his lips lifted up as he said, " Okay."

Both of my brows shot up. "Okay?" ulit ko. "Yan lang ang sasabihin mo?"

Well, I was not expecting him to agree this fast. And it's not like I don't want it. Maganda nga na agad siyang pumayag. Nasorpresa lang ako.

"What do you want me to tell you?" tanong niya pabalik sa akin. Pero wala naman akong nahihimigan na sarkasmo sa boses niya. Instead, it was still the same as earlier, calm and collected.

Inabot ni Dale ang buhok ko at marahang isinuksok sa likod ng tenga ko. He smiled at me lovingly then he sighed. "It's really okay," pagtitiyak niya sa akin. "And remember what I told you before? I don't want to push you into things that you don't want. And if you say you want to take this slow, I respect that. But I won't be a hypocrite and tell you that I'm not disappointed. Because I am. Hindi sa ginawa mong decision kundi sa timing."

Malalim na huminga si Dale. "Like I want to do so many things with you but I know that Tita's right and this is not the right time for that. And I will be honest here, Reese. There are times that I want us to go all the way, not just any base. I want to sleep with you. I want to show you how much I love you."

Napalunok ako. It was not only his words that hit me. Idagdag pa iyong emosyon sa mata niya ngayon. And I thought tonight is the time to just laid it all out in the open.

Umamin na rin ako. "There are times I want us to do that too."

Dale sighed like he was in pain. Pero sa huli'y ngumiti pa rin sa akin. And in a defeated voice, he told me, "Much more we need those boundaries."