The Secrets We Keep (Completed)

Chapter Fifteen

"You'd have to let go of my hand sometime, Srefan. Hindi ako mawawala dito!" natatawang muling hinila ni JC ang kamay mula sa kanya, pero hindi niya iyon binitawan. Halos hindi niya inaalis ang tingin dito simula nang magising sila kaninang alas diez ng umaga.

It was a Sunday, different from all the Sundays they've spent together, or any other day for that matter, that they explored Memphis. Hindi niya inaasahang may kakayahan siyang maging ganito kasaya sa kabila ng buhay na mayroon sila. Tinanong pa niya ang sarili at matagal na pinagmasdan si JC nang magising na katabi niya kanina, baka kasi panaginip lang.

But it's real, she is real, and last night happened. They really spent the night together in his apartment, went to have breakfast in hers, and have been immersing themselves in soul, rock and roll that is Memphis.

Nauna nilang pinuntahan ang Sun Studio, kung saan nag-record ng earlier hits ng mga ito sina Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash at iba pa. Isinunod nila sng dating sinehan na ginawang recording studio at pinaglagakan ng samu't saring memorabilia na Stax Museum of American Soul Music, bago nag-take out ng late lunch mula sa dinarayong Central BBQ.

Over lunch, they chatted and tried to forget what danger may lie ahead of them after last night.

Pero hindi rin nakaligtas sa kanya ang paminsan-minsan ay pananahimik ni JC. Bigla na lang itong parang nahuhulog sa malalim na pag-iisip. May ilang beses na parang malungkot ito, may pagkakataong parang may gustong sabihin habang nakatingin sa kanya.

"Nagsisisi ka na ba? Agad? Ang bilis naman..." he tried to make it sound as if he was joking, but he couldn't help the slight catch in his voice.

Agad siyang uminom ng tubig. Hindi niya alam kung napansin ni JC ang bahagyang pagpiyok niya, pero ilang sandaling mataman siya nitong tiningnan, bago siya hinawakan sa braso.

"No, never," itinaas pa nito ang kamay. "Hindi talaga," ngumiti ito, pero hindi umabot sa mga mata. He dared not ask why. Sino ang magiging lubusan at tunay na masaya sa sitwasyon nila? "I just wish we have more time." dagdag ni JC.

Napalunok siya. "We'll have more time. At susulitin natin ang bawat segundong magkasama tayo." hinila niya ito palapit, niyakap at hinagkan sa sentido. '"Hindi ko alam kung paano ko gagawin, kung paanong mangyayari pero hindi palaging ganito, JC. One day, we'll get away from here and never live in fear again."

JC nodded, took a deep breath then looked at him. Malungkot pa rin ang ngiti nito at halatang hindi naniniwala sa sinabi niya. But he can dream, can't he? "One day..." mahinang ulit nito, bago inilapat ang mga palad sa magkabilang gilid ng kanyang mukha at hinila siya palapit.

Their lips met, and pressed, then opened up against each other while they both kept their eyes open. Parang pareho nilang kinakabisa ang nakikita sa bawat isa.

Sigurado siyang nangingislap sa luha ang mga mata niya, habang parang may nabubuo namang bagyo sa mga mata nito. JC's steady gaze was dark, determined and intense, and he wanted to lose himself in her eyes.

Maybe there, it's safer.

Bumaba ang mga kanay nito sa kanyang leeg at balikat, habang hinahagod niya ang likod nito kasunod ng halos sabay nilang pagpikit habang patuloy na hinahagkan ang isa't isa.

Twelve years of searching, of seeking justice and wanting to get answers. Abot kamay na niya, malapit na siya, at kung sakaling matapos niyang makuha ang nais ay sapitin din niya ang nangyari sa ama at kapatid ay handa na siya.

Then he had to meet JC. Less than five months of knowing her and he already felt like he's not the same man anymore.

"Hel-looo, Stefan? Hey, wake up! Huwag mo 'kong iwan! Come back to Graceland!"

He blinked, as he was pulled out of his thoughts. "I'm sorry," tumingin siya sa kamay ni JC na hawak pa rin niya, at sa paligid.

Paalis na sila sa Meditation Garden kung saan nakalibing sina Elvis Presley at mga kaanak nito. Bago sila napunta dito ay halos dalawang oras din sila sa pagtu-tour sa loob ng mansion at mga opisina.

It may look like just another grand estate from the outside but Graceland was proving to be quite an experience. He wasn't even that much of a fan but the mansion, the various rooms and quirky memorabilia, plus the history that went with each was quite fascinating.

"Stefan, are you okay?" nangungunot ang noong tanong nito habang magkahawak-kamay silang sumusunod sa guide papunta sa Automobile Museum.

"I'm good," sagot niya. "Medyo overwhelmed lang na nandito ka. It's kind of... too much to take in."

Umangat ang isang kilay nito. "Too much? Eh ang dalas nating magkasama."

"Not like this," humigpit ang hawak niya sa kamay nito. Itataas sana niya iyon para hagkan pero napahinto si JC at pumito habang namamanghang pinagmamasdan ang magarang koleksyon ng sasakyan sa harap nila.

"Didn't know you're into cars? Thought you're just into me." he teased.

"Shut up," natawa ito, "come, let's take a closer look at those babies."

Elvis' Automobile Museum houses 22 vehicles that Elvis drove or rode in during his life, including his 1955 pink Cadillac, 1973 Stutz Blackhawk, and his Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Bukod sa samu't saring retro vehicles ay kasama rin sa koleksyon ang dalawang Elvis-themed race cars: an Elvis NASCAR and an Elvis NHRA car. Naroon din ang Highway 51 Drive-in theater kung saan puwede silang manood ng isang documentary tungkol kay Elvis.

"Let's ditch the docu and just go see the jets?" bulong niya ksy JC na nakatitig sa Harley bike.

Amused na nilingon siya nito. "And then?"

He smiled. "Dinner."

She tilted her head to one side  "And...?"

"May iba kang ine-expect?" napangisi na siya. Parang sasabog ang dibdib niya sa saya. Fear and worry eem to have receded to the back of his mind, and he can't seem to contain his joy.

It has been the best Sunday ever but he also wanted to be alone with JC again. Her scent, her skin, her soft plump lips and her voice has been driving him crazy all day.

Pumaikot ang braso niya sa baywang nito habang iginigiya pasunod sa guide na magdadala sa kanila sa mga eroplano.

"What happens after dinner is up to you." he softly said as his lips grazed the side of her face  JC let out a tiny gasp, then slapped his chest. He just chuckled in response, all the way to the mock retro airport terminal where a video history of the airplanes is shown.

Matapos iyon sy sinamahan sila ng mga guide na bisitahin ang loob ng dalawang eroplano ni Elvis: ang Hounddog II at ang mas malaki at mas kilalang jet. That bigger one was called the Lisa Marie, with a vast living room and bedroom, named after The King's daughter.

"Up to me talaga?" JC's voice broke into his thoughts once again as they stood by the door of the bedroom.

"Uh, yeah. Of course." na-disorient siya saglit sa halos pabulong na tanong ni JC, sa paglapit ng mukha nito, sa pamumungay ng mga mata.

A corner of her mouth turned up. "Tara, dinner na tayo. Then I will tell you later what I've decided."