#LGS1MgaPaalala #LGS1chapter17 #LaGrilla1

***

Warning: 🚫
Sexual Content

THANKFULLY, the dinner went well. Leo just learned his lesson, which was to keep in mind to inform Imee's parents of his arrival ahead of schedule. Makatuwiran ang malamig na pakikitungo sa kaniya ni Aling Minerva dahil sa walang-pasabi niyang pakikisalo sa hapunan ng mga ito.

Sa totoo lang, hindi na siya nakapagpaalam dahil hindi na rin siya nakapag-isip nang maayos. The moment he came up with an idea on how to confirm his suspicions about Imee's feelings for him, he acted upon it immediately. . . . Leo got dressed to kill and drove straight to Batangas with short stop-overs on a few roadside shops to buy sweets and a watermelon.

After the dinner, Leo was overcame by guilt. Dahil binigla niya ang pagbisita kina Imee ay minabuti niyang umalis agad para hindi na makaistorbo pa lalo sa mga ito. Tama lang din na umuwi siya agad dahil may pasok pa siya sa law firm kinabukasan.

It was so sweet of Imee to walk him to his car. When they got there, he gave her a quick kiss on the lips without him even thinking about it. It was as if it was the most natural thing to do, a muscle memory type of gesture. When he stared at her face, he heard this quiet protest from his chest, from his heart.

Hay, ayaw pa niyang umuwi. Nabitin siya dahil halos iisang oras lang niya nakita at nakasama si Imee! They barely even talked, which was one of his favorite things about dating her!

"Thank you, Imee, for everything tonight," paalam niya sa dalaga, labag sa kalooban ang umalis.

"Anytime." She smiled softly at him. "I love you."

Pakiramdam niya ay nanlambot ang mga tuhod niya. He caressed her cheek. "I love you too."

Mabilis niyang hinarap ang kotse. He needed to get seated in the driver's seat because he was so weak in the knees to thw point that he was close to dropping on the ground. Muling tumigas lang ang kaniyang mga tuhod nang manumbalik ang kaniyang pagkaalerto.

May naalala siya.

Pumunta nga pala siya rito para sa plano niyang alamin kung posible ba na may koneksiyon si Imee kay Melissa! How could he forget that?!

He turned to her, anxious. "Can I borrow your phone for a second?"

She seemed to mirror his worry. "Bakit?"

"I just need to make a call. Hindi ako nakapag-charge bago umalis. Baka ma-deadbatt agad ako kung gagamitin ko ngayon sa pagtawag." He was indeed a lawyer. Napabilis niyang nakaisip ng pang-depensa!

Imee pulled her cell phone out of her shorts' pocket. "Naku, buti na lang hindi ko 'to naiwan sa loob ng bahay."

He smiled, but it did not reach his eyes. The moment of truth was at hand and it perplexed him already. "Excuse me."

"S-Sige . . ." halos bulong nito na nakaabot sa kaniyang pandinig kahit nakatalikod na siya sa dalaga.

When he was already a few meters away, Leo turned on Imee's cell phone. He navigated the gadget as fast as he could. He just scanned Imee's inbox and contact's list.

'Negative. No signs of Melissa or her number . . .'

Next, he tapped on the screen, dialing Melissa's number. He got it memorized so that he could ignore her calls. He never saved it because he hated to see her, even just her name.

He placed the phone close to his ear and heard it ringing. Leo looked at Imee over his shoulder with that blank expression on his face, trying his best to look less suspicious.

"Hello?" Melissa answered in her usual squeezed voice.

Hindi siya sumagot. Sinadya niyang manahimik para mapilitan si Melissa na magsalita pa. Kung naka-save dito ang numero ni Imee, paniguradong mababanggit nito ang pangalan ng dalaga.

'Please, don't be involved with Imee. Please . . . Please . . .'

"I'll have your number traced kung hindi ka magpapakilala sa akin. Sino ka?" ani Melissa na walang-buhay pa rin ang ipit na boses.

"Sorry. Wrong number." Leo immediately disconnected the call and stared at the screen. 'I hope she did not recognize my voice.'

Nawala agad ang pag-aalala niya na baka nakilala ni Melissa ang kaniyang boses paglingon at pagkikita kay Imee.

Instead, a warm feeling took place, enveloping him. Finally, and most probably, for the first time, he felt relief. He felt safe. He felt so sure that for whatever reason, or maybe, no reason at all, Imee did fall in love with him!

Staring at her as she innocently stared at their houses's window made Leo completely forget everything. Nanaig ang papanabik niyang malapitan ang dalaga.

Mukhang nagulat pa si Imee, dahil pagkaalis nito ng tingin sa bahay nila ay nakita siya nito na palapit na.

He smiled at her as he handed back her cell phone. "Thank you, Imee."

She was about to take her cell phone but he quickly pulled it back. Namimilog ang mga mata na binigyan siya ng dalaga ng nagtatanong na tingin.

Leo gave her a playful grin in return. "Tara, sumakay ka muna sa kotse."

Oh, he had a new plan, alright. Wala na siyang agam-agam, kaya lakas-loob niya nang mamahalin si Imee at ipadarama rito kung gaano kainit ang pagmamahal na iyon . . .

Alertong tumanaw si Imee sa bintana ng bahay. To his relief, her parents were not peeking from any of their windows.

"Bakit?" balik ng tingin ni Imee sa kaniya. "Saan naman tayo pupunta?"

Leo shoved her cell phone in the back pocket of his jeans. "Nowhere. Just here. Hindi kita ida-drive sa malayo. I'll just drive you a little wild, maybe." Then, he thumbed the side of her lips.

The next thing he knew, they were already inside his car. They cramped with each other in the passenger seat with Imee sitting sideways, on his lap. As soon as their gazes met, he quickly cupped her face and pulled her down for a torrid kiss.

Habang tumatagal at lumalalim ang kanilang halikan ay mas nagiging malikot at matunog na ito. He sighed in satisfaction in between their kisses. He felt so refreshed. He was reminded of the watermelon they had for dinner with her lips and tongue so red, and her kisses so wet and sweet!

As they exchanged kisses heatedly, his hands moved to the back of her thigh, pulling her closer to him, tilting her body to face him more.

Imee seemed to grow uncomfortable of her position so she shifted. Napatingala si Leo at napaungol nang mahina nang dumiin ang bigat ng dalaga sa kaniyang kandungan, lalo na sa panunumbok niya sa pagitan ng mga hita. She slipped her thighs on his sides and clamped them against his waist before she lowered her head to crush her lips against his.

Magaan na pumikit si Leo. He held her hips lightly as he surrendered himself to her, slowly . . . then all at once. This time, it was his lips that followed the rhythm of her kisses. It was his tongue that was effortlessly being carried away by the every twist and turn and swirl of her playful tongue. And when she sucked his tongue from its fullness to its tip, Leo could not help a staggering moan as his whole being shook in bliss.

She only sucked his tongue but damn, it felt like she gave him a good head, too!

"L-Leo . . ." Imee whined softly as she began grinding herself against his crotch. Her pleading eyes looking deeply into his' as her cheeks began flushing. "H-Hindi ko kaya . . . Hindi ko mapigilan . . . Gusto kong kumiskis . . ."

He moaned and studded her neck with his kisses as he replied breathlessly. "Hindi mo naman kailangang pigilan ang sarili mo, Imee . . . Come on, my sweet, grind it on me . . ."

Imee obeyed. Bahagyang tumirik ang mga mata niya at nalaglag ang panga dahil sa suwabeng paggiling nito sa kandungan niya. The way she circled her hips gave a pressure to his crotch that was unlike anything in this world! Her rhythm that harmonized with her every moan perfectly sent him a clear message-how hot and needy she was!

Leo kept on rubbing her arms to reassure her that she was doing great. His hazy eyes alternately watched the weak expression on her face and the hypnotizing circling of her hips. "Oh, keep going! You're so good at this!"

Then, Leo joined her, partnered with her into this sensual dance. They rubbed their bodies against each other as they resumed their fiery kisses.

***

"NATAGALAN ka yata sa loob ng kotse ni Nardo," masungit na bungad agad ni Aling Minerva kay Imee pagkapasok niya ng bahay.

Imee lowered her head and tried to feel herself. Sinigurado naman niya na maayos ang kaniyang hitsura bago bumaba mula sa sasakyan ni Leo. Pinunasan ni Leo gamit ang baon nitong panyo ang kanilang pawis, pero natatakot siya na baka naaamoy ito ng kaniyang nanay. Nakipag-make out lang naman siya kay Leo, pero bakit abot-langit itong kaba niya?

"Inay, nag-usap lang kami saglit ni Leo. Sa loob ng kotse na kami nag-usap at baka may mga kapitbahay na makiusyoso," kaswal niyang dahilan kahit grabe na ang kabang tumatambol sa loob ng kaniyang dibdib.

Aling Minerva huffed. "O, siya. Malinis na sa hapag at inasikaso ko na rin ang mga hugasin. Matutulog na ako."

Dahil natural na maaga sila matulog ay hindi na ito kinuwestiyon pa ni Imee. She watched her mother turn her back. Papasok na ito sa kuwarto nito at ni Mang Baste nang hindi nakatiis si Imee.

"'Nay."

Mabilis itong humarap sa kaniya at binigyan siya ng nagtatakang tingin.

"Pasensiya na uli, kung nabigla kayo sa pagpunta rine ni Leo."

Tumango lang ito. Patalikod na uli ito nang dugtungan ni Imee ang mga sinabi.

"Inay, bakit parang malamig ang pakikitungo n'yo kay Leo? Alam n'yo naman na matagal ko na siyang gusto."

Her mother just gave her a calm yet blank look. "Oo. At okay lang sa 'kin 'yon dahil bata ka pa at crush lang naman. Pero ngayon, matanda ka na, at kailan lang, sinabi mong hindi mo na siya gusto."

Imee lowered her head and nodded.

"Pinagbigyan lang kita noon dahil ang akala ko, hanggang simpleng kakikiligan lang ang makukuha mo sa lalaking iyan."

"Ibig sabihin, iniisip n'yo pala na imposibleng patulan ako ni Leo."

"Hindi iyon ang iniisip ko. Ang sa akin lang, okay lang na humanga ka sa lalaking 'yon dahil guwapo siya at may maipagmamalaki. Pero hindi ibig sabihin no'n ay nakikitaan ko na siya ng potensiyal para maging mabuting nobyo sa 'yo. Alam naman nating lahat dine sa hacienda na puro paandar at palikero ang lalaking 'yon."

Imee nodded and patiently listened to her mother.

"Hindi por que legal na kayo sa 'min ay sigurado na seseryosohin ka na ng lalaking yaon. Natatakot ako na baka dumating ang araw na lokohin ka niya. At magpapaulit-ulit pa 'yon dahil sa bawat pagkakamali niya ay makikinig at maniniwala ka nang paulit-ulit sa mga dahilan niya nang dahil sa pagmamahal. Kaya mag-iingat ka pa rin, Imeng. Ibang klase sumira ng buhay at pagkatao ang kasawian sa pag-ibig."

Nang hindi na siya nakaimik ay tumuloy na si Aling Minerva sa kuwarto nila ng kaniyang tatay.

Imee nodded her head as she tried to instill her mother's words of wisdom in her brain. Then, she headed to her bedroom first to leave her cell phone there before using the bathroom. Ngunit paglabas niya ng cell phone mula sa bulsa ng kaniyang shorts ay bumungad ang screen nito na umiilaw pa dahil sa isang notification.

It was a missed call from a random number

When Imee checked the call log, she noticed that the missed call came from the same number that Leo called earlier using her cell phone.

Imee didn't want to meddle with things she didn't know, such as Leo's business transactions, so, she just shrugged it off. She left her phone on the bed and got her change of clothes before going to the bathroom.

But after her night shower, a text message shook her.

From: Unknown Number

To: Imee

I'll get your number traced if you don't tell me who you are.

***

LEO'S cell phone was on loudspeaker when he answered Imee's call.

"Leo, nakakatakot naman 'to. Ipapa-trace ang number ko. Sino ba 'tong tinawagan mo?" ani nag-aalalang boses ni Imee pagkatapos nitong ibahagi sa kaniya ang natanggap na text mula kay Melissa.

'Shit! Nakalimutan ko yatang burahin 'yong number sa cell phone! At nag-text pa ang hayop na 'yon kay Imee!'

Of course, he wouldn't tell Imee what caused that call that bothered Melissa so much it made her resort into threatening to trace Imee's number. Siguradong sasama ang loob ni Imee kapag nalaman nitong pasimple niyang inimbestigahan kung talagang gusto siya nito o kung utusan din ito ni Melissa.

"Imee, don't worry. I'll talk to that person right away. Magpapaliwanag ako na nakitawag ako sa 'yo. Ang tagal niya kasing sagutin 'yong tawag ko kanina kaya hindi ko siya nakausap."

"Sino ba 'to?"

He stopped his breath. "Just someone from the law firm. May ipapa-ready lang sana ako para sa trabaho bukas."

"Sige . . ."

"I'll call that person now. Then, I'll call you once I got to my house." He sighed softly. "Good night, Imee. I love you."

Leo could hear her sweet smile as she replied. "Good night, Leo. I love you too. Mag-iingat sa pagda-drive."

"I will," he smiled with uncertainty.

When the call disconnected, he hurriedly looked for a place to park his car. Doon niya tinawagan si Melissa.

"Good that you called," bungad nito. Ni hindi man lang bumati ang babae sa kaniya. "I've been contemplating if I should get this number traced, and my lawyer calling me first looks like a sign that I should."

"I am not your lawyer, at wala kang ipapa-trace na number. Ako 'yong tumawag kanina. Nakitawag lang ako."

"Oh . . . really?" Leo could imagine a mischievous smile on Melissa's lips. "From whose phone are you calling? So that I can save it just in case you call from that same number again."

"Gusto ko lang mag-report sa 'yo na umuusad na ang plano natin. That's all. In no time, Ava and Jamer will decide to get married."

"Yeah, sure. But whose number did you use earlier?"

"You don't have to know. They don't have anything to do with you, Melissa."

"Really? Why do I get the feeling that, for the first time, you are trying to actually protect someone? By 'actually' I meant, protect a person without getting paid to do it."

He frustratedly shook his head, then replied in a controlled voice. "Why does it even matter to you whose phone or number I use to call you?"

"Because it's so random. And if you can report to me right now using your own number, why do you have to borrow someone else's phone about an hour ago? Are you investigating something? Trying to test me if I will recognize your voice from a different cell phone number?"

His jaws tensed. "I just left my phone in the car. I had to borrow someone else's phone-"

Melissa clucked her tongue. "Oh, Leo . . . You are still that same juvenile who likes to act tough but is so . . . easy."

Nagdilim ang kaniyang anyo.

She resumed in her slow, flat, and squeezed voice. "Remember, I know you inside and out. I have . . . 'records' that can destroy you. So, the best you can do is to stop involving me with your tests, to stop making a fool out of me because you won't be able to. Understand?"

He sighed inwardly to hide his frustration from Melissa. "Yes. I'm driving. Got to go."

"I guess, I'll save this number under your name then, Le-"

Hindi na niya pinatapos si Melissa. He disconnected the call.

The conversation he had with Melissa gave him the chills, gave him the creeps. Pero nang sumagi sa kaniyang isipan si Imee ay unti-unting naglaho ang mga salitang binitiwan ng babae. Unti-unting naglaho ang imahe nito.

Gradually, he remembered his disbelief. Nahirapan siyang paniwalaan na nagustuhan siya agad ni Imee kaya binoypren siya agad nito, ngunit mas mahirap yatang paniwalaan na matagal na itong may gusto sa kaniya.

But after the phone call he had, it seemed like believing was the inevitable already.

His relieved smile mixed with the confusion in his teary eyes.

He felt undeserving. He felt unworthy to be loved, of Imee's love. He used to be contented with the women he had been in the past because they clearly only wanted to possess him, to fuck him . . . . So how could he had the audacity to desire for something deeper? For something as precious and priceless as Imee's pure love?

Despite second-guessing his worth, Leo decided that maybe, he should already believe that Imee truly loves him.

***

IMEE felt restless about the text message from the unknown number, but she managed to sleep tight for the rest of the night. Paggising niya kinabukasan ay text message ni Leo ang bumungad sa kaniya.

From: Leo

To: Imee

Nkauwi na ko. Settled na ung sa ngtxt sayo. Di na n'ya ipapatrace ang nmber mo.

From: Leo

To: Imee

2log ka na siguro. :) Sweet dreams, Imee. I love you.

Umupo siya sa kama. Hindi pa siya naghihilamos, nagsusuklay, o nagmumumog nang nangingiting nag-reply siya kay Leo.

From: Imee

To: Leo

I love you too. :* Good morning, Leo.

Thank u nang mrami. Panatag na ngaun ang loob ko na walang magttrace sa nmber ko, hehe. Grbe, kinabahan talaga ako don ha.

Mahina siyang natawa habang kinikilig nang basahin uli ang text pagka-send niya nito kay Leo. Pagkatapos, nag-ayos na siya ng sarili.

***

THE days and weeks that followed felt like an autopilot. Nothing that complicated or eventful happened. Everything felt easy . . . or maybe, too easy.

They said, when things seemed too easy, it was only the soft launch, the culmination of little things that would lead to catastrophic events. But how could Imee worry about that when the man she loves occupied her mind all the time? When he makes her smile all day? When he has always been consistently meeting her every Saturday and suddenly every Sunday too? How could she worry about the future if everything is going well in her present?

These past few weeks, Imee was doing well with her dance workshop. It ended on the first week of May. She aced her dance recital, and got a certificate out of it. She was eyeing on finding a dance group to join in and to get booked to perform in different local events-private or public.

Meanwhile, Leo would hang out with Mang Baste every Saturday afternoon after picking her up from her dance class. Her boyfriend's weekly visits helped him work on earning her mother's favor, too.

Tila wala pa ring kumpiyansa si Aling Minerva kay Leo, pero malaking improvement na rin kahit papaano na mas kalmado na ang pakikitungo nito sa binata at hindi na nagpaparinig ng kahit ano rito.

The only one left who seemed unconvinced of Leo's good intentions was her good friend, Ligaya.

Kasalukuyang nakaupo sa kawayang sofa si Imee. Kasama niya sa sala sa kaniyang bahay si Ligaya.

Imee's face was relaxed even if deep inside her heart was drumming in tension. Meanwhile, Ligaya wore a serious expression, concentrating on perfecting the application of a red lipstick on Imee's lips.

"There," layo ni Ligaya sa lipstick mula sa kaniyang mga labi.

"Puwede ko na tingnan?" tanong niya, tila mapupugto ang hininga.

Tipid na ngumiti si Ligaya sa kaniya. "Oo naman."

Umatras nang kaunti si Ligaya na nakaupo katabi niya sa sofa. Nagmamadali namang tumayo si Imee at tinungo ang body mirror na katabi ng bukas na pinto ng kanilang bahay.

Halos pigil niya ang hininga habang iniinspeksiyon ang sarili.

Imee wore the yellow sun dress that Leo gave her last month. This was a special dress because it reminded her of their first date outside the hacienda. This time, Leo promised to bring her to his house, which was a big deal for Imee, that's why she picked this dress again. She decided to wear this dress for every 'firsts' in their relationship.

Imee swung her hips a little. As her feet tipped from one side to another with her white doll shoes on, she enjoyed the gentle sway of the ends of her skirt. She admired the dress' fitting on her body before feeling her pixie hair that grew a few inches longer, its tips almost slipping on the top of her shoulders. A white plastic headband neatly held her hair with little curtain fringes that framed her beautiful face.

Tuwang-tuwa si Imee sa gaan at galing ng mga kamay ni Ligaya sa pagme-makeup sa kaniya. Tila ba araw-araw nitong ginagawa iyon kaya sanay na sanay. Her lips were glossy and vibrant red, but balanced the soft features of her face. The makeup did not change her look. It amazed Imee how she could still recognize her own face while looking different, more beautiful than usual at the same time!

She turned to Ligaya with an open-mouthed smile. "Ang ganda-ganda ko, Ligaya! Thank you nang marami!"

Tipid itong ngumiti. Walang-buhay ang boses nito nang tumugon. "You're welcome."

Nagmamadaling dinampot ni Imee ang kaniyang square bag sa sofa. "Tara. Sasabay na ako sa 'yo sa pagbalik mo sa mansiyon. Doon naman kami magkikita ni Leo."

Tumayo si Ligaya. "Imee, sigurado ka ba talaga na sasama ka sa bahay ni Leo?"

"Oo naman!" walang-lingon niyang sagot habang dinudukot mula sa bag ang cell phone. Balak niyang i-text kay Leo na papunta na siya sa mansiyon.

"Paprangkahin na kita, ha? Teritoryo na ni Leo ang pupuntahan n'yo. Wala ka nang laban sa oras na mangalabit siya."

Imee chuckled lowly as she began typing. "Wala naman akong balak manlaban."

Nanlaki ang mga mata ng babaeng napasinghap. "Matakot ka, Imee! Alam mo namang babaero 'yon!"

Imee shook her head and met Ligaya's eyes. "Ilang beses ko na nakasama si Leo nang kaming dalawa lang, pero hindi niya ako pinilit na mag-all the way. At kung mangyari man iyon, magpoproteksiyon kami."

"Ano'ng nangyari sa sinabi mo noon na kaya mo ang sarili mo? Na hindi ka magpapadala sa kan'ya?"

Imee shrugged. "O? Ginawa ko naman 'yon, a? Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa niya ako naikakama! Pero siyempre, ang relasyon, nagle-level up. Darating din kami sa puntong 'yon, Ligaya. Kaya bakit ko lalabanan?"

It was Ligaya's turn to shrug. "Oh, well . . . Ikaw ang bahala. Pero huwag mong sabihin na hindi kita pinagsabihan."

"Ayaw na ayaw mo talaga si Leo para sa akin, no?"

"Well, I'm your friend kasi, Imee. Inililigtas lang kita mula kay Leo kasi baka hindi mo kayanin kung ga'no siya kasakit mang-iwan."

"Bakit parang ang dami mong alam tungkol kay Leo? Kung makapagsalita ka, parang nakita mo na kung pa'no siya mang-iwan."

Ligaya lowered her eyes, she seemed to frantically look for answers on the floor. "Hindi naman sa gano'n . . . Naririnig ko lang minsan ang mga usap-usapan dito . . . Hindi ba, dinala n'ya rito 'yong iba n'yang mga naging babae? Doesn't that matter to you?"

"Hindi. Kasi past na 'yon. Isa pa, nagkasyota rin naman ako dati, no'ng high school pa 'ko." Medyo natawa siya sa alaalang iyon. "Hindi nga alam nina Inay kasi natatakot pa 'ko aminin noon. Pero mabuti na rin na hindi nila alam kasi hindi naman gano'n kaseryoso 'yon." Then she patted Ligaya's shoulder. "Tara?"

Ligaya gave her a weak, unwilling smile. "Fine. Pero huwag mo 'kong aawayin kapag pinaiyak ka ni Leo."

"Nge? Bakit naman ikaw ang aawayin ko kung si Leo ang nagpaiyak sa akin?" natatawa niyang saad.

Tumango lang ito habang may tipid na ngiti sa mga labi at nauna na itong lumabas ng bahay. Naiwan saglit si Imee dahil ini-lock pa niya ang pinto. Wala kasing maiiwan sa bahay dahil nasa niyugan pa ang kaniyang mga magulang.

As Imee descended down the stairs slowly, she checked the time and date in her cell phone.

It was May 21, 2014, and Imee would never forget this day.

***

COME HERE
La Grilla Series #1
Copyright Registered: 2024
R-18, General Fiction, Sexy Romance, Drama
First publish on Wattpad: December 2016

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