THE NIGHT HE STOLE IT

Chapter 10

The following contains some scene not suitable for very young readers. Please be warned. Readers' discretion is advised.

.

.

.

Nagising ako nang maramdaman ko ang paghiga ni Alex sa tabi ko. It's eleven forty, almost midnight, ayon sa digital clock sa bedside table. I turned to face him and he kissed my cheek. Amoy alak siya.

"Sorry..." he whispered.

Nginatngat tuloy ako ng konsensiya. Ako ang dapat mag-sorry, hindi siya. Hindi siya iinom kung hindi siya affected.

"Ako ang mali. I'm sorry. I was being selfish," niyakap ko siya.

"Same tayo. It's my selfishness that took over. Ayoko lang mawala kayo ni Ven sa akin. I'm scared of losing you to some stranger whose face I don't even know," niyakap din niya ako. Kakaiba ang lambing sa boses niya, parang iiyak.

"Hindi naman kami mawawala. Gusto ko lang malaman ang totoo para matahimik na ako," I stroke his hair. Nagsisimula na naman itong humaba at kumulot sa dulo.

"Ako nga ang ama ni Venus Axel, 'di ba? She's my daughter," he insisted.

The tone of his voice tells me I'm not going to win this argument. I sighed.

"Kalimutan mo na ang lalaking 'yon. Alisin mo na siya sa isip mo. For all we know, he's already married. You can't just jump into some conclusions and wreck homes like that."

Nagulat ako sa huli niyang sinabi. Wreck homes?

"Wala naman akong sinabing..." I started to protest, but he moved, and instantly, he's on top of me, covering my whole body.

"Forget him," it was a command. Tinitigan niya ako na para bang nais niya akong i-hypnotize.

Then I realize, it's not a command. It's more like a plea. A plea to forget Michael. Ramdam ko ang bigat niya although he's trying his best not to crush me.

"Alex..." hindi ko balak bumulong, pero nawalan yata ako ng boses. He has this calming effect on me. He's like my sedative.

His eyes darted down to my lips, and I held my breath when he slowly lowered his head. Our lips touched for a second. And before I could utter a grunt of disappointment for the brief kiss, his lips came again, slowly brushing against mine for a couple of seconds.

Is he teasing me? Playing a game? Or just testing the waters? Hinihintay ba niyang itulak ko siya palayo? Pero mas gusto kong malaman talaga, kung kaya nga ba niyang magpatuloy. Nakainom siya, pero hindi siya gano'n kalasing. He knows what he's doing, I think.

When his lips touched mine for the third time, niyakap ko na siya, my right hand on the back of his head. I don't want him to break away again and leave me hoping for more. I realized I miss kissing so much, I'm actually hungry. And as I recall last night's kiss, it was the most delectable kiss I ever had in my life. Not that I had anyone else besides Jeff before.

I accepted the kiss with parted lips. He tastes of the brandy we opened last Christmas and remained on the fridge almost untouched for more than a month now. Though he tastes much silkier and smoother.

I was enjoying the kiss when I noticed his hands feeling me on the places it had never been before, giving me a strange kind of sensation both ticklish and warm, it's so weird. I tensed. Is this for real? My heart raced. Whether I'm nervous or excited, I have no idea.

"Push me away," he whispered as he plants a trail of soft little kisses from my cheek down to the side of my neck. I feel like burning from the face down to my toes.

Narinig ko siya. Gusto kong tumugon, but I think I lost my strength. Saka duda ako kung makakabuo ako ng salita sa kalagayan ko ngayon. Sa halip, sinagot ko na lang siya ng mahigpit na yakap. I feel like melting. Like a piece of butter under the extreme heat of the sun. Everything that he's giving me now is a treasure so rare I'd rather not let it slip by without fully indulging with the pleasure. I find myself wanting this kind of feeling.

I let him led me to an experience I never thought existed. And so, after almost five years, the marriage was finally consumed.

Nakatulog akong yakap-yakap ni Alex hanggang mag-umaga. We're both naked and surprisingly, I found it comforting. Nagising ako nang paupuin niya ako upang masuutan ng ipinantulog kong shirt. I'm already wearing my pants. Naisuot niya 'yon sa akin nang hindi ko naramdaman. Mistula akong baby na binihisan niya habang tulog.

Biglang pumasok sa isip ko ang nangyari kagabi, nakaramdam tuloy ako ng hiya ngayon. Agad akong yumakap sa kanya. Isinubsob ko ang mukha ko sa leeg niya.

"Are you sorry?" Mahinang tanong niya. Bakas ang pag-aalala sa boses niya.

Umiling lang ako.

"Regrets?"

Iling lang ulit ang isinagot ko.

"Eh bakit parang insecure ka na naman?" He knows na kapag yumakap ako ng ganito sa kanya, may problema ako.

"Nahihiya lang ako..." mahinang sagot ko.

He chuckled. Pero niyakap din niya ako in return.

"I love you," he whispered.

It's a very common phrase between us. Madalas naming sabihin ito sa isa't-isa ever since we became best of friends. Usually, I was quick to reply the I love you too. Bakit ngayon, parang iba ang dating?

"Mahiga ka na muna ulit. Ako ang magluluto ng breakfast ngayon," marahan niya akong inihiga sa kama at dinampian ng halik sa labi bago iniwan.

He's so sweet talaga. Sinundan ko lang siya ng tingin hanggang makalabas na siya ng kwarto.

"I love you too," wika ko sa ngayon ay sarado nang pinto.

Totoong love ba 'to? Tanong ko sa sarili. Love ba niya ako? Or are we just trying to make the marriage work? Wala namang threat sa pagsasama namin ah.

Then I remembered Michael. Yes, he is a threat to Alex as far as Venus Axel is involved. Natatakot siyang mawala kaming mag-ina sa kanya.

"Mommy, are you still sleeping?" Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Ven.

"Good morning, baby!" Ngumiti agad ako sa kanya at sinenyasan ko siya upang lumapit. Humiga siya sa tabi ko so I hugged this small bundle of joy at tahimik na nagpasalamat kay Lord.

"Daddy is cooking at the kitchen. It smells delicious!" Kumikislap ang mga mata niya sa tuwa.

Kapag si Alex ang nagluto, it means a feast. Maliban sa talagang masarap siya magluto, hindi siya nagluluto ng simpleng recipe lang, palaging espesyal. He cooks every Sunday or every holiday, basta walang pasok. Pero ngayon, Sabado pa lang nagluto na siya. Is it because of what happened last night? Nais ko tuloy kiligin.

We enjoyed the delicious breakfast together. Kakaiba ang sigla ni Alex ngayong umaga, pansin ko lang.

"Gusto n'yong sumama sa office? Matutuwa sina Ate Laila," anyaya niya nang patapos na kami sa pagkain.

"Yes! Yes!" Tuwang-tuwa na nagtaas pa ng dalawang kamay si Ven.

"Kaso, may online session kami mamaya ng Japanese student na nagpapa-tutor sa English," wika ko na pumalis sa mga ngiti nila.

"Mom, I want to go," ingos ni Ven.

"How about we go in the afternoon? Para kasabay na natin si Daddy pauwi," sinubukan kong umapila sa anak ko.

"Okay. I'll wait for you bago kami mag-uwian ha? Then, mag-Jollibee tayo after. Is that good?" Nakangiti namang suporta ni Alex sa akin.

"Yehey! Yehey!" Genuine ang tuwa ng bata sa pagkarinig ng paboritong fastfood. For her, it would mean new toys and a chance to play with other kids sa play area.

I smiled my thanks to Alex. But when he smiled back at me, it warmed my spirit in a different way I blushed. The goodbye kiss by the main door that morning is longer, deeper, and sweeter than before.

Yes, I love my husband.