Chapter 4: Seduce Him

"Odette, a new coffee shop has opened nearby. We are planning to go there and have a group study. Sama ka na sa’min!"

 

Napalingon ako sa kaklase kong si Anna. She and my other blockmates are looking at me, and I know that they are also expecting me to join them. Hindi naman kasi ako tumatanggi sa group study dahil madalas kong inaalay ang mga oras ko sa pag-aaral.

 

"Uhm, not today. May kailangan pa akong gawin, eh!" I reasoned out as I gave them an apologetic smile. 

 

"Really?" She pouted. "Sayang, may kasama pa naman sana tayong mga engineering students. Mga pogi at single 'yon! Ayaw mo talaga?"

 

Gusto kong sulyapan si Develrick pero pinigilan ko ang sarili ko. Baka isipin niya ay mahilig ako sa mga lalaki dahil sa mga sinasabi ni Anne!

 

Well, totoo naman na mahilig ako makipaglaro sa mga lalaki. But I won't do that anymore because I already have Develrick. He's much more interesting than the other guys.

 

I shook my head. "I'm not interested. Please study well and have fun without me. Babawi na lang ako sa inyo next time."

 

Bumagsak ang balikat niya. "Okay! But puntahan mo na lang kami ha, if you ever change your mind."

 

Tumango ako. I waved them goodbye when they left the classroom. Hinintay ko na umalis ang iba kong kaklase habang nagpapanggap na may isinusulat sa kwaderno. Hindi nagtagal ay tuluyan na silang umalis dahil alam kong mga atat na din silang umuwi.

 

I looked at the man in front and realized that he was also waiting for everyone to leave the room. Ngumisi ako at tumayo para i-lock ang pinto bago ibalik ang tingin sa lalaki.

 

Develrick is standing while typing something on his laptop at the desk. Huminto ang daliri niya sa paggalaw nang marinig ang pagsarado ko ng pinto.

 

I knew it. He was also waiting for us to be alone and he was just pretending to be busy with something. Bakit, may balak ba siyang halikan ako dito sa classroom? That would be exciting!

 

He is wearing a formal blue polo shirt and black pants. May suot din siyang salamin at nakataas ang buhok niya. He looks more mature and professional right now.

 

I straightened my back before I walked my way towards him. Hindi pa rin siya tumitingin saakin kaya tumikhim muna ako bago nagsalita.

 

"So, you teach for living. I never expected that." I smiled as I playfully put my arms on his shoulder.

 

I heard him heave a sigh before he raised his head to look at me. Goodness, his eyes are still as magnificent as that night!

 

"You told me that you're not a student." malamig niyang sabi at hinawi ang kamay ko. 

 

My smile faded because of his action. So, kaya niya tinatanong kung estudyante pa ba ako ay dahil doon? Galit ba siya?

 

"I wouldn't be able to have you that night if I didn't lie, would I? So I'm not going to apologize for that. Hindi ko pinagsisisihan ang nangyari saatin." seryoso kong saad. lnaasahan ko na hindi niya masyadong dadamdamin ang pagsisinungaling na ginawa ko. Hindi naman kasi big deal ‘yon dahil pareho na kaming nasa legal age.

 

"You lied to me," he said, clenching his teeth. Nararamdaman ko na ang galit niya saakin. "Odette is your name, hindi Maria. You lied about a lot of things, and I hate liars."

 

Kumunot ang noo ko. It seems like he heard Anna calling me "Odette" so he misunderstood me. Hindi ko naman inakala na ganito ang galit na mararamdaman niya dahil doon.

 

"I wasn't lying! Maria is my—"

 

"Stop explaining yourself." Huminga siya nang malalim, determined to make our conversation short. "Let's just forget everything that happened."

 

Kumunot ang noo ko. What did he say? He wants to forget everything? How could I do that when I remember that night so vividly?

 

"What do you mean? You fvcked me, I gave you my virginity, and now you're going to tell me that you want to forget everything? You're a jerk, aren't you? Hindi mo ba alam na ilang araw kitang sinubukang hanapin? I went to the bar every night, and now that I finally found you, you will choose to do this? Gago ka ba?"

 

Nagsimula na akong makaramdam ng inis kaya tumaas ang boses ko. I am usually calm and composed even when I am angry or arguing with someone, but I just can't accept this! My pride and dignity as a woman would never accept what he wants!

 

"You were the one who took advantage of me that night. Ikaw ang lumapit saakin at nilasing ako—"

 

"But you enjoyed it." I cut his words short. Natigilan din siya at umiwas ng tingin dahil sa sinabi ko. "Can't you remember how you begged me to touch you? Can't you remember how you moaned my name while closing your eyes in pleasure?"

 

Mariin niyang ipinikit ang mga mata niya. I also noticed how his face flushed but he chose to dismiss whatever he was feeling.

 

"I wouldn't have done that if I knew that you were a student. And fvck, you're my student! What do you expect me to do now?"

 

I scoffed. Talaga bang ipagdidiinan niya ang gusto niya?

 

"Eh bakit parang kasalanan ko pa? I also didn't expect you'd be my professor!"

 

Tila saglit na umurong ang dila niya nang sabihin ko 'yon. Pilit niyang iniiwasan ang mga mata ko pero nakikita ko ang konsensya na nakaguhit sa mukha niya.

 

"Whatever we had that night was wrong. Maria... or whatever your name is! Pareho tayong mapapahamak kung ipagpapatuloy natin ito."

 

He breathed out again while not giving me a single glance. Kinuha niya ang dala niyang bag at ipinasok doon ang laptop niya. He was about to walk away, but I held his hand to stop him.

 

"Why are you leaving?" I asked with a firm voice. Hindi ako papayag na maiwan ako sa classroom na ‘to na parang inabandonang tuta.

 

"I have nothing else to say." He slid my hand out of his. Gusto niya na talagang umalis at iwasan ako.

 

"You're really leaving after you said those words?" Humalukipkip ako at matalim siyang tiningnan. “Tingin mo ba ay papayag ako sa gusto mong mangyari?”

 

Sa wakas ay tiningnan niya na muli ang mga mata ko. "Please—"

 

I didn't let him finish his sentence. Mabilis kong hinatak ang kwelyo niya at marahan siyang hinalikan sa labi. I felt his body stiffen, but he didn't push me away.

 

Ipinagpatuloy ko ang paghalik sa kanya at nagulat ako nang dahan-dahang halikan niya ako pabalik. I smiled between our kisses as I slightly opened my eyes. Nakapikit na ngayon ang mga mata niya habang hinahalikan ako. I circled my arms around his nape to make our kiss deeper.

 

He wants to forget what we had that night? Then why is he kissing me as if he longed for my lips? It’s obvious that he still wants me. 

 

Ilang saglit lang ay tila natauhan na siya at umatras saakin. Hindi ko inalis ang kamay kong nakapalupot sa batok niya kaya hindi niya nagawang lumayo nang tuluyan. Hindi ko napigilang ngumisi nang makita ang kulay kamatis niyang mga pisnge.

 

“Missed my lips?” I teased and raised my brow. He acts tough and manly, but he’s still the innocent guy who moaned my name and begged me to touch him.

 

His eyes widened and he realized the wrong move he had made. Napahawak siya sa namumula niyang mukha at muling umiwas ng tingin.

 

"Odette—

 

"You kissed me back."

 

Inalis niya ang dalawa kong kamay na nakapulupot sa batok niya. "This is wrong!"

 

"I don't care!" asik ko at irita siyang tinulak. How dare he raise his voice at me! "You're a jerk, but I will never give up on you. You have become mine since that night, and I will claim you back no matter how much you resist," I said with conviction, rolling my eyes before storming out of the classroom.

 

I was so happy to see him again but it seems like he feels the opposite way. Naiinis ako dahil ine-expect ko na matutuwa siya kapag nagkita ulit kaming dalawa pero sinabihan niya lang ako na gusto niyang kalimutan ang lahat?

 

How dare he.

 

Dederetso na sana ako sa apartment ko pero naalala ko ang coffee shop na sinabi saakin ni Anna. Mas makakabuti kung doon na lang ako pumunta para makapag-focus na lang ako sa pag-aaral himbis na patuloy na mainis sa lalaking iyon.

 

Mabuti na lang ay hindi ako nahirapan hanapin ang coffee shop na 'yon. Malaki ang lugar kaya hindi nagmukhang masikip kahit madaming tao ang bumisita. I searched for Anna and the others and saw them busy with their books and laptops. 

 

Mabilis akong naglakad patungo sa puwesto nila at walang sabing umupo sa bakanteng silya. Nagulat sila sa bigla kong pagdating pero inilagay ko lang ang bag ko sa lamesa at naglabas ng malalim na buntonghininga.

 

"Oh, you're here? Akala ko ba ay may gagawin ka pa?" nagtatakang tanong ni Anna.

 

"Wala bang alak dito?" wala sa sariling tanong ko. Ilang saglit silang natigilan pero agad ring nagtawanan sa pag-aakalang nagbibiro ako.

 

"Sinong tanga ang maghahanap ng alak sa coffee shop?" natatawang bulaslas ng blockmate ko na si Celine. Sumimangot lang ako kaya natigilan siya.

 

"Mukhang badtrip." rinig kong bulong naman ng katabi niyang si Althea kaya natigilan sa pagtawa ang iba.

 

“Ay, oo nga. Masama ang timpla ni girl. Anyare, Odette? Tungkol ba sa lalaki?"

 

Natigilan ako dahil sa pabirong tanong ni Anna. She mentioned that as a joke but she actually hit the bullseye! Masyado ba akong naging obvious? 

 

Masyado yatang halata sa expresyon ko na natigilan ako kaya napasinghap si Anna. Kasing OA niya ang pinsan kong si Danica.

 

"Oh my God! I was just kidding, pero may problema ka nga sa lalaki? Ikaw?"

 

I rolled my eyes. "I'm just having.. a little problem, but he's not a very big deal."

 

'Not a very big deal', my ass. He had my virginity and I labeled him as my lover! Of course, he’s a big deal!

 

"Bakit, ano'ng nangyari?"

 

Kumunot ang noo ko nang magsalita ang lalaking katabi ko. He is not familiar to me, kaya sinusubukan kong isipin kung isa ba siya sa mga blockmates ko. Moreno ang balat, makisig ang katawan, at mukhang matangkad. I don't think I've seen this guy before. Maliban sa kanya, may dalawa rin siyang katabing lalaki na parang ngayon ko lang nakita.

 

"Oh, I'm so sorry. Bigla akong sumingit. Hindi mo pa nga pala ako kilala." He smiled and laughed awkwardly. "But I know you! Ilang beses ka nang naikwento saakin ni Anna."

 

Itinaas ko ang kilay ko kay Anna at agad siyang umiwas ng tingin. Naningkit ang mga mata ko dahil sa pagpapataymalisya niya. She knows that I don't like being introduced to boys I don't know!

 

"Ren nga pala. 4th year engineering." Bumalik ang tingin ko sa lalaki. Nakangiti ito ngayon saakin at kitang-kita ang dimples nito. Singkit ang mga mata at maamo ang mukha. I also sense that he has a very friendly and playful personality.

 

Siya at ang mga kasama niya pala ang tinutukoy ni Anna na mga poging engineering student. Nginitian din ako ng iba.

 

"Odette," Sinuklian ko ang ngiti niya dahil ayokong mapagkamalang masungit. Nagpakilala din ang dalawang katabi niya na mga engineering students din at tinanguan ko lang sila.

 

"About sa lalaking pinoproblema mo ngayon, why are you having problems with him?" Anna asked me. Feeling ko ay iniiba niya usapan para makalimutan ko na ipinakilala niya ako sa ibang lalaki without my consent.

 

"I just don't know how to have him," sagot ko at umiling. Naiirita ako. Pumunta nga ako dito para makalimutan siya, pero pinapaalala naman ni Anna.

 

"I can't believe that you're having a hard time on this. I mean, you're an expert in men!" Althea said.

 

“Hindi ko talaga alam. There’s really something wrong with that guy. Ang kapal ng mukha niyang gawin sa’kin ‘yon.” asik ko at umiling-iling.

 

"Seduce him."

 

Napalingon ako kay Ren dahil sa suhestyon niya. We just introduced ourselves to each other a few seconds ago but he's already giving me advice. Maiinis dapat ako dahil papansin siya pero naging interesado ako sa sinabi niya.

 

Of course. I should seduce him. 'Yon dapat ang unang pumasok sa isipan ko pero hindi ko 'yon naisip dahil masyado akong naiinis.

 

"As a man myself, I could tell that no guy would be able to resist your temptation." kaswal na dagdag ni Ren at humigop ng kape niya.

 

Napangiti ako at umiwas ng tingin. Of course, kahit mas nag-f-focus na akong mag-aral ngayon, hindi pa rin nawawala ang skills ko sa pang aakit ng lalaki. I can just create a game similar to what we played that night. A game where I could make him mine again.

 

I seduced him, I will seduce him again.

 

I created a game, and I will play it with him again.

 

I won that game, and I will win again.

 

I claimed him as my prize, and I will have him again.

 

Develrick is a challenge and I am determined to win him over. Isa siyang lalaki, and boys will never be able to reject me, kahit pa siya ang professor ko.