Chapter 38: Fifty Shades of Gray

If ever Bridle's management would find out about us sneaking late at night towards the dormitory ay malamang isang katakot-takot na detention ang sasapitin namin. We managed to walk through the backdoor at nilakad ang daan papunta sa boys' dormitory.

"Aray! Dahan-dahan sabi, hindi ako trolley or rolling bag!", inis na bulong ko. Yes, hindi pa kami okay ni Gray dahil pagkatapos mangawit ng kamay ko habang nagmamaneho siya ay kanina pa niya ako hinihila habang papasok kami sa Bridle.

"Kanina ka pa panay ang reklamo! Hindi lang ikaw ang nasasaktan Amber!", he said and it made me stop. May pinaghuhugotan yata si Gray.

I'm too tired to argue kaya tahimik na sumunod na lamang ako papunta sa dorm ng mga lalaki. Hopefully I would wake up early tomorrow at nang makaalis ako sa kwarto niya ng maaga. I don't want anyone see me coming from one of the rooms of the boys' dormitory.

Nakapasok kami sa gate at main door ng dorm gamit ang susi ni Gray and God knows where he got those keys. Madilim na ang buong dormitory at ang tanglaw ng buwan lamang ang nagsisilbing ilaw namin habang tinatahak ang daan patungo sa silid niya. The night was silent at kahit ang mga yabag namin ay hindi maririnig. All I can hear is the crickets outside and my own heartbeat. Sino ba ang hindi kakabahan sa ginagawa namin ngayon? It's not really illegal but it is definitely against the rule of the dormitories. Nang makarating kami sa isang silid ay agad na isinara ni Gray ang pinto and I run towards the bed, not minding if I am dragging him with me.

"Thank goodness!", I exclaimed at tinungo ang kama na may unan na parang soccer ball. Basing from the scent and from the things around it, this is his bed.

"Hep!", pigil niya sa akin nang inayos ko ang sarili. He had that very annoyed look in his face.

"What?"

"Don't you dare step in my bed with your dirty feet", wika niya at sinamaan ng tingin ang napakadumi kong paa. I grimaced at him at agad na tumayo.

Yeah, I walked barefooted, thanks to Victoria dahil pati yata ang sapatos ko ay pinatos na din niya. It is not a designer's shoes but it still cost a lot. Damn that pretty thief!

Inirapan ko siya at agad na tumayo. "Fine! Let me use your bathroom!", inis na wika ko at agad na hinila siya and we both winced in pain. Yup, parehas kaming nasasaktan dahil posas na ito. I swear I will throw this thing somewhere very far kapag natanggal na ito sa kamay namin! My wrist badly hurt dahil kanina pa kami naghihilahan ni Gray, not to mention na nangangawit pa ang braso ko. Muli ko siyang nilingon.

"Can I borrow a pajama from you?", I asked. There's no way I will sleep in a skirt. Kailangan ko ng pajama o kung ano. He nodded irritatedly at ako naman ang hinila papunta sa kanyang locker. When he opened it, I saw his clothes neatly piled in his locker. I can't help but feel ashamed of my own locker. Naaayos lang yata ang locker ko kapag naisipan kong mag-ayos and then after a few hours? Magulo na ulit. But Gray's locker is neatly piled, mas mukha pa yatang locker ng babae ang locker niya kaysa sa akin. He pulled a pair of PJ's on his pile at iniabot iyon sa akin.

"Really, you're giving me a pair? How am I suppose to wear the top?", I said sarcastically at binawi naman niya iyon. Hello, nakaposas kami. Alangan namang dumaan muna sa kanya ang top ng pajama bago ko iyon masuot? Duh, brainy.

He didn't say a word pero alam kong naiinis na din ito. This time ay ako naman ang humila sa kanya, only that I held my wrist tightly upang hindi maipit ang balat ko. I opened the door of the bathroom at nang tinangka niyang pumasok ay pinigilan ko siya. "Where are you going? Hindi ka pwedeng pumasok!"

How can I wash my body if he is there?

He pressed my forehead using his free hand. "Brainy, how can I stay outside if we're locked to each other?"

Yeah, we are both brainy. Argh, so stupid of me. Bakit hindi ko iyon naisip?! I sighed in frustration at tuluyan na binuksan ang pinto. I think the only thing I can do now is to wash my feet at suotin ang pang-ibabang pajama. Pagkatapos niyon ay tumayo ako ng tuwid.

"Tapos ka na?"

"Yeah."

"My turn", he said at yumuko upang tanggalin ang suot niyang sapatos at medyas. I scoffed when he was totally dragging me pero hindi na ako nagreklamo. When he pulled my hand ay muntik na akong napasigaw nang humawak siya sa kanyang sinturon. Agad kong binawi ang kamay ko at inis na napatingin siya sa akin.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

God, nagpatangay lang ako kanina sa galaw ng kamay niya and who knows where my hand would land kung hindi ko lamang napansin ang ginagawa niya.

"Do not expect me to sleep in a belt and slacks! I usually sleep in my boxer shorts."

"Boxer shorts ka diyan! No way! Stay like that!", I said alertly. I thought he will follow ngunit hinila lang niya ang kamay at tuluyang tinanggal ang suot na sinturon. Uh.

"No."

Argh! Stubborn! Sunod niyang hinubad ay ang suot niyang slacks and I closed my eyes as I bit my lower lip. Shit. Shit. Shit!!!!!

"Wag kang OA Amber. I'm not stripping into my birthday suit dahil suot ko pa rin naman ang boxer at polo ko", he said and snapped his finger on my ears. I darted a glare at him at iniwasang mapadako ang tingin ko sa suot niyang checkered blue na boxer short.

Sunod niya akong hinila papunta sa maliit na lababo doon. He pulled his toothbrush from the toothbrush holder at nilagyan iyon ng toothpaste at nagsimulang magtoothbrush gamit ang nakaposas niyang kamay. His right hand is his dominant hand and unfortunately it was the locked one.

"Aray ano ba! Dahan-dahan sabi eh!" Hello?! Ang bilis kaya ng galaw ng kamay niya habang nagto-toothbrush and my arm really hurts that I cannot bear it anymore. It may seem overrated ngunit mukhang ano mang oras ay maari nang matanggal ang kamay ko dahil sa sakit.

Tumigil naman siya at binitawan ang toothbrush sa bibig niya. He pulled my hand using his free hand at tiningnan ang pulang marka na nakapalibot doon. I saw a hint of tenderness in his eyes bago niya ako sinamaan ng tingin. He sighed heavily at tinanggal ang toothbrush sa bibig niya at iniabot iyon sa akin.

"What?", I asked, raising my brow at tinanggap ang iniabot niya.

"Brush my teeth", he commanded. His mouth was foamy but he said it clearly.

What the hell? "Ano ka, sinusuwerte?"

"Come on Princess, it won't kill to brush my teeth kaysa naman pagpapahila ka na lamang sa akin", he said, emphasizing on the word Princess. He is probably teasing me.

"No way." Muli kong ibinalik sa kanya ang toothbrush niya. Utusan ba naman ako na- ouch! He started brushing his teeth hardly na tila ba walang pakialam kung mapuputol ba ang wrist ko o hindi! He is taller than me at mukhang balak yata niyang magtoothbrush sa loob ng isang gabi!

"Sige na nga!", I blurted kahit labag na labag iyon sa kalooban ko. From the big mirror in front of us, I saw him smiled victoriously at agad na hinarap ako. He passed the toothbrush to mo at bahagyang ibinaba ang kanyang sarili. He let his handcuffed hand down at sinimulan ko na ang ginagawa ko. I never dared to stare in his whole face, I swear. I know my hands are shaking as I brushed his teeth. Having him this close really shakes me.

"Oh ayan", I said shoving the toothbrush into his mouth. Hindi ko alam kung maayos ba ang ginawa ko. All I knew is I did it for a while.

"Maraming salamat Mahal na Prinsesa", wika niya at nagmumog. Mahal na Prinsesa, my ass! May prinsesa ba na pinagto-toothbrush?

When he was about to pull me out the bathroom ay hindi ako gumalaw kaya nahila niya ako. He moved again but still I stayed still. He brushed his tongue in the inside of his cheek, probably controlling his temper. "What now?!"

"I need to brush my teeth too", wika ko habang nakatingin sa toothbrush nila. I always sleep after cleaning my body and brushing my teeth and since the first was eliminated for tonight, I think I badly need to do the second one.

Just then Gray leaped towards the rack at kinuha ang toothbrush niya at tinago iyon sa likuran niya. "No, no way. You're not going to do what I am thinking! That's gross!"

"Nakakadiri talaga ang iniisip mo! I'm talking about spare toothbrush!"

From a worried look, his face became blank bago niya ibinalik ang toothbrush sa lalagyan. He opened the cabinet on the side at naglabas ng bagong toothbrush. In fact there were three toothbrush there pero naisip pa talaga niyang gagamitin ko ang toothbrush niya? Huh, that's the thinking level of a genius like him. Nagsimula na akong magtoothbrush without hassling him dahil hindi naman ang dominant hand ko ang naka-posas. Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto ay nasa kama na kaming dalawa.

Ew, that sounds dirty. Ang ibig kong sabihin ay nakahiga na kami- uh. It only gotten worse. I mean we are about to sleep.

How am I suppose to sleep like this?! Man, nakaposas kaming dalawa. And some guys put their hands inside their shorts while they're asleep! Yep, ilang lalaki na ba ang nakita kong ganyan? My cousin used to put his hands inside his boxer short while sleeping and I don't know if he's doing it consciously or not. My classmate in freshman year too did it at nakita namin iyon ng mga kaklase ko noong camping namin dati. I don't know why they put their hands there. For heat? Uh, how would I know?!

Pareho na kaming nakatihaya sa kama at nang naisip ko iyon ay hinarap ko siya. "Hey."

"Hmm?"

"Don't you dare put your hands inside your - uhmm- you know..." Dear Lord, sana naman makuha na niya ang ibig kong sabihin.

He bursts into laughter samantalang umakyat naman ang dugo ko sa ulo. "What?"

"That's mannerism. Guys who do that are not conscious that they did that. In fact may mga babae din na ganyan."

"Proud to say I am not one of those", I said and looked away.

"Si Jeff ang may mannerism na ganyan", sagot niya, referring to his roommate. "I have other mannerism", he said and smirked.

"What?!", I asked, feeling a bit nervous. What if it's worst? Some used to touch breast- yucks.

He smiled sexily at dahan-dahang gumalaw palapit sa akin. No. Danger zone. Bakit siya lumalapit sa akin?!

"I hug a lot", he said at bago pa man tuluyang lumapit ang mukha niya sa akin ay inilagay ko na ang palad ko sa mukha niya! Huh! Don't he dare!

He removed my palm on his face at patuloy lang sa paglapit sa akin. My mind was blocked and I cannot think of anything sane. All I can hear is my heartbeat as his face comes closer to mine. I need to calm because this is not the first time that we kissed.

This is it. I was slowly closing my eyes as I waited for his lips to touch mine.

Krrrruuuuuuuuuuuuukkk.

What the fudge? I open my eyes and found Gray's face suspended just few inches away from mine. He was smiling awkwardly bago umayos ng higa.

"That was my stomach", wika niya at hinawakan ang tiyan. "I'm... hungry."

I cleared my throat at sabay kaming bumangon. When the food was served kanina ay wala na siya sa paligid dahil lumabas na siya kasama si Victoria. Shucks, I was closing my eyes and anticipating for his kiss!

"Hmm... Kumain ka... Siguro naman may oatmeal ka diyan diba? Or instant noodles o kaya ay kahit ano na pwede mong makain", I said to hide the embarrassment that I am feeling right now.

"Right", he said at agad na tumayo, dragging me. I glared at him and he gave me an apologetic look. "Sorry." Oh yeah, looks like I wasn't the only one who's trying to hide my embarrassment.

Tumayo kaming dalawa at tinungo ang maliit na mesa nila. He got two cup noodles and offered me some but I decline. Tapos na akong magtoothbrush at hindi na ako kakain pa. He opened the cups and poured hot water on it at naupo sa mesa habang naghihintay ng ilang minuto bago niya iyon makain. Two cup noodles. He must be really hungry.

I sat on the chair and rested my head on my arms at naghintay na matapos siya. I slowly close my eyes to rest but just when I was about so sleep dahil inaantok na ako ay hinila niya ulit ang kamay ko at nagsimulang kumain!

You know what they say? Maglaro ka na daw sa lasing, wag lang sa bagong gising. On my case, maglaro ka na sa bagong gising, wag lang sa inaantok!

"Gray! Could you at least warn me before dragging my hand?!" Yup, back to my bratty attitude.

"Okay. Then I will eat", he said at nagsimulang kumain, panay hila sa kamay ko. The thing with boys is that mabilis silang kumain o sadyang gutom lang talaga siya.

"Hindi mo ba alam ang salitang gentle?! My wrist is really killing me right now, nangangawit pa ang braso ko!", I hissed at him.

Padabog na inilapag niya ang cup and shove it towards me. "Then feed me Mahal na Prinsesa", he said sarcastically. He's calling me mahal na prinsesa yet he let me do things that a princess shouldn't do. Brushing someone's teeth and feeding them? Naah, not a princess's job.

"Huh! Die in hunger!", wika ko at nag-iwas ng tingin. Ano siya sinuswerte?!

"Alright, then bear the pain", he said arrogantly at nagsimulang kumain ulit. He was sitting on the table kaya kailangan kong itaas ang kamay ko na nakaposas! This is really hell! Damn Victoria! Kapag nakita ko siya ulit ay sisiguraduhin ko talagang mananagot siya sa akin! I will lock her with Jeremy... No. With Math. I will handcuff her with Math.

"Argh!", I groaned bago hinila ang kamay ko. "Fine! Akin na!"

He smiled victoriously at iniabot sa akin ang cup noodles at nagsimula na akong subuan siya. Fine! He won this time.

***

I heard a clicking sound of a lock at kasunod niyon ay ang pagpihit ng doorknob. I want to open my eyes but my position was so comfortable that I don't want to move. Warm and soothing.

"Holy Shit!"

It was neither me nor Gray but it was someone who was inside the room. Pareho kaming napabangon ni Gray and glared at the intruder. Basing on the big digital clock on the wall, it's still 6 in the morning and God, I would like to kill whoever- oh no. Wala nga pala ako sa sarili kong silid!

"Jeremy?", sabay naming bulalas ni Gray. Oh, knowing his blabbering mouth and dirty thoughts, I know he's thinking the worse.

Tumalikod siya sa amin bago nagsalita. "I'm not looking. Magbihis na kayong dalawa."

Uh, see? He and his pervert mind!

"We're not naked. Just so you know", sagot ni Gray. His voice was a bit husky at bahagyang kinukusot niya ang kanyang mata.

Humarap si Jeremy sa akin at sinamaan ako ng tingin. "Bestie, tell me now that you're not a therapist!"

Crap. How do I deal with this? I sighed habang nag-iisip ng pwede kong isagot sa sinabi niya nang magsalita si Gray.

"Shut up Puns. Anong ginagawa mo dito sa silid ko, at this hour?" Right! Paano siya nakapasok dito gayong sa pagkakaalala ko ay ini-lock ni Gray ang pinto kagabi.

Jeremy sheepishly smiled and raised his hands na may hawak na mga bagay. Eh? What are those? Mga alambre? A bronze loop?

"I tried my lock picking skill na tinuro mo. And guess what? I did it!"

I rolled my eyes. Yeah. He Obviously did it. Nakapasok nga siya diba?

"Huh, so hard to guess", sarkastikong wika ni Gray. He rested his elbow on his knee at bahagyang minamasahe ang ulo niya gamit ang kanyang kaliwang kamay. But wait. Lock picking? Ibig sabihin ay...

I raised our handcuffed hand and showed it to Je. "Maybe you can do something with this!"

He dropped his lock picking kit as well as his jaw. Nang makabawi siya sa pagkagulat ay kami naman ni Gray ang napanganga dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Tell me, among the two of you, who's the submissive and who's the dominant?"

Oh God, this nerd is one of a kind.

#

-ShinichiLaaaabs