Chapter 6: “Don’t Touch Me Unless You Mean It”

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 sharply, “ibang proffesional ang kailangan mo. Hindi ako bayad para makinig sa drama mo.”

“Hindi ba?” Rainne stood from the bed, the blanket falling to his waist—bare-chested, tousled hair, gaze like fire. “Akala ko binabayaran kita para—”

“Para gumaling ka.” Her voice cracked. “Hindi para umasa ako.”

Walang may kakayanang magsalita.

Rainne stepped closer. The heat of his skin reached her before his words did.

“Ari... what we had—what we have—it’s not nothing.”

She laughed, bitter. “Rainne. We had sex. You touched me like you owned me. You kissed me like I was air. Then she walked in and you let her mark you like you were hers.”

“I didn’t want to cause a scene.”

“You let her undress me with her mouth, in front of you.”

Rainne’s hands curled into fists.

“Don’t twist this. I wanted you that night.”

Bumalik sa mga alaala nito kung paano siya galawin ng lalaki. Kung paano ang bawat ungol at ulos nila sa therapy bed na hindi nila napigilan ng gabing ‘yon.

“You didn’t just want me,” Ari said, voice low and shaking. “You took me like you couldn’t breathe without me. Like you needed to fuck the feelings out of both of us.”

He stepped closer. Their bodies barely inches apart.

“I did.”

“Then why did you let her touch you after that?” she whispered. “Why didn’t you say I was yours?”

Rainne reached out, brushed a strand of hair from her face. Mainit ang mga palad nito na parang nagsusumamo na damhin muli ito kagaya ng dati. “Because I didn’t think I deserved you.”

Ari stepped back.

“Don’t.”

He paused.

“Don’t touch me unless you mean it," she said, voice trembling. “I swear to God, Rainne... I can’t survive you if you keep pretending this is real.”

Hindi na niya maaaring ibaba muli ang panty niya sa sira ulong ‘to.

Rainne’s chest rose with every breath. Nag aalab ang mga mata nitong direktang tumitig sa mga mata nito.

“I mean it,” he whispered. “I fucking mean every second I’ve ever had you in my hands.”

She stared at him, eyes wet, lips parted.

Kung magiging malambot siya ay maaaring hinalikan niya na ang lalaki para ikalma ito. Ngunit hindi.

Se turned away...and walked out.

---

The nurse’s station felt too bright, masyadong malamig. Parang walang lugar para sa kahit anong damdamin.

Ari sat down, taking slow breaths, as the scent of his skin lingered on her fingers. Dammit. Apektado siya sa kanyang pasyente kahit anong gawin niya.

She hated how much she felt. This wasn’t supposed to happen. She was supposed to stay in control.

.. dahil ba may nangyayari sa kanya at sa bilyonaryong pasyente nito? Oo malamang Ari!

Mababaliw na ata siya. Pati sarili nito'y nagagawa na niyang kausapin.

Then a file landed on her desk.

“Behavioral monitoring report – Rainne Leon Marquez”

Isang malalim na buntong hininga ang pinakawalan niya bago ito buksan.

And inside—

Photos.

Screengrabs.

One of them was blurry, but unmistakable na siya ‘yon at si Rainne at the therapy pool. Napalunok siya ng malamig matapos alalahanin kung ano ang nangyari doon.

Another photo is on the rooftop garden. Her back pressed against his chest. His mouth near her ear.

Shit.

She rushed to the administrator’s office. Locked. Great, just great.

Back to the elevator. Open.

Rainne was there. Dressed in joggers and a black shirt, sweat still glistening at his neck. He looked like sin and sorrow and everything she shouldn’t want.

Ari stepped in without a word.

So did he.

The air was electricity. Ramdam nito ang bawat tingin na gustong magtanong.

“I’m being watched,” she muttered. “They have pictures.”

“I know.” He leaned closer, his breath hitting her ear. “They’re trying to use it against you.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me?”

“I didn’t want to scare you.”

“You already did.”

He turned to her, eyes dark. “Ari…”

The elevator dinged. No one moved.

Naghahanda na siya sa paglabas when Rainne slammed the STOP button.

She felt his agressive hands all over her body and kissed her.

Hard.

Desperate.

His mouth was fire—his hands gripping her like the world was ending and she was the only one who ever mattered. Gigil ang bawat halik nito.

“Sorry,” he breathed against her lips. “I’m sorry for being a coward. I’m sorry for not choosing you in front of her. But fuck—I’ve never wanted anything the way I want you.”

Ari’s breath hitched, knees weakening—

But she shoved him back.

“I told you,” she whispered, habol ang bawat hininga. “Don’t touch me unless you mean it.”

“I do,” he said.

“Then prove it. Defend me. Stop acting like I’m your secret.”

He didn’t speak.

With that...Ari reached for the elevator button—and walked out.

Leaving Rainne alone with the taste of her goodbye still on his tongue.