6 - Kiss

YASMIR SIERRA

I found myself repeatedly checking my phone and then shifting my gaze back to my computer screen, growing increasingly anxious as I waited for a call that never seemed to come.

Napaangat ang tingin ko sa pintuan ng opisina ko, at isinilid ni Eli ang kanyang ulo.

"Lunch, Mir." Napatingin ako sa oras at alas onse palang ng umaga. Huminga naman ako ng malalim at binulsa ang cellphone.

Iniligpit ko muna ang nakakalat na dokyumento sa lamesa ko bago tumayo.

"Oh? Asan si Miss Hira? Hindi ko ata nakikita assistant mo?" Takang tanong ni Eli nang makalapit ako sa kanya at inakbayan ako. Mas matangkad ito ng isa o dalawang dangkal saakin.

"Bakit mo naman hinahanap ang assistant ko?" Kunot-noong tanong ko sa kanya.

"Kasi crush ko?" Sinamaan ko ito ng tingin na ikinatawa niya.

"Woah, easy boss." Nawala ang pagkakaakbay nito saakin, pero nakangisi parin ng malaki.

"Pero crush ko talaga siya," napalagay pa ang kamay nito sa baba na para bang nag-iisip.

"She's cute, hot, gorgeous, and beautiful, ano pa ba?" Nakangisi naman itong napatingin saakin na kaagad kong inirapan at naglakad papalayo.

Pagpasok ko ng cafeteria ay kaagad kong inilibot ang tingin para hanapin ang mga kasamahan ni Hira. I'm sure lunchtime narin nila.

Kaagad akong pumila at nag-take out ng mga masusustansyang pagkain.

"Oh, para saan 'yan?" Tanong ni Eli na hindi ko pinansin. Muli kong inilibot ang tingin at nakita ko ang mga babaeng kasamahan ni Hira, dahil sa pareho silang unipormeng suot.

"Morning, ladies." Bati ko sa kanila.

"Can you give this to, Hira?" I asked. Nagkatinginan naman silang tatlo na puno ng pagtataka.

"She's sick. And maybe hindi pa siya kumakain. Pinauwi ko kanina dahil bahing ng bahing." Sagot ko na ikinatango nila.

Ngumiti naman ang isang babae na may mala berdeng kulay ng mga mata.

"Okay, doc. Ihahatid ko rin after nito. Nasa tapat lang po naman ang dorm namin." Tumango ako sa sinabi nito kaya kaagad akong bumalik sa pwesto kung nasaan si Eli kasama na ngayon si Lucas at Liana.

Liana is Lucas' sister. Mukhang magkaaway na naman ang dalawa dahil nakasimangot si Liana.

"Yasmir!" Bati nito at biglang naging masaya ng makita ako.

"Liana," bati ko rin sa kanya. Five-year gap kami kay Liana, at tulad ni Hira, OJT din ito, pero sa ibang school nga lang.

"Yasmir, do you have free time this Saturday?" Napaisip ako if may bakante ba ako.

"Not quite sure; let's check on that later." Sabi ko. Para ko narin kasing kapatid itong si Liana, dahil wala nga kaming mga kapatid na babae o pinsang babae.

Sinumpa ata ang pamilya namin na hindi makakaanak ng babae at puro kami Lalaki. However, it also benefits our lolo.

He can set us up with his business partners' daughter to be our fiancé. At dahil lalaki kami at Sierra, madali lang siyang nakakahanap ng ipapartner saamin.

Pero so far, si Eros, Ethan, and Errol palang ang sumunod sa kagustuhan ni lolo.

Eros is deeply enamored with Samantha, to the extent that he has impregnated her and they are set to be married in a few months.

As for Ethan, it's hard to determine if he's capable of love, given his seemingly emotionless demeanor. It appears he has chosen to guard himself against being hurt, preventing anyone from daring to trample on his feelings. However, I've noticed a positive change in his relationship with Seraphina. I hope Sera can truly influence Ethan and help him embrace a more lighthearted approach to life. His seriousness seems to be rubbing off on others.

As for Errol, bubuo narin sana ng pamilya kung hindi lang naaksidente ang fiancé nito dahilan para mawala ang anak nilang one-month palang nasa sinapupunan. After three weeks of grieving, Louisa killed herself in sadness, which made Errol lose his mind.

***

As I was preparing to leave, Fiona approached me, her demeanor tense and irritated. I was still organizing the documents I needed to take back to my condo for further work.

"I'm tired of waiting, Yasmir," she exclaimed, her frustration evident in her voice, a sentiment that oddly amused me.

"I didn't deliberately keep you waiting, Fiona," I replied, maintaining my composure as I gathered my belongings and made my way toward the door.

"True, you didn't intentionally make me wait, but you also haven't taken any action regarding our arranged marriage, Yasmir," she shot back, her gaze piercing as she confronted me.

"What exactly do you expect me to do, then?" I inquired coldly as we walked side by side.

"Cancel the arrangement?" I suggested, knowing full well the disdain that would likely flicker in her eyes at the notion.

Her reaction confirmed my expectations, her expression twisting with evident disgust at my proposal.

"See, you don't even want it," I stated as I took a step forward and walked past her.

Fiona is undeniably stunning, elegant, wealthy, and intelligent. Everything about her is the epitome of every woman's dream. She's the envy of every woman due to her possessions, as well as her personality. She's kind, caring, and loving. But that's just one side of her—the facade she shows to the world. Only I know the real Fiona, and it's the reason I'm reluctant to marry her.

"But why didn't you stop it? You could have just canceled it, Yasmir!" she exclaimed in frustration. I chuckled as I remembered that indeed, I could have done just that.

However, both of our families are currently involved in launching the largest cruise ship in the world. Terminating the contract would be disastrous, especially considering that our grandfather had invested a significant amount of money in the venture to fulfill his dream of the ultimate cruise experience.

"Well, get to that soon, Fiona," I uttered tersely before storming off, my anger fueling my steps as I headed back to my condo.

Damn it. How am I supposed to terminate the contract now? Paying back Lolo would require billions. This is a mess.

Throughout the night, Ethan and I engaged in a lengthy discussion about investments and how to terminate the contract. However, we constantly clashed because there seemed to be no viable solution within my reach.

Ethan, being the head of Black Stone Investment Company, undoubtedly had a better understanding of investments than I did. 

***

Badtrip akong nagpunta sa ospital, pero pagdating ko ng opisina ay nakita ko si Hira na kumakatok sa pintuan ng opisina ko. Nakasuot ito ng kanyang uniporme. Bakit siya nandito? Hindi ba't may sakit ito?

Tinanong ko siya kung anong ginagawa nito, at sinagot lang ako na magre-report. Tingin ko e mukhang ayos narin naman ito kaya pumasok ako sa loob ng opisina at hinayaang nakabukas iyon dahil kay Hira.

I was about to give her the tasks, since hindi ko naibigay iyon sa kanya kahapon dahil sa pagiging clumsy nito nang tanungin ko ulit kung okay na ba siya.

Nag oo naman ito, kaya muli akong napatingin sa computer para tapusin ang mga naiwang trabaho.

"You don't need to be with me all the time, sa private ward ka naka-assign diba?" Tanong ko sa kanya ng hindi siya binabalingan ng tingin.

Nagulat ako sa biglang pagbahing nito. Napatingin ako sa kanya na galit ang ekspresyong binigay sa kanya. Napansin kong napalunok ito.

Why did she lie?

"You're still sick, Miss Hira." Galit kong sabi sa kanya. Nasa ospital siya, malaking chances na mas mahawaan pa siya ng ibang viruses dahil sa mahina ang immune system niya. Nurse ba talaga siya?

Nakikipagtalo pa ito saakin. Wala ako sa mood, Miss Hira.

"You should've known better if you're a nurse, Miss Hira." Galit kong sabi sa kanya.

I don't intend to offend her, but it's against hospital protocol for someone who's sick to be working here. We prioritize the health and safety of everyone, and having someone with a weakened immune system in the hospital puts them at risk of contracting other viruses.

Sure, this is a hospital, and we can provide treatment. However, for something as simple as a cold, rest is often the best remedy. If symptoms worsen, we can run tests to determine the cause and provide appropriate treatment. But in Hira's case, I know why she fell ill, and she simply needs some time off to recuperate.

Gusto niya pang pilitan na okay ito, pero hindi saakin. I don't tolerate this kind of behavior, not in my hospital, not among my people.

Before she could depart, I inquired whether she had partaken of the meal I had prepared for her. Her response was a playful retort, "Because I'm not a goat." Her witty comeback caught me off guard, but I managed to regain my composure. There was something undeniably endearing about her, even when she was pouting and expressing her frustration.

Instead of laughing at her jokes, napakunot ako ng kilay.

"I'm not vegetarian, doc." Ramdam ko ang inis at galit nito, pero nanatili din itong kalmado.

Upon learning that she would be assigned to the private ward, I promptly contacted the ward and instructed them to refrain from assigning any tasks to Hira.

Kaagad akong bumaba at pumunta ng cafeteria, pagbilhan siya ng pagkaing makakain na niya. Bumalik ako sa opisina ko para gumawa ng hot citrus tea. Nilagyan ko narin ng medicine ang paperbag at hinintay siya sa elevator.

Saktong pagbukas nito ay siya nalang mag-isa. Bagsak ang balikat nito, at hindi kita ang labi nito dahil nakasuot ito ng surgical masks to stop her from spreading the virus.

"Here's your meal, no vegetables, just pork and chicken," I began, considering adding shrimp or other seafood, but refrained in case of allergies. "Hot citrus tea is also provided, along with your medication. Remember to take it every four hours, and please keep me updated on your condition," I advised her sternly, emphasizing my role as her doctor and the importance of compliance with medical instructions.

Muli itong bumahing, kaya pinagalitan ko ito. Kaagad niya namang kinuha ang paper bag na dala ko, kaya tinanggal ko na ang pagkakaharang ng paa ko sa elevator at hinayaan siyang umuwi.

***

Mag-aalas tres na nang hindi parin ito nagte-text saakin, kaya wala akong nagawa ngayong araw kundi hintayin ang text nito. Nakakabwiset. Nakakaasar. Bakit ba ganon epekto niya saakin?

She made me wait, which I never done before. It irritates me, dahil sa pagiging tigasin nito.

Naalala kong nasa tapat lang ang dorm nila, kaya pinuntahan ko ito. Nasa tapat ako ng gate ng dorm nila, nakasandal sa sasakyan ko.

Naghihintay na parang tanga dito sa tapat ng dorm nila.

Napaangat ang tingin ko nang bumukas ang gate at nakita ko ang mga kaibigan ni Miss Hira, mukhang aalis dahil nakabihis ang mga ito.

"Oh, doc, ano pong ginagawa niyo rito?" Tanong ng isa sa kanila. I don't know their names.

"Where's Miss Hira?" Sa tanong ko ay nagkatinginan silang tatlo sa paraang hindi ko maintindihan. Ngumisi naman sila, pero sinagot din ang tanong ko

"She's still sleeping, doc, but if you want to visit her, our kwarto is nasa pinaka last sa second floor," maarteng sabi ng isa sa kanila, na conyo pa.

Tumango ako sa sinabi nila at kinuha ang paper bag na may lamang pagkain para ibigay sa kanya ang pagkain. Maybe she didn't eat, again.

Dinala ako ng mga paa ko sa sinabi ng mga kaibigan ni Hira. Sumandal ako sa tapat ng pintuan nila, sa may railings, dahil hindi ko magawang kumatok sa pintuan nila.

Napahikab ako ng makaramdam ng antok, wala akong tulog kagabi. And here I am, instead of resting, I'm waiting.

Shit. I'm a Sierra and no one could ever made me wait.

Dumidilim na pero hindi parin ata siya nagiging kasi madilim parin sa kwarto nila. Napatingin ako sa wrist watch ko at nakita kong malapit na mag alas siyete ng gabi. Huminga ako ng malalim at iiwan na sana ang paperbag sa pintuan ng bumukas ang ilaw.

She's awake. I just wait for more seconds.

Hindi ko mapigilang ngumiti. I felt my heart beating so fast and loudly that I couldn't hear anything. Damn.

Bumukas ang pintuan at kaagad din 'yun nasara nang makita niya ako. Napatawa ako ng mahina dahil sa naiwang gulat na ekspresyon nito sa utak ko.

Damn. Why she's cute? Ang sarap kurutin ng pisngi nito. Aahh, she's really like a lost cute kitten.

Muling bumukas ang pintuan at tinanong niya ako kung anong ginagawa ko sa tapat ng kwarto nila, pero napansin ko na nakasuot pa ito ng uniporme nila kaya nagtanong ako.

"Hindi ka nakapagbihis?" Tanong ko na dahilan para mapakamot ito sa batok na parang nahihiya kasi pinagalitan ng boyfriend.

A boyfriend? Adorable, but I steer clear of relationships. A fling? Is that what this is? I'm uncertain. All I know is, I want to be around her constantly, to never let her out of my sight. She's incredibly stunning.

"Ano pong ginagawa niyo rito, doc?" she asked again, changing the topic.

I observe that she's still dressed in her uniform and immediately drifted off to sleep upon entering the room. So why is she insisting she's fit to carry on with her responsibilities when clearly, she's this exhausted? Is she out of her mind?

"Kakagising mo lang? You didn't take your meds? How about the tea? Hindi ka kumain? Anong oras na?" Sunod-sunod na tanong ko, pero hindi ito sumagot. Kunot-noong akong napatingin sa kanya ng ngumiti ito.

Is there something to smile about?

"Hello, back to earth, Miss Hira!" Napatingin ito saakin.

"You're not answering my goddamn questions." Inis kong sabi sa kanya, pero napaismid ito.

"Hindi mo rin naman sinasagot ang tanong ko, Doc." I groaned. Right, hindi ko din sinasagot ang tanong nito. Tsk.

Matapos ang mahabang diskusyon e, pinapasok narin ako ni Hira sa loob ng kwarto nila. I looked around and saw how clean their room was. May mga gamit lang talaga na wala sa ayos tulad ng mga nursing books, pens, and papers.

May kalakihan ang kwarto nila. Two bunk beds na magkatabi, habang nasa tapat naman ang apat na study table na magkatapat ang dalawang lamesa. Sa tabi naman ng pintuan nila ay ang mini kitchen at nasa dulo naman ng bunk beds ay ang maliit na balcony.

This room is enough for them. But it's smaller than my room in our mansion and condo.

Nagpaalam kanina si Hira na itatapon na niya muna ang basura, pero hindi pa ito bumabalik at ilang minuto na. May nangyari ba sa kanya?

Hindi ko mapigilang bumaba, kaya naman ay napababa ako. Hinalikan siya ng lalaki, naikuyom ko ang kamao ko.

Why am I getting mad? Hindi naman kami kaano-ano ni Hira.

Babalik na sana ako sa kwarto nila Hira ng marinig ko ang mahinang sigaw ni Hira.

"Klaude, stop!" Nagmamakaawa ito at ramdam ko ang panginginig sa boses ng dalaga.

Napansin kong marahas niyang hinahalikan si Hira at nakita ko ding nasa hinaharap ni Hira ang kamay ng binata, marahas niya itong hinawakan. Napansin ko ang mahinang paghikbi ni Hira.

Shit. Kaagad akong lumapit at sinuntok ng malakas ang lalaki. Napahiga ito sa sahig.

I shook my hand to release the pain I was feeling. Ang tigas ng mukha niya. Shit.

Napabaling ako kay Hira na bumagsak sa sahig, nanginginig, at umiiyak ang kaninang hikbi ay lumalakas.

"Are you okay, Hira? Fuck." Umangat ito ng tingin saakin at mahigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa braso kong nakahawak sa magkabilang braso nito.

Ilang sandali lang ay nahimatay ito.

"Fuck." Inis kong mura at napatingin sa lalaki, dumadaing ito sa sakit habang sinusubukang mapaupo.

Muli kong binalingan nang tingin si Hira, at binuhat ito para dalhin sa kwarto nila, at nilapag sa higaan nito. Hindi ko alam kung higaan niya ba iyon, pero nilapag ko nalang siya rito para makapagpahinga siya.

Ang dapat na sipon lang ay naging lagnat. Umaapoy siya ng lagnat ngayon. Damn that man! I swear if I'm going to see him again, I'll make sure he'll root in jail for fvking sexualizing, Hira.

Naghanap ako ng face towel, argh. This is not my thing! Ang mangialam ng gamit.

I called Lucas to bring me some cooling pads for her fever. Ilang sandali lang ay sinalubong niya ako sa gate. Nagtanong pa ito kung aanhin, pero hindi ko na siya sinagot at sinarado ang pinto.

Wala narin ang ungas na iyon, mabuti nalang dahil kung hindi ay baka mapatay ko pa.

Pagbalik ko sa kwarto nila Hira ay napansin kong nakaupo na ito sa kama. Humihikbi.

"Hira," tawag ko sa kanya, pero hindi ako pinansin.

Lumapit ako at hinawakan siya sa balikat, pero kaagad itong napaatras. Shit.

"It's me, Hira, Yasmir." Pagkasabi ko noon ay umangat ang tingin nito.

Tumayo ito ay niyakap ako. Ramdam ko ang pagkakahigpit ng kapit nito sa suot kong damit.

Umiiyak siya, I couldn't help but to hug her, and comfort her. I rubbed her back to make her feel better.

It pained me to see her like this. She almost got raped by that man.

Medyo lumuwag ang pagkakayakap nito, at umangat ang tingin nito saakin.

"T-take me, Yasmir. Kiss me. Make me f-forget." She almost whispered.

Nasa leeg at mukha ko ang kanyang dalawang kamay, nagmamakaawa. Damn.

"I-I can't, Hira." Hindi ko kaya, dahil kapag ginawa ko, feel ko mababaliw ako sa kanya.

Shit. I don't want to lose my mind because of a woman. But, dang, since she kissed me that night, I can't forget about her.

"Please, Yasmir..." Napahawak ako sa mukha nito, at inilapit ko ang ulo nito saakin at hinalikan ang noo.

But I was taken aback by her action because after I kissed her forehead, she kissed me on the lips. I've been yearning to taste her lips again, and now she's kissing me once more. I can't resist any longer.

I responded to her kiss with equal fervor, trying my best not to trigger her earlier trauma. But the intensity of our kiss escalated quickly, becoming hotter and more passionate.

Both of us were gasping for air when I finally broke the kiss. She was panting too. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to regain control over myself. I felt myself getting aroused. Damn it.

I can't allow myself to be tempted.

"We should stop this, eat, take your medications, and sleep." Sabi ko sa kanya at aalis na sana para ipaghanda siya ng pagkain ng humigpit ang pagkakahawak nito sa laylayan ng damit ko.

"Please," she whispered.

"No," giit ko. Fuck. Grabe na ang pagpipigil na ginawa ko. She's dangerously hot for Pete's sake! Malamig ang kwarto dahil sa aircon, pero nag-iinit ako sa ginagawa niya.

"No, Hira. May lagnat ka." Giit ko at binitawan ang pagkakahawak nito sa laylayan ng damit ko.

Damn. She's burning because of a fever, pero ako itong napapaso sa init niyang dala! This is not normal. This is weird. And it's making me insane. Damnit.