Chapter 5: Pulang Itlog

THE sun glinted off the water like scattered diamonds as they cruised into the open stretch of sea, the waves gentle and inviting. Eva sat in front of him on the jet ski, her hair whipping against his chest, her laughter stolen by the wind. She looked back at him once, teasing, her eyes sparkling.

“Hold on tight,” Gideon said and his voice close to her ear.

Humawak si Eva sa gitna ng throttle ng jet ski.

“I am,” she smirked, but then his arms naturally came around her waist, steadying her as he revved the engine a little more.

The jet ski surged forward.

He shouldn’t be noticing the curve of her waist. Or the way her swimsuit hugged her like it was made for her alone. Or how the back of her head rested near his chin, like they’d done this a hundred times.

But damn, he noticed everything.

They hit a wave, bouncing mid-air—Eva yelped and laughed, leaning back instinctively into him. Her hand clutched his arm. He felt it all the way down to his spine.

“Careful,” he said, lowering his voice slightly, teasing. “You’re trusting me with your life.”

“You better not kill me,” she tossed back, grinning. “Kailangan ko makauwi sa Manila ng buo.”

“Pano kung hindi na kita iuwi kaya?”

Humalakhak si Eva. “Sira! Weekend booking lang ako.”

“I’ll extend.”

Another wave. Another bounce. She squealed again—this time full-on holding his arms. And this time, he laughed with her.

“Computer shop? Extend ka pa kuya?” She teased.

Nginitian niya ang dalaga. Hindi niya mapigilang amoyin ang balat nito. Naghahalo ang pabango niyang matamis na bulaklak at alat ng tubig dagat.

There was nothing polished about it—no pretenses, no guarded expressions. Just him, her, and the sea.

She turned her head slightly, her cheek almost brushing his lips. “You're actually not bad at this.”

“Saan?” he said while eyeing her sunlit face.

“Making this feel… safe,” she answered. Parang natural lang sabihin pero humarap siya agad kasi biglang nag-init ang pisngi niya.

For a second, his grip on her waist tightened—not to restrain her, but to reassure. “I won’t let anything happen to you,” he said. It was supposed to be light, maybe playful.

But the words fell between them like a promise. Hindi na alam kung ano pang masasabi ni Eva lalo pang nag-init ang kanyang mga pisngi.

And as they slowed the jet ski, drifting under the golden morning sun, Gideon couldn’t help but stare at the soft glow on her skin, the way her smile lingered even after the laughter stopped.

She looked back at him again. “Why are you staring?”

“You glow when you laugh,” he said simply, without shame.

Eva blinked and that mak her caught off guard, a slow smile spreading on her lips.

“Kinikilig ka ba?” he teased.

“Baliw,” she said, shaking her head—but she wasn’t denying it. Not at all.

They took off again, but this time, she leaned into him just a little more—like she didn’t want to let go.

Nang makarating sila sa may pampang. Hindi mapigilan ni Gideon hawakan ang bewang ni Eva na parang pag aari niya ang dalaga. Hinayaan na lang niya. Ito naman kasi talaga ang trabaho niya. Pagkatapos naman ng lahat ng ito, focus na siya sa totoong trabaho.

NASA isang Filipino restaurant sila na nag-serve ng binalot meals na ang tawag ay Pulang Itlog. Medyo nakakagutom kasi ang magpaasa at umasa. Kaya naisipan nilang kumain ng heavy. Hindi na bago kay Eva ang mga menu sa Pulang Itlog dahil ilang beses naman na siyang nakakakain dito. Kaya nag- order siya ng madalas niyang order sa restaurant na ‘yon.

“Pulang itlog classic sa akin.” Sabi ni Eva. Classic adobo rice in binalot na may two salted egg.

“Pulang sisid sa akin.” Seafood binalot with shrimp, crab, and salted egg garnish.

Mabilis naman ang serving sa naturang restaurant kaya nag-umpisa na silang kumain. Habang masaya silang kumakain at nag-uusap may dumating na dalawang lalaki. Ang isa ay kilala ni Eva at ang isa ay medyo kilala niya dahil pasimuno ito lagi ng mga exclusive party sa isla.

Kanina, malayo pa lang may malokong ngiti na ang isa sa kanila. Wala namang paalam, hinila nito ang upuan sa tapat nila at umupo rito. Tahimik naman na umupo sa isa pang lalaki na kasama nito.

“So. . . Did you enjoy our gift, dear cousin?” He squinted at his cousin, sabay tumingin ito kay Eva.

Gideon rolled his eyes to his cousin and then hissed. “Pwede ba Badz.”

Humalakhak ito. “Why? Isn’t she a beauty? Best Flavor of Ligaya. Ang dami kayang nagpapa-book kay Apple Pie.”

Tumingin ng maloko kay Eva ito. “Hindi ba Apple Pie? In-demand ka.”

She giggles. “Medyo lang ikaw talaga Bad Wizard.” Kunwari nahihiya.

“Pa-humble pa.” Nakangisi pa rin ito kay Eva.

Hindi naman maalis ni Eva ang mga mata niya sa mga nag gagandahang lalaki na nasa harap niya. Badz or Bad Wizard may mga ngiting stealer. Mukhang inosenteng college boy pero alam ni Eva nasa 30's na ito. Matangkad at may rare color of eyes din parehas sa pinsan nitong si Big Boy. Ang kasama naman nito ay si Doc Levi kilala sa Euphoria bilang isang Urologist. Siya rin ang resident doctor ng isla. Kilala na ni Eva si Doc Levi. Matagal na siyang naglalabas-pasok ng Euphoria. Very professional ang aura nito pero may tinatagong kinks. Kaso never pa niyang nakita ito na may kasamang babae sa isla o kahit lalaki. Tall, sun-kissed skin and with a body of a Greek god. Medyo nag- lock ang eyes pa si Eva nang inayos nito ang salamin sa mata.

Gideon cleared his throat after drinking from his hibiscus iced tea. Napansin ng binata ang may pagnanasang tingin ang dalaga sa mga ‘to.

Malakas ang pagkakababa nito ng baso sa lamesa dahilan na mapatingin silang lahat rito. “We will continue our water activities, stop pestering us.”

“Oh... Are you for real Biggie? Possessive aura na agad?” Badz teased.

“Shut up fucker!”

Humalakhak naman si Doc Levi. “C'mon man, we're here to eat too. Masarap ang hotjuicylog nila rito. Homemade grilled sausage na may over flowing cheese pa.”

“Tangina mo, Doc! That's so fag.” Panunudyo ni Badz.

“Gago straight ako.”

“Daming nasa menu, hotdog trip mong kainin may over flowing cheese pa. So Badz-ing.” Komento ni Big Boy.

Sinamaan naman ng tingin ni Menard (Bad Wizard o Badz) ang kanyang pinsan na si Gideon (Big Boy.)

Nag kibit- balikat na lang si Eva na natatawa sa kalokohan nila na mga banter.

“Bakit ba. Mahilig ako sa cheese.” Sabi ni Doc Levi.

Hindi maiwasan ni Eva na matawa sa bawat magsalita ang mga ito.

Dumating na ang order ni Doc Levi na hotjuicylog at kay Badz naman pitikpula ang laman ng binalot ay spicy tapa, sinangag and salted egg.

“Oh hindi ba mukhang masarap.” Sabi ni Doc Levi. Pagmamalaki sa order niya kasi ang haba ng sausage na mga nasa 8 inches at lumalabas pa ang cheese nito sa mga hiwa nito sa gitna.

“That exactly looks like my rod.” Napailing si Badz.

Wala naman pakialam si Doc Levi at kinain ang oder niyang hotjuicylog. Noong kinagatan niya pa ito tumulo ang cheese sa may dahon ng saging at natilamsikan pa sa mukha si Badz.

“Fuck!” Mabilis na pinahiran ang cheese na tumama sa gilid ng labi niya.

“Sorry. Shooter.” Malokong sabi ni Doc Levi habang nagpupunas siya ng cheese sa labi niya.

Halos naibuga ni Eva ang iniinom niyang iced tea. Nagpunas agad siya sa labi. “Ganito ba kayo kakulit?”

“Yeah. Hindi pa ‘yan ‘yung highest level.” Sabi ni Gideon sa dalaga na natatawa na rin.

Eva wiped the corner of her eyes, still giggling. “Grabe kayo, para kayong mga high school boys na may sariling inside jokes.”

“Correction,” Badz grinned, pointing at Gideon, “siya lang ang killjoy sa grupo.”

“Hindi ako killjoy,” Gideon muttered, but his jaw tightened when he noticed how at ease Eva seemed with the two. She leaned forward on her elbows at ang buhok ay tumatabing sa mukha habang nakikipagbanter kay Doc Levi at Badz—parang hindi na siya aware na kanina pa siya tinititigan ni Gideon.

“You should join us for the night cruise later,” Badz suggested, swirling his iced tea. “Maganda ‘yung view, masarap ‘yung wine. You’ll love it, Apple Pie.”

Eva smiled politely. “Hmm… tempting.”

Gideon slammed his glass of hibiscus iced tea down just a little too hard again. “She’s busy tonight.”

All eyes turned to him. “Oh? Busy saan?” tanong ni Doc Levi, amused.

“Just… busy,” Gideon replied curtly, locking eyes with Eva.

Her lips curled into a small smirk, as if she knew exactly what he was doing. “Yeah we’re busy,” she teased softly.

The air at the table shifted—still playful, but charged now, an undercurrent of something unspoken. Badz and Doc Levi exchanged knowing glances, clearly entertained by the tension brewing between the two.

Eva leaned back, her gaze never leaving Gideon. “You’re awfully possessive for someone who doesn’t own me,” she murmured, her voice low enough na halos siya lang ang makarinig.

Gideon’s chair scraped softly as he leaned closer, one arm resting on the back of hers, effectively trapping her in her seat. “Maybe I just don’t like sharing,” he said, his breath brushing the shell of her ear.

Her pulse jumped. She could smell his cologne—dark, warm, unshakably masculine. “You’re impossible, Big Boy,” she whispered, but her tone wasn’t purely annoyed. There was a dangerous flicker of amusement… and something else.

“Then stop tempting me,” he shot back, eyes narrowing.

For a moment, neither of them moved. Then, as if on instinct, his hand slid down from the back of her chair to the curve of her waist, pulling her an inch closer. She didn’t resist—at least, not right away.

Badz cleared his throat loudly. “Uh… should we give you two some privacy or…?”

Eva chuckled and shook her head. Para bang sinasabi ng mga tingin nilang dalawa na, ‘alis na mga asungot.’

Matapos kumain. Tinapik ni Doc Levi ang balikat ni Badz. “Let’s go.”

“Gonna leave you two. Kung makatingin kayo sa isa't isa kulang na lang mag hubaran na kayo.”

“Just leave!” Binato ni Gideon ang pinsan ng binilog na napkin.

She finally leaning back enough to put space between them, though his hand lingered on her side. “Later,” she said, her tone both a warning and a promise.

The corner of Gideon’s mouth twitched, but he didn’t push it further—yet.