Rugged Men Series 4: Wyatt Hernandez (TAGALOG)

Chapter 26

WYATT let Madison snake her tongue inside him before pulling out from the kiss. Dali-dali itong nagbihis sa kanyang harapan at wala na siyang nagawa kundi manood na lamang dito habang nagbibihis. It’s been four months since they take their friendship to the next level by having benefits from each other. And it's also been long since he withdraws his decision on confessing to Madison. That night was unexpected. It's a major plot twist. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala sa sagot nito. That’s the time when he finally confirmed that Madison didn't like him anymore. That she really get over him.

That was supposed to be a celebration for him. That he should be happy that she finally moved on because his wish on Madison not liking him anymore came true. That they can be having their benefits without any strings touching. And now all he wanted to do is rewind the time even if it would lose him his achievements in archery. He was willing to exchange that for Madison's feelings before. His heart totally had lost hope. His feelings for Madison are greater than his passion for archery now.

At hindi na siya magugustuhang muli ni Madison. Sinayang niya lamang ang mga oras na iyon. At nagsisisi siyang kung bakit sa rami-rami ng ngiti na ibinigay nito ay ngayon niya lamang iyon pinahalagahan. It took him twelve years to saw that smile. That smile who has captured his heart.

How can he be so numb?

“It’s already quarter to seven and I need to go,” wika ni Madison habang ibinubutones ang damit. “God, I overslept. I enjoy kissing you so much, I didn't notice that I’m running late, damn.”

“Do you want me to drop you off?” tanong ni Wyatt.

Abala si Madison sa pagtali ng buhok nang sumipat ito sa kanya. “Why is it Tuesday today and not Wednesday? I still want to sleep by your side tonight.”

“You can sleep by my side even if it's Tuesday,” biro ni Wyatt at nang-aakit na tiningnan ito. “Come on, f**k schedule. It's going to be ruined soon anyway.”

“That's why it's called schedule because its need to be followed,” ani Madison at sinuot ang heels nito at ang lab gown. “Oh my god. Annie will really kill me. Sa office na lang din ako maliligo.”

“Can I visit later?” tanong ni Wyatt at nilapitan ito.

Nang makita siya na huba't baro ay nag-iwas ito ng tingin. “Oh, god, Wyatt. You are having hard on. You are clearly tempting me. Marami akong papaanakin na mga ina ngayong araw kaya magtakip ka.”

“Come on, Madi. You don't need to pretend like that,” tudyo ni Wyatt at niyakap ito mula sa likuran. “Even if I don't do anything, you still react to me, I’m sure.”

Hinarap siya nito at binigyan nang mabilis na halik sa labi. “Oh, god, you're so handsome... but I really need to work. Meet you on Wednesday night at my house. I will be welcoming you naked.”

“You are killing me, Madison. Why can't it be that tonight?” tanong ni Madison at hinapit ito palapit. Tinangka niya na halikan ito ngunit mabilis itong inalayo ang labi at napahalakhak.

“Because we have a schedule. We must stick to our schedule, Wyatt...” pagbibigay-diin ni Madison at kumawala na sa kanyang pagkahawak. She smiled at him before kissing his cheek. “Don't forget to eat breakfast, okay?”

Tumango-tango si Wyatt at tiningnan na lamang ito lumabas sa kanyang silid. When he heard the closing of the door, he lay back down in the bed and looked on the ceiling.

Wyatt sighed. “Damn. How many months must pass for me to confess my feelings?”

Ibinaon niya ang ang mukha sa unan at nag-isip. It was hard. Confessing and stuff like Madison does before to him is difficult. It was hell...

“I like you...” wika ni Madison para mapatigil si Wyatt sa dapat na ititira niya na palaso.

Lumuwag ang pagkakahawak ni Wyatt sa pana at ibinaba niya iyon. Gulat na napatingin siya kay Madison. “What?”

“I said I like you, Wyatt...” muling wika ni Madison para matigilan siya.

Nang maintindihan ang gusto nitong ipahiwatig ay napatango-tango si Wyatt. “Oh, that. Yeah, me too. I like you, too...”

Kuminang ang mga mata ni Madison. “Y-You do?”

“Yeah, you're my best friend that's why I like you,” sagot ni Wyatt at muling inihanda ang sarili sa pagtira.

“That’s not what I meant,” mahinang sabi ni Madison ngunit sakto lamang para kanyang marinig.

Pinanatili ni Wyatt ang paghila sa kuwerdas hanggang sa mapanatili niya ang kamay at masilip ang target.

“I like you, Wyatt,” dugtong ni Madison. “I like you as a man.”

Kasabay ng kataga na iyon ay ang pagbitaw niya sa kuwerdas at pagtira sa target. Dahil sa naulinigan ay bumaliko ang kanyang tira dahilan para limang puntos lamang ang kanyang nakuha sa target board. Hindi siya nadismaya sa mababang puntos na nakuha kundi sa sinabi ng kaibigan niyang si Madison.

Kunot ang noo na nilingon niya si Madison. “What?”

“I do, Wyatt. I like you,” saad nito na halos kanyang ikabingi. “I don't know why, Wyatt. Don't ask me why. I, myself, don't know why. I just I wake up one day I am.”

“No,” pagtutol niya sa sinabi nito. “We can’t... God, Madison. Friends are supposed to stay friends. That's why I agree on being your best friend because I thought you wouldn't like me just like any other woman.”

“I know. I just...” ani Madison sabay napapikit. “I never intend to like you, Wy. It wasn't my plan. It was my heart who did. You treat me well. You make my heart flutter. And you made me want to see you every day and every time.”

Napatingin si Wyatt dito bago ito tinabihan. “But we can’t... I can't imagine us being in a relationship when we started as friends. I don't want that. Relationship wrecks everything and I want to have what we have forever. That's why friendship stays and a relationship doesn't. Being in relationship sucks. It can make wounds. It can tear us apart. You are the only woman I want to have for the rest of my life because you’re important to me. But what you want to happen, I can't. I’m sorry, Madison. Friendship is all I can offer.”

“I know, Wyatt. I know,” ani Madison sabay tumango-tango. “You are not obligated to feel the same. I just wanted to let you know. But this feeling will pass, I’m sure. Just give me time and just be my best friend.”

“Of course, I’ll be you best friend,” nakangiti na wika ni Wyatt at ginulo ang buhok nito. “We are going to be each other’s best friend until we die. You have me forever.”

Ang lungkot na bumakas ng saglit sa mukha ni Madison at napalitan ng kung anong kaginhawaan at saya. Iyon ang lagi niyang inaasahan sa kanyang araw. Iyon ang tanging gusto niyang makita sa pang-araw-araw. Makikita niya pa lamang iyon ay magbibigay sa kanya ng kung anong kagalakan. Madison is his remedy and there’s no way he will lose his cure because of a relationship.

Napapikit si Wyatt sa ala-ala na iyon. Bawat kataga na sinabi niya ng araw na iyon ay presko pa sa kanyang isipan. Ngayon niya pa lamang nalaman kung ano ang kanyang sinayang. They were third year college that time. They have been friend for two years. And he literally waste it that day. He totally blew her away. And the time Madison need to make her feelings go away was eleven years. Eleven long years and he never even think twice of considering her feelings. Ngayon niya pa lamang nakita ang saysay nito hindi lamang bilang kaibigan kundi bilang isang tao na gusto niyang makasama panghabang-buhay.

Ngayon alam niya na ang nararamdaman nito sa labing-dalawang taon na iyon. How he wished she was as brave as Madison to utter out his feelings. Pero hindi. He rely on being intimate with her to be inable to get close to her. Nag-uusap lamang sila sa tuwing nagsisiping dahil abala ito sa trabaho. Nagagawa niya ang gusto niyang gawin dito bilang isang lalaki kapag kasama niya ito sa loob ng kuwarto. All that gesture he did when they are doing it, he wanted to do it as not his best friend that was having benefit of human needs. He did it because he cares. He did it because he likes her. Lahat ng mga kataga na umaalpas sa kanyang bibig ay kanyang sadya at may kabuluhan.

For him, it was making love. He refers it for almost four months now. But for Madison, it was only pure casual s*x.

Karma is literally a b***h. He believs it now. Lahat ng sinabi niya ng araw na iyon ay kanyang nilunok. Napaungol si Wyatt sa unan bago naiinis na tinungo ang kusina para uminom ng tubig. Binuksan niya ang isang bottled water at tinungga iyon hanggang sa maubos. Every Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, his morning will end up unwinding the past and regreting the present. Ni hindi na niya magawang dumampot ng pana at palaso para mag-ensanyo. Ang pag-amin na lamang kay Madison ang tumatakbo sa kanyang isipan at mahuhulog na hindi niya magagawa dahil natatakot siya sa magiging reaksyon ni Madison.

“Fuck...” wika ni Wyatt at marahas na sinabunutan ang sarili. Buong lakas na pinipi niya ang plastik na bote at padabog na itinapon ang kalat na iyon nang maalala ang araw na dapat na kanyang pag-amin pero hindi niya nagawa. “f**k, f**k, f**k! Isa kang duwag, Wyatt.”

Marahas na hinawi niya ang buhok at pumasok sa banyo para maligo. Agad na nagbihis siya ng pang-alis at tumungo sa kanilang bahay-inuman. He needed to vent his feeling otherwise he will lose it and might do something stupid. Pagkarating roon ay si Kayden pa lamang ang naroon habang hawak nito ang isang boteng Mikhail na malapit ng maubos. Para itong pinagsakluban ng langit at lupa. Maitim ang mata nito at gulo-gulo ang buhok. He could see how much Kayden was gripping hard the Mikhail bottle. Kung ordinaryong alak lamang ito ay tiyak na nabasag na ito sa kamay. Kung halata sa kanyang mukha ang pagiging problemado ay mas halata pa sa mukha ni Kayden. His face shows guilt and hatred. Kayden is exasperated.

“Didn't went home again?” tanong ni Wyatt bilang pagbungad.

Tumingin sa kanya si Kayden at umismid. “I can't go home.”

“Why?” nag-aalalang tanong ni Wyatt at inagaw ang bote na agad naman na binitawan ni Kayden.

“I f****d my twin's wife,” pagbibigay-alam nito dahilan para panlakihan siya ng mga mata.

“The f**k?!” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Wyatt at dismayadong tumingin dito. “What the actual f**k?”

“I know. I f****d up. I got carried away, s**t!” mariing wika ni Kayden at napahilamos sa mukha gamit ang mga kamay.

Gustuhin niya mang singhalan si Kayden ay minabuti niya na lamang na manahimik. Hindi na maibabalik pa ang dati kahit anuman na kanyang gawin. The night for the two happened. Ang tanging magagawa na lamang ay damayan ito.

“Lust is on our blood so you need to get the hell on with it, Gonzales,” ani Wyatt at pumalatak. “I somehow understand you. I kinda did Madison, too.”

“The f**k?” Pinanlakihan ng mga mata si Kayden bago mangha na tawa. “Since when?”

“A week after I got back,” sagot ni Wyatt.

Mas gumihit ang pagkamangha sa mukha ni Kayden bago nasapo ang bibig sa pagkagulat. Nang maintindihan niya ang nais nitong itanong ay ngumisi si Wyatt.

“Yes, we’re still doing it now,” pagbibigay-alam ni Wyatt bilang sagot.

“Is that supposed to be a problem though?” natatawang tanong ni Kayden.

“No, it’s not. It's just... I like Madison now,” pag-amin niya para mas lalong manlaki ang mga mata ni Kayden.