Sleep.

We went to a five star hotel in the heart of the city. My jaw dropped as I scanned my eyes to the exterior of the Victorian inspired lobby that resembles the one that existed on the books in the era where Florence Nightingale lived. High ceilings, the hallways were decorated with huge paintings, roughly finished walls that could pass as Windsor castle copycat and the old music piece in the piano of Victorian classical music. Pakiramdam ko ay lalabas anumang oras si Dracula!

"Mikel! Member ka dito?" I know, hindi imposible, given his status now. I heard that the hotel membership is exclusive and expensive because it is a lifetime membership. "Alam mo bang pangarap kong pumasok dito? Kasi di ba Mikel, big fan ako ni Dracula! I should have been in my red dress para kakagatin na lang ako ni Dracula mamaya! I want to sleep here! Oh my! Nakakainggit ka!" Pinilit kong pigilan ang aking kilig habang nag-lalakad kami sa lobby. Gusto ko yung mga ganitong takutan! I could just imagine white ladies in Victorian dresses, an eerie nun that look like Valek of Conjuring 2 at may mapo-possess na parang sa Shake, Rattle and Roll! Tapos darating si Christopher De Leon bilang pari at sasabuyan sila ng bawang at asin! O di ba, merong twist?!

The hotel visitors feasted their eyes with the old paintings from 1800's. Ganoon din ang gustong gawin ko. Victorian era is my favorite! It is when Edgar Allan Poe and Queen Victoria lived. This epoch is famous for love and war, goth fashion where people wear black started at this time. Ang talino ko doon, Beshy! 

"Good evening, Sir! Any reservation?" Nakahinto na kami sa tapat ng receptionist nang hindi ko namamalayan. They are wearing an all-white low shoulder neckline dress and black corsets on their waists. Mahaba din ang kanilang putting palda na pinalawak ng petticoat sa ilalim.

"Yes, for two."

"May I see your membership card, Sir?"

Tiningnan ako ni Mikel at may iniabot sa aking card at ininguso ito patungo sa receptionist. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang pag-masdan ang card. It is an sepia-colored card with my name on it. It says 'Exclusive' and below my name is the year 2010.

I gazed at Mikel with wondrous eyes. A small smile curved his lips.

"I-I am a member? Since 2010? H-how? D-did y-you—"

"You are a sucker for Victorian Era. I remember you telling me how attached you are in that period kaya nung nalaman mong nagkaroon ng ganitong theme ng hotel, you were excited to find a job to earn money for the membership."

"And you gave this to me?" Nag-ningning ang mga mata ko at nanginginig pa ang kamay nang iangat ang eleganteng card. Mikel nodded and looked at me softly.

"Shucks! Ang ganda ko talaga!" Humagikgik ako. The receptionist smiled at us as she gave me back my card and waved at someone to assist us at the dining area.

The dining area were arranged as a long table but separated by a small spaces in between for privacy. Manghang mangha ako sa mga ayos ng waiters na nakasuot ng ruffled white top at black vest, ang kanilang mga buhok ay patterned din sa makalumang panahon. Kulot at may itim na ribbon sa dulo. Damn, the feels!

Pagkatapos naming ibigay ang aming mga order doon sa waiter ay nilingon ko si Mikel. He was staring at me with amusement in his eyes. The eyes that I fell for. How could he act as if he adores me even if he really don't? Bahagyang kumirot ang puso ko doon. He's just helping me to remember, at eto siya, full package ang ibinibigay, pati ang kanyang pakiramdam ay kaya niyang i-pattern doon.

We were served with French cuisine, mostly with cheese, meat, potatoes and bacon. Ang shala ng pakiramdam ko habang sumusubo ng mga pagkain. Ang lakas maka-Lavinia doon sa pelikulang Bituing Walang Ningning. Sino kaya ang pupwedeng buhusan ng wine mamaya?

"Kumusta pala ang family mo?" Out of politeness, I asked. Naalala ko pa how fond they were to me. Mabuti ang mga Dela Vega, they understood and accepted my situation bilang ulilang anak and they treated me as their own.

"They are okay. Elera and Elixir got married already. Elera with twins now, and Elixir is expecting a baby girl."

Tumango-tango ako, "Dad is enjoying his retirement in Greece now. It is I who manages everything." Pag-papatuloy niya. Mikel lost his mom when he was a kid pero hindi naman nagkulang ang kanyang pamilya para punan ang espasyong iyon sa kanyang puso.

"H-hindi ka ba napapagod? Naalala ko dati, ayaw mong hawakan ang negosyo niyo."

Mikel lips curved sexily, "I want to handle the food department. Sabi mo kasi noon, mas mamahalin mo ako kapag nag-pa-assign ako doon so I did."

Namula ang pisngi ko, sino ba ang hindi nakaka-move on, ako ba o si Mikel?

"But you did not." Malungkot na tumungo si Mikel. He reached for the table napkin and wiped the side of his lips, parang hindi naging kumportable sa usapan. "I was so busy and you hated it."

A faint smile went out of my lips.

"S-sayang pala. H-hindi pala ako naging understanding. Im sorry, Mikel."

Malapad na ngumiti si Mikel at umiling.

"It is all in the past. Kung hindi mo ako pinilit noon na gawin ang mga bagay na yon, maybe our family business was long gone. Malulungkot si Abuela kung mangyayari iyon."

"Oo nga pala, kumusta si Abuela? Malakas pa ba?" Tanong ko na parang nag-mula lang ako sa abroad. I probably know that for sure even Mikel and I broke up. Abuela is so dear to me. A Lola I never had. Dati ay sa Manila siya naka-base, madalas ay nilulutuan niya kami ni Mikel ng pagkain sa aming condo. The food business was because of her passion for cooking. Sa kanya din ako natutong mag-luto. I know for sure that we are still friends no matter what happened. She made that a promise before.

"She's doing great. Naroon siya ngayon sa Pampanga, she wanted the province life. Enjoys cooking farm to table ingredients."

Napangiti ako, "Sana madalaw ko din siya minsan."

Napawi ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Mikel, "Y-yeah, maybe."

Pagkatapos ng dinner ay nakatingin lang kami sa floor to ceiling na Victorian-type windows, mula roon ay tanaw ang malawak na hotel garden with entricately landscaped lawns and trees. Sumasayaw ito sa napakalakas na hangin at malalaking patak ng tubig mula sa ulan. Walang makaalis sa kani-kanilang lamesa, ang ilan ay lumapit sa bintana at tinitingnan ang estado ng ulan at saka mapapailing dahil sa lakas non. It is raining cats and dogs! Oh Mother Nature! Broken-hearted ka ba?

"May bagyo ba?" Kinakabahang tanong ko.

"I don't know." Nag-kibit balikat si Mikel.

Sa ganong uri ng bagyo na parang hinango sa pelikulang 2012, palagay ko ay Bahamas na naman ang mga kalsada. "Ghad, umiihi ang kapre. Siguro kanina pa nag-pi-pigil." Bulong ko sa aking sarili.

Mikel blunt a soft laugh. Ngumiti ako sa kanya, "Bentang benta sayo ang mga one liner ko. Paano mo natiis ang hindi tumawa noong mga nakaraang araw? Ang sungit mo."

"I bit my lips and pinched my legs."

"And you restrained me from talking too." Pag-papaalala ko.

"Napansin mo?" He chuckled while shaking his head.

"I hate you for that." Umirap ako. All of a sudden, the huge walls Mikel created the last time we saw each other was broken. It feels like talking to an old friend again. He was a real gentleman to begin with. And I am really blessed to have him by my side until now.

---

"Mikel, yung kapre parang bukas pa matatapos sa pag-ihi. Pa-midnight snack na, gutom na ako ulit!" Reklamo ko habang nakaupo kaming dalawa sa lobby. Limang paintings na ni Dracula ang natitigan ko, inaasang i-hipnotismo ako nito, pabablik balik na din ako sa restroom dahil nilalamig na. The aircon was in full blast. Hindi kami hinayaang makalabas mula sa hotel dahil hindi daw maganda ang sitwasyon sa labas.

"May UTI ba ang kapre?" Pangungulit ko. Ibinaba ni Mikel ang binabasang dyaryo at tumayo.

"Wait here."

Pinanood ko si Mikel na nag-tungo sa reception area. Ilang minuto siyang nag-tagal doon na parang nakikipag-diskusyon. Pagbalik niya ay wala siyang kangiti-ngiti.

"I booked a room but there's only one room left. Marami na daw ang nag-check in kanina dahil sa lakas ng ulan." Anunsiyo niya.

"Oh okay. Siguro naman merong—"

"Isa lang ang kama, Gabby. I don't know if you will be comfortable."

Tabi kami? Shooorrrrr..

"O-oh, sure ka, wala ng iba?" Pabebe kong pakeme.

"I can sleep in the sofa. Let's go."

Sumakay kami sa elevator. I looked at him at the reflection of the stainless steel tube. Paulit ulit ang pag-galaw ng kanyang panga. I know he's uncomfortable now. When the elevator beeped, sinundan ko ang kanyang mga yabag papalabas.

There were old candle pillars at the walkway. The wooden tables with antique porcelains were too hard not to touch, sobrang ganda! The old fashioned red carpet completed the vibe. It seems like you are walking on your own castle. Even the doors made of hard wood with sculptures at both side of the entrance in every room takes you back to somewhere you have never been. Meron ding odd paintings ni Queen Victoria sa palibot na parang nakatingin sa'yo at binabantayan ka kung mag-uuwi ka ba ng antique na vase! Ang fire exit pa naman sa dulo ng pasilyo ay mukhang dungeon, it was designed as metal bars that is needed to be pulled up upon entering but I bet, itutulak lang ito in case of emergency.

"Shoray! Para talagang bibisitahin tayo ni Dracula. Gisingin mo ako pag may kumakaluskos mamaya, papakagat talaga ako! Pero kung si Edward Cullen, keribels na din! Choosy pa ba me?"

Tiningnan ako ng Mikel gamit ang gilid ng mga mata. Nag-susungit na naman ang lolo niyo!

The door made of hard wood is not as ancient at all! Mikel tapped the card and it opened. Gawa ang sahig sa makintab na wood planks, however, the walls are made of rocks piled from botton to up. Rawr! Ang erotic ng datingan.

The four poster bed mattress is covered with red silk, underneath is a thick diamond printed blanket. Ang apat na poste ay napapalibutan ng sariling kurtina, sunny yellow and velvet red. I looked around and searched for a sofa but all I see is a single chair standing at the edge of the huge room. It is completely leather, red in color and oddly shaped.

"A Tantra chair!" I squealed.

"Tantra what?"

"Tantra chair, a sex chair famous during the Victorian era."

Nag-baga ang pisngi ni Mikel sa aking paliwanag. Lumapit ako doon at humiga. The curve of the chair arched my back and automatically positioned my legs upward. Ang halay!

"Goodness, Gab. Lumayo ka diyan."

"Bakit? Siguro naman ay sanitized ito." Hinaplos ko pa ang leather at inamoy. "Sigurado ka bang matutulog ka dito?"

"W-why are the rooms like this?"

"Hindi pa ba tayo natulog dito kahit minsan?"

"Never."

"This is a honeymoon suite, Mikel."

His cheeks flared even more.

I smiled realizing it is both a new experience for the both of us. "Mikel, tumabi ka na lang kasi sa akin." Pakiusap ko. Tiningnan ako ni Mikel.

"Hindi naman kita aanuhin!"

Napailing si Mikel. "It is not that. F-fine. I will just take a shower. Please call the laundry for our clothes."

"Mag-pa-palaundry tayo?" Mahinang bulong ko nang makapasok na si Mikel sa banyo.

That means we are gonna sleep naked?! RAWR...