Chapter Six

TENNYSON woke up with a jolt.

She had this odd feeling na may nanonood sa kanya habang natutulog siya for the rest of the night. Wala sa loob niyang hinawakan ang batok niya; feeling a chill run up her spine sa kabila ng kalagitnaan ng summer at nakapatay ang air conditioning unit niya bago sinipat ang braso niya; the tiny hairs on her arm raising on its ends. 

Tennyson shrugged off the uncomfortable feeling and turned to her right upang ipagpatuloy ang pagtulog ng may makapa siyang basa sa gilid ng kama niya. She was instantly on the alert at sinipat ang kamay. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya ng makitang may bahid ng dugo ang kamay kaya naman agad siyang napatalon paalis ng higaan. She was still in a panic ng hilahin niya ang puting comforter and nearly screamed ng makita ang katawan ni Amanda San Juan sa kama niya; her eyes wide open at nakatitig sa kanya.

“You killed me…”

Marahas siyang umiling doon. “N-No…”

“You killed me…”

“No!”

“You killed me!”

There was a long, serated knife on her bloody hand at habang patuloy si Amanda sa pag-akusa sa kanya ay hindi na niya napigilan ang sarili at inundayan ito ng saksak. “NO!”

—

“TENNYSON, are you still with me?”

Gulat na bumaling si Tennyson kay Alvin bago kumurap. She glanced around and quickly recognized his office bago blangko ang utak na inabot ang tasa ng kape; blowing on the coffee first bago sumimsim doon. “I’m fine.”

“Parang ang layo ng nilakbay mo.” Anito sa seryosong tinig bagaman walang halong sarcasm. He dropped the files on the center table and occupied the vacant space in front of her. Nabigla pa siya ng abutin nito ang mukha niya; holding her chin up to examine her face. “Hindi ka ba nakatulog ng maayos?”

“I did. Just—bad dream.” There’s no use lying to Alvin Montemayor lalo pa at alam niyang kukulitin lang siya ng binata; wearing her out more than she already was hanggang sa wala na siyang ibang pagpipilian kung hindi ang sabihin dito ang totoo. “I had a dream about Amanda; pinagbibintangan niya akong pumatay sa kanya.”

“Alam mong hindi totoo iyan.” Si Alvin bago tuluyang binitiwan ang mukha niya. “It’s only normal na nananaginip ka tungkol sa kanila. Their deaths had been… brutal.”

“Inhuman. They were butchered like animals.” Halos pabulong na sambit niya. “All to send a message to me.”

“Why did you think na para sa iyo ang mensaheng ito, Ten?”

“Lahat sila ay galing sa unibersidad na pinapasukan ko.” She stated, matter-of-fact. “I’m the only common denominator here, Alvin. “

“Kung gayon ay bumalik tayo sa bakit? Did you make enemies, Tennyson?”

“I-I don’t know, Alvin. All of my enemies are behind bars.” Wala sa loob niyang sinapo ang ulo. Ever since the nightmare ay kanina pa sumasakit ang ulo niya; there was something beating painfully sa sentido niya. Ininuman na niya iyon ng aspirin ngunit hindi pa rin mawala-wala. And now, she couldn’t even function like a normal human being. “Dammit.”

Tuluyan ng inabandona ni Alvin ang upuan niya upang lumapit sa kanya; gently touching her hunched and defensive shoulders na tila ba pino-protektahan niya ang sarili niya mula kung saan. “Tell me what’s wrong, Ten.”

Umiling siya. “Headache.” And voices. 

Gulat na bumaling sa kanya ang binata. Maski siya ay nadama ang bahagyang paninigas ng katawan nito kaya madali din niyang nilinga ito. “I heard your thoughts.”

Tennyson wasn’t sure kung matutuwa ba siya doon. But regardless, she was equally fascinated with the idea of someone reading her mind… hearing her deepest and darkest thoughts… understanding kung anong pinagdadaanan niya dahil sa mga isiping iyon. And then, she remembered something na sinabi ng binata. “You said I have an impenetrable mind shield.”

Alvin said, “Kung ano man ang nangyayari sa iyo, then those shields are down.” Dali-daling umayos ng upo ang binata at hinawakan ang magkabilang pisngi niya; staring deep into her eyes na tila ba may hinahanap ito. Tennyson…

Tennyson gasped; gulat na napalayo sa binata. “W-What was that?”

“You’re a receiver.” Si Alvin na matiim pa ring nakatitig sa kanya. “It means na if someone tried to communicate with you mentally, as long as your shield’s down, magagawa nila. Can we try it again?”

Despite her hesitation ay tumango siya. She allowed Alvin once again to touch her bago dahan-dahan niyang ipinikit ang mga mata; focusing on his voice from somewhere within the dark recesses of her mind. she tried looking for the threads she couldn’t help but think na na-imagine niya na biglang lumitaw at kumonekta sa utak niya ng magsalita ang binata; his hypnotic voice echoing inside her dark mind.

Tennyson, respond.

Sinundan niya ang pinanggagalingan ng tinig ng binata; holding onto the white and thin thread bago dahan-dahang tumango. I hear you, Alvin.

“Wow.” Ng magmulat siya ng mga mata ay nakamulat na rin si Alvin, his dark and usually sardonic eyes were laced with nothing but pure amusement… and something else entirely. “I never did that before. I’ve been trying pero I can never transmit and receive in return.”

At hindi niya alam kung anong sumapi sa kanya dahil inabot niya ang mukha ng binata at hinawakan iyon; caressing the smooth skin of his cheek underneath the pads of her fingers. Blue electricity was quick to spark ng dumikit ang balat niya dito. But this time, it wasn’t painful anymore. Tennyson watched in wonder as bolts of voltage appeared on her hand connected to his face at gumapang pababa sa pulsuhan niya and further down to her elbow. 

Nakita din ni Alvin iyon and instead of jerking away, like their usual reaction, it felt as though it was bringing the two of them together. 

And before she could even predict the next few hours of their future, Alvin was quick to hook one hand behind her neck to draw her close; meeting her startled mouth with a possessive and claiming kiss.

Tennyson hadn’t expected that. She’s twenty-one at bagaman hindi si Alvin ang unang lalaking humalik sa kanya, it didn’t change the fact that this… kiss with Alvin Montemayor is every inch different from the previous kisses he’d shared with other men. It sparked a fire… a certain amount of hunger that shattered the control na matagal na niyang inakalang kotrolado niya.

Worst, it didn’t change the fact that as they kiss ay patuloy ang pagkalat ng maliliit na boltahe sa katawan nilang dalawa.

Literally.

Tennyson was quickly on Alvin’s lap; reciprocating his kiss and allowing herself to get more tangled… more connected and more drawn to the enigma that was Alvin Montemayor. She had kissed him with the same fervor… with the same passion… with the same strong need to answer to their raw desires. At habang hinahagkan siya ng binata ay nadarama niya na mas lalong lumalalim ang kapit nito sa kanya in the sense that was equally new and unfamiliar and completely binding to her. 

Bahagya pa siyang napasinghap ng tuluyan siyang umangat mula sa pagkaka-upo sa binti ng binata and next thing she knew ay sinalo ng malambot na divan ang likuran niya; with Alvin on top of her. The two of them were clearly—and obviously—struggling to gain control and she was evidently losing.

“Touch me.” was his order; plain and straightforward habang ang mga labi nito ay nasa labi pa rin niya. 

Wala sa loob ang ginawa niyang pagpilig ng ulo; equally clearing her clouded mind and answering Alvin’s orders. Despite Alvin not being her first kiss, it doesn’t change the fact that she’s still very much a virgin at hindi niya alam ang sinasabi nito. “I-I don’t know how—where.”

“I’ll guide you.” The man was wearing a button down shirt at ng maalis nito mula sa pagkaka-button ang shirt a suot ay idinikit nito ang kamay niya sa dibdib nito kaya nararamdaman niya ang init ng matipunong dibdib nito. And to her surprise, biglaan ang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso nito. Maski siya ay ganoon din kahit pa hindi naman niya alam kung saan patungo ang ginagawang iyon ng binata. Tennyson allowed Alvin to guide her hands across his broad chest… and further down. 

Breaking their all too passionate and desperate kiss, Tennyson stared at Alvin in mild disbelief and amusement. “Alvin, I—“

“I know you want me.” ang agad na putol nito sa balak niyang sabihin; claiming her mouth for another possessive kiss that drove her once again to the edge. “Damn it, I’ve been denying this but I want you, too—even if I shouldn’t.” ang mga kamay nito ay pumailalim sa damit niya; slowly lifting her shirt. Gusto niyang pigilan ang binata but she felt so… weak against him na hinayaan lang niya ito sa gusto nitong gawin.

Covering herself, Tennyson said, “I-I’m ugly.” But she wasn’t talking about her physical features. She meant something else… something deeper—something about her is dark at natatakot siyang baka mahawaan niya si Alvin ng kadiliman na iyon. “I’m… a monster.”

“You’re a wonderland.” His fingers, long and callused, traced a small scar right on top of her chest bago yumuko upang hagkan iyon. Napasinghap siya doon. Alvin grinned against her heart and gave small suctions on her chest; his sinewy tongue giving delights kung saan man ito magtungo. Muling humiwalay ito sa kanya. “You’re beautiful, Tennyson.” 

Hindi siya sumagot doon habang patuloy sa pamumula ang mukha.

Alvin grinned seductively. He felt arrogant about it; na napapa-blush niya ang dalaga. And she was so beautiful… so lovely na ano mang oras ay natitiyak niyang sasabog siya. He was quick to weave his fingers through the strands of her hair again at hinila ang dalaga upang halikan ito; forcing his tongue inside her startled mouth while his other hand was quick to undo her undergarment. And when his hand found one breast, muli ay napasinghap si Tennyson; nothing could prepare her for this amount of… intimacy she discovered with Alvin. 

Alvin didn’t release her still; ipinagpatuloy ang ginagawa niyang paghalik dito. And he was so lost in the intensity of their passionate kiss na kahit dumidiin ang kamay ni Tennyson sa dibdib niya –their skins producing raw and almost burning electricity—ay hindi niya halos maramdaman ang sakit. But there was another pain though. And he was so hard it was almost painful for him. That he couldn’t control his own gasp ng bahagyang gumalaw si Tennyson at dumikit ang katawan nito sa parteng iyon ng katawan niya.

Alvin groaned; like a wounded animal.

And the moment he gasped, the spark between their bodies intensified. 

Nabigla, agad na humiwalay si Tennyson. “I-I’m sorry! Nasaktan ba kita?!”

“Yes, darling,” he said in a raspy voice. “You’re going to slay me in seconds.”

“T-Teka at bababa ako—“

“No, stay put. Feel that?” bahagya niyang idinikit ang dalaga sa pagitan ng hita niya at maski si Tennyson ay wala sa loob na napasinghap; gulat siyang tinitigan. Alvin laughed at her naturally innocent reaction. “You do this to me, Ten. Take responsibility.”

“P-Pero… Pero—“

“I have been fascinated about you the first moment I saw you, Tennyson.” Ang mahinang anas niya dito; his eyes roaming all over her exposed body and beautiful face. And for a moment, hindi niya makita ang kadilimang sinasabi nito. This woman is not a monster. 

And he badly wanted to consume her—all of her—so that nobody else would try to claim her. Muli niyang inabot ang labi nito; kissing her startled lips hungrily… savagely… and with so much intensity it left both of them breathless. Ngayon niya kailangan ito.

Alvin was kissing Tennyson so wildly and savagely that she was beginning to get lost herself. His hands cupped her breasts and molded them into his hands. It didn’t even matter if his strokes were painful to her suddenly sensitive skin. She was so pleased by what he’s doing na nalulunod na siya sa maraming sensayong pinukaw sa kanya ng binata. Tennyson gasped again when he started to ground his hips on hers painfully, making her weak with need and something else she couldn’t name. Ang mga labi nito ay bumaba muli patungo sa lalamunan niya before his mouth fully claimed her breast. Tennyson writhed and moaned underneath him. She arched her body to him; pushing more of her in his mouth while his hands almost dig deep on her thighs when he wrapped them around his strong hips.

Kung posibleng himatayin siya ng mga sandaling iyon ay natitiyak niyang hinimatay na siya. She was so… weak and frail under him. She was completely in Alvin’s mercy. Within minutes, their articles of clothing were discarded and again, she gasped when she felt his rock-hard sex pressing at her stomach.

Bumaba ang mga daliri nito and before she could even guess what Alvin was about to do, muli ay napasinghap siya when he put intense pressure on her most sensitive part. Tennyson winced; almost wrenching herself from the mercy of his skilled fingers. “O-Ouch… Alvin…!”

Saglit na natigilan ang binata sa ginagawa. Muli ay napangiwi siya ng idiin nito ang daliri sa parteng iyon ng katawan niya. And to her confusion ay biglang tumawa ang binata; a surge of pride and arrogance wave through him. “Sorry, sweetheart. I’ll be gentle.”

Muli ay siniil niya ng halik ang dalaga, naging banayad ang pagdama. And Tennyson felt as though she would explode due to the various sensations while Alvin was working on her folds, caressing her gently… expertly. 

Alvin placed light suctions on every part of her body na madadapuan ng labi nito. His hands were also working sa lahat ng sulok ng katawan niya; exploring every part of her, making himself familiar with the unfamiliar territory—a territory that he will mark so intensely walang magkakamaling umangking iba dito; a territory that would belong to him hanggang sa huling paghinga niya. And then he poised himself on her slick entrance when he was certain Tennyson was ready to take him in. 

“This would be painful, sweetheart.” He panted hoarsely; tinitigan ang mala-tsokolateng mata ng dalaga. 

And to Tennyson’s eyes, Alvin is a striking man that dominated everything about her. Her fingers weaving the strands of his dark and wild hair slid down to touch his broad shoulders… and down to the wide expanse of his chest. Alvin moaned softly, inabot ang kamay niya at dinala sa labi nito; giving her a light kiss. His usually dark and honeyed eyes turning shade by shade lighter as he slowly, painfully slowly, plunged himself inside her. 

Marahas siyang napapikit doon habang si Alvin ay tumigil sa ginagawa sa nakikitang reaction ng dalaga. He tipped her chin up and pressed a light kiss on he lips. “Open your eyes, Ten. I want to see you.”

Sinunod niya ang sinasabi nito. Dahan-dahan niyang ibinuka ang mga mata niya upang titigan din ito; her fingers digging deep in his biceps ng mapakapit siya doon dahil sa sakit na nadarama. Alvin slid himself deeper as Tennyson instinctively clamp around him. And everything was so intense for him na pakiramdam niya’y nawawala na siya sa sarili niya. He was barely in control when it comes to this… fragile woman who considers herself a monster. 

He pushed himself deeper into her, claiming all of her for himself habang nakatitig siya dito.

And Tennyson was staring back at him too… with wonder and slight pain in her eyes. He kissed her softly, trying to take her mind off the pain even as he causes it and continued a cadence as old as time; hunching and thrusting inside her, building them unhurriedly to a peak which is concurrently higher and deeper as he seeks to grow to be lost in her, wrapped in her and also to cover her with his own markings of possession so painstakingly thorough that no one would have the courage to contradict she belongs solely to him—as he is to her. That when he came savagely, pouring everything about him in her… Alvin realizes what it was that draws him to Tennyson. 

That ever since he met her… appeared in his life with all the force of a hurricane… he might have unconsciously placed his future within her.