Beneath Her | [R-16]

Chapter Twenty One

NATALIE

"Goodnight, mga anak."

Bati ng mama ni Ace saaming dalawa bago siya umakyat. She was nice enough to let me stay here for a whole day. Dito na ako dumiretso galing kay Kim.

"Buksan na natin." sabi ko kay Ace at pinilit siyang buksan yung pang apat  bote ng Heineken kahit hindi pa namin ubos yung tatlo.

"Last time you drank, someone got stabbed." paalala ni Ace pero binukas pa rin naman niya yung bote. I sighed,

"I'd stab him again if I had the chance." sabi ko at uminom.

"Hindi mo man lang ba siya pinag explain?" umiiling na sabi ni Ace at tinulak palayo yung bote. "May klase pa ako bukas."

"Ako rin naman ah?" my eyebrows furrowed. Kanina ko pa siya inaaya uminom, tapos magba back out lang rin pala siya. Ano ba 'to?

"He lied to me so many times, already. I'd be stupid to believe and give him another chance." sabi ko at inistraight yung buong bote. Inabot niya yung isang pack ng Pringles saakin.

"That's also true. But as I can see, you both like each other a lot." I can hear the sound of him, chewing, after he spoke. Nakita ko siyang uminom ulit ng konti sa bote bago ako sumagot,

"Wala akong panahon para magka gusto sa lalaki, ngayon. I'm so done with men." umiling ako ng bahagya bago uminom ulit.

"Even with me?"

"Syempre, iba ka." I tilted my head a little to the side.

"R-really?" I saw him stop his movements of eating.

"Oo naman. We've been complete strangers and we have no mutual friends, but look at us. We're close, even with Riley. You're a keeper, Ace. Dating men is what I'm done with." naubos ko na yung pangatlong beer ko.

"Ahh." I saw him lower his gaze and got back to chewing. It was a little past 11 when I finished the four bottles they had.

"Matulog ka na, Ace. Mauuna na rin ako. Thank you for today." ngumiti ako at nilagay yung kamay ko sa balikat niya para makatayo ako. I wasn't drunk, but I was dizzy.

"You should sleep here, Nat." sabi niya habang nakahawak pa rin ako sa balikat niya. I tried to shake my head but I couldn't. I wanted to sleep here, but I was shy.

"Nakakahiya na kay tita." sabi ko at sinubukang maglakad papalayo pero humarang siya saakin.

"I insist, Nat." he said and gestured to his stairs. Umakyat kami at pumasok sa isang kwarto na puno ng pictures at gamit pang lalaki. It didn't take long before I realized that it was his room. I was feeling a little bit off that he wanted me to sleep in his bed but I couldn't do anything about it because I was emotionally and physically drained.

Humiga siya sa kabilang side ng kama at tinapik yung gilid, para dun ako umupo. I sat down, not taking away my sight.

"Am I really going to sleep here?" tanong ko pero hindi siya sumagot. Tumayo siya at lumapit sa side ko. Tinulungan niya ako'ng humiga at unti unting lumapit saakin. I thought he was going to kiss me but instead he puffed my pillow and whispered to my ear,

"I'll sleep downstairs, goodnight Nat."

I saw him leave the room. I guess I judged him too quickly. Ganito na ba yung dulot ng kapraningan na mapagsinungalingan? Ang sama mo naman, Nat.