SHELLANY WOKE UP FOR A START. Something was waking her up. Something uncomfortable.

      Bago imulat ang mga mata ay pinakiramdaman muna niya ang sarili. She was feeling hot—not only because the car's airconditioning system was off, but also because of something else. Iminulat niya ang mga mata saka sandaling inikot ng tingin ang paligid. Madilim pa rin subalit wala na ang malakas na ulan sa labas. Mula sa kaniyang kinaroroonan ay nakikita na rin niya ang pag-banaag ng haring araw sa likod ng mga bulubundukin.

      Siguradong kalahating oras mula sa mga sandaling iyon ay tuluyan nang ssikat ang araw upang magsabog ng liwanag sa paligid. She's guessing it was past five in the morning already.

      Bumaba ang kaniyang tingin sa kamay na nakayakap sa kaniya. Ang mabuhok na braso ni Cerlance ang una niyang nakita. Ini-lakbay pa niya ang tingin hanggang sa mga daliri nitong nakahawak sa isa niyang braso. Oh, noon lang niya napansin. Cerlance was holding her tight still. He was holding her tightly, as if she was going somewhere and leave him there.

      She looked over her shoulder to look at him. Ang ulo nito'y nakapatong sa isa nitong braso, ang mga mata'y nakapikit pa rin, ang paghinga ay banayad.

      He was still sleeping, and she took that chance to stare at his sleeping form despite the semi-darkness that surrounded them.

      Napangiti siya makalipas ang ilang sandali saka ibinalik ang tingin sa harapan. Hindi na siya makatutulog pa, at hihintayin na lang muna niya ang tuluyang pagsikat ng araw bago ito gisingin at—

      Nahinto siya sa pag-iisip nang may maalala.

      Muli niyang nilingon si Cerlance saka itinaas ang isa niyang kamay upang dam'hin ang noo nito. Nang maramdamang tuluyan nang bumaba ang lagnat nito'y nakahinga siya nang maluwag.

      "Salamat naman..." mahina niyang usal bago ibinaba ang kamay at muling itinuon ang tingin sa harapan. Bahagya itong gumalaw, at ang kamay nitong kanina ay nakahawak sa braso niya'y bumaba sa kaniyang tagiliran. Gusto niyang hawakan iyon, pero nag-aalala siyang baka tuluyan itong magising at iba ang maging konklusyon sa gagawin niya.

       Lovers lang ang nagho-holding hands, kausap niya sa sarili bago itinutok ang tingin sa windshield upang antabayanan ang pagbungad ni Haring Araw. And for the next seconds, she savored the moment while she watched the dark sky slowly changing its color, while their bodies pressed against each other, while Cerlance's breathing fanned her nape.

      She didn't know why—but at that moment, something touched her heart. Something that... she had never felt before.

      Something she never felt when she was still with Knight.

      What was that?

      Content?

      Mariin niyang ipinikit ang mga mata saka sunud-sunod na umiling sa naisip.

      No. I can't be contented with something temporary.

      Temporary happiness is like believing in false hopes. Both had the same painful result; disappointment.

      Nahinto siya sa pag-iisip nang maramdaman ang banayad na pagkilos ni Cerlance. She froze; hindi niya alam kung ano ang gagawin o sasabihin matapos ang mga kaisipang sumagi kani-kanina lang.

      At nang maramdaman niya ang pag-yuko nito at pagdampi ng halik sa batok niya ay lalo siyang nanigas.

      She remained still. But she knew that Cerlance may have realized that she was awake already.

      Pinigilan niya ang paghinga nang maramdaman at makita ang kamay nitong bumaba sa kaniyang binti; humaplos nang banayad, bago iyon dumapo sa manipis na lace ng suot niyang panloob. Doon nag-umpisang bumilis ang tibok ng kaniyang puso, at bago pa tuluyang rumehistro sa kaniyang isip ang motibo ni Cerlance ay umangat ang kamay nito at pumaloob sa suot niyang sweatshirt.

      Naipikit niya ang mga mata—hindi alam kung saan itutuon ang pansin. Cerlance lips continued to shower her nape and shoulder with soft, little kisses while his hand continued to travel its way up to her breasts, and when it found one, she let out a sigh.

      Cerlance's hand covered her breast and knead it with just enough pressure—teasing... arousing. Lalo niyang napigil ang paghinga nang maramdaman ang unti-unting pagbukol ng kaong ng pantalon nito sa ibaba lang ng kaniyang pang-upo.

      Maryosep... Nagtayuan ang mga balahibo niya.

      Mariin niyang kinagat ang ibabang labi. Mukhang alam na niya kung saan mauuwi ang lahat ng ito.

      A shiver ran down her spine when Cerlance pressed his lower body to hers. She could tell the intensity of his needs from his bulking crotch; at doon ay lalo siyang nag-liyab.

      She was already hot and burning the moment she opened her eyes. At first, she couldn't tell what it was. Now, she knew. She knew that the reason why she woke up was because she was fully aroused and craving.

      Tinapos na niya ang pagpapanggap na tulog. Kumilos ang isa niyang kamay patungo sa ugpungan ng pantalon ni Cerlance. She took the glory of unbuckling his belt, unzipping his pants, and pulling down his boxers. And while she did that, Cerlance unleashed his hand from kneading her breast and lowered it down to her panties, pulling them down. And she cooperated by raising her other leg to give him room to pull out the fabric. Cerlance's hand then wrapped around her thigh to raise it further so he could get access to that gorgeous portal between her legs.

      A loud gasp escaped her throat when he penetrated her moistness swiftly; delving his shaft into her juicy portal until there was no flesh left untouched.

      Not only did their bodies unite, but their moans as well.

      Having se.x in a spooning position was indeed uncomfortable considering the area where they were, yet it was also exciting and romantic at the same time.

       Romantic? Fu.ck your brains, Shellany. She couldn't help but mock herself.

      Ipinikit niya ang mga mata saka mariing kinagat ang ibabang labi at hinayaan ang pagnanasang dalhin siya sa destinasyong tinutumbok pareho ng mga katawan nila.

      In the next few moments, they had slow yet hard se.x without changing position. It was like a sleepy type of se.x, yet there was still intensity. Mahigpit siyang napa-kapit sa isang braso ni Cerlance habang ang isa niyang kamay ay naka-dantay sa likuran ng front seat upang alalayan ang sariling hindi mahulog sa kinahihigaan. The position was uncomfortable, yet she was enjoying every second of it.

      After a while, Cerlance let go of her leg and crawled his hand back to her breasts. He gripped and squeezed and played as if his hands were made to fondle them. Na tila ba pag-aari nito ang mga iyon. He was rough and possessive at this point; as if there was no tomorrow. As if it was the last time he was gonna hold them.

    Later on, she felt him fasten his movements. And she contracted her muscles when he hit her G-spot over and over.

    Isang malakas na ungol ang kumawala mula sa kaniyang lalamunan nang maramdaman ang pagbulusok niya sa bangin— figuratively.

    Kasabay ng tuluyang pagsikat ng araw ay ang pag-abot nila sa mga bituin. It was an overwhelming feeling that made her body shiver, and her vision blurred as she dived into oblivion. Kahit si Cerlance ay ganoon din; he was gripping her body so tightly she was afraid he'd crush her. His body spasmed as he continued to fill her in.

      Mariin niyang ipinikit ang mga mata.

    Subalit hindi pa man siya nakababawi ng paghinga ay malakas siyang napasinghap nang may mapagtanto.

    Ilang segundo muna ang pinalipas niya bago siya natatarantang lumingon.

      "Cerlance, did you just—"

      "Yes, I did. And God, you're f*cking beautiful this morning."

TO BE CONTINUED...