AGS 1: The Love Investment (PUBLISHED)

11. Occasional Intimacy

I OFFERED Rico a movie night. Tingin ko naman, hindi masamang i-invite siya for that. We were both sitting on the couch kaharap ng 45-inch smart TV na nakadikit sa wall ng living room ng unit ko.

We were watching a romantic comedy movie about a lady boss na para hindi ma-deport ay pinagpanggap niya ang assistant niya para maging temporary fiancé. It was funny, actually. Hindi ko mabilang kung ilang beses kong pinigil ang matawa sa mga eksena kasi katabi ko si Rico. But he was laughing, and he said he liked the movie so far dahil hindi pa niya 'yon napapanood before.

"Siguro, kahit din naman ako si Margaret, mapo-fall talaga ako kay Ryan Reynolds," kuwento ko habang nasa bandang ending na ang story.

"Ryan Reynolds himself?" Rico asked, and he was busy munching the popcorn he had cooked earlier before the movie started.

"Both, I guess. Ang nice ng character ni Andrew. Funny si Ryan Reynolds in real life."

"Mga funny guy ba ang type mo?" tanong niya.

"Wala naman akong type talaga, kung standard ng magiging boyfriend ang tatanungin," sagot ko habang padampot-dampot ng popcorn na paubos na rin. "I'm already twenty-eight. Feeling ko, para lang sa mga bata ang magkaroon ng type. Mas hinahanap ko sa lalaki 'yong kayang intindihin ang priorities ko. I can set aside the looks, the social status, and the financial matters."

Walang sinabi si Rico. Pagtingin ko sa kanya, nakatitig lang siya sa akin, para bang sinusukat ang kuwento ko. Pero hindi naman siya mukhang nanghuhusga. It felt like he was just weighing everything since it was the first time na nagkaroon kami ng ganito kaseryosong usapan about standards. Nabubuwisit kasi ako sa kanya noon.

Nagbuntonghininga na lang ako at sumandal sa couch. Kissing scene na nina Margaret at Andrew at hindi na sila magpapanggap pang kunwaring engaged since they ended up together as a couple—a basic formula of every romantic story. Happy ending.

"If I ask you to marry me right now, will you marry me right now?"

I glanced at Rico and pretended that I didn't hear what he said. "What?"

He didn't sound like he was joking, but he didn't sound like he was serious either. He was more of an asker of random questions that could be answered randomly as well. No emotions were included.

"Let's say if I'm going to ask you to marry me, will you accept it like you accepted Patrick's proposal?" He leaned his back on the couch and stared me straight in the eyes.

Sinubukan kong maghanap ng sagot sa mga mata niya. Malay ko ba kung seryoso o nagbibiro lang. Pero para lang talaga siyang nagtatanong ng madaling sagutin na tanong. Sobrang random.

"Depende siguro sa purpose ng proposal," casual ko ring sagot gaya ng tono niya.

"I see," sagot niya saka napatango-tango. Pagtingin niya sa screen sa harap namin, credits na ang nagro-roll. "Kasi sa movie, nag-propose si Margaret kasi ayaw niyang ma-deport. Ibig sabihin, umabot siya sa point of no return na wala na siyang ibang choice at si Andrew na lang ang hope niya to save her." Ibinaling ulit niya ang paningin sa akin. "Walang feelings na involved doon at first. It was proposed out of necessity. Pumayag si Andrew because he was hoping na baka tuparin ni Margaret ang promise nitong makapag-release si Andrew ng sariling book. May agreement. May benefit silang dalawang makukuha sa isa't isa."

"And your point is?"

"If I ask you to marry me tonight, will you marry me?"

Hindi nagbabago ang tono niya, pero nakikita kong nagtatanong nga ang mga mata niya.

"Is that a rhetorical question or a randomly asked question because of the movie?" I asked, assuring him of his intention.

"Let's say it's just a random idea I came up with from the movie."

"Hmm." I nodded, thinking about the answer. "If you were the one proposing, I might consider giving you my yes. You're a Dardenne. You're financially stable."

"Let's put aside the fact that I'm a Dardenne. Let's say I, Rico, ask you to marry me."

Pinigil kong matawa sa pinatutunguhan ng usapan namin. "You're an interesting guy, really. Pero hindi ko itatanggi na naiirita ako sa ugali mo dati lalo na kapag kasama mo sina Patrick. Hindi kasi talaga kita pinapansin. Siguro naman, ramdam mo 'yon."

"Yeah," sagot niya habang mabilis na tumatango. "I know."

"I might say yes. Feeling ko naman, safe kang mapangasawa."

Ang lawak ng ngisi niya dahil sa sinabi ko. "What do you mean by safe? Na hindi ako mukhang serial killer?"

"Hahaha!" Hindi ko napigilang matawa. "Ang cute ng mga comparison mo, 'no?"

I fixed myself on the couch to face him. I leaned my left shoulder on the backrest and put my hands on my head as a pillow.

"I know you won't judge my decision if I put my business first over us," I sincerely said while looking into his captivating green-and-gold eyes. And before I fell for those orbs, I raised my tone a bit jolly to keep the conversation casual. "And besides, I can bring you to my kitchen every day. You can help me create a new recipe for my coffee shop." And I gave him a mischievous grin.

Natawa na lang siya nang mahina dahil sa sinabi ko. At bago pa ako makapagsalita ng iba, naisilid na niya ang palad niya sa ilalim ng tainga ko patawid sa ilalim ng buhok. Nakita ko na lang ang sarili kong nakalapat na ang labi sa labi niya.

I was a bit shocked, but there was a spark that ignited the fire within me. The moment I felt his lips brushing against mine, I closed my eyes to feel it more.

I partially opened my mouth and let him nibble my lower lip. Naipalibot ko agad ang mga braso ko sa may batok niya at ginantihan ko ang malumanay niyang halik.

I wouldn't lie to myself if I said that I didn't miss this. Rico—of all those men I've been with—was always as soft as this when touching me. It always felt like I was a fragile thing that if he didn't carefully handle, I might break into pieces.

The heat was rushing through my body, and I was leaning toward the armchair behind me. Before I could realize it, I was already laying down on the couch, gasping for air while holding onto Rico's soft kisses.

My hands unconsciously went down to his muscular chest. The heat focused on that part between my legs, and damn, I was turned on that fast.

He inched a little and looked at me straight in the eyes. I could see something unusual behind those orbs.

"Occasional intimacy . . ." he whispered, and that made my eyes focus on his lips.

"And you kissed me first."

"And you kissed me back."

Sabay pa kaming nag-angat ng tingin. Rico's eyes would always reveal one of two things: a hint of mischief or an I-earned-it-so-I-should-have-it look. Either way, he looked so tempting to have, and he was something I should keep my hands off of.

"If I stay here a little longer, your clothes will end up covering the floor," he almost whispered. "Wala sa agreement natin 'yon." He stole a quick kiss on my lips and grinned at me. "I'll see you tomorrow, Jaesie. Good night."

And what was the fucked-up part of that? He left me turned on.

Sana man lang, tinapos niya ang ginagawa niya! My God, nakakainis.

♥♥♥