Beautiful, Beloved [feat. RaMen]

Twenty-One

"Hindi na, I'd stay here na lang and relax. You can go for a swim if you'd like though," Rachel muttered as she tried to stay focused on what Lea was saying. Ayaw lang talaga kasi umamin ni Rachel pero ang totoo naman ay gustong-gusto niya ang pakiramdam na yakap yakap lamang siya ni Lea. Sa kabilang banda, Lea felt like she can strangle Rachel dahil napakafrustrating nitong kausap 9 times out of 10. They were at the beach to have fun, and there Rachel was nagmumukmok na parang bata.

"Well, kani-kanina lang sabi mo naiinitan ka, so pwede 'wag kang killjoy," Lea said kasabay ng paghitak niya kay Rachel by the waist at madaliang pumunta sa may dalampasigan.

"NO! LEA CARMINA SAN MIGUEL, let me go, right this instant," Rachel tried to sound demanding but it ended up sounding desperate. Napatili na lamang siya ng maramdaman ang malamig na tubig sa balat niya. She was half-submerged in water at napahagikgik na lamang si Lea sa reaksyon niyang iyon. Rachel still tried to pull-off from Lea's embrace though.

Lea being Lea pulled Rachel closer to her chest bago siya bumulong dito, "mainit pa rin ba ulo mo?" and Rachel being Rachel just scowled at Lea in response.

Lea giggled, "Alam mo, mi amore, ang cute mong maasar." Pagkatapos no'n ay hinalikan niya si Rachel sa tungki ng ilong nito. Bigla namang pinamulahan ng mukha si Rachel. Pakiramdam niya ay para bang tumitibok ang puso niya ng isang milya kada minuto.

Rachel suddenly pulled Lea by her hips to her, "So, hot pala ako ha?" after saying so Rachel leaned in and captured Lea's lips with her own. Lea moaned in return as Rachel started to explore her mouth. "This woman really knows how to kiss."

BEEP! BEEP!

Bigla namang naghiwalay ang dalawa ng marinig ang pagbusina ng sasakyan ni Vice as it made its way to a parking spot at the resort parking which was not far off where they were swimming. Vice rolled down his window and yelled from the vehicle as he peaked at the two ladies while he was still trying to park properly, "Mga bakla! Pumayag si Direk na taped muna raw ipapalabas sa ST dahil may sakit sina Tyang Amy at Anne. And bukas na lang ako babalik for taping ng GGV. Miss ko kayo eh." 

Lea shook her head, "Daot, ampokra."

Then Rachel laughed which made Lea look at her quizzically, "Narinig ko sinabi mo, ikaw ha."

Lea blushed which made Rachel laugh even more.

"Hoy, mga bruha! Anong nakakatawa?" Vice said as he got closer to them.

"Wala," sabay na sambit ng dalawa pagkatapos ay nagtawanan ulit sila.

~~~

They all spent the rest of the day at the beach, kaya naman pare-pareho silang pagod at gutom pagbalik sa bahay ni Vice. Nag-sasuggest sana si Vice na sa local cuisine sila kumain pero tumanggi ang dalawang binibini stating that they were already too tired.

"Well, twinnie, why don't we just grill some steak and veggie kebab sa barbecue mo sa labas and have some wine with it? Bukas na lang tayo lumabas pag-uwi mo after taping or better yet sasamahan ka namin sa taping mo then we can go straight to 9 SPOONS or Sky Deck or even Mazu," Rachel suggested dahil na-guilty siya sa pagtanggi sa alok ng pinsan.

"Perfect!" Vice said with a wide smile.

Lumabas naman si Vice kaagad sa veranda para ihanda ang grill kaya naman naiwan sina Rachel at Lea sa kitchen by themselves.

"How would you like your steak cooked, mi amore?"

"I'd like it medium well, please. Salamat."

Lea just finished cutting the rump creating fine slices of steak and marinaded it on Smokey Barbecue marinade seasoned with garlic steak powder. Rachel, on the other hand, had just finished cutting up the vegetables for the kebab. Pagkababa niya ng kutsilyo ay dumiretso kaagad siya sa lababo para maghugas ng kamay dahil sibuyas ang huli niyang hiniwa. Pagkatapos niyang banlawan ang kamay niya ay nagpunas siya sa hand towel then pumunta sa likod ni Lea at yumakap rito, "Nag-enjoy ka ba today?"

Lea looked over her shoulder and wagged her eyebrows, "Oo naman, Nakita ba naman kitang naka-two piece eh." Kinurot naman ni Rachel ang tagiliran niya in return, "AROUCH NAMAN! Para saan 'yon? Grabe 'to sa 'kin."

"Magseryoso ka kasi," Rachel said softly. The change in Rachel's voice did not escape Lea's hearing. It seems as if kailangang kailangan siya ni Rachel ngayon pero kung para saan ay hindi niya alam at hindi niya na rin kukwestyunin pa. Ibinaba naman ni Lea ang ginagawa niya since marinade naman iyon and it needs time to soak. She washed her hands under the tap then turned around to face Rachel. Hinaplos niya ang pisngi nito and stuck some loose strands of hair behind her ear.

"Seryoso naman po kasi ako. Lagi naman po akong seryoso, ma'am. Bakit ba hindi mo makita 'yung nakikita ko sa'yo? You are one fine specimen, not only by your looks but also by the way you carry yourself, kung gaano ka ka-articulate, 'yung tawa mo and even your smile. You're already perfect as you are which makes you intimidating in my point of view, to be honest. Alam kong nasaktan ka from past experiences but the way you picked yourself up from that at kung paano mo binuo kung sino at ano ka ngayon is an amazing story, rather, journey. It's inspiring. I lov- you're my closest friend, Rachel, and I'd never lie to you," pagtapos ni Lea kasabay ng pagpunas nito ng luha mula sa pisngi ni Rachel.

Vice cleared his throat, "handa na ba ang steak at kebab? Ready na kasi 'yung grill sa labas."

Rachel shifted out of Lea's grip and left the kitchen. Maya-maya ay narinig nina Lea at Vice ang pagsasara nito ng pinto.

"Ah oo, oo. They're right here," Lea quipped, Med well daw si Rach, ganon na lang din sa akin. Thanks, Vice."

Kinuha naman agad ni Vice ang Tupperware kung nasan ang steak at plato ng kebab, palabas na sana siya ng veranda pero nag-aalangan siya, "Wag mo sana siyang sasaktan, Lea, pakiusap."

~~~

Medyo naging awkward ang hapunan nilang iyon. Maliban sa halos walang umiimik ay napakatahimik lang ng magpinsang Rachel at Vice. Bumaba kasi si Rachel ng handa na ang pagkain pero nung bumaba ito ay parang may sarili itong mundo.

"At least masarap 'yung pagkain," napaisip si Lea kasabay ng pag-tagilid niya sa kama which seem to be the 100th time she has done it already since mahiga siya. Hindi siya mapakali dahil walang ibang laman ang isip niya kundi si Rachel. Katulad lamang ito noong nakaraang gabi ngunit ang pinagkaiba ay alam niyang this time she said way too much.

The ceiling was not interesting the night before and it wouldn't be any much entertaining this night either. Paulit ulit naglaro sa isip ni Lea ang scenario kanina – ang mga katagang binitawan niya towards Rachel at ang reaksyon ni Rachel sa mga katagang iyon. Rachel smiled then cried from the words she heard from Lea. Pakiramdam ni Lea ay parang sasabog ang puso niya habang iniisip kung ano ang nangyari sa kusina.

Walang ibang gusto si Lea sa mga oras na iyon kundi yakapin lamang si Rachel. Minsan kung tutuusin napaka-ironic kung iisipin na nagsama sila ng two years being the complete opposite of what they were now. Napaisip tuloy si Lea, dahil ba 'to sa lola niya? Hindi dahil namatay ang lola niya kundi ito ang gusto ng lola niya para sa kanya mula pa man noon.