Chapter Five

Claire's lying on her bed. A while ago, Tita Nancy asked her if what happened to Mac. She's been torn between telling the truth and feeding her a lie. Surely, Mac wouldn't like it if she tell the true story. So, she told her that they're just having fun. Naniwala naman agad si Tita Nancy at nagsabing aalis na. Sasama nga sana siya kaso sabi nito ay babalik ito ng ospital.

Someone knocked at her door. "Claire, I'm going now. Tell Mac to take medicine for his hangover."

"Yes, Tita."

Akmang aalis na ito nang may maalala. "And Bry's looking for you. Sige, bye," sabi nito at umalis na.

"What the f!" Tinatamad na tumayo siya at pumunta sa kwarto ni Kuya Bryan. Huminga muna siya nang malalim at humugot ng lakas ng loob. Sa totoo lang, hindi niya talaga alam kung paano na ito ngayon haharapin. "You can do it, Claire. Hinahanap ka lang niya. Hindi ka niya kakainin nang buhay," she convinced herself.

She knocked three times and got in. "Hinahanap mo daw ako--"

"Yes," he interrupted. "Kanina pa. Ba't ngayon ka lang?" Reklamo nito. Nakaharap na naman ito sa laptop nito.

Tumaas ang kilay niya. "Excuse me? Ngayon lang ako nasabihan ni Tita. At isa pa, ikaw ang may kailangan, ba't ako ang kailangang pumunta sa'yo?" Angil niya.

He knotted his forehead. "You seemed so irritated since this morning. May dalaw ka ba?" Walang prenong sabi nito.

Her eyes widened. "Kuya?!" She can't believe he could actually say those embarrassing words.

"Cut the "Kuya", okay? It's kinda awkward."

"Awkward? Psh," she rolled her eyes.

Nagkibit-balikat lang ito. "May gagawin ka ba?"

"Wala. Bakit?" Medyo iritableng tanong niya.

He looked at her. The knot is still on his face. "Wanna watch Dragon Ball?"

Her face lightened. "Sige, sige," sumampa siya sa kama.

Laptop naman ang gamit nito kaya sumandig na lang sila sa headboard. Inilagay nito ang laptop sa gitna ng kama. Nang magsimula na ang episode, unti-unting sinampay nito ang braso sa balikat niya. Agad naman niyang binawi ang balikat.

He tsked. "Don't I deserve even a simple gesture from you?" Naiinis nitong tanong.

"Pa'no pag biglang pumasok si Mac?" Alanganing tanong niya.

"I'm sure he'll not," anito at hinapit siya palapit dito at inakbayan.

Okay. Awkward. She didn't know hot to react in their gesture. Parang wala lang dito ang pagkakaakbay sa kanya samantalang siya, kabado na.

"Relax, okay? Parang kang inahin na 'di maihi diyan," anito at ipinokus ang atensyon sa pinapanood.

Take a deep breath, Claire. Relax ka lang daw.

She tried to calm herself and she finally did. Though there are some moments that she couldn't bear the closeness of their body.

"Inaantok na ko," maya-maya ay saad nito.

Inabot nito ang laptop at pinatay. Humiga ito sa tabi niya at niyakap ang mga binti niya.

"Kuya ay este--umalis ka nga diyan," sita niya.

"Don't disturb me," he said then closed his eyes.

Wala na siyang nagawa kundi pagmasdan na lang ito. Napakapayapa ng mukha nito. Hindi tulad pag gising, parang kakainin ka nang buhay pag may nagawa kang hindi nito nagustuhan.

She run her fingers through his hair. Then something hit her.

"I love you and I think I can't live without you," she whispered in the air knowing he's already asleep.

"KUMUSTA ANG ULO MO, MAC?" Tanong niya. Naabutan niya ito sa kusina na hinihilot ang ulo at may tasa sa harapan nito.

"Masakit."

"Eh, ang puso mo?"

"Ganoon din. Ewan ko ba kung bakit hanggang ngayon eh, masakit pa rin."

"Tsk. Tsk. Huwag mo kasing dibdibin, may likod ka pa."

"Maraming salamat sa advice, couz" sarkastikong sabi nito.

"You're welcome, couz," Nakangising sabi din niya.

"Psh. Anyway, sa'n sina Tita at Bryan?"

"Si Tita Nancy, nasa ospital. Si Bry--este si K-Kuya, tulog," she hoped he didn't notice the excitement in he voice when she mentioned Bry's name.

Inayos muna niya si Bryan sa kwarto nito bago iniwan.

Nagtataka ito pero tumango na rin.

"Kumain ka na ba?" Tanong nito maya-maya.

"Oo, kanina pa. Ikaw?"

"Hindi pa."

"Okay. Hindi naman ako ang magugutom pag di ka kumain, eh," balewalang tugon niya.

"Makalayas na nga dito," tumayo ito at tinungo ang front door.

"Huwag ka nang babalik, ah," pahabol niya. Gusto talaga niyang asarin ito lalo na pag bad mood ang loko.

"WHY DID YOU LEFT ME?" Bungad ni Bryan sa kanya nang pagbuksan niya ito ng pinto. Nakasaksak na naman ang earphone sa taenga niya.

"Kalma ka lang, 'kay? Ano'ng gusto mo? Panuorin ka lang habang natutulog?" Sabi niya.

Nag-poker face ito.

"Halika nga," hinatak niya ito papasok sa kwarto niya. "Samahan mo kong makinig ng mga favorite songs ko," humiga siya sa kama.

Nakatayo pa rin ito.

She tapped the bed. Sumunod naman ito. Umupo ito at sumandal sa headboard. She gave him the other earphone and lay on his legs, trying to act so casual. The song that plays on her phone is Against All Odds.

What a coincidence.

Naputol ang pagsabay niya sa kanta nang kunin nito ang earphone sa taenga niya. Tumingin siya dito nang nagtatanong.

"Babe, did you regret what we have right now?" Seryosong tanong nito.

Mukhang madugong usapan 'to, ah.

Kahit nao-awkward-an siya, sumagot pa rin siya.

"Honestly, no."

"Talaga?" Lumiwanag ang mukha nito.

Parang alam na nito ang sagot pero tinanong pa rin siya.

"I heard what you said earlier," amin nito. Nagniningning ang mga mata nito sa kapilyuhan.

"Ha? Ano--," hindi na niya tinuloy ang sinasabi dahil may suspetsa na siya kung ano 'yun. "Akala ko ba tulog ka?" She glared at him.

"Half-sleep," pagtatama nito at ngumisi.

Bumangon siya at pinagkukurot ito sa tagiliran. Natatawang umilag naman ito. 

"Tama na nga, Babe." Tumawa ulit ito.

Dahil sa sobrang inis, mas lalo niya pa itong pinagkukurot. He caught her hands and pinned her down. Natahimik siya sandali at nagsimulang kumalas.

"Alis nga diyan. Ang bigat mo," reklamo niya.

"Stop wiggling. You're turning me on, babe," paanas nitong sabi.

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya.

He looked at her lips and licked his own lips. "How could you be so tempting?" He asked then kissed her.

EVERY TIME HE KISSED HER LIPS, its as if her lips belong to him. Only him. Alam din niyang siya ang unang nakahalik dito. Ewan ba niya. parang nasasanay na siya sa mga labi nito. He tasted so many lips before but hers is the sweetest and softest lips.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you, too."

That's the words that stopped Mac from entering Claire's room. Plus the fact that Bry's still on her top.

"What's the meaning of this?" He asked then entered her room.

They turned to him. Tinulak niya si Bryan at hindi magkandaugaga sa pagtayo. 

"Ano... Mac. M-Magpapaliwanag kami," nagkukumahog siyang bumaba sa kama at lumapit dito.

"Ano'ng ginagawa n'yo? May nangyayari ba sa inyong hindi dapat?"

"Oo," balewalang sagot ni Bryan.

"What?! Are you two crazy?!" Galit na singhal ni Mac.

"We have a relationship. So, what now?" Ani Bryan.

"Ano--?! Shit!" Mac seemed so angry upon hearing those words from Bryan. Who wouldn't? They're blood related and yet they have a relationship.

"Mac, please. Huwag mong sabihin 'to kina Tita," sabi niya at umiyak. Almost begging. Natatakot siya sa magiging resulta ng ginawa nila ni Bryan. Baka mag-away ang pamilya nila and worst, baka itakwil pa sila.

Hinilot ni Mac ang sintido nito at tumingin kay Bryan. "Mag-usap tayo. Lalaki sa lalaki," anito at lumabas na.

Nilapitan siya ni Bryan at niyakap. "Sshh. Tahan na. Everything will be okay. We'll talk later, okay?" He kissed her temple and left.

"MAC--"

Mac greeted him with a punch on his face. Natumba siya pero tumayo din agad. He touched his lower lip and there was blood.

"How could you?!" Galit nitong sigaw.

"Nagmamahalan kami, Mac," mahinahong tugon niya.

"Oh, yeah? As if hindi malalaman nina Tita ang kabaliwang ginagawa n'yo." Mac's angry. Very angry. He can't accept the fact that they have a relationship. Kahihiyan at immoral nga naman yun pag nalaman ng ibang tao.

"Hindi nila malalaman kung hindi mo sasabihin."

Huminga ito nang malalim. Trying to stop himself from getting angrier. "Mas matanda ka kay Claire, Yan. Mas matured din ang utak mo. How come you two ended up together in bed?"

"I know my limits. I can also control myself. You don't have to worry about her."

"Yeah, right."

"Just let us be, Mac. We love each other and I won't hurt her," sincere niyang sabi. He has this urge to convince his cousin about how serious he is to Claire rather than defending himself.

Huminga ulit ito nang malalim. "Hindi ko sasabihin ang tungkol sa inyo pero siguraduhin mong hindi mo siya sasaktan," anito at lumabas na ng bahay.

Napabuntong-hininga siya at bumalik na sa kwarto ni Claire. Naabutan niya itong naglalakad nang pabalik-balik. Hindi mapakali. Parang nanginginig din ang katawan nito. When she saw him, she ran towards him and hugged him.

"Ano'ng nangyari? Ano'ng sinabi niya?" Nag-aalalang tanong niya.

Ngumiti siya dito. "I told you, everything will be okay."

"Ha? Paano? Bakit?"

"I told him that we love each other and I will never hurt you."

"Yun lang?" Di-makapaniwalang tanong nito.

Well, okay na rin yun. Ang importante, tanggap na ni Mac ang tungkol sa kanila.

"Yun lang."

KAKAUSAPIN na lang niya si Mac mamaya. She'll tell him that he doesn't have to worry and that she love Bryan. Napansin niya ang dugo sa labi nito.

"What happened to your lips?" Nag-aalalang tanong nito as she touched it.

"Aray naman, babe," ngumiwi siya.

"Oh, sorry, sorry," agad niyang tugon. Pinaupo niya ito sa kama. "Let me take a look."

He motioned his lips to her.

"Who did this to you?" Nangangalaiting tanong niya.

Sa dami ng parte ng katawan nito, sa labi pa talaga.

"Mac," maikling sagot nito.

"Aba, walanghiyang lalaking 'yun, makikita niya," sabi niya. "Masakit ba talaga? Halika, gamutin natin," she said and was about to stand when he grabbed her hand.

"Your kiss is enough to heal this cut," he said then kissed her.

Ang sarap namang gamot 'to, she thought and grin between their kiss.