“Réveillez-vous, chère,” malambing na panggigising ni Marcoe kay Reese.
Dahan-dahan siyang dumilat. She was shocked when she saw his face hovering over hers. “Marcoe, nandito ka pa?”
Di niya magawang tumingin nang diretso dito. She knew that both of them were still naked. And she could vividly remember everything that happened the other night. They made love until dawn. Both of them were insatiable. But she didn’t expect to find in the morning.
His blue gray eyes glinted with humor in the light. “What kind of question is that? Akala mo ba aalis na lang ako bago sumikat ang araw? That I am a monster who vanishes in light of day.”
She gasped when their naked legs tangled. “I just never thought that you would stay,” she said slowly.
Hinalikan nito ang noo niya. “I can’t bear to leave you alone.”
Pumikit siya. “Thanks for being patient with me last night. Alam ko wala pa akong masyadong alam.”
Kumuha ito ng hibla ng buhok niya at inikot sa daliri nito. “I am glad that you are inexperienced and I am willing to teach you everything.”
“Okay lang sa iyo kahit di ako katulad ng ibang babae…”
He shut her up with a kiss. “Huwag mong ikumpara ang sarili mo sa kanila. Love making is not a sports, Reese. It’s an expression of love and affection. It should be communication between two people who care for each other. And don’t you dare compare what we had to meaningless coupling. This is special for me.”
“Me, too.” She could vividly remember crying when they reached the peak. “It was too perfect, Marcoe.”
“It will always be perfect for us. Je’taime, Reese. I love you,” he whispered.
She cradled his face with her hands; her heart was bursting with joy. “Marcoe!” Tumitig siya sa mga mata nito. Gusto niyang malaman kung nagsasabi ito ng totoo. Or if those blue-gray eyes could lie to her. But he just stared at her.
“I am serious about it. It is how I really feel. It is not something that I utter in throes of passion. Sinasabi ko sa iyo ngayon nang pareho tayong normal at gising. And I love you even before we made love…”
“Marcoe, I just want to say I love you, too. Hindi mo na kailangang maging defensive. Okay?” aniya at yumakap sa leeg nito.
He buried his face on her hair. “Natatakot kasi ako na hindi ka maniwala sa akin. But I want you to know that I love you even if we didn’t make love last night. Hindi naman kita minamadali. I just wasn’t able to resist you,” he said then playfully bit her earlobe.
She laughed huskily. “Well, I don’t want you to resist me. You just showed me what I am missing, Marcoe. It’s love, the feeling of being in love and making love,” she said with a devilish glint in her eyes.
“You don’t know how much making love with you means to me. It made me whole, Reese. It’s like making real love for the first time in my life.”
When he kissed her passionately, she already knew what to do. How to give and how to take. Ngayon pa lang niya natututunan kung ano ang kakayahan niya bilang babae. But she was a fast learner. She knew how and where to touch Marcoe, enough to drive his insane. And she loved the liberty he gave her. Dahil sa pagkakataong ito, parang wala siyang maaring gawin na mali.
He suddenly stopped kissing her. “Reese, I have to bring you to the hospital. I want the doctor to check that nasty wound on your forehead.”
Humaba ang nguso niya. “I am okay. Nakita mo naman, hindi ba?”
“Gusto ko lang makasiguro. I promised to take care of you, remember?” Bumangon ito at inabot ang kamay sa kanya. “Come on. I will give you a nice shower session if you come with me to the hospital.”
Ginagap niya ang kamay nito. “That is a nice bribe.”
PUNONG-PUNO ang grand ballroom ng La Brissa Hotel. Launching ng bagong sparkling wine ng Vallee Esperar kaya host ng party ang Mama ni Marcoe.
It has been more than a month since they were seen in public as a couple. Noong una ay maraming humuhula na di sila magtatagal ni Marcoe. But their relationship was getting stronger each day. Boto nga ang magulang nito sa kanya. Her father didn’t like it a bit so did her brother. Isang lothario pa rin ang tingin ng mga ito kay Marcoe. Mabuti nga at sumama ito sa party na iyon.
Pareho silang may hawak na flute ng champagne ni Marcoe habang nakikinig sa diskusyon ng mga tao sa mesa. Kasalukuyang pinag-uusapan ng Papa niya at ng mga magulang ni Marcoe ang tungkol sa lumalalang economic crisis at kung ano ang mga paraan para sugpuin iyon.
“Kung nabo-bore ka sa usapan nila, magsayaw na lang tayo,” bulong sa kanya ni Marcoe at ginagap ang kamay niya.
“Masakit ang paa ko dahil naka-high heels ako. Kaya kahit gusto ko na magsayaw, hindi rin pwede,” sagot niya.
“Mukhang magkasundo na ang Daddy ko at ang Papa mo. Ibig sigurong sabihin mas magiging mabait na siya sa akin.”
“Next time, yayain mong mag-golf ang Daddy mo. Tapos siya rin ang pagyayain mo kay Papa. Tiyak na walang excuse iyan.”
Bahagya nitong sinulyapan si Stephen na matalim ang tingin sa kanila. “Ang kuya mo kaya kailan babait sa akin?” tanong nito.
“Bigyan mo ng girlfriend. Nagsusungit lang iyan dahil break na sila ng dati niyang girlfriend kung kailan magpo-propose na siya ng kasal.”
“Ouch!” bulalas nito. “That’s why he is as mean as an old geezer.”
She excused her self when she received a call from Erik. “Hello, Dad! Kumusta naman ang Cambodia?” Nasa Cambodia ito para sa coverage.
“Reese, you have to fly to Jakarta now. There’s a volcanic eruption in the island of Sumatra.”
“Which one? Iyong nilindol last month na pinuntahan ko?”
“Yes,” anito. “Naka-reserve na ang ticket mo para sa two o’clock flight mamaya. So pack your things now. Kailangan mo nang makarating sa airport.”
“What?” bulalas niya. “But I am in the middle of a party…”
“I know. Ako na sana ang lilipad sa Indonesia pero di pa ako makakaalis dito. The travel agent will meet you at the airport,” sabi nito.
“Is there a problem?” tanong ni Marcoe nang sundan siya sa balkonahe ng ballroom. “Sinong tumawag sa iyo?”
“Si Ninong Erik. Kailangan ko daw pumunta sa Indonesia dahil sa isang volcanic eruption,” paliwanag niya.
“Di ba kagagaling mo lang doon dahil sa lindol.”
“Mukhang may kinalaman sa pagsabog ng bulkan ang lindol na iyon. Two o’clock daw ang flight ko.” Tiningnan niya ang bracelet watch na regalo ni Marcoe sa kanya. “Marc, it’s already eleven. Baka maiwan ako ng flight ko.”
“Halika! Ipagpapaalam na kita,” sabi nito.