25: night swimming it is
#DWTDWP

Pi

Ilang beses kong sinipat ang sarili ko sa salamin. I look great, I know. I need to. I have to. My first date with the love of my life should be great kaya kailangan kong maging handa.

I had my hair trimmed a little, my nails nicely done. I got some facial and others just to achieve my look today. I even had my legs waxed.

It almost took me half a day at kulang na lamang ay madaliin ko lahat ng prosesong ginawa ko para lamang mas mapadali.

It was a long day waiting but any minute now, Cooler will arrive. I didn't wait for him to book a reservation in an expensive restaurant, sa halip ay ipinagbigay alam ko sa kanya na ako na ang bahalang maghanda sa lahat.

I called him to inform him about it. Noong una ay nagpumilit siyang siya na ang maghanda at magpareserve para sa date namin but I insisted I should do it. Come on it's modern day and equality exists so who cares if I do the efforts?

Kay tagal ko ring pinangarap na mangyari 'to, so why would I slack off and wait for him to do his thing when I can do it too?

Kahit sa second date namin siya na ang bahala, just trust me on this. And yep, he did. I reserved the whole resort for our dinner date by the beach. I had my most trusted people prepare everything I wanted and requested and they know better than to fail me on this. Hindi nila gugustuhing may pumalya sa preparasyon ko.

I checked myself on the compact mirror for the last time bago bumaba sa sasakyan. I was at the place at sa labas pa lamang ay nasiyahan na ako sa nakikita ko. They didn't fail me on the arrangement of lights and redcarpet heading towards our dinner table.

Malawak ang ngiti na naglakad ako papasok, each step I take makes my smile wider.

From the place, the moonlight, the sound of the waves crashing the shore, the expensive wine, the scented candle on the table and every little detail, it was perfect.

Now all I need to do is wait for Cooler.

✒️✒️✒️
**********

RYU

My plan on getting even with titless after what she did to me the other day was canceled. Cronus called for me para sa isang mahalagang lakad. Had to travel for miles for business at tatlong oras lamang ang tulog ko.

I was planning to sleep once we arrive ngunit habang kausap ko kanina si Cronus nang makauwi ako ay panay vibrate ang cellphone ko. I didn't bother to check who it was at ngayong pabalik na ako sa bahay ay muli na naman iyong nagvibrate. I fished my phone from my backpack, it was my spare phone not the business one.

Napakunot ang noo ko nang makitang apat na misscall na ang naroon, panglima ang ngayon at lahat ng iyon ay galing kay titless.

What the hell is she up to?

Gustuhin ko mang gumanti sa kanya ngayon, I think it's best for me to go home and rest. I was about to toss my phone back nang muli iyong nagvibrate.

With a smirk, I answered the phone call.  "What are you up to Titless?"

"Yoooow rockeeet!"

What the hell? Is she high... again?

"Are you high?" tanong ko.

"Hell no!" masigla niyang sagot. "Can you come... Please?"

Her voice was no longer ecstatic, gone was the hyperactive titless over the phone. She sounded lonely and pleading.

"Why?"

"Just come here, please?"

I groaned in protest. I want to rest, galing pa ako sa business trip at ilang oras lamang ang naitulog ko. Coming over to where she requested is just a waste of my time.

She didn't listen to my disagreement at sinabi kung nasaan siya.

As if I care.

Or maybe I did.

... because I found myself on the U-turn lane, heading to the place she said.

Damn it, I really need to rest.

******

I cringed as I walked through the red carpet with petals scattered. Why the hell is this place like this? It's a famous resort nearby, bakit parang walang tao rito? Tinahak ko lamang ang red carpet at narating ko ang mesa kung nasaan si titless.

Nakasubsob ang ulo niya sa mesa, there were scented candles scattered on the sand na tila ba itinapon iyon doon. Titless lifted her head up, only to drink straight from the bottle of wine she was holding.

If I wasn't mistaken, it was a Domaine Leroy Chambertin Grand Cru wine. What the hell?! It's an expensive wine, one of the most expensive in the world!

Kaagad akong lumapit sa kanya, pulling the chair in front of her. Iniangat niya ang ulo at tumingin sa akin sabay ngiti.

"Roooockkkeeet!" she squealed and smiled at me. Saka ko lamang napansin na umiiyak pala siya. Her smudged mascara told me so.

Kumunot ang noo ko at napatingin sa paligid. This place... Is it supposed to be her date?

"Anong kailangan mo?" tanong ko sa kanya.

She pouted at me. "Aw rocket is angry. It took me forever to call you bago ka sumagot!"

"I was busy."

She smiled sadly. "Cooler is busy too. Why is everyone so busy?"

That explains it. So this is really setup for my cousin.

"Ano ba ang sabi niya?" tanong ko sa kanya. Her hair was disheveled and her crying eyes looked tired and drowsy. Is she drunk or she just cried so much? Tinangka niyang tunggain ulit ang bote ngunit agad ko iyong naagaw at nailayo sa kanya.

This is an expensive wine, it's not meant for whatever her drama is.

"He said, I am sorry Pi I cannot make it today, got something important to do. I cannot say no to my old man, babawi na lang ako next time okay? I am really sorry," sagot niya at nilaliman ang kanyang boses na tila ba lalaki. She pouted only to let her tiny sobs out. "It's reasonable, alam kong busy naman siya pero hindi ko maiwasang malungkot rocket."

I don't know what to say so I just looked at her, unsure kung maaawa ba ako dahil sa nangyari sa kanya o matatawa dahil sa hitsura niya. She could afford one of the worlds most expensive wines but not waterproof mascara? What the hell?

"What?!" untag niya sa akin. "Bakit ganyan ka makatingin? You look like you wanted to laugh! You are so mean rockeeet! So so so mean!"

Yumuko ako at pinilit na huwag matawa. She looked hilarious right now. Humanap ako ng napkin ngunit gaya ng mga scented candle ay nasa buhangin na iyon. With a smirk, I pulled a hankie from my back pocket bago iyon iniabot sa kanya.

"Here."

Napatingin siya sa kamay kong may hawak na panyo bago inilipat ang tingin sa mukha ko kasabay ng pagsimangot. "What is that?"

I smirked. "It's a handkerchief, brainy."

She snorted and looked away, refusing to accept my offer. Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako at inilipat ang upuan sa tabi niya.

"Go away rocket---"

Hindi ko pinansin ang sinabi niya at sa halip ay iniharap ang kanyang mukha sa akin at pinunas ang panyo roon.

"You look so ugly right now, alam mo ba?"

She stopped resisting kaya naging mabilis para sa akin na punasan ang kanyang mukha.

"Why the hell you can't afford waterproof mascara?!"

Ngumiwi siya. "I can! I just like this one and I wasn't expecting na iiyak ako ngayon."

Okay. Fine. Whatever.

"Why is he so busy rocket? Ilang oras lang naman hinihingi ko."

I keep wiping her cheeks. "He will take over the family business soon. Isa pa ay responsableng tao si Cooler---"

"Then he should be responsible for the damage he caused to my poor heart today!" sagot niya.

I think I just cringed because of her words.

"He has priorities titless," paliwanag ko. There were still traces of the black liquid that ran down her face but that should do. Umayos ako ng upo at inilapag ang panyo sa harap.

"I know and I wasn't one of it, thanks for slapping that in my face rocket," sarkastikong sagot niya. I replied with a smirk ngunit hindi niya iyon pinansin.

"Alam mo na iyan sa simula pa lamang."

Mahinang tumango siya at tila nagbabadya na naman ang kanyang mga luha. "Oo nga pero umasa pa rin ako. Damn it, I even got Brazilian wax on my bikini area, pota ang sakit lang!"

I almost choke. "What the fuck, are you expecting to get laid tonight titless?" Crap, I should really keep my cousin away from her dahil baka pikutin niya ito.

"What?! NO! But if given the chance why not?" Nakakalokong ngumisi siya and I deadpanned. Ah! This woman! "I had wax because damn it, it's a beach resort for your obvious information and night swimming is cool!"

Tumayo siya sa kinauupuan at tinanggal ang pagkakatali ng kanyang flowy dress, displaying her midnight blue two-piece bikini under.

I made a face when I get to peak on her chest.

Disappointing as ever.

She rolled her eyes upon seeing my reaction bago iyon tinali ulit at naupo. "Rocket, sa tingin mo bakit mas pinili niya pa ang trabaho kaysa sa makasama ako? This is all setup and planned, presensya na lamang niya ang kulang para maging perpekto ang lahat but look what he did, he cancelled on the last minute. Ang sakit."

I want to tell her that we couldn't really say no when it's a command coming from Cronus himself ngunit sa halip ay nanatili na lamang akong tahimik at pinanuod siya habang naghihimutok.

Isa pa ay hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin. I do not give encouraging words, I give death threats so I'd rather stay silent. Bigla na lamang siyang umiyak ulit kaya nakangiwing kinuha ko ang panyo at itinapon iyon sa mukha niya.

"You don't look attractive right now titless."

Suminangot siya. "I know, kaya ba ayaw ni Cooler sa akin?"

I don't really think my cousin dislikes her. It's just that marami itong priority and a serious relationship just like what titless wants isn't one of it.

Why am I here again?

Tumayo ako. "If you just called me just to watch you cry, I'd rather go home and rest. Pagod ako titless."

She sulked again. "No one has time for me."

I turned my back to leave ngunit bigla niyang hinila ang laylayan ng damit ko. I groaned and turned to her. "What?!"

She had that annoying face again. "Don't leave."

WHAT?

"I can leave if I want to--"

She tugged my shirt again. "I have an idea." Taas-noong tiningnan niya ako. "Make up for your cousin's absence."

What.

What...?

WHAT?!

"Anong pinagsasabi mo?"

She wiped away her tears. "I've got enough humiliation rocket. Those people whom I asked to prepare all of these is probably laughing or pitying me right now. At ayaw ko ng pinagtatawanan o kinaaawaan." Tinuro niya muli ang upuan ko kanina. "Sit down and I'll have the food serve."

Hindi pa man ako nakasasagot ay pumalakpak siya ng tatlong beses at lumapit sa amin ang lalaking may dalang tray ng tubig. She ordered him to serve the food samantalang nakatingin lamang ako sa nangyayari.

Why the heck would I make up for Cooler's absence?!

"Sit down pretty face," she told me at pinunasan ang kanyang mukha gamit ang panyo ko. "Shit straight so I really looked so ugly with my smudged eye makeup and the skanks out there must be laughing their asses out."

Napatingin ako sa paligid. There were at least four people there. The waiter, the chef at dalawa pa na marahil silang naghanda sa lugar na ito.

She got enough humiliation, my ass. It's not even much of a crowd. But titless has dignity to hold and maintain kaya marahil big deal na sa kanya ang nangyayari.

Ah, I really should be resting right now damn it.

Napabuga ako ng hangin. "Alright, what do you want me to do?"

Her pouting lips turned to smile. "Good question, for now all you have to do is kiss me."

"What--"

"Nevermind," putol niya sa sasabihin ko at tumayo bago ako hinalikan sa labi. It was a quick chaste kiss but enough for me to taste the wine she took.

Pagkatapos ay ngumiti siya at pinunasan ang ilang natirang luha sa gilid ng kanyang mga mata.

"Then we'll go for a swim," sabi niya sa akin at tinanggal ulit ang tali ng kanyang damit. She slowly released it, letting the fabric slide down her body showing her inked skin. She let it fall on the sand before stepping towards the shore.

My eyes scanned her back for a while, trying to memorize the tattoos she had.

Then, I looked down to her rump.

Damn why did it all get there?

I slapped my forehead with a sigh before loosening my shirt; my eyes not leaving her rump.

Alright, night swimming it is.

#

Shinichilaaaabs✒️