Behind Curtains

Kabanata 12

Kabanata 12

Moody

"What do I get with... sleeping with you every night?" I asked him the next morning nang sundan niya ako sa kusina.

"What do you want?" he asked, his morning voice husky as he stared at me. Napatitig na rin ako sa kanya.

I learned early on that the key to successful negotiations is through bribery.

That's what my parents did my entire Elementary years, para lang ma-hila ako mula sa pagkakatulog. They'd give me new things to look forward to everyday.

Kahit anong bago pa 'yan, they know I would want to go to class just to eat it, use it; or just to show it off.

Para nga daw akong bata, sabi ni Keith, when he finally came to terms with most of my personality. Aayaw ako sa una, tapos ay bibigay din kapag pinipilit talaga.

Iiyak muna, syempre, at magdadabog, pero talagang bibigay din.

"First, I will not be a sex slave," mariin kong sabi. "I will only sleep with you if I also want to."

"Or I can make you want to," he shrugged. "But, okay."

I held my tongue at that, and took a pause to contemplate.

'Yong unang pag-ayaw ko sa alok ni Sir Killian, I know it was just me acting out.

Gusto ko talaga 'yong pinipilit ako, para sa huli kapag nagkanda-leche-leche na ang lahat, I would have someone to blame.

And that would be him. Kahit sino, hindi lang ako.

I've had enough going on with myself, to self-hate every other day. Ayoko naman na pati 'yong konting saya para sa sarili ko, ay ako pa rin 'yong talo. I sucked in breath.

"Wala ka bang girlfriend?" I almost demanded.

Natigilan siya sandali at tinitigan ako. Umiling din kalaunan.

"You sure?" I asked again, hindi naniniwala. "How about... occasional flings? Or... regular fuck buddies?"

Kumibot ang kanyang labi.

"I do not have any of the sort."

"Bakit?"

"I will be very busy this year. I would rather not let myself be entangled with anybody publicly, for the time being," aniya. "It will only call for attention, and that's the least thing I'd want."

I raised a brow at his answer at tiningnan ang kabuohan niya. In only a white shirt and plain boxer shorts, kahit na magulo pa 'yong buhok niya, imposible na kaagad ang opinyong may paraan pa para makaiwas siya sa kahit na anong uri ng atensyon.

"So you'd rather fuck your housemaid instead?" I looked at him seriously. "Because I am easily accessible, readily available, and no one would even have the chance to second-guess this set-up?"

He licked his lip. 

"Yes," he answered.

Tinitigan ko siyang muli, gusto pang mag-isip, but I was honestly greatly distracted by the entirety of him.

I've seen him in business suits, in tuxedos and buck naked.

And in any of those ensemble, he looked hotter now. More raw than ever. Bed hair and all.

Or maybe it's because whenever we're doing the deed, ay nakapatay parati 'yong mga ilaw, at naka-tirik panay 'yong mga mata ko; so I wasn't entirely sure how to descriptively compare.