Nurse Me, Baby

"Press it harder," Ari instructed, adjusting the angle of Rainne's leg on the therapy ball.“You sure this is the only thing you want me to press?” smirking as sweat glistened along his sharp jawline.Ari rolled her eyes.Pawis ang noo. Pawis ang dibdib pero nagawa pa rin maging sira ulo.“Focus. Focus Mr. Marquez ..” she muttered under her breath. Kung hindi lang siya nananatiling controlled ay mauubusan na siya ng pasensya sa binatang ito.“Relax, Nurse. We’re focusing on improvement, diba?”“Improvement sa katawan mo. Hindi sa kakulitan mo.” Rainne chuckled low, then tilted his head with that smug, infuriating grin.“Then help me stretch properly…” His voice dropped. “Ibuka mo.”Ari froze. “Excuse me?”“I mean my legs,” Rainne said innocently, though his eyes trailed down her neckline like sin. “What were you thinking, Nurse?”She exhaled sharply, feigning a glare. “Keep talking like that, and I might actually walk out.”“Relax,” he said, flexing his thighs wider, the ball rolling

Mabilis ang bawat sipa ng puso ni Ari as she stood outside the administrator’s office. Hindi siya makatingin nang diretso—trying to calm the storm in her chest.The staff walked ahead, clueless to the heat that almost exploded in that pool.Isang maling segundo lang. Kung hindi dumating ang staff maaaring—damn. Ano ba Ari?She was falling. Maling-mali.Inside the office, the administrator handed her an updated schedule and reminded her to submit Rainne’s daily therapy report. Paglabas niya, she didn’t go back to Rainne.Instead, she walked straight to the locker room, slammed the door shut, and sat on the bench.Fuck.Nakatitig sa kanya ang repleksyon sa salamin na parang nang-aasar dahil sa namumula nitong pisngi, basang balat and the freaking eyes that's still dark from lust!Oh my God, Ari."Get it together," she whispered to herself. "You’re not here for him."But when she got back to the therapy suite later that afternoon to log the records, a white envelope sat on the desk.Her

Ari hadn’t spoken to Rainne in two days. Nanganganib na ang trabaho niya dahil sa kahibangang ginagawa nila.She still did her rounds. Still checked his vitals. Still handed him meds with clinical precision.But the walls were back. ARI VALENCIA is back.Higher than ever.“Good morning,” she said stiffly, placing his breakfast tray on the bedside table without looking at him.Rainne didn’t touch the food. Tinitigan niya lamang ito sabay tapon ng tingin kay Ari.“Hindi ka man lang titingin sa ’kin ngayon?” he asked, voice low and rough, like the edge of a love song he hadn’t finished singing.Bahagyang lumingon si Ari, diretsong tumingin sa mga mata nito na walang pag aalinlangan. “I'm looking right at you, Mr. Marquez. Do you need anything else?”“Yeah,” he muttered, jaw clenching. “I need my nurse to stop acting like I’m a stranger.”Parang may bara na tumigil sa lalamunan ni Ari matapos marinig ang “my nurse” sa sinasabi ng pasyente nito.“Kung gusto mong pag-usapan ‘yon,” she said

“Ari…”Mahigpit ang kapit ni Rainne sa bewang niya habang nakasandal siya sa pader ng suite. Mainit ang hininga nito sa leeg niya. “Rainne, tumigil ka—” Pero hindi niya tinutulak. Ang kamay ni Ari ay nakapulupot na rin sa batok nito habang ang isa ay… gumagapang pababa. “Ssshhh…” bulong ni Rainne, sabay kagat sa ilalim ng panga niya. “I missed this. I missed you.” “Pwede ba,” hinigpitan ni Ari ang hawak, “baka may makakita—”Pero mas binilisan ni Rainne ang pagkilos. Nakapantulog lang siya—gray na shirt at boxers habang ikinikiskis ang harapan sa gitna ng hita niya. “They won’t,” he whispered. “You locked the door, right?” She didn’t answer. “Ari…” “Isa lang.” Ari can't deny that she also wants it to happen, again. “’Di ko hihilingin ulit, I swear. Just...let me have you…one last time,” bulong niya. “After this… I’ll pretend you’re just my nurse again.” Mabilis. Marahas. Mahigpit. Tumalikod si Ari at sinapo ang sarili sa pader habang siya naman ay dumukot ng condom mula

"Knock, knock."Mabilis na pumasok si Leo, may dalang takeaway coffee at tablet. Abot tenga ang mga ngiti nito.“Morning, bro! Nadagdagan ng 2 million ‘yung streams mo after last night’s podcast ni Vannesa. Viral na naman ang bruha mong ex—wait, nurse mo pala ‘yan, hi ate!”Napalingon si Ari mula sa pag-aayos ng kama ni Rainne. Gusto niyang umalis. Umiinit na naman ulo niya pag may ganitong usapan.“Leo, huwag ngayon.”“Chill ka lang, I’m just—”Biglang tumunog ang phone ni Rainne na nangangahulugang may nag chat dito.VANESSA: “Hmm. Still remember this? ;)”May kasamang picture. Larawan iyon ni Rainne na shirtless, nasa harap ng piano—pero hindi ito recent. Alam niyang si Vanessa ang kumuha nito, years ago.Nakita ‘yon ni Ari sa gilid ng mata niya.“Gano’n pala kayo ka-close.”Biglang tumahimik ang palagid.“Hindi na ngayon,” mahinang tugon ni Rainne.“Bakit kayo naghiwalay kung ganiyan din naman pala kayo ka-close?”“Ari—”“I’m just your nurse, right? So bakit ako nagtatanong?”Umal