Shocked na napatingin si Pat kay Alex.
Ano daw? Magche-check in sila? Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga.
"Patricia pwede ba? Wala akong gagawin sayo unless gusto mo okay? Kailangan lang nating mag-usap." He said in an irritated tone.
"At ano naman ang ibig mong sabihin?" matutuyuan na talaga siya ng dugo sa lalaking ito. She sulked on her seat while looking at the windshield. "Never akong makiki-share sa pag-aari na ng iba .So keep your hands to yourself!"
Napamura si Alex kaya tinignan ito ng masama ni Pat.
Ayaw pa sanang sabihin ni Alex ang totoo pero he needs to mollify her kung gusto nitong magkaayos sila. All he wanted is to be with her. Nagiisip tuloy siya na naka-sama pa yata ang plano ni Cindy.
"Hindi ko nobya si Cindy." malamig na sabi nito kay Pat.
Bumabangon na naman ang sobrang galit sa dibdib ni Pat. "Ano mo? FIANCEE??"
Without looking at her Alex said, " Do you really think na liligawan kita kung may fiancee na ako?" inis na tanong nito.
"Eh bakit si Shelly dati may Jake na pero niligawan mo pa din?" Pat covered her mouth after she said that.
Naman!Naman! Why did she let that slip ?She closed her eyes then looked out of the window.
Alex's foot pressed harder on the accelerator. He feels na kailangan talaga nilang mag-usap ni Pat.
***
Akala ni Pat sa motel siya dadalhin ni Alex. Buti naman sa isang 4 star hotel. Mas maganda na nga siguro na magusap na sila ng maayos. Sabi naman nito hindi siya nito gagalawin hanggat hindi siya nagbibigay ng go signal. Well,manigas ito! Hindi niya binago ang sarili niya para lang maging second best or second choice or worst maging number 2. May Matt at Jude na naghihintay sa kanya. Kahit may feelings pa din siya kay Alex, maybe after ng pag-uusap nila, kailangan na niya talagang mag-move on ng bonggang-bongga!
The room has a cozy atmosphere. May queen-size bed and may side table with two one-seater chairs. May malaking tv on a shelf na nasa paanan ng kama. The bathroom is on the right side near the door. Biglang kinabahan si Pat ng marinig na niyang ni-lock ni Alex ang pintuan. Come to think of it, ito ang unang beses na pumasok siya sa hotel room na mag-isa with a man. She crossed her arms on her chest.
"Cold?" tanong sa kanya ni Alex na nasa likod niya.
She didn't turn around but she could feel his body heat behind her. Ramdam niya na napaka-lapit nito sa kanya. She walked further into the room. "No,okay lang ako." she said.Nakatalikod pa din siya dito.
"Patricia," mahinang tawag ni Alex.
"Cool it! Don't loose it or you'll regret it!" pikit- matang binulong ni Pat and tried to have a poker face before turning around to look at him. She positioned her face in her prettiest angle.
Alex got his cellphone from his pocket then gave it to her, "Please, paki-dial mo ang number ng mama mo. I want to tell her that you're with me. Baka mag-alala siya sayo."
She has no choice but to do as he said .Nang marinig niyang mag-ring, she handed the phone back to him.
"Good evening po tita, this is Alex. Kasama ko po si Patricia. Ihahatid ko na lang po siya pag-uwi...opo tita, don't worry, I will take good care of her." He said while his eyes never leaving Pat's face.
Then he ended the call.
They are just staring at each other. Pat's face is void of emotion. Alex's face is hard to read too.
"Are we going to do this standing up?" tanong ng binata. His eyes are drinking in Pat's lovely features. He swore to himself that before the evening ends, things will be better for them .Pat has to accept the fact that she belongs to him. Mukhang hindi na nito talaga matatagalan ang ganito na wala itong kasiguraduhan kay Pat. He has to move faster.
Lumakad is Pat papunta sa isa sa one-seater. She sat down and crossed her legs. Alex has to slightly shake his head. Pat's breasts look even bigger when she is seated like that. Napamura siya ng mahina. He needs to control his libido. They came here to talk. Maybe later....
"So ano na?" Pat asked sounding impatient.
Lumapit is Alex para buhatin ang isa pang one seater na upuan at ipinuwesto ito right across her. Gusto nito na magkaharap sila pag nagusap.
Pat felt a little conscious but she tried to mask her true feelings.S umandal siya and she crossed her arms across her chest cause she feels her nipples are hardening. Probably it’s because of the coldness of the room.
Malcon: Ako sure ako dahil yan sa nearness ni Alex. Tapos 'te solong-solo niyo ang kwarto! Libreng-libre niyong gawin ang kahit ano!
Alex's eyes narrowed when he saw what she did. Napansin yata ni Pat that he was staring at her beautiful tits. He doesn't like the idea that she wants to hide them from him. He will definitely do something about that later. But first...
"What was that thing about Shelly? Na may Jake na siya pero niligawan ko pa din siya?" he asked na naka-kunot ang noo.
Malcon: O hayan na 'te! Lay your cards on the table na to! Aminan na para mawala na yang excess baggage mo!
"Alex, alam ko naman na tinamaan ka talaga kay Shelly dati. You even used me para makita mo siya dati di ba? Do you know that I felt so guilty kasi niloko natin si Jake nung panahon na yun? I was an accomplice." mapait na sabi niya.
Lumamlam ang mata ni Alex. Fuck it! Hindi nito alam na napakalaki pala ng impact kay Pat ng kagaguhang nagawa nito before. He has been really idiotic. He touched his nape with his hand and looked up before his eyes settled on her face again. He reached out to get her hands. Pat's lips slightly trembled. Lahat ng masakit na naramdaman niya dati unti-unti na namang bumabalik. She keeps on telling herself na hindi siya iiyak.
Alex felt that she is slightly shaking. And she looks as if she's going to cry any moment. Napamura siya ng mahina. Tumayo ito and itinayo nito si Pat to envelope her in his arms. Nakasubsob ang mukha ng dalaga sa dibdib nito. He suddenly realized one thing.
Mahal niya si Pat...it's as simple as that.
Her body started to shake. He knows she's crying. He hugged her even tighter. His lips are on the top of her head.
"Baby.." tawag nito sa paos na boses.
They stayed like that for a few minutes. Pat, crying quietly while Alex holds her tightly as if not wanting to let her go. Nang maramdaman ni Alex that she is done crying, he loosened his embrace but didn't totally release her. She freed herself from him. Umupo ulit si Pat. Her eyes are red from crying. Alex walked to the bathroom.
Nang bumalik ito, may dala itong tissue paper .He handed her some.
"Thank you." Pat said quietly, not quite meeting his eyes.
He sat down too. He leaned a little forward. He has his elbows on his knees. "Patricia.I know I have done a lot of stupid things in the past and I really regret them."
Pat looked up para tignan si Alex. He is looking intently at her. "I don't blame you. Shelly is really very lovely. Kahit sino namang lalake magkakagusto sa kanya." she said. She forced a quiet laugh.
"Parang ikaw?" he asked habang titig na titig pa din sa kanya.
Pat frowned."We are not talking about me."
"What I felt for Shelly was purely physical. And maybe deep inside, though I didn't want to recognize it at first, gusto kong ipaghiganti ang ate ko." he said sincerely.
"You used me." she said bitterly.
"Yun ang isa sa malaking pinagsisisihan ko..among other things." he admitted and Pat looked away.
"Baby..please..tignan mo ako." Pabulong na pakiusap nito.
Pat closed her eyes for a few seconds then opened them again bago siya lumingon ulit kay Alex. She saw something in his eyes which gave her goose bumps.
"Alam ko naging gago ako .I regret everything. Pero hindi ko na mababago ang nangyari. Ang pwede ko lang gawin is ayusin ang kasalukuyan at ang hinaharap. Please never compare what I feel for you sa naramdaman ko nun kay Shelly .Alam ko naman na hindi siya kailanman magiging akin because she has Jake .Maybe I pursued her for the heck of it .It gave me a kind of high na alam kong kahit papano nakakaganti ako .It was very very wrong but humans are bound to make mistakes. Pinagsisihan ko na lahat yun." He revealed , pain is evident in his eyes and voice.
"I will say what I really feel right now. I want to be honest. Mahal kita Patricia. I don't see myself with any woman but you. Kung makakagaan sa loob mo na pahirapan ako bago mo ako tanggapin ulit ng buong-buo sa buhay mo, then go ahead .But huwag mo lang pigilan ang nararamdaman mo para sa akin. Magalit ka na kung magalit baby. But I know and I feel it inside me..mahal mo din ako.