The Immortal Blood [Taglish Version]

CHAPTER 17 - ITALY

Jade Cardwell

FROM Saint Malo, sumakay kami ng bus papunta sa Dinard Bretagne Airport. We then took a nonstop flight to the Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy. Unlike noong nasa France kami, gusto na naman gumala ni Raphael from one city to another.

This man is unpredictable. Puno siya ng mood swings at parang may daily period!

Pagkatapos namin pumunta sa Vatican City, bumisita kami sa bayan ng Assisi na puno ng medieval architecture. We moved to the Renaissance city of Florence, then to the dramatic coasts of Cinque Terre. From there, we made a quick stop in Milan and our last destination is Venice.

Para kaming nasa Amazing Race, Italy version!

"Raphael, please pumayag ka na! Gusto ko talaga sumakay ng gondola. It will be a dream come true kapag nakapasyal ako sa Venice Canal," nakikiusap kong sabi kay Raphael.

"The answer is no," sagot ni Raphael.

From Milan to Venice, paulit-ulit akong nakikiusap sa kanya na sumakay kami ng gondola, pero ayaw pa rin niyang pumayag. Takot ata sumakay ng bangka ang lalaking ito.

"Raphael naman. Hindi complete ang Venice tour natin kapag walang gondola ride."

"I am tired, love. Can we sleep now?" tanong niya sa akin sabay hikab dahil past midnight na din nang makarating kami dito.

"Kung ayaw mo sumama sa kin, kahit ako na lang mag-isa. Please?"

"How many times do I have to say no?"

Nagsimulang mag tanggal ng shirt at si Raphael. Nang maramdaman ko na huhubarin din niya ang kanyang pants, mabilis akong tumalikod sa kanya. He is deliberately stripping in front of me para hindi ko na siya kulitin.

"Raphael, ilan beses ba ko makikiusap sa'yo? Ang unfair mo naman! Gondola ride lang ang hinihingi ko, ayaw mo pa!"

"Unfair talaga ko! Can we sleep now?"

Humiga siya sa isang kama para matulog. Wala man lang pakialam kahit nagmamaktol pa ko.

"Wag ka muna matulog. Kinakausap pa kita!" sabi ko sa kanya sabay hila sa kamay niya para bumangon.

"Our conversation is over, love. No gondolas. Period."

Nakapikit na ang mga mata ni Raphael. He is even pretending that he is already sleeping with his loud snoring.

Matagal ko na pangarap na pumunta sa Venice. Bata pa lang ako ay gusto ko na pumunta dito dahil gusto ko sumakay ng gondola or ang mga long narrow boats sa Venice Canal.

Hindi ako papayag na si Raphael ang may last say tungkol dito. Visiting Venice will never be the same without the gondola ride. Kung kailangan ko gamitin ang aking trump card, gagawin ko. Using all of my strength, I slowly remove my blouse and pants, revealing only my underwear.

"Raphael, look at me and tell me that your decision is final," taas noo kong utos sa kanya.

I know that Raphael is somehow controlling himself most of the time, but I don't think he can control himself if I am almost naked in front of him.

His eyes widened the moment that he saw me, and yet he managed to hide his surprise. He just looked at me with his unreadable face.

Hindi effective sa'yo ang katawan ko? Let's try another trick...

Dahan dahan akong lumapit sa kama. Wala pa din akong nakikitang reactions sa poker face niya, pero alam ko na galit na sa akin si Raphael dahil sa ginagawa ko sa kanya.

"To ride or not to ride," bulong ko sa kanya na parang isang seductive porn star.

He remained quiet, pero nakatingin lang siya sa akin as if hinihintay ang susunod kong kabaliwan. The fact that he is not speaking, with no rebuttals, means I somehow shook his decisions.

I approached him closer and we are only a few inches away from each other. I tried to remove my brassiere, pero mabilis akong napigilan ni Raphael.

"You are playing a dangerous game, love. You have to stop now," seryosong sabi niya sa akin.

"I love playing games, Raphael," I answered as I removed the piece of cloth covering my chest.

Hindi sumagot si Raphael, pero hinila niya ko papalapit sa kanya. Within seconds, he is owning my lips with fierce intensity.

I found myself lying on his bed. Gusto ko sana malunod sa mga halik ni Raphael, pero naalala ko ang goal ko, the gondola ride.

I rolled him on the other side of the bed and I am now riding on top of him. His eyes are full of longing. I gently kissed him and I ran my lips from his neck trailing to his ears. I deliberately sucked a small part of his ear which made him groaned.

With a sultry voice, I whispered in his ears, "How about the gondola ride, Raphael?"

Raphael did not answer me, but I saw a shrewd smile appeared on his lips. Kahit hindi niya sabihin, alam ko na may binabalak siyang hindi ko magugustuhan. He carefully grabbed my hair and kissed me again. This time, with urgency na parang nagmamadali.

With ragged breathing, he whispered into my ear, "The answer is still no."

What? Ayaw pa rin niya pumayag?

I am already half naked, pero masyado pa rin siyang firm sa decision niya. It only means na walang talab ang katawan ko sa kanya.

Mabilis akong tumayo at bumangon sa kama. He shattered my whole confidence into pieces. Nakakahiya ang ginawa ko, hindi naman pala effective. Nagmamadali akong magbihis at humiga sa kama ko.

"Do you think you can seduce me with your beautiful body?" tanong ni Raphael sabay tawa ng malakas.

"Shut up!"

"Next time kasi, itodo mo na. Wag ka na magtitira pa ng saplot," natatawa niyang dagdag.

"Ewan ko sa'yo! Good night!"