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CHAPTER 9: KISS

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"WE'RE HERE," paggising ni Blake sa natutulog na dalaga. Samara was sitting beside him leaning on his broad shoulder.

Ilang oras lang naman ang naging biyahe dahil personal plane na ang ginamit nila. At dahil maaga ang usapan nila, alas nueve pa ay nakarating na sila sa Manila. During the whole ride, Blake had the pleasure to memorize all of the features and curves of Samara's face even if he wishes he didn't. Mas lalo lamang niyang napagtatanto kung gaano ka-inosente at kaganda ang dalaga. Very far from the women he had an affair with.

Maganda ang bawat detalye at hubog ng mukha ni Samara. Her pointy nose, naturally long lashes and her plump lips that he's been dying to taste against his. Napahilot ng sentido si Blake. Masyado niyang hinayaan ang sarili na gawin ang mga bagay na hindi naman siya sanay sa taong hindi niya naman lubos na kakilala. So, how come he's making an exception to her?

Dahil ba sa kapatid siya ng kaibigan niya? That could be it. Otherwise, he would have fucked her since the first night, and there won't be any form strings attached.

"Mmm..." ungol ni Samara na nagmulat ng mga mata.

"Nandito na tayo. Gising ka na." Nag-inat inat si Samara at nagkusot ng mga mata. Tumayo na sila at lumabas ng eroplano ni Blake. They used the exclusive Perez plane for the journey.

Inilahad ni Blake ang kamay para alalayan si Samara sa pagbaba ng matarik na hagdanan.

"Thank you," wika ng dalaga.

"My pleasure," Blake smiled at her genuinely.

"Ibababa lang nila ang mga bagahe natin." Turo ni Blake sa flight attendant na kasama nila. Hindi kasi hinayaan ni Blake na magdala ng gamit si Samara dahil baka matisod ito sa hagdanan.

Pagkababa ay napansin agad ni Samara ang dalawang itim na sasakyang nakaparada sa di kalayuan. She knows the other car belongs to her brother's company because of the trademark of the Fuenteses. Ayaw niya kasing magpahatid gamit ang mamahaling sasakyan ng pamilya dahil hindi naman siya ang nagmamaneho. But she is unsure whom the Porsche belongs to. Bakit nga ba nagtaka pa siya? It would definitely belong to the billionaire.

"Nandito ba si kuya?" tanong ni Samara.

"No. He messaged me a while ago na may sudden and urgent meeting daw siyang kailangang asikasuhin and that you should see him straight on," paliwanag ni Blake.

"Ganoon ba?" Napabuntong-hininga si Samara at nakaramdam ng pagkadismaya. Akala kasi niya ay makadederetso na siya sa mansyon at makapagpapahinga pero hindi pala maaari. Sa kompanya pa pala siya dederetso. "Okay. E ikaw, Blake?"

"Hm? What about me?" pagtataka niya.

"Yes."

"I'll head to my family too. My dad's in his penthouse, then I've got to do some work as well."

"Akala ko nagbabakasyon ka pa?" Tinaasan niya ng kilay ang binata.

"Oo. Pero sa dami ng business ko, hindi rin ako mapapalagay kung may biglang mangyari. You should know that because Ysiquel is pretty much the same."

"Similar but not really."

"How come?"

"Si kuya kasi kasal na at may anak na sila. Of course, his perspective changed. Family first na siya ngayon unlike dati na sa trabaho lamang umiikot ang mundo," sagot naman ni Samara.

"Yeah. Your brother is so hooked up with his wife. I can't picture myself in that part." Natatawang napailing si Blake. He should be thinking about it at his age since he is not getting any younger. Lalo pa at gusto na rin ng tatay niya ng apo.

Pero paano siya magbibigay ng apo kung wala pa siyang sineseryosong babae sa mundo?

"Oh, shut up! Ikaw pa? You've got the looks, the height . . . everything a woman could ask for."

"But my standards of a woman are not that simple."

Gustong matawa ni Samara sa sinagot ni Blake. Hindi lang pala babae ang tumataas ang standards. Pati lalaki rin. And here she thought expectations rose because of Wattpad stories.

"Let me guess . . . Something from your past?" Hindi sumagot si Blake sa tanong ni Samara pero tinititigan lang niya ang bawat pag-iiba ng ekspresyon ng dalaga sa pinag-uusapan nila. "Thought so. Alam mo kasi, may dahilan ang bawat bagay na nangyayari sa mundo. Malay mo kaya tumaas ang standards mo kasi may darating pala na makaaabot or di kaya mag-e-exceed niyan. Sa akin pa talaga nanggaling ang mga bagay na ito 'no?" natatawang saad ni Samara dahil biglang pumasok na naman sa isip niya ang nasaksihang kababuyan ng dating nobyo at kaibigan.

Hanggang ngayon ay tinatanong pa rin niya ang sarili kung anong klaseng pagsubok iyon para lokohin siya ng dalawang taong mahal at importante sa kanya.

"Tama na nga itong usapang ito," Blake chuckled. He couldn't agree more to what she just said. Sino ba naman ang ayaw makilala ang taong tinadhana para sa kanila? "It was nice to spend a short summer with you, Ms. Samara Clarrise Fuentes."

"Ahm . . .So, hindi ka bibisita kay kuya?"

Hindi niya maitulak ang sarili para itanong kung magkikita pa rin sila. She knows he's not into the spotlight but she is. Isa siyang modelo at Fuentes. Pero paniguradong sisikat agad-agad si Blake kung nanaisin nitong maging modelo o kahit simpleng press-con ng Perez.

"I'm not sure yet. It isn't my forte to show up. Ipaaalam ko na lang sa kanya kung magkaroon ako ng plano."

"Ah, gano'n? Si kuya lang talaga kikitain? Isusumbong kita kay Ate Rev." Nag-pout si Samara pero halatang nagpipigil ng tawa.

"Don't worry. I'll be inviting you and his wife along. Gusto ko ring makilala kung anong klaseng babae ang nagpatumba kay Fuentes. A simple lunch or something will do. We'll see." Naglagay pa siya ng tono ng pagkasarkastiko sa pinahayag.

"Sir."

Lumingon sila sa flight attendant na nagsalita.

"Yes?"

"Nasa compartment na po ang mga gamit n'yo ni ma'am. Ready na po ang lahat."

"Okay. Salamat." Naglakad na palayo ang lalaki patungo sa mga kasamahan nitong naka-standby kung sakaling may iuutos si Blake sa kanila.

"So . . . This is goodbye?" pagputol ni Samara sa katahimikang bumalot sa kanila.

"Yeah. I guess it is." Hinawakan ni Blake ang kamay ni Samara at pinisil iyon nang marahan before linking them altogether. There was that moment of hesitation not to let go of each other.

"Blake . . . " she called his name softly. It wasn't a continuing statement, and he knows it. The silence that covered them was enough for the screams of their minds.

Nagsusukatan ang kanilang mga mata. Nangangapa kung ano ang gagawin at sasabihin. Bumaba ang mga mata ni Blake sa labi ni Samara at batid iyon ng dalaga. Bumitaw ang kanang kamay ni Blake na nakahawak sa kaliwang kamay ni Samara at lumandas patungo sa pisngi ni Samara.

Napalunok si Samara habang pinagmamasdan pa rin sa malapitan ang mukha ni Blake. She continued admiring his mixed almond and emerald eyes and pointed nose.

His thumb smoothly brushed against her lips and it sent shivers down her spine. Sunod namang pinatong ni Blake ang kanang kamay ni Samara sa dibdib niya sa tulong ng kaliwa niyang kamay.

He wanted her to feel his heartbeats and that she was driving him nuts. That her existence had already left a mark on his system. But she couldn't feel them as she was distracted by his broad and masculine chest.

Gamit ang kanang kamay ni Blake, hinaplos niya ang mukha ni Samara para tumingala at magpanagpo muli ang kanilang mga mata. His free hand was holding on her back.

Slowly... he bent a little to rest his forehead onto hers. Nagwawala na ang mga paru-paro sa sikmura ni Samara at hindi niya alam ang dapat gawin at maramdaman. Her mind was going cloudy and completely blank. At pakiramdam niya, bukod sa sasabog ang puso niya ay maaaring mahimatay rin siya sa mga nararamdaman niya.

Finally, the moment of truth arrived—the moment Blake's lips landed on hers. Napapikit sila nang sabay. It was damp at first before they both held each other's faces and their connection didn't waver.

They started kissing like there was no tomorrow. Parang hindi alintana ang mga empleyadong nasa paligid na namumula sa biglang nasaksihan mula sa dalawa. They could only turn their faces to another direction as the two were in their own world.

Samara was feeling over the clouds that time. Blangko ang isipan maliban sa isang bagay—ang sagutin ang halik ng binata. Kung hindi dahil sa braso ni Blake na nakayakap sa kanya, maaaring tuluyan na siyang nawalan ng balanse.

Sobrang bilis ng pintig ng puso ni Samara. One thing Samara proved that moment was that Blake was a pretty damn good kisser. Natapos ang maalab na pagpapalitan nila ng halik nang makaramdam na sila ng kakapusan ng hininga.

Nagkatitigan silang dalawa bago napangiti. Kapwa naubusan ng salita matapos ang nangyari.

Unti-unting bumitaw ang dalawa sa pagkakayakap. Both their hands slipped from each other's arms before they ended up holding hands again.

"I..." Blake mumbled to himself. Ni sa sarili niya ay hindi niya alam ang sasabihin.

"I guess this is it..." Samara whispered.

"Yeah."

"Goodbye, Blake. Thank you for that unforgettable holiday," Samara smiled at him. She also wanted to thank him for that kiss. That out-of-the-world kiss.

"I'll see you again, Samara." He kissed her forehead, which she didn't see coming. "You should go home now . . . " ani Blake.

Suddenly, it became much harder to say goodbye. At kahit ang katahimikang ninamnam nila ay naging nakasasakal at mabigat.

"Yeah... I'll see you around, I guess." Tumalikod na si Samara at unti-unting bumitaw sa kamay ni Blake. The friction and heat disappear so fast.

Sumakay na si Samara sa likod ng sasakyan ng driver ng kuya niya. "Let's go na, manong," she smiled at the driver trying to hide her sadness.

"Sige po, ma'am."

Napasandal si Samara at napakagat ng labi. She touched her lips that could still feel the heat and the tingles. She had kissed her ex before but never to that extent. Unang beses niyang naranasan iyon.

She wanted to take a peek but chose not to. Baka magbago ang isip niya at bumaba ng sasakyan para hagkan muli ang binata. Mas kailangan ni Samara na isipin at harapin ang realidad na naghihintay sa kanya.

Blake watched the moving car in the distance. He had a tiny hope that she would look back, but Samara didn't turn to his direction anymore. At nang tuluyan na itong naglaho sa kanyang paningin, saka lamang niya napagtanto ang ginawa.

He kissed her passionately . . . And he wanted to hug her tightly . . . without even the thought of letting go.

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