CHAPTER 9
1295 Words
“IPAPAKASAL ako ng parents ko sa lalaking hindi ko mahal.” Malungkot na sabi ni Luna. “And my mom like my fiance.”
Tumuon ang mata ni Zayden sa daliri ni Luna. “Where’s the ring?”
Napatingin si Luna sa sariling kamay. “No ring. We don’t love each other. We were just abiding by our parents' wishes.”
“That’s bullshit!”
Nagulat si Luna sa pagmumura ni Zayden.
Sumandal si Zayden sa sofa. He stared at his mug. His coffee had already gone cold. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang sasabihin niya. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang dapat niyang sabihin kay Luna.
This was so heartbreaking for him.
The woman he liked was already engaged.
“Den…”
Zayden looked at Luna. “And now?” he asked, barely beyond a whisper.
Umiling si Luna. “Hindi ko alam. Pero masaya ako na nakilala kita.”
Napakuyom ang kamay ni Zayden. “Luna…” His throat bobbed.
Their eyes locked into each other.
“I want to be happy for the remaining days of my one-month freedom. Gusto kong maramdaman ang kalayaan ko.”
“And?”
“And I have to go back after this one-month vacation and marry the man my parents want me to marry.”
Humigpit ang pagkakakuyom ng kamao ni Zayden. “You have two weeks, Luna, before your one-month freedom ends. Anong gusto mong gawin?”
“I want to be happy.”
“And how to make you happy?”
Luna stared at Zayden. “May iniisip ako.”
“Dangerous?” Zayden managed to joke even if he felt like his heart was being gripped and ripped apart.
Hindi ngumiti si Luna. Instead, she turned towards Zayden, legs moving without thought, until she was already sitting on her knees, then slowly sliding over him until she was straddling his lap.
Zayden froze. “Luna…” His voice came out barely, husky, unsure.
“Noong nakaraang araw ko pa ito iniisip.” Ani Luna sa mahinang boses at ipinalibot niya ang braso sa leeg ni Zayden.
Habang si Zayden naman ay gulat na gulat at ramdam niyang may nabubuhay sa kaniya. His hands instinctively moved to her waist, unsure if he was allowed to touch her, or if this was a dream, she’d pull away from him any second.
“Den, pwede ba na tulungan mo akong maging masaya?”
“Luna…” Sandaling ipinikit ni Zayden ang mata at agad din siyang nagmulat.
“Please, Den.”
And that was all it took.
Zayden pulled Luna close, not with hesitation, but with everything he’d been holding back for the past few days. Their lips crashed together, desperate and deep.
Luna’s hand slid up his neck, fingers tangling in his hair as her body pressed flush against his.
Isang mainit na halik ang kanilang pinagsaluhan. Halik na parang wala ng bukas.
Zayden kissed her like he’d been waiting forever.
Luna kissed Zayden like she didn’t want to waste another second. Kahit hindi siya marunong na humalik, ginaya niya lamang ang galaw ni Zayden.
Napasinghap si Luna nang maramdaman niya ang paggalaw ng kamay ni Zayden sa kaniyang likod at mas lalo pa nitong tinulak ang kaniyang likod palapit sa katawan ni Zayden. His mouth found the corner of her lips, then her jaw, then her lips again, slower this time, deeper, like he was memorizing her.
Nang maghiwalay ang kanilang labi, nagdikit ang kanilang mga noo habang pareho silang naghahabol ng kanilang hininga.
Luna didn’t move from Zayden’s lap.
“This…”
Ngumiti si Luna. “Ikaw ang unang lalaki na hinalikan ko.”
Nagulat si Zayden. “Ako ang first kiss mo?”
Tumango si Luna.
Natuwa si Zayden. Pero gusto niyang malinawan. “So, you’re going to use me for your so-called happiness before your freedom ends?”
“Will you?”
“Pero bakit pakiramdam ko ay pumaparaan ka lang,” Zayden teased Luna, but Luna ignored his teasing and kissed him one more time.
When their lips parted, Zayden decided to confess. “Gusto kita—”
Mabilis na tinakpan ni Luna ang bibig ni Zayden. “Zayden, please don’t say it. You know that I can’t give it back. Let’s just be happy. Use each other. What do you think?”
Zayden knew that he would be tortured for him, but he agreed. But in his mind, he was already killing the man whom Luna was engaged to. At ayaw niyang malaman kung sino ang lalaking ‘yon dahil baka kapag dumilim ang paningin niya, mapatay niya ito.
“Since you wanted it, then I don’t want this to be a one-time thing,” Zayden said.
Luna looked into his eyes, soft, steady, and so full of something real.
“What do you want?”
“Make love.”
Napaawang ang labi ni Luna at bahagyang lumaki ang kaniyang mata sa gulat. “I…” Nag-iwas siya ng mata pero hinawakan ni Zayden ang panga niya at pinaharap siya rito.
Luna wanted to be happy. And a stranger—Zayden—made her happy. But she wasn’t ready for that thing.
Sa maikling panahon na nakasama niya si Zayden, naging komportable siya rito kahit pa madalas silang magtalo pagdating sa kusina. Maybe this was God’s plan. Gusto siya nitong maging masaya dahil alam ni God na sa mga susunod na buwan ay hindi na siya magiging masaya.
“Natahimik ka?” tanong ni Zayden.
Namumula si Luna sa hiya. “I don’t have experience with that thing.”
Zayden smiled. “Don’t worry, pareho lang naman tayo.”
Lumaki ang mata ni Luna at napatingin kay Zayden. “You’re a virgin?!” gulat niyang gagad.
“Yeah.”
“Weh?”
Zayden rolled his eyes. “Ramdam mo naman siguro kung anong nabuhay diyan sa inuupuan mo diba?”
Natigilan si Luna saka lumaki ang mata. She realized what Zayden had said. Tatayo na sana siya pero hindi siya hinayaan ni Zayden.
“It’s too late, Baby.”
Napayuko na lamang si Luna sa balikat ni Zayden. “I didn’t mean it.”
Zayden chuckled. His chest vibrated, and he kissed Luna on the cheek. “I know you’re not ready for that,” he said. “Don’t worry, I’ll be available anytime. Magsabi ka lang.”
Napabuga ng hangin si Luna. “I feel like we are using each other with benefits.”
“Well, indeed,” Saad ni Zayden. “But I’m happy.”
“I’m happy too.”
Nginitian nila ang isa’t-isa.
Kapagkuwan may naalala si Luna. “Sabi sa nabasa kong novel, kapag gwapo may abs daw? May abs ka ba?” tanong niya kay Zayden.
“Of course, I have.”
Tumaas ang kilay ni Luna. “Really?”
“I have,” Wika ni Zayden. “But I won’t let you touch it. Baka hindi ako makapagpigil.”
Nawalan ng imik si Luna saka umalis sa kandungan ni Zayden.
Zayden chuckled and kissed Luna on her cheek. “I’ll cook for dinner. Maaga tayong mag-dinner ngayon.” Aniya saka nagtungo sa kusina.
Luna stared at Zayden and smiled. Alam niyang engaged siya at hindi tama ang ginagawa niya. Pero gusto niyang maging masaya. I want to be selfish just for once. Just for this time.
Meanwhile, Zayden was planning something. If he wants Luna to be his and only his, kailangan niyang umisip ng paraan upang hindi matuloy ang kasal nito sa ibang lalaki. He looked at Luna sitting on the sofa.
“Sorry, Luna. But I won’t give you to anyone. Akin ka lang. You have provoked me, and I will do everything to make you mine.”
That’s not a promise, but a vow of Zayden Axl Fernandez.
- Writer
