CHAPTER 13 | KISS

Summer

“INDIA?!”

Halos mabingi ako sa pagsigaw na iyon ni Lauren. Kausap ko siya ngayon habang nabiyahe kami ni Isaac papunta sa Dubline Park. Doon kasi namin kikitain ang mga makakasama namin sa almusal. Simpleng damit lang ang sinuot ko at komportable para nakakagalaw ako ng maayos. Hindi ko naman maintindihan kung simple ba itong suot ni Isaac ngayon. He still looks expensive in every clothes he wears.

“I will be there before you give birth, Lau. Our trip will kick last week of next month. So, don't worry okay?” Napatingin ako kay Isaac matapos sabihin iyon. Hindi ko pa pala nasasabi sa kanya na sasama ako sa lakad niya papuntang India at Pilipinas. “I can't wait to see CJ.”

“Me too, but you vowed to me. Hindi ako tutol sa ginagawa mo kahit 'di ko ma-gets kung paano ka nahilig sa charity works.”

“People changed, Lauren. You proved it to me already.” Muli akong tumingin kay Isaac saka ngumiti. He's driving now and his guards are following us maintaining the distance Isaac asked before we left the estate. Binalingan ko siya matapos kausapin si Lauren at ilang ulit na sabihin na nasa tabi niya bago pa siya manganak. “I'm sorry. I just can't let it pass not telling Lauren about my decision of going to India with you.”

“So, you're serious with that?”

Kahit nagtataka, pinilit ko pa rin na huwag ipahalata sa kanya.

“D-don't you like the idea?”

“Not like, Summer. I love it.” I smiled and let him held my hand, slowly lifting it up and then plant a kiss at the back of it. “I'll take this for a while. I only have four days with you.” Sinamantala niya ang pagtuon ng atensyon ko sa ginawang paghalik sa aking kamay para makuha ang aking cell phone.

“Right, but can I take one last selfie with you?”

Nagsalit-salit ang tingin niya sa akin at sa daan. Sa bandang huli binigay niya rin at kumuha ako ng ilang picture kasama siya paghinto namin sa stop bago sinauli iyon sa kanya. I think that's enough to flaunt online. I posted silhouettes to tease everyone, but not going to publicize the relationship we have. Kung ano 'man ang tawag dito.

“It is the first time that one of you came here in Dubline to have breakfast with us, ma'am,” magalang na sambit sa akin ng isa mga associates na sumasama sa amin ni Isaac mag-ikot sa Dubline Pallative Center.

“I'm not one of them,” pagtatama ko sa sinabi niya. “I'm just a regular girl, but what's the meaning behind your statement earlier. Why first time?”

“Because of the stigma.”

The pallative center taking care of patients diagnose with HIV virus. I know about the stigma and it's circling around Isaac's family. It's everywhere in the world that sometimes associated with races.

“Breakfast is ready, Summer,” bulong na aking narinig. Agad ako bumaling kay Isaac saka ngumiti. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at sabay kami lumabas. “What are you two talking about back there?” tanong ni Isaac sa akin.

“She said this is the first time that someone from your family visited them here, Isaac. Don't you think it's odd?”

“Well, yes, it is, but I am here now, changing the world a bit with you of course,”

To change the world he's living in a bit is the main point of these. But what I don't get is the lining of reporters and fans out there, taking picture of us that might trigger Isaac's family. May masama akong pakiramdam tungkol sa ginagawa namin.

Masamang-masama.

TAMA ang hinala ko sa masamang pakiramdam ko kahapon habang nag-a-almusal kami kasama ang mga pasyente sa pallative center. Our face - mine and Isaac - were all over the internet headlines now. My name and my family's still on the top five trending topics of Twitter. Huling message na natanggap ko sa kapatid ko ay panay daw tunog ng telepono sa bahay. Dad have to disconnect all our telephone line to attain peace.

“Can I ask you a question?” tanong ko paglapit ko kay Isaac na kasalukuyang nagluluto ng dinner namin.

He planned of a simple candlelight dinner at the porch and I requested steak which he insisted to cook by himself. Nakakagutom ang amoy ng niluluto niya at kanina pa rin ako walang kinakain na miski ano. Buong maghapon lang kami nasa bahay ngayon at panonood lang ang ginagawa.

“What's your question?” Balik tanong niya sa akin.

“Did you expected this to happened? It's nearly dawn now and our names still on the top including my family's.” Inabot ko ang tablet kung saan ako nagbabasa.

“Reporters can make a simple act of kindness into a mess dragging everyone else's peace seven feet deeper.” Narinig ko na malalim huminga si Isaac saka binitawan ang tablet kung nasaan ang article na pinakita ko sa kanya. “I'm so sorry about this. It affects your family's peace of mind too, again.”

“They're all fine, and my father is too smart, remember? He cut off all the telephone lines for a day to attain peace.”

We both smiled at each other. Isaac continue cooking while talking about his plan about our charity work in India. The trip itself sounds promising upon hearing the itinerary myself.

“We can visit Taj Mahal if you want too and other tourist spots in India.” Isaac said while setting the table for us. “You know what I still can't believed that you've decided to come with me. But of course, you have duty to attend back home with Lauren yet I'm still excited.”

“People back home shared the same feelings with you - the still can't believed feeling.” Huminto ako sa pagsasalita. “You see, I'm not into charitites or whatnot. It bores me, but seeing you yesterday how you interacted with them even in the midst of stigma made me decide to do the same. Maybe in this field I can find my new purpose, not as an entitled person you met before if you still remember.”

Isaac pulled a chair and guided me to sit.

“I misjudged you, Summer. Lauren's husband -”

“Not her husband yet.” I corrected him immediately.

“Lauren's soon-to-be-husband was right after all. There's a goodness lie inside you, Summer. I saw it yesterday when you hugged all of them before we live.”

Na-appreciate naman ako sa bahay lalo kapag nag-iingay ako. Pero iba pa rin pala kapag may iba ng nakakakita ng mga palihim kong ginagawa. Aamin ako na naka-boost sa confidence ko ang article na nabasa ko na puro positive words ang ipinanglarawan sa akin.

But it's not always like that. The same reporters who said good words about me will eventually say bad things sooner or later. That's how the world works especially when we overstep a bit.

“Thank you, Isaac,” sambit ko.

“For what?”

“For showing the real world to me. For crossing the line just to be one of them.”

“New York taught me a lot, I guess. Thanks to you too, Summer.”

AFTER DINNER, Isaac and I decided to walk inside his house. Dahil magkaiba ang kwarto naming dalawa, hanggang hallway lang kami magkasama at naghiwalay din agad. But before my hand slipped into his, he pulled me back closer to him. It was like that. The last thing I remember was standing in front my room and the ray of moonlight beamed our faces.

It occurred to me that his head slowly bending towards my face. Isaac held me close, never letting me go until our lips met. It was perfect. Isaac's soft lips against mine with the taste of red wine we consumed earlier still on our tongue. I did more than just not to stop him.

I kissed Isaac back in a more passionate manner that went deeper and wanting. Our lips parted slightly, allowing his tongue slip inside my mouth. Our bodies pressed together, breathing heavily as our lips finally parted.

“Good night, Summer,” sambit niya sa akin pagkatapos ay hinalikan ang aking noo.

“Good night.” I replied.

Medyo nahihiya pa ako tumingin sa kanya kaya nauna na akong pumasok sa aking kwarto. Agad akong sumandal sa dahon ng pintuan pagkasara saka kinapa ang aking dibdib. It's still beating widely as if it wanted to came out of my chest. Gano'n pala ang pakiramdam ng mahalikan. Sa edad ko na ito, iyon palang ang unang beses na ma may nakahalik sa akin.

Maraming nagtangka ngunit si Isaac lang ang masasabi ko na nagtagumpay. He was my first kiss!

I locked the door and immediately dropped my body into bed. Kinuha ko ang aking cell phone sa ilalim ng unan saka tinawagan si Lauren. Magkaiba ang oras namin pero lagi naman sumasagot sa akin ang isang iyon. Ilang ring lang hinintay ko at hindi ko mapigilang tumili nang marinig ko na ang boses niya.

“What's wrong with you, Summer? Tired of being everyone's princess?”

Bigla nag-iba ang timpla ko. Saan galing iyon? “Where did you read that?” Hindi ko mapigilang itanong.

“Daily New York Times. Your face on the headline.” So, she's in New York now. “Why did you call?”

Doon ko naalala ang dahilan bakit ako tumawag sa kanya. “He kissed me. I mean we kissed!”

“Gosh! Really?”

“Yes!”

Halos gumulong-gulong na ako sa kama habang kinu-kwengo kay Lauren ang lahat. I spent my night doing that, updating my sister slash mother in America of my whereabouts. Malayo 'man ang distansya namin at minsan ko lang magawa ito, siya pa rin ang lagi kong unang naaalala kapag may ganito bago sa akin. That connects us even I'm in a different part of world...