Forever and Always BOOK 1 ( a sequel to As Long As Forever)

Forever and Always - CHAPTER 12

Gusto niyang kainin na siya ng lupa. Ngayon na! O kahit maging sing liit ng langgam para walang makakita sa kanya. Erika, what have you done! Naglakad siya ng paroo't parito sa silid. Binigyan lamang sila ng sampung minuto para magbihis. Pinakiramdaman niya ang sarili, walang masakit. Wala ring pulang mantsa sa higaan nila. They didn't do it. The last thing she remembered was screaming in ecstasy that she passed out. Ohemgee! Nag-init ang pisngi niya sa naalala. Ano'ng sasabihin niya sa mga magulang? Walang nangyari dahil hinimatay siya sa sarap? Ganoon na lang ang iling niya.

"You two should have better explanation when you come out from that room!" Parang sasabog ang tenga niya sa lakas ng boses ng Daddy niya kanina. At nagrereplay pa iyon sa utak. Napahawak siya sa ulo ngunit kagaya kagabi, wala na namang pumapasok sa isip niya. How did she get into this mess? Bwesit na Palomang iyon!

"Pepper," untag sa kanya ni Alex paglabas ng banyo. Thank God, nakadamit na ito. Buti na lang at dinala ng Lola niya ang nalabhang damit. "Wala ka ba talagang naaalala?"

Umiling siya sabay tago ng pamumula ng mukha. Why was she so bold last night declaring her feelings for him? She even kissed him! Now she's afraid of telling Alex how she really felt about him. Bwesit na Paloma talaga!

"Eh bakit di ka makatingin sa akin?" He looked puzzled and frustrated at the same time.

Napalunok siya. Sasabihin ba niyang kinakabahan siya sa presensiya nito? Images of him kissing her, licking and nipping all parts of her as if marking her as his is so clear. She can even feel his lips on her skin and she can't help but squirm inside. She can't look at him because she can still feel the strong sexual tension between them. Baka hindi siya makapagpigil at maglambitin sa batok nito habang... Ohemgee! Saan nanggagaling ang malalaswang kaisipang iyon? Now, how can she look at him like nothing happened?

"We were naked, for goodness sake, Alex!" Napasabunot siya sa buhok. "Am I not allowed to feel awkward?"

"We were just naked. But nothing happened, Pepper. Please don't feel awkward." He looked at her with pleading eyes.

Pinigilan niya ang pag-igkas ng kilay. Nothing happened? Nothing?! Yung nangyari kagabi, wala lang iyon? Napabuga siya ng hininga. Nasabi na niyang wala siyang naaalala, dapat panindigan niya. Dapat pigilan niya ang sariling mag-react dahil tiyak mabubuko siya.

"I just don't want anything to change between us. Ayokong iwasan mo ako. Ayoko ng hindi mo ako tinitingnan."

May humaplos sa puso niya nang makita ang emosyon sa mga mata nito. Was he that afraid he'll lose her for what happened between them last night that's why he's telling her nothing happened? He told her he loved her, didn't he? Pati ba iyon, hindi nito sasabihin sa kanya?

"How can you worry about that now?" iwas niya sa maaaring maging takbo ng usapan. She will have this talk with Alex but not right now. Dapat iniintindi nila ang sasabihin sa mga magulang.

Kinakabahan siya sa maaring pag-uusap nila kaharap ang mga magulang. "Do you understand what is happening, Alex? We are both dead when we go out that door."

"Hey," anitong nilapitan siya at hinapit ang bewang niya. Her heart was ramming on her chest. "Don't worry. We will be fine." Napabuntong-hininga ito sabay kintal ng halik sa noo niya. That sweet gesture made her heart melt. "Wala namang nangyari kagabi," dagdag nito na hindi naitago ang panghihinayang sa boses. "But either way, pananagutan naman kita."

She gaped at him at his last statement. "Pananagutan? Like, marriage?"

Tumango ito. Nakatanga pa rin siyang nakatingin rito.
 
"Stop looking ridiculous, Pepper. It's not as if we're getting married. I'm just saying I am ready to face all consequences as long as it concerns you."