Chapter 3: Use Me to Forget

Nakahiga pa rin si Ari sa therapy bed. Basang-basa ang dibdib ng sarili niyang pawis, ang katawan nanginginig pa mula sa bawat galaw ng daliri ni Rainne na ngayon ay tahimik lang na nakaupo sa gilid, pinagmamasdan siya.

Ang tahimik ng therapy room. Pero sa pagitan nilang dalawa, maingay ang katawan—maingay ang puso.

Ari turned her head slightly. “You were serious.”

Rainne met her gaze. “Sobra.”

“I don’t need your pity.”

“It’s not a pity,” he said, voice low. “It’s what I want.”

Ari sat up, hinila ang scrub top pataas para takpan ang sarili pero hindi na niya nagawang ayusin ito. Nakalaylay lang sa isang balikat habang nakatitig siya sa lalaki.

“You want sex in exchange for money?”

Rainne didn’t flinch. “I want you. And I know you need help.”

“How did you know?”

Mainit na ngisi ang pinakawalan ng lalaki.

“I'm a Marquez, how come I wouldn't know?”

Yeah, right. Ang galing.

Ari swallowed, her throat suddenly dry. “So, this is your solution? Fuck me until your guilt goes away?”

He leaned in slightly. “No. Fuck you until your pain goes away.”

Ari’s breath caught. That was the problem. Because part of her… wanted to believe him.

“Rainne—”

“Stop pretending you don’t feel it too.”

She paused. That heat between them—it wasn't just lust. It was need—na pinipilit niyang hindi paniwalaan.

“Your father’s bill,” he said. “I’ll settle it all. Full payment. No contracts, no catches.”

Ari looked away. Her father had weeks left in treatment. Time was gold—and money they didn’t have. Hindi na rin sapat ang sweldo niya dahil kailangan niya pang magbayad ng utang.

“No rules, no pretending. Just you and me,” he clarified.

“And when it ends?”

“Then it ends.”

---

Puyat mula sa night shifts. Halos hindi na makilala ni Ari ang sarili habang tinititigan ang sarili sa salamin.

Pagod ang katawan sa paulit-ulit na pagsalo sa responsibilidad. Pero ang pinakamatindi, yung pagod sa puso—sa takot na baka mamatay ang ama niya nang wala siyang nagawa.

Chemotherapy bills. Maintenance meds. Wala nang savings.

Laging pumapasok sa isip niya ang offer ng isa niyang pasyente. Ngunit ang kaniyang pangalan, ang kaniyang karerang pinaghirapan, hindi niya lubusang maisip na dudungisan niya ito para lamang sa kakaunting halaga ng pera—na kailangan niya.

Gagong kahirapan.

Nakatulala siya sa kisame ng maliit niyang kwarto. Naka-scrub pants pa siya, pero hubad ang pang-itaas. Tumutulo pa rin ang init ng katawan niya galing sa huling halik, huling bulong ni Rainne.

“Luhod.”

The word echoed in her head.

Napasinghap siya, pumapasok na naman sa isip niya ang lalaki.

Nahulog ang kamay niya sa pagitan ng hita—at doon niya na-realize kung gaano siya kaapektado.

She bit her lip. Pumikit. Basa na siya.

Rainne’s voice returned. “Tell me to stop…”

Pero hindi siya tumigil. Maingat niyang iginalaw ang kaniyang daliri.

“Rainne…”

Sa bawat haplos nito sa kanyang sarili ay alam niyang delikado na siya sa binata. Bawat galaw ay pagbalik ng alaala niya sa ginawa nila ng binata sa suite nito.

She came whispering his name—his sinful name kahit wala siya sa tabi niya.

--

Ari was running on two hours of sleep.

Her father vomited twice that morning. He couldn't eat. The doctor’s bill sat in her inbox, unopened, like a timebomb.

And now here she was.

At the private therapy pool. Facing Rainne Leon Marquez—shirtless.His toned back glistened under the sunlight habang nakasandal siya sa pool’s edge, his tattoos peeking from his collarbone down his arm.

“Late ka,” he said. “Hindi mo ba ako namimiss?”

She didn’t respond.

“Ten minutes,” she said, tossing the therapy band beside the pool. “You don’t get to flirt if you haven’t stretched.”

She prepared herself and swam towards her patient.

“Careful, Nurse,” he smirked. “You look like you’ve sinned.”

Ari’s throat dried.

Hindi niya alam kung ano ang ibig niyang sabihin dito.. dahil ba mukha na siyang stress o dahil—

Tumigil ang mundo.

Naalala niya ang boses nito kagabi. Naalala niya ang sarili niyang kamay, ang basang daliri, ang mahigpit na pagtirik ng mata niya habang iniisip ang katawan ng lalaking kaharap niya ngayon.

“Raise both arms,” she instructed. “Ten reps. Keep them underwater.”

Rainne took the foam weights, but his eyes stayed locked on her legs. Her scrubs were rolled up to her knees. Damp already from the steam.

“I think I’m getting hard,” he said.

“I think I don’t care.”

Rainne started the reps—slow, deliberate. Muscles rippling under water. Veins popping under skin. He groaned faintly with each raise, as if punishing her with the sound.

Ari swallowed.

“You’re biting your lip,” he murmured.

She glared. “This is therapy. Focus.”

Pinipilit niyang maging propesyonal dahil trabaho ang ginagawa nito. Ari...please, focus.

Maraming pasyente na ang dumaan sa buhay nito at hindi maaaring sirain ng lalaking ito ang lahat ng pinaghirapan nito.

Pilit niyang pagkumbinsi sa sarili.

“Therapy, huh,” he said, swimming closer. “Like, yesterday?”

She flushed. Naguguluhan, nagugustuhan, nagsisisi? Hindi na rin niya alam.

“I was out of line,” he added, surprisingly soft.

Ari looked up, caught off guard.

“I should’ve said it better. Yung tungkol sa tatay mo. About… the offer.”

The freaking offer.

“You think I’ll whore myself out because I’m desperate?” she asked coldly.

Rainne’s smirk dropped.

“No,” he said. “I think you’re already drowning.”

She sat on the pool’s ledge, dipping her legs into the warm water. Her scrubs soaked instantly. Napapakalma nito ang nanghihinang binti niya—ngunit hindi ang bigat sa dibdib niya.

“You’re scared,” he said.

“So what?”

“I’m scared too.”

His hand touched her ankle under the water.

"I almost died. I was alone. But when I woke up... ikaw ang una kong nakita.”

Ari swallowed hard.

“You make me feel like I'm not broken.”

He was being honest—na mas lalong nagpapahirap ng sitwasyon.

“I don't want to want this,” she whispered.

“But you do.”

His breath fanned her lips.

She should’ve pushed him away.

Instead, she parted her legs—just slightly.

His hand slid up her calf, slow, deliberate. Reaching the back of her thigh.

“You’re soaked,” he whispered. “And it’s not just the pool.”

She grabbed his wrist—but didn’t stop him. One finger brushed the edge of her inner thigh.

She gasped.

Rainne leaned forward. His mouth hovered near her neck.

Then the door clicked open.

“Ms. Valencia?”

A hospital staff. Male. Holding files.

Rainne pulled back—but not far enough.

“Yes?” sagot niya, basag ang boses.

“The administrator needs you.”

“O-okay.”

She stood, heart pounding. Her wet scrubs clung to her curves. Her core is still throbbing.

Magulo ang utak nito habang inaayos ang sarili. That moment...she knew.

Isang maling galaw lamang nilang dalawa ay maaaring gumuho ang lahat ng kanilang nasimulan.

Is one night with Rainne worth everything she could lose?