AFTER shopping for something that she could use for swimming, they headed straight to the beach. And Aguas wasn’t kidding when he said that he’d make sure she’ll enjoy every minute of this day. Naglalakad na sila noon sa tabing-dagat, malakas ang hampas ng alon sa kanilang mga paa, tulad ng paghampas ng hangin sa kanilang katawan. Malapit na noong magdapit-hapon.
“Wow, ang ganda po pala talaga dito, sir.”
“Yeah, just like you.”
Instead of looking at the magnificent backdrop, his eyes were fixed on her. Sahara felt her cheeks go warm. Now, she wanted to regret the swimsuit that she chose to wear. It was a turquoise colored two-piece swimwear, with a maroon shawl wrapped around her waist.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to stare,” natatawa nitong sabi sabay tingin sa palubog na araw.
Sahara didn’t mean to stare at him either. Gusto niyang batukan ang sarili dahil napakadali niyang madala sa mga ganoong klaseng lalaki – guwapo, confident, charming, sexy. Parang si Max. Si Prof. Del Mundo. At ngayon, si Arch. Aguas. Umiling-iling siya at iniiwas rin ang tingin sa katabi. Kailangan niyang ulit-ulitin sa sarili na boss niya si Aguas, na kahit napaka-guwapo nito sa suot nitong itim na board shorts at gray sando, boss pa rin niya ito. Nagpatuloy sila sa paglalakad hanggang sa makarating sila sa dalawang bakanteng rattan lounger na nasa ilalim ng malaking dilaw na beach umbrella. Naupo sila roon at um-order si Aguas ng dalawang fresh coconut water.
“Sahara, can I ask you a personal question?” Huminga ito ng malalim bago nagpatuloy. “May boyfriend ka na ba?”
Now, there’s the question. Wala na, iyon ang dapat niyang isagot sa tanong na iyon ni Arch. Aguas dahil iyon ang totoo. She wanted to let him know that she just broke up but that doesn’t mean that he can flirt with her the way he’s doing now. However, it would definitely cost her her job.
“I’m sorry, hindi mo naman kailangang sagutin ‘yan. It’s really none of my business anyway.” Sinuklay nito ng mga daliri ang hinahanging buhok bago muling tumingin sa kanya. “Ilang taon ka na nga ba?”
“I’ll be turning twenty-two, sir – err…R-Ricky.”
Nginitian siya nito, tanda na nagustuhan nito ang pagbanggit niya ng pangalan nito. “Twenty-two? When?”
“Next month.”
“So, where’s the party?”
Bata pa siya ay iyon na ang pangarap niya, ang magkaroon ng engrandeng birthday celebration. Dahil sa buong buhay niya, kahit birthday cake ay hindi siya nagkaroon. Naalala niya, noong 18th birthday niya ay wala siyang kasama sa bahay ni Michaela. Brownout pa noon. Kaya nagkasya na lamang siya sa pangangarap ng isang engrandeng debut – gaganapin iyon sa isang 5-star hotel, may eighteen roses, eighteen candles, eighteen treasures, 5-tier cake, makulay na mga bulaklak, magarang gown, masasarap na pagkain, maraming bisita. At ang escort niya, isang tulad ni Arch. Aguas.
Pero ngayon, wala na sa isip niya ang mga ganoong bagay. She has matured so fast that she feels she’s too old for those kinds of stuff; that a debut party like that only happens on fairy tales. In fact, she has forgotten about her birthday altogether. Napailing siya.
“Why not? Isang beses lang nagiging twenty-two ang isang babae.”
“Hindi po kasi praktikal,” aniya. “Hindi naman kami mayaman para sa mga ganoong klaseng parties.”
Tumangu-tango na lang si Aguas. “Kung sabagay, hindi naman kailangan ng magarbong party for a birthday. And I admire you for the kind of maturity that you have. But still, minsan ka lang magiging twenty-two. Tell me, Sahara. What do you want for your birthday?”
Marami, kung pwede lang niyang sabihin. Isang maganda at malaking bahay, isang magarang kotse, mga alahas, damit, sapatos. Pero umiling lang siya.
“Come on, just for fun. Tell me.”
Saglit siyang nag-isip. Ano ba ang maaari niyang sabihin na hindi nahahalatang mukhang pera. “Uhm, world peace?”
Pareho silang natawa dahil doon. Ngayon, masasabi niyang kakaiba nga yata talaga si Arch. Aguas sa mga lalaking nakilala niya. He could be a flirt without looking like a dirty old man. He’s frank without being offensive.
They spent the rest of the day sightseeing, food tripping, shopping and drinking. Masayang kasama si Aguas, at aaminin ni Sahara na medyo nakalimutan niya na boss ito at siya ay hamak na personal assistant lamang. At nalimutan rin niya na malaki ang agwat ng edad nito. Aguas was just as playful as Ace, as friendly as Baste, as tempting as Max. He acts, speaks, and thinks like her age and she’s starting to genuinely like him.
And he kept his promise, na mag-e-enjoy silang dalawa sa araw na iyon. Yes, just clean fun. Pasyal, kain, kuwento, tawa. Ganoon lang. Kung iisipin, ngayon lamang nakaranas si Sahara ng ganoong klaseng saya, kasama ang isang lalaki. Puwede pala ‘yon. ‘Yung mag-enjoy bilang magkaibigan. Well, she couldn’t consider Aguas as a friend – yet. She has just met him, and he’s still her boss. But spending those two precious days with him made her realize that having clean fun with a guy is still possible – and that not all guys are the same, that not all guys are pervert.
~~
“THANK you for the fun weekend, Sahara.”
“Thank you rin, Ricky. Sobrang nag-enjoy ako.”
They were both standing in front of her hotel room now, saying their good byes. Tomorrow morning, they leave. Tomorrow morning, everything will be back to normal – him being her boss, her being one of the company’s copywriters.
“Good night, Ricky,” she said as she looks up at him.
“Good night. See you tomorrow.” Nakasandal ang isa nitong braso sa pader habang nakatingin sa kanya.
“Yeah, see you.” Ngumiti siya at binuksan na ang pinto.
Lumapit si Aguas sa kinatatayuan niya, hinawakan ang isa niyang kamay at tinitigan siya sa mata. His hand was huge and warm and holding his hand felt like being in a tight embrace. Napalunok siya. Hindi niya alam kung magugustuhan ba niya ang nararamdaman nang mga oras na iyon o hindi.
“I promised not to steal a kiss from you again…and I’m going to keep that promise.” Mas lumapit pa ito, hanggang sa ilang pulgada na lamang ang layo ng mukha nila sa isa’t-isa. “So, this time, I’m going to ask permission. May I…kiss you, Sahara? Just this last time?”
Just this last time. Wala namang mawawala sa kanya kung pagbibigyan niya ang hiling nito na isang halik. It’s just a kiss anyway. He could have asked for something more, but he didn’t. All he wanted was a kiss.
Napangiti si Aguas nang tumango siya. Marahan nitong hinawakan ang kanyang pisngi, at sa laki ng kamay nito ay halos masakop na ng palad nito ang kalahati ng mukha niya. Her face was warm but his hand was warmer. Napapikit na lamang si Sahara nang tuluyan nang lumapat ang labi nito sa mga labi niya.
There’s nothing special about his kiss. It was like the kisses she had experienced in the past. Oh, well, it was far from the kisses she had in the past – dahil kakaiba ang naramdaman niya roon. She felt relaxed, something that’s new to her. Mayroong kaunting kaba, pero hindi katulad ng kaba na nararamdaman niya sa tuwing hinahalikan siya ni Max noon, o ni Del Mundo, o ni Baste. Aguas’ kiss was calculated. Masarap, oo. Matamis, oo. Pero hindi maka-ubos hininga.
Dahil ba sa hindi siya masyadong attracted kay Aguas? She didn’t think so because truth is, she likes him. Dahil ba sa naging komportable na siya rito sa nakalipas na dalawang araw na kasama niya ito? Siguro.
Sahara wanted to know what it is or what it isn’t in this kiss. Ganoon rin ba ang nararamdaman ni Aguas nang mga sandaling iyon? Did he feel at ease while kissing her? Because if so, there is a problem. She’s got a problem. Sahara has been famous for her hot, breathtaking, mind-blowing kisses and she must do something about this bland kiss. Hindi siya papayag na matapos nang ganoon-ganoon lang ang halik nilang iyon. Reputasyon niya ang nakataya roon, at isang Architect Aguas ang kasama sa usapan.
Bahagyang idinilat ni Sahara ang kanyang mga mata. Nakapikit pa rin si Aguas, na tila seryosong-seryoso sa ginagawa. His breathing was steady, his lips were firm on hers, not daring to move.
What’s wrong with this man?
Itinaas ni Sahara ang dalawang kamay at iniyakap iyon sa leeg ni Aguas bilang suporta. And she tried moving her lips over his mouth. Once she felt his mouth relax, she started licking, slightly nipping. In an instant, his breathing wasn’t steady anymore, his kisses gentle no more. He responded with her kisses, licking, nipping.
Her heart started to beat faster, her breathing deeper. There. It wasn’t bad after all.
“W-wow, Sahara…how did you learn to kiss like that?” bulong nito nang sa wakas ay maghiwalay ang kanilang mga labi. The kiss left them gasping.
Uh, I’ve got the best teacher. But of course, she didn’t say that. Hawak pa rin ni Aguas ang magkabila niyang pisngi, nakayakap pa rin siya rito.
“Maniniwala ka ba kung sasabihin ko sa iyo na that was the best kiss I’ve ever had? No exaggeration. At hindi ko sinasabi ‘yan para lang i-please ka. It’s the truth.”
Umiling siya at natawa. That’s impossible. With a man like Aguas, especially with is age and status, she’s guessing that he has kissed countless girls in his life.
“Well, you better believe me. I’m such a loser when it comes to these things.” Ito naman ang natawa. “Hindi ko alam kung maaawa ako sa sarili ko dahil ngayon lang ako nakatikim ng ganyang klaseng halik o magpapasalamat ako sa Diyos dahil sa wakas, I’ve found someone like you.” He then caressed her cheeks. “Now I won’t be able to sleep tonight. Thanks to you.”
Alam niya ang ibig sabihin ni Aguas at hindi niya alam kung dapat ba siyang humingi ng paumanhin. Kumalas siya sa pagkakayap nito para makapagpaalam na.
“You better get inside your room. Kung hindi, baka kung ano pa ang mangyari.”
“O-okay,” kimi niyang sagot. “Good night, Ricky.”
Umiling ito. “It’s gonna be a long night for me,” natatawa nitong sabi, at pagkatapos ay muling umiling. “Wow…just wow,” pahabol nito. “You are amazing, Sahara.”
Is she? Really amazing?
Napaisip tuloy si Sahara nang makapasok na siya sa loob ng kuwarto. Hindi lang si Aguas ang nakaringgan niya ng ganoon – that she’s amazing, she’s great, she’s the best. Pero bakit hindi niya iyon maramdaman?