Chapter 3 - Shock

Vivere est vincere.

 That's what's tattooed inside his upper left arm. 

 I got a good view on it when he stood in front of me after he asked me for a drink, and I said yes because one, I would really love to have some drink and second, I would love to have that drink with him. Might not be a really bad idea. 

 Being exiled may not be a bad thing after all. I am not the flirt type, but I am in a place where I don't totally have a choice on how to have fun and saw this sexy creature instead. I smiled at him after I said 'sure' and he went in first. 

 Hindi ko alam kung saan na sya pumunta as I looked for Loraine. Napansin na lang namin habang nasa terrace sa second-floor kami na palabas na ang itim na chedeng nya. 

 “So anong sabi nya sayo bago kayo pumasok?” May naglalarong ngiti sa labi ni Loraine. 

 I sighed. “Nag aaya uminom.” 

 “Typical.” Naiiling na sabi nya. “Kaya pala umalis eh. Malamang bibili ng alak yan. Ubos na alak dito. Wala na rin scotch sa cellar.” 

 “So he always drink?” Natatawa na tanong ko. 

 “Medyo..” Parang hindi pa sya sure. “Madalas din may 'special someone' syang kasama at nagkukulong sila sa attic buong gabi 

 Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. “So he brings girls here?” 

 Tinawanan ako ni Loraine. “Ano sa tingin mo? Kita mo kung gaano kagandang lalaki si Ethan, eh. Dami naghahabol dyan. Minsan magugulat na lang kami ni Nanay na may halos hubad na babae syang kasama na kumakain sa dining room.” 

 Napangiwi ako. “Eww.” Typical nga. 

 Bigla ay kung anu anong image na ang nakikita ko sa isip ko. Ethan at the top of some girl and they are both naked. Yuck! 

 Umiling iling ako. Hindi naman sa maarte. I know a few guys exactly like him but liking someone like that is the first. 

 Well, tama naman si Loraine. Ethan's ridiculously good looking and very sexy. Ako nga mismo parang gusto na himasin ang abs nya pababa sa v-line nya. And damn it, he makes me think of dirty things! Ganito ba talaga kapag matagal nang walang lalaki sa buhay o talagang ganito lang ang epekto ni Ethan? 

 Nagpaalam si Loraine after a while dahil tutulungan nya daw sa green house ang Nanay nya. 

 And there I was again, alone and bored. 

 Nakatunganga lang ako sa mga puno while sitting at the terrace of the room I was using. Nagkusa na ako na kumuha ng saging at fresh milk for snack sa kusina. Nahihiya talaga ako na utusan si Loraine o ang Nanay nya. At naiinis ako sa sarili ko for it. I am not here to make friends, and they are here for my comfort. 

 My phone rang and I almost chocked on the banana I was eating when I saw who's calling. It was Rareez. Wala nga pala akong pinagsabihan ng biglaang pagka exiled ko. It would be embarrassing! Tiningnan ko lang ang cellphone ko hanggang sa tumigil ang pag ring. After a while ay nakatanggap ako ng message from her.

 Where are you? Me and the girls are up for party tonight. Call me back.

 I groaned in annoyance. Magpaparty sila while I am stuck at this place at tanging mga puno at halaman ang makikita ko. Well, there's also this very hot specie na inaya ako uminom but he's not here at the moment so wala akong choice kung hindi mga puno pa rin ang bagsak ng mga mata ko. 

 Nag iisip ako ng irereply when he sent me another message.

Remember Jeremy Smith, the hunk we met two weeks ago? We hooked up and the rumors are true. He's very good in every way. I'll send you the pics on your f******k! Call me back!

 Damn it! I silently cursed. I don't have an internet connection and this bitch really did get another fling of the month! My bestfriends are kind of liberated at kahit virgin pa ako, let's just say that their stories already took my innocence away. I love hearing them tell their juicy stories. I have my fair share of 'wild' encounters but I kept myself intact. 

 I don't know, it's just a thing. When someone tries to pop my cherry, parang nagigising ako bigla sa katotohana, tipsy, drunk or not. I have had a few strings of boyfriends and flings since college pero wala sa kanila ang nakapagparamdam sa akin na sila na ang dapat. 

 And I can still party, be wild and have fun while still having my v-card. 

 I was staring at the message on my phone when I thought of a great idea.

Sorry Reez. I'm out of town with someone. Can't join you and the girls.

 My phone rang and it's her. This time ay sinagot ko na iyon. 

 “Where the hell are you at sino ang kasama mo?” May himig pag aakusa na sabi nya. I can really trust Trixie, mukhang hindi nya sinabi kila Rareez ang nangyari sa hotel. 

 “Isabela.” Matipid na sagot ko. 

 “And?” Parang nakikinita ko na ang pagtaas ng kilay ni Rareez. 

 “And I am with someone! Hindi ko pa alam kung kailan ang balik ko. I kind of enjoying here.” Pagsisinungaling ko. Over my dead body bago ko sabihin that I got exiled by my own father and sister. 

 “Oh my gosh. Is that even a place?” Maarteng tanong nya sa kabilang linya. I rolled my eyeballs. “Since when do you enjoy not being in the city?” Okay, she knows me too well. 

 I cleared my throat. “Since I have a hunk for a vacation buddy!” Nabulalas ko na lang.  

 Well, at least I can let them believe na kaya ako makakatagal dito ay dahil may kasama akong lalaki. I can just let them believe na vacation date ko si Ethan and everything will be fine. That I wouldn't have to tell them the real reason I am here.  

 “Are you serious? Sino? Do we know him?” 

 “No, I don't think so. But, you'll meet him soon.” Okay, I was taking this a little too far. 

 Pero hindi naman siguro aabot pa sa ganon, I can just tell them once na makabalik na ako sa Manila even though I don't know when, na fling lang sya at wala na kaming communication.  

 Yes, I am so smart! 

 “You little slut! Sumama ka mag out of town sa lalaking ni hindi namin kilala? Saan mo yan nakilala? Kailan? What does he look like?” 

 Tinawana ko lang sya. “Calm down. I'll tell you the story soon.” Because I really can't think of anything right now and I still have to rehearse.

 “Ugh! That better be worth it. Hanggang kailan ka ba dyan? Send me a pic.” 

 “Later, wala pa sya.” Which is true and I really intend to take a picture of Ethan at alam ko naman na hindi ako mapapahiya. “Anyway, tell me about Jeremy.” And that made the trick. 

 Naubos ang oras namin kaka kwento nya tungkol kay Jeremy Smith and honestly, I have never been relieved. When I saw Ethan's car coming in from the gate, nagpaalam na ako kay Rareez and promised her to send a picture of the guy I am with later. 

 Nag shower ako ulit at hindi ako lumabas ng kwarto until Loraine knocked at tinawag ako para sa hapunan. Hindi ko na namalayan na gabi na, nawili ako kakalaro ng games sa cellphone ko. My phone internet's a bitch, wala akong magawa sa bagal kaya nainis lang ako. 

 Nasa hapag na si Ethan, Loraine at ang Nanay nya nang bumaba ako. 

 “Kain na! Upo ka na.” Magiliw na bati ni Loraine. Umupo ako sa tabi nya. 

 Ethan's already eating. He was just wearing a black wife beater and his broad shoulders and biceps are very visible. Ugh! I really feel like caressing every inch of his toned body. Ang kinis kinis pa. Yung tattoo nya pati parang ang sarap i trace ng mga daliri ko. 

 “Ayaw mo ba ng ulam?” Tanong ni Aling Tess maya maya. 

 God, nahuli ba nila ako na nakatitig kay Ethan? Lahat sila ngayon ay nakatingin na sa akin. 

 “P-po?”  

 “Ayaw mo ba ng dinuguan? Hindi ka ba kumakain nyan?” Si Loraine naman ang nagtanong. 

 Tiningnan ko ang ulam. Damn. Dinuguan? What is this? 

 “Hindi pa ako nakaka kain nyan..” Nahihiyang sabi ko. 

 Oh gosh. Heto na naman ako. Dapat kasi nagsabi ako ng gusto kong kainin, eh. 

 “Masarap, you should try it.” Kibit balikat na sabi ni Ethan. 

 I caught my breathe at muling tiningnan ang ulam. It looked appetizing pero yung kulay nya kasi ang nagpapa bother sa akin. 

 “What is that made of?” 

 Nagkatinginan si Loraine at si Ethan. And I don't know why lalo akong nahiya. God! 

 Tumayo bigla si Aling Thelma. “Pasensya na, hindi namin naisip na pwedeng hindi ka kumakain nyan, Lulutuan na lang kita ng ibang ulam.” 

 “Ay! Sandali po.” Bigla akong napa tayo. Tiningnan ko ulit ang dinuguan na nasa mesa. “Titikman ko po, m-mukha naman masarap.”  

 “Karne ng baboy yan, masarap, I swear!” Sabi ni Loraine na kumuha ng kaunti at inilagay sa plato ko. 

 Umupo ako at dahan dahan na dinala sa bibig ko ang kutsara na may laman na ulam. Okay, masarap naman talaga sya. 

 “M-masarap po.” Ngumiti ako. “Kakain po ako nito.” 

 Kita ko ang relief sa mukha nila Loraine at Aling Thelma at na relieved din ako. Si Ethan naman ay kumakain lang ng walang imik. Si Loraine pa ang nagkusa na luwagan ako at kahit sinabi ko na ako na ay wala na akong nagawa dahil todo ngiti pa sya habang ginagawa iyon. 

 Naunang nagpaalam si Ethan na tapos na sya. “I'll knock later, okay?” Biglang sabi nya sa akin. 

 Nangunot noo ko because of confusion then I realized na nag aya nga pala sya uminon. “Oh. Okay.” Sabi ko na lang. 

 Walang expression na tumango sya at umakyat. 

 “Nako, malakas uminom yan si Ethan, baka di mo kayanin yan.” Biglang sabi ni Aling Thelma na natatawa pa. 

 “Ay, medyo marunong din naman po ako uminom.” Not bragging but I know my alcohol. 

 “Ikaw Loraine, sama ka?” Nilingon ko si Loraine. 

 This dinuguan dish is really dang good. I swear nagpapak pa ako after ko maubos ang kanin na niluwag sa akin ni Loraine. 

 “Sorry, hindi ako umiinom at maaga pa kami mamamalengke ni Nanay.” Tanggi nya. 

 “Pinainom yan isang beses ng mga kapatid nya, isang baso lang ng beer ay tulog na. Kaya delikado uminom yan.” Natatawa pa na sabi ni Aling Thelma. 

 “Nanay naman. Matagal na 'yon.” Parang nahihiya na sabi ni Loraine.  

 Natawa ako. “Effective pala na pampatulog ang beer sayo.” Sabi ko na lang. 

 Tumawa kaming tatlo. 

 Pagkatapos ko sila maka kwentuhan ay umakyat na ako. Never ko pa maranasan na magkaroon ng kwentuhan kasama sila Daddy o si Ate whenever we eat. Kailangan ay hindi kami maingay, kailangan ay may finesse ang bawat pag nguya.  And it kind of refreshing lalo na at magiliw kausap ang mag ina. 

 I lay on my bed habang nakikinig sa tugtog ng cellphone ko. After thirty minutes ay may kumatok. Pasimple akong tumingin sa life size mirror bago ko buksan ang pinto. It's Ethan. May dala syang  basket. 

 “Hey.” Tumango sya sa akin when I opened the door. 

 T<i>angina nakakagigil! Ang gwapo!</i> 

 “H-hey.” Mahinang sabi ko. 

 Pumasok sya at inilapag sa coffee table ang dala nyang basket tapos pasalampak sya na naupo sa sofa. He was wearing the same wife beater but he smelled of soap. Naligo sya. 

      

 I stood in front of him. 

 “Shall we start?” Naka ngiti na tanong nya. 

 “Ikaw.” Kibit balikat na sabi ko. I was holding my phone. One click and I can take a pic of Ethan and send it to Rareez. Pagtatyagaan ko na lang ang bagal ng internet ko. 

 Dumukwang sya at nilabas ang mga laman ng basket. Jack Daniels. 

 May yelo at sliced fruits na nasa tupperware din. I sat next to him. There's no use in being shy. Aside sa mga nalaman ko kay Loraine tungkol sa lalaking ito ay mukha talagang game sya. I know men like him. I've been with men like him. 

 He opened the bottle and poured our shot glasses. 

 Mabilis ko iyon na kinuha at ininom. Ninamnam ko ang init na hagod ng alak sa lalamunan ko. I closed my eyes and when I opened it, ang naka ngisi at ang gwapong mukha ni Ethan ang naka tunghay sa akin. Ilang inches lang ang layo nya sa akin at dahil sa gulat ay napa atras ako. 

 “What?” Taas kilay na tanong ko. 

 “You looked deprived.” He chuckled. 

 “Well, I'm supposed to be partying with my friends but here I am, stuck -” 

 “With me.” Mabilis na putol nya sa sasabihin ko. “Which is not that bad, if you'll think about it.” 

 Ngumiti ako. “I guess. We'll see.” 

 Ngumisi sya, God, am I really flirting with him? 

 He poured another shot after he drank his. We became really close after a few more shot and flirting and before I knew it ay naka upo na ako sa hita nya paharap sa kanya. His hands were at my back and he pulled me close. When his lips met mine, pakiramdam ko ay uminom ako ng tubig mula sa matinding pagka uhaw. 

 His lips were soft and sweet and I instantly became smitten. I can hear the notifications on my phone pero hindi ko na iyon mabigyan ng pansin. I heard my phone rang and I just clicked any button to stop it. 

 Napa hiyaw ako nang tumayo bigla si Ethan carrying me like I was weighing none. Ipinulupot ko sa leeg nya ang mga braso ko for support. He was on top of me when we landed at the bed. My phone was left on the sofa. 

 I caressed his face. “Alam mo, ang gwapo mo.” I chuckled. 

 “Sabi nga nila.” 

 “And sexy.” I feel like I'm losing my mind. 

 “Yep.” Nakangiti na sabi nya pa.  

 I felt my body shivering as a response to his touch. I've had a few exes na nakarating sa second base but that's just it. I am always in control. And I know that I can stop Ethan if I think it's too much already. All I want is to feel him even just for a bit. 

 But when he started to undress me, hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ako tumututol. He's already naked. his underwear and his obvious raging bulge is all I can see. Of course, there's this six packs abs, v line and everything about his body that screams perfection. My hands started to be all over him and I heard him moan a few times. 

 I moaned when I felt his finger touched my folds. He kissed me hard and I responded. I should stop him but damn it, masyadong masarap lahat ng ginagawa nya. 

 “You make me so damn hard.” He whispered in between his kisses. 

 I responded with a moan. 

 Napakagat ako ng labi when I felt his manhood pressed into me. Damn, is it really the right time for me to be a complete woman? 

 Ang sarap sarap pakinggan ng paghinga at pag ungol ni Ethan. I felt him hold his thing and poked it into my entrance. I closed my eyes tightly. This is happening! 

 He pushed a little more until I heard him cursed. 

 “Fuck. You're a virgin?!” 

 I opened my eyes and saw his face full of shock.