Kabanata 33:

Play with the Fire

I shouldn't be riding his Ferrari.

Hindi dahil nagkapalitan na kami ng malabnaw na mga rason tungkol sa aming nakaraan ay susunod na ako sa mga gusto niya.

His persistence was blotching me. I took a quick inspection inside the café. They were gauging at him as if he's a stripper on duty. I couldn't blame them, man. Blame Devon for walking confidently like he owned the place.

Halos mabalian na ng leeg ang mga gropo ng kababaihan sa tagong-parte ng café.

"You don't need to do this. Stop this, Devon." mahigpit kong wika.

Nagpalabas siya ng isang gold credit card, and slid it off to the staff. "Order what you feel like to —eat and drink. I can pay for it."

He was avoiding the question. No, I wouldn't argue with him in this cafe full of craning necks, lustful eyes, and salivating mouths.

"All of it." I ordered, sullenly.

He didn't even flinch at my demands. Total marami naman siyang pera lubus-lubusin ko nalang. His bank account could even buy my clinic!

"Lahat po?" pangungumpirma ng cashier na nanlaki ang mga mata.

"From hot to cold drinks to the pastries. Lahat ng nasa menu niyo."

I didn't wait for unnecessary reaction as I searched for a table. Devon followed me like a muscled puppy.

"Suck it, asshole. I will not make this easy on you."

He pulled a seat for me in the center of the café. I sat down like Queen Cleopatra. I knew he likes to be my servant. There were sounds of shuffling positions and squeak of chairs.

Nakakapagtakang nakapwesto na ang mga babae sa gilid at likuran namin.

Pansin kong nakatuon kaagad ang mga mata ng mga bagong dating sa kanya. May katandaan man, o bagets ay napapasulyap talaga sa kanya kahit sinasadya man o hindi.

Kinakailangan ng dalawang mesa sa dami ng orders ko. Matapos inayos ng dalawang staff ay sinimulan ko na ang breakfast sa pag-inom ng kape.

Umuusok pa ito kaya't napaso ang dila ko. Hindi ako nagpa-apekto sa napaso kong dila. I remained temperate.

Stupid, Eirene.

Tahimik akong nagsisisi kung bakit nilagok ko ng diretso ang kape. Peke at kunwari kong tinabunan ang bibig ng aking kamay.

Devon wallowed the French toast he loved. He still ate like a whale. Lumubo ang pisngi niya. Tinulak ko ang kape sa kanyang harapan at nilagok niya ito na parang alak.

Ang mga babae sa aming giliran ay palihim na kumuha ng litrato niya.

He raised his thumb to my mouth, and swiped it over my lips. Nakunan kami ng mga litrato sa ganoong lagay.

It was so hard not to squirm under his watchful gaze. His natural amused eyes were cruising over me. I blinked, gulped, and willed myself after seconds of realization.

Hindi ako pwedeng magpadala at magpalambot sa mga galawan niya. Magiging mahirap ang lahat kapag palaging ganito ang eksena naming dalawa.

He licked his thumb with agonizing slowness and sexiness. "Delizioso." he said with a smirk at me.

There were traces of amusement in those eyes.

"Everyone is looking at you." I mumbled, embarrassingly.

"Because I have you. I'm with you. They're jealous." he chuckled, and sipped his coffee.

Walang kayabangan ang dumaan sa kanya na tila mga poste lamang ang mga kababaihan sa kanyang paningin.

The dominance of his presence made the girls giggle like hungry pussy. And how on earth I felt like I'm blushing too?

"Don't be too humble, Devon. I know you like the attention. They're staring because of you." I spit out in a hurry.

***

I gritted my teeth irritably when I received a message from him after he dropped me off in my clinic.

Unknown number:

I will fetch you by five, babe. Don't think of coming home without me. I have four eyes. Delikado ang daan. You'll need a professional driver.

Pinatay ko ang aking phone. Banayad akong sumandal sa aking reclining chair.

Hindi ko na siya pinapasok sa loob ng clinic. Kailangan ko siyang itaboy para makapagtrabaho ako ng maayos. He would be hanging around inside, and God knows my customers would be ogling at him.

It would be uncomfortable and vexing.

Nakalutang ang aking isipan kahit pa ng dumaan si Shanie sa harapan ng desk ko.

Binagsak niya ang isang libro na siyang nagpagulantang sa akin.

"Good morning, Doc.."

"Morning." tipid kong tugon.

Tumuwid ako ng upo. She cocked her head to the take-out foods and drinks in the long table. Hindi namin iyon naubos kanina.

"You can have it.." walang gana kong sabi.

I was still full. I was still full from his gazes.

"Salamat, Doktora. Hindi pa talaga ako nag-aalmusal." she veered to the table to consume the breakfast foods and drinks.

"I know."

Tahimik ang clinic dahil maaga pa. Subalit may mga lalaking boses at yabag ng mga paa akong narinig. The door opened, and my heart light up like a bulb upon seeing my visitors.

Mickey and Donatello in their college uniforms and Rafael in a black suit.

I couldn't contain my joy, and smiled at them like a longing mother.

"Surprise, ate!" Mikey cheered and welcome me with a hug.

Masayang tumakbo ang dalawa sa akin maliban kay Rafael.

I hugged them tightly that Donatello Charles had to unclasp my hands. Rafael didn't join our hug session. He occupied the sofa lazily.

I was expecting another person from the door, but no one come out. May kulang.

"Where's Leo?" nagtataka kong tanong.

Hindi sila nagkakahiwalay. Mas dikit pa ata sila sa isat-isa kaysa sa amin ni Devon noon.

"Military Training, ate." sagot ni Donatello at tumabi kay Rafael na umiidlip.

"Pinapasok siya ng kuya niya sa Military. Isang taon nalang magiging tunay na sundalo na siya." puna ni Mikey.

Kumislap mga mata niya sa nakalatag na mga pagkain. He approached my secretary. Sinabayan niya ito sa mesa.

"Maayong buntag, miga. Unsay imong pangalan?"

"Pangalan? Tama ba?" Shanie asked him, a bread was stuck in her lips.

Malaki ang ngiti ni Mikey na tumango at walang permisong kumuha ng slice ng cheesecake.

"I'm Shanie." humagikgik ang dalawa na tila parehong nagkaka-intindihan sa biro.

They grew up. Their bodies changed. They had taken different paths. I was proud of them. Rafael was currently working at Lopez Real State Company.

Devon helped him through his application while Michael Angelo and Donatello were still studying. Leo was undergoing a military training.

They were part of my past. I couldn't put aside the fact that they had been also part of the happy side of it.

***

By ten in the morning, Abigail sauntered inside with her tutu skirt and her ballerina pinned up hair.

She was reading in her phone. She didn't care the people watching her.

Donatello couldn't take his eyes from her. Mikey almost choke the food out of his mouth. Rafael didn't care with her presence.

Nakakulay light brown chestnut na ang buhok ni Abi. Nakakulot na ito, ibang-iba sa orihinal na maitim at masutla niyang buhok.

"Abi, did I tell you not to color your hair? What—"

Naputol ang sasabihin ko.

Mickey with a pretzel in his hand jumped out from his seat.

"You know you love me." kanta niya at inikot si Abi.

She was shocked.

"I know you care." dagdag ni Donatello.

Some things didn't change about them.

"I don't listen to Justin Bieber's songs. Mas hilig ko pakinggan mga kanta ni Taylor Swift..."

"You belong with me." hirit ulit ni Mikey at hinalikan ang likod ng kamay ni Abigail.

"I wanna be your end game, I wanna be your A—team.." Donatello sang again.

I kicked them painfully by their ankles. Sabay- sabay nilang niyapos ang mga paa at napabalik ng upo sa sofa. But not Mikey who still managed to bite his pretzel.

***

Inihatid ko si Abigail sa bahay nang sumapit ang hapon at hiningi nina Mikey at Donatello ang number ni Abigail. Hindi sana ako sumang-ayon na ibigay ang number niya subalit may lohikal na dahilan si Donatello. Para daw kuno matulungan niya si Abi sa mga major subjects niya.

The elevator doors opened, and I walked to Marky's unit.

He was scurrying a mannequin and a fabric when I entered his apartment.

I narrated my latest update from the top to the bottom. Devon's appearance after five years in the airport, and his willingness to get me back. Sinali ko na rin ang nangyari noong New Year's Eve, pati ang eksena kasama ang isang matanda kong kapitbahay, at ang drama ng pag-uusap namin kaninang umaga.

"If he's only playing, then play with him. Play with the fire."

He cut the excess fabric of the dress he was making.

He lodged a hand to his hip. "You're a certified dermatologist. Maganda at maputi. Just like what you said, Doctora Marquez, madaling masunog ang mapuputi at prone sa mga freckles. Tignan natin kung sino ang unang masusunog sa inyong dalawa. Tikman mo muli ang tamis, at init ng SSS ni Devon."

He laced the tape measure around his neck.

"SSS? Paano na napunta ang usapan dito? I'm pretty sure you're self-employed, right?" I asked, confusedly.

Pinaypayan niya ang sarili. "Devon smells like sea, sun, and sex." taghoy niya.

Kinuha niya ang ruler at sinukat ang hihiwain niyang tela.

"Curious lang ako Eirene. Masakit ba sa una? Masarap, no? For sure, sa laki ni Devon hindi na nakakapagtaka." he wondered out of the sudden.

"Then, why are you asking?"

My worries dissipated out of the sudden too.

"Ang wild mo, bakla!" tili niya. "So, naka-ilan kayo noong nasa Sussana Coast pa kayo?"

"I couldn't count. But I don't think if I can play with the fire again."

"Play with fire again. Masarap naman siya sa kama. Worth it iyan panigurado."

"You should be giving me logical advices. Why I feel like you're siding with him?"

Periedot Spiels