RETURN TO ME (Completed)

Chapter Nine

Napakurap lang si Tori sa tanong na iyon ni Rui. Inaasahan niyang magpapatuloy lang ito sa pagbubuhos ng sama ng loob, sa pagpapaalala kung gaano at paano niya itong nasaktan. And she was ready to say sorry for each and every little pain she caused him. Handa siyang lunukin ang pride at humingi ng tawad dito, amining nagkamali siya at kung gaano siyang nagsisisi sa ginawa niya dati.

Hindi niya inaasahang magiging interesado, at magtatanong pa talaga si Rui kung mahal pa niya ito. She met those beautiful, soulful eyes. He was obviously waiting for an answer, and hoping for something.

He stepped closer. “Do you, Viktoria?”
Pakiramdam niya ay aatakihin siya sa puso sa bilis at lakas ng pintig niyon.

It felt like her heart was beating right next to her ears. Sinalubong niya ang tingin ni Rui. Gusto niyang tumango at sumagot ng “Yes” ngunit may isang parte niya ang tila pumipigil sa kanya, ang natatakot. This man has treated her like an unwanted intruder for the past days, na kulang na lang ay ipatapon siya nito kung saan.

Naiintindihan niya iyon dahil sinaktan niya ito dati.

But the turnaround -- him telling her how much he suffered since she left was somehow causing her fear. Kailangan niyang maging maingat, gaya ng sabi ng Kuya niya. Rui may still have the biggest heart she's ever known but seven years has definitely changed him.

Mahal pa rin niya ito ngunit hindi niya alam kung ano ang nararamdaman nito para sa kanya. Higit lalo dahil sa kung paano siya nitong tinrato simula noong Lunes.

She felt torn. She wanted to shout it out. Na oo, mahal pa rin niya ito. Na wala siyang ibang minahal sa loob ng pitong taon. Na pinilit niyang ibaling sa ibang lalaki ang atensyon, she even tried dating around, ngunit hindi niya talaga ma-imagine ang sarili na ibang lalaki ang kasama – si Rui lang.

It was crazy how she felt that way all this time, dahil may posibilidad na nakalimutan na siya ng lalaki, na may iba na itong mahal.

“Viktoria.” Rui stepped even closer, he snaked a hand around her waist.

Pakiramdam ni Tori ay may sasabog na yatang major artery sa puso niya. Why is he holding her that way? And why on earth did he ask that question? “W-why?”

He smiled. Iyon ang kauna-unahang pagkakataon na ngumiti ito, habang kausap siya, simula nang muli silang magkita. “Yes or no lang ang sagot.”

Yes! I love you Rui Javellana! I always did. I never stopped loving you, not even once. Do you still love me too?
Gustong-gustong isigaw ni Tori ang mga iyon, ngunit sa sobrang lapit ni Ruii ay tila sabay na nawala ang lakas at boses niya.

“What, Viktoria? Nahihiya ka ba, o hindi mo alam ang sagot? O nalilito ka?” his voice was low, and Tori wondered why it sounded a bit seductive... gaya ng tono nito sa tuwing maglalambing ito sa kanya dati. He was so near she could feel all her strength waning.

“Maybe this will help you decide...” sabi nito, at bago pa muling nakapag-react o may nasabi man lang si Tori ay nahigit na siya ng binata palapit dito. His lips soon descended upon hers, claiming and conquering, breaking the seven-year drought.

It was like being kissed by him for the first time.

All at once it happened: the rush of a gazillion electrodes through her, her blood and all vessels awakening, like every nerve ending is a live wire... the knots in her stomach, the goosebumps, the blush creeping up to her neck and cheeks...  her heart beating wild – the works.

Balewala ang pitong taon sa pagitan nila. Dahil kilala pa rin ng mga labi nila ang isa't-isa. He still knows exactly what to do, and she knows exactly how to respond. They matched each other's intensity and passion as if they were on a race.

Tori never wanted the kiss to end anytime soon. Kaya naman pinagbuti niya ang pagtugon sa halik nito. Sa tuwing pakiramdam niya ay lalayo si Rui ay bigla niyang hihilahin ito palapit. Then she would kiss him, harder, deeper than the last.

Goodness, she missed him so much all she wanted to do was kiss him like there was no tomorrow... ikinawit niya ang mga braso sa leeg nito at patuloy itong hinalikan, o tinugon ang mga halik nito. They both don't know anymore who's kissing or who's responding. Hindi na mahalaga iyon.

Ang gusto lang nilang gawin ay patuloy na halikan ang isa't-isa.
Naramdaman niya ang mga kamay nito na tila inaaalalayan siya sa bandang likod, bago ito umatras paupo sa couch, bringing her with him as he slumoed against the cushion. She let out a tiny gasp as she felt herself awkwardly land on his lap.

Lumayo siya ng kaunti at napakapit sa balikat nito, and then she noticed his one hnad that was on her thigh, and that mischievous glint in his eyes.

Napaawang ang mga labi niya. Kaytagal na panahon na niyang hindi nakita ang tila mapanuksong tingin na iyon. "You ---" ngunit bago pa niya naituloy ang protesta ay muli na siyang nahila ni Rui at  hinagkan. This time, the kiss was  more purposeful. Intent. And the way his one hand that previously rested on her thigh slowly, made its way up to her backside, to her forearm, to her shoulder   and neck, then to  cup her face – it all felt like  a trail of fire. 

His fingers gently moved and spread towards her nape, pulling her even closer, holding her steady, and deepening the kiss.

Hindi inaasahan ni Tori na sa paraan ng paghalik nitong iyon ay mararamdaman niya kung gaano kasidhi ang pangangailangan ni Rui sa kanya. Just a few days ago,  it seemed like he wanted her out of town. Had he been trying to hold back, choosing to just try and really completely forget about her all along?  With the way she could  almost taste his need for her now, and how each touch was making her feel so desired, was the only answer she needed.

Her body pressed against his , feeling the heat radiating from his taut muscled body was making her lose control.  She clung to his  shoulders, felt the muscles that  bunched and flexed beneath her fingertips as Rui kissed more,  held her tighter and continued to make her mindless.

"I've dreamt about this, over and over for the past seven years..." bulong nito  habang ngayon ay pinaglalandas na  halik palayo sa kanyang labi, papunta sa kanayng panga, sa sensitibong bahagi na iyon sa ibaba ng kanyang tainga, papunta sa  gilid ng kanyang leeg. "I couldn't..." then his kisses went back up, to her jaw, then to her lips,  where he stooped for a fleeting moment. 

"I don't want to let you go now. Not ever." he murmured then he held her in place again for a slow, sensuous meeting of their mouths,  their tongues, their breath.