WHILE ON THE FAR SIDE (WOTOS EPILOGUE)

PART 6

She loves my gift. She's wearing them right now. It took every fiber of my being not to be an asshole and kiss her when she wrapped her arms around me. Punong-puno ang dibdib ko at hindi iyon nabawasan ng simpleng pagngiti lang.

I want to do more than just smile. I want to do more than just embrace her back!

Niyong dumulas siya sa katawan ko habang unti-unting bumibitaw sa yakap, God forbid but I really did almost kiss her. Temptation taunted me in between our lips, in our mixed breaths and racing heartbeats...

But I won't let my being a man to be an excuse of acting on the mistake, though it doesn't really ease the blow since attraction has already been breathing in and out of me. Ayoko na lang palalain. Satan is just playing his game. Kaya hindi ko tinatanggal ang kwintas kong may cross pendant para layuan na ako ng tukso!

Naisip ko ring ipa-tattoo ang pangalan ni Gwyneth, just to remind myself that I'm taken. But that would be mad. I'm not that beyond crazy about her to go the extra mile of inking her hackneyed name on my skin.

Davina is beginning to be an epidemic in my system. Taking preventive measures is too late. I'm infected. With threatening wounds and a life-long sacrifice that's about to meet me halfway.

Ang tanging magagawa ko na lang talaga ay ang mag-iwas tingin lalo na't hapit na hapit sa balingkinitan niyang katawan ang tank top niya. With her black ripped jeans exposing an eyeful of her leg skin, together they delineate every curves and edges that she was born to have. Slim arms...slender waist...legs for days...

At times, I really can't help it. She's such a witch and a vixen combined into one. Nakakakuha siya ng atensyon hindi lang dahil sa mukha niya. She's got the body, too! Pero ngayon pansin ko pumapayat siya.

Remind me to feed her plenty.

Nasa kalagitnaan sila ng pang-aasar kay Denver samantalang may sinasarili akong mundo na sinira ng tunog ng cellphone ko. Hindi ko man tignan ay alam ko na kung sino ang tumatawag. Natahimik ang buong mesa.

Sinagot ko iyon habang naglalakad papasok ng bahay. Mga boses lang ang narinig ko noong una at isa pang ingay na lumilibing sa mga boses. Dinala ako ng mga paa ko sa kusina at sumandal sa island counter.

"Where are you?" Gwyneth started. She sounded annoyed and I wondered why. "I've been trying to reach you pero hindi ka naman makontak. Did you switch your phone off?"

"No, Gwyn," I sighed the words. "We're in Riley's house."

Nagpang-abot ang kilay ko sa lumalakas na background noise sa kabilang linya. Sounds like a heavy rain fall. Wala sa sariling sumilip ako sa labas at nakitang walang senyales na uulan.

"With who?" Mabigat ang kuriosidad sa tono niya. Oh, God! Here it goes. Kakambyo na ako.

"Evan, Denver..." tamad kong sabi.

"Sila lang?"

Mariin akong pumikit. Nagdikit ang mga ngipin ko. My mind has suddenly become a warzone of sentences. Why can't I just tell her the truth? It's not that I am doing something wrong with Davina anyway.

Kinontrol kong hindi iparinig sa kanya ang malalim kong paghinga.

"Yes. Sila lang." That was almost a whisper. I could even hear the undertone of lie in my ears and I suddenly want to kick myself for it!

I'm already guilty, all right. At dinagdagan ko lang ng panggatong para mas ma-guilty pa ako. I dreamt of another woman that is not Gwyneth. I've been thinking of another woman that is not my girlfriend. How so? Parang ayaw ko na ngang matulog dahil dadagdag ang kasalanan ko.