Pieces of Me

Nine is Around the Corner

"RJ, don't be stupid. I have a perfectly big bed. There's no need to sleep on the floor."

"I just don't want to crowd you. You need to rest."

"I'll rest better if you sleep here with me. We'll behave naman, diba?"

"Speak for yourself. Sure ka ba talaga? Okay lang namang dito ko sa sahig."

"Wag ng matigas ang ulo. Lika na dito."

"Sabi mo eh. Uhm... Meng... may susi ba yung parents mo dito sa condo mo? Ayoko na kasing abutan nilang magkatabi na naman tayo baka sabihin kaya ako nagvolun---"

"I'm a grown woman, RJ. Ayaw mo lang yata ako makatabi eh. Di wag. Goodni-- o akala ko ba sa sahig ka matutulog?"

"I missed you already. Sige na tulog na tayo."

"Yakap."

"Parang baby. Ayan. Comfortable?"

"Mmmhmm. You smell like good dreams, RJ. Goodnight."

~•~•~•~

Look at you... you hold on to me like I'm the last breath you'll ever take. Like I'm the lighthouse that will guide your way back to shore. You think I don't know when you watch me. But I do. I know when you're looking at me. You see me as if I'm the first sunrise you've ever seen. All golden and vibrant and full of hope. Like I'm worth more than every priceless piece of art in the world combined. And when you touch me, those light feathery touches along my arm, the small of my back... it's as if you do so to reassure your heart that I'm still there, within your reach. You make me feel vital. When you kiss me... oh boy when you kiss me... it's as if I'm both drowning and soaring high at the same time. Everytime your lips touch mine, I fall in love with you a little bit deeper, my heart feels a whole lot fuller, my world spins faster. When you kiss me, you make me fee---

"---steng yawa ka RJ! Kanina ka pa ba gising!?"

"Where were you just now, baby? I've been watching you.. ilang minutes na. Nakakunot yang noo mo pero you had the cutest half smile on your lips. Ano iniisip mo?"

"You."

"You were thinking of me?"

"How do you do that?"

"Ha? Do what?"

"Switch your facial expressions like that! You went from looking like an innocent angel to no-good rogue in a snap! Sinabi ko lang na I was thinking of you jusko."

"I can't help it. You bring out the rogue in me. Ang sexy mo kasi. Aray! Kahit sadista-- Aray! Masakit! That's going to leave a mark. Kawawa naman ako."

"Ang arte mo, RJ. You need to get up. May schedule ka today, diba?"

"Yeah. Last day na ni Tepi today. Then I'm taking a ten-day leave so I can focus on your bod-- ARAY KO NICOMAINE!"

"My body talaga?"

"Yes. So we can make you better. Para wala ng pain. I don't like it when you're in pain. So yes, focus tayo sa body mo and how we can strengthen it. Kung ano ano kasi iniisip maryosep. Ang aga aga puro harot agad ang inaatupag."

"Ako pa talaga ngayon ang maharot?"

"I'm an innocent angel diba? Ikaw may sabi nun."

"Pag tulog."

"Huy! Mabait ako no! Kaya mo nga ako mahal na mahal eh."

"Hindi rin."

"Ha? Hindi mo ko mahal?"