PERFECT LIE (COMPLETE)

CHAPTER FORTY (Surreal)

Don't fight the feeling, accept it. Don't fake the reality, fight it.

Meara

It was surreal.

Having an arm wrapped around my waist, the feeling of being cared for, the feeling that I was something special was surreal.

This was the first time I felt that I was not being used. This was the first time I felt I was something to be taken care of.

Having Riel's arm wrapped around me and feeling his breath against my skin was different than before.

I could hear his deep breaths. I could feel his naked and warm body against mine and I am not moving even a little. I wanted to savor this moment.

I kept on closing my eyes for fear that when I opened it, I might be waking up from a very beautiful dream.

Gumalaw si Riel at naramdaman kong nagsiksik pa siya sa akin. Mas lalong humigpit ang pagkakayakap sa katawan ko. Parang ayaw na akong bitiwan. Maya-maya ay nararamdaman ko sa batok ko ang malabot niyang labi na unti-unting gumagapang hanggang sa balikat ko.

Napakagat-labi ako at dinadama ko lang ang mararahan niyang halik. Kahit kailan hindi ko naranasan ang ganito kay Perry. With my ex-husband it was always like he was rushing into something. He was rough. It was always his ways. And I felt sick to my stomach when I remembered what he was doing to me each time I am passed out and filming his sickening fetish.

"Are you okay?" Mahinang tanong ni Riel sa tainga ko.

Doon na ako gumalaw at humarap sa kanya. Nakita kong nakatingin lang siya sa akin at titig na titig sa mukha ko.

"Hindi ba dapat ako ang magtanong niyan? Are you okay?" Balik-tanong ko.

Marahan niyang hinawakan ang mukha ko at hinalikan ako sa labi.

"Bakit hindi ako magiging okay? Finally, I got to kiss you." Sabi niya habang nanatiling nakahalik ang labi sa labi ko. "I got to touch you," he slowly trailed his hand against the curve of my body. "I got to make love to you."

Napapikit-pikit ako habang nakatingin sa kanya.

"Is that what you call it? Making love?"

Lumayo siya sa akin at nagtatakang tumingin sa mukha ko.

"Ano ba ang tawag sa ginawa natin? You think it's just a game?" takang tanong niya.

Napakagat-labi ako at alanganing tumingin sa kanya. "Sex."

Napa-angat ang kilay ni Riel at nagugulat na tumingin sa akin. Kita ko ang disappointment sa mukha niya.

"Was it just sex to you?" ngayon ay seryoso na ang mukha niya.

"Why? Is there another reason for that?"

Nakita kong napatiim ang bagang ni Riel at lumayo na sa akin. May inis ang paraan niyang umalis sa kama at isa-isang dinampot ang mga damit niya at isinuot iyon. Kinuha ko ang kumot at itinapi sa katawan ko dahil nagtataka ako sa biglang inakto niya.

"So, it was just sex to you," malamig na sabi niya habang isinusuot ang t-shirt.

Napa-awang ang bibig ko para mangatwiran pero ang dilim na ng mukha niya nang humarap sa akin.

"Now what? After that what do you want? Do you want me to go? And when you feel that you are lonely at night you can call me and we can have sex? Ganoon ba ang gusto mo?" dama ko ang inis sa tono niya.