Dangerous Love

CHAPTER 19

(FLASHBACK…)

ONE AFTERNOON, Blythe was enjoying her custard tart at the Evrons’ café while talking with Aira and Noreen.

It’s the weekend.

Wala silang pasok. Kaya naman, napag-usapan nilang mag-girl bonding, pero ang girl bonding ay nauwi lamang sa café.

Talking is better than shopping. Nakakapagod kayang maglakad nang maglakad habang may bitbit na paper bag sa mall.

Only a few customers are remaining inside as the soft aroma of coffee fills the air, while sunlight streams gently through the windows.

Evron was behind the counter, focused on preparing drinks, completely unaware that the women seated near the corner had already shifted into dangerous territory.

Nakaupo si Blythe sa pagitan ni Aira at Noreen, looking deeply troubled.

Mukhang excited naman si Aira.

“So…” Aira leaned forward slightly, with her eyes sparkling mischievously. “Hanggang saang level na ang relationship niyo?”

Napakurap si Blythe. “What?”

Lumawak ang ngisi ni Aira. “Have you already make out?”

Noreen casually sipped her coffee while pretending not to listen too closely.

Medyo nag-alinlangan naman si Blythe saka dahan-dahang tumango.

Aira slapped the table softly. “I knew it.” She chuckled.

“Shh!” Blythe hissed immediately, panicking. “Huwag mong lakasan ang boses mo. Ano ka ba?”

Noreen chuckled.

“So,” Aira continued shamelessly, lowering her voice dramatically, “that thing…”

Blythe frowned slightly. “What thing?” she asked.

Lumapit si Aira saka bumulong. “Have you two had s*x already?”

Blythe nearly choked on her own drink, and her eyes widened. “What? No!”

Medyo napalakas ang boses ni Blythe at napatingin pa sa kanila ang ilang customer ng café. Even Evron looked up from the counter.

Agad namang nag-iwas ng tingin si Blythe.

Aira laughed mercilessly. “Okay, okay,” she said between giggles. “Relax.”

Ngumisi naman si Noreen.

“But…” dagdag ni Aira habang naniningkit ang kaniyang mata, “gusto mong mangyari?”

Blythe’s face turned warm instantly. “…Maybe.”

Nagkatinginan naman sina Aira at Blythe. Then both smiled at the same time. “Ohhh.”

Blythe covered her face slightly. “Stop reacting like that!”

Noreen leaned back comfortably. “Seduce him,” she suggested as if it were a normal thing to say.

Napatigil si Blythe. Parang ang pangit naman yatang pakinggan na aakitin niya si Evron pero… “…paano?”

Umayos ng upo si Aira. “This is my expertise. Let me.” Sabi nito kay Noreen.

Noreen just gives the floor to Aira.

“Bakit parang proud ka?” wika ni Blythe kay Aira.

Hindi pinansin ni Aira ang sinabi ni Blythe. “Step one,” she began seriously, “eye contact.”

Kumurap si Blythe. “Ano?”

“Use your eyes,” Aira whispered dramatically. “Men are weak.”

Tumango si Noreen. “Especially when they’re already in love.”

“In love agad?!”

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Noreen. “Blythe,” she said flatly, “my cousin literally carried you out of a restaurant because he was jealous.”

“…Fair point,” sabi ni Aira saka nagpatuloy sa kaniyang lecture. “Step two—subtle touches.”

“In the body?” Blythe asked. “I did that.”

“Huhulaan ko, hindi mo pa nahawakan ‘down there’, right?”

“Aira…!”

Tumawa lang naman si Aira saka napailing.

Hindi naman alam ni Blythe kung tama bang nakikinig siya sa kaibigan niya o ano.

Meanwhile, across the café, Evron glanced toward their table. Hindi niya narinig ang pinag-uusapan ng mga ito, pero nakikita niya ang pamumula ng mukha ni Blythe.

Nagtataka naman siya kung ano ang pinag-uusapan ng mga ito at kung bakit ganoon na lamang ang pamumula ng kasintahan.

Back at the table, Aira gently grabbed Blythe’s chin and turned her head toward the counter. “Tingnan mo siya.”

Blythe instinctively looked.

Evron happened to glance up at the same moment.

Their eyes met.

Mabilis na nag-iwas ng tingin si Blythe. Though she and Evron happened to sleep on the same bed twice already, other than hugging, wala na silang ginagawang iba. Well, except for the time Evron nearly forced her, the time he was jealous.

Aira groaned dramatically. “Girl, you’re hopeless.”

Natawa naman si Noreen na tahimik lamang habang kumakain ng cupcake.

“Try smiling at him longer,” sabi ni Aira. “Not like you’re preparing for battle.”

“Smile seductively,” dagdag pa ni Noreen.

Aira tapped her hand lightly on the table to get Blythe’s attention. “Pero don’t forget, dapat litaw nang kaunti ang kaluluwa natin.”

“I’ve done that,” mahinang sabi ni Blythe.

Pumalakpak si Aira. “Great. How?”

“Love sleeve, two buttons down and slipping through my shoulder. Then exposed thigh.”

Malalim na napabuntong-hininga si Aira. “Well, kulang ‘yon, pero at least you know how to do that.”

Napatango si Noreen bilang pagsang-ayon.

Aira crossed her arms proudly. “Listen to me carefully, Blythe. Hindi man kayo ang magkatuluyan, at least, natikman mo at makakakuha ka pa ng anak.”

Hindi makapaniwalang napatitig na lamang si Blythe kay Aira. “Anong sinasabi mo?”

Umiling si Aira. “Nothing. Just do what I say.” She smiled. “Masarap kaya.”

Blythe's eyes widened. “You and Gavin…”

Aira nodded smugly. “Consensual.”

Noreen laughed quietly into her coffee while Blythe looked moments away from evaporating from embarrassment.

Blythe buried her face in her hands. “Hindi ako makapaniwalang nangyayari ang pag-uusap na ‘to.”

Tinapik ni Aira ang balikat ng kaibigan. “Blythe, trust me. Hindi ka magsisisi. Baka uulit-ulitin mo pa.”

Blythe looked at Noreen.

Noreen just smiled and didn’t say anything.

Hanggang sa makauwi si Blythe, nasa isipan niya ang mga sinabi ni Aira.

Tama naman ito.

Evron was a rare type of man.

At iniisip niya, kahi anak lang ang makuha niya rito kung sakali man na hindi sila magkatuluyan sa huli.

Life was unpredictable.

Maraming puwedeng mangyari.

Evron belonged to a wealthy family. And she knew that a lot of women were chasing him.

Paano kung dumating ang araw na magsawa si Evron sa kaniya?

At least, even if they would not end up together, when she has a child, she will have something to care for.

Tiningnan ni Blythe si Evron na nagluluto sa may kusina.

Then her eyes looked at his body.

Evron had a great body. Every muscle hugged his shirt.

Napalunok si Blythe.

Napahawak siya sa magkabilang pisngi dahil kung anu-ano ang pumapasok sa kaniyang isipan dahil kay Aira.

Though what Aira taught her was important, the key is with her.

If she wants it to happen, then she will be the one to make the first move.

Ever since Evron nearly forced her, Evron has become slightly distant from her. Hindi naman sa iniiwasan siya nito, pero halatang kinokontrol ni Evron ang sarili.

May mga pagkakataon na nahuhuli niyang nakatitig sa kaniya si Evron, at ang mata nito ay puno ng pagnanasa. Pero kapag umiwas siya ng tingin at muling ibinalik rito ang tingin, wala na ang pagnanasa sa mata nito.

She was also tempted many times, but she controlled herself.

Umatras si Blythe saka pumasok sa loob ng kwarto.

She took a bath and dressed herself—her usual outfit during the night, whether Evron was in her apartment or not—oversized white ¾ sleeve with the fabric loose against her frame.

Tiningnan niya ang hitsura sa salamin.

Sinadya niyang buksan ang tatlong butones ng suot niyang pantulog. The neckline opened just enough to show the delicate line of her collarbone.

The collar was slightly askew and slipped just enough to reveal one of her shoulders.

Blythe took a deep breath.

“This is it… wala ng atrasan ‘to.”